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The Greatest Treasure of my Life

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Anakin's POV
I couldn't avoid the inevitable anymore. My simmering anger towards Obi-Wan over not telling me or anyone about the missing padawans had allowed me to sidestep this confrontation for long enough, but the constant nightmares had begun to take their toll on me.

Each night, I found myself trapped in a haunting vision where Obi-Wan and I were on a mission, facing down an entire army with nothing but our combined strength. We would emerge victorious, celebrating our triumph, only for the joy to be shattered as a lightsaber pierced through his back. The blade glowed a menacing red, a cruel reflection of blood, and there stood Darth Maul, delivering the fatal blow. It was always at that moment I would jolt awake, my heart racing, a scream caught in my throat.

Now, I found myself standing in-front of Obi-Wan's door, my heart pounding in my chest. After gathering my courage with a deep breath, I raised my hand and knocked. The sound echoed in the stillness of the corridor, a sharp rap that seemed to reverberate through the very walls of the Temple. Each second stretched into an eternity as I waited for a response.

Finally, the door slid open, revealing Obi-Wan standing there, his expression a mixture of surprise and concern. His brow furrowed slightly, and I could see the flicker of recognition in his eyes as he took in my disheveled appearance.

"Anakin," he said softly, his voice steady and calm, as if he could sense the storm brewing within me. "What brings you here at this hour?" It was late, I had the nightmare again just minutes ago, and I quickly left my bed and (y/n) behind to come here. The guilt of what I had done, gnawing at me.

I opened my mouth to speak, but the words caught in my throat. The memories of my dreams flooded back, the image of his betrayal seared into my mind. "I... I need to tell you something," I finally managed to say, my voice a low whisper.

Obi-Wan stepped aside, gesturing for me to enter. The familiar surroundings of his quarters were both comforting and suffocating. I could see the artifacts of his life scattered about—the holobooks, the lightsaber resting on the table, the faint scent of tea lingering in the air, "Sit," he instructed gently, motioning to a chair. I did as he requested and sat across from him while he sat at the edge of his bed, "What's going on?"

It took me a moment to collect my thoughts, uncertain of how to start. "Um," I said, clearing my throat, "Maul is alive."

His response was instant; he took a step back, a look of confusion washing over his face. Yet, there was no trace of fear—only bewilderment. "What?" he asked, skepticism tinging his voice, as if he were struggling to comprehend how I could possibly know such a thing.

I took a deep breath, bracing myself before sharing the whole story. I began with Ahsoka and my quest to find (y/n) with the help of Mother Talzin, and I detailed every part of my experience, right up to the moment I meticulously followed her instructions.

As soon as I finished speaking, a heavy silence fell in the room, stretching my patience to its limits. "Are you going to say anything?" I finally broke the quiet.

He raised a hand, hesitating before letting it drop back to his side, his eyes glued to the floor. "You actually believed her? You trusted that woman when she said Maul wouldn't be a problem?" His gaze finally met mine, filled with a familiar blend of disappointment and anger. "You're a complete fool, Anakin." He stood up suddenly, his voice rising to nearly a shout, though he managed to keep it low enough not to disturb those in the nearby rooms.

"I did what I had to do," I retorted, standing to face his glare. "No one in that council chamber, not even you, was looking for her. I took it upon myself to find her, and I did whatever it took. I would do it all again if necessary."

He shook his head slowly, deliberately. "You have no idea what you've done, what consequences are coming. I'm certain Maul will seek revenge for what happened on Tatooine."

"That's precisely why I'm sharing this with you, so we can brace ourselves for when or if that moment arrives," I said, my voice steady despite the tension in the air.

"There's no 'if' about it, Anakin; it's merely a question of 'when.' Not even Mother Talzin can hold Maul back. You were reckless to take this risk; I can hardly wrap my head around it. I can't believe he's still breathing." He raked his fingers through his hair, a storm of frustration brewing within him, his eyes dark with concern and anger. The thought of Maul still being alive, lurking in the shadows, was a bitter pill to swallow.

"You can't honestly say you wouldn't have done the same for Ahsoka, for me," I shot back, my gaze locking onto his with intensity. I could feel the heat of my own conviction rising, fueling my words. "Tell me you wouldn't have. Tell me you would have stood by and let one of us face certain death." My heart raced as I challenged him, desperate for him to understand the depth of my commitment.

Obi-Wan's expression softened for a moment, the storm within him momentarily seized by the truth of my words. I could see the conflict in his eyes, the struggle between his protective instincts and the reality of this dangerous choice. "You know I would do anything for you, and for Ahsoka," he finally admitted, his voice low and heavy with the weight of his choices. "But this... I don't even know where to start to fix this. It's been weeks, he could be healed by now, he could be anywhere. And you need to understand I'm not the only one in danger right now, you are, Ahsoka is, (y/n) is," My chest tightened when he said her name, "Anyone close to me."

I stepped forward, my resolve unwavering. "That's exactly why we need to prepare ourselves. Prepare them." I pointed toward the door that led to our Padawans' quarters.

He took a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose in exasperation. "Why couldn't you just speak your promise without actually doing it? Surely your integrity isn't worth the potential consequences we could face."

I swallowed hard. "That was my intention, but—" I paused, "She got into my head, practically threatening to take away what she had given me. I'm sorry, but I won't risk (y/n) for anything."

He fixed his gaze on me, a flicker of confusion dancing in his eyes, as if a storm of questions brewed just beneath the surface. "Do I really want to know what's happening between you two?"

I tightened my jaw, a surge of anxiety quickening my pulse. "I have no idea what you mean."

With a subtle tilt of his head toward the wall separating us from my room, he continued, "I'm aware she's in there. Shall I remind you, Anakin, of the vow you've taken?"

I tightened my fists before releasing them, a tic that helped ease the tension within myself, "Again, I have no idea what you're talking about."

He crossed his arms in a thoughtful manner and tilted his head slightly, his fingers grazing his chin as he reflected. "Alright, Anakin. You can keep pretending that nothing is going on between you two, and I'll keep pretending that I believe you."

We remained in a heavy silence, our eyes locked in a wordless confrontation, the air around us thick with unvoiced feelings. It felt as if the very atmosphere was pressing down on us, nearly suffocating. "I'm in love with her Obi-Wan," I finally exhaled, the confession escaping my lips before I could even stop it. The weight of that truth had become almost unbearable. Though, I sensed he had known for a while, and I couldn't help but wonder just how long he has known.

"I know," he replied, his gaze dropping to the ground, a tired sigh escaping him. "Get some rest. We'll talk about the Maul situation more tomorrow." He met my eyes again as I nodded in agreement. "And Anakin," he added, stopping me just as I was about to turn away, "don't tell anyone else."

"About Maul or about—"

"Both. For your own sake."

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As soon as I returned to my room, my confession lingered heavily in the atmosphere. I had just shared my relationship with (y/n) to Obi-Wan, and a wave of anxiety washed over me at the thought of him revealing our secret to the council. Yet, as I settled into my bed, I held onto the hope that the bond we shared was stronger than his loyalty to the council.

I pulled (y/n) close, cradling her against me as she lay peacefully, her cheek resting softly on my bare chest. The gentle rhythm of her breaths became the lullaby that finally eased me into sleep. However, my rest was brief; a sudden noise from somewhere in the room startled me awake, my eyes snapping open in an instant.

I scanned the room with a slow, deliberate gaze, questioning whether I had truly heard something or if it was merely my imagination weaving shadows in the corners of my mind. My vision began to adjust to the darkness, yet I found nothing out of place, and not a single soul in sight.

Convinced it was nothing more than a figment of my thoughts, I closed my eyes again, clutching (y/n) closer.Just as I felt myself drifting back into slumber, a loud bang echoed through the silence, reminiscent of a sliding closet door being forcefully shut.

I shot upright, jolting (y/n) awake beside me. "Anakin? What's wrong?" she murmured, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, her expression a mix of concern and confusion.

I barely registered her words, my attention drawn to the closet, which stood ajar. I could have sworn I glimpsed something lurking within. "Stay here," I instructed, my voice steady as I reached for my lightsaber on the nightstand and approached the closet.

With a swift motion, I summoned the Force, yanking the door open with a crash against the wall. But there was nothing—only emptiness stared back at me.

"What are you doing?" she asked, her voice laced with bewilderment.

I exhaled heavily, closing the door once more. "Nothing, I thought I saw—" My words faltered as I turned to face her, my breath catching in my throat. She appeared dead, as if life had drained from her, like a corpse that had been decaying from days. Her skin was lighter, her lips were purple, her eyes held no vibrancy or color.

She tilted her head, her voice hauntingly soft. "Why did you let me die, Ani? Why were you so weak?"

A scream tore from my lips, and I bolted upright in bed, my heart racing, tears brimming in my eyes. It was just a nightmare, a cruel trick of the mind. Yet it felt so achingly real.

(Y/n) was instantly awake, her hands finding my face, drawing my gaze to hers. I hesitated, terrified of what I might see reflected back at me. But when I finally met her eyes, a wave of relief washed over me. She was herself, beautiful and alive. "What happened? Are you okay?" she asked, concern etched on her features.

I nodded, forcing down the lump in my throat. "Yeah, it was just a nightmare. I'm okay," I managed to say, though my heart was still pounding in my chest and it felt difficult the breathe.

Her fingers wove through my hair, a gentle attempt to calm my restless spirit. "Do you want to share what's on your mind?" she asked softly.

I shook my head slowly, the word "No" barely escaping my lips. I took her hand in mine, reassuring her, "It's nothing really, I promise I'm fine."

Though doubt flickered in her eyes, she chose to honor my silence. "If you say so," she mumbled, her fingers gliding over my cheek. "Let's get some rest for now." With a tender kiss on my cheek, I surrendered to the warmth of the moment, closing my eyes and embracing the greatest treasure of my life.

"I love you," I breathed, the words barely above a whisper.

"I love you too." She nestled closer, urging me to lie back down with her, her head resting against my chest. I gazed up at the ceiling, feeling her shift as she settled in. "You know you can always talk to me, right?"

"I know," I replied softly, my fingers tracing the strands of her hair. "Get some sleep; tomorrow will be a long day."

Before long, her breathing fell into a steady rhythm, a sign that she had drifted into sleep. I, however, remained awake, my eyes fixed on the ceiling, haunted by that image of her that lingered in my mind.

It reminded me so much of my Mother, how I saw her dying over and over again for weeks before I went to Tatooine. There is where I learned her fate and of course I was too late. A tear rolled my cheek as I wondered if history was somehow repeating itself.

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