In Pursuit of Cold Water

“If you'll allow me to elaborate,” Obi-Wan leaned forward in his chair. “I meant to say, the discoloration is likely a sign of deoxygenation. He can't breathe -”
“Professor.” The Chancellor said with a genial smile. “I would hardly waste such a considerable sum of money to establish a new exhibition in my personal study only to have it floating at the top of the tank in a month. He may not be entirely comfortable but he is alive and I assure you it is a much better fate than the alternative.”
Or, Obi-Wan resolves to rescue a very stubborn merman from captivity and back to the ocean.

Notes:

Check out the podfic version of the story here! by Kittona!

Chapter Text

The sky was a pale gray. After coming up from the dark, to him it was a brilliant, dazzling white. The rocks black, and sharp.

The waves roared, birds shrieked far overhead.

Bitter salt water, freezing foam spilled out of his lungs.

The sound of footsteps echoed loudly against the cavernous, empty ballroom floor. On the far side, wide floor-to-ceiling windows looked over sprawling manicured green fields, letting the light stream in.

“Quite remarkable really. The machines beneath the floor circulate oxygen and filter the water. But you don't hear a thing, do you?”

“Very impressive, your Excellency.”

Light off the glass swirled and danced in intricate golden patterns across the ballroom floor, cast off of the thick, singular glass pane that stretched the full length of the opposite wall.

“Now you can get just as pleasant a view of the tank from my study. A far more suitable place to conduct business.”

The Chancellor led his guest from the ballroom to the next room over. This room was just as large, although its inventory gave it a cozier feel. Beautifully carved shelves were heavy with leather books. A Large globe sat in a gold-guided frame. Shelves with various taxidermy, curiosities and other trophies were cluttered on and about an ornate marble fireplace to create a rather impressive hoard.

A large, wide desk took up most of the far end of the room, flanked by velvet drapes which kept in the warmth.

On the remaining wall here was another massive pane of glass. Between the study and ballroom was an expanse of water - perhaps six feet across - the length the full stretch of the rooms. Through it, one could see the tall windows of the ballroom adjacent. A very fetching effect overall.

The Chancellor offered him a seat at an armchair in front of his impressive desk, inviting him to take a closer look at the feature.

Behind the glass, vibrant corals were neatly situated. A few artful placements of leafy kelp ran from the floor to ceiling, waving gently along the artificial current that circulated the water. The bottom was an arrangement of small smooth stones, far too uniform to be natural.

A selection of larger ones, around the size of footballs were arranged in the center.

In the middle of the rocks were two soft, opalescent orbs. Pale, speckled white. The membranes gleaming and gossamer thin.

“The eggs arrived just last week. Two months old, laid in captivity. They came with quite the impressive pedigree.”

“I would be very interested to see.”

“Yes of course. Sherry?”

“No, thank you.”

“Very well.” The Chancellor helped himself to a crystal copita from the butler, who politely excused himself.

“Are they viable?”

“Viable? Ah, yes. Of course. Those I work with are very good.”

“You mentioned a problem when we last spoke.”

The Chancellor's thin lips twisted into a grimace of a smile.

“Hm, yes. I was thinking you expertise may be useful here. I'm afraid its trouble with my own stock.”

“Yes, I was wondering about that. Is he-?”

“It likes to sulk. One moment.”

A jade paperweight intricately carved into a feline skull sat on his desk. The Chancellor pressed a small black button within one of the eye sockets. An almost unnoticeable ripple ran through the current of the water.

At once, something long and black seized in the water. A dark tail, the fins a translucent amber-gold whipped furiously before darting briefly out of sight beyond the side of the tank, which extended beyond the walls of the aquarium in a very small alcove. The hidden pace almost seemed to be an afterthought, likely where unsightly pumps and filters were situated out of view.

A webbed hand emerged, pressed flat against the glass. It was trembling slightly, a residual stun from the shock-wave.

“As you can see, attempts to train it not to touch the glass have not yet been fruitful.” The Chancellor sighed, sipping his drink.

The rest of the creature emerged into view.

His skin was honey-gold, marred by cross-crossing scars that had faded to pale streaks of white. His right arm was particularly gnarled, ending in a stump at the elbow. Tattered remains of his pectoral fin remained there, fanning uselessly.

He swam the length of the tank, powered effortlessly by the powerful black tail. End-to-end, it took up nearly half the full length of the enclosure.

“A pity what happened to the top half of the specimen. We had some trouble getting him to settle in, though you'll find that's quite common with those in from he wild.”

“Yes, I heard he was brought in from the sea.”

“Dying on the shore. We saved his life.” The Chancellor said magnanimously, spreading his hands. It was the kind, grandfatherly persona he wore so well in the papers and on the news. “He had some trouble with a trawling vessel. Not terribly uncommon these days unfortunately.”

“How very gracious of you.”

“Hm, yes. He will come to appreciate what we're doing for him in time, I like to think.”

The Mer was facing them now, his intact hand braced on the glass. He hovered several feet above them, glaring down with sharp ocher eyes. His murderous glare fixed on Obi-Wan.

“Very wary of intruders. Much like cats, I've found.”

“I never had much luck with cats.” Obi-Wan answered banally. “Altogether, a very remarkable specimen. It would have been off the coast of Alaska, correct?”

“You know your biology.”

“I know my business. My client is very particular.” His eyes swept over the merman again, before glancing through the glass to the room on the other side.

“Curious. Mer from this region tend not to be so uniformly dark patterned. Deep blue – especially the fins tends to be more of the norm. Gold tends to blend poorly in the dark water.”

“Correct again.” The Chancellor sounded pleased. “Yes, that was the coloration when we retrieved him. He took some of my men quite by surprise.”

“By surprise” Obi-Wan asked. “On a beach?”

The Chancellor was still smiling, but his eyes were not.

“It was raining.”

“Of course.” Obi-Wan said after a beat, with a conspiratorial smile.

The atmosphere in the room lifted.

“Yes, his tail color changed quite gradually a few months after he was installed.”

“If you don't mind me saying Chancellor, as a professional in the field?”

“Go, ahead. Please.”

“It's likely a result of the water temperature.”

“Is that so?”

“The pumps beneath the tank seem to be doing a satisfactory job – or I'd say he would have expired shortly after arriving. But between the light from your windows,” He gestured through the tank to the ballroom. “And the fireplace you have in here, it's likely quite a bit warmer than strictly comfortable for our friend.”

“Hm, yes. This tank used to hold a lovely tropical thing. Black and red, beautiful spikes on the tail. Native to the coasts off of Borneo.” The Chancellor waxed, leaning back in his large armchair.

“We adjusted the temperature for this one, but the chill simply emanated out of the glass all hours of the day. Not a pleasant environment to conduct one's business in. No Professor, for the sake of temperature control in my environment it will simply need to grin and bear it.”

The Mer continued to glare at them.

“Besides, I'm quite fond of his new coloration. It suits the aesthetic of the place quite nicely, the black and gold tones are lovely.”

“If you'll allow me to elaborate,” Obi-Wan leaned forward in his chair. “I meant to say, the discoloration is likely a sign of deoxygenation. He can't breathe -”

“Professor.” The Chancellor said with a genial smile. “I would hardly waste such a considerable sum of money to establish a new exhibition in my personal study only to have it floating at the top of the tank in a month, let alone go through the trouble of acquiring viable eggs. The machines hooked up to the tank respire oxygen into the water.” He swept to his feet and to the side of the tank.

A panel on the side opened, revealing a control panel. The action appeared to have pulled back some form of soundproofing to the mechanism beneath the rich facade. The quiet was replaced by a long, steady;

thrmmm-kksssssh

“He may not be comfortable but he is alive and I assure you it is a much better fate than the alternative.”

The creature had sunk back down to the bottom of the tank, his scarred and tattered back facing him.

“Of course, Chancellor. You understand these are the questions I need to be asking on behalf of my client.”

“I would expect nothing else.” The Chancellor sat back down, taking another sip from his sherry. “Now, to the matter at hand.” He set the drink aside, steepling his fingers. “As you can see, we have the eggs and a specimen impressive enough to make quite a lucrative pair. One of course, promised to the Senator Organa.” He gestured to the eggs.

“The only problem remains how to get this one here to cooperate.” He leaned over and rapped on the glass of the tank. The Mer's tail flicked angrily, though apart from this he did not react. The muscles of his back remained taut and tense despite his relaxed pose.

“I would say that the two topics may be linked.” Obi-Wan replied thinly. “His condition may be stable, but from what we observed fertilization is usually a very private affair. While his setup is quite... impressive. He simply may not have the privacy needed to feel comfortable seeing to the eggs.” He knew this was not the news the Chancellor wished to hear.

Obi-Wan took a deep breath, pressing on.

“He's in an environment confined enough that any more of his kind - even young ones - would make it uninhabitable. He's also likely... lonely. In the wild, he would not come across eggs on their own. They are far too delicate. Someone would be with him, normally. Of his own kind.”

“So, he both needs more space and more company. Which, I would imagine would require more space further still.” The Chancellor sighed. “What a troublesome hobby I have elected to fall into.”

“If I may,”

“I have brought you here for your advice, Professor. You need not continue asking for permission to give it.”

“The Research facility has much more spacious tanks. One of our largest salt water one is currently unoccupied.” Obi-Wan slid a folder across the desk. The Chancellor flipped it open with his little finger, looking over the images of the facility.

“We can take the eggs and the... specimen. The space and temperature adjustment alone may be enough for him to feel more... cooperative.” The word twisted awkwardly out of his mouth, using the same language the Chancellor himself had.

“As you know we rehabilitate these creatures on a regular basis. A suitable companion may even-”

“No.” The Chancellor sighed, pushing the folder away.

“I beg your pardon?”

“I certainly see the merit of your suggestions Professor. Please don't have me mistaken, I would of course trust you to put the utmost care into the handling of my property. But I am afraid that removing it from the premises is out of the question.” He sighed again, aping concern.

“You see, we're entering quite an important political period this year. There will be a number of highly important gatherings at my home. It wouldn't suit at all to have an empty tank sitting there, taking up so much space with nothing to show for it.” He looked through to the impressive ballroom again.

“I'd have to re-stock it with more conventional aquatic life, and its current salinity and settings are not typically well suited to the decorative sort. A tank full of cod does not strike much inspiration.”

The Chancellor stood, arms held behind his back.

“And my career is what pays for this all at the end of the day. No, I have something a bit simpler in mind.”

“And what might that be?”

“The tank drains out, the contents can be lowered to a room beneath.” He explained. “It's necessary for conducting medical checks and our ongoing training efforts. You can perform an extraction for artificial fertilization of the eggs, sedate it if necessary.”

“I suppose that would work just as well.”

“Once the eggs are seen to, we can make the arrangements for Organa to wire over his payment. We already have quite a few bidders on the second egg as well.”

“I see. It would be a shame to keep them waiting while he makes up his mind to act on his own.”

“Who?”

“The Mer.”

“Oh. Oh yes, of course.” The Chancellor murmured. “Would you like to see the stables, professor?”

“I'd be honored.” Obi-Wan stood. “I've heard great things about the prize winning Arabian.”

“They do not do it justice, I assure you.”

The Chancellor strode off into the hall. Obi-Wan sighed, looking back at the tank. The Mer was still curled up on his side among the rocks. From this angle, Obi-Wan could see it had coiled itself around the two pearl eggs, its good arm tucked carefully around them.

A golden eye turned up to glare at Obi-Wan. The Professor gave him the briefest nod, and headed out of the stuffy room.

The shock of hitting the water knocked the air from his lungs. The cold like knives. In a split second he was both stunned and shocked through. And the water churned, the maw of the abyss wide before him.

He liked the nights best.

The nights were quiet.

The days were too bright, too hard to breathe.

thrmmm-kksssssh

He swam the length of his Prison again and again, his muscles itched for greater use. The songs in his mind over the long-dragging days kept his mind quiet, kept the panic down. He couldn't afford panic, not since the eggs arrive in the Prison.

thrmmm-kksssssh

It would not normally be his job to keep the water around them moving, but the eggs were alone.

They were alone!

They needed him. His fins brushed over the fine membranes. Without predators, he knew they could exist as they were for months just fine. But their presence still agitated him.

They should not be alone.

(He should not be alone).

thrmmm-kksssssh

He hated that noise. All day. Every day. He couldn't get used to it.

thrmmm-kksssssh

It was so loud in the water. The water that tasted wrong.

thrmmm-kksssssh

There was a hard thump on the glass wall. He bounced off of it, realizing belatedly he had forgotten to turn. His skull throbbed.

thrmmm-tissssshhrrrkkkk...

Hi eyes snapped open, panicked adrenaline flooded his veins. As much as he hated that sound, he hated far more what happened when it stopped. He knew what followed, but it couldn't happen now. Not now!

The water began to recede.

He pounded on the glass, out of frustration more than anything than anything else. The rooms on either side were empty and silent.

Eggs! The eggs were here! They couldn't do this!

The water continued to drain away. His tail touched the rocky bottom of the tank as the top of his hair grazed the air. He braced his arm around the clutch, as if he could shield the water in. It sank down around his ears.

He could see it in his mind's eye, the two precious orbs shriveled and dry. It would happen in minutes. His stomach churned.

The water fell down to his shoulders, the gills on his neck clamped shut. His lungs kicked in, sucking in the stale, terrible air.

The water had stopped falling. Mercifully, several inches above the eggs which remained submerged. The interior was lowering down.

His shoulders shuddered, panic still wracked his body. His entire being thrummed with instinct to fight, to tear and kill whatever threatened the eggs. That was right.

This was all wrong.

There was nothing he could do.

A light glared in his face.

“Please, we need you to remain calm.” He looked up at the man before him. He opened his mouth, full of sharp teeth and hissed.

It was Him.

“No, now enough of that.”

His was different when he had spoken with the Monster those weeks ago. Now, he wore all black, with another black garment on his head. It matched the two companions he was with.

Oddly, the bizarre thought that popped into his mind was dressed this way, all four of them seemed to match.

The Monster was nowhere in sight.

“Yes, that's right. The Chancellor doesn't need to know about this.” Obi-Wan held up both hands placidly, signaling for Rex and Cody to get the gurney. He kept his eyes fixed on the Mer, crouched warning over his clutch. If he so wished, he could easily alert half the manor of their presence here.

“We're going to get you out of here.” Gold eyes narrowed at him. His tail wrapped tight around himself. “The eggs as well. All three of you.”

Obi-Wan knelt down, bringing himself to eye-level. He smiled.

“Yes, you do remember me, don't you? It is you, isn't it Anakin.”

“An!Kn.” The sharp click and whistle cased Rex and Cody to flinch, looking to the doors. He really should know better by now, but he couldn't help but feel a flicker of delight at giving the humans a fright.

“Now you know I can't pronounce that. Please, you need to be quiet. Unless you'd like to stay, of course.” Obi-Wan took a large metal case from Cody, offering it over to Anakin over the rim of the tank.

“This is for the eggs. Will you help me?”

The moment drew out. Slowly, unblinking, Anakin reached out with his good arm, guiding the box into the water, letting it fill to the brim. He reached for one egg, then paused. In a flash, he lunged forward. Fingers roughly gripped and twisted Obi-Wan's hair.

“No!” Obi-Wan threw a hand out. Rex and Cody had both drawn handguns out. “No!” He hissed “It's alright.” He turned, facing Anakin head on.

A long, poised and meaningful stare filled a heavy silence between them. Neither blinked, or breathed.

“I promise.” Obi-Wan whispered. “With my life I will protect them.”

His fingers loosened. Obi-Wan stepped back.

“We don't have time for this.” Rex warned.

“We must make time.” Obi-Wan watched as Anakin gently placed the eggs into the crate side-by-side.

Obi-Wan secured it, dialing the settings onto a panel on the front.

“We have six hours to get them back to the facility.”

“As long as the scramble on the security system does its job.”

“Alright, my friend. It's your turn now.”

Anakin leaned forward, his elbows crossed on the walls of the tank, watching the odd procession. Cody wheeled in a gurney from the outside. Fortunately for them, the tank maintenance room was only down a short corridor, through a servants entrance around the side of the manor. There was easy access to park outside.

Anakin looked grimly at the gurney, then back to Obi-Wan. At least this one had no restraints he could see. He raised his arms, allowing Obi-Wan to lift his torso while Cody gathered up his tail.

The three worked quickly and quietly, wrapping wet towels around the thin planes of his caudal and dorsal fins. Obi-Wan applied the same treatment to the ventrals on his arms.

Feeling thoroughly ridiculous and off balance, Anakin was wheeled out into the clean (and blissfully cold) night air, then into the back of a van. A large tub filled with ice and salt water was waiting there which he was lowered into, towels and all.

Rex and Cody got into the front, while Obi-Wan stayed in the back with Anakin and the case.

The next moments were tense and silent. Hardly anyone breathed, the tires over the gravel and the engine deafening in the quiet night.

After a few moments, the van picked up speed. The men began to breathe again. Anakin could only assume they made it far enough from his Prison, that they had made it out.

Anakin thrust his good arm out, gesturing insistently for the crate.

“Yes, of course.” He handed it over, letting Anakin clutch it close to his bare torso “Please, mind yourself. They're not the only important cargo here. Your fins are going to sustain more damage if you-”

“K!ttt!”

Rex, Cody and Obi-Wan all flinched at the high-pitched whistle, the van swerved on the highlway. Rex swore.

“If he did that in the manor-!”

“But he didn't.” Obi-Wan corrected him firmly. “I think he quite understands the situation. I think he's also had quite enough of people telling him what to do. I told you he was remarkable, not that he was particularly polite.”

They drove on into the night.

Chapter 2 Notes:

Thank you so much to everyone who kudos'd and commented!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

When Anakin was faced with another tank, his rage was a sight to behold.

Never mind this one was much larger, just shy of 50,000 gallons. The perfect temperature, even outfitted with flora that would have been much closer to his native environment. The Castilon Aquatic Rehabilitation Facility was not the largest or most impressive Center on the West Coast, but it had been the home of several important leaps in the understanding of Merbiology in the last two decades.

Anakin took his time arranging the eggs carefully around the rocks, tugging up kelp, seeing to several other minor little details fathomable only to himself.

At first, Obi-Wan figured he was settling in nicely. He had just begun moving onto the next tasks with a hot cup of tea in mind when Anakin apparently determined that the eggs were safe, the environment free of predators or threats.

Then, he turned.

His tail slapped dangerously the walls of the tank. He whipped in circles, doing rapid laps. If he didn't know any better, Obi-Wan would say he was enjoying the extra freedom he finally had been afforded. Anakin turned and dove down into the access tunnel. It dipped beneath the bulk of the tank before coming up to a wide, shallow pool specifically designed for his kind to access medical care or other assistance.

He burst through, throwing a massive wave across the floor, thoroughly soaking Obi-Wan up to his ankles and screeched.

“Anakin, stop!” Obi-Wan yelled, his hands over his ears as Rex and Cody were similarly doubled over. Anakin thrashed, lunging for Ob-Wan, teeth gnashing.

“No, we did not bring you to the ocean, let me explain!” Anakin took a deep breath, filling his lungs for another go. Obi-Wan's hand clasped over Anakin's mouth, the other bracing the back of his head.

The act stunned Anakin enough to give him pause. He blinked up at Obi-Wan with an expression that clearly read;

Are you stupid?

He may as well have shoved his hand inside the mouth of a shark.

“Throwing a tantrum will not get you home any faster.”

Anakin angrily nipped the meat of Obi-Wan's hand. The sharp points pressed against the flesh, but did not break it. Rex and Cody were still holding their breath.

“You're nowhere near the Bering Sea. We need to supply a boat, get provisions, keep you hidden,” A high-pitched wine began emanating from the back of Anakin's throat, threatening to grow to a glass-shattering pitch.

Obi-Wan gave him a vicious smile.

“Very well then. You want the ocean?” He wrapped his arm around Anakins' wet, bare torso, heaving him back up onto the gurney. The sudden change took the merman by surprise, throwing his arm around Obi-Wan's neck as he hauled him across the lab floor.

“Open the doors!”

“But Captain,”

“Do it!”

Wide double doors opened wide. A broad, blue expanse of water opened wide before him. Anakin's heart soared. He practically scrambled over Obi-Wan, who stopped the gurney short at the pier, hauling Anakin's bulk over the side.

Obi-Wan leaned on the railing, watching Anakin's dark tail thrash and disappear in a swirl under the water.

“Captain-”

Obi-Wan held up a hand to quiet Cody at the lab entrance. He held up four fingers, slowly counting them down to one.

The water surface broke open, Anakin breaching violently. His gills sealed up as he sucked in the air. Foamy algae matted his hair.

“How does the bay taste? The temperature to your liking? Alkalinity suit your palette? The old power plant has been shut down ten years now, but I should think the runoff still lends a nice bouquet to the water. It should take a week for you to start losing scales I think. It'll take you far longer than that to make your way up the coast.”

The two stared at one another. Anakin looked murderous. Obi-Wan, unimpressed.

“Shall I go fetch your eggs for you then?”

Seagulls took off in wild alarm as another screech disrupted the early morning quiet of the pier.

“He shouldn't be outside like this, Captain.”

“It's alright, just a bit longer.”

Obi-Wan leaned against the rail of the pier. Anakin sat a ways away on the rocks, staring out over the bay and at the ocean. The desperate longing plain and clear on his face was a devastating sight to behold. He leapt down from the pier, carefully picking his way down across the rocks. Anakin must have noticed his approach, but did not acknowledge him. Obi-Wan sat down on a smooth wide stone beside him.

The sky was a hazy shade of pink, casting rosy over the waves. Thin fingers of gold were just beginning to cast themselves over the horizon. Birds cried softly overhead. Apart from this, the pier held the heavy quiet in the early hours before the town would wake.

“I'm not trying to deceive you.” Obi-Wan said at last. “You can go, I mean it. You're strong, I have no doubt you'd make it home.” He picked up a smooth rock in his fingers, turning it over. “I understand entirely if you chose not to trust me, but the eggs will be safe here.”

Anakin tensed, but just as quickly it bled out of him. He was exhausted, his nerves thoroughly shot. He tore his eyes away from the horizon, watched Obi-Wan's hands.

“There's a she-Mer who will be here in a week's time for a check-up. Our contingency plan was to have her take them in as her own. We've already forged the documents six months ago that she was carrying. She's from an extremely reputable facility. The young would be released when they're of age.”

Anakin huffed, gnashing his teeth together.

“I suppose that's plan B now. We didn't expect you to be so... attached. She will be here in a week. Your transport back to the Bering – you and eggs both if you wish – will be ready in four. You may leave alone whenever you'd like.”

The Mer blinked up at him, looking suddenly lost at all the options presented at once. Obi-Wan smiled. It was the first time he had seen an expression other than rage or exhaustion on his face. It suited him.

Anakin looked back to the lab doors.

Obi-Wan deposited Anakin back onto the wet dock of his tank. To add further insult to injury, he needed to be thoroughly hosed down before making his way back into the water.

Anakin complied, if only to keep every drop of the rotten bay water away from his clutch.

“Its not so bad.” Obi-Wan turned the hose on Anakin's hair, who was angrily scrubbing the detritus out with his fingers. “Plenty of your cousins thrived in this climate. The bay itself was once the natural habitat of a colony. It was the reason this research facility was established.”

Anakin glared outside, as Cody slowly closed the heavy doors. His shoulders slumped when they sealed shut.

“I'm sorry, dear one. You've escaped the Chancellor for now, but he's not going to take kindly to you going missing. We can't afford to take too many risks.” Obi-Wan turned off the hose. “I think that will do it. You can go, if you'd like. I know you're very tired.” He turned to leave, only to find Anakin's hand had grabbed his wrist.

The merman was looking away from him, his expression sulky.

“What is it?”

Something curious brushed against Obi-Wan's mind. A thought, a feeling that was not quite his own. He blinked, resisting the sudden animal urge to tear himself away from Anakin's grip. He knew better than to reject such a blatant display of connection from one who had been through so much.

But the sensation was so strange. It was warm, slightly bitter. A quiver of distress. An undercurrent of unimaginable relief.

Obi-Wan was left breathless.

“You're... welcome.”

Without a second look, Anakin dove back into the access tunnel, finning his way back to his clutch on the far side of the tank.

“You should get some rest, Captain.”

“I'm not the one who drove five hours through through the night. You should get some rest yourself, Cody.”

His first mate joined Obi-Wan at the side of the tank. He whistled softly.

'We really got him.”

“I'm still quite shocked things went so smoothly.”

“We did our homework. I just feel bad for the Chancellor's dogs. They're going to have one hell of a stomach ache from the sedatives.”

“They'll be alright.”

After re-entering the tank, Anakin had almost immediately collapsed, fast asleep at the bottom of the tank. His shoulders rose and fell, bubbles issuing every so often. It had been late in the evening when Obi-Wan had picked him up, and they were now well into the morning.

Obi-Wan recalled a summer he had spent in Italy getting acquainted with native Mer colonies off the coast of Sicily. That summer had been blistering hot in ways he had never experienced before, even here on the West coast of California. During those Mediterranean nights, the air hung heavy and stagnant. He recalled many exhausted days on account of sleepless nights, tossing and writhing on sweat-soaked sheets. It was a poor approximation to the discomfort Anakin had endured for well over a year in the Chancellor's fishbowl. Obi-Wan had a strong suspicion he would be out for a while.

“Do you think those eggs are alright?”

“I was wondering the same thing. They're not meant to travel so much.”

“I was thinking... you said that the Chancellor was convinced they weren't fertile.”

“Yes. We were still in talks about the operation as of two days ago. I'm relieved they didn't find a way to force him on their own terms. Hopefully it serves as a sufficient red herring. Someone else in the trade privy to the situation would see it as the last chance to take off with the set before the eggs became far too capricious to move.”

“That's not what I was getting at. It's odd, isn't it? A bull- sorry, a male his age.” Cody corrected himself after receiving a pointed look. “He's young. You don't usually see them that possessive over a clutch. I thought for sure he was gone when you dumped him in the bay.”

“There are a number of logical and psychological reasons one would make the choice he did. They were unknown waters. He's bonded with them, they were his only company after months of isolation in a very stressful environment. I think the most real answer in this situation may be the simplest.”

“And that is?”

“He is kind.”

Anakin snarled around the leather strap in his mouth, against the two men who held him pinned. The strap wouldn't hold for terribly long, his sharp teeth dug and twisted about it.

A tall, regal man stood before him, his dress and mannerisms impeccable. He dressed in dark clothing, a sharp relief to the white sterile room below the Monster's study.

“Now, you will listen to me.” Dooku crouched, bringing himself to Anakin's eye-level. He spoke deliberately and evenly. “I know you must be hungry. If you behave tonight, you will eat.”

Something was forced over his head, around his shoulder. A sleeve of softest gold silk was secured around the stump of his arm. Another sheet around his back, hiding the scars behind soft decadence.

“The Chancellor has many important guests in tonight, and you will not embarrass him. All you need to do, is follow my rules.” Dooku placed his hand on top of Anakin's head, whose vision went red with fury.

“Rule one. You will not remove these vestiges hiding your unsightly deformities.” He flushed with indignation from his ears down to his chest, glaring straight ahead at the far wall as he was manhandled. A careful assortment of gold bangles, collars and other finery was methodically applied to his person. They were heavy, weighing down his arms and neck and head.

“Rule two. You will not sulk, or hide out of sight. Rule three – now listen,” He grabbed Anakin's chin, giving it a rough shake.

“You will behave in a manner according to the station of the household you inhabit. The Chancellor's next gala after tonight is in two week's time. That will be when you have your next chance at a meal if you do not follow my instruction.” He enunciated carefully.

Back and forth.

Thrmmmm-tsssss

Back and forth.

He was determined to spend the entire evening this way. Swimming tight laps, glaring straight ahead. Humans in prim suits or glittering dresses milled about the ballroom. Every so often they came up to the tank, pointing, tittering, rapping on the glass.

Thrmmmm-tsssss

Anakin ignored them, refused to look at them. Most of them eventually lost interest. Some of the more brazen ones smacked it outright with the palms of their hands, which reverberated unpleasantly across his very small world. He swam on, angrily fantasizing of the glass shattering under their knocking, the water spilling out over their party. Anakin seizing them by the throat and choking the life out of them.

SMACK

The hit on the glass struck close to his face, just as he was turning. It shocked him off course. He rolled back, briefly stunned. He gaped for a moment at the couple shocked and delighted at breaking his trance.

These humans were so absurd. What did they want with him? Couldn't they leave him be? It had been hours. He was tired. He was hungry.

More of them buzzed over, seeing that they now had his attention. Faces crowded around, pressed close. Rapping and knocking. They were along the full length of the wall, there was nowhere to go.

Anakin pulled back and lunged at the glass, hissing and snarling, his fins flaring out around him menacingly.

The crowed laughed and clapped. There were dazzling lights flashing in his face now from the devices they held. He hated those.

His senses overwhelmed, he turned and fled for the safety of the alcove between the walls. between the filters He curled up there in the dark, arms over his head. Anger and humiliation burned through him.

Thrmmmm-tsssss.

Later that evening, the tank had lowered again and the garments were removed. He had not gotten anything to eat, but a few hard smacks around the head for his trouble. Overall, his infraction had been minor. It could have gone worse.

“Now, there. You did try, didn't you?” Anakin was splayed out across the clean while floor, his face throbbing. Dooku had struck him hard enough to knock him clean off of the pedestal. He had a fantastic talent for dealing a great deal of pain while somehow leaving no mark.

“Much better than last time. I'm quite proud, really.” He grasped Anakin by the hair, pulling him up. “Of course, there's always room for improvement. Do not worry. I will be there step by step to guide you.”

Thrmmmm-tsssss.

Anakin lay on the sterile glass rocks. He sucked on one of them, which helped a little to ease the knots in his empty stomach. He could see his own reflection in the glass, his eyes looked dull and distant.

He couldn't let them break him, if only just to deny him the satisfaction.

Anakin groggily woke up several hours later, stretching his arms above his head, his tail out in full. What struck him first was the odd absence of any boundaries. The sensation of his fingers or fins pressed against glass had become almost as ever-present as the sound of,

Well, the sound was gone. It was quiet.

Not utterly quiet, still a very faint, muted murmuring of humans behind glass but -

His eyes snapped open, looking around.

The events of the previous day rushed back to him at once. Instead of glass stones there was soft silt, granite rocks and sea grass. He could see shapes moving beyond the distant glass wall, but it was far off enough he could nearly say he felt alone.

After a quick check on his clutch, Anakin winged a quick lap around the tank, taking a proper look at his surroundings for the first time.

It was difficult to tell if the exterior habitat was as large as those around his Prison. The ceiling of the facility was high, wood and concrete paneled walls wide and far off. Large enough for an orca pod to swim through with ease. His was one of a few large tanks that ran side-by-side across its length. While it was difficult to tell, his appeared to be the largest. At one end of the Facility, he recognized the wide doors. The ocean was just on the other side.

Had He been lying? Could he really go if he wanted?

On the other end were smaller doors, more fit for the human kind. There were windows here, looking into sterile white rooms with lots of odd equipment he couldn't recognize the immediate use for.

His tank was circular against the wall. Windows were here as well which he presumed went outside, but they were fogged over, only letting indirect light in. Anakin paused. There was a rivet in the tank he hadn't noticed last night, or early that morning rather.

A metal bar protruded a few inches into the tank, spanning it from floor to ceiling. He examined it closely, gnawing at it in a few places for good measure. Grasping it with his good arm, he tugged – and it slid.

When he did, a metal panel folded outward, effectively covering a section of the glass with an opaque screen.

Anakin's eyes widened.

Several researchers yelped as the folding privacy screen was pulled rapidly across the full span of the glass windows of the tank, slamming shut so loudly the panes quivered dangerously.

“I thought you might like that.” Obi-Wan approached the tank, a thermos of tea in hand. Anakin was currently delighting in slamming it open and shut on the far side of the tank. He paused, the screen open just wide enough for him to look through at Obi-Wan, the two at eye-level.

“I told you, this tank was designed for your kind. It took some time to outfit for our guests but the privacy is always quite appreciated.”

Anakin slammed the screen shut.

Obi-Wan leaned on the side of the tank, giving it a very gentle tap with one knuckle.

“I do promise I'll leave you be. I thought you might want some breakfast.”

The screen cracked open, a gold eye glaring at him suspiciously.

“Something to eat.” He clarified. The screen shut again, but a moment later he heard the splash of the merman surfacing at the wet dock.

The van from last night was parked near the tank. The door kicked open, a young girl launching herself out of the driver's seat.

“Mr. Santos had a great haul today at the market, I got great deal on his surfperch."

Ahsoka threw opened up the van doors. The metal tub Anakin had been transported in the previous day was gone, the interior now full of fresh fish packed in ice.

"I splurged on some bigger ones as well, Cody told me-" She cut off, seeing the filters running on the Large Tank. "Hey! So did you really get him? Oh, wow!” She came around the van, seeing Anakin at the wet dock. He was propped up on his elbows, gold hair curled around his eyes, his tail sprawled out over the side. He was peering over suspiciously, trying to see around the doors of the van.

“He's got gold eyes!”

“And shark teeth, please give him some space.”

“Is he really from the ocean?”

“Yes, I'm hoping that-”

Obi-Wan watched as Anakin's tail arched high overhead, realizing at the last moment what he was about to do. Ashoka yelled with surprise as a plume of water was thrown out over the concrete floors. Anakin threw himself over the walls of the wet dock.

“Ashoka, get back!” Obi-Wan seized her around the stomach, hauling her back to the far side of the lab.

Obi-Wan watched in disbelief as Anakin sailed out, grabbing the door of the van as he slid and hauled himself up inside. Ice skittered over the floor as well now as the metal sheets were upturned. He emerged with an impressively large salmon in his mouth. In a surprisingly graceful maneuver for a one-armed merman out of water, he slid out and across the slick floors back to the dock.

“That was hardly necessary!” Obi-Wan chided angrily as Anakin disappeared into his tank.

“That was amazing.” Ashoka cried.

Ahsoka didn't find it quite as amazing after being tasked with mopping up the water from Anakin's escapade.

“So is he really guarding a clutch?”

“Who told you about that?” Obi-Wan was sitting at one of the tables on his laptop, checking the news for any word on the Chancellor's break-in.

“Cody. Can I see them?”

“This isn't an aquarium, Ashoka. Whether or not you see them will be up to our guest.”

Ashoka huffed.

“Well, I'm the one cleaning up his mess.” She said with a pointed look at Obi-Wan.

“In exchange for some very lucrative college credits, yes.” Obi-Wan agreed. His eyes flicked back to the tank for what felt like the hundredth time this morning.

“And this sort of behavior is a potential game-changer to how we understand their behavior in the wild.” She threw her arms out, water from the mop splaying dangerously close to Obi-Wan's chair. “This could make my thesis, Professor!”

“We need to check his vitals sometime in the next few hours. I daresay you'll get quite the closeup then.”

He learned back in the metal folding chair, crossing his arms. Obi-Wan did have an office in the facility which was far more comfortable, but he couldn't fathom the idea of leaving the tank side now.

That strange current of foreign sensation danced at the back of his mind. A background chatter of emotions that he couldn't quite place, only knew they were not his own.

No, he could place them. Perhaps he was too afraid to admit it to himself.

The screen around the tank was still pulled shut, but he knew that Anakin was settled, relaxed – possibly on the verge of another nap. That he was full of food that satisfied him – perhaps properly so for the first in a very long while. He was finally beginning to understand that he was safe, that he would not be harmed here.

Ordinarily, Obi-Wan would be relieved beyond measure to know this. He had worked tirelessly for the better part of a year to get to this very point.

But how he knew... it was a frightening notion to consider.

His thoughts strayed to his office. The mostly barren bookshelf held a comprehensive library of all professionally published works on Mer biology and physiology. There was one in particular that posed the notion of certain species being able to use a means of communication that went deeper than the echolocation that they were known for.

Obi-Wan's old mentor was a great man, but he had always considered that notion a little too absurd to wrap his mind around. The scientific community had ridiculed him for years on his unconventional practices and theories– and up until the end Obi-Wan couldn't help but agree with how far-fetched it all sounded.

He sighed deeply, the familiar feeling of regret, shame and loss suffused him.

There was a splash at the wet dock. Anakin had surfaced, looking distressed.

“What is it?” Obi-Wan hurried over. “Is it the eggs?” He recognized the low crooning sound as one he often used around them, if a bit lower and more insistent.

“Did you come out to apologize?” Ahsoka offered, brandishing her mop angrily.

“Are you feeling alright?” He knelt down, moving to feel Anakin's forehead. The Mer flinched back violently, hissing on reflex. Obi-Wan froze, his hand in the air. He laughed apologetically.

“No, I suppose that's all wrong anyway, isn't it? Your body temperature doesn't regulate the same way- oh,”

Anakin had leaned forward, pressing his cheek to Obi-Wan's palm.

Despite the cold temperature of the water, his skin was warm, not clammy as one might expect. He crooned again, a guttural sort of purr. Anakin relaxed, leaning further into the touch, suddenly desperate for it.

“Oh, Anakin.” Obi-Wan murmured. Moving very slowly, he placed a hand on his shoulder, his thumb brushed against the scattering of black and gold scales there. How long had it been since he was touched kindly? Obi-Wan shifted into a more comfortable sitting position at the wet dock, Anakin gripped the collar of Obi-Wan's tweed vest, pressing closer, burrowing his face into Obi-Wan's neck.

The flicker in Obi-Wan's mind swelled, and in a sudden rush, it bloomed. Gates opened, and a heady rush of warmth flooded his senses. Bright tendrils ran through him, anchoring him in place. His vision went white.

Obi-Wan.

Notes:

Castilon Bay is loosely based off of Morrow Bay in California.

Chapter 3 Notes:

Thank you so much for everyone who commented so far!

Chapter Text

“We've arrived, Obi-Wan.”

“Hm?” The young college graduate stirred groggily. He was curled up in the passenger seat of the truck, having slept for most of the lengthy ride out of Juneau. “What time is it?”

“A bit past nine.”

Obi-Wan stepped out of the truck, stretching his arms far overhead. This far north in the summer, it was impossible to tell the time of day. He rubbed one eye, looking out over the beautiful panorama. A protected natural harbor, flanked by tall pine mountains on either side. Far off on the horizon, an unmanned lighthouse sat among the rocks.

Qui-Gon took a moment to take in the view with a deep, satisfied breath.

“Not quite as exciting as the beaches in Sydney.” Obi-Wan remarked. The lighthouse was probably the only sign of civilization around for miles.

“At least you won't have to worry about getting stung by any jellyfish up here.” Qui-Gon said blithely. Obi-Wan immediately flushed with indignation.

“Will you never let that go, Professor?”

“My dear pupil, I promised to take the secret to my grave and I will.” He started down the worn dirt road to the beach. “Still, it was a fine lesson in not believing everything you see on television.”

“Professor!”

It took them another twenty minutes to get from the road to the beach. Their conversation and cajoling easily segued into comfortable silence, the two sharing trail bars and tea from Qui-Gon's thermos. The two kept a watch on the mouth of the harbor.

Obi-Wan shrugged off his parka jacket as the day warmed. There were butterflies in his stomach. He had tried not to press, or pry, but he had been waiting for this day for months now.

Up until now, he had only ever studied Mer in captivity, or in books.

“Ah, there she is now.” Qui-Gon said, after some time. He lowered his binoculars, handing the pair over to Obi-Wan. “Do you see? They're coming in around the lighthouse.”

Obi-Wan peered through. He could see the ripple in the water. A swell and crest of a fin moving beneath the waves. His heart leapt up into his mouth.

“I see it!”

“Shmi has been spending the last few summers in the harbor here to raise her child. They'll likely be here until the season turns in September.”

“Shmi?” Obi-Wan blinked up at his teacher. “Qui-Gon, you're not supposed to name them when they're in the wild.” It was one of the most basic rules for any sort of biological researcher or conservationist.

“Oh yes.” He answered idly, moving on now down to the shore. “That is very highly unprofessional to do. Wild animals should always be given a number designation, especially those tracked for research.”

He turned back to Obi-Wan with a knowing smile.

“However, it is considered rather rude to do to friends who already have names of their own.”

Qui-Gon led his pupil down the natural jetty of black slate rocks exposed by the low tide.

Shmi met them where the rocks became a bit too slippery to pass on foot, breaching out of the water to greet them.

Unlike those in captivity, Shmi had a hardy, world-worn look about her that she wore extremely well. Dark hair was tied in knots, adorned with a few small shells and fish bone sharpened with odd deliberation. There was a bag of tightly woven fibers of what appeared to be sea kelp slung over her shoulder, the same kind wrapped around her chest and down her waist.

“Hello, my friend.” Obi-Wan and Shmi clasped hands. “I want you to meet my pupil, Obi-Wan Kenobi.” Shmi eyed him with a wary smile the bare suggestion of a nod.

“Obi-Wan,”

“Oh! Yes, right.” He scrambled for his pocket. “Ah, we... I got, well – this is for you.” He produced a small box.

“Take it out of the case first, Obi-Wan. She doesn't want to be given anything she can't use.”

Shmi rested her elbows on the rock, watching Obi-Wan flounder with the same patient amusement as Qui-Gon Jinn.

“Don't put the box down on the rocks either, she'll take offense to anything that looks like littering. Right, back in your coat, we can get rid of it later. Okay, now.”

Obi-Wan cleared his throat, his face very red. He offered the small object out to Shmi.

“This is for you.”

She looked down at it, then turned away to the water with a sharp click and a whistle.

For a moment, Obi-Wan was left wondering what he could have possibly done wrong. Had he offended her? What did it mean when a wild Mer rejected a gift?

There was a splash, and another head popped out of the water.

Bright gold hair, lanky limbs and sharp toothy grin. The boy burst forward to the jetty, entirely unafraid of the two strangers. Shmi had to throw her arm around his middle to keep him from jumping clear out of the water.

“Ah my, you're growing up fast Anakin.” Qui-Gon Jinn crouched down on the rocks. Anakin was chattering animatedly in unintelligible dolphin-like clicks and whistles – seemingly oblivious or uncaring that he couldn't be understood.

“I think she'd like you to give it to him, Obi-Wan.”

“Are you sure, Professor?”

“Yes, I think so.”

Obi-Wan took a step forward, crouching down to eye-level with the two Mer.

Anakin had stopped talking now, looking up at Obi-Wan with large blue eyes.

“Um, this is for you...Anakin.”

“An!Kn!”

Obi-Wan flinched violently, throwing his hands over his ears at the sharp sound. Qui-Gon laughed, and Shmi croaked disapprovingly at her son. Anakin wriggled free of her arms, diving under the water for the object that Obi-Wan had dropped into the harbor. He appeared just a moment later, leaping clear up onto the rocks to sit beside Obi-Wan.

“Careful,” Obi-Wan raised a hand. Anakin made an unhappy sound, clutching the gift close to his chest.

“No, I'm not going to take it, you just need to mind the edge...”

Anakin had already managed to prise a few tools from the swiss army knife, now examining each one closely. His bright blue tail slapped happily against the water, much like how a child might kick their feet. His scales cast brilliant refractions of deep, rich teal and cyan in the morning light.

Obi-Wan sat back, in awe of the moment.

“It's remarkable.” He managed to tear his eyes away, looking up to Qui-Gon. “I've seen Mer children a few times before. I've never seen them so friendly.”

Qui-Gon smiled sadly, looking quite distant.

“Anakin has his mother. He has his freedom, and he's healthy. I daresay most of the children you've seen may not have known any of these things, let alone the luxury of all three, Obi-Wan.”

Obi-Wan

“Obi-Wan!”

He gasped, his eyes flew open. Obi-Wan was soaked through, clothes clung to his body, his hair askew around his eyes. Somehow, he must have lost his footing and slipped into the wet dock.

Ahsoka and Rex were standing a few yards away. Ahsoka's hands were clamped over her mouth, eyes wide, Rex was brandishing his tazer gun.

“What on earth are you doing?” Obi-Wan demanded.

“Are you alright?”

“Alright? I'm sitting in two feet of water and you're aiming a tazer at me!”

“Not at you!”

Anakin was leaning over Obi-Wan. His eyes wide, his pupils very small. He was not hissing, but there was a very real and clear threat to his stance. His shoulders back, chin high. Angles sharp, skin battle-scarred. From this angle, Obi-Wan was momentarily rendered breathless by animal-instinct shock, echoing back to ancient muscle memory that made mankind fear dark and unknowable waters.

He was looking at an apex predator.

“Anakin stop this.” Obi-Wan willed himself to remain calm. He knew what everyone was thinking. Anakin was much stronger than he appeared to be. In the water, five times so. It wouldn't take much trouble at all to drag Obi-Wan through the access tunnel and into the tank if he so chose.

Moving very deliberately, Obi-Wan eased himself away from the Mer. The atmosphere relaxed.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, fortunately my phone is still on the desk.”

The two helped pull Obi-Wan up, Anakin clicking unhappily from the water.

“Enough of that.” Obi-Wan turned to Anakin, who was glowering spectacularly. “I'm going to change. Rex, please round up some volunteers to prep the examination room.”

“You think he's ready for that, boss?”

“We'll have to take that risk. If he has any internal injuries we can't delay checking any longer.”

Anakin's chatter was more insistent now, irate at being ignored.

Obi-Wan.

“We already know he's suffered at the hands of the Chancellor, we will need to know the extent in order to make sure he receives sufficient treatment while he's still here.” Obi-Wan's said quickly – probably a bit louder than necessary - excused himself and all but ran to the stairwell.

The Castilon Bay Mer Rehabilitation and Research Facility was comprised of two buildings. One of them was the shell of an old warehouse - initially built to store and manage supplies during World War II. The remainder of it was built decades later when the place was renovated and repurposed into a marine research facility.

The larger, older building served to hold the aquatic tanks, as well as garage space for the small fleet of boats and vehicles they used to conduct field studies. The newer building was better suited to house their medical equipment and operating areas.

The odd leftover space in the warehouse - previously used for the foreman to manage activity - was now a cozy office space for Obi-Wan. With the comfortable, moth-eaten sofa and adjacent bathroom, he had on more than one occasion slept over at the center when he didn't quite feel like making his way back to his solitary one-bedroom apartment outside of town. As such, it had a few changes of clothes fresh and ready for him.

Here, Obi-Wan splashed some cold water on his face, combed his hair back into its usual neat order, and took a few deep breaths. He quieted his mind, and resolved to come up with the best solution to handle this odd situation.

There were too many people here, and none of them knew the entire truth.

It was best to wait.

When he returned downstairs, he was surprised to find that Ahsoka sitting at the wet dock with Anakin, propped up on his elbows was leaning over her shoulder. With his tail under the water, and with Obi-Wan far enough away to miss his fins and the small scattering of scales about the small of his back, he could have passed for two friends sitting together at the side of the pool.

“What have you got there, Ahsoka?” Obi-Wan asked. Anakin greeted him with his low croon, before looking back to Ahsoka's tablet.

“I'm showing him Padme. It's wild professor, I think he can tell who she is.”

“That may not be wise.” Obi-Wan sat down beside Ahsoka.

Anakin sidled up beside him, resting his head on Obi-Wan's shoulder where he could continue to watch.

“Mer have been known to imprint on potential partners very easily.”

“It's just a picture.”

She held up the tablet a bit higher. It was a lovely photo of the mermaid. Obi-Wan recognized it as one used quite frequently in advertisements for the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Long, dark hair tumbled over her shoulders and splayed out behind her in the water. A lovely pearl tail caught the light in a fetching manner, highlighting a full spectrum of color that reflected off of her white scales.

“It was quite the story when she laid the eggs. Even more so when they were stolen.” Anakin was nuzzling Obi-Wan's neck insistently. If only to keep himself from being pushed into the pool again, he rubbed the back of Anakin's neck, which seemed to relax him immensely.

“I can't believe they made it across the country in one piece.”

“Yes. Only a very small number of people would have had the money and the expertise to pull it off.” Obi-Wan said darkly. He didn't much enjoy considering the possibilities.

Over the next few summers, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi would make several more trips down to the Alaskan harbor to meet with Shmi and Anakin.

When needed, Qui-Gon brought medical field kit out onto the rocks to do routine checkups. He examined Anakin's teeth as his adult set grew in, helped Shmi with an ingrown nail on her little finger. Overall, Obi-Wan was astounded at how generally healthy they managed to keep themselves, despite living on their own in the wilderness.

Qui-Gon did his best to keep Anakin's focus on the exercises around signs and shapes, but the boy's attention span was thin. Anakin preferred to work on and show off his trinkets, or to dissemble anything remotely mechanical that was left within arms reach of him. One summer, they lost three different portable radios before Anakin managed to figure out how to successfully put one back together again after taking it apart with the help of the swiss army knife that he kept carefully tied around his neck with a woven kelp rope.

Eventually, they worked out that Anakin was far more interested in sign language lessons when Obi-Wan joined in on them.

A system developed where he Anakin would practice the exercises until the small clockwork timer went off. Then, Anakin got to challenge and thoroughly trounce Obi-Wan in a swimming race to the far side of the harbor and back again, which never failed to amuse him.

“He's picking it up fast.” Qui-Gon said, watching Anakin playing during a break with his mother in the water. Obi-Wan was splayed out on the rocks in his swimming briefs, chest heaving with exhaustion.

“I can't take much more of this, Professor.”

“Your time is improving immensely. If your career as a marine biologist doesn't work out, you could make quite the impressive competitive swimmer.”

“Why don't you race him next round then?”

“He prefers you.” Qui-Gon said warmly, handing him a water bottle. “Stay hydrated.”

Obi-Wan gave him the best glare he could manage and took the Nalgene bottle.

“Well, he's got the grasp of noun modifiers anyway.”

Obi-Wan said after propping himself up, taking a long drink. “If we can get him thinking about relative clauses by the time summer ends I'll be quite impressed indeed.”

“He's remarkable.” Qui-Gon said, with such an infinite fondness in his voice it gave Obi-Wan pause. “It's taken years for me to build up the trust we have with Shmi. Children in the wild are so rare, and we're just beginning to understand the extent in which those in captivity have been traumatized.”

A warm breeze swelled low over the harbor, carrying in the scent of the tide. They would have to move off of the jetty soon once it became covered by the waves. Out in the harbor, Shmi and Anakin were playing a sort of game of chase, breaching every now and then to splash one another playfully.

“Still, I strongly suspect aside from all this I will never meet another Mer quite like him. He's going to grow up to change the world's perception of his people."

“Shouldn't you be getting his opinion on this grand plan?” Obi-Wan asked.

“The entire purpose of these exercises are to achieve exactly that.”

Anakin popped up out of the water, shrieking in alarm.

“What is it Anakin?” Qui-Gon asked, as Obi-Wan grumpily clamped his hands around his ears at the noise.

Anakin threw himself gracelessly onto the rocks, accidentally slapping Obi-Wan wetly with his tail as he did so. He thrust his arm out to Qui-Gon to examine.

“That's quite the nasty splinter. You should know better than to go messing about with dry wood salvage.” Qui-Gon examined him with gentle hands. “And you've tried to gnaw it out, only to end up digging it in deeper, hm? You're lucky this happened during our visit.”

Qui-Gon took out a pair of pliers, along with some antiseptic. “Hold still. Good, just like that.”

Anakin made a face but refused to cry out as Qui-Gon removed the small spike from his hand.

“Excellent. You're quite the fine patient, Anakin.” He praised, disinfecting the wound.

When he was confronted by the sterile white medical rooms where they conducted most of their operations, Anakin immediately pitched into a panic.

He threw himself to the floor, and shortly after the gurney he was on had been thrown into a wall. Cody's arm was nearly torn clean off. Anakin's tail lashed out, striking an impressive dent into a metal water drum, nearly causing it to burst.

For the second time that day, Obi-Wan had to order the crew back away from him as Anakin crammed himself into a corner between the crushed water drum and the wall.

“What is it, Anakin?”

The Mer had his arms over his head, white and trembling. Obi-Wan blocked the rest of the Facility from view with his body, creating a smaller space with just the two of them.

Anakin looked up at him, in a moment showing a flash of raw vulnerability.

Obi-Wan's heart ached. He wanted to promise he would not let anyone hurt him. He would protect him, keep him safe. But it was so painfully clear, he had already failed in this task as thoroughly as any one person could fail at anything.

“Here,” He offered Anakin his hand. “I'll stay with you, you can hold on to me.” He said quietly. “If they hurt you, you can hurt me, if you wish.”

Anakin blinked up at him, his breathing slowing a bit. He gave Obi-Wan the same sort of disbelieving glare that Obi-Wan had when he put his hand over Anakin's mouth.

Obi-Wan had coaxed him down and back to the wet dock. Anakin clung to him angrily. Obi-Wan ignored the notion of the spectacular bruises he'd likely have tomorrow.

Not for the first time, Obi-Wan had to applaud Dr. Che's way with his patients as they compromised to do as much of the medical exam as possible from the familiar location.

“Well, I don't see anything that would warrant a catscan.”

She shone a light in each of Anakin's eyes. Anakin's composure had returned, as if nothing had happened now. Obi-Wan didn't like to think of the implications behind his tantrum, considering how easily he had once accepted medical attention. His stomach sickened at the thought of his online calendar, with its alert prompting him to confirm the details with Sheev Palpatine's assistant of the operation that he hadn't yet been informed would no longer be taking place.

“That's very good. I don't think we'll be using the medical wing for anything other than very dire emergencies.”

“We'll know for sure after the tests come back. Blood pressure is normal. As expected, there's a bit of hypertension in the lungs.”

“Is it very serious?”

“I would strongly advise against putting him in any situation where he is unable to access the water on his own, with an absolute maximum of two to three hours, considering his Genus. Fortunately, it is very mild. There are no indications of long term damage.”

Obi-Wan sighed with relief. A crippled respiratory system was far too common among rescues from the black market Mer trade. Owners looking to display their exotic pets, stranding leaving them in too-shallow tubs or pools, inevitably resulting in organ failure of the lungs. He blamed years of television and media with human actors portraying Mers comfortably existing out of water indefinitely.

In reality, the natural lung capacity for Mers varied wildly by species. Some could lounge for hours on sun-warmed rocks. Freshwater pond varieties were nearly amphibious in nature, skipping easily across shallow marshes. Others breached only when necessary. Some would go their entire lives under deep ocean waves.

Obi-Wan was sadly reminded of one species in particular, a very fetching variety that boasted bio-luminescent scales that saw a massive surge in popularity among the wealthy elite nearly a decade ago. In just as many years after their discovery they ha all but vanished from the wild, due to excessive poaching and a fundamental misunderstanding of their needs.

Fortunately, in the last few years Chairman Satine had managed to pass some progressive legislation that had made it vastly harder to own Mer privately as a part of personal collections. It effectively eliminated all but the country's most wealthy from keeping private specimens.

Obi-Wan.

Anakin tugged on his collar, bringing him back to the present.

“Yes, I'm here.” Obi-Wan murmured, brushing his lips against Anakin's knuckles. Dr. Che moved on to examine his amputated arm, gently examining for scarred muscles across the shoulder and injured back.

“He's been through quite a bit here, but everything looks to have healed over just fine. If you can get him to go through some basic stretching exercises we can see if any physical therapy is necessary before he is released.”

Dr. Che began packing up her equipment.

“I think we'll leave the eggs for today.”

“Yes, I think that's for the best.” Obi-Wan agreed easily. Anakin had them quite well tucked away amid a wall of kelp and any tall rocks he could find, obstructing any view of them from outside the tank itself. In order to examine them, one would need to physically enter the tank. Unspoken, it seemed to have been agreed among all members present that a maximum of one Anakin attack per day would be best.

“If any harm had come to them, I'm sure we would know. I'm sure they're fine for now.”

They're fine.

Anakin hummed, burying his nose into Obi-Wan's neck once again.

“It's fine.”

“It's not fine! We're so close!” Obi-Wan said, exasperated. Qui-Gon was packing up their things. The days were rapidly shortening, and an undeniable chill was beginning to settle over the landscape.

The season was turning.

“We cannot stop Shmi from migrating back to her family colony now that the season is changing. She signed it to me today, they'll be leaving tonight to winter further out at sea.” He handed Obi-Wan his backpack.

“It's a long swim for a child Anakin's age. If they don't get past the straits before the waters freeze they'll be stranded here.”

Obi-Wan scowled. Who knew how much Anakin would forget in nine months? Would he even have any inkling of an interest in their work when he and his mother returned? If they returned?

There was a sharp chatter at the jetty. Anakin had breached there, looking frantic.

Obi-Wan jogged over. As soon as he was in reach, the boy grabbed his sleeves, looking surly.

“I'm sorry, I don't want to go either.” Obi-Wan sat down next to him. He was surprised to realize how much he meant it. “But we'll be back in late spring. Oh, what's this?”

Anakin held out his hand, offering Obi-Wan something smooth and white, carved into a rough notched square.

“Is this something you found?”

Anakin huffed and chattered, shaking his head. He glanced over to Qui-Gon who was up by the car, then looked back to Obi-Wan. With slightly unsteady hands, he signed;

For you.

Obi-Wan smiled, signing back as he spoke.

“Thank you, Anakin. What is it?”

Whale bone. I … cut... symbol...

He furrowed his brow, looking frustrated and thoughtful. He halfheartedly tried one or two signs, but didn't quite seem to have the vocabulary yet to represent the meaning.

“It's beautiful Anakin, thank you. I love it.”

Love.

Anakin crossed his arms in closed fists, mimicking how Obi-Wan had just signed it. He threw his arms around Obi-Wan's middle, who pulled him in tight.

“You'll look after your mother won't you? And stay safe. Anakin, stay away from other people. They're not all like us.” Obi-Wan nuzzled the top of Anakin's head suddenly feeling wildly lost and distraught.

Was there something more I could have said?

Obi-Wan reflected on that summer with Anakin, watching Cody close up and bid him goodnight.

He crossed his arms tightly, listening to the last of the cars drive off as the Facility closed for the evening. The quiet settled, leaving only the ambient hum and gurgle of the tanks and filters. Obi-Wan barely heard them anymore.

For all the good it did you...

He swallowed, turning back to face the tank. Anakin was there expectantly, hovering at eye level, his webbed hand pressed to the glass.

Obi-Wan approached, Anakin watched him, patient and expectant.

He had not practiced it in years, but he certainly hadn't forgotten. He touched his hand to his forehead, giving the modified salute, followed by the lettering arrangement he'd been taught to associate with his own name.

Hello, Anakin.

Anakin watched him with an inscrutable gaze. His hand twitched, then flew to grasp his remaining stump of an arm.

DON'T.

The thought was loud and clear in his mind across their bond. Anakin turned and swam off into the tank, disappearing into the kelp.

Chapter 4 Notes:

Thank you so much to everyone who commented so far! I'm really glad to hear people are enjoying the work! Also thank you for the people who pointed out / made some continuity suggestions on the last chapter. This work is extremely un-beta'd (and covid is making it difficult to tell which USA Aquariums are closed for good or just temporarily!)

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

After Anakin's odd outburst, Obi-Wan was careful to give him space over the next few days.

Anakin ate voraciously, and slept very soundly. His body was hard at work healing itself. In the meantime, there was plenty of other tasks to be done at the Facility, which admittedly they had fallen behind on in the last few days with his arrival.

At least, that was what Obi-Wan told himself. Curiously, he tended to immerse himself in work which kept him on the far side of the lab, well out of range of the strange mental phenomenon that occurred whenever he strayed too close to Anakin's tank.

Within a few days, the bond between them had fallen silent, to the point where Obi-Wan couldn't help but wonder if he had imagined it entirely in the first place. Anakin was so expressive it wasn't too difficult at all to glean what he was thinking. It wasn't too far a stretch to assume that the voices in his head were a manifestation of his own imagination, simply filling in the gaps. It would be very easy to believe that, if he wasn't haunted by the rich melody of a song he had never heard before that had accompanied the phantom voice menacing his thoughts.

The thought of it kept him awake at night. He began awkwardly resuming nightly meditation – something he had not done since graduate school to manage his anxiety.

In Obi-Wan's place, Ahsoka delighted in being assigned most of the basic tasks around looking after Anakin, such as logging the water temperature and PH level, or keeping tabs on his food intake.

She took it upon herself to offer different types of fish to Anakin at once to see which one he would pick and discover his preferences. Despite knowing good and well that he would - in fact - get fed every day, it was still a constant battle between the two as Anakin was determined to distract or trick Ahsoka so he could make off with the entire selection.

On one such occasion, four days in, Anakin managed to do exactly that, making off into the tank with three large fish as well as the rest of her fruit danish.

“He's going to get fat.”

“He's going back up to Alaska, he could do with a bit more fat.” Obi-Wan answered, not looking up from his work. “Anyway, he's quite clever. Don't worry too much about being outsmarted by him.”

“He isn't outsmarting me, he's just a big jerk!” Ahsoka kicked the water in the dock, Anakin jeering at her from behind the glass.

“Hm, yes.”

“Are you even listening, Professor Kenobi?” Ahsoka came up to the desk. “He could end up taking your breakfast next time, you know.”

“Well, apart from the fact that I am working...” He sighed, turning the laptop for her to see. “The Chancellor still has not publicized Anakin's kidnapping, or contacted me directly to cancel his operation. I had hoped I wouldn't need to get in touch with him directly, and I'd quite prefer not to make a seven-hour round trip drive to perform surgery on a non-existent merman.”

“Anakin will be alright without you for a day, you know.” Ahsoka crossed her arms, her head tilted to the side. “Or even for a couple hours. Don't think I didn't notice you've been staying here every night since he arrived. Even if you won't go within ten feet of Anakin's tank. If he was going to bite you he definitely would have done it already.”

“That's not any of your business, Ahsoka.” Obi-Wan said, rubbing his eyes tiredly. “At any rate I may be able to follow up with Chancellor Palpatine for a proper x-ray of our friend he may have on record, if I can think of a way to bring up the topic naturally.” Obi-Wan mused. “He was meant to provide one with the initial information proceeding Anakin's operation, but never did.”

“What's wrong with the x-ray machine we have in the lab?”

“Ah, I forgot you weren't here that day. Ask Rex, he'll tell you why himself. Anankin isn't fond of medical labs, it seems.”

Obi-Wan stood up and crossed his arms, standing beside Ahsoka to watch Anakin. The Mer was swimming rapid laps around the tank, looking for any stray fish he may have missed. He quickly veered to a stop when he saw he finally had Obi-Wan's attention. He spun in a tight circle as he approached the glass at his eye-level.

As he did, the feather-light touch brushed against his mind, like fingers trailing up his spine.

Obi-Wan shivered, bracing his hand over his mouth to stifle any sudden sounds.

“You okay professor?”

“Yes,” He said, rather breathlessly. “Yes I just, need some fresh air I think.” He turned and strode quickly out to the dock. He needed to focus. There were was something here that wasn't adding up. He couldn't let... whatever this was, distract him now.

The next morning, a squadron of police cars pulled off of the highway. Pylons were set up on the ramp, blocking any traffic to and from the town.

The Research Facility's white van was waived to a halt by a police officer waiting at the blockade.

“There a problem, officer?” Rex leaned out the window of his van at the blockade.

“May I see some identification, gentlemen?”

“Certainly.” Rex fished out and handed over the licenses for himself and his fellow researcher in the passenger seat.

“You two coming from the Research Facility?”

“We are.”

"May I have a look at the contents of your van?”

Rex sighed, and disembarked from the driver's side. He walked to the back, swinging open the doors to reveal the empty interior.

“Should we have a reason to be concerned, officer?” Rex crossed his arms, keeping his tone neutral and polite as the policeman boarded the back of the van, having a quick look around.

“We've received a tip off of some stolen merchandise that may be harbored at the Castilon Aquatic Center. We've got some men on our way there now.”

The police officer jumped down, giving Rex an apologetic smile.

“It may be a bad lead, but we've got instructions from top brass to take it seriously. Hopefully it won't cause too much of a disruption to your day. Just want to take a look around.”

“Well, I take it you found nothing of interest in my van?” Rex gestured to the empty vehicle. “We're picking up more feeder fish in the market next town over. Lot of hungry mouths to feed.”

“Of course, sorry to trouble you.”

Rex returned to the driver's seat, letting out a long sigh. The two men exchanged wary glances, but smiled politely to the police officer who shifted the traffic cones, letting them continue on their way.

“Hand me my phone? Thanks.” Rex pressed speed dial, calling it in. “Obi-Wan? It's Rex. You were right. We're on the highway now, they're on their way to you.”

“I suppose I can understand the need to drain the tanks, but really, you must admit this is quite excessive.”

A very short while later, the police arrived and presented Obi-Wan with the search warrant for the entire Facility. A team of specialists directed by Dooku accompanying them were now busily draining the large tanks and trawling through the sand, examining any compartment, container or closet big enough to hold anything larger than a Labrador.

Obi-Wan stood on the pier beside Dooku, watching two black sonar ships maneuver into the bay.

“Simply a precaution. With these, we will be able to pick up on any wildlife larger than a salmon.”

“I'm afraid you'll leave disappointed. Even if the Chancellor's pet was introduced to these waters, he would hardly stick around.” Obi-Wan pointed out.

“My old friend, we both are very well aware this is one of only three facilities that have the means to house a Mer within a radius of the Chancellor's manor who could have received it before it would perish from exposure.” Dooku explained slowly. “I am entertaining all options in which my employer's prized possession might still be alive.”

“Yes, of course.” Obi-Wan said crossing his arms across his soft cream sweater, his head bowed in solemnity. “Can I get you a cup of tea?”

“That would be lovely, thank you.”

“A Mako Blue.” Obi-Wan sat down with Dooku in his study sometime later, looking pensive. “I wish now I had gotten a better look at him when I first met with Chancellor Palpatine. There's only ever been... four held in captivity, if I recall.”

“Yes, all of them female. As the first male specimen of his kind to be kept domestically, he's quite priceless.”

“Even more so I would say, once he's been recovered.”

“You're quite confident of that?”

“I'd simply hate to consider the alternative.” Obi-Wan murmured. If one was crafty, there was almost as much money to be made with a dead Mer over a live one. Fins, scales, tears, meat. They were all highly valuable items of trade for those who knew how to access these black markets.

“As do I. Tell me, you studied the species in Juneau. How does he compare?”

“We only ever observed them from afar.” Obi-Wan hand-waived the question. “My work with Qui-Gon had more to do with migratory patterns.”

“Yes. I've said it before, your dissertation was quite well done.”

“Please, I don't wish to discuss it.” Obi-Wan said tightly, drinking his tea. “I'm sure you understand.”

“Yes, of course.” Dooku said with a thin smile. “Tell me, Obi-Wan. In the Facility there appeared to be two tanks capable of holding Mer, yet none present.”

“Is that an accusation?”

“Simply an observation.”

“The mermaid Cerasi is arriving in a few days from Monteray Bay.” Obi-Wan replied coolly. “We perform a routine exam every six months. While she's accustomed to the smaller tank, we'd prefer she use the Large Tank during her time here. When she arrives, we allow her to choose where she would be more comfortable.”

“Let her choose.” Dooku smiled, a chuckle in the back of his throat. “I do wish that you had reconsidered my offer to join my research team those years ago,” He said, shaking his head. “Such frivolous concerns are a quite the drastic waste of time and resources.”

“To each their own, I suppose.” Obi-Wan said with a bland smile. “We've always found that it is much easier to progress with Mer when they're given the freedom and dignity to choose cooperation.”

“I am quite familiar with Qui-Gon's dogma.” Dooku nodded. “You of all people must understand then, the necessity to recover the Mako as swiftly as possible. The Chancellor was well equipped for his very specific needs. Outside of his protection, I can only imagine how the specimen must be suffering.”

“A trawling accident.”

“It's not uncommon these days.”

A filter pumped water through the glass “tank” roughly the size and shape of a coffin. It was just wide enough and tall enough for a Mer to lie on their back, arms restrained at their sides, unable to lift their body comfortably. The top wall of the tank could be lifted in segments – head, torso, tail and fin, with varying restraints for each section of the body.

The model was used extensively by those who worked with Mer to effectively carry out medical examinations and procedures without Mer lashing out or hurting themselves or others. Because of the pumped and filtered water, this allowed Mer to be restrained in such a capacity for as long as an entire day - far longer than sensitive lungs might ordinarily allow.

After hearing word that Dooku had finally snagged their elusive friend in the rough waters off of Meroyuk, the Chancellor had his men reconstruct the device in preparation for his arrival.

It was called “The Cradle.”

“I trust your professionalism Dooku. I am sure you would not damage any goods that you believed might result in a lost profit for yourself - unless entirely necessary.”

“I assure you, such was the case.”

Anakin was torn between trying to track the men pacing around him and glaring ahead at the ceiling, where brilliant white lights were tracked onto him, searing his eyes. Even if he closed them, his lids burned red.

Perhaps, weeks ago he could have made a more valiant effort against such humiliation, but he'd been out of the ocean so long now, crammed in hot and suffocating environments for days on end.

He felt more dead than alive.

“I don't mind. Quite frankly I do think it was a misstep to outlaw the practice of humane amputation.”

“I agree. Far too many Mer end up harming themselves tampering with locks and machinery.” Dooku assented. “I don't suppose you'd like to make an exception? I guarantee it will ease his... adjustment into captivity.” Dooku traced his finger on the glass above Anakin's remaining arm, making a cutting motion across the limb.

“If I wished to have a pet that was less than extraordinary, I would not have taken you up on your offer, Dooku.” Palpatine said with his warm, grandfatherly smile.

“No, I quite relish the challenge of using other means than brute force to bring him to heel.” Palpatine reached into the water, letting his fingers twine around the silk of Anakin's dark blonde hair. The Mer thrashed and writhed, teeth gnashing with enraged indignation. The restraints whined, but held firm. Palpatine's eyes gleamed.

“Such a gorgeous temper. Tell me Dooku, how would you feel about extending your time under my employ? It seems I've recently come into need for a trainer.”

After several hours of combing, prodding, and upturning any and all aspects of the facility, the police and Dooku's team announced the Facility clear of any signs of illegal activity and began to pack it in.

“That went well.” Cody said, bemused. The envoy of cars were pulling out of the pier.

“I could use a drink, I think.” Obi-Wan said, sounding drained.

“That was the first time you actually spoke face-to-face with Dooku after all these years, wasn't it?”

“Yes. It's quite funny, I imagined confronting him for some time after my last summer with Qui-Gon.” Cody accompanied Obi-Wan back up to his study, where he retrieved a dusty whiskey bottle and two tumblers from a low cabinet. “It's not quite how I imagined the conversation going.”

“Best to avoid unnecessary risks.” Cody agreed, as Obi-Wan poured a generous few fingers into each glass.

“Well you should have at least let me take a shot at him.” Ahsoka appeared at the door, looking petulant. “We've been learning about his famous 'early split evolution' theory in class.” She made exaggerated finger quotes as she spoke, throwing herself into the remaining free chair. “It's been the foundational basis for old crusty boomers justifying denying Mer humane rights as intelligent organisms for decades.” She reached for one of the glasses, which Obi-Wan pointedly slid toward Cody, taking the other for himself.

“Yes, I'm well aware Ahsoka.”

She frowned, slumping down further in her chair and scrolling through her phone.

“Well, Rex is on his way back now. Anakin texted me.”

Obi-Wan snorted into his glass.

“Anakin can't text, Ahsoka.”

“He's been bored since you started ignoring him. I showed him how.” She slid her phone over to Obi-Wan. “He can only do emojis.”

“I haven't... been ignoring him,” Obi-Wan tried, turning his attention to the phone if only to avoid the skeptical, slightly pitying looks he was receiving from Ahsoka and Cody both.

Obi-Wan picked up the phone, a bit baffled to see the string of images before him.

“I think Rex is the cowboy."

About twenty minutes later, the van pulled back into the loading bay of the Facility. Obi-Wan took the stairs two at a time on the way down.

“Anakin – is he alright?”

“He's fine. The guy had a great day.” Rex jumped out of the van, stretching his arms above his head. “That mall cop running the traffic stop looked right at him, didn't even blink.”

Anakin, wrapped up in a summer scarf, a pair of sunglasses and a baseball cap leaned his torso out of the passenger side of the car, grinning toothily. Obi-Wan opened the door, and Anakin promptly lunged into the man's into Obi-Wan's arms, nearly knocking him clean over.

“No. They were looking for stolen merchandise. A fish in a tank or on ice. Not a person.” Obi-Wan pushed Anakin's hair out of his eyes fondly. He smelled like the sea and sun, a lovely bronze flush was already beginning to deepen his complexion. Was it wishful thinking, or was a scattering of blue beginning to return around the edges of his irises?

“We drove up the coast. Once we were sure they weren't following us, I let him go off the shore. I caught up on my reading and he spent the day finding oysters. Honestly I'm surprised the guy didn't turn tail and disappear as soon as he hit the water.”

“We already knew he wasn't going to do that. Anakin, please you're crushing me...”

“Well I can't believe that dumb name on the fake ID didn't give you away.” Ahsoka waved her hand as Rex helped Obi-Wan maneuver Anakin into the newly refilled and salinized wet dock. "Skywalker? That's just a lazy opposite of 'Ocean Swimmer' – you may as well have just gone with 'I'm-Definitely-Not-A-Merman-Jones.'”

“It's not a dumb name, and until you can learn to make your own fake IDs I get to choose them.” Rex said with a stern smile to Ahsoka, shoving her hat a bit further down her head. “C'mon Snips, I'll drive you home.”

Obi-Wan stood to go, but Anakin grabbed him by the ankle insistently.

“You should go back in the water.” Obi-Wan said, avoiding his gaze. “We don't want to further stress your lungs.”

Anakin rolled his eyes, looking away from Obi-Wan with a huff. He pushed his body forward so he was sitting on the edge of the dock, and held out his hand to Obi-Wan. In between his webbed fingers was a small shining baroque pearl.

Obi-Wan stared at it for a moment, then sat down beside him. He smiled, taking the small object.

“This is beautiful, Anakin.”

The Mer chittered, looking satisfied. He glanced around, as if to ensure no others were watching and leaned forward. He set his jaw tightly and made a fist at his chest and signed a quick counter-clockwise circle.

“... You don't have to apologize.” Obi-Wan replied quietly, looking at Anakin intently. “Least of all to me. Never to me,” His gaze lowered, voice suffused with regret. “If communicating this way is upsetting to you now, you don't have to do it.”

Anakin gave pause, watching Obi-Wan with an inscrutable gaze. He thought hard for a moment, awkwardly attempting a sign that normally required two hands. Still, Obi-Wan was able to determine;

Important to you.

“You are important to me.” Obi-Wan grasped Anakin's shoulders. He guiltily realized now, how his actions must have seen over the last few days after Anakin initially refused to sign for him.

“When Qui-Gon and I,” He bowed his head, suddenly finding the words lodged in his throat. “We only ever wanted to help you, Anakin. At least that's what we told ourselves.” He sighed, bowing his head. Anakin leaned forward, resting his temple against Obi-Wan's. His breath was warm on the man's neck.

“But, perhaps instead of teaching you to speak with us, we should have been working on how to communicate with you, in your fashion.”

No more running away? Said the lovely voice in his mind.

Yes, If you'll still permit me to try.

The heavy, slick ropes crashed onto the stern of the fishing ship, which bowed and heaved in the rough winter waters of the Bering Sea.

Something thrashed and fought viciously under the crushing pile of netting hauled up from the deep.

The crew roared and cheered, slapping one another on the back. Alive or dead, they had cleaved the beast from the water.

“Yes, well done.” Despite the pitching ship, Dooku walked with poise. Despite months of tireless hunting, he moved without hurrying.

Brilliant blue fins stood out bright against the ropes as their quarry thrashed and hissed, finally managing to detangle his torso from the mess, although his lower half was still hopelessly gnarled in the dense ropes.

“Pin him.”

It took several men to do so. A Mer in his prime, fresh from the sea was a difficult thing to contain. Anakin effortlessly threw off two men who had seized one of his arms, grabbing one of them and lunged for the neck with his teeth.

Before the blow could land, a black prod hit Anakin between the ribs. His body seized, his mouth frozen open in fury and pain as electricity shot up and down his body. Dooku held it there for a long moment. When he withdrew, a deep and blistering red welt was seared onto his stomach. He collapsed limply onto the salty deck.

“That's quite enough of that.”

More of the sailors had knives now, several with long-armed harpoons they held warily.

Anakin breathed deeply, pushing himself up on shaky arms. His gaze was disoriented. When he focused on Dooku, his lips curled into a snarl. He signed in aggressive, jerky gestures;

I am going in the water.

The crew collectively gave pause. They had expected a fight when they finally managed to hook the Mer With No Fear that had been the blight of fishing vessels for the better part of seven years. They had expected a lot of things.

You, can fuck a whale.

What appeared to be well-executed American sign language was not one of them.

Dooku's grabbed Anakin by the wrist, dragging him across the deck to the man's feet.

“That is a lovely parlor trick.” He said with a serene smile. “Should you ever attempt that again, I will have to remove your other arm.”

There was a beat of confusion as Anakin's world turned, his stomach slammed against the deck of the boat before his world dissolved into white-hot pain as Dooku's knife cleanly split his right arm in two.

Notes:

Qui-Gon was the one who taught Anakin how to sign "fuck."

Chapter 5 Notes:

Thank you to everyone who commented on the last chapter!

Chapter Text

“I'm not supposed to intrude on dreams. Mother always said it was rude, and I'm still not very good at it.”

Anakin held his hands behind his back, walking the length of the lab. “But you've been so slow on the uptake. You can't deny this is a lot easier.”

Anakin's hair, now dry in soft curls was pulled back in a loose bun. He was dressed very simply in a black t-shirt and jeans, looking healthy and bright, entirely comfortable in his own skin.

He was beautiful. But this wasn't right.

Something was odd.

“It's how you see me. Or, want to see me, maybe.” Anakin explained as he flexed his two hands, looking down at them with an unreadable expression.

“Either way, it's normal. Don't worry.” Anakin answered, approaching Obi-Wan. His view of Anakin was hazy, clouded. He drifted a bit closer, floating.

“This is probably a projection of... something. You're putting up a barrier. You'll need to fix it before we can communicate here.” Anakin gestured vaguely at the space between them. He sighed, putting his hands on his hips. “It's never been easy with you, Obi-Wan.”

Obi-Wan reached out, his hand hitting a smooth, invisible wall.

There was webbing in between his fingers. He was in the Large Tank.

Obi-Wan opened his mouth to yell, shout – anything. Bubbles spewed out.

He couldn't breathe.

“Obi-Wan, you're fine, you're dreaming! Stop panicking!” Anakin ran up to the glass. Obi-Wan flailed, clutching his neck.

“Obi-Wan!”

Water crashed over him and around him.

Obi-Wan was violently tossed through the cold, salty water. His grip scrambled, finding purchase on slick, cold rocks.

In was early June in that hidden bay in Juneau. The lighthouse stood impassive, cold and dark against the thin veneer of grey clouds. There was a great emptiness about the place that bore low and threatening over him. A deafening absence that rose acid bile up from his chest to his throat.

His chest heaved.

Bitter salt water, freezing foam spilled out of his lungs.

No, he couldn't be here. He didn't want to be here. Not this day.

Obi-Wan clung to the moss slick rocks of the jetty over the beating current of the cold water.

Somewhere, mobile phone was ringing.

White hot panic lanced him.

He knew what was waiting at the other end of that call.

Obi-Wan rolled off of the moth-eaten sofa, landing hard on the floor of his study. He continued to panic and flail, his heart pounding frantically, gasping hoarse and strangled for air that wasn't coming. After several, terrifying moments his body slowly calmed, wrapped up tight in the old afghan.

Obi-Wan got heavily to his feet, letting the strange dream fade away as he took in the morning. Through the port window, he could see mist laying low and heavy on the harbor in the dusky early morning. He shuffled about, filling the electric kettle and setting it to boil.

He was running low on tea bags. Ahsoka was right, he really did need to get back to his apartment sometime soon. His ficus would likely be reaching its limit, and he was nearly out of the spare sets of clothing that he kept in the drawer here.

As he headed into the small en-suite for a cold shower, the odd dream with Anakin – and the very unpleasant memory - had faded slightly into the background of his mind. It wasn't too usual, simply startling in how vivid it had been. Obi-Wan closed his eyes, leaning into the water spray.

A warm insistent nudging thrummed against the crown of his forehead, against the base of his tongue and the corners of his temples, he could feel him.

Anakin's flutter of concern. He could tell something had bothered Obi-Wan.

He knew that he should go down and see him to set his mind at ease.

The bond in his mind was growing stronger. Obi-Wan could feel him all the way up the stairs now.

What was more startling perhaps, was how quickly he had come to accept this as a normal aspect of their relationship. The one-armed mermaid childhood friend he had stolen from a highly dangerous billionaire now had somehow formed a psychic link with him.

And he was almost out of tea bags.

Obi-Wan filled his thermos, humming to himself a bit. Experimentally, he pushed the warm, content sensation to the forefront of his mind, mimicking Anakin's direction.

A delighted echo sang back to him.

Anakin's voice out of water was harsh and screeching, nails on a chalkboard or a knife on porcelain.

In Obi-Wan's mind, his voice was ethereal. Rich and haunting. Through their practice, Obi-Wan was beginning to identify the song that Anakin sang with him in mind – Obi-Wan's own song.

It was a beautiful, balanced and precise.

He could believe now the old stories – the first humans who interacted with the Mer. World-weary sailors after months at sea throwing themselves overboard with stolen hearts, only to be pulled down into the dark.

Had they heard such songs, echoing in their minds?

Obi-Wan took a sip of tea, clumsily attempting to hum a replication the last verse.

It was silly, really. He didn't sing anymore. But when he did, a bloom of pure warmth filled him, from low in his chest rising up around his heart, blossoming up wide across the back of his eyes and the base of his skull.

It seemed Anakin approved.

It was a lovely start to a very important day.

“Good morning!” Obi-Wan stepped out to the metal staircase that led down into the Facility. Cody was already there, running the usual check on the PH and salinity levels of each of the tanks.

“Morning boss.” He said, not looking up from his work.

Anakin swam up to the glass with a series of tight spins.

“A bit of a show-off, isn't he?”

“Whenever he sees you coming, yeah.” Rex chuckled

Obi-Wan!

“Hello, dear one.” He smiled, watching Anakin continue his series of intricate flips, fins splayed fetchingly.

“Is the medium tank ready?”

“Ran a check this morning. Everything's perfect. We've got some extra turbos are arriving tomorrow, but I don't think the algae will be a problem by then.”

“Yes, hopefully it won't be a problem at all.” Obi-Wan stroked his beard thoughtfully. “With any luck we'll only need a few days for the two of them to get acquainted. If all goes well, I'd like to have them sharing Anakin's tank by the end of the week.”

“It's 'Anakin's Tank' now, is it?”

“Well, 'the large tank' wasn't winning any awards for creativity.” Ahsoka spoke up from the research table. Her coursework was splayed out messily.

“Ahsoka, you're not due to be in today.” Obi-Wan said, a hand on his hip. “What on earth are you doing here, and so early?”

“I wasn't about to miss the look on Anakin's face when he realizes you're trying to get him laid.” Ahsoka grinned.

“Ahsoka, really. The situation is far more nuanced than that.”

Cerasi was the perfect candidate for the job. She came from a very reputable facility affiliated with Monterrey Bay. She was practically renowned in her own right in the Merbiology community, having taken in and helped to rear several orphaned Mer pups in the aquarium's catch-and-release program.

Obi-Wan had no doubt she would relish the opportunity to take in the eggs and be an effective foster parent, and the community would hardly blink an eye at her being in the sudden company of new young.

“End of the week, huh?” Cody spoke, getting back on track. “That's a bit soon. You think Anakin's going to like sharing his tank?”

“You've seen how he is, Cody. Anakin's starved for affection. It's clear he's eager to have a partner looking over his clutch.” Obi-Wan chuckled, crossing his arms “Really, I'd consider it to be a question of whether or not he can succeed in charming her.”

At 11AM sharp, the truck from the Monterrey Aquarium pulled into the facility.

Obi-Wan had managed to convince Anakin to shut the screen on his tank and stay inside while the visitors were in. Through their curious bond, Obi-Wan could still sense him sulking among the sea grass, curious and churlish at being told what to do.

There was paperwork to sort out, but it was all relatively quick and by-the-book. A team of four men carefully unloaded the large cylindrical pod. A state of the art thing, the vessel would allow her to be transported securely with a fresh, filtered water supply over longer distances. Because the pod was fully immersed with water, it was also able to act as a buffer which made restraints less necessary to secure her from jostling.

Obi-Wan tried not to grin at the thought of Anakin sitting in the passenger-side seat of the van with Rex. Apparently they had to pull over more than once so Rex could stop him from trying to pull the radio out of the dashboard.

As soon as the Monterrey van disappeared, Anakin threw his screen open and pressed himself against the glass, watching them unseal Cerasi's pod.

Obi-Wan!

Not now, Anakin.

He blocked out the simmering flare of irritation, focusing on his work.

The final seal unlocked with a pressurized hiss.

The red-haired mermaid sat up, blinking around the room. She caught sight of Obi-Wan, grinning widely. She chattered happily and leapt out of the pod into his arms.

“Hello darling!” He laughed, lifting her with ease. She was considerably lighter than Anakin, despite being a few years more mature. “You look fantastic, its wonderful to see you again!”

Cerasi's skin was healthy, her nails clean and her brilliant orange hair was neatly trimmed, clashing spectacularly with her emerald tail and scale pattern. With so much of Obi-Wan's career spent on sick and malnourished Mer, those like Cerasi were a rare and welcome kind to work with.

Cerasi bright smile fell after a glance over Obi-Wan's shoulder. He turned, startled to see Anakin braced against the glass of his tank, radiating a terribly dark and menacing energy. He glared unblinking at Cerasi.

“Anakin, what's gotten into you?” Obi-Wan paused, startled by the sudden shift in demeanor. He hadn't seen Anakin look so overtly hostile since their first reunion in the Chancellor's study. Cerasi looked particularly unbothered by the threatening display, her arms slung loosely around Obi-Wan's shoulders. Maintaining easy eye contact with Anakin, she shifted, allowing her cheek to rest against Obi-Wan's neck, nuzzling him deliberately.

Anakin's tail slapped the wall of his tank in agitation, bearing his teeth now.

“Really, Anakin!” Obi-Wan deposited Cerasi at the wet dock for her own tank, then rounded on him. The peaceful feeling of the morning was quickly draining away. This was not good.

“You can hardly be territorial of the entire Facility! The other Mer have never had a problem- What are you doing?” Obi-Wan snapped. Anakin was dragging his screen shut, looking murderous. Obi-Wan stalked around the tank after him, continuing to scold.

“Just what do you think you're going to accomplish? You have to try to get along with her!” From behind the screen, a plume of water rolled up and over the topside of the tank, soaking Obi-Wan thoroughly, causing him to sputter and snarl.

“You can't put that online, you know.” Cody said sternly to Ahsoka, who was filming the entire fiasco on her phone.

“I know. This is just for me.”

“Who taught you how to sign that word?” Obi-Wan shouted, aghast.

Still sopping wet, Obi-Wan walked around to the back end of the tank, where Anakin had left the screen partially open. This side of the tank was flush against the wall of the Facility, giving them some degree of privacy.

“Anakin  oh.” Obi-Wan had geared up to continue ranting, until he saw Anakin sitting at the bottom of the tank. His back leaned against the wall, and in his hand he held delicately cradled one of the pearl eggs.

Anakin normally kept them so carefully hidden.

“How are they doing?” He crouched own to Anakin's eye level. Anakin huffed, issuing a few bubbles but remained silent.

“I can't help if you don't talk to me.” He watched, transfixed by how carefully Anakin's thumb brushed against the membrane of the egg. At full strength, he could use that same hand to dent sheet metal. Obi-Wan sat down, leaning against the wall of the tank, leaving only a few inches of glass to separate them.

Obi-Wan considered for a long moment, then carefully reached out to the awkward, tenuous bond that linked their minds. It felt odd. Part of him still didn't want to believe it existed.

He closed his eyes, taking himself through some of his meditative steps. Blocking out noise, eliminating surrounding details.

The fissure opened, awkward and unsteady. Through it, he could feel an influx of foreign emotions.

Trepidation. Frustration. Anger.

Feelings without words was an unfamiliar language to him.

“Anakin, I don't understand...”

Anakin rested his cheek against the glass, eyes half closed. With utter ease, the bond between them opened, Anakin's presence rushing into his mind, pouring through Obi-Wan's memories. He felt himself flung back through a kaleidoscope of past events in rapid succession.

“You can find your way back yourself, can't you Obi-Wan?”

“I- yes, of course, Professor.”

“There's a good lad.”

A twenty-three year-old Obi-Wan smiled blithely. Qui-Gon disappeared into the crowd without him, deep in conversation with a tall and impressive academic.

A nine-year-old Obi-Wan tugged angrily at the grass. If they were going to go off and play, why didn't they invite him?

It would have been silly for Qui-Gon to realize why he had chosen sunflowers.

A twenty-year-old Obi-Wan paused at the alleyway, looking at the scrawny cat in a cardboard box. He thought it was strange how small and young she was. How someone so small could look after those kittens. Was she going to be alright?

“Are you coming, Obi-Wan?”

“-Oh? yes.”

They had a flight to catch. Still, the memory of that cat lingered for days, Obi-Wan feeling mildly nauseous from concern.

She was too small.

She wasn't going to-

“-Anakin, stop.” Obi-Wan said breathlessly, feeling thoroughly overwhelmed. He shook his head, trying to clear the memories. Half a dozen others had flitted through his mind with shocking clarity. Some were hazy, and barely there. But tuned into sharp focus of each memory surfacing was the complex matrix of emotions resonating with Anakin's mental state.

“Please - please don't do that again.” He said thickly, scrubbing his face. “This, whatever that was – it's all extremely new to me.”

Anakin watched with quiet confusion.

“I think I understand. Most Mer wait years after mating before choosing to have young. And only the very extraordinary manage the task on their own.”

Anakin crooned gently, his eyes looking very far-off and distant.

“It's understandable to be worried about them. But you aren't alone any more.”

Anakin looked up at him, eyes bright.

“We won't let anything happen to the eggs. Cerasi and I both,”

Anakin's face fell, first to one of distress, then anger. He moved in a flash, his tail slapping the glass sharply where Obi-Wan leaned against him, sending him sprawling back against the hard floor.

A sharp spike of rage and something that tasted like despair assaulted his mind as Anakin vanished into the kelp, clutching the egg close.

Obi-Wan, wet and befuddled returned to the main table where Ahsoka, Rex and Cody were watching him with carefully guarded expressions.

“Well?”

“Well... I suppose he needs some time,” Obi-Wan shrugged, crossing his arms. “In the meantime there was always plan B. If he doesn't wish to relinquish the eggs, we can't force him. It would destroy him.”

“That stint with the cops was a good practice run for the external incubator.” Cody nodded. “If we hook it up to a generator the eggs should manage the trip up to Alaska just as well as if they were sitting in the tank.”

“We wouldn't have to worry about Anakin getting lost if he wanted to swim alongside the boat anyway.” Rex agreed. “He's not going to let them out of his sight.”

“Do you think Anakin would be okay raising them alone?” Ahsoka piped up, her head on her hands. “Once we get them back to Juneau.” She looked to Obi-Wan, who set down his thermos slowly. “Mer never raise young alone. Especially not in the wild.”

“I know, Ahsoka.” He said thickly.

“It's never been documented before,”

“That doesn't mean,”

“The only ones that have ever been documented were always the mothers.” She continued, chewing on her pen cap thoughtfully. “And as many as I can remember, they were only documented because something had happened to them- Professor, are you alright?”

The thermos fell over, tea spilling dark over the table. Obi-Wan had doubled over, grasping the back of one of one of the chairs.

Cody was on his feet at once, bracing Obi-Wan's shoulders with his hands.

“Rex, go get the Captain's meds from his office.”

“Yeah, sure,”

“What's going on?” Ahsoka stood, looking fraught. “What did I say?”

Cody eased Obi-Wan's white-knuckled grip off the back of the chair.

“Anakin, where is he?” Obi-Wan's voice sounded weak and tremulous.

“He's alright, Cap. We got him, remember?”

“It's all my fault,”

“Hey Dumbass, get out here.” Rex rapped on the screen of the Large Tank as he returned to their side. He handed over two small pills and a glass of water, which Cody helped Obi-Wan take.

Anakin's head surfaced at the wet dock, looking quite ready to continue being angry and miserable until he saw Obi-Wan's state.

“Will someone please tell me what's going on?” Ahsoka demanded, hugging herself tightly.

Obi-Wan was sitting at the wet dock. Instead of his usual screeching or tantrums, Anakin had come over suddenly quite soft and demure, letting Obi-Wan wrap his arms around him, cradling him tightly to his chest. His face was buried in Anakin's neck.

He may have been saying something, but Ahsoka couldn't bring herself to approach. The scene looked so intimate.

“I thought the episodes would stop once we got him,” Cody sighed, joining Ahsoka. “He's doing a lot better, really.”

“Better?”

“The first few days after he saw the news was pretty dark.”

“What news?”

“She's in deep enough now, cuz.” Rex shot Cody a look. “Might as well show her.”

Cody sighed, walking around to the laptop on the table, running a few quick searches. “It caused a pretty big stir in certain circles. Once Obi-Wan saw the news, getting him here was the only thing that mattered to him anymore.”

He turned the laptop to Ahsoka, showing her the post. It was on quite a reputable Merbiology website, lauding Dooku for his stunning rescue of a rare species of Mer in the Bering Sea. In the photo featured, he was standing quite tall and regal in a tailored black suit.

In the background, the body of a Mer was mounted on a post. His arms suspended in a wide t-pose, one limb reduced to a mass of bloodied carnage. His head fell forward, hair obscuring his eyes.

At a glance, Dooku looked no different from a fisherman boasting a remarkable catch.

Eventually, Rex managed to coax Anakin into relinquishing Obi-Wan so he could take the man upstairs to get some rest.

The day continued on as normal. After all, Cerasi was here for more than just potential egg espionage. There were water samples to take and examine off of the sound, readings to take, and several other hungry specimens to feed.

Anakin emerged at mealtime, chattering at Ahsoka, his tail batting at the water in attempt to lure her over while she hauled a bucket of sardines across the floor.

“Seriously? You just ate. These things smell terrible anyway.”

Anakin pouted, glancing over to the far side of the facility. Cerasi was emerging from the lab on a gurney, escorted by Rex. Anakin stiffened, lunging forward over the side of the wet dock. He let out a high pitched shriek of alarm, causing Rex and Ahsoka to flinch angrily. Cerasi watched him unphased. She leaned forward, replying with a series of intricate clicks that carried a distinctly scolding tone.

Anakin's eyes went wide. Of all things, a delicate flush ran up the back of his neck.

“What was that about.” Ahsoka asked, as Rex returned Cerasi to her own tank.

“Considering that's the same ungodly noise he made when we tried to take him to the labs, hopefully she just told him to stop being a baby.” Rex straightened up, crossing his arms.

“Why don't you ask him yourself anyway? You two seem to be real chatty lately.”

“I think I've been hanging out with Professor Kenobi too much. Just sort of guessing, you know?”

She looked down at Anakin, who looked at Ahsoka, then down her her bucket, and back up at her.

“Fine.” She reached in, grabbing one of the small fish and threw it over to him, which was promptly swallowed whole. “Ugh, gross!”

Anakin grinned, vanishing back into his tank.

With the screen closed, the water in his tank was blissfully dark. Anakin could allow his eyes to relax, his pupils blown wide as his deep water vision was able to take over. He could see the microscopic plankton and algae in the water in spots of ultraviolet. The sight made his heart ache for his home waters, for the vast endless black of the night sky one could only truly love from the heart of the ocean, a blazing sea of stars, the arcing edge of the galaxy in full view.

Anakin settled around his eggs, full and tired and forlorn for his mate.

He let the memory of the night sky fill him, reaching out to Obi-Wan through their bond. He could sense him, somewhere in the floor above him. Distant and unreachable as the stars. His mind was far away as well, floating in the drug-addled mire that the men had used to soothe him.

Anakin rested his head on his folded arms, nuzzling into the cool silt.

He closed his eyes, pouring the memory into Obi-Wan's mind, letting it fill him and cool the frayed edges of his unconscious.

He hadn't seen the night sky in over a year, he missed it terribly. But he would give this memory to Obi-Wan, feeling him relax, his mind settling and easing.

If it would take away his pain, he would give him the stars.

Chapter 6 Notes:

Many apologies for the hiatus there! I needed to... figure out where I'm going with all this. And I did!
Thank you to everyone sticking with the story after all this :)!

Chapter Text

From that first night before Cerasi arrived, their dream sharing continued in earnest.

From the moment he shut his eyes and drifted off, he could feel Anakin pressing insistently against his mind from all sides. Relentless, ineffable, all hands and lips and soft touches. Obi-Wan couldn't feel him physically, but the sensation of warmth and closeness was intoxicating.

Anakin's song filled his mind, resonating with unused mental muscles in Obi-Wan's subconscious, strengthening their bond.

Each morning that followed, Anakin's voice was a little bit clearer and surer than it had been the previous day.

In dreams, the barrier between their minds fell away.

Anakin showed him ocean tides, glowing green phosphorescent with clouds of plankton where he hunted shoals of pollack.

The two walked down a mountain path outside a coastal village in Sicily, where the view of the Mediterranean went on forever.

He saw pods of whales flying overhead, watching from the ocean floor. Dappling sunlight dancing around their fins.

A fire crackled merrily in a cabin while the snow fell outside, drinking hot tea and whiskey while Qui-Gon read poetry aloud.

“Qui-Gon!”

Anakin tore away from Obi-Wan's side, moving to the couch. Their mentor didn't look up – only a figment of Obi-Wan's memory. But he looked calm and serene, long hair curtaining the lovingly-worn book in his hands. His voice low and warm and soothing.

“Now we have met, we have look'd, we are safe”

“I thought you might like this memory.” Obi-Wan looked out over the dark snow-capped mountains.

“We came up here for a Conference, but stayed two extra nights on our own.” He said wistfully, hugging himself. “I'd made a joke a while back... something about never seeing land away from the beach.”

His fingers brushed over an old Tiffany lamp that sat on an old side table.

How was it he could remember the tortoise-shell pattern of this lampshade, but not that conversation?

Anakin sat at Qui-Gon's feet somewhat awkwardly. Off his legs, he tended to keep his ankles closely locked together.

Obi-Wan watched them with a carefully aching heart. Anakin rested his head on Qui-Gon's knee. It was such a calm, quiet memory. He longed for Anakin to have had a true place in it, not to exist as an intruder years too late.

“As for an hour carrying us diverse, yet cannot carry us diverse forever;

Be not impatient – a little space – know you I salute the air, the ocean and the land,

Every day at sundown for your dear sake, my love.”

The fire cast a warm golden glow over the cabin, but not on Anakin. His body was dark and dim, an intruder in a time that didn't exist anymore.

Anakin watched Qui-Gon, looking equal parts adoring and pained.

“I'm sorry I failed you.” He spoke softly to the ghost.

“Anakin,” Obi-Wan clutched his chest, a sudden stab of panic seizing him.

In the distance, massive waves all at once crested over the mountains, crashing and shattering the landscape. The tide continued to swell, surging over their hilltop and battering the memory to pieces.

No matter how they started, the nights always seemed to end the same way.

The waves washed them up on a gray shore.

“Obi-Wan!” Anakin called out to him from the end of the jetty, but his voice was gone. The lighthouse cold and dark and impassive. It was going to rain soon.

The water must have been freezing, but Obi-Wan didn't seem to notice. He stood as the tide washed over his thighs, watching the horizon with horror.

A phone was ringing.

Obi-Wan woke with a start with the ringing echoing in his mind. He sighed, falling back on the sofa, looking up at the ceiling of his office. Anakin's voice faded from his mind, a few lingering words like foam on a tide.

Your fear drives us there every time.

“I don't mean to.” Obi-Wan ran his hand over his face groggily. “I know it's a dream, it's not real.” As he grew more alert though, Anakin's voice weakened and faded until only emotions were left.

Sadness. Longing.

Frustration.

“I know, I'm sorry.” He stretched, running his hands through his hair. They had run into that same disastrous ending every night that week. Anakin's careful guidance to strengthen the bond between their minds often reaching the sudden and inevitable halt at the memory of the gray-sky beach.

It was happening more frequently now.

Perhaps soon it would be all they could manage to summon together.

Obi-Wan tried to shake the thought as he moved through his morning routine.

Shower, dress, tea.

His revived ficus was now flourishing in the window of his office.

More clothes had found their way to the repurposed cabinet currently doubling as an armoire and storage for spare stationary.

A mini fridge hummed in the corner.

The oblong pearl was still lying where he left it a few days ago after Anakin returned from his trip with Rex.

Obi-Wan sat down heavily in his chair, tea in hand. He picked up up, stroking the side, turning it over and over to admire it.

He remembered that day, years ago. Anakin had been delighted to discover that the swiss army knife Obi-Wan had gifted him on their first day could be used to make quick work of shucking open oysters. After that, he had hauled them up by the armful from their beds, cracking them open on the shore. One day, he had carelessly cast aside a dark pearl the size of a small marble.

When he saw how delighted Obi-Wan was over it, Anakin had dutifully brought him each pearl he could find from that day onward.

It was a good memory.

Perhaps the next night they could re-visit it together.

Obi-Wan opened the top drawer of his desk, pulling out a carved wooden box tucked away beneath various papers and stationary.

Obi-Wan added Anakin's most recent addition to the collection of two dozen other little pearls tucked away there. Misshapen, oddly colored, unique and all beautiful and infinitely precious to him.

Obi-Wan shifted them aside to the bottom, pulling out a threaded bracelet with a white token.

A small hole had been cut into it with utmost care, careful not to disrupt the pattern carved into the face. He considered it for a long moment, and slid it onto his wrist, running the rough pad of his thumb along the grooves, feeling it grow warm against his pulse.

Obi-Wan's doubts about wearing the bracelet again evaporated when Anakin saw it around his wrist.

He shrieked with delight, nearly pulling Obi-Wan into his pool in the process.

Anakin touched it with reverent fingers while Obi-Wan reeled from the sudden outpouring of affection and delight bombarding his mind.

Among the whirlwind of half-formed words drowning and muddled under the rush of feelings, Obi-Wan managed to catch the same one resurfacing more frequently than the others.

LOST?

“No, no I never lost it.” Obi-Wan braced his hand on Anakin's shoulder, who seemed to finally remember himself. The torrent of emotions subsided, allowing Obi-Wan to breathe. “It's... well, humans aren't meant to own things made out of whale bones.”

Anakin tilted his head, questioning.

“We used to, quite a lot.” Obi-Wan elaborated. “Some still do, unfortunately. But now it's considered to be a cruel practice.”

Anakin pouted up at him, looking churlish.

I lost yours.

“You lost what, Anakin?”

Another memory bubbled to the surface between them. Obi-Wan saw himself from Anakin's point of view as his younger self awkwardly presented the child with a swiss army knife on the beach, years and years ago.

“Ugh, I've gotten old.” Obi-Wan murmured at the sight of his young, delighted self. He stroked his beard tiredly. The memory was quickly inter-cut with the sudden flash of another.

A rain-washed boat. Sailors all around.

Obi-Wan gasped. Anakin drew back sheepishly. He clearly hadn't meant for that one to slip past his mental shields.

“What was that?” Obi-Wan said, alarmed.

Anakin bristled, his shoulders squaring up tight.

Don't.

The mental bond between them snapped shut tight as Anakin closed himself off.

“You- Anakin, were you really found on a beach?” Obi-Wan half fell into the water, grabbing Anakin's remaining wrist before he could dive back into his tank. After a long, heated moment, Anakin leaned forward.

Search your feelings.

His voice was dark in Obi-Wan's mind – clearer than he ever heard it before during the day.

You never believed their story.

A stunned, heavy silence hung between them. Obi-Wan's mouth agape, face pale with horror.

“Captain?”

“Yes?” Obi-Wan released Anakin as if burned, standing up quickly as Cody approached.

“There's a call for you.”

Anakin seized the moment of distraction to dive into the water, back into his tank behind the shuttered screen. Obi-Wan strode quickly over to the phone by the labs.

“Yes? Oh... hello.” His eyes went wide. He coughed a bit, trying to re-gain his composure as much as possible. “Yes. It has been a long time.” His voice went soft, fond. “I'd quite like to see you as well. Tomorrow? Yes, alright,”

As he spoke on the phone, he could sense Anakin probing inquisitively at his mind.

The prodding only increased as Obi-Wan ended the call, making the necessary arrangements with Rex for him to take an extended lunch for the next day for a drive into the city.

He had picked up on the scent of fluttered nerves about Obi-Wan like blood in the water.

“You need to stop doing that,” Obi-Wan sighed heavily, returning to the tank. “And I need to figure out how to get around this mental block disrupting my – our dreams.”

Anakin re-surfaced as he spoke, eyeing Obi-Wan carefully.

You know how.

Anakin's chin rested on folded arms at the side of the pool, looking up at Obi-Wan with a carefully neutral expression.

“I suppose I do.” Obi-Wan sighed, petting Anakin's hair obligingly. Anakin closed his eyes, enjoying the touch. He crept closer, resting his chin on Obi-Wan's knee. “I've been running from the memory of that day for... quite some time.”

Anakin leaned into the touch, but was carefully quiet. His body angled to hide his face from Obi-Wan.

“I will do it tonight. Consciously. I'll face what happened.”

Anakin looked up at Obi-Wan, placing his webbed hand over Obi-Wan's own.

That night, Obi-Wan closed up the Facility as usual.

Instead of retiring to his Office, or back to his apartment, Obi-Wan rolled out the mat he used for meditation in the main area of the Facility itself. He situated himself with his back to the wall, sitting cross-legged on the cool concrete floor of the Facility in front of Anakin's tank.

The room was dark, lit only by moonlight through the high frosted windows, a few emergency lights and the eerie green glow of Anakin's tank. Cerasi's screen was closed. By now, the two Mer had eased back from outright hostility to a neutral agreement to ignore one another – which Obi-Wan figured he must take as a win.

Anakin was still active, swimming laps around the tank, his eyes wide and blank like a shark. There was something oddly meditative about watching him, and the effortless way his muscled body propelled him through the water.

As a species native to wide, open oceans, Anakin didn't need to sleep as a human might. In this state, he existed in a strange limbo of catatonia like the way a Great White might.

It was still one of the great mysteries of the species how some Mer achieved this.

A greater one still was the strange way their minds behaved in such a state.

Obi-Wan took a few deep breaths, letting his mind relax.

He could feel the strange bond that he and Anakin forged together before him like a physical thing. While he was still learning, he felt with an odd certainty that he could reach out with his mind and touch it, or grasp it. That Anakin's consciousness would be waiting at the other side.

But tonight, he wished to do this alone.

There were some things he was not ready to share.

Obi-Wan breathed deeper, letting his mind drift past his current surroundings. Past his bond with Anakin, back into the past.

“Scrimshaw, is it?”

“Oh, no certainly not.” A twenty-four year old Obi-Wan adjusted his sleeve, pulling it taught and concealing the bracelet. “Just a trinket from a tourist bodega in Nome.”

“Ah. Yes, your field study in Alaska. Exceptional work.” Dooku leaned back in his desk, looking over Obi-Wan's folio.

“Thank you for taking the time to meet with me.” Obi-Wan leaned forward with an earnest smile. “I'm such a fan of your early work.”

“Not a fan of the later work, then?”

“Oh, no that's not what I meant!” Obi-Wan scrambled frantically. “I just thought – well, I suppose I was surprised. In light of recent studies, developing understanding in the field,”

“You're referring to my old pupil's theories?” Dooku looked up at him with a cold smile. “He made quite a splash these last few years with his tall tales.”

“Well, don't you believe they hold some merit?” Obi-Wan said, composing himself. “I mean, once you start to work with them, it's impossible not to see the comprehension and intelligence that the Mer culture has-”

“Qui-Gon Jinn has shown time and time again a clear disrespect of the scientific method.” Dooku enunciated clearly. Obi-Wan's throat felt quite tight. “Disregarding protected territories, forming unprofessional attachments to his research specimens. I daresay he would have redefined the field of Merbiology a decade ago if he didn't insist on discrediting himself at every turn.”

“Yes... I know.” Obi-Wan's shoulders slumped a bit.

“Spoken about it before, have you?”

“He's brilliant.” Obi-Wan said sadly. “I've learned so much working with him, but...”

“Yes, I know. That's something the two of us have in common.” Dooku's chilly voice thawed slightly, looking at Obi-Wan now with something resembling fondness.

“Obi-Wan, I asked you here today to speak with you about your future.”

Obi-Wan left the meeting that day with a lot to think about.

His mind continued to buzz even as the small passenger plane touched in to Juneau.

He remembered feeling a bit out of sorts at the small airport, pulling his heavy coat tight around himself, the wind sharp on his ears.

Every year, Qui-Gon would chide him as they left the airport that he should have packed a hat.

This year, he had arrived alone. Flown up two days later in order to make his appointment with Dooku.

To think, next year he may not even be here at all. An apprenticeship learning under one of the most respected names in Merbiology.

Qui-Gon's old mentor.

Maybe he could even find out why the two never spoke anymore.

Obi-Wan took a taxi into town, fetching the spare key from under the door mat at the small cabin just outside of town that had become their usual summer lodgings.

It wasn't much, but over the years had become a familiar place of comfort. Quiet study and reprieve from a more complicated world.

Qui-Gon's suitcase was half-unpacked in his bedroom. Obi-Wan quirked a smile, imagining Jinn taking only what he needed – the bare essentials – and taking straight off for the harbor to see if Shmi and Anakin had arrived yet for the season.

If Anakin arrived, that was.

It was troubling thought that Qui-Gon had mused a few months ago.

He would no longer be a boy.

Depending on his inclinations, he may have already left his mother's side to find a mate.

It was going to be a very important year for them.

Obi-Wan placed his bags on his own bed before wandering into the kitchen for a glass of water. He checked the small fridge, finding it predictably empty. It would be takeout tonight, most likely. They could go grocery shopping together in the morning.

The Farmer's Market ran on Thursdays. They could go then.

His phone was ringing.

Lucille always had such nice hand-churned ice cream. He could buy Qui-Gon one. They could sit on that bench with the daffodils that he liked.

Obi-Wan picked up his phone.

It was Qui-Gon.

That could be as good a place and time as any to let him know that he was considering accepting Dooku's apprenticeship.

“Obi-Wan”

He froze. He never heard Qui-Gon say his name like that before. “Obi-Wan, listen to me. There were boats disguised as fishing vessels in the harbor.”

Obi-Wan stopped dead, a strange buzzing in his ears.

“What-?”

“They took Shmi. I'm going after her. In my bedside drawer there is a revolver. Get it, bring it with you. Obi-Wan.” His mind reeled. The words sounded faint, far away. “You have to get to the harbor. Protect Anakin. Promise me.”

“Where are you going, Qui-Gon-?”

“Promise me you'll protect him, Obi-Wan!” He roared over the phone.

“I promise! I promise I will, Professor!” He said desperately, his mind flying into a panic, snapped suddenly out of his daze.

The line went dead.

Obi-Wan couldn't remember that frantic drive out to the secluded bay.

The sky and the ocean were gray.

And the harbor was empty.

“Qui-Gon!” Obi-Wan ran down the beach, sprinting to the end of the jetty. The tide was rolling in, making the rocks slippery and wet.

He cupped his hands together over his mouth,

“Anakin!” He yelled, a rasp of panic spiking his voice.

Only silence answered him.

Off on the horizon, he could see the the stern of a boat disappearing off of the horizon line.

Boats never came this way.

In that moment, panic and desperation seized him. He threw off his parka, dove off of the jetty and into the water. The shock of hitting the waves knocked the air from his lungs. The cold stuck into him like knives. In a split second he was both stunned and shocked through.

Outside the shelter of the harbor, the water churned, the maw of the abyss wide before him.

Obi-Wan was a strong swimmer.

But he wasn't thinking clearly.

He hadn't considered the riptide waiting beyond the protection of the harbor.

After coming up from the dark, the gray sky seemed to him a brilliant, dazzling white.

The waves roared, birds shrieked far overhead.

Bitter salt water, freezing foam spilled out of his lungs and onto the rocks.

A warm hand slapped his back. Clever fingers between his shoulderblades moved as the water in his stomach was heaved forward, spilling out over the jetty.

Obi-Wan gasped for air, collapsing onto the cold, wet rocks. Waves were spilling over them now, threatening to drag him back out.

A solid body lay at his side, bracketing him and sheltering him from the tide.

“Who-?” He gasped.

A man's form leaned over him, clicking with worry.

It took Obi-Wan a long moment to process who he was seeing.

It was Anakin.

How had he grown so much in so little time? His limbs were long and lean with hard muscle. His shoulders were wide and strong. There was so little of that childhood softness left to his face. At his hips bright blue pectoral fins had fully emerged from the round nubs that they had been previously. The spines of his dorsal fin had emerged, dangerous and dark blue.

“Anakin,” Obi-Wan's voice broke, tears running down his cheeks. “You're here, you're okay.” He choked, his laugh half devastated as their world fell apart. He reached up to cup Anakin's cheek, who grasped his wrist desperately, holding him there.

“You're so beautiful, Anakin...”

The Mer's other arm cupped the back of Obi-Wan's head. He drew Obi-Wan close.

In the next moment his mouth was on his in a burning, searing kiss.

Obi-Wan's mind went blank to the panic and fear. Anakin was strong, grounding.

His lips were warm.

Something bright touched the forefront of his consciousness.

Looking back, Obi-Wan understood what it was now.

Anakin's mind against his, the early precursor to a proper bond. But in that moment he was beside himself in panic and despair. In the years to come, he would never know how he knew, only that he knew what Anakin planned to do.

He knew so clearly in that moment, that he was going to fail Qui-Gon's last request of him.

“Anakin you can't.” Obi-Wan rasped.

The two parted, Obi-Wan clung to his wrists. “I've only just found you, don't – you can't go after them!” Panic flooded through him. He lunged as if to grab him, but was stopped. Anakin held him at a length. His expression was distant and pained.

“They will kill you Anakin! Or worse! You don't know what humans are capable of!” Obi-Wan begged, desperation poured into every word.

The tide lapped at his waist now. Uncaring, unyielding. Ceaseless in its deliberation. It would continue to rise, and then fall as it always had.

It payed no heed to the drowning soul on the rocks.

“Please, please stay with me! Don't go!”

Obi-Wan continued to beg even as Anakin tore himself away, vanishing beneath the rising waves.

He yelled even as the tide swelled up, and he was forced to retreat to shore.

Until his voice were gone and his tears had run dry, and he was truly alone.

After several days of searching, the coast guard found the remains of a wrecked ship against a scattering of rocks off the straight.

What the coast guard found would go on to become something of a local legend and a ghost story for years to come.

It was unclear how the ship had run aground. That day had brought rain, but no high winds or rough seas.

No valuables were taken, there was nothing in particular of interest on board. Although the ship was equipped as a fishing vessel, the interior seemed to have a more sinister outfit – with nets, harpoons and a wide array of munitions and knives.

The only body on the scene was that of Qui-Gon Jinn, a discredited and denounced marine biologist. With the exception of five bullet wounds in his torso, he was lying peaceful and still on the shore. Eyes closed, arms crossed over his chest. Smooth stones placed with careful deliberation on his eyes, throat, chest and the backs of his hands.

The birds avoided his body, as though he were merely sleeping.

The scattered remains of four or five men were littered about in pieces among the rocks – mutilated and mauled beyond recognition, an in the process of being eaten by crabs, gulls and scavenging fish.

Chapter 7 Notes:

Wow thank you so much for all of the feedback! I massively appreciate it :D!
Also, apologies for the slightly shorter chapter this time around. The next one is already halfway written, and the scenes didn't break up well together unfortunately!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Obi-Wan's eyes flew open, gasping for breath on the floor of the Facility

He couldn't breathe.

Tears were streaming down his cheeks, his fist curled on the cold floor.

He was awake, but he could still feel the cold salt water compressing his chest, washing over his shoulders, threatening to pull him back out into the sea.

He was shocked out of the impending panic attack by an actual wave of cold water as it rolled across the floor, soaking his knees. A strong arm pulled him in. Obi-Wan's body hit Anakin's solid, warm chest.

Obi-Wan! I'm here. I'm here, I'm so sorry...

“Anakin,” Obi-Wan gasped, grabbing onto him desperately.

I should never have left you. I should have come back for you.

The Mer nuzzled him desperately.

“Anakin, I can hear you,” Obi-Wan breathed, dazed.

Oh, Obi-Wan, I had to go. I couldn't stay there. His tail lashed forward, wrapping heavy around Obi-Wan's legs.

I was so angry, for so long. I thought that anger was all I would be able to feel again. I even hated you, when I first saw you again – in that horrible place...

“Anakin,” He pushed gently, easing room to breathe.

Anakin's blue eyes were bright with tears. Obi-Wan's cheek and neck were damp from them, though it was difficult to tell them apart from his own. Still, he thought there was a reason his chest felt light, his body less tired and sore from all those nights sleeping on a sofa.

Obi-Wan caught one of Anakin's tears on the pad of his thumb. Anakin held Obi-Wan's hand, bringing the digit to his lips. He touched the tip of Obi-Wan's thumb, then moved forward to place a salty-sweet kiss on Obi-Wan's mouth.

My Obi-Wan. Anakin's voice was rich and warm in his mind. Can you ever forgive me?

“Forgive you?” His voice was hoarse. “This, Anakin... all of this that happened to you. I should have been there. I should have protected you...”

Your guilt is so strong. Anakin pined. His eyelashes were soft on Obi-Wan's cheek. I'm not a child. I hurt you.

Obi-Wan's fingertips trailed down Anakin's maimed arm, tracing the webbed scar tissue.

“Shmi...” He asked, around the lump in his throat. “What happened to her?”

Anakin was carefully still and rigid under Obi-Wan's hands. He stared down, somewhere in the vicinity of Obi-Wan's chest.

I brought her body to her mate. We sang her last song. She is a part of the ocean now.

He didn't sound angry anymore, simply tired.

Obi-Wan closed his eyes, breathing out slowly.

He knew it. He never gave himself much room to hope she had survived. Obi-Wan could feel the last loose threads of his mind fold into place at the final piece of that jagged hole in his past.

“What happened to Shmi and Qui-Gon...” Obi-Wan was impressed by how steady he was able to keep his voice. “It was a tragedy, Anakin. They wouldn't want us to continue to suffer that day. Not when we've found each other again.” He cupped the back of Anakin's neck who melted into the touch.

Just like that? Anakin sounded quietly wondrous at the ease of Obi-Wan's forgiveness. You should hate me, for what I've done...

“I could never hate you.” Obi-Wan breathed, his fingers carding through Anakin's damp curls. The Mer's head rested on his shoulder, their bodies matched each-other well.

The two didn't speak for a long moment, basking in the thrum of warmth emanating between them.

“Anakin...” Obi-Wan said at last, looking down at him. “How can I hear you so clearly now? Can all Mer do this?”

I don't know. Anakin rolled onto his back so that his head rested in Obi-Wan's lap, looking up at him. Nobody else in our family could do the things I do. Mother wasn't surprised by it though. She said it was for- Anakin trailed off, looking thoughtful.

“Yes?”

Can we go outside? He looked to the doors.

“You understood everything I told you when you first arrived, didn't you?”

Yes. Anakin pouted, rolling away from Obi-Wan. But... I haven't seen the stars in six seasons. He glanced briefly back at Obi-Wan with a remarkably calculated tilt of the head – one borne from weeks of learning to subtly communicate without language.

It was highly effective.

Obi-Wan sat on the rocks of the harbor as Anakin did a few quick laps of the bay. Through their bond, he could feel the Mer's exhilaration to stretch long unused muscles. It was enough even to tolerate the sour taste of the water.

After a short while, Anakin returned to join him on the rocks. From here, they were hidden from the town by the bulk of the wooden pier. Anakin lay on his back, drinking in the view of the wide night sky. The night air was balmy and warm. The scales of his tail and those scattered about his arms gleamed in lapis under the hazy moonlight.

I always wanted to look at the stars together. All four of us. Anakin said wistfully, looking more content than Obi-Wan had seen him since arriving. His full arm tucked behind his head to pillow it. You never stayed past sundown.

“There wasn't much darkness to be had in the summer. And it was a long drive back to Juneau – the town where we lived. ” Obi-Wan explained. He chewed at his next question for a moment. He hadn't wanted to disrupt the quiet of the moment, but the thought continued to gnaw at him.

“Did the Chancellor hurt you?”

Yes. Anakin answered sourly, his eyes closed.

“I only meant, are you still in any pain?” Obi-Wan asked desperately. “You understand that was what we were trying to accomplish the other day, taking you into the lab-”

I'm fine, Obi-Wan. Anakin rubbed the stump of his arm absentmindedly. I know how human healing works.

“I'm not sure you do.” Obi-Wan leaned forward, earnest. “You gave us all a scare that first day you arrived.”

I'm alright, Obi-Wan. I'm strong... usually. Not right now. But I am.

Anakin said, sitting up. It seemed very important that Obi-Wan understand this. Images were pushed into his mind.

Unfathomable black water.

Massive creatures lurking in crushing depths with black eyes and several limbs, or crushing jaws filled with rows of teeth. Anakin knew only a savage sort of delight – the unparalleled easy confidence that all manner of creatures would flee before him.

Anakin wanted him to feel his strength, his ability.

But instead, Obi-Wan was seized by a primal surge of fear-induced bile well up inside of him. Some existential dread and panic over the vastness of the unknowable depths of the ocean.

He felt like he was being dragged in, sinking like a stone into an abyss that would go on forever.

“Anakin, stop!” Obi-Wan said with a strangled yelp, pressing the heel of his palms against the backs of his eyes, curling into himself.

Sorry, I'm sorry!

Anakin lunged forward, wrapping Obi-Wan up in his arms, his head tucked against Obi-Wan's neck,

I'm sorry, I forgot. Your kind fled the ocean.

Anakin nuzzled into him again, pushing soothing thoughts now through their bond.

“It's alright, I'm alright...”

Obi-Wan slumped limbless against him, letting himself be held. The sudden whiplash had left him briefly drained.

Anakin's body was warm against his back, his arms solid around his chest.

How long had it been since he had last let another person hold him?

Obi-Wan leaned his head back against Anakin's shoulder, looking up at the night sky.

This small, out-of-the way town was one of the few places in the region where on could get a truly spectacular view of the stars. The dusty breadth of the milky way could be seen stretching across the horizon.

An early morning meadowlark was calling out beyond the sand dunes that stretched into scrubby flatland, just barely rising over the lulling rush of waves over the rocks.

The bridge of Anakin's nose ran along the line of Obi-Wan's neck, breathing in the scent of him. His lips were cool against his throat.

In the quiet, Anakin sang softly.

The soothing, wordless melody that resonated across their bond whenever Anakin felt particularly safe or content, or pining for Obi-Wan being away from him too long.

The wind stilled. In the tall grass, the sound of the crickets faded away. The songbird quieted.

In the dark hours, at the edge of the quiet town where civilization met nature the world stopped to listen.

For the first time in two generations, a mermaid was singing in Castilon Bay.

“Its lovely.” Obi-Wan said softly, during a brief lull. His eyes were half-closed.

It had been a long night.

It's you. Anakin sounded a bit strange, wary – almost frightened. It's always been you. He shifted a bit, swallowing in a way that caused his closed gills to flutter.

Do you want to hear the song for the pups?

“You're creating their songs?”

Obi-Wan was familiar with the practice. Mer singing to their young before they hatched. They would be born with it in their minds, knowing their place and belonging in their family group before taking their first sip of ocean.

Yes. You should know them too. Anakin insisted, sitting up a bit straighter. I will teach you.

“I suppose so.” Obi-Wan said tiredly. “I've been told before my singing voice isn't terrible.”

With a thrum of delight, Anakin repeated the last verse slowly, pausing at each line to let Obi-Wan repeat it back to him. A heady wave of something far stronger than adoration rushed across their bond as Obi-Wan sang to Anakin in turn, doing his best to match the melody. The Mer's embrace of Obi-Wan tightened, at the sound of Obi-Wan's voice.

His voice slightly rough with emotion, Anakin pushed ahead with the next lines.

It was more complicated than Obi-Wan realized, with certain lilts and inflections barely noticeable that carried heavy importance.

Anakin was patient though, neither of them in any hurry. Anakin offered gentle correction where necessary, but never seemed to grow tired of listening Obi-Wan harmonize with him.

Not just with your voice. You must sing with your mind as well.

Obi-Wan noticed, over time that the songs of the two eggs – the two pups - were woven into Obi-Wan's own. To another chorus that he somehow knew without asking must have meant Anakin.

This one, he didn't know as well. Obi-Wan closed his eyes, but took careful, reverent consideration to learn. The melody had an undercurrent that was vibrant and bright and strong. It would have first been sung to Anakin by Shmi while she guarded his eggs. While she held him in her arms in the cold northern waters. Over the years, meant to be developed and changed, formed by his pod and his experiences.

In some places, the melody was somber and broken.

As Obi-Wan sang Anakin's song, heady waves of adoration suffused through their bond, balming years of blistering hurt. He basked in the glow of Anakin's quiet and well-won bliss.

Not for the first time, Obi-wan shuddered at the notion of how terrible and bleak Anakin's life in his cage must have been. Cut off from others, singing only to himself – of only the pain and deprivation he suffered there.

He understood it a bit better now, in a way he never had before.

Humans knew about Mer songs, of course. Dimly recognized their importance to familial pods. But feeling them through a bond like this was like finally seeing the world in color.

There was something here, something big and important he was on the cusp of understanding.

Some bright, unknowable current connecting all things - rising and falling like the tide.

Cool fingers tipped Obi-Wan's chin back, exposing his throat. Obi-Wan obliged, his eyes slipping shut.

He felt... serene, as if he were floating in a pleasant sort of daze.

Anakin leaned over him, his lips hovering over his.

“You're wheezing.” Obi-Wan's eyes opened, looking up at a bewildered Anakin.

What?

“Your lungs. Are you feeling alright?”

Oh. Anakin glowered, looking away from him. I suppose... I can't breathe well in warm water. I've been on land for a while...

“We need to get you back inside.” Obi-Wan stood, even as Anakin tugged at his clothes for him to stay. He turned, looking at him with an expression of open hurt.

“I know, I'm very sorry.” Obi-Wan offered Anakin his hand. “But I couldn't bear the thought of you in any more pain.”

Anakin's head fell foreword, his eyes rolling shut.

“That's enough, Ventress.”

“Give me five more minutes.”

“I said that's enough.” Dooku strode forward, seizing the lash from her hand. “I told you, if you leave any mark on him still visible when the Chancellor returns in a week's time, you are finished.”

Anakin hung suspended from the t-frame in the white room beneath his tank. His arms were splayed out, his entire body aching and trembling.

He was so tired.

“And I told you,” She ripped her arm free. “That you owe me a favor. That means I get what I came for.”

“We won't get anywhere this way.” Dooku placed the lash down on a sterile white table, next to a litany of other nefarious instruments. “He didn't shed a single tear even when he watched his own arm disappear over the side of my boat into the ocean. His kind are bloodthirsty and vicious. Pain simply does not phase him.”

Dooku released the metal bindings on his arms. Anakin fell forward onto limply the platform. The wrought iron chain around his neck clanged down around him as he hit the cold floor.

“If that's the case, why did you let me waste my time knocking him around?”

“He's yet to learn proper humility. I thought I would kill two birds with one stone.” Dooku replied, impassive.

Ventress sneered, irate at her time being wasted. “So what do you propose then?”

“I do have something in mind.”

Anakin made a quiet, pained sound, his eyes sliding shut. He curled his good arm over his head miserably, pulling his tail close around him.

It was a pitiful gesture, he knew. The sort of thing a newly hatched pup would do, hiding in the rocks.

He could hear Dooku messing about with something in the lab. Unlocking a cabinet, messing with latches. Over the months he had become familiar with the man's various means of torture.

This time... he didn't even understand what he had done wrong.

He hadn't bitten, or snapped or hissed. He'd been left to his own devices for the last several days.

Now, suddenly this.

What did they want from him?

“What pray tell, is that?”

“Mer have no concept of personal property. They have a rough notion of their own territory, but not the fish, plants or items that compose it. In their life, there will be perhaps a few material items that will ever hold any significance or value to them.”

“It's garbage.”

“He had it on him when we pulled him from the water. This means to him, it's the furthest thing from that. Get up.” Dooku pushed Anakin with his foot. A hand roughly seized the chain at his neck, heaving him upright.

Water-worn and dented, he held out the shell of an old swiss army knife.

Anakin's eyes went wide, his body stiffened. He looked up at Dooku warily, looking for the first time properly afraid.

“You want this back, don't you?” The color had drained out of Anakin's face, his hand clenched into a fist over his stomach.

“You understand I had to remove the tools that were inside it. But the shell is here.” He turned the object side-to-side to show. Anakin followed it with the naked desperation of a starving man offered fresh fruit.

Dooku held it out. Anakin didn't breathe.

“Take it.”

Anakin lunged out, grabbing the knife as Dooku dropped it. He clutched it close to his chest, examining it desperately.

It was really here.

He was so sure it was gone forever.

“There you are, Ventress.”

Anakin suffered the humiliation of his hair pulled back, a flask held to his face to collect the droplets falling down his cheeks.

“All that work for a few drops. You think a bag of chopped onions could have done the trick.”

“If you buy into the superstition, the tears only ever hold potency when they're shed as a Mer's heart is breaking.”

Notes:

Feel free to say hi (or yell at me idk) on tumblr at Jswander :)

Chapter 8 Notes:

I'm very sorry for the long break between updates! Thank you everyone still interested in following along <3!

Chapter Text

Anakin wasn't thrilled about Obi-Wan leaving the Facility the next day.

Now that the two could communicate more freely however, it was easy enough for Obi-Wan to offer him reassurances that he would be back soon, and not to worry.

He didn't even really need to use their hard-won ability to communicate. Obi-Wan was quickly learning that the language of the Mer had eluded biologists for so long because one simply... didn't exist. Not in the conventional way that most understood human languages did, at least. Their people communicated through a “language” of emotion. The trilling echolocation-based vocalizations the Mer were known for were primarily for long-distance communication, or for those outside the bonds of a family group. In many ways, it made quite a lot of sense that the closest the two species ever came to true communication was through song.

Still, this didn't stop Anakin from being stymied by the mire of feelings that Obi-Wan Kenobi was feeling that morning getting ready.

You're tense and excited. You're worried – but you're happy about it? Why are you going if you're worried?

The thoughts were an endless barrage against Obi-Wan's mind as he tried to explain to Cody and Ahsoka the list of tasks he would need to cover while he was away that day.

You shouldn't leave if you're nervous. You should stay here with me. Obi-Wan? Obi-Wan!”

Anakin slapped his palm against the glass of his tank insistently as he walked by. Obi-Wan sighed, pressing his palm against the cool glass where Anakin's webbed one was.

I'm sorry dear one. This is something I have to do. But I promise I'll be back tonight. Alright?

A thrum of jittery, disgruntled agreement had been his reply as Anakin went back to sulk among the sea grass where the clutch was hidden.

Obi-Wan did his best not to fret during the long drive out of Castilon Bay to the restaurant where the two were to meet. He determinedly did not check his phone during traffic lights, or long stints of slow traffic. Nonetheless, he found himself humming the song of the pups under his breath for the majority of the trip, finding the melody soothing.

The restaurant he sat at was a fine establishment, miraculously unchanged in the last few years since the last time he had been at this place.

He glanced up as his company arrived for the lunch.

“Obi-Wan.”

“Satine, my dear it's been too long.” The two greeted one another with a peck on the cheek.

“You look... my, you look well.” She said with a warm smile. Her hands clasped his shoulders, looking over him with a pleased, assessing look.

“Is that so? I'm happy to hear it.” Obi-Wan grinned in kind. “Certainly better than the last time we were here, I'd wager.”

“You would be right about that.” She agreed, as Obi-Wan pulled out her chair for her to sit. “My, is this even the same table?”

“It is, yes”

Six years ago, the two sat to eat together under very different circumstances.

“The kaeng kari looks good,” A twenty-eight year old Obi-Wan mused. “It looks to be the more mild option. I'm afraid spicy food does not agree with me.”

“That's a fine choice, then.” Satine said with a carefully serene smile as the server came around to take their drink orders.

“We'll both have the kaeng khiao wan.” She told the waiter, handing him their menus. “But extra green chilies on his, if you will. The hotter the better.”

“Of course, Ms. Kryze.”

Obi-Wan watched the waiter go with a neutral expression.

“Has my stomach lining done something to offend you?”

“No.” Her smile had a taken on a distinctly shark-like quality now as she spoke. “No, your antics across international waters for the past four years have done quite enough of that, I should think.”

The Congresswoman was a quietly impressive woman. Immaculate in every regard from her perfectly coiffed hair to her manicured nails. She looked particularly stunning when seated across from Obi-Wan, whose scruffy beard and shabby weather-worn clothing were decidedly out of place at a fine dining establishment.

“There are far simpler ways to express your distaste.” Obi-Wan replied, trying not to sound too stony. He was well aware of how years at sea had worn away at the more polite and respectable veneer that he had previously thought to be a defining element of his character. Even now, he was surprised to find himself subconsciously reaching for his old accent and more refined linguistics flairs.

After four long years, it nearly felt like a facade.

“You could have simply not posted my bail at the courthouse this morning, for instance.” He continued. “I can certainly take an irritable stomach more bravely than an eighteen-month stint in federal prison.”

Obi-Wan leaned forward, keeping his voice low as to not disrupt the austere environment.

“I must admit Ms. Kryze, I'm surprised. From what I've heard of you in the news, I had taken you to be a conservationist.”

“Satine, please.”

“Satine.”

“A conservationist, yes. Not an extremist.”

Obi-Wan's shoulders tensed, his hackles raised. He patiently waited until the waiter who had arrived to fill their water glasses departed before continuing.

“Satine, I'm sure you're aware. Right now, there's been a bill in the works for the past three years to make that cove in Zanzibar a protected breeding ground.” He placed an elbow on the table, holding up his three smallest fingers for emphasis.

“If it hasn't been for our efforts these last two seasons protecting that pod, there would be nothing left to protect by now.” Obi-Wan said sternly, chewing out the last few words through his teeth.

“I understand that our methods are not ideal, but from what I have seen they're the only ones that are doing anything that resembles success.”

“What you have managed to succeed in doing,” Satine said, cracks appearing now in her polite and professional visage. “-Is lay the groundwork for a blooming arms market in a Tanzanian fishing village so the people there can protect their boats and nets.” Satine said with a cutting smile that did not reach her eyes.

“I'm afraid it won't matter how many fishing vessels you take out if a single Mer pup can feed their community for a year.”

The two shared a spectacularly heated silence. Obi-Wan came to realize there may have been a good reason that she had taken him to such a lovely location, rather than someplace more private where it may have been easier to make a scene.

As if he was no longer someone who could be reasoned with.

Some sort of wild animal himself.

Obi-Wan breathed out sharply through his nose.

“What do you suggest then?” Obi-Wan said at last.

Satine's expression softened, the tension easing back slightly from her shoulders.

“The problem isn't these fishermen, Kenobi.” She continued slowly. “It's the CEO whose eight-year old daughter wants to take pictures with mermaid at her birthday party.” She waved her hand for emphasis “It's the aging socialites who will pay thousands for a quarter ounce of Mer tears because they think it will prevent crow's feet!”

Obi-Wan watched, bemused as the congresswoman worked herself up to the same sort of furor that he recognized quite keenly. It was a shadow of what he saw every morning in the mirror.

After taking a brief moment to compose herself, Satine pressed ahead.

“The mountain gorilla population in the Virunga hasn't been increasing since the eighties because they're being protected by pirates with firearms. Its because it's no longer fashionable to have ashtrays made from their hands in private offices of business executives.”

The tension in her voice slowly warmed up to something resembling sincere passion.

“Professor Qui-Gon Jinn may not have been building a career where he was going to retire in luxury, but the work he was doing was vital. His research in Alaska-”

“-Got him expelled from the Marine Biological Association-”

“-That wild Mer he was in illegal contact with may have been a threatened species, but that image of him locking fingers with her child advanced the argument against 'humane' amputation of Mer in captivity by years.”

The two sat up a bit straighter as their food arrived. Both had been slowly leaning toward one another over the course of their conversation.

Obi-Wan eyed his green chilies with distaste, and looked back up at the politician.

“What would you have me do?”

Satine pulled a folder out from her fashionable briefcase, handing it over to Obi-Wan to parse through.

“There is a Facility in Castilon Bay looking for someone to aid ongoing research and rehabilitation. I am strongly advising you give up this crusade of yours and take up a cause that may actually do some real good by these creatures that you want to protect.”

“Is that so?” Obi-Wan looked through the photos of the ramshackle facility.

As someone who had spent nearly half a decade on the ocean in boats more salvage than vessel... he didn't consider it to be much to look at.

“Take videos. Learn about them.” Satine pressed. “Help me create a more widespread cultural awareness of their intelligence. We can create long-term change, but first what must be addressed is the generations of misinformation about their kind.”

Obi-Wan took a long moment to consider. He sighed, gamely taking a bite of the curry on his plate, followed by vigorous coughing and eye-watering.

Satine beamed, and Obi-Wan nearly lost his breath all over again. She was a terribly pretty woman when she didn't look like a shark ready to strike.

“My – ah... the rest of my crew.” Obi-Wan struggled to compose himself. “Rex and Cody Kamino. I'm not going to leave them behind.”

“My lawyers are already squaring away their release now.” Satine said with an easy smile. “I'm sure we can work something out for them as well, of course.”

“Changing the public mindset that's existed for years... I hope you aren't looking for a quick turnaround on this project.”

“No, it certainly won't be easy. But I think beneath all of your bravado, you and I are a lot alike. It's going to be a marathon, not a sprint. Do you think you have the stamina, professor?” Satine asked, some new emotion warmed her words now.

It didn't escape Obi-Wan's attention.

“I can't thank you enough for that plate hot curry, those years ago.” Obi-Wan said with a warm smile. “I'm quite proud of the work that we've done in Castilon Bay since then.”

“As am I,” Satine smiled warmly. “Though I must say I was quite surprised to hear that the Facility was raided by the police earlier this month.”

“Yes.” Obi-Wan said with a carefully neutral smile. “I had heard about the kidnapped Mer. It's a terrible tragedy, really.”

“A Mako as well. I heard you were one of the last people to see him before he vanished.”

“Part of the reason Dooku was able to expedite a search warrant, yes.” Obi-Wan said with a blithe smile. “I did. He was a terribly handsome creature. If he hasn't turned up at this point, unfortunately I fear for the worst.”

Obi-Wan carefully steered the topic away from Anakin himself, in favor of Satine's recent attendance at a summit promoting the conservation of the Maldives atolls – a prized breeding ground for a litany of tropical Mer colonies and species.

Obi-Wan was always warmly surprised at how easily the two could slip into such effortless repertoire. In addition to a passion for conversation (even with a slightly differing view on how to accomplish one's goals) the two shared a similar cadence, an easy sort of tempo that made it easy for time to pass quickly and easily between them.

Like a song.

Obi-Wan was jerked out of the moment with the sudden thought.

“Obi-Wan?”

“Oh, yes – sorry.” He righted himself, stroking his beard. “I'm sorry, what was the question?”

“Now, where did you go off to just now?” Satine mused, with a gleam in her eye.

“Just... remembered some pressing matter back at the Facility.” He said with a wave of his hand.

“Is it terribly urgent?”Satine leaned forward a bit, sounding a bit softer now. “I was hoping that I might steal you away for a bit longer,” She reached out to take Obi-Wan's hand at the very same moment he pulled it back, making a half-aborted motion for his phone.

“I see,” She said, with a distant sadness in her eyes.

“No I simply meant,”

“It's alright-”

“Really I-”

The two laughed at their simultaneous verbal dance around one another, but the conversation had mellowed into something distinctly somber.

Like pieces of flint before a great mountain of kindling, who couldn't quite manage to strike the right way to ignite – even after so many years.

“Obi-Wan,” Satine reached out, placing her hand over his. “The reason I asked you to meet me today, why I called you here... I wanted to ask you to be careful.”

It hadn't been what he expected her to say.

“What do you mean, Satine?” He asked cautiously.

“The Chancellor's Mer. The eggs from the Baltimore Aquarium. Certain circles are starting to notice.” She straightened up, speaking lowly now.

“Satine, you know the week that the eggs were stolen I-”

“I'm not talking about the eggs.” She said primly. “You don't have to say anything about them. Or the missing Mer who happens to be from a very specific region in Alaska, lifted from a chapter in your professional and personal history. I'm sure the story that you have down is very airtight and well-versed.”

Obi-Wan opened his mouth, then closed it again with a snap.

“I'm just saying... to be very careful. There are inquiries drifting about, rumors, if you have the ear for them. There's a new market emerging for people who have the right skills for security... and surveillance.” She chose her words carefully. “Two specimens missing in the same year? I almost feel silly for bringing it up. I'm sure you are aware of what kind of repercussions that would have on the community of... enthusiasts.”

“Of course.” Obi-Wan said lowly. “I can only hope that whoever was behind these terrible incidents pays no notice to such a small Facility such as ours. Thank you for bringing it to my attention, Satine.”

“Of course.” Satine agreed, with a thin smile.

Obi-Wan left his lunch meeting shaken in a way he had not expected to be.

Two thoughts warred for his attention.

The first – of course – the troubling notion that he hadn't seen the last of Dooku.

He wasn't going to stop hunting Anakin. The law hadn't stopped him from stealing the eggs, or Anakin himself out of protected waters.

Beneath that, the fleeting, somber notion that was Satine.

All of the promise and the future that might be – one that was quickly deteriorating from a 'what-could-be' to 'what-might-have-been.'

For years, they had been so close to being something. Replaying the events in his mind, it felt quite a bit like this was her final attempt to offer him a hand to cross the line.

What had held him back?

Obi-Wan's phone buzzed, Ahsoka's grinning face filled the screen.

“You won't believe it!” Was the text message accompanying a video clip several minutes long.

Obi-Wan's heart lurched when he saw the thumbnail.

Anakin was lounging in Cerasi's wet dock, his chin tucked onto his arm, his middle laid across her lap. His expression was partially obscured from Obi-Wan's view, but his posture was relaxed and at ease.

Cerasi's head was bowed in concentration.

Her fingers ran down the base of his tail, studiously tracing the grooves of his scales.

At one point, her nail must have shifted a scale the wrong way as Anakin seized, rounding on her with a threatening hiss. Without skipping a beat, Cerasi thrashed over him, shrieking in turn with teeth bared. Aggressive as it appeared to be, Obi-Wan recognized both displays to be nonviolent.

Anakin had been startled by the sudden pinch.

Cerasi immediately asserted the behavior to be uncalled for.

She placed a hand on the back of Anakin's neck, squeezing it briefly and gentling him. Anakin huffed, curling back up at her side, turning slightly to expose more of his tail to her, and she resumed the grooming of his scales.

Obi-Wan recognized the behavior immediately.

He had seen plenty of videos of her behavior at the Bay Aquarium. It was something she did and had taught to the young in her care. Mer in tank environments – no matter how well filtered or ventilated – risked scale rot due to the decreased mobility. Although it was time consuming, the process allowed her to root out any sign of the dark algae from forming between the scales.

Although proper human technology could treat this more effectively, from what he had seen it was also a remarkably soothing practice for the young who had been traumatized or separated from their parents.

The touches were gentle, but non-invasive. Consistent and calming.

Efforts had even been taken to teach Mer in other facilities how to do the same practice using her videos as instruction.

Obi-Wan convinced himself that he was relieved.

The two were getting along, this was more than ideal. Cerasi was caring for him, teaching him.

He was letting her.

Anakin's fingers traced Cerasi's own dorsal fin with eyes half closed, idly mimicking her ministrations. After he shifted his position, Obi-Wan could see Anakin's face properly now. He seemed somber, but peaceful.

Yes, Obi-Wan was able to tell himself that this was a good thing. He had to, in order to shove back the instinctual gut-punch of panic and anger at the sight of them.

The vicious reminder that the two of them would soon be separated permanently.

Anakin was going to the ocean. He could never stay with her.

And neither can you.

The thought jolted through Obi-Wan like a sudden crack of thunder. He paused, clutching at his chest.

His phone buzzed again as Ahsoka continues to type.

“Isn't it wild? He was sulking for like an hour after you left and the Cerasi did this thing where she-”

The preview cut short on his lockscreen. Obi-Wan didn't have the courage to read it in full.

The mystery of his non-start with Satine and his sudden bout of inexplicable rage over someone else touching Anakin so intimately were quickly absolving against one another in a truly terrifying way.

Obi-Wan was deeply grateful for the long drive back to Castilon Bay.

He had a great deal to think about.

It was nighttime by the time Obi-Wan returned to the Facility. Rightfully, he should have just gone back to his apartment for the evening. The thought never crossed his mind.

The tanks were dark, both with their screens drawn shut.

Obi-Wan reached out with his fledgling bond as he turned on some of the lights of the Facility. At once, he was answered with a flood of emotion.

Obi-Wan! Anakin broke out onto the surface of the wet dock half a beat later, elated.

“Anakin please stay there I'll be right over.” Obi-Wan held out a hand to steady him, removing his dining jacket.

Anakin crooned with impatience, dipping his shoulders below the water, blowing bubbles angrily.

“I know, it's later than I said I would come. I wanted to get you something.”

In a practiced motion, Obi-Wan removed the small object from its box and replaced the box in the inner pocket of his vest.

He held out to Anakin a small oblong object, which caused Anakin's eye to immediately go round and wide.

“You have to promise not to use it to take apart your filters. But look,” Obi-Wan flicked the abalone handle once, twice, and again. Each time caused another tool to flick out of the handguard. A blade, a small pair of scissors, a file. He pulled his wrist back with another decisive motion, causing all of the tools to snap back into place.

“You can access everything with just one hand. It's steel as well, so it won't rust in the - ah!” Obi-Wan yelped as the knife was snatched out of his hand immediately by Anakin. The Mer seized it and pushed himself back to the far end of the dock, as if worried it might be pulled away from him at any moment.

Anakin examined it closely, tears welling up in his eyes.

“Oh, no Anakin, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you-”

Obi-Wan moved to the side of the dock, putting himself within arm's reach of Anakin, who threw his arms around Obi-Wan's middle.

I love it, Obi-Wan.

The man huffed with warm laughter, wrapping his arms snug around Anakin's lithe body.

“I'm glad you do, dear one.”

lied to you before. Anakin said miserably, his face buried in Obi-Wan's chest. I didn't lose your token. They took it from me.

His arm was tight around Obi-Wan's waist, he nuzzled against him more insistently, as if he could crawl inside of him. Shame flooded smothering hot through their bond.

“It's alright, dear one.”

It's not. Anakin protested, although he already sounded marginally more mollified as Obi-Wan petted the damp curls of his hair.

I'm supposed to be strong. It was all I had of you.

“Well, you have all of me now.” Obi-Wan placed his hand under Anakin's chin, guiding his eyes up to meet his own. Anakin's eyes were still bright with tears, a beautiful delicate pink flush had spread over his cheeks and down to his chest.

Obi-Wan decided he quite liked the taste of Anakin's lips. They were soft, and warm.

He would never fail to be astonished at how warm a creature of cold water could be.

Chapter 9 Notes:

Thanks so much for everyone bearing with me during the long gaps on this story! I had some really great conversations with friends who had been reading along that got me invested in getting these boys closer to their resolution.
Also thank you so much to thatEMGgirl who made a beautiful sweet piece of art on what Padme might be getting up to during the story!
(Just a heads up this chapter is rated A for Angst)

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

I'm hungry .

Anakin sulked on his platform, allowing himself to be manhandled into the usual garbs and heavy jewelry that typically preceded hours of humiliation before hordes of gawking humans.

Dooku was speaking to two of Anakin's handlers, giving them instructions.

A creeping headache that had been plaguing Anakin all morning had sharpened into a band of pain at the crown of his forehead. It hurt to think, just the act of sitting upright was draining.

Anakin raised his heavy head, blinking away the dark spots that wavered over his eyes.

You didn't feed me yesterday, or the day before that.

Anankin projected the thoughts stubbornly, knowing full well Dooku wouldn't be able to hear him.

The idea of forming a bond with him to communicate was incomprehensible.

He'd sooner starve.

Though he'd prefer not to.

I didn’t do anything wrong, this isn't fair!

A guttural, displeased chatter betrayed him as Anakin finally vocalized his frustrations.

“And see to that as well.” Dooku said offhandedly, gesturing vaguely at Anakin without looking at him.

The Mer's head was seized, his jaw worked open as a rubber bit was forced into his mouth which his jagged teeth sank into uselessly. It rendered his mouth inert as he was lifted and prodded off of the dias and strapped down onto a gurney that would be used to transport him outside.

It was a beautiful Californian morning, the skies were a crisp blue, the last of the morning fog slowly evaporating over pristinely manicured lawns.

Anakin’s face was forced down and to the side where his neck was secured to the board. All the same, he craned his head as far as he could manage to see what was outside.

There was no sight or scent of the ocean anywhere, not even of water. The gurney rattled terribly as Dooku’s assistants wheeled him down a gravel path.

Anakin was lifted off of the gurney, presented with a strange sight.

High walls of immaculately cropped topiaries surrounded a beautiful garden alcove. Ornamental flowering trees bloomed, casting fragrant floral notes on he breeze. Stone sculptures with deliberately cropped English ivy were artfully flanked the borders, where beds of pristine blooms showed off their spring colors.

A number of humans were busily setting up various chairs and tables - laden with silver platters stacked high with various human foods. A large chunk of ice was placed in the center, cut to look like a cresting plume of water that gleamed bright in the sun.

A large bronze instrument sat in the corner, with a human busily plucking at the strings - creating light notes that floated through the air.

At the very center was a shallow pond, dotted with lilly pads crowded around a large flat and smooth stone, roughly the size of a small table.

Anakin was lowered into the pond, holding still under Dooku’s stern glare as the muzzle was removed from around his head. He massaged his jaw, drinking in the sight around him.

After months of confinement to his tank, Anakin was overwhelmed by the sudden array of new sights and smells and sounds. Looking back at the table, he saw that one end had a large slab packed with ice, ornately arranged with delicate slices of raw fish, split oysters, half-shelled langoustines and a dozen other delicacies.

All at once, the hunger returned, stabbing through Anakin’s gut, cutting through the excitement of a new environment. He tore through the water, ignoring the impossible distance for himself and the spread but was cut short by a sharp, shrill whistle.

Months of training and reinforcement caused Anakin’s muscles to seize up at once from the sound. Anakin froze, looking up to see Dooku towering before him.

“ You. Will. Behave. ” He seethed through his teeth.

Anakin glowered and squared his shoulders, diving under the surface of the pond. It wasn’t too deep, perhaps two feet at the lowest - but deep enough to get away from Dooku at least.

Anakin’s gills had only scarcely opened when he wrenched his torso back up to the surface, dry-heaving across the side of the pond.

“I said behave !” Dooku snapped.

Anakin could barely hear him, his vision swimming.

The water… tasted foul.

It was clean but… that was the problem.

It was fresh water.

Anakin wiped his mouth - the hard alkaline taste still burning his throat and gills. He looking up at Dooku with a slow sort of dawning horror.

His heart began to pound - searching his keeper's face desperately for an answer, only to find it cold and passive as ever.

Dooku knew it, he knew Anakin.

Anakin’s tank was checked twice a day for its PH level and salinity. Dooku oversaw the tablets that conditioned Anakin’s scales. There wasn’t a scar on his body that the man didn’t put there himself.

He knew what he was subjecting the Mer to.

Anakin winged his way to the rock at the center of the pond, perching himself on top of it.

It was intentional - Anakin realized. A way to ensure that the centerpiece of the party stayed put and stayed visible - giving him no place to hide.

Nothing to breathe.

Anakin did his best to distract from his encroaching panic as he waited on the rock - but the flowers and the trees and his surroundings no longer interested him.

He found himself counting each minute.

After what seemed like an eternity, the guests began to arrive. A subtle ache already making itself known in his lungs.

Anakin periodically dipped into the water, if only to keep his scales dry and the heat off of his skin.

He slumped low on the rock breathing shallowly. The ache began to ripen into a distinct pain around the time the Chancellor arrived - fashionably late as ever to his own party.

Anakin ignored the guests - Dooku still couldn’t bully him into doing that, at least. He lay prone on the smooth slab of granite that slowly baked warm under the mounting afternoon sun.

From the other side of the pond, guests ate and milled and tried as ever to wave and grab his attention.

Lights flickered and flashed in his eyes.

The large ice sculpture softened and began to melt into the silver bowl.

A brittle wheeze began to make itself known with each breath that Anakin took.

He’d never been out of the water for so long - not by half the duration now.

How long had it been now? Two, three hours?

Long enough that the sun was high and beating down.

There was a splash in the water.

Anakin glanced up to see someone had ignored the signs picketed neatly around his pond and thrown a scrap of food into the water.

He shifted - and as he did Anakin saw a glitter of dried gold and black scales peel off of his tail, sticking wetly to the hot stone.

Panicked, Anakin looked around for Dooku, but the man was gone. His wheezing was deafening, each breath felt like a knife in his lugs.

His movement after hours of docile inertness triggered another litany of flashes as more photos were taken of him. Anakin gaped at the crowds.

He could taste blood at the back of his throat now from tormented windpipes on the verge of bursting.

These people... had they gathered to watch him die?

Is that what this was?

The thought came to Anakin a bit hysterically as he sank down a bit more on the rock, smothered by the heat and the weight of hot metal around his neck and wrists and clamped around his tail.

Is that why Dooku had stopped feeding him?

Had they finally grown tired of tormenting him?

Anakin looked around desperately, only seeing smiling faces and soft titters of laughter.

If they wanted him dead, did it have to be this way? Slow and painful and humiliating, his once-proud body twisted and ugly and deformed.

Anakin pressed down the flutter of panic, the desperate urge to thrash and flail nearly overwhelming.

There was nowhere he could go, nothing he could do.

The ocean was worlds away, a lifetime ago it felt.

He pulled in a labored breath, and then another.

Hot stitches in his ribs screamed in protest.

When his mother died, she had been alone. In the clutches of humans.

There had been nobody there to sing her into the sleep of the Quiet Deep Waters.

They had done it later, after she had passed. More to soothe their own aching hearts than her own as she went.

Would anyone sing for him?

Anakin's throat was parched and dry. He tried vainly to hum, but his voice was gone.

He closed his eyes, steadying his mind. He laid down on the hot stone.

In the comfort of his own thoughts, he sang to himself the songs he had been taught as a pup.

He sang the song of Ice, and of the Tides.

He sang the song of the Moon.

As he sang the song of Hunting, the pain of his last several months in captivity started to feel finally, a bit further away.

His vision started to go dark.

He sang the song of his Mother - who he had failed to save.

He sang the song of his Mate - who he abandoned to drown himself in his anger and misery and suffering.

He could not bear to sing the song of Himself.

His thoughts were difficult to organize, after all. And it would be such a sad song.

So his thoughts returned to Obi-Wan. He sang his song again, and thought of him as his broken body burned.

The spring garden party to celebrate the ratification of Proposition 66 ended abruptly in that late spring afternoon.

Several attendees were gifted with generous bribes (as well as some gentle threats) not to post photos or videos of the Mer that had been suddenly overcome with a sudden fit of unforeseen illness. It was attributed, of course, to the injuries it had sustained that caused it to be stranded on the beach where he had been found and rescued.

Unfortunately an unpreventable thing, though the Chancellor did all he could to ease the poor thing’s suffering.

Afterward, Anakin spent two weeks confined to the Cradle. He woke up in bits and pieces sometime after the first ten days - a soul that had already resigned itself to the final quiet and dark.

A specialist had been called in – as Dooku was no longer allowed near the Chancellor's prize. Along with a terrible bout of sunstroke and burn-induced lacerations to his fin and tail, Anankin's lungs would likely never be the same.

Fortunately, Anakin was both young and strong.

Apart from his lungs, Anakin would make a full recovery, in time. At least physically.

“First we can't stop his incessant begging, now it appears he won't eat at all.” The Chancellor mused. It had been several days since Anakin had been declared well enough to return to his tank, and still he needed daily administrations of nutrients and fluids via an IV drip.

The Mer lay prone on the dias, allowing his intact arm to be moved and secured for the needle. While they did so, another attendant applied a salve to the burned and chapped skin on his throat and wrists where the jewelry had seared him from the heat of the sun.

“Lethargic Tank Death is unfortunately common among wild Mer brought into captivity.” Dooku assented, stroking his beard thoughtfully. The Chancellor sat at the side of the altar, his hand on Anakin's hair. The Mer flinched again, his eyes darted wildly for a moment, but quickly fell back into his daze.

“Some simply cannot handle the stress of a new environment.”

The Chancellor did not look up at his Chief handler, petting Anakin's hair.

“My dear boy, what if I were to feed you Dooku's head?” He asked serenely. “Would you find your appetite then?”

Anakin’s sickly gold eye slid over to Dooku, who had suddenly gone quite pale.

“That... is in quite poor taste, Chancellor.”

“I assure you, I am quite serious.” Palpatine said to Dooku dryly. “You seem to be operating under the misconception that he is somehow replaceable, while you are not. I strongly recommend that you realize it's quite the opposite.” Palpatine stood slowly, with a grandfatherly smile that did not reach his eyes.

“I am – quite generously – giving you one week to fix the damage you've inflicted on my property. If you are unable to fix this, no matter where you go or hide, I will personally feed you to my pet.”

Anakin did not see Dooku for several days. Perhaps it was longer, he had no way to be sure. Those days slid by in a haze that never quite committed itself to memory.

All he knew was one morning when the estate was very quiet, Anakin's consciousness drifted to the surface – coaxed forth by an unusual taste in the water. He blinked, sitting up slightly.

His body felt stiff and sore from lack of use. He only acknowledged this for a moment however, before his attention was fully seized by the disturbance lying several feet before him.

Beautiful, delicate pearl eggs. Two of them, sitting bare and exposed against the rocks.

Anakin shot up in a panic, nearly dizzying himself after so many days of inertia.

Eggs!

What were they doing here? Was there-?

He whipped around the tank in alarm. No, no he was alone still. There was no one with them.

Anakin braced a hand against the wall of the glass, his vision swam.

Anakin didn't understand. Were they here to suffer as well?

Were they to replace him when he gave up and perished?

Anakin swam anxious laps around the tank until his own weakness and fatigue overcame him. He settled down around them protectively, delicately stroking the vapor-thin membranes.

He loved them, and hated them at that moment.

For better or worse, caring for the eggs gave Anakin the strength he would need to survive the next two weeks, when Palpatine would invite a new potential Handler from Castilon Bay over with a lucrative proposal.

Anakin's eyes were bright with tears, a beautiful delicate pink flush had spread over his cheeks and down to his chest.

Obi-Wan drank in the sight of him, his kiss rendering the Mer beautifully soft.

“You sweet thing,” Obi-Wan breathed, cupping the back of Anakin's neck. The Mer melted against him, bracing his hand against Obi-Wan's thigh. “Haven't you ever kissed anyone like this before?”

Obi-Wan delighted in how poorly Anakin was able to hide the truth from him. His flush deepened a few delicious shades, the quick litany of shame and embarrassment gave way to a stubborn sort of pride.

Shifting closer, he grabbed Obi-Wan's tie to tug him in to seize another untidy kiss.

Through their bond, Obi-Wan could sense Anakin's delight at discovering at long last the use of the strange garment that hung around Obi-Wan's neck.

It was a thrilling thing, kissing Anakin. Their bond was open and blooming, making each movement effortless. Obi-Wan could see so plainly what Anakin needed, suffused with honey-rich delight in giving it to him.

Why would I want to kiss anyone else?

Anakin's question floated giddily through their bond. Deep in the back of his throat a low, needing rucking noise surfaced as he shifted closer. The bulk of his tail half-curled onto Obi-Wan’s lap. Obi-Wan’s hand moved over the warm, smooth scales of his hail, helping to keep Anakin stable as he moved.

His tail was heavy, but Obi-Wan relished it, the weight of his body pressing down and onto him - open and trusting.

“Open your mouth for me, yes, that’s it.”

Obi-Wan couldn’t help himself, his hands exploring the opal-smooth membranes of the fins at his hips and the base of his spine.

The bond continued to expand, blurring the edges of where their thoughts began and ended with one another.

Hold me.

-Put your arms around me.

Let me taste your tongue, your teeth, your lips-

Let me -

- Give me...

I need, I need-

Obi-Wan pulled back to gasp for breath, hissing with delight and pain as Anakin's sharp teeth nipped at his neck and the shell of his ear. Beneath the simmering relieved joy, Obi-Wan could sense the pit of misery that had refined it, made Anakin's hunger and passion all the more desperate.

I need…

Obi-Wan’s back hit the cool floor, Anakin following down after him.

Their bond continued to expand and open as they joined around one another, leaving hardly any place to hide stray thoughts as they bubbled to the surface, moving between them before they could even truly form into words.

All of it was simply pure and raw emotion.

It felt like singing.

“My Anakin…” Obi-Wan breathed, pulling away from him at last. He laughed as Anakin nipped at his lower lip, nuzzling him insistently. Contentment and adoration radiated thick through their bond.

Obi-Wan sat up, arranging the two of them so the main weight of Anakin’s torso and tail was spread across his lap and off of the floor.

A deep, chuttering sound thrummed deep from Anakin’s chest as he settled up snug against Obi-Wan.

“I haven’t heard you purr since you were little.” Obi-Wan laughed, his lips against Anakin’s temple. “It’s always been assumed that adults can’t do it.”

Once again, Anakin flushed brilliantly, pressing his face closer into the crook of Obi-Wan’s neck.

No, we can… when we, when we’re…

“When you’re what?” Obi-Wan ran his hands down Anakin’s torso

Ah… don’t make me say it…

“Very well.” Obi-Wan hummed, placing small kisses on the nape of Anakin’s neck. “I’m quite used to you being mysterious, you know.”

He glanced up as the tank filters switched on automatically for the evening with a large kick and a thrum. The sound snapped Obi-Wan out of the rose-tinted moment to Cerasi’s tank across the floor. He held Anakin a little bit tighter, thinking of how they were in quite a similar position that the two Mer had been in the video Ahsoka had taken earlier that day.

“I heard that you and Cerasi are getting along better now.”

Hm? Anakin had shifted out of Obi-Wan’s lap, pulling himself back into the wet dock for a long breath of salt water.

Oh, she's alright. Anakin shrugged. He ducked his head under water, his tail following after him with a weighty splash. Obi-Wan sat at the edge of the dock, watching the way Anakin’s scales nearly glinted turquoise-green under the halogen lights.

We had a misunderstanding when I first saw her the other day.

“Ah good, I'm glad to hear it.”

She didn't know that we were mates. When she saw you wearing my mark, she understood. Anakin resurfaced, shaking the water out of his hair.

The air slipped out of Obi-Wan's lungs. His world tilted.

Anakin surfaced out of he water and rested his head on folded arms, nuzzling up against Obi-Wan’s calf. He touched the leather strap on his wrist, thumbing the whalebone token.

I'd be upset with you for not saying so yourself, but she doesn't know the hand words.

“Anakin-”

You should teach the hand words to more Mer. It's not efficient at all, but it's better than nothing.

He glanced up at Obi-Wan, picking up on his sudden distress.

What's wrong?

Anakin touched at their bond before Obi-Wan could manage to close it. Anakin lurched, his eyes going wide, his skin flushed ruddy with embarrassment.

You... didn't know? He huffed with a half-exasperated laugh, leaning back in the water.

There was half a beat where neither man spoke.

How is that possible? Anakin cried out with a sharp whistle and click, lashing close to Obi-Wan. He pushed himself out of the water on his arm, fins splayed out wide.

You gave me a weapon! I gave you my mark!

“Weapon? You mean the knife?” Obi-Wan said hoarsely. “And your - you mean this?” He held up his wrist with the whale bone bracelet. “Anakin, you gave this to me when you were ten.”

Surely Qui-Gon would have told Obi-Wan what the mating rituals of Anakin’s pod were? They often involved the exchange of specific gifts. They varied by family tradition.

But they were always binding.

Mer mated for life.

It was what my mother and Qui-Gon wanted. Anakin insisted, panic tinged his voice. They brought us together so we could be… It's what I… what I thought you wanted…?

Anakin crumbled, looking impossibly small and distraught. His shoulders dropped, damp curls obscured his eyes.

I haven't been a good mate, I know. He slipped low in the water, clinging to the edge of the dock. I left you alone. I let myself get brought low. He touched the shoulder of his own severed arm gingerly.

But... the pups need us. He looked up at Obi-Wan with open longing and desperation.

You're right I... I need help. I'll do whatever it takes to protect them.

“Anakin, you have it wrong.” Obi-Wan said, gently. He carefully cupped Anakin’s cheek. Though the Mer initially flinched away from his touch before nuzzling into it desperately. Through the bond, he could feel Anakin ache like an open wound.

“ I'm the one who is not the right choice for you . You deserve to be with one of your own kind! What kind of a life could you have with me?”

But I love you! Don't you-?

“I love you as well.” Obi-Wan said, with all his heart. “I love you in a way I will never love another being again.” He was astonished at how easily and cleanly the words formed for him.

“That is why I can't condemn you to a life torn between two worlds. Especially not one as cruel as mine.”

Tears were bright on Anakin’s lashes, a dark flush worked its way up the back of his neck.

If you loved me, we could find a way.

“Sometimes, the best thing we can do for someone that we love is to take a step away.”

That's not true! Anakin snarled, glaring down at Obi-Wan's knees stubbornly. And it's not the same! Qui-Gon was never going to love you the way I do now!

“This isn't about him!” Obi-Wan stood with a jolt, drawing away from Anakin, throwing his arms out. “You're not safe here! The men who captured you are going to keep hunting you! We didn't fool Dooku that day – we only out-played his hand to retrieve you through legal means, which we both know he's hardly restrained by! They'll take you away again! You and the pups!”

I'm going to protect them!

“You can't even protect yourself!” Obi-Wan roared, gesturing angrily to the stump of Anakin's arm. The Mer went pale, the bond between them freezing cold.

“Anakin, I'm sorry-”

Give the pups to Cerasi .

Anakin said tonelessly, his fists gripped on the side of the dock. His eyes were obscured by his hair falling low over his eyes. Already, their bond seemed to be withdrawing. Crumbling, like wet sand under a hot sun. Anakin’s dark emotions suddenly felt quite far away.

Open the doors to the harbor. I'm leaving.

“What?”

I want to go!

Anakin’s thoughts shot out like an attack, accompanied by a guttural shriek from his throat. Anakin’s tail shot a plume of water across the floor. He beat his fist back against the pane glass of his tank, his stare fixed on Obi-Wan.

You told me I was always free to leave! Aren't I? Or have I always been a prisoner here as well?! He snarled. Desperation tinging on wild madness burned dark in his eyes.

I hate being here! I can't stand this! He roared, the emotions pouring hot off of him. Obi-Wan could feel the roiling, bubbling hatred and visceral rage of his ordeal finally crest to a head after well over a year of screaming in silence. Everything poured at once through their bond, if only to exercise the toxicity from his tortured body.

I hate living in a cell! In a box! I can't breathe, I can't breathe! I CAN'T-!

Obi-Wan's arms closed around Anakin. He had moved without thinking, pushing him back underwater until the Mer's body hit the floor of the dock. Anakin lurched as his gills opened, sucking in the cold water. Obi-Wan stared down at him, his nose just touching the surface of the water. Anakin's chest heaved, his expression pinched with despair.

“I'm... so sorry, Anakin.” The barrier between the two of them rippled as a tear fell from Obi-Wan’s cheek into the pool. “You're right. You’ve endured far more than any one being should. You survived. You took such good care of the eggs.”

Will they be safe? Anakin could scarcely meet Obi-Wan in the eye. His voice sounded far away, whispering and wounded. Please… just promise me…

“I promise,” Obi-Wan bowed his head, “With my life, I will protect them.”

For the second time in his life, Obi-Wan stood on the shore and watched Anakin swim off into the expanse of the sea - taking Obi-Wan’s heart with him as he went.

Notes:

Thank you so much to everyone who has commented and kudos'd so far!

Chapter 10 Notes:

For everyone who finished with MerMay but still wants some more Mer fun <3

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Ahsoka was understandably distraught to learn that Anakin had left during the night.

The staff were bewildered, but Obi-Wan could sense they were quietly relieved. The trust that Obi-Wan had built with each member of the staff had been pushed to its limit in asking them to ask no questions about the strange Mer - bearing wounds and nutritional deficits that they knew quite well didn’t come from the wild.

Obi-Wan held himself together just long enough to oversee the transfer of Cerasi into the Large Tank. She made a beeline for the large grass, taking the eggs from their hidden location among the rocks and grass to inspect them for any sign of injury or bruising.

Without prompting, she brought one carefully over to the glass walls to present it before Obi-Wan.

Inside, he could see the shivering, tiny form of a developing embryo.

At some point before he left - it must have been days ago now - Anakin had made the eggs fertile.

They truly were his kin now.

And Obi-Wan had driven him away from them.

“You’ve seen it yourself.” Cody’s voice was low and soothing, speaking to Obi-Wan some time later.

Immediately after seeing the eggs, Obi-Wan had retreated to his office space where he had promptly been sick in the ensuite toilet. He sat with his back against the shower, his expression dark with misery.

Cody brought him a glass of water, prompting him to rinse his mouth out into the shower drain.

“We’ve seen what can happen to a Mer pup out in the wild. Especially without a pod. And one male looking after two of them on his own?” Cody shook his head. “Nevermind what any human would do that got their hands on them, Mer still has predators to look out for. Anakin could hold his own against a pod of orca or a leopard seal I’d reckon, even without one of his arms. But if they went after a pup?” He crossed his arms, his expression softening at the sight of Obi-Wan so miserable.

“They’re going to grow up safe , like all the pups Cerasi raised before them.”

Cody rubbed Obi-Wan’s back soothingly, his hand heavy and warm.

“And when they’re old enough, they’re going to be free . You want to quit this job today, go apply to be a security guard or a janitor at Monterey Bay you know I’ll be right there with you Captain.”

“You deserve to have your own life, Cody.” Obi-Wan said blearily, looking up at his old first mate. “We agreed Anakin would be the end of it. I won’t ask you to follow me after his pups as well.”

A heated silence hung in the air between them.

“I’d follow you-”

“-I know, Cody.” Obi-Wan hushed him, his heart broken on the floor. “I know.”

After many assurances that he would be just fine, Cody joined Rex to head off for the evening while Obi-Wan closed up the Facility.

The research facility seemed quieter than usual as he did - the ceiling tall and vast, the hum of the tanks a low, ever-present and comforting thrum.

For the hundredth time that day, Obi-Wan found himself reflexively checking the bond that had gone silent once Anakin had left the bay. As if using one’s tongue to feel for a gap where a tooth was now missing, he couldn’t help but feel terribly aware of its absence.

He walked by the Large Tank. Inside, where Cerasi was in a holding pattern circulating the water around the clutch to keep them properly oxygenated. She stilled as Obi-wan drew close, watching him with a strangely sympathetic and knowing expression.

“... Keep them hidden.” Obi-Wan said quietly, before heading up the rickety metal spiral staircase.

Like every night since Anakin left him, Obi-Wan didn’t dream.

He did, however, wake with a certain sort of calm clarity - in one of those silent lavender-blue mornings, hours before dawn.

He didn’t fret or thrash. He was startled really at his own lack of surprise to see the dark figure standing in the corner of his office. Her eyes, and the barrel of a gun were trained on him.

“You’ll have to forgive the intrusion. I got tired of watering that damn ficus in your apartment waiting for you to come around.”

“I was wondering how long it would take you to appear.”

Obi-Wan rose slowly, bringing his hands up over his head.

“You waited too long, Obi-Wan.” Ventress almost sounded morose. Her posture was relaxed, leaning against Obi-Wan’s desk. “You had to know that sooner or later we’d find ourselves here.”

“I’m afraid you’re too late.”

“I’m afraid so as well.” Ventress agreed, “Unless you’ve got the Mer cooling his fins in a bathtub in there.” She glanced at the bathroom ensuite. “He’s gone, isn’t he? Only problem is, you forgot to disappear as well.”

“Are you here to kill me, Ventress?” Obi-Wan asked tiredly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “The last time we spoke you made it quite clear you had no interest in this stage of the plan.”

“Don’t make this hard, Obi-Wan.” Ventress stood, almost sounding sympathetic. “You had your chance, you blew it. That’s all there is.”

“Did you come here alone, Ventress?”

“ Up , Obi-Wan. I won’t ask again.”

Obi-Wan stood, keeping his hands where Ventress could see them.

“Did you hurt Cerasi?” He asked, as she threw a pair of handcuffs over to him.

“Who?”

“The Mer downstairs.”

“You know me better than that, Obi-Wan.” Ventress said with a sly smile. Obi-Wan buckled one of the cuffs over his wrist and stood, placing both hands behind his back and allowing Ventress to cuff his wrists together.

“It’s like I said when I told you how I stole those eggs out from under their mother in Baltimore. I can’t bring myself to hurt a pretty face. Not when I can help it.”

“And did you hurt Anakin?” Obi-Wan asked in spite of himself, as Ventress prompted him to move.

“He’s not my type.”

Cerasi was lying inert at the bottom of her tank. Obi-Wan craned his head, far enough to see her shoulders rising and falling before letting Ventress usher him onward with the barrel of the revolver.

“Where are the eggs?”

“Don’t worry about your eggs, I didn’t touch them.” Ventress said, leading Obi-Wan out into the chilly night. A sleek, dark boat was moored at the dock.

“Unlike that Mer you set free, I know exactly where they are. I know where they’re going. I’m sure you’ve got some cubbyhole you can stash them in when the police come looking, but no real place you can move them to. Not when they need looking after.”

“Ventress can you help-?” Obi-Wan gestured to the gap between the boat and the dock with his bound wrists.

“No.”

Obi-Wan sighed, ungracefully jumping down from the dock onto the deck of the boat. His balance swayed awkwardly with his arms cuffed behind his back, forcing him to land hard on one knee.

“Once I deliver you to Dooku and get my money, I’ll be heading back for the eggs.”

“Is Dooku going to kill me?” Obi-Wan asked, making himself comfortable on the dock of the boat while Ventress started up the quiet engine.

“Dooku wants your brat back. You should have sold him. Given him a lead to chase that didn’t end with you.” She half snarled.

They parted from the shore, land slipping away and out of reach as Ventress took them out of the bay to open water.

“Found some nice collector or conservatory willing to put up with him. You think he’ll be safe out here? That he’s got anywhere to hide?” She demanded, curling her lip when Obi-Wan didn’t answer.

The boat pitched over a rolling wave on the dark water. The sun lightened in the east, casting a rosy pink dawn over the horizon.

“The world isn’t a small place anymore. The waters are all charted. You should know it-” Ventress looked back at Obi-Wan, who was watching the water with a cool detachment. She sighed sharply out of her nose.

“Not talking to me, hm? Fine. You won’t have much choice once Dooku is through with you.”

The two travelled on in silence for some time. Obi-Wan couldn’t see the watch on his wrist, but the sun had finally properly risen when they pulled up alongside a beautifully sleek mini yacht, swaying gently on the calm water.

It came equipped with a surface-level back deck lowered down to the still water - allowing Ventress to help heave Obi-Wan up onto the deck without too much difficulty.

“Kenobi! How good of you to join us.” Dooku sat on a chair of a tasteful minimalist furniture set, positioned just above the wet dock. He looked terribly at ease, as if inviting the two to join him for a leisurely morning sail.

“My money, Dooku.”
Ventress led Obi-Wan forward with one hand on his bound wrists. Her other hand casually resting on the gun clipped to her side.

“Ventress, Obi-Wan’s had a long night. Get us a cup of coffee, would you?” He said with a wave of his hand. Ventress’ lip curled into a prominent snarl as Dooku stood and stretched, laughing down his nose at the sight of them and spread his hands.

“Come now, I can hardly tell which one of you has a more sour look on their face. That’s hardly a commendation of your character, Ventress.”

She pursed her lips tightly, shoving Obi-wan to sit in one of the deck chairs before heading below deck.

“Now, I assume you know why you’re here.” Dooku said, joining Obi-Wan in the chair adjacent. He glanced aside at Obi-Wan. “There’s no point playing coy, my friend. We’re ten miles out into international waters. Let us drop the pretenses and speak as gentlemen.”

Dooku reached behind himself, retrieving a thick folder from beneath the table, sliding it across to Obi-Wan.

“I thought seeing the documentation in person might sober you up to the reality of your situation.” He prompted, gesturing to the packet.

Obi-Wan stared at Dooku for a long, heavy moment. He lifted his bound wrists.

“Are you planning on reading it to me?”

Dooku chuckled amiably, reaching into his sweater pocket.

“Ah yes, of course.”

He pulled out an ornate silver switchblade, brandishing it in a sudden, fluid way that nearly brought Obi-Wan to flinch. He resisted doing so, if only to deny the older man the pleasure.

With his hands free, Obi-Wan reached over and flipped the cover.

He recognized the seal of the Institute of Merbiology and Conservation. A 1:1 thumbnail photo of Anakin’s face, and a separate one of the scale patterning of his tail were paperclipped to a small stack of paperwork.

“Alaskan Mako DV-510, named “Vader” by his legal owner, Sheev Palpatine.” Dooku said coolly.

“Vader.” Obi-Wan repeated with a scoff under his breath. “Palpatine was never subtle about his intentions to breed him, was he?”

“Legally apprehended in approved waters. Licensed and registered through all the appropriate channels.” Dooku carried on. Obi-Wan’s eyes were dark and distant as he sifted through the paperwork.

“His facility and tank were declared fit for purpose, inspected twice a year by the IMC. Medical history - we had a crown put in to seal one of his back molars, that’s all detailed there. Vaccination records - of course, there was no way to be sure how far along Qui-Gon got with him so we had to start over from square one.”

Obi-Wan rankled, flipping the folder shut and slid it away.

“I suppose this does nothing to change your disposition?” Dooku looked up at him carefully.

“It’s nothing I haven’t seen already.” Obi-Wan shrugged dismissively, looking up at Dooku. “Really, this all could have been an email.”

Dooku chuffed with polite laughter.

“Why are we really out here? If it is to talk frankly about the situation, then let’s get on with it, shall we?” Obi-Wan squared his shoulders, his expression growing stern.

“I did it, I freely admit it. I took Anakin from Palpatine’s home. I did it alone, I was able to because he trusted me.” Obi-Wan spread his hands. “I’ll testify in court. Put me in jail for the rest of my life, just leave Anakin be .” Obi-Wan pleaded, leaning forward. “Let him live his life. That’s all I ever wanted for him.”

Dooku watched Obi-Wan’s profession with cool detachment.

The tense moment was broached by Ventress returning to the deck, her lips twisted into a thin line as she presented a tray between the two men with a stainless steel percolator, along with some mugs and saucers.

She threw herself down into the final chair, pouring herself a much-needed cup.

“My boy, I do not wish for a great mind with such potential to spend the rest of his life in a prison cell.” Dooku spoke clearly and sternly. He returned his attention to the file. “And I certainly wouldn’t ask you to trade your freedom for something that I do not have the authority to give.” He flipped through the pages towards the end.

“You didn’t look through the entire file. I thought if anything might help explain my point of view-”

He pulled out another document - a medical file for a human man that Obi-Wan didn’t recognize.

“Diego Martez” Dooku said coolly, taking a sip from his coffee. “Father to two young daughters up near Anchorage. His was the last of seven fishing barges ravaged before an official ordinance was drawn up by the Gaming and Wildlife authorizing DV-510 to be taken out by anyone with a proper hunting license.”

Obi-Wan’s stomach churned, looking over the documentation containing news reports and failed insurance claims.

“The man survived - after he jumped into the water Vader could have easily savaged him I suppose, but he did severely injure his spine when he hit the rocks on the seabed.”

Obi-Wan put his hands in his hair, running them through roughly.

“I know you’d like to paint me as the villain in this story.” Dooku said, pouring himself a cup of coffee. “But if it wasn’t myself, someone would have eventually cornered Anakin. Someone without the means or connection to take him someplace he could live and not continue to harm others. Someone who would have been happy just to taxidermy his dorsal fin to hang up in the local pub.”

Obi-Wan’s stomach churned.

“Anakin-”

“Qui-Gon always believed Mer to possess an intelligence on par - or perhaps surpassing humans. Tell me,” Dooku leaned forward, speaking sharply to rouse Obi-Wan back to the present.

“If a human man were to lose his mother tragically - would that excuse him from spending the next several years destroying the livelihood of others?”

The boat swayed and rocked gently on the calm morning water. A warm breeze gusted over the deck of the boat, across the three people who sat in terse, heavy silence.

“It’s different now. Anakin won’t, not anymore-”

“No, he certainly won’t.” Dooku agreed firmly, cutting over Obi-Wan’s weakening voice. “But if you truly wish for him to live his life , the only way to do it is to find a secure facility where he can be safe .”

Dooku waited for Obi-Wan to reply. Finally, he spoke again, his Voice more gentle.

“I never got a chance to make amends with Qui-Gon. But I know you were like a son to him-”

Obi-Wan chuffed, running his hands through his hair in agitation.

“Spare me, Dooku.”

The older man’s eyes narrowed.

“I beg your pardon?”

“How did Anakin lose his arm?” Obi-Wan asked hoarsely, looking out over the water.

Dooku’s eyes narrowed.

“Qui-Gon never told me why the two of you parted ways.” Obi-Wan pressed on, watching the man closely. “I can’t believe how long it took me to understand why. Mer in the wild have been reported to live to nearly two hundred years old. In your own book, you support the idea that they only live thirty to fifty.”

“I never supported it directly.” Dooku said loftily.

“But you didn’t refute it.” Obi-Wan pressed, heat burnishing in his voice. “Everything the public doesn’t know about them, there’s no way you could have missed it-”

“Oh, don't be so naïve, boy!” Dooku scoffed. “Do you really think that the intelligence of Mer is some groundbreaking revelation? We have lived beside them for centuries!” He threw his arms out for emphasis.

Ventress rose, slipping away from the heated conversation to lean against the side of the boat, watching the water. Her posture was intentionally relaxed, though one hand strayed to touch two fingers to the handle of her gun.

“Do you think world leaders want to navigate agreements on trade routes with Mer clans? Treatise over fishing rights? ”

“There’s so much more than that, even still.” Obi-Wan shook his head, spreading his hands. “The things I learned from him Dooku, you wouldn’t be able to believe it-”

Dooku rounded on him, placing his hands down on the coffee table, looking Obi-Wan square in the eye.

Would I ?

It was as if a gong hand been based with all one’s strength on either side of Obi-Wan’s head.

He reeled backwards, his head reeling.

Dooku’s voice resonated within it. But it felt… wrong.

“- How?” He gasped, struggling to regain his breath.

“Years of practice and discipline.” Dooku drew himself back up to full height with smug pride, watching Obi-Wan with a slightly manic gleam in his eye. “That, and the bond forged with a mermaid - once I convinced her she loved me.” He stroked his beard thoughtfully. “She was a fascinating creature… I learned so much.”

“And that means-”

“That means that Vader - a Mer with no qualms about capsizing boats or drowning fishermen has no place in this world.” Dooku said with a definitive swipe of his hand. ‘If not by me, someone will inevitably find him and kill him. Not even Palpatine knows what he is capable of. And our window of opportunity is shrinking, but it is not gone.”

He tapped Obi-Wan’s brow between the eyes.

“You have the bond. I can sense it. That means you can reach him.”

Obi-Wan looked up at Dooku, with shock and disbelief.

“Could you hear him?” Obi-Wan asked, his voice cracking under the strain. “The entire time? When you took his arm away?”

“Call him, Obi-Wan.” Dooku demanded, there was a sharpness in his voice, though he didn’t raise it to shout.

The clouds that had been billowing far off in the distance were nearer now, blotting out the mid-noon sun. A chill carried over the waves.

“I can’t -”

“I do not wish to force you, but I will.” Dooku said levelly, watching Obi-Wan with sincere concern. “And you won’t like how I do it.”

“I don’t know how!” Obi-Wan nearly laughed from the near-blasphemous absurdity of it all. “He’s - he’s gone. It only works when he’s close!” His grin turned fierce and wild.

“Even if I could , I wouldn’t. Never in a million years, Dooku.”

“Ventress?” Dooku glanced aside at her.

“ Do what he says, Obi-Wan .” Ventress warned, coming around to Obi-Wan’s side.

“I told you I can’t .”

“He can’t do it, Dooku.” Ventress looked up at the older man, looking unusually restrained and tense.

“ Ventress. ” Dooku’s eyes flashed cold. “I’ve grown quite tired of this game. Do it. ”

Ventress snarled, grabbing Obi-Wan by the back of the neck.

His world turned as he was forced face-down onto the table, one arm twisted behind his back.

Calm and composed as ever, Dooku seized Obi-Wan’s other wrist, pulling his arm out flat on the desk.

With his free hand, Dooku once again pulled out his elegant switchblade.

The knife gleamed in the early morning light, before sailing down to bury itself into the meat of the younger man’s palm, lodging into the wood of the table below.

Obi-Wan screamed.

Notes:

Mer fun, amirite?

Chapter 11 Summary:

Thank you so much to everyone who has stuck with the story for so long! Especially thank you to everyone who comments - each one = about 500 words of story! This will be the final chapter before the epilogue. Please note the rating change!

Chapter Text

The sun moved high into the sky, obscured by dark and heavy clouds.

Long, unhurried hours had sailed by since Obi-Wan was brought aboard Dooku’s ship.

Four bloodied fingernails lay on a cloth napkin on the table.

Obi-Wan’s eyes were bloodshot and wide with pain. Sweat beaded down his neck and mussed his hair.

His throat was ragged and raw.

“I assure you, I’m not enjoying this.” Dooku said calmly.

A surgical kit was set out beside him. He methodically applied disinfectant to the swab, handling Obi-Wan’s mutilated fingers with all the gentleness in the world.

Obi-Wan flinched violently as the ice-hot pain of the alcohol seared his open wound.

Same as he had with his small, ring and middle finger (as well as the knife wound through his palm), Dooku began to bandage and patch up his index finger.

“Unfortunately, there’s simply no other way - save for you agreeing to cooperate.” Dooku covered Obi-Wan’s fingertip in sterile gauze, wrapping the wound.

The purpose after all, was not to injure Obi-Wan.

It was the pain - nothing more.

Harsh, blinding pain - so much that it filled every facet of his mind, burned out any other comprehensible thought. It filled every inch of him until it was bursting out - spilling out through his mind like chum in the water of his mind where the bond resided - to draw in sharks from miles around.

Obi-Wan’s torso was laid out heavily on the table. His uninjured hand had been handcuffed to its base while Ventress kept one eye on the horizon, the other on a sonar device built into the dashboard. Every few seconds it blipped, returning a blank screen.

A heavy, sleek rifle of an unusual sort sat on her lap. It seemed to be making a faint, tinny buzzing sound, though perhaps that was coming from Obi-Wan’s own ringing ears.

“Water, please…” Obi-Wan rasped. His voice was barely there.

“One moment.” Dooku finished wrapping Obi-Wan’s finger. He briefly left Obi-Wan’s side, fetching a bottle of chilled mineral water from the room downstairs.

A stiff breeze had begun to pick up. The boat pitched idly on the water.

“You’ll need to soak your hand in salt water at least twice a day for the next three days.” Dooku advised calmly, returning to his seat.

Obi-Wan looked up at Dooku in disbelief.

“And apply petroleum jelly to the wounds. Don’t look at me like that.” Dooku sighed, idly picking up one of the surgical pliers.

“There’s no need to believe that killing you would be a necessity just yet. If anything, you have every opportunity to turn this around. Once DV-510 - your Anakin is recovered, you would be a vital part of our research to better understand his abilities. Willingly or… less so.”

“You should just kill me and get it over with.” Obi-Wan rasped, closing his eyes and laying his head back down on the table.

“My dear boy, if we do - who would look after the well-being of Anakin?” Dooku leaned forward, sounding so damn sincere Obi-Wan felt he might be sick.

“He will be brought in. Alive, or the closest thing to it. Don’t you agree it would be best that he have someone like yourself there to let his keepers know if he is hungry - or in pain?”

The boat pitched in the water again. The waves were fuller now, coming in one after the other.

“Palpatine doesn’t understand the full scope of Anakin’s potential, of course.” Dooku continued conversationally, as if the two were still calmly discussing matters over coffee. “He simply thinks what those old fools all do. Anakin is beautiful and dangerous and powerful. So anyone who can manage to keep him is even more so. The true nature of my research is something that’s been kept a carefully guarded secret.”

“The bonds?” Obi-wan ground out, if only just to keep him talking and stretch out the interlude from his torture as long as possible.

“The bonds are only the start of it.” Dooku hummed, looking intense and distant. “The way to better understand what they’re truly capable of. It’s rare… whether it's dying out, or a closely guarded secret. I’ve yet to meet a single Mer in captivity capable…” His fingers drummed on the surface of the boat.

The air was growing heavy with barometric pressure.

Thunder rumbled in the distance.

“I won’t find another like him again.” Dooku said, more to himself than to Obi-Wan. “I am determined to have the secrets of his kind. Nobody has worked harder, longer than myself. I deserve it .”

Obi-Wan ground his teeth together with disgust. Dooku reached for the pliers again, causing a stab of fear to run through him.

“I told you,” Obi-Wan snarled, letting his head thump heavily against the table. “It’s pointless. All of this. Anakin won’t come for me. He’s gone.” To his great shame, his voice broke as he said it. A new kind of pain, sharper and more acute than the physical pain in his hand.

“He’s on the other side of the world. He’s at the bottom of the ocean. He’ll never see me again.”

A stubborn eye rolled over to Dooku.

“ You’ll never see him again.”

Thunder clapped and rumbled - more earnestly now. Dooku looked down at Obi-Wan, his mask of apologetic sincerity briefly lifting to an expression of revulsion.

“ Then what good are you to me? ”

Ventress shifted at the stern of the boat.

“The weather is turning.” She said, perhaps more to herself than either of the two men.

The waves continued to steadily swell. The ocean surface rippled and roiled as a sheet of rain lashed over them. Dooku swore, kicking his chair back as he stood.

Bony but surprisingly strong fingers gripped Obi-Wan by the hair at the scalp. Dooku’s other hand gripped the edge of the heavy table that Obi-Wan was handcuffed to, pulling it forward a few threatening inches.

“If you can’t make Anakin come to me - perhaps I’ll send you to him .” There was a wild edge to Dooku’s voice now, something perhaps edging on desperation as he stared into the rain madly.

The waves had risen far too quickly.

The sun was gone, the water black.

“Or whatever damn creatures are slithering about on the ocean floor.”

“Dooku, what are you doing?” Ventress yelled over the wind and the rain and the harsh, grating sound of the heavy table being pulled across the floor of the boat, digging deep welts into the fine wood paneling.

Another wave pitched the boat. Cold water sprayed over the dock, soaking Obi-Wan up to his shins.

Ventress skidded across the slick dock, running up to Dooku and grabbing his arm.

“Have you lost your goddamn mind?” She yelled over the latest crash of thunder.

“I spent years tracking down that wretched fish.” Dooku snapped back, shaking Ventress off. “He has the potential to ruin everything ! If I cannot see him behind glass, I will have the satisfaction of seeing his mate at the bottom of the ocean!”

“His - what?” Ventress paled. “You’re insane!”

Obi-Wan felt the table drag further, closer to the edge of the boat - wondering why he wasn’t doing more to fight.

Wondering if he was meant to drown years ago.

A final, massive wave roiled up across the horizon to meet them, swelling up higher than the top of the boat - casting shadow with what little light remained in the sky.

“Ventress, hold onto something!” Obi-Wan suddenly yelled, seizing the heavy table with both hands - the bright flare of pain of his bloodied hand lost in the adrenaline and terror of the moment.

The wave hit them like a wall - slamming against Obi-Wan’s shoulders and torso. The table lifted briefly off of the deck, sailing to the far end of the deck. The teeth rattled in Obi-Wan’s skull as the table hit the railing of the boat on the far side. By some miracle, not toppling over into the churning abyss of the water.

The wave rescinded, pulling back.

Obi-Wan’s chest heaved, coughing up cold brackish seawater - blinking and heart racing.His hair was plastered to his forehead, clothes heavy and clinging to his body.

The light of the sun blazed red behind his eyelids.

In the space of a breath - the clouds had parted - evaporating like fog meeting hot stone.

Heatclaps of thunder roiled away into the distance.

The waves had died.

The world was holding its breath.

A slow, wheezing sound could be heard. Obi-Wan’s eyes were drawn to Dooku.

There was an arm wrapped around the man’s throat.

Serrated teeth sunk deep into his neck.

Obi-Wan took in the sight of him in a moment.

A heavy blue tail was wrapped thick around Dooku’s legs. The muscles of his chest and one remaining arm chorded tight with tension.

His eyes were wide, round and unblinking.

Anakin’s eyes were soulless and dark as night - like the eyes of a shark from the bottom of the sea.

Deep within those eyes was the same storm and fury that had consumed Anakin for six years - driven wild by grief and loss and the blood-maddening scent of the ones he loved in pain.

I thought anger was all I would ever feel again. I even hated you when I said you, in that terrible place…

He hadn’t realized what Anakin meant by those words that day.

It had been more than anger that consumed him when Anakin suffered the loss of his mother.

Dooku wheezed, his wide eyes looking over to Obi-Wan frantically.

“Anakin-” Obi-Wan had scarcely time to breathe his name before the Mer had vanished over the side of the boat, dragging Dooku under.

“Anakin!”

Scarcely a ripple was left behind. A wisp of a dark shadow, vanished in an instant.

“They’re gone, Obi-Wan.” Ventress said from the far end of the dock, where she clung white-knuckled to the railings.

Gone, and in more than one way. Obi-Wan had heard of it before, but never seen it in person. Mer species capable of entering into that manic state.

A Blood Fugue.

Some evolutionary cross wiring between a shark's feeding frenzy and the miracle surges of adrenaline human beings could enter - mothers lifting cars to feed their children or fight off attacking bears.

If their mother was taken away from them, perhaps.

Or if they were made to endure the pain of their mate being tortured through a bond.

For deep ocean Mer - those who traversed back and forth from the light to the dark side of the ocean past the mesopelagic zone, that power was accessible far more easily and sustainably. They could be lost in it for years, until their minds were gone.

“No,” Obi-Wan breathed - realizing with a sickening lurch what he was about to do.

He looked over at Ventress - surely a bit wild-eyed and mad himself.

But in it, there was a serene sort of clarity.

“I won’t let him leave me again.”

With the last scrap of his strength, Obi-Wan seized the heavy table at the end of his handcuffed wrist and heaved it over the side of the boat.

He hit the water, and sank like a stone.

Beneath him, the abyss swirled.

For a few heartbeats, he could see the black cloud of blood that trailed up in the wake of Anakin diving with his prey, before the light was choked out.

The pressure from the water squeezed his temples and eyes.

His lungs emptied.

The water rushed in.

Obi-Wan screwed his eyes shut, drowning out the panic as he reached inward, seizing the crippled, broken bond in his mind.

A predator rose up from the deep.

“Why?” Qui-Gon asked, surprised.

The two sat on the jetty in the peaceful Alaskan harbor. The sun never truly set in the summertime, though it did hang low on the horizon despite the late hour. The water glittered gold under a brilliant orange sky.

The wind was fresh and warm, carrying down from the deep woods the fresh scent of spruce and wild alder, mingling with the salt tang of the ocean.

Despite growing tall in the last year, Anakin still insisted on lying between Obi-Wan’s legs, lounging over one knee. He was busily sorting out all the pieces of their disassembled crank-powered radio - teasing at a stubborn washer with the screwdriver attachment of his swiss army knife.

“Well, I mean - I know why.” Obi-Wan flustered. He ran his hands over Anakin’s smooth, pearl scales without really thinking about it. The pad of his thumb brushed over his soft dorsal fin. Spines had begun emerging in the last year or so, and seemed to itch terribly. Anakin didn’t look up, but he did arch and purr as Obi-Wan worked it with the blunt of his nail.

“But I guess, I was just wondering...”

“I suppose… because of love.”

“Love?” Obi-Wan sat up a bit straighter, his cheeks bright red. Anakin seemed to slow in his work as well, though Obi-Wan must have imagined it.

“Yes, well.” Qui-Gon looked out over the water, the cool breeze rustling through his hair. “Love - the way I define it in the simplest way - caring for something or someone more than yourself. More than your own life.

I think… if we as a people, can learn a little bit more to care about others. Other individuals, other species. To recognize who they are, to see them . To love the world that we live in - more than we love ourselves. Perhaps then I can leave this world a better place than I came into it.”

“That’s… a bit morbid, don’t you think?” Obi-Wan asked, with a breathy laugh. “You’re not dying anytime soon, Qui-Gon.”

“We all die someday.” He continued, wistful as he ever was.

“Obi-Wan…”

Obi-Wan!

Anakin shook him viciously, snarling and snapping.

Obi-Wan was lying back on the dock of the boat, his throat thick with bile.

How could you do that? You idiot! You almost died!

Anain’s hands were on his shoulders, fisted into his sweater as a litany of sharp clicks and whirs and hisses followed the tirade that rang across their bond.

I nearly killed you myself! I still should ! I-

Obi-Wan threw his arms tight around Anakin’s body, crushing him against his chest.

Anakin’s body was warm.

He was here.

He was here.

Fingers twisted into the back of Anakin’s hair, his eyes screwed up tight. His mangled had throbbed and pulsed with bright pain, somewhere distantly in the background.

Obi-Wan reached inward, seizing the bond the two shared.

It bloomed - blazing outward with molten gold, twining between the two - blazing and re-forming and bright. Anakin shuddered and gasped, his body going rigid at the sudden mental embrace filling every facet of his being with light.

“Forgive me,” Obi-Wan gasped. “Please-”

I thought… you said…

Obi-Wan took a deep breath, opening the floodgates of his mind.

He communicated now in Anakin’s way - the terrifying language of the Mer. All emotion and truth. With no room for vagueness or omission.

Not just Anakin’s emotions, but his own. Everything that he had spent years hiding from.

I love you, I love you.

Never leave me, forgive me, please…

It wasn’t just Anakin’s thoughts and feelings, but his own that he had to face so clearly. His love, his rage and heartache and loss.

Somehow, by some miracle of the living soul two creatures hurt and broken so deeply could come together and find themselves made whole.

The two were kissing, or rather - they had a spectacularly bad attempt at a kiss before Obi-Wan seized up, turning to the side to wretch up more saltwater. Anakin rubbed his shoulders soothingly, continuing to hungrily pepper the back of Obi-Wan’s neck and shoulders with desperate kisses.

“Dooku?” Obi-Wan gasped, after his final wretch of water. He drew his sleeve over his mouth, “Did you- is he?”

Anakin didn’t have to answer. The smug, dark curl of vicious black satisfaction was all the answer needed.

Obi-Wan hung his head.

“I wish you hadn’t.” Obi-Wan lamented, his head hung heavy. “The world will see you as a killer, even more so now.”

He was a monster, like the ones who took Shmi from me. Anakin looked out over the ocean. He never would have stopped hunting you.

“Dooku came out here to make a body disappear.”

The two men looked up to the far side of the boat, where Ventress had been busy making herself look as unobtrusive as possible.

Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest, her voice very deliberately calm even if her posture conveyed nothing of the sort.

“We’re out in international waters, far off from shipping lanes. Even if your boyfriend ” Her mouth skewed in a frantic sort of grin at the word. “- Even if he didn’t dump him directly into the mouth of a shark or eat him or whatever happened down there - he’s probably already long gone… what is he saying?” She glanced at Anakin, who had thrown a few pointed signs at her with his one arm.

“He’s asked why he shouldn’t do the same to you.” Obi-Wan translated with a strained smile.

It wasn’t a question , Obi-Wan.

Anakin sneered, tugging the man close to him, putting himself in between his mate and Ventress.

She’s dangerous too! All the things she did -

Obi-Wan shuddered, as he felt the ripples of pain and degradation - only echoes now of Anakin’s experiences, though nonetheless poignant.

“She’s the reason you’re free.” Obi-Wan clarified, rankling Anakin’s temper briefly for including Ventress in the conversation. “Palpatine’s security system was one of the finest in the country. She’s the one who gave us the information and access codes to get you out.”

Anakin glared at Ventress, his tail beating the surface of the water with agitated suspicion and distaste.

“I’ve also refrained from using this on either of you.” Ventress added helpfully, shouldering her gun.

Because she knows I’d drown her before she could. Anakin sneered.

“Of course, I probably wouldn’t make it back to land alive if I tried.” Ventress sneered.

“To report back to Palpatine what happened?” Obi-Wan asked, his voice very carefully neutral. “Unfortunately, we have no way to trust you won’t give us away the moment it's most lucrative for you.” Obi-Wan gestured to the boat with his mangled hand.

“You don’t have it in you, Obi-Wan.” Ventress put one hand on her hip, her fingertip brushing against the trigger of the gun. “Even at your worst, you never had the stomach to make the hard choices.”

“No, you are correct.” Obi-Wan lamented. “I never had the stomach to kill anyone. I couldn’t even save Dooku.” He grasped the back of Anakin’s neck, the pad of his thumb stroked the base of his skull. “I likely wouldn’t be strong enough to save you from him, either.”

A foreign and vicious thrill of bloodlust shuddered through Obi-Wan, which he pushed away with some difficulty back to Anakin.

There was a terse, quiet moment while Ventress glanced between them - assessing whatever multitude of odds and factors led her to eventually close her eyes, and nod her head.

“You know, there’s a reason that I’ve lasted as long as I have in this profession.” She set the gun down heavily on the deck, reaching into her vest. “Every time you do a job like this, you learn a little something. If you know how and where to look. Little secrets. Critical collateral to keep yourself from becoming a loose end to tie off.” She produced a small black flash drive, no longer or wider than her thumb.

She turned it over once, then tossed it to Obi-Wan, who caught it with his good hand.

“I’ve got dirt on just about every politician, businessman and bitcoin mogul that’s ever crossed palms with anything Mer-related. That’s half the reason I can get away doing what I do.” She shrugged, trying not to sound too proud.

“Affairs, black mail. Bad trade deals and evasion and a bunch of stuff that doesn’t make any sense to me . But if people knew that you were to disappear, that information would become publicly viable in twenty-four hours - or wind up on the desk of someone who could do something with it?” She shrugged again. “Well, suddenly you’re just not worth the trouble.”

Obi-Wan and Anakin exchanged a glance.

Anakin’s posture was tight, and rigid. He was glaring spectacularly at Obi-Wan, teeth half-bared.

If Ventress hadn’t believed Dooku’s word that the two were… connected before, seeing them like this now made it obvious.

Carefully tucking away her terror, Ventress walked forward and sat down cross-legged on the deck, looking at and addressing Anakin directly.

“Survival among the humans doesn’t mean making Palpatine forget about you.” She spoke slowly and deliberately.

“It’s about making yourself more trouble than you’re worth to have killed.”

Anakin blinked, clearly unused to being included in a part of the conversation. He looked to Obi-Wan warily, in a rare moment of uncertainty.

“Why are you telling us this?” Obi-Wan asked, before Anakin even needed to transmit the question.

A cool smile spread across Ventress’ lips.

“I’ve been on the lookout for a new Second. Someone who would publish the information for me should I disappear one day. And vice versa.” She held out a hand, gesturing to Obi-Wan.

“Plus, there’s a lot of use to be had with a human and a wild Mer that can communicate. You partner with me on the failsafe, and - let’s say, assist me in a few missions-”

“Absolutely not.”

“Five.” Ventress countered.

Anakin clicked loudly, holding up three fingers.

“Four.” She insisted.

“Three, and you will brief us on all of the risks ahead of time.” Obi-Wan said, with an air of finality. “We pick the missions at our own discretion. And, of course - Anakin won’t eat you.” He added for good final measure.

For a moment, there was only the sound of the waves lapping peaceably against the hull of the boat and the gulls crying softly overhead.

Then, Ventress laughed

“Alright then, Kenobi.” She crossed her arms with a thin, smug smile. “And don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten what type of adventures it is that most thrill you.” Ventress purred, leaning over to stroke the line of his jaw with one knuckle.

Anakin went rigid, screeching loudly enough that both humans nearly dropped to the deck.

“Enough already! Tch, when we get back to shore I don’t want to look at another fish for a month.” Ventress got to her feet, stalking over to the engine motor, revving it up to take them back to the coast.

“In all my time - he’s got to be the most remarkable piece of work-”

“But not particularly polite.” Obi-Wan agreed, sitting down beside Anakin, allowing the Mer to loom over him posessively, his tail wrapped around Obi-Wan’s waist.

It was deep into the evening. The boat had been handed off to Ventress to dispose of. The two sat on the shore of the rocky outcropping that had stood for eons against the ebb and flow of the ocean, creating a natural sanctuary of calm water.

Across from them, off in the distance twinkled Castilon Bay against the darkness of the California coastline that stretched vacant between cities. Obi-Wan sat on a rock, up to his knees in the water softly lapping at his sides. Anakin curled up with his head and torso in Obi-Wan’s lap.

You need to see a Healer about your hand.

My hand is alright. Obi-Wan soothed, petting Anakin’s hair with his good hand.

He knew quite well that Anakin didn’t want to move from this spot. Not really.

They sat there together in a brief bubble of well-earned peace, a junction point between two moments.

In between all that had happened, and all that was going to have to come next.

His uninjured hand carded through Anakin’s hair, tracing the loose amber curls that remained flowing and soft even as his hair dried.

Their bond hummed.

There were no secrets between them now, no boundaries. ‘

Your lungs feel much better . Obi-Wan commented, his hand moving down Anakin’s smooth, bare back.

The ocean made me strong again. Anakin said, sounding smug and utterly content. They still… I’m not like I was before. But I am much better. Thanks to you. He sat up, burying his nose in the crook of Obi-Wan’s neck.

You saved me. You took care of me, and the pups...

“Of course, Anakin.” Obi-Wan spoke softly, bringing his hand up to brace the Mer’s neck, his lips touched the shell of his ear.

“You are my mate, after all.”

Obi-Wan’s eyes fluttered closed as he was briefly overwhelmed by the sensation of warmth and adoration that washed over his being through their bond.

Fingertips brushed over Obi-Wan’s knuckles, their hands joined together and clasped tight.

Say it again. Anakin begged, his lips finding Obi-Wan’s. He was guided into another deep promise of a kiss.

I love you, Anakin.

Obi-Wan shuddered under the heady weight of Anakin’s feelings returning to him tenfold. Anakin deepened his kiss as Obi-Wan sagged in his arms. The feeling threatening to drown and drag him under.

There were some advantages to being able to speak without a voice though, Obi-Wan realized. He did his best to shout it over the bond - achieving the dolphin click-and-whistle intonation inaccessible to human vocal chords.

An!Kn!

The Mer was briefly struck dumb, unaccustomed to the sound of his own name pronounced correctly . Then, his eyes crinkled with delight. A grin broke out across his face, and a rich, brilliant laugh echoed between them, wracking his entire body.

Anakin threw his arms around Obi-Wan, the two of them laughing and crying as they held one another - the heady relief of love and freedom so unusual to either of them only just setting in.

A long time later, it was Anakin who finally spoke, his head tucked into Obi-Wan’s shoulder, the two bathed in the rose-gold glow of sunrise.

What do we do now?

Gentle waves lapped at the rock, rippling Anakin’s tail that sat in the water gleaming in the early morning light.

“We have one another, that’s all we need to figure the rest out.”

Anakin sighed.

I meant… for REAL, Obi-Wan. The eggs…

“I know.” Obi-Wan hushed, his lips touched Anakin’s forehead. “I know. The world isn’t going to let us be together. So there’s only one thing we can do, really.”

Anakin looked up at him intently. It wasn’t clear - or else it didn’t really matter - who was the one to say it. When they spoke now, it was of the same mind.

We change the world.

Chapter 12: Epilogue

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

6 Years Later

“You can’t put this online, Ahsoka.”

“What, really?”

“One viral video is enough, thank you.” Obi-Wan said tersely, standing up to his waist in the gentle waters of the shallow wading area of the large pool enclosure.

“I know, I know.” Ahoska sighed, leaving her phone on the rock shelf before sitting down at the edge of the pool. “To be fair, this one was going to be for the online fans of your ass in a wetsuit.”

“ Ahsoka -” Obi-Wan said thinly, looking pained.

“I’m kidding!” She laughed, throwing her hands up apologetically.

As soon as her feet touched the water, there was a ripple and blur across the surface

“Hello to you too!” Ahsoka said brightly, reaching up to grasp the outstretched chubby arms of a small mermaid. Leia dropped herself onto Ahsoka’s lap, chattering happily. One hand hugged a rubber Orca toy tight to her chest - a very expensive present custom-made that matched the blue-and-violet color patterns of her tail and scales.

She turned it over, exposing the waterproofed touchpad on the belly, swiping across the surface rapidly

" I got my shot!" The toy translated her text to speech in the slightly robotic stylized pitch of a young girl. " Luke is afraid!"

"Did you let Obi-Wan give you your booster shot?" Ahsoka asked brightly, signing as she spoke. Leia nodded, showing off the bandage wrapped around her upper arm.

Ahsoka heaped praise on the young girl as Obi-Wan waded a bit further out into the enclosure, chilled water seeping up to his chest.

The entire setup really was a remarkable thing. Thanks to a generous donation from Bail Organa, the Mer rehabilitation section of the Monterey Bay Aquarium had overgone a significant reconstruction during the final months of the twin’s incubation period six years ago. What had originally been a series or enclosed pools extending out into the bay was now a much larger singular space - managed by sharing the horsepower of the pump system used in the adjacent Great Open Ocean exhibit.

The majority of the area perfectly matched the shoreline, waist-deep for a long stretch, before plunging down to an artfully created shelf nine feet deep with a few shallow caves and crevasses for a young Mer to hide or sleep in.

Unlike any other enclosure in the facility, the floor of the exhibit was littered with diving rings, plastic trucks, dolls and other waterproofed children's toys.

We'll need to tidy up before the last group visit. Obi-Wan thought grimly. They had been highly against the idea of the twins being visible to the public at all. High, opaque screens obscured most of the area- with only the northwestern-most corner of the enclosure visible to diners at the restaurant on the second floor.

There was a strictly enforced fine on any unauthorized drone activity.

Eventually however, a compromise was reached that special VIP passes once a month would be given out to allow fully supervised visits for the public to meet the two Mer twins.

Two thirds were made available at a (frankly extortionist) price to those who could afford it, the proceeds going to fund their setup and keep it going. The other half were raffled off to the general public.

Obi-Wan was present at every occasion, where guests' phones and recording devices were confiscated before being allowed into the area and could sit on the deck for an hour-long presentation on environmental awareness and Mer conservation while Luke and Leia took turns making faces behind Obi-Wan’s back to the crowd.

Obi-Wan was well aware few people were there for what he had to say, but that was alright. The more important message to take away was that Luke and Leia were really… just children. They learned, and fought, and played.

They made a mess.

They hid and sulked to avoid getting booster shots.

He treaded out into the deeper water, his eyes half closed. Low and deep and soothing, he sang the song that he and Anakin had sang together years ago, the same song that was sung to them almost every night before they hatched, and even after they were born.

The song of the pups.

The song of Obi-Wan, and of Anakin.

Far beneath him, Obi-Wan could see a blue-green shadow under the water emerging from the rocks. The surface of the water broke, Luke’s cornflower hair clinging to his face and cheeks, partially obscuring his dour expression.

Don’t want to .

Luke didn’t think the words as much as he pushed the feeling through the bond the two of them shared. Fear, pain. Slick and bitter apprehension.

Still, the boy held out his arms and allowed Obi-Wan to pick him up out of the cool water, soothing him with feelings of warmth and love and reassurance through their bond as he carried him back to the dockside of the enclosure to join Ahoska and Leia.

“Remember, you have to get all of your jabs before we can go on our big trip with Daddy.”

Well-trained at this point, Ahsoka’s hands flew up over her ears as the two Mer children shrieked with excitement, kicking up sprays of water thoroughly soaking the two humans.

“You’re all packed then?” Ahoska laughed, wiping the water out of her eyes and stretching her legs. Leia had fallen back into the water in the commotion, now swimming rapid laps around Obi-Wan’s waist alongside Luke.

“Everything is in the boathouse.” Obi-Wan beamed. “It’s parked down in the marina. Once Anakin arrives,”

“Are you sure they’re ready for it?” Ahsoka keened softly. She scooped Leia out of the water, hugging her close even as the girl kicked and splashed and squawked playfully in protest. “Mer transportation’s come a long way since Cradles were banned. We could always drive,”

“Anakin and I talked about this. They’ll need to get used to being out in the open ocean. Besides, they’ll hardly be alone.”

Obi-Wan cast a glance out over the San Francisco bay. Sitting out on the skyline was an innocuous gray vessel with a slightly battered hull. Even from here, Obi-Wan could make out where it had once been rammed by a Japanese whaling vessel that they had clashed with back in 2005 during Obi-Wan’s pirate days.

There likely wasn’t a safer place in the ocean for a Mer to travel than in the shadow of the Negotiator - especially with Rex and Cody on board.

Obi-Wan fished Luke out of the water, coaxing him up onto the side of the pool. While Ahsoka distracted him with some funny videos from her phone, Obi-Wan made quick work to dry and sterilize his arm before administering the final fluenza jab.

Midway through Ahsoka and Obi-Wan heaping Luke with praise, both him and his sister froze in the water, Obi-Wan following suit a split-second later.

“Is it him?” Ahsoka sat up straighter.

Obi-Wan’s fell ito a grimace.

“No, it’s-”

“ Canonball! ”

A faded Indiana Jones towel hit Obi-Wan in the side as a young boy in swimming trunks ran past, diving into the deep-end of the enclosure.

Obi-Wan grit his teeth and choked down a flair of annoyance, even as Luke and Leia shrieked with delight, diving after him. Leia made quick work of seizing him by the ankles, doing her best to drag him down to the bottom of the enclosure to drown him.

“Thank you, Chewie.” Obi-Wan signed, as the second boy - who was politely following the rules of using the sanitation shower up against the cabin at the entry to the enclosure.

The boy just grunted, signing back an apology for his younger brother.

“You two have to get out of the water before Anakin gets here!” Obi-Wan shouted, mostly so Han could hear as he choked and spluttered at the surface of the water.

“Yeah we know!”

Truth be told, Obi-Wan was privately glad that the two boys had broken into the Mer exhibit that one afternoon last summer. They were foster sons of one of the janitors, they also spent long hours in the aquarium - permanent fixtures in a building full of revolving doors.

The two hadn’t even been looking to get a closer look at the mer - they had simply been looking to meet and play with other children - especially those fluent in American Sign Language who could connect with Chewie.

In return, the twins got much-needed friendship with others roughly their own age. He sighed, sitting down heavily next to Ahsoka.

Obi-Wan sat back on the edge of the pool, drinking in the early-spring warmth as his wetsuit rapidly dried.

“You’re not going to get sun like this up in Kodiak.” Ahsoka said, with a lilt in her voice very careful not to be too somber.

Obi-Wan chuckled once, warmly in the pit of his chest.

“I know.”

Anakin had shared the memories with him of patrols around his (he still couldn’t quite begin to think of it as their ) new territory.

Anakin was a difficult Mer to please. But even he couldn't find fault with Malina Bay.

It was as close to the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge as the government would allow any sort of long-term residence to be established. The combined political pull of Bail Organa, and the now well-known story of the rescued Los Angeles Mako pups had allowed them to make a thin exception - allowing the construction of a modern but humble cabin and research facility to be established there.

It was an equal distance between the nearest human town of any notable size, and the nesting location of Anakin’s mother’s old pod - dwindled down to only two inhabitants, the Mer’s half-brother and his mate living peacefully in Discovery Bay.

(That’s a dumb name. Anakin had huffed, on learning what humans had christened the area).

Far from shipping lanes, home to thousands of aquatic birds and other wildlife. Obi-Wan saw through Anakin’s eyes as he coasted the currents of the islands, staking claim to the area - harassing sea lions and creating sonar echoes that would irritate and drive off orca pods.

“Do you think Satine will be able to keep Senator Thrawn from getting that gas drilling lease in Anchorage?” Ahsoka asked, now that all of the children were thoroughly engrossed in a game of keep-away.

Obi-Wan sighed, lying back on the deck.

“I suppose we’ll have to see.”

He had been trying not to think about it. An avid “collector” of Mer trophies and culture - it seemed all too coincidental that right around the time that Anakin took up permanent residence in Kodiak that the puppet company that he was a majority shareholder in happened to become very interested in the region.

“One step forward, two steps back huh?” Ahsoka mused grimly.

“Oh, I don’t know about that.” Obi-Wan said somberly, with a dry smile.

“It’s hard to think that the world might get better. Or to know it's not going to be any one single great act of heroism that will save things. It will be long, slow and hard. We’re not going to see the end of it in our time.”

Luke popped up out of the water, watching Obi-Wan with wide eyes.

“But when you have those that you love in the world, it’s worthwhile.”

The wind shifted.

Luke and Obi-Wan looked up in tandem to face the horizon.

The water in the bay stilled, then the tide turned. Boats bucked and bayed in the water.

Sea lions barked and bayed and threw themselves up out of the water and onto the rocks.

Seagulls shrieked and the world was singing.

Obi-Wan stood and faced the wind, his eyes bright. His soul light.

“He’s here.”

Notes:

This epilogue is almost entirely due to Kittona and those helping her out with the Pursuit of Cold Water audio fic, basically every update from her got another hundred words on this final chapter until it was done. There's a lot of other things I had ideas for with the characters and the story, but it ended up getting away from me and overwhelming and I really just wanted to be able to put a bookend on this piece. I don't think its perfect / still a little messy, but I also think one of the themes of the story is being imperfect and messy and loving the broken bits of yourself.
I started this story a month into covid lockdown, when I first got into the ship and the fandom and met so any wonderful people over the last two years. Thank you so much to everyone who commented and supported and enjoyed the story! If you have any questions or want to chat about any part of the work or obikin in general please feel free to drop me an ask on tumblr!

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MusingPal4474 on Chapter 1 Thu 07 May 2020 05:19PM UTC

I absolutely ADORE this.

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1. JSwander on Chapter 1 Mon 11 May 2020 12:31PM UTC
  
  Thank you so much <3!
  
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demi_fae on Chapter 1 Thu 07 May 2020 05:29PM UTC

This is an amazing idea! Its a super interesting concept, and an absolute joy to read. You're a great writer 💕

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1. JSwander on Chapter 1 Mon 11 May 2020 12:32PM UTC
  
  Thank you so much for the lovely feedback, I'm glad you're enjoying it!
  
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midnight_vision on Chapter 1 Thu 07 May 2020 06:02PM UTC

This is so interesting! I love that there's an unknown history between Anakin and Obi-Wan.

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1. JSwander on Chapter 1 Mon 11 May 2020 12:34PM UTC
  
  Thank you, that's so kind! It'll definitely get explored later, I'm glad you're interested!
  
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lucy_is_a_rocketship on Chapter 1 Thu 07 May 2020 11:03PM UTC

this is fantastic!

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1. JSwander on Chapter 1 Mon 11 May 2020 12:35PM UTC
  
  Thank you!
  
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thel (Guest) on Chapter 1 Fri 08 May 2020 12:09AM UTC

This plot is so good damn. I love it and your writing style!!

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1. JSwander on Chapter 1 Mon 11 May 2020 12:37PM UTC
  
  Aah thank you so much <3!
  
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Leedie on Chapter 1 Fri 08 May 2020 07:55AM UTC

Yesss!!! Mer!Anakin is so good and I'm so glad to see him out of Palpatine's clutches!! Him and the eggs!! 💜💜💜
The story is so good I can't wait to see more!!

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1. JSwander on Chapter 1 Mon 11 May 2020 12:37PM UTC
  
  I'm glad you like it Leedie, thank you for the idea <3!
  
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6Starlight6 on Chapter 1 Sat 09 May 2020 01:48PM UTC

I like it ! I want to read more of it ! :)

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1. JSwander on Chapter 1 Thu 14 May 2020 03:50PM UTC
  
  I'm glad you like it! More is coming soon :)
  
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picavenger14 on Chapter 1 Tue 12 May 2020 12:25PM UTC

Yes! This is great!
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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1. JSwander on Chapter 1 Thu 14 May 2020 03:51PM UTC
  
  Thank you <3!
  
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PlumeriaAlba on Chapter 1 Wed 13 May 2020 11:51AM UTC

Wow I love merman Anakin ! So well written !

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1. JSwander on Chapter 1 Thu 14 May 2020 03:51PM UTC
  
  Thank you so much! He's a lot of fun to write :D
  
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Riana1 on Chapter 1 Fri 12 Jun 2020 12:27AM UTC

you have me hooked on every word- I feel like a trout.

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ghastttly on Chapter 1 Sun 14 Jun 2020 09:31PM UTC

I honestly didn’t expect to fall in love with this as hard as I did but I’m dying for more wow thank you!!

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Account Deleted on Chapter 1 Fri 02 Oct 2020 02:40AM UTC

Oh why did I put off reading this for so long??!! This was so wonderful. I love that you have Anakin speaking a different language (dialect?) It's such a nice touch. This already has me entranced I'm so excited to read more and see how this develops. Shame on Palpatine for wanting to suffocate Anakin for the sake of asthetics! I hate him already (though when did I ever stop hating him) Amazing job on chapter 1!! 💕

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kittona on Chapter 1 Mon 17 Jan 2022 02:48AM UTC

"I told you he was remarkable, not that he was particularly polite.”
Best description of anakin ever lmao

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Slipperysith on Chapter 1 Tue 21 Jun 2022 02:16PM UTC

Of course Anakin is remarkable!!! Politeness is a whole different thing, and the monster deserves none of it!!

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Raivana on Chapter 1 Thu 27 Oct 2022 04:36AM UTC

💜

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RajaMarika on Chapter 1 Sun 08 Jan 2023 06:46AM UTC

HELLO!!!!
I ABSOLUTELY ADORE THIS!!!! I FINISHED IT IN ONE SETTING AND I HAVE NOT SLEPT A WINK! ITS 7:44 AM
BUT GUESS WHAT!! I DONT CARE!!! BC THIS WAS SOSOSOSO GOOD AND SOOSOSOSOSO WORTH IT!!! I SACRIFICED SLEEP ON THE ALTAR OF GOOD FICS!!!
THIS IS NOW ONE OF MY FAVOURITE MER FICS EVER!!! BECAUSE!! BIOLOGY YES!! THIS IS SO COOL I AM SO SATISFIED!!
AND ALSO OBIKIN THATS WHY IM MAINLY HERE I HAVE ENJOYED THIS SO MUCH YOU HAVE NO IDEA, IM STILL SCREECHING IN FERAL JOY ABOUT IT I SWEAR TO THE GODS I LOVE THIS SO MUCH
SO THANKS FOR SHARING!! HAVE A GOOD DAY!!! AND KUDOS TO YOUR HARD WORK!!!!!!

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1. JSwander on Chapter 1 Sun 08 Jan 2023 01:28PM UTC
  
  Thank you so much, I'm so glad you enjoyed it 🥰!! I hope you got some sleep as well 😂❤️!!
  
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vpkramer on Chapter 1 Mon 26 Jun 2023 07:37PM UTC

This is SO good.

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Meowalker (LianneSummers) on Chapter 1 Wed 17 Jan 2024 10:25PM UTC

Loving this beginning! You did a very good job of making us want to murder Palpatine right away.

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Jack_of_All_Blades on Chapter 1 Sat 15 Feb 2025 11:14PM UTC

*violently bangs table* A SCIENTIFIC MERMAID AU????? SIGN ME UP!! How did I miss this one? Oh wow, I love the world building you have here, the different breeds of mer and their needs/environments, the auctioning off of/market for mer eggs, Anakin’s sheer feral nature. I have a feeling this is going to be a favorite ;)

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TreeOfTime on Chapter 2 Mon 11 May 2020 11:19PM UTC

Poor Anakin, I’m excited for the bond? I hope this works out well!!

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1. JSwander on Chapter 2 Thu 14 May 2020 03:52PM UTC
  
  Sure we'll see XD! Thank you for your kind words!
  
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