darkforcerising | OPEN POST

Anakin had to pause and really focus to do the mental recall on the date. In truth, dates were not his strongest suit. As soon as it clicked, though, he grimaced.

"Oh... okay... so this is bad." For me. He took a step back and slowly raised his hand - one still holding his sucker.

"Funny story... and I know this is hard to believe... But I'm Anakin."

Obi-Wan's expression was usually extremely neutral. Placid, calm, aloof, maybe even remote.

Usually.

This was not usual.

He could not have had a more blatant look of confusion and disbelief on his face, if someone had written 'wtf' on his forehead with sharpie.

"Of course you are. And why are you here?"

"Well, I was on a train," Anakin started to explain. "Heading to a friend's. And I stepped off the train... into..." He made a small gesture with his hands - no sudden movements while that lightsaber was on the table. But he was indicating the room.

"I have no idea how that was possible. But," he forced a laugh. "The Force is, you know, mysterious."

Blast.

He believes that.

It explains what he'd felt the Force doing, at least. That wrenching force and settle.

HE sighs, heavily.

"This is going to be a problem. You seem to recognize me."

"Well, ya," he said, first thing to come to mind. "Awkward. I know. Given the date."

He blinks in even more confusion.

"What's wrong with the date?"

"Before we continue," Anakin's eyes shot to the lightsaber.

"Can we agree not to stab me? Just would like to stay holeless."

He actually has to stop and think about it, which probably says something about his mental state at the moment.

There are situations where he'd probably at least like to stab ...Anakin.

Probably most of them are unlikely.

But having some version of Anakin dropped into his home is unlikely too.

He considers in silence for several second before he nods.

"You have my word that I won't stab you."

"Wow, okay, telling pause. You really don't not get the date reference, do you?"

Now he had to figure out what to say.

"Hmm. Okay... I haven't seen you in over twenty-six years."

"I like to account for as many possibilities as possible before giving my word."

He shook his head, slightly. "I do not get the date reference. If you are Anakin, it has not been twenty-six years. If you aren't, I've never seen you before."

He's been refusing the 'Anakin' part, honestly.

Maybe he should stop doing that.

Okay, this was going to be hard.

"Oh!" a thought occurred to him. "Remember Mortis?"

That is a very good question and even before he answers it, thinking of that ethereal place starts to settle some of his confusion.

"Yes."

"Okay," Anakin said, his mind working to find a way to explain this in a way that both made sense to him and Obi-Wan.

"That place had some kind of time dilation property to it. Maybe this is like that, well, the time dilation part? I've been somewhere else the last twenty-six years... and now I'm back here, which is weird. Not going to argue with that."

Okay, focus on now and what's in front of you. Deal with it. He takes a deep breath, exhales slowly and visibly relaxes.

"Then who's been here?"

Oh, okay, yes. That thorn.

"I think... now, remember, you said you wouldn't stab me. But I think... me?"

He makes that 'what the actual fuck' face again, and has to take and release another measured breath.

"You've been in two places at once. And now you're... both here?"

"Two places at once? Um... no... Well, now that I think about it, now I am in two places at once, I guess."

He'd been holding back information mostly because he didn't quite know how to explain it, but maybe he should just say what he knew.

"I lived, here. A whole life. Then I died. And existed like that for a while. Then I guess I was reborn somewhere else and lived there for twenty-six years until just right this moment."

That makes an unfortunate amount of sense.

He understands why Anakin was worried about being stabbed, now.

He rubs his hand over his face - his shaking hand - and turns and walks toward the kitchen.

"I need a drink. Sit down."

Anakin nodded his head at Obi-Wan excusing himself. "Oh sure."

But he wasn't so sure he should come any closer. He looked around for a chair near him, but none closer than the table. So he stood there awkwardly, keeping distance between them.

He actually has a bottle of alcohol in the kitchen, so he drags it out and pours himself a hefty shot.

It isn't going to get him drunk, but the sting and burn of alcohol does prove somewhat grounding.

When he looks up and notices Anakin still hovering- "For-" He doesn't finish, but uses the force to call his lighsaber to him and... drops it down the trap door into his cellar.

Then closes the door over it.

"I am not going to stab you."

"But you still have the Force," Anakin pointed out.

"And I know that this..." Oh, how did he finish. "Isn't- can't be easy for you."

He sets a chair from the table directly on top of the trap door. "Yes, and now you'll notice the chair flying if I attempt to use it to retrieve my weapon."

He walks back, toward Anakin and then gestures toward the living area. Where they can both sit down.

"I am not the one who's afraid of being killed." Deflect, though it's a pretty shaky deflection.

This really is... just about unbearable.

"That's not how..." he was thinking the Force would be used. But he stopped himself from illuminating his creativity. It would probably make things worse.

"I've got a good reason to be cautious, don't you think?" But that wasn't fair, was it? Maybe a bit harsh? Maybe precisely on point?

Do not highlight your creativity, Anakin. The most 'creative' Obi-Wan's gotten with the use of raw force toward anything living is throwing them or throwing things at them.

...which would be a bigger problem for a human, but still. He is fairly straight forward.

He sits and snorts, face in his hands for a moment. "I could make a very good argument either way."

Anakin had always wondered, in his currently like, after he received his memories of this other life back, what it would be like if he ran into Obi-Wan again. All the things he'd wanted to say but never had, which feelings would win out: the draw for the connection they once shared, or the resentment for what they'd become.

Standing there, he realized he still didn't know the answer to any of that. His emotions, untested as they'd been, still fought each other.

But he did know, whatever it was he was feeling, he didn't want to cause Obi-Wan more pain.

"I can leave... I think," he offered. "I could... just go..." He pointed to the door.

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