Chapter Text
[Hyperspace. Coruscant to Lothal, 23BBY]
"Master," Anakin broke the kiss with a whine. He was sitting on his master's lap, his upper robes on the floor of the cockpit and his padawan braid tangled in his master's right hand. "Please…" He begged, before Obi-Wan tugged his braid and kissed him again.
They had been flying towards Lothal for days now. Obi-Wan had requested the Council permission to visit the ancient temple there, now that Anakin had turned 18. It was one of his gifts to Anakin, now that he was of age, a trip to a temple that often helped masters and padawans to strengthen their bond.
Not that they really needed it, Anakin thought, if the hard cock pressed against his ass was anything to go by. Only five month since his coming of age and already plenty of his teenage years fantasies were coming true, from getting to kiss his master and cuddle with him during nighttime to filthier activities whenever they had time.
"What do you want, padawan?" Asked Obi-Wan, one of his hands sneaking under Anakin's pants and pressing the tip of his finger against his hole. Anakin gasped and pushed against the finger. "Do you want your master's cock inside you, darling?"
Anakin nodded, his cheeks blushing from how eager he seemed. But Obi-Wan only kissed him again, the hand that was holding Anakin's braid letting go to pat around his belt, most likely searching for the bacta packet he carried there.
[Lothal]
"Are you ready to land, padawan?" Obi-Wan asked from the co-pilot seat, pressing the bottoms that would let them perform the landing sequence.
They had already got the clearance to land, so Anakin pulled a couple of levers and steered the yoke gently, pulling them behind a slow cargo ship.
Anakin squirmed a bit, his ass sore still from their encounter and Obi-Wan's come slowly dripping out of him. It should have been uncomfortable and distracting, but it only served as a reminder of how much Obi-Wan wanted and cared for him, it helped him focus.
Eventually, they found themselves on solid ground, their ship barely shifting with how careful Anakin had lowered it on the hangar. "Excellent maneuver, Anakin." Obi-Wan praised, making him flush with delight. "Now, let me sort our documents out and see if I can get us a couple of speeders and we'll be ready to go."
And that's how they found themselves gliding over high grass. Lothal's weather was hot and dry, which made for a great combination in Anakin's opinion. Not too cold, but not sweating in their robes until it was unbearable. The wind on their faces felt nice, Obi-Wan's pleasure echoing in their bond.
The landscape was simple, with miles of only yellowish grass and small rock elevations here and there. The Force thrived on the planet, Anakin could feel it strongly around himself, even brighter than usual. It was no wonder the Jedi of old had built a temple.
Hours went by, the sun sliding slowly towards the horizon before Obi-Wan made them stop for the day. "There is some dry land here, I would rather we set camp for the night before continuing. There are marshes ahead."
They rolled out their sleeping mats, close to each other, and Anakin lit a small fire, careful to circle it enough so it wouldn't grow and burn the dry pastures.
Their meal was simple, some ration bars that Jedi usually packed for missions and some dry fruit Obi-Wan had recently started carrying in case he wanted a snack.
Finally, they settled down, Anakin curled against his master's side for warmth. They stared at the stars in silence, one of Obi-Wan's hands petting Anakin's short hair, occasionally playing with his braid, tugging on it and making Anakin gasp.
It didn't take long for Anakin to raise his chin and beg for a kiss, first chaste but soon turned heated, as Obi-Wan parted his lips and licked his way into Anakin's mouth.
Anakin whined and pulled away, putting one leg on each side of Obi-Wan's hips, straddling his lap and pressing down on Obi-Wan's cock. He leaned forward and started a new kiss, each whimper swallowed by his master as he felt his hands sneak under his robes and knead his ass.
He broke the kiss with a moan as he felt one finger tease his rim. "Force, padawan, you're still loose from before." Obi-Wan sounded breathless and Anakin could feel how his cock throbbed in his pants.
They kept kissing as Obi-Wan pressed two fingers into Anakin, curling them against his prostate. Anakin sobbed with pleasure, his cock hard in his pants, neglected and leaking. "Master, please…!"
He wasn't sure what he was asking for, but Obi-Wan only increased the intensity of his fingers' thrusting as he sucked on Anakin's jaw. "Come on, padawan, come." He ordered and Anakin wailed as his cock pulsed in his pants, warm come soiling the fabric. He slumped forward, breathing hard into Obi-Wan's neck. "Well done, darling."
They stayed like that for a while until Anakin recovered enough to get up on trembling legs. He winced at the sticky feeling inside his pants. "I'm gonna go clean this up."
He returned half an hour later, leaving his pants on a rock near them, so they could dry during the night and cuddled back close to Obi-Wan. His master immediately started rubbing his back soothingly and soon they both fell asleep.
The sun woke them up early in the morning and they resumed their journey. As they advanced, an imposing shape appeared on the horizon. While the shape was similar to all the small rock elevations they had been gliding past, this one was soaked in the Cosmic Force.
"That's the Temple, right?" He shouted over the wind around them. Obi-Wan answered with a simple yes, his voice clear despite the noise all around them.
It took them hours, but finally, they reached the rock formation, leaving their speeders hovering nearby. The whole place was quiet, though Anakin could feel the thrum in the Force. It felt like it was waiting for something to happen and Anakin shivered with anticipation.
"Very well, padawan, here is our first trial as a Jedi duo." Obi-Wan said, putting a hand on his shoulder and gently pushing him forward until they both stood on a circular platform, camouflaged in the stone around it. Anakin could even notice the faded traces of coloured carvings, probably the circular shapes Jedi of old were so fond of. "The temple will only open if we both focus together, master and padawan acting as one jedi, two halves of the same person."
Anakin smiled and nodded. It shouldn't be difficult for them. He closed his eyes when he saw Obi-Wan do it and focused.
And then the rock in front of them began shifting and twisting on itself.
[Lothal's Jedi Temple, 19 BBY]
Obi-Wan stared at the temple twisting on itself as the door appeared in front of them. On the platform next to where he was standing, Ahsoka and Anakin worked together.
Finally, the temple stopped moving and Anakin opened his eyes, Ahsoka following him. They seemed to be tuned to the other, even if there was an air of awkwardness around master and padawan. Ahsoka's whole trial was still fresh in each of their minds, putting a strain on their training bond.
Anakin had confided in Obi-Wan his fears about that strain. He could only imagine what Anakin was going through. He didn't have a bond with Ahsoka beyond a faint connection most Jedi shared with each other. Ahsoka was still mad at him too, seemingly putting Obi-Wan with the rest of the Council members that had —in her words, Anakin had revealed—abandoned her.
Plo Koon seemed to be the only Council member free of the cold shoulder treatment.
Obi-Wan often wondered if Ahsoka's current awkwardness towards her master had more to do with Anakin's own bond with Obi-Wan rather than a personal failing, as Anakin probably interpreted it like.
The visit to the Lothal Temple had been suggested by Anakin himself one night as they talked in bed. Anakin had mentioned how much the visit they had done together before the war had meant to him.
"Perhaps, if we go together, everything will go back to normal." He had whispered, and there was such a deep longing in his tone that Obi-Wan hadn't doubted before proposing it to the Council.
As master and padawan lowered their arms in tandem —two halves of the same person, indeed— Obi-Wan approached, his right hand finding Anakin's right shoulder, his thumb caressing the skin of his lower jaw. Years ago, he would have played with Anakin's braid instead.
"Shall we go inside?"
[Lothal's Jedi Temple, Meditation Chamber]
"This is the temple?" Ahsoka asked, her tone filled with doubt. "It looks… well, rather primitive, doesn't it?"
"This is an ancient temple, Ahsoka," Anakin explained, crossing his arms over his chest. "Built by the Jedi of old, to study the vergence in the Force. Its purpose is not to reside or train in it, but rather undergo different trials in order to test different aspects of a Jedi."
Obi-Wan listened to Anakin explain, it wasn't often that Anakin got to act like the Jedi masters of peacetime, but it was wonderful when he did. It reminded Obi-Wan of his old master, trying to teach him to appreciate their culture beyond the path of a knight. It reminded him of himself, scraping at his own memories in order to instruct an awestruck Anakin in Jedi knowledge.
"Lothal's Temple is similar to Ilum's in many ways," Anakin continued as Ahsoka looked up at him. "You've faced several trials recently, trials that have made you doubt your role as a Jedi and the Jedi order as a whole." Obi-Wan blinked, surprised that Anakin would acknowledge the wrong accusations at all, as he had been avoiding the topic and pretending nothing was wrong. "The Council may have told you those trials proved you are ready to be knighted but I don't quite agree."
Obi-Wan saw Ahsoka flinch and took a step forward but Anakin was faster. He uncrossed his arms and put one hand on Ahsoka's shoulder. "This is not a jab at your abilities, Ahsoka, please don't take it as that. You're strong and wise, perhaps wiser than I was at your age," slowly, Ahsoka relaxed again. "But you still have a long way to go, padawan. And before we even consider knighting you, you have to face your doubts and fears and see if being a Jedi knight is truly what you want to be."
Ahsoka nodded. Anakin smiled softly at her and pulled his hand away. "Now, pick a path and go, we'll be here, waiting for you."
And with an encouraging push, Ahsoka began walking towards one of the tunnels, soon being lost in the dark.
Obi-Wan gave it a few seconds before he approached Anakin. "Wonderful words, Anakin. I'm sure Ahsoka won't disappoint. Now, it's traditional for the master to meditate as they wait for the padawan to return."
"Did you meditate the whole time I was down there?" A pleasant tingle took over Obi-Wan's lower stomach as he remembered that time.
"Yes," he answered, releasing his lust to the Force. Now it was not the time. "I faced my own set of insecurities and shortcomings as a master." He smiled at Anakin who answered with his own shy smile. Obi-Wan longed to kiss him.
Now it was not the time, he repeated in his mind.
Instead, he sat down on the floor and stared as Anakin stood at the entrance to the path Ahsoka had chosen. His hands were behind his back, and he stood tall and straight, his eyes falling closed as he took a deep breath.
Reassured that Anakin was diving into the Force, Obi-Wan crossed his legs and put his hands on his knees, closing his own eyes and following.
He hadn’t got far in the Force when he felt Anakin forcefully surface with a gasp. He startled away from his own meditation. “What’s wrong?” He asked.
But Anakin didn’t answer. He was staring intently towards an adjacent tunnel. “Anakin?”
Anakin took a step forward. Then another and stopped. He frowned and closed his eyes. Then abruptly opened and moved directly towards the tunnel. Obi-Wan quickly stood up and stopped him with an arm on his chest. “Anakin, no! As a master, you’re not allowed to go down after Ahsoka! You’re supposed to wait here and trust she’ll pull through.”
Anakin shook his arm off his chest. “I do not doubt my padawan, that’s not what I’m doing.” He snarled. “I felt something! Something is calling me down there.”
Obi-Wan tried to stop him but it was useless, Anakin was determined to explore. “Come on, you can follow me.” And with that, he stepped into the dark. Obi-Wan looked around the cavern and sighed, shoulders slightly dropping, before he followed Anakin.
“Do you even have any idea of where we are going?” He snarked. Anakin made a humming noise but switched on his lightsaber, barely illuminating a dark hall, the walls rough rock, bare, not even the circular carvings seen in the main cavern.
“You honestly don’t feel it?” Anakin asked, still moving forwards. “Something is screaming at me in the Force, asking me to find it.”
Obi-Wan frowned. Anakin often felt things in the Force stronger than most Jedi, but much like Obi-Wan’s former master, he was never clear or precise when explaining them to Obi-Wan.
He decided not to pry further, confident he would understand whenever they reached the thing Anakin was feeling and hoping they would return before Ahsoka finished her own explorations.
They walked for minutes, perhaps hours, Obi-Wan wouldn’t have been able to tell. The path they were following twisted and it was impossible to remember which way they had come from. But Anakin continued without pause.
And then, the hall opened to a wide cavern. The walls were also bare but smooth, with shining crystals that provided a faint greenish tint. Anakin turned off his lightsaber. Obi-Wan stepped next to Anakin and stared at the wall in front of him.
A strange mural was painted on the wall. It depicted three figures, all standing straight. The one on the right had long flowing locks and what looked like a convor on her shoulder. Her left hand was on her stomach, open and relaxed. The figure on the left stood with his own hand clenched in a fist. Between them, taller than both, a third figure had their hand up and a stern expression. Details in gold surrounded their hands and their heads, and spread up the wall. Gray circles framed the three figures. As he observed the whole thing, Obi-Wan noticed six loth-wolves were sitting on the lower part of the mural, three on each side.
Obi-Wan studied the mural, his hand caressing his beard. It wasn’t like anything he had seen before. The circles and lines were clearly similar to how the Jedi represented the Force. Convorees, he knew, were often associated with the Force, if not by the Jedi, by other Force sensitive groups and cultures. Even loth-wolves had been recorded by Jedi of old not only as having a surprising connection to the Force but also as being excellent companions to Jedi who had animal affinity abilities. But the three figures were baffling to say the least. He had never heard or seen anything that resembled them.
Who had put that mural there, then? Could it be that the Jedi of old had their own set of deities beyond the Force? Or maybe they had included other cultures after the building of the temple?
“Interesting.” Was the only thing he could say. His mind was already running with different ideas of how to register the mural so he could take it to the scholars back at Coruscant so they could study it.
Anakin, for his part, didn’t seem to be interested in the implications of such a mural. His eyes were stuck on the face of the middle figure. Without any warning, he reached it with one hand, pressing his palm flat on the stone.
The Force pulsed and quieted. Obi-Wan could swear he saw a shimmer travel through the gold details before everything went back to how they had found it. Obi-Wan frowned and was about to scold Anakin when his former padawan moved his hand, sliding it over the rock until he gently pressed against the open hand of the right figure, imitating how the hand was positioned.
For a second, nothing happened. But then the Force began trembling. The golden circle that surrounded the hand started glowing brighter and brighter. The gray circles aligned, connecting straight lines that Obi-Wan hadn’t noticed were broken apart before. The whole golden arrangement glowed bright for a couple of seconds before returning to its original hue.
And then the strangest thing Obi-Wan had ever witnessed happened. The right figure slowly turned their head and looked up to the middle figure then lowered their head and closed their eyes. The figure in the middle spread their hand and lowered it, pointing to the left. Obi-Wan followed the movement awed. Anakin took his hand off the wall and followed the movement stopping in front of the loth-wolves.
The animals stared back, curiously, before marching to the side. Both Anakin and Obi-Wan followed them. The loth-wolves moved through the walls until they started twisting into a circle. Their movements gained speed until they were sprinting in place.
Obi-Wan and Anakin looked at each other. This was beyond anything they had ever seen. “What now?” Asked Obi-Wan.
He barely got a warning of Anakin’s intentions over the bond before he saw him through the corner of his eyes running towards the circle as if possessed. “Anakin, no!” He shouted, one arm raised after Anakin but it was too late.
Before his eyes, Anakin jumped towards the circle and instead of crashing against the wall, he went through it smoothly. Obi-Wan gaped at the running loth-wolves. He didn’t understand what had just happened. Anakin had been acting strange throughout the whole situation.
What should he do?
He carefully approached the loth-wolves. Hesitating, he pressed his hand against the wall. It suddenly trespassed the wall. He pulled itback but steeled himself and tried again. He stayed like that for some seconds and was about to pull it back when something from the other side grabbed his wrist and yanked him through the portal.