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[neverjedi]

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[justasmallfry]

"But..." Anakin could tell that was off, just not what. He'd need more time or more information to put all the pieces together. He just knew he didn't... like... something.

He frowned.

"Why did you argue?"

[neverjedi]

"We were sent to a planet to rescue a Jedi. When we got there, there was a war going on. Once we finished the rescue, he thought it was time to go and I didn't." That's very simplified but it's also honest. Obi-Wan doesn't want to lie to Anakin.

Will if he has to to get Anakin safe, but would rather not.

[justasmallfry]

"Why?" It might be a question often used by children to needle adults. Anakin did actually want to know why Obi-Wan want to go.

"Why didn't you want to leave?"

[neverjedi]

Damn.

His answer here should be simple and honest, too, but honest isn't simple. So he goes with the simplest answer he can give while remaining truthfully. "Because I made a friend there and I wanted to help him."

[justasmallfry]

"Like..." Anakin flipped that over and examined it. "Like, you made friends with me and mom and you help us?"

[neverjedi]

"Yeah. But when you're Jedi you're supposed to help everyone, not just your friends. I'm not really sorry I chose to do that, but I was never a very good Jedi anyway." Because-

Well everything he is not going to explain and that might be his 'nope' line with Anakin.

[justasmallfry]

"Why didn't Master Jinn want to help your friend?" it was the first question that came to Anakin's mind because it was the first thing Obi-Wan explained. It was curious that Obi-Wan said he wasn't a good Jedi, but Anakin was good at going with the first thing that came to mind.

"Wasn't your friend a person? A part of everyone, too?"

[neverjedi]

"Jedi are supposed to think bigger than single people, most of the time. It was okay. Qui-Gon got to be a good Jedi and I got to be a good friend. Sometimes those aren't the same thing, but it doesn't mean either one's bad."

God help him trying to hide his own shit here but Anakin needs out

[justasmallfry]

That shut Anakin up for a moment. And he turned back to putting a few more piecing back into the pod. But he was clearly trying to work something out. And after a moment he'd gathered enough of his thoughts to try.

"How do you know Master Jinn will help us? Mom and I and you are just three people. That's not much more than your friend."

[neverjedi]

"I know that he will help you and your Mom if he can- if he can, Anakin - because he's a good Jedi and he's a kind of shitty friend but he's compassionate and helping you is the right thing to do." And it wouldn't cost Qui-Gon too much. Not if it happened after whatever was happening on Naboo.

[justasmallfry]

"And you, too?" Anakin asked, half mollified. Anakin cared a great deal about a lot of the slaves on Tatooine, they were his friends. But Obi-Wan didn't have anyone to look out for him if he and his mom were gone.

[neverjedi]

"We'll have to see. First step is you getting this together and winning the race, though!" He doubted he was going to be in the rescue plans. Or maybe he just didn't want to hope. Or maybe he really did believe he deserved it under the anger. Mostly though? Just not his priority.

[justasmallfry]

Anakin reach over to Obi-Wan, because Obi-Wan was a priority for him. "I'll make sure you do, too."

And working on the pod racer reminded him. "Sebulba is going to be really mad when I win."

[neverjedi]

"Yeah." This one he couldn't hide from Anakin. "But this is really important. Not just for us, but for everybody on Naboo. And it'll be okay in the end. I've got the Force." Couldn't manipulate his owner mentally but he could probably... mitigate a little, if things got too bad.

[justasmallfry]

"You could hide here after the race," Anakin said. But he knew that wouldn't do any good when they were chipped.

"Maybe I should be working on the chip finder instead?"

[neverjedi]

"Nah. We need to get them their parts and I really will be okay, Anakin. He isn't that bad." Yes, yes he was, but still. "Just win for me, okay?"

[justasmallfry]

Anakin knew it was the right thing to do. Saying he would help felt right like the same way it felt right when he listened to the Force while fixing machines or when he was flying and the Force prompted him to take an action.

Still didn't mean he wasn't worried about Obi-Wan.

"Maybe mom can come by later after the race to make sure you're okay." He didn't suggest himself, he was sure he'd have to stay away from Sebulba for a bit after winning. But maybe mom could sneak over to help Obi-Wan.

[neverjedi]

"Check for me in slave quarters first, but if I don't show up there you can send somebody to check on me. Though maybe someone from Qui-Gon's group instead of your mom." Safer, that way.

[justasmallfry]

Anakin thought about that. "Could Master Jinn help you with the Force? The way you use the Force to help you?"

[neverjedi]

"I don't know." He doesn't and he's not fussed. "Maybe. I don't really remember how much practice he had with healing. Or know what he would have had since then." He shrugs. "I'll be all right, Anakin."

[justasmallfry]

"We could ask him," Anakin said, seeing absolutely no problem with this.

[neverjedi]

"If you have to go looking for me, you can ask him anything you want. If you don't have to, then I don't need help anyway, right?"

[justasmallfry]

This bit of word play stumped Anakin for a bit.

"I guess..."

But he knit his brow together.

"Do you not want help from Master Jinn?"

[neverjedi]

He smiled, slightly. "I don't want much to do with Master Jinn, period. I just want him to do what's right and to help you. I'm still a little bit mad, even though it wasn't his fault."

[justasmallfry]

"If it wasn't his fault," Anakin asked, "then why are you mad?"