Chapter Text
ONE YEAR LATER…
“Master, please! One more race!”
“No, Anakin,” Obi-Wan said with exasperation.
It was two in the morning, well past his Padawan’s bedtime, but he had been coerced into taking his apprentice to the speeder lot to practice parking. Of course, ‘practicing parking’ had quickly become ‘practicing driving’, which had quickly become ‘racing’. By now, Obi-Wan was sick and tired of near-death experiences, as well as losing to his ten-and-three-quarters-year-old Padawan and he was sure if any of the other Jedi masters saw him outside with his Padawan at this hour, there would be many questions.
“It’s time for bed.”
Anakin threw his head back and groaned, and they walked together through the halls of the Jedi temple back to their quarters.
The Padawan’s room was messier now than it had been a year ago. Pieces of machines and Force artifacts covered the floor. Anakin had a new pair of pajamas, but they were already short on him, as he was growing at such a rate that the Jedi laundry was not able to keep up.
“When are we going to have our first off-world mission, Master?” Anakin asked as he brushed his teeth.
“Oh, I’m sure that will come soon enough,” Obi-Wan said, leaning against the doorframe and giving his Padawan a tired smile.
“I’m ready to put my skills to use.” Anakin spit in the sink. “Fight some bad guys.”
“Do not forget the importance of restraint, Anakin.”
“Yes, Master,” Anakin said with a sigh. He got into bed.
“Good night, Anakin,” Obi-Wan said, turning to leave.
“Wait!” Anakin called after him. “Bedtime story?”
Obi-Wan resisted the urge to sigh. He was exhausted. No one had warned him that parenting was so exhausting. But it was an important part of their evening routine, and an important part of Anakin’s education. He was so proud of how far Anakin had come in such a short amount of time.
“Alright,” he said, turning with a smile. “Just a short one.”
Anakin grinned, pulling the book of fables out from under his bed.
Obi-Wan looked under the bed as he sat down on the chair beside Anakin. His brow furrowed. “Anakin, why do you have a bunch of bolts under there?”
“Don’t worry about it, Master,” Anakin said briskly. He opened the book and cleared his throat. “The Sand Mite and the– the Nuna.”
As Anakin read, he traced the words with his finger, and Obi-Wan felt his eyes misting with pride. Each day after lightsaber practice, they had spent an hour practicing reading Basic. They had started with phonics, gotten into letter sounds and recognition, and then finally into meaning. And then they had practiced, and practiced, and practiced, and practiced. The process had not been linear, and it had also not been easy. Anakin was a quick learner, but he was also a self-conscious child, and he did not like feeling as if he was behind. Some days, he would want to work all night, and some days, he would refuse to touch a book at all. But he had stuck with it, and Obi-Wan had stuck with it, even when messing up the same word day after day had made them both want to tear their hair out. After a year, Anakin wasn’t what either of them would call a proficient reader, but he was determined, and he practiced everyday. For that, Obi-Wan was proud.
“Once upon a time, there was a sand mite that lived next to a b… brook. One day, he fell in, and a near … by Nuna saw. Now, the Sand Mite could not swim, and the Nuna knew this. She watched as the Sand Mite st… st…” Anakin looked up at Obi-Wan expectantly.
Obi-Wan leaned forward, his voice gentle but not patronizing. “Struggled.”
“Struggled,” Anakin repeated. He continued. “In vain to reach the bank, and, to help, the Nuna dropped a blade of straw close beside it. Clinging to the straw, the Sand Mite floated safely to shore.”
Obi-Wan gave him an encouraging nod. Anakin kept going, his fingers tracing over each word.
“Soon after, the Sand Mite saw a man getting ready to kill the Nuna with a stone. But just as he cast the stone, the Sand Mite stung him in the heel, so that the pain made him miss his aim, and the scared Dove flew to safety in a d… distant wood.”
Anakin pulled his finger away and smiled softly to himself. Obi-Wan did the same. “Well done, Anakin,” he said, and he meant it.
Anakin’s smile grew. He looked down at the book. “The moral,” he said, more confident now. “A kindness is never wasted.”
Obi-Wan felt his eyes prickle. “Thank you, Anakin,” he said softly. He cleared his throat, ignoring the sizable lump in it. “You’ve become quite the story-reader.”
Anakin grinned up at him. “I have a good teacher.”
Obi-Wan’s heart felt warm and fuzzy at the boy’s comment, and he smiled at Anakin.
Anakin yawned hugely.
“Yes,” Obi-Wan said, holding back a yawn of his own. “Way past your bedtime I’m afraid.” He stood up, walking to the door. “Good night, Anakin.”
“Good night, Master,” Anakin said sleepily.
Obi-Wan watched from the door as his Padawan buried himself beneath the covers. He turned off the light, and then he left, softly closing the door behind him, the moral of the previous story ringing in his ears as he walked to his own chambers.
A kindness is never wasted.