#and of course baby obi-wan vs baby anakin is just worlds apart

[tennessoui]

Miss Kit, if you’re still taking prompts. How about “You love me, right?” for AU where Mafia boss Anakin corrupts Obi-Wan.

hi hi hi!!! so this was a bit weird to write because the au in question is really like 1-2 posts (i know there's an original but i can only find the follow up) which means it was a lot of building!!! which was cool but also that means this is actually 2.5k rip

anyway this is an au where basically young detective obi-wan is sent undercover to infiltrate mob boss anakin's criminal organization and he's successful but he falls in love with anakin in the classic 'got too deep and can't get out' thing. at least anakin loves him and loves corrupting him. (this is dark--duh--and age reversal, so obi-wan is 23 and anakin is 39.)

sorta a reverse pbatmb but not because i think there are really fascinating differences between the stories but it is a dark mob boss story with flipped mob bosses, so it's a LITTLE reverse pbatmb lol

anyway

(2.4k)

It isn’t surprising that Anakin is waiting for him, not really. He’d probably had him tailed to the police station and back again. He might even have told his man to kill Obi-Wan should he not exit the building within fifteen minutes.

After all, letting Obi-Wan run away once was about proving a point. Twice just looks bad.

So he’s not surprised that upon stepping into the lobby of Anakin’s restaurant, his elbow is caught by one of the men. “Vader wants ya,” Ahsoka tells him. She sounds grim.

“Tell me something I don’t know,” Obi-Wan replies. Maybe it’s because he feels—free. Maybe it’s because he feels confused and like he’s swallowed a ball of lead that transformed itself into a hornet’s nest upon contact with his stomach. He shrugs Ahsoka’s hand off. “I know where to go.”

Ahsoka doesn’t say anything, but she does sneer. She didn’t like him much before she found out he was a rat. She especially didn’t like him after he ran that first time, no matter that at the time he’d thought he was running for his life. She probably didn’t think his life was worth the trouble he’d caused.

They’re both lucky Vader thinks differently.

“Watch your step,” she tells him like it’s a threat, at the base of the grand staircase that leads to the second floor. Ostensibly, there’s more dining up there for anyone in want of a table at a hot, fancy, popular restaurant with countless awards. Realistically, Obi-Wan knows that the second floor of the restaurant is where Anakin conducts his business.

His other business.

“Thank you,” Obi-Wan replies, pausing on the third step to look down. It’s the events of the past twenty-four hours that make his tongue loosen in a way that only Anakin has ever rewarded him for. “He says you’re jealous.”

Ahsoka’s eyes flash in the low light as she takes a step closer. She’d been about to retake her spot at the front, the guard dog of Vader’s mob. “What.”

Obi-Wan steps down until he’s only one step higher than her. It makes them almost the same height. “He says you’re jealous,” he repeats. “Ani does.”

Obi-Wan never calls Anakin Ani, not unless he’s been told to by the man in scenarios where it helps both of them with their covers: Anakin as someone to underestimate. Obi-Wan as someone to write off. It works now too for a vastly different reason. The only one allowed to call Anakin by his first name is Obi-Wan himself. Not even Ahsoka, his apprentice, can.

“I’m not,” Ahsoka snaps. She grips the bannister so hard that her knuckles turn white.

“Really?” Obi-Wan asks. “Because, well. I was an undercover cop, he caught me, he still kept me, and then I slashed his face, I ran away, and when I came back he still welcomed me with open arms. But you—he broke your finger for bungling the shipment I told Windu about. I’d be jealous too, in your place.”

Ahsoka tries to take a second step up, be on level with Obi-Wan, but he stops her with a hand raised and placed on her neck. “Now, now,” he says. “Vader wants to see me.”

Anakin’s apprentice snarls but lets him go. She always has to let him go because Anakin loves him. Anakin wants him.

“One day, someone’s going to show you your place, Ben,” Ahsoka takes a step back, a strategic retreat.

“I know my place, ma’am,” Obi-Wan says in Ben’s accent, soft and unassuming, framed and workshopped off of Vader’s own speech patterns because the linguist the police hired had thought it would breed familiarity. “Similar to yours, it’s beneath Anakin. Mine just comes with more perks.”

He loves me for one, he doesn’t say. He doesn’t particularly want to shove a crowbar into Anakin’s relationship with his apprentice. Not because he doesn’t think Anakin would forgive him for it, but because it sounds more complicated than it’s worth. Ahsoka will adjust. Anakin will make sure of it.

He doesn’t love you, an unwelcome voice murmurs in the back of his head. The memory is fresh. Mace Windu, senior detective, had said that not even an hour ago, clutching Obi-Wan’s resignation letter tightly in both hands. Parting words that had landed like a grenade in his mind, even as he tried to shake it off.

Has anyone ever? He’d shot back, eyes drawn without his express permission to stare heavily at the sheriff’s closed door. Qui-Gon had refused to see him. His own father—he makes one choice he doesn’t approve of, slips and stumbles in a situation his father sent him into, and suddenly Qui-Gon Jinn never adopted a boy.

He’d left the station soon after, but not before Detective Windu hda fired a parting shot: I’d hate to see you spend the rest of your life catering to your daddy issues.

Obi-Wan hadn’t even really thought about the words, what they meant, not until he’s walking through the open doors of the second floor to see Anakin lounging in a firm chair at the head of a table. The table is laid heavy with food: fruit, cold meats, cheeses, pasta, salads, oysters.

All of it untouched. Some of it Obi-Wan had admitted to never trying, some of it he’d told him were his favorittes.

Anakin smiles when he sees him, dropping the knife he’d been spinning around in his fingers to hold out a hand as he shifts his body, readjusts to rest his chin on his fist. “Welcome home, baby. Happy retirement.”

Obi-Wan gets halfway from the entrance of the room to Anakin before he stops. He doesn’t mean to. He’d been ready and willing and eager to climb into the older man’s lap, kiss him dirty, lick down the pink scar over his eye that Obi-Wan had given him. But—he can’t shake Mace Windu’s words. Men like Skywalker can’t love. You’ve found yourself in the eye of a hurricane, but storms move quick. 

It had been his mentor’s last piece of advice for him, before his feelings and disappointment had turned his words into insults and petty blows.

Men like Skywalker can’t love.

“Baby?” Anakin sits up straight, head cocked slightly as he studies him. “Did they give you trouble? Quitting a job isn’t illegal. You gave them two weeks and everything. Well, I did. But you were there. You were quite…enthusiastic.”

Obi-Wan swallows and can feel a blush burn down his face and across his cheeks. He remembers the terms of which Anakin had called into the police department, asked to speak to Obi-Wan’s supervisor, and smugly told them that as Obi-Wan’s new employer, he was phoning to let them know that Obi-Wan was giving a two-weeks notice, but that they had talked about it, and Anakin would allow him to finish up on any current assignment he was working on.

The assignment Obi-Wan had been working on was, of course, infiltrating Anakin’s criminal organization while undercover as a lackey from out of town named Ben.

Obi-Wan had, at the time of the call, been on his knees beneath Anakin’s desk.

“Come here, Benny,” Anakin purrs. Obi-Wan has never liked that nickname, not since the very first time the mobster had called him it, and he thinks he probably knows.

He’d studied Anakin, right, before he’d gone under. He knows that Anakin still sometimes calls him Ben on purpose because Obi-Wan can never stop the flash of guilt he feels at having started a relationship with Anakin before the older man knew who he really was. He knows Anakin uses it against him. He knows Aanakin probably can’t even help it. 

It still stings. Many things do, in their relationship. But Anakin kisses the hurts better every time. He’s the only person who has ever said he loved Obi-Wan and then—then actually tried to make good on the promise.

Obi-Wan’s mouth is dry, but he has to ask. “You—you love me, right?”

Anakin blinks at him and lounges back in his seat to look at him consideringly. His hand drops down onto his thigh. Like this, the man looks more Vader than Anakin, and it makes Obi-Wan shiver. No one in the precinct actually, really thought Anakin Skywalker had dual personalities, and perhaps Obi-Wan should know better than everyone else. But he doesn’t.

Sometimes Anakin looks at him and all he can see is Vader in his eyes, the way his hands are rougher on Obi-Wan’s form, the short staccato sentences and the resting frown that even Obi-Wan cannot kiss away. Vader is…territorial. There has never been a single meeting that Obi-Wan has attended where Anakin looks like Vader that he has not attended in the man’s lap. It’s not as if Anakin is lightyears better or anything, still as possessive, jealous, but sweeter too.

Obi-Wan doesn’t know what these differences mean. He isn’t sure Anakin would elaborate if asked. 

And a part of Obi-Wan—a part of Obi-Wan simply does not care. Not if both—one—either—whatever—not if Anakin, whoever Anakin is at any given moment, wants him. Loves him.

“Do I love you?” Anakin repeats. It’s an embarrassing question, all things considered. It reeks of every insecurity Obi-Wan has ever harbored in his soul. And even though most of them have been teased out by the man in front of him, dissected and examined, the words still bruise to hear spoken so lowly in the air. “Come here, Obi-Wan.”

This time, Obi-Wan goes, closing the distance between them quickly. Before he can scramble into his lover’s arms, the man stands up so that their fronts brush against each other.

It feels far too close and not close enough, and Anakin must agree because his arm brushes against the backs of his thighs and pushes up in the universal sign to jump. Obi-Wan does, wrapping his arms around his neck for further balance.

Anakin catches him with ease. Obi-Wan’s only twenty-three, not yet grown into his shoulders, so he’s fairly light to carry, but it helps that Anakin is almost forty, all broad shoulders and height and muscle put on from a life of fighting.

“Why else would I have taken such an interest in you, sweet baby Ben?” Anakin croons as he lays him down on a couch meant for reclining with after-dinner drinks. Mostly the couch is where Anakin fucks him if he doesn’t want to wait to get back to his apartments. “Take you in, off the streets, a stripper who punched my best friend in the face because he was flirting with a girl?”

“She was half his age,” Obi-Wan mutters, turning his face up and away. He’s never going to apologize for it, even if it hadn’t been how he was supposed to make contact with Anakin’s mob in the first place.

Anakin hums and catches his jaw. “Hm. Point is, baby, why else would I have let you get so close to me, wearing all my pretty things, ignoring all the alarms in my head saying you knew me too well, too fast, if I didn’t love you?” His hand tightens and Obi-Wan gasps out.

He’d read the files on Anakin. He’d read every Business Insider article. He’d read everything he could get his hands on. Of course he’d known so many things about the man. That had been his only job. Get close to Anakin Skywalker.

Task succeeded.

Anakin Skywalker’s lips trail from his cheekbone down and then up again, to the edge of his temple. Obi-Wan knows what he’s going to say before he says it. “Why else would I let you into my bed, if I didn’t love you? Why would you be the only person allowed to see the twins whenever you want if I didn’t love you? Why else would I be so terribly upset to find you in this very room, in this very position with one of my men, if I didn’t love you?”

Obi-Wan tries to move, to thrash and shiver and run his hands over Anakin in return but somewhere between laying him down and now, the man has caught his wrists in one of his big hands while the other runs up and down Obi-Wan’s torso.

The man—Maul—had followed Obi-Wan one night to a meeting with Detective Secura. He’d overheard everything, had known Ben to be a rat, but he hadn’t confronted him about it for two days. He’d waited until he could get him alone, in this room. Obi-Wan had been sitting at the table, sipping water, knowing he couldn’t eat until Anakin returned from his drop-off.

Maul had threatened him. Threatened to tell the mob, threatened to tell Anakin. Obi-Wan had been confronted with the thought of losing Anakin or losing his cover and he hadn’t reacted well. He’d known exactly how long it would take Anakin to get back, so he’d stalled until the last minute before offering himself to Maul in exchange for his silence.

He’d seen the looks. He’d known he wouldn’t be turned down.

He’d also known Anakin would kill Maul if he found him on top of him. Which he had. To both.

“Why would I forgive you after, if I didn’t love you, sweet thing?” Anakin murmurs, mouth still pressed to his temple. “Why would I forgive you for trying to fuck another man into silence, for lying to me about your name, for hurting me and leaving me, if I didn’t love you?”

Obi-Wan whimpers. Anakin’s hand has migrated to his throat and he’s putting so much pressure on it. He’s hurting him. He’ll probably never hurt him as much as Obi-Wan hurt him. Maul had managed to accuse Obi-Wan as being a rat before he’d died. Anakin, fearsome and covered in blood, had turned to him with one golden eyebrow raised.

Obi-Wan had tried to flee. For some reason, that had been the moment Anakin had become enraged. He’d tackled Obi-Wan to the floor. They’d fought, Obi-Wan has a scar on his palm still, long and deep. He’d grabbed the knife Anakin had slit Maul’s throat with with his open palm flipped it to his other hand, and cut out at Anakin’s face. The move had gotten him off him, just long enough for him to run.

“If I didn’t love you, baby, why would I have gone to find you? Why would I have made it so very clear that your place was by my side? Why would I have given you the choice to come back or stay away forever? Do you think I often give rats those sorts of choices?”

Obi-Wan shakes his head. It hadn’t taken him long. Anakin, that is. He’d found him hiding in his apartment—Obi-Wan’s, not Ben’s. Obi-Wan had come home from a shift to see Anakin lounging on his sofa, reading through one of his favorite books, skin around his right eye carefully bandaged.

It hadn’t taken Obi-Wan long either, to decide. Anakin hadn’t even gotten out of the building before Obi-Wan had made his choice. He hadn’t—he hadn’t wanted to leave Anakin. The man had said he loved him. He hadn’t—he hadn’t wanted to be without his love again, he’d do whatever necessary.

“I’m not a rat,” Obi-Wan gasps, and the hand around his neck loosens as Anakin takes his hand away to look down at him in interest. 

“Oh?” he asks. “What are you then?”

“Your baby,” he breathes, eyes falling to half-lids as he adjusts their bodies so that they’re as close together as possible.

“Mm,” Anakin agrees, leaning down to bite gently at the skin of Obi-Wan’s bottom lip before letting go. “Guess I’m just wondering then. I think the real question should be…does my baby love me?”

Obi-Wan lets his eyes fall completely shut as he tilts his head up in silent demand for a proper kiss.

After all, Anakin has a point. The answer should be obvious.

[padawanlost]

We know the children, when they become padawan, are taken very young from their family/parents. But does that mean no parents have like, idk, the right to visit while they're learning? And do the jedi, when they're adults, can meet their family? I know they've been taught not to be attached but, as an adopted child, I cannot imagine there isn't at least a few jedi who want to know where they came from.

No, parents aren’t allowed to check on their kids (unless they are super rich) but the children are allowed to know where they came from. But that doesn’t mean they were allowed to visit their biological families or have any attachments. 

“After the Jedi Masters decided that it was too dangerous to train anyone familiar with fear, anger, and any other emotion that might lead to the dark side, it was agreed that Force-sensitive juveniles, adolescents, and adults would no longer be eligible for enlistment or conscription. Instead, they sought out and adopted Force-sensitive infants who would be raised and trained at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant; to prevent any emotional attachments that might cloud judgment, most recruits would never have any subsequent contact with their families.”  Ryder’s Windham’s Jedi vs. Sith: The Essential Guide to the Force

The children were removed from their families very young to keep them from forming relationships with them. so, no, Jedi did not allow their members to keep contact with their biological families. the most obvious example of this is Anakin Skywalker and the fact he was not allowed to visit his mother even he was plagued by nightmares and visions of her dying. Even the fact he had such desires – to visit his mom – was a reason for worry. The Council, and his peers, viewed him as unique and dangerous from having such ‘unusual’ reaction to his biological family.

The no contact rule was also reinforced on the parents side. After Shmi spent a lot of time and energy trying to get in contact with the Jedi Temple on Coruscant to hear news from her son, her only answer was:

An administrator on Coruscant had finally replied to Shmi’s ’Net message: Anakin was well, but the Jedi did not discuss the activities of their Padawans even with parents. [Troy Denning. Tatooine Ghost ]

The only parent I can think of that got news about their Jedi child was Vox Chun, the wealthy and influential father of a deceased padawan.

Mace Windu placed his hands on the arms of his chair. “We have received a communication from Vox Chun, Bruck Chun’s father.” Obi-Wan gave a start. Qui-Gon was just as surprised. “He has recently been pardoned of his crimes against the state on Telos,” Mace Windu continued. “Now he wishes to come to the Temple to receive a report on the death of his son. This is his right, and the Council has agreed.” Obi-Wan nodded. [Jude Watson. Deceptions]

Not even Baby Ludi’s mother who had her child taken without permission was allowed to know about her baby’s situation:

“JEDI TEMPLE, CORUSCANT – Three weeks after a formal petition, the Jedi Council refused to hand over Baby Ludi to her mother, Jonava Billane. Breaking the Jedi Council’s usual silence on the issue, a representative issued an explanation of the Jedi Code that forbids the return of the child to its birth-parent.“We have opened the child’s mind to the larger world of the Force,” explained Jedi Master Coleman Trebor. “The child is awakened, and to return it to the birth-parents at this stage would be far too dangerous. It is in everyone’s best interests and safety for the child to remain in Jedi custody.” 

That doesn’t mean Jedi younglings can’t know about their birth place. Many Jedi were allowed to keep certain traditions from their homeworlds. What they couldn’t do was to bond with their families over it. Like Ahsoka, she could wear her   Akul-tooth headdress, a part of Togratans culture but she could form any sort of relationship with her biological family and remain a Jedi. Dooku is a another example of this, he knew he came from a wealthy family but he wasn’t allowed to anything about it until AFTER he left the Order.

“As most of you are aware, financial resources are at my disposal on my home-world, Serenno. While I would like to think my many years of devoted service to the Order disavows any notions that I am yielding to economic circumstances, I will enlighten those who don’t know me so well with a certain piece of wisdom that I have always found true: money creates as many problems as it does opportunities. It is my plan to return to Serenno and serve my people as a philanthropist. It is my last request as a Jedi Master that you respect my decision, as well as my privacy.” 

The sad truth is that most Jedi didn’t worry about being forbidden to know and bond with their biological families because they were removed from them far too young to understand what they were missing. They were raised to believe the Jedi was their only ‘family’ so why would they want another one?

“Your upbringing was different from mine. You haven’t seen the things I have.” He looked down at her. “You don’t feel the kind of loss I do.” “No, that’s true,” she readily admitted. “I don’t.” Her tone softened from argumentative to curious. “What’s it like, to know your mother? To grow up with one?” Just know that it hurts. You’re better off without that hurt, Barriss. Nothing personal, but it’s kind of private. Even Jedi are entitled to a few small privacies. Even Padawans.” He forced a smile. “Anyway, that was a long time ago. Let’s see if our good guides think it’s safe for us to resume our journey […] She had never met such a thing as a conflicted Jedi. But then, she had never before met one who had been raised by his mother. [Alan Dean Foster. The Approaching Storm] 

I asked him if he was thinking of his mother. He kept his eyes skyward as he answered, “No, I was thinking of yours.” His tone was not unkind or antagonistic, but I did sense a certain tension in his words. I asked why he was thinking of my mother, and he said, fixing me with an expression that indicated his answer was obvious, “Because someone should.” [Ryder’s Windham’s Jedi vs. Sith: The Essential Guide to the Force]

That’s why they had such hard time understanding WHY being apart from Shmi was so distressing for Anakin and why they saw Anakin’s bond with her as a danger, instead of a strength. 

Palpatine always did have a soft spot for Anakin … and there was a part of Anakin that would always need emotional ties. Having lost his mother and Qui-Gon—and then being denied Padmé—of course he’d turned to Palpatine. A benign, uncritical father figure. A source of unconditional support. Anakin had come to the Temple years too late for anything or anyone to undo his need for love. And what cannot be cured must be endured. [Karen Miller’s Star Wars: Clone Wars Gambit: Stealth]

They were simply not used to the concept of familial relationships. For them, it’s a pathway to evil, something to be avoid. Not something to be nurtured.