surrender || obikin [COMPLETED]

8.

I stared for almost too long before he waved his hand in front of my face, smiling slightly. "Anakin to Obi-Wan? Do you copy?" I blinked, and acted as though I had spaced out. "Oh, sorry, I zoned a little. Sorry about that." Grimacing and laying down on my side, I rolled to face away from him. He grabbed my shoulder and turned me to face him, and I flinched a little.

"Hey calm down. I just want to know what the holotransmission was about, unless its classified. Actually- especially if its classified." Smirking, he got up to retrieve the holotransmittor, and sat down on the edge of my cot.

He pushed the button, and the message played again. I watched his face, the hologram casting a blue glow across his tan skin. I sensed relief pouring over him as master Windu spoke: "A ship has been sent to collect you and Skywalker."

The relief was replaced with some sort of humble pride at Master Yoda's kind words: "Proud of young Skywalker, I am. Wrong to doubt him, we may have been." As the hologram vanished, he sat in silence, and then turned to look down at me.

"I- Thank you."

I raised my eyebrows at him. "What in the galaxy do you have to thank me fore? Master Yoda was praising you, not me."

He looked down at his toes. "Thank you for never giving up on me." I sensed faint sadness. "Force knows I've not been easy, and everyone in the order has doubted me. Except for you." Warmth wafted through our bond as he lifted his eyes to meet mine. "Why? Why did you believe in me?"

This was a tough question for me, one which I would have to answer carefully, so I started tentatively. "The light."

He tilted his head at me. "The light?"

I nodded slowly, continuing. "I know the light is strong in you. I sense it." I looked up at him. "You are right, it has not been easy, being your master. But it has been a great joy to see you grow in the force. It is so purely strong in you." I paused.

"At first, everyone sensed fear and anger in you, but they let it blind them. They never looked past it, they never saw what else you had." I blinked at him, and his gaze could have bored holes in my head.

He opened his mouth. "What do you see?" His voice was a bit hoarse, but hopeful. I smiled at him.

"Light. So much light."

His smile broke me. "Really?"

"Yes, Ani. And it pained me to watch you doubt yourself; force knows the Council and other Jedi were anything but kind to you. I watched as you outperformed every Padawan your age, and older, only to receive the harshest of criticism. But they were wrong, Anakin, so wrong to have treated you that way. You are the chosen one, and although I know you hate that title, it stands for something. You will bring balance to the force, and you were born to do so. Your talent is certainly not because of my teachings; It is because of you and who you are in the force. it is because of the light."

He was speechless. "Oh."

Pain, and fear, flashed briefly through our bond. "But what if I can't? Bring balance, I mean." He looked down at his feet. "I know I am good with a saber, and I can fly better than anyone, but when it comes to something like that- I dont know if I am the right Jedi for the job. I'm not a very good Jedi. A better Jedi will bring balance; someone like..." he trailed off, and then looked at me again, tilting his head.

"well, you."

I chuckled softly. "No Anakin, not me. Force- I am not a perfect Jedi. I truly hope that is not what you perceive me as, but if you do, it is because I do not let you see all of me. I fail, often, just as any Jedi does. A perfect Jedi does not exist."

"But master- I dont listen to the code." He swallowed, continuing.

"I do get scared, and I do get angry. I have regrets, and ghosts. Demons in my head- there is darkness, isnt there? A good Jedi doesnt have such things, Master."

Force- for such a big ego, he really does sell himself short. I shook my head at him, slightly exasperated.

"No Anakin! You are not listening to me. Every Jedi has such things. What is important is- Are you listening?"

His gaze rose to meet mine, and my chest sank. I could see such doubt in his beautiful eyes, and it hurt me. I leaned forward, placing a hand on his shoulder and peering at him.

"What matters is rising above them. Letting the light subdue them. Trusting yourself to destroy them. And if you cant, then learn to drown them out. Their purpose is to worm themselves into your head, to seed doubt, contempt, anger. To bring darkness. Their words are empty. You must choose the light. Anakin, promise me you will choose the light."

He swallowed, a heartbreaking tear brimming in his eyes, the eyes I held so dear. "I promise, master."

And around us, the camp buzzed as we sat in silence, the words I never said after so many years hanging in the darkness.