Chapter Text
Naboo was very beautiful. Shaak Ti wished she was visiting it for the first time for better, happier circumstances. A battle on a peaceful planet and the death of one of their own was never a reason to experience joy. Both being the reason she was on such a lovely planet made it hard for her to enjoy its beauty. She knew it would taint her perception of the planet forever and regretted that it was what brought her there.
The sound of desolate sobbing tore her from her melancholy. Reminded her that she was not the only being experiencing pain and grief. That there were others who needed comfort and guidance and she couldn’t let herself wallow.
So she centered herself and stood from the bench she had been attempting to meditate from. As quietly and unobtrusively as possible, she rounded the cluster of bushes behind her. What she found there had her pausing immediately.
Anakin Skywalker, the young boy from Tatooine. He radiated sadness and uncertainty into the Force. Emotions that matched the wet red eyes he sported and the tear tracks that ran down his cheeks. The moment he caught sight of her though, he gasped and stumbled to his feet.
“Master, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to disrupt you.”
“You didn’t, young one.” she reassured him in a soft voice. She reached out to place a hand on his shoulder, but his tiny body flinched away from her. She frowned, worry immediately taking over her thoughts.
Instead of trying to touch him in comfort again, she gestured down to the soft grass. “Why don’t we sit?”
He fell to the ground so quickly it was like invisible strings were cut. It had her worry growing even more as she gently sat down beside him.
“Are you crying for Qui-Gon, little one?”
He shrugged even as he nodded. “He was nice. Nicest Master I’d known. He shouldn't of had to die.”
“The Jedi believe that when you pass, you aren’t fully lost to the living. Qui-Gon has become one with the Force. He will always be there when you need him.”
He just shrugged and stayed silent. She tilted her head in an attempt to make eye contact with him. He wouldn’t look away from his hands though so she just asked him in a soft voice.
“Why are you afraid, little one?”
“I just don’t know what happens to me now,” he whispered. “Did Master Qui-Gon have someone his things were supposed to go to? Did he have something set in place if he dies? I know the Jedi don’t want me, so if it was one of them who am I supposed to go to?”
Shaak blinked. She couldn’t have possibly heard the boy correctly. “Anakin, did you just say that you believe Qui-Gon owned you?”
He gave her a confused look, huge blue eyes crinkled and lips downturned. “He won me, Master. From my old master, Watto.”
She was certain something was wrong here. There had to be something wrong here. “Was Obi-Wan there?” she asked slowly. It was only her years of being a Jedi that stopped her voice from going shrill.
Anakin shook his head. “No. Just Padme.”
He had to be wrong. Qui-Gon would never buy another sentient being. Queen Amidala certainly would never stand by and allow him to do so, either. There had to be something they were missing.
“Anakin, I believe something is evading us both here. Will you come with me to speak with Queen Amidala?”
He nodded immediately and stood. She followed him to her feet and looked down to his small figure with a questioning look. “Would you mind if I carried you, young one?”
He studied her for a moment, eyebrows furrowed even more. “You want to carry me?”
“I would like to, yes.”
“I won't hurt your lekku?”
She chuckled and shook her head. “No, trust me. They’re much more reliant than they look.”
He worried his bottom lip between his teeth. “I just, why do you want to carry me?”
“You look exhausted and worn down, little one. I’d like to carry you because you look like you could use it.”
He continued to stare at her quizzically for a long moment before nodding. “Okay. If you’re sure.”
With a soft smile she swept him into her arms. He giggled at the motion and cautiously wrapped his arms around her neck. As they began to walk towards the Palace doors, he said something that had her pausing.
“I’m glad you’re a Jedi.”
“Why is that?”
“Because you’re very pretty. Pretty people, especially togruta, they have bad lives on Tatooine. So I’m glad you’re a Jedi, so you don’t have to know what that is like.”
She knew what sort of hard life he meant. She also knew that he himself had seen more of it then anyone she had ever known. She vowed to herself that he never would again.
“Thank you for the compliment, sweet one.” she told him softly. “I am equally glad that you will be a Jedi as well.”
He jerked his head back to stare into her face with wide startled eyes. “I will? Master, I was told I wasn’t right to be a Jedi? That I’m too dangerous. Too bad.”
She took a deep calming breath. She had no idea that he would have heard the things Master Yoda had said as him being bad . She was almost actually angry with herself and her fellow Councilors.
“Yes.” she assured him as firmly as she could. “We must clear up some misunderstandings, young one, and then I promise you will be a Jedi.”
Shocked delight overtook his Force presence, turning him into a literal supernova in her arms. It was almost staggering and only sold her decision that she would be the one to train him.
“Thank you, Master! Thank you!”
She suppressed the urge to cringe at the literal devotion shining from his words. Instead, she ran her fingers through his hair and continued to move towards the Queen’s office.
“You do not have to thank me, Anakin.” she assured him softly as she walked. “You were born to be a Jedi. I am sure of it.”
He gave her a shy smile and leaned into her more, his head resting lightly on her lekku. He stayed in that position until they reached their destination.
Once there, she lowered him to the ground. When he was steady she held her hand out for his. It was only after he had slipped his into it that she straightened and knocked on the door with the free one.
A young, but primly proper, voice called for them to enter almost immediately. The young Queen was settled behind a desk with an entourage seated on either side. She gave a shocked, confused look for a very brief moment before nodding her head.
“Master Jedi.” she greeted and then her lips widened into a grin at the sight of Anakin. “And Ani! How can I help you both?’
“I was hoping you could clear something up for us.” Shaak informed her carefully.
“If it's within my ability, I’d be happy to.”
“Anakin here believes that Qui-Gon Jinn won him on Tatooine.”
The Queen’s eyes went impossibly wide and she was up and out of her chair in seconds. She knelt down in front of the young boy and adamantly shook her head. “No, Ani, no. Qui-Gon bet on your freedom .”
Anakin’s expression turned just as shocked as the Queen’s had been. “I’m free?”
“Yes, Ani. You’re free.”
His brows furrowed tightly. “But, but where’s my detonator?”
The Queen took in a hissing, aghast breath, eyes going wider than should have been possible while Shaak asked in a tight voice, “Detonator?”
He nodded firmly. “Yes, for my slave chip. If, if I’m free, where is it? Can I destroy it? Please ?”
She exchanged a look with the younger woman and then nodded. “I will have it located, Anakin. It is likely within Qui-Gon’s possessions.”
He beamed at the two of them and then hugged Shaak’s legs before tossing himself at Amidala. She caught him easily and Shaak gave them both a smile.
“Your Majesty, may Anakin stay with you for a small while? I believe I have some things to clear up with my fellow Jedi.”
“Of course, Master Jedi. I would be happy for Ani’s company.”
Shaak bowed her head in thanks and set a hand on Anakin’s hair for a brief moment. “You be good for Queen Amidala, Anakin.”
“Of course, Master.”
Suppressing another cringe at his use of the title, she left the office and made quick work of getting to the meeting space the Queen had set up for the Council. Unsurprisingly, they were all gathered together already. The Council members were settled around one side of the table, Padawan Kenobi awkwardly seated on the other.
“Waiting for you, we have been, Master Ti.”
“Forgive the tardiness, Master Yoda. I was busy coming to a very important understanding.”
“Which is?” Mace asked with an arched brow.
“That we have all been operating under misinformation. Young Anakin Skywalker was under the impression that Master Jinn essentially purchased him.”
Kenobi’s eyes went impossibly wide while the rest of the Council showed various levels of dismay.
“Excuse me, I must be hearing you wrong.” Plo stated as he bent forward. “Skywalker believed himself to be a slave?”
“He was a slave. Qui-Gon won his freedom in a bet with the being that owned him. He did not realize the title of Master we hold was different from the one he has grown up using.”
“Grievous error, we have made.” Yoda stated with a sad shake of his head. “Uniformed we were.”
“Master Jinn asked that I see the boy trained.” Kenobi informed them, his tone firm yet sad.
“I don’t believe that is for the best.” Shaak replied and his head swiveled to face her with an almost betrayed expression on it.
“Master Ti!”
She held up a hand to stall his urgent exclamation. “You will be knighted, Kenobi. We all agree that you have more than earned it. But you are young . Far too young to be responsible for a child with so many different needs. You will be knighted, but I will be Skywalker’s teacher.”
“See something in the boy, do you?”
“Yes.” she nodded at Yoda. “Without the misconstrued facts about the extent of his, very reasonable, emotions, I see exactly what Qui-Gon had. Anakin Skywalker is a beacon in the Force and it would be criminal to not nurture that light.”
She stared straight into Yoda’s eyes when she added, “I will do everything I can to make sure he knows that there is nothing dangerous or bad about him. I will make sure he knows how to stay true to himself without letting his emotions dominate him. Though, I will also make sure he knows that his attachments are not wrong, as long as he does not let them control him as well. We can not expect a boy who has only ever had his mother and his emotions, forget about them both.”
Yoda’s ears drooped minutely and he nodded his head. “Train him, you will, Master Ti.”
“Master Ti, if it were possible, could I help in training Anakin?” Kenobi asked softly. “I agree that I am likely too young for the full responsibility, but I did promise my master I would train him.” he glanced down to his hands and added sadly, “It was the last thing I said to him.”
“I believe Anakin would benefit greatly from your friendship, Knight Kenobi.” She informed him kindly. “You already have a connection. It would be a mistake for us to cut off support he has already found.”
“Training a boy who has never had freedom will be hard.” Mace informed her softly. “You will need all the support you can get.”
“Perhaps, but I have no desire to make Anakin believe there is anything different or wrong with him. If I need help, I will request it. I plan on keeping Anakin’s instruction as regular as possible, changing only what is necessary to get him caught up. I do not want anything to put extra on his shoulders. Including any mention of a prophecy or chosen one speculations. Anakin is my Padawan. I will be able to train him just fine.”
Mace nodded his head once, and she returned it thankfully. Yoda cleared his throat and all attention turned back to him.
“Question your abilities, we do not. Here for you, if it is required, we are.” he then turned his head to face Kenobi. “A Knighting, I believe we have to do. To Knight you, who do you wish?”
Sadness filled Kenobi’s face for a moment before he gave a respectful nod to Yoda. “With the loss of my master, and absence of my grandmaster, I’d be honored if you would Master Yoda.”
“Honored as well, I would be.”
The room was filled with a bitter sweetness as Yoda Knighted Obi-Wan. The young man more than deserved the honor. She, and everyone else, just wished Qui-Gon would have been the one to sever his braid.
When the ceremony was finished, he stood staring at the long red hair resting on his palm. The other masters began to file from the room, but Shaak approached Kenobi cautiously.
“Congratulations, Knight Kenobi.”
He looked up to meet her eyes and asked with a desperate spike in his voice. “What do I do with this? Where does it go now that I no longer have a master?”
“You hold onto it. You keep it to remember and honor Qui-Gon. Perhaps someday you will find someone who you wish to give it to. Even if that day never comes, you hold on to it because you’ve earned its distinction.”
Kenobi closed his fist around the braid tighter and held it to his chest. After a moment, he gave a brief bow of his head. “Thank you. And thank you for allowing me to be a teacher for Anakin as well.”
“I meant it when I said he would benefit from learning from you. I also meant no slight to you when I said you were too young to have the obligation of being a master to a Padawan already. You will be an excellent master in a year or two. Process your grief and learn what it means to be a knight before you take on that responsibility.”
“Thank you, Master Ti. I didn’t take it as an insult. I, I agree even.”
She set a hand on his slender shoulder and gave him a sad smile. “I know Qui-Gon is very proud of you. We all are. And I am certain he knows you won't abandon Anakin.”
“Never.” he swore vehemently, determination turning his blue-grey eyes to steel.
“Come, then. Let us tell the young one the good news.”
To say Anakin was delighted was an understatement. His glowing Force presence turned into an even brighter supernova than before and he vaulted himself at them. One thin arm wrapped tightly around each of their legs as he squeezed as tightly as he could.
“Thank you! Thank you, Master! I’ll be the best Padawan possible! I promise! I won’t let you down. I swear it, Master.”
She knelt down to be at his level and placed a hand on each of his shoulders. “I know you will be, young one. Listen to me, though, okay? This is very important.”
Anakin gave an incredibly solemn nod. “I’m listening, Master.”
“First thing, what Master Yoda said to you about being dangerous? It was wrong of him. Not only should he never have said such a thing to a nine year old boy, but he wasn’t correct. Emotions can be dangerous, yes, in full grown adults who know how they’re responding to them is wrong. Not so much in a young boy who still believed himself a slave, was taken from his home, and thrust before a group of strange adults he knew nothing about.”
He nodded once more, opened his mouth, and then closed it again. She squeezed his shoulder and gave him a comforting smile.
“What is it, little one? You should never be afraid of telling me what is on your mind. I will never be angry at you for voicing your thoughts.”
“It just, when Master Qui-Gon brought me before the Jedi Masters, it felt like a slave auction. That’s, that’s a big reason I was so afraid. I didn’t want to get sold off for being bad.” he frowned and gave a small shrug. “Then it happened anyway.”
Shaak took a deep breath at that admittance while Kenobi at her side cringed and the Queen gasped. “Oh, Anakin. I am so very sorry. They, especially the Grandmaster, were wrong to make you feel such a way. He has lived long enough to have been able to know better. I will be sure they give you an appropriate apology.”
Anakin’s eyes went wide and he shook his head. “Oh. Master, no that's okay! They don’t need to apologize to me.”
“Yes. They do.” she stated firmly. “You must always apologize when you have hurt someone, especially unjustly. The Jedi Councilors are no exception.”
“Oh. Okay, Master. If you’re sure.”
“I am. Now the second, and even more important thing I wanted to address. When you call me Master, do you know what you are saying? Do you know what it means?”
“I uhmm,” his brows furrowed once more. “That you’re in charge of me? That I show you respect and obedience?”
She closed her eyes for a brief moment and then opened them as she shook her head. “No, Anakin. It means I am here to guide you. To instruct you on the ways of the Force. To help you become the best version of yourself. It does not mean you must blindly obey me. You are not my inferior, you are my student. I will never punish you for questioning me or expressing yourself. I will not harm you in any way. You are my student Anakin and I am here to help you. To protect you. To teach you.”
“Se’auze .” he breathed out a word she didn’t know in a language she had never heard before.
“What is that, young one?”
“It means one who teaches. Who guides. It's the title of someone who has made it their life's work to help those around them further their knowledge.”
“ Se’auze.” she tried the flowing word out and then gave him a soft smile. “Anakin, I would be honored if you would refer to me as se’auze, instead of master.”
“Really!” he gasped and then hugged her again when she nodded. “Thank you, so much, Se’auze . Thank you!”
“Of course, young one.”
He stepped away from her to beam up at Obi-Wan. “Will you teach me too, Obi-Wan?”
“I will, Anakin, but as a friend. If you would like?”
“Yeah!” his eyes lit up as he eagerly nodded. “I’d love to be your friend, Obi-Wan.”
“Me too, Ani.”
Shaak smiled at the two of them and held out a hand to Anakin. “Come, little one. Lets get you to fit the part of a Jedi Padawan, yes?”
He nodded eagerly, but frowned suddenly and turned his head to face the Queen.
“Padme, will I see you again?”
“Of course, Ani.” she smiled down at him. “I don’t believe that you are leaving quite yet.”
“Oh, yeah. But after that?” he glanced between Shaak and the Queen. “ Se’auze , may I stay in contact with Padme? She can be my friend too, right?”
“If Her Majesty wishes, you absolutely may.”
He turned wide questioning eyes to the Queen, who immediately smiled back once more. “You bet I’ll stay in contact, Anakin. We’re friends, after all.”
Shaak didn't think Anakin could get any happier, any brighter in the Force then in that moment. She was proven wrong a few hours later in a way that was almost awe inspiring. It came about as she was cutting his hair into his new padawan braid. A sudden knock on the door announced Kenobi’s solemn arrival and they both looked towards him as he entered.
Despite the tense set of his shoulders, and almost blank face, Anakin was instantly happy to see him. His face lit up and he asked eagerly, “You going to help Se’auze Shaak, Obi?”
“No, Anakin. That's just for her. I, I came to bring you this. I found it in Qui-Gon’s things.”
He held out a small black remote that had Anakin freezing. He wasn’t even breathing. It was as if he had been turned to stone.
After a second he asked, “I can take it?”
“You’re free Anakin.” Kenobi assured him softly. “You belong to yourself. No one but you should touch it.”
He reached out a shaking hand and Kenobi dropped it into his palm. The boy stared at it for a moment and then the Force surged around him. With a loud series of cracks, the small black rectangle shattered and then turned to dust.
Kenobi brought wide eyes up to Shaak, an expression she was sure she was mirroring. Anakin didn’t seem to register their shock at his display of power. He was too busy radiating joy.
“Thank you, Obi-Wan! I can’t wait until I can free mom and get rid of hers too! Oh, and the chips themselves too of course!”
“Wait, Padawan, did you just say your mom isn’t free?” Shaak asked in alarm. “Are you sure she isn’t?”
“Yeah.” he gave a sad nod. “I know I was confused about Qui-Gon freeing me, but I know my mom wasn’t freed. She wasn’t part of his bet at all.”
Shaak and Obi-Wan exchanged another pointed look. It seemed the Council had yet another important meeting to have.
They didn’t want to wait to do so, either. After the medal ceremony the next day, they met up once more while Anakin spent time with the Queen. The Masters were once again appalled at her revelation. Mace even groaned, one hand rubbing at his eyes.
“I wish I could ask Qui-Gon what he was thinking.” he grumbled.
“Stay in slavery, young Skywalker’s mother must not.” Yoda stated firmly. “Resentment, leaving her could ignite in him. Knight Kenobi, your first mission you have.”
So later that day, while the rest of them set out for Coruscant, Obi-Wan was sent to Tatooine. He had been given more than enough wupiupi to ensure Shmi Skywalker’s freedom. Though they didn’t tell Anakin what his mission was yet, in case something went wrong. Shaak couldn’t bear to get the young boy’s hopes up. It was much better that his mother’s freedom was an unexpected surprise.
The only downside to keeping it secret was that without knowing what the young knight’s destination was, her Padawan was sad that he wasn’t going with them to Coruscant. She did what she could to distract him though, starting by trying to find the best form of meditation for him.
She realized quite quickly that sitting still was not something Anakin did well. He’d fidget and the Force surrounding him turned restless. Agitated. It was something many young Padawan's had an issue with, but Anakin seemed to see it as a personal failure.
“I’m sorry, Se’auze.” he whispered when their third attempt failed. “I can’t clear my mind like you. I don’t know how to avoid the Force. Or, or find it or whatever it is I’m supposed to be doing. It's just, just always there . It would be like trying to forget I’m human or find one individual drop of blood in my veins. It doesn't make any sense.”
“You don’t have to be sorry, young one. Not every Jedi meditates in the same way. Here, I have an idea.”
She found a small metal ball and lifted it with the Force. “Okay, Anakin. I want you to focus on this ball. Move it back and forth with me using the Force. I want you to narrow your mind to only the Force, this ball, and my hand okay?”
He did as instructed, blue eyes staring intently at the ball. After a couple minutes, his eyes fell closed, but his attention never left the ball. For the first time, he was able to fall into a light meditative trance. Shaak could tell he’d do so much better with moving meditation, but this was an excellent start.
“Good job, my Padawan.” she praised him when his eyes opened once more. “You did very well.”
“Yeah?”
“Absolutely. When we get to Coruscant, we’ll get you a training lightsaber. I know you’ll feel even more connected with moving meditation.”
“Okay. Can we do that right away?” he questioned eagerly.
“How about second? We should go to the Halls of Healing first.”
Anakin’s nose wrinkled. “Why?”
“Well, you do want that chip out of you, yes?”
He beamed and gave such an enthusiastic nod she was surprised it didn’t hurt his neck. His incredible excitement to see the healers lasted all the way until they actually walked into the Halls. The moment they did, he froze.
His eyes flickered all around the room as his entire being oozed apprehension. The sterile white expanse seemed to frighten him and he flinched into Shaak’s legs.
“There is no need to be afraid, you one.” she assured him and then motioned to Vokara, who was walking towards them. “This is my friend Healer Vokara Che. She’ll make sure you’re healthy and get the chip out.”
“Hello.” Vokara gave him a kind smile. “You must be Anakin Skywalker?”
“Yes, Healer Che.” he practically whispered, only his head poking out from behind Shaak to peer up at the twi’lek.
“Hello, Anakin. You don’t need to be afraid. Nothing I will do will hurt you, I promise.” she assured him.
He glanced between the two women and then gave a hesitant nod. “Okay.”
Shaak smiled down at him, squeezed his shoulder, and then helped him up onto the exam table. She made to move away, but his small hand grabbed hers.
“Stay? Please?”
“Of course, my Padawan.” She squeezed his hand and sat beside him as Vokara ran a series of tests. She jotted all the results into a data pad and then ran a scanner all over Anakin’s body. It beeped at his shoulder blade, right below his neck and he twisted his head in an attempt to see it.
“Is that where it is? The chip?”
“Yes, young one.” Vokara told him. “I’m going to numb the whole area around it, in order to get it pulled out, okay? It isn’t embedded in the bone or nervous system, so we don't need to put you under for it.”
Despite the assurance, her Padawan still turned as white as a sheet. Shaak tapped under his chin and smiled when his head lifted up to meet her eyes.
“Don’t pay attention to her, sweet one. Look at me. Tell me a story.”
“About what?’
“Anything.”
He launched into the tale of how he won his freedom. Gushing about the thrills of pod racing and how terrified he was when he thought he was going to lose. He had no idea he was racing for his freedom, but he hadn’t wanted to let down his new friends.
His story solidified one thing for her. Anakin had such a good heart. Was so eager to help others, with no gain to himself. Listening to him talk had her even more certain in her decision to train him.
He had been so caught in his story, that when Vokara handed them a tray with a small piece of metal in it he fell into a sudden stunned silence.
“Is, is that it? The slave chip?”
“It is, young Skywalker. It's gone now. You are free from all chains of slavery.”
Compared to his exuberant sunshine reactions to every other step to his freedom, his reaction to seeing the chip was a shock. His lip began to wobble and then suddenly he was crying huge, fat tears as his Force presence filled with a painful combination of relief and strange sense of loneliness and guilt.
“Oh, Padawan.” she guided him into her arms. “It's okay, young one. It's okay. I’m here. You aren’t alone. I will always be here.”
Anakin had never been more thankful for someone than he was Shaak Ti. She was kind, understanding and gentle. She wanted him to be a Jedi. Made sure he would become a Jedi. Most importantly, she made sure he was free .
He hadn’t meant to sob into her shoulder. He had never wasted water like that before. He would have been appalled that he was doing so if he didn’t feel so overwhelmed. Didn’t feel so relieved, yet so incredibly guilty. He had never felt so light before. So open and unburdened. Yet, he felt like it wasn’t right of him to feel so, so free when so many of his people, including his mom, weren’t. So he couldn’t help but to cry.
Se’auze Shaak didn’t seem to mind. She held him as he cried and then even carried them to his new home, just because she said he was far too drained to have to walk that long distance.
Despite not leaving the building, it really was a long walk. He spent the whole of it with his face buried into the side of her lekku. He wanted to see the Jedi Temple, but he wanted his first view of it to be more coherent.
He did happily take in his new home though. It was a cozy apartment with comfortable looking furniture, a full kitchen and many doors leading off of the living space. One of those doors was his . Se’auze Shaak had given him his own room! His own room with his own bed and everything! It was almost enough to make him cry again.
“This is all for me?” he asked in a weak voice.
“This is your room, Anakin. All of it.”
She ran a hand over his head, then down to his upper back to carefully guide him to the soft mattress. “You’ve had a hard few days. Let's get you some rest, okay?”
He happily followed her suggestion and got the best sleep he ever had. For a few hours, until he woke up freezing. So desperately freezing, and there was nothing he could do to lessen it. No matter how much he curled into himself or shivered, he could not get warm.
He would have given up trying to sleep at all, had Se’auze Shaak not quietly opened his door. “Anakin? What is wrong, Padawan?”
“I’m sorry if I woke you somehow, Se’auze .” he said as he sat up and looked in her direction with droopy eyes. “I’m just really cold.”
“Oh, sweet one, of course you are. Give me a minute.”
He watched her leave in confusion. Confusion that turned to delight when she returned with a pile of blankets in her arms. She carefully tucked them around him and then stroked his hair.
“Never feel bad for letting me know what you need, no matter the time, okay?”
He nodded and then asked curiously, “How did you know I wasn’t sleeping?”
“I could feel your discomfort in the Force. Through our bond.”
He tilted his head and asked, “Bond?”
She nodded. “Training bond. Reach into your mind and look for me.”
He did as instructed and then gasped when he felt the tether tying them together. “Wow.”
She gave a soft chuckle and nodded. “I am always here for you, Padawan. No matter what you need, or when you need it.”
She really was, too. She was incredibly patient with him in everything she taught. From moving meditation, lightsaber forms and control of the Force all the way to the Basic alphabet. She also, to his relief, never once made him feel like he was slow or stupid.
“You will join classes with the other younglings and Padawan's.” she assured him as she set out cards with the Aurebesh alphabet. “But not until you feel ready. I know you are very intelligent, my sweet one, but when you haven’t learned the same things as your peers, things can be overwhelming.”
He appreciated it. He appreciated her . He knew that he was smart, but he didn’t know how to read Basic. Had never had an opportunity, or reason to learn to read or write Basic. He didn’t know Jedi culture. He didn’t know their, or even the Republic’s, history. He knew to Core Worlders he’d look like an ignorant, stupid Outer Rim dolt. He didn’t want to look like an idiot to his year mates. He was grateful that she was helping him so that he wouldn’t.
He was honestly grateful for basically everything Se’auze Shaak did for him. Especially her being okay with him staying in contact with Padme. The young Queen was so nice and awesome. He was beyond delighted that he could call her his friend, and more than appreciative that he had the chance to continue to do so.
He wished he could talk to his other friend as well. He adored Obi-Wan. He was the most amazing person Anakin had ever met. He was the Jedi Anakin strived to be. Cool, compassionate and an amazing fighter. He took out the dark Jedi all on his own! Anakin only hoped to be as fantastic of a warrior as Obi-Wan. Though, he hoped more that he’d just get to see his friend soon. It had been far too long since he last had.
When he did get to see him, he didn’t even notice him right away. He would have felt guilty, but he didn’t notice him only because of who he had with him.
It was mid afternoon when Se’auze Shaak called him from his room. He set aside the word exercises he was working on and hurried out. The moment he entered the living room though, he froze.
For only a very brief moment. The second he fully registered what he was seeing, he was running across the room with an exuberant exclamation.
“Mom!”
She laughed in delight as she swept him into her arms. “Oh baby, I’ve missed you!”
He grinned into her hair, his arms tightening around her neck. “You’re really here?”
“I am. Your friend here came back to free me. He said he was going to help me set up a home here on Coruscant.”
He lifted his head to see who she was talking about and let out another gasp. “Obi-Wan?”
“Hello Anakin.”
“You freed my mom?”
“Yes, I suppose I did, but it wasn’t just…”
Anakin didn’t care to hear the rest. All he cared about was that Obi-Wan had brought his mom to him. That he had done what he could to free her, had freed her, when no one else would.
He let go of her in order to hug him just as tightly. “Thank you, Obi-Wan. Thank you so much. You’re the best friend I could ever have.”
Obi-Wan hugged him back, a sheepish smile coming onto his face. “Of course, Anakin. Your mom deserved to be free. We never should have left Tatooine without her.”
He sounded absolutely sincere. Sincere, sorry and so, so kind. Anakin knew then that he’d never, ever love anyone in the way that he loved Obi-Wan. Se’auze Shaak was his teacher and guardian. He’d always love her for letting him be a Jedi. For believing in him. Obi-Wan however, was different. Anakin knew Obi-Wan was more . He knew, without a doubt, that some day the Jedi Knight would be the most important person in his life. Would be his everything.