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[neverjedi]

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[justasmallfry]

Anakin turned that over while also turning over a pod racer part.

"I hope they come back," Anakin said. He sounded a bit deflated.

But another moment, a sip of the drink and another thought- "Master Jinn helped you! I'm really glad you're alright. Will Sebulba hurt you again?"

[neverjedi]

He enjoyed his drink but he kept most of his attention on watching Anakin. "Someone will get us out of here, Anakin." It wasn't quite a promise, but it was close.

Then he had an even more difficult thing, except it wasn't really - in a lot of ways it was easier. "Probably, but not like that."

[justasmallfry]

It was unfortunate, because Anakin was a boy of just nine years old, but he already had enough life experience on Tatooine to understand. They were slaves, their masters had all the power and could do what they wanted. He knew how mad Watto could get- Sebulba was worse.

"When I'm bigger, and I'm not a slave anymore, I'm going to save all the slaves here. Mom. You. Kit. Everyone."

[neverjedi]

"I know you are."

He really does have that much faith in Anakin, and really that's saying a lot given how little faith he has in anyone or anyone else.

"But first step is just everyone staying safe to get you out of here, right?"

[justasmallfry]

Anakin gave Obi-Wan a half smile. "That means you, too." It wasn't a question, because in Anakin's mind obviously Obi-Wan should be counted in that.

[neverjedi]

"Yeah." He'd actually gotten that from his last talk with Qui-Gon and it was... helpful. He reached out and ruffled Anakin's hair. "But you are who is going to save everyone, not me."

[justasmallfry]

Anakin gave a laugh that time.

But it was short lived, because he just had too many thoughts, too many emotions.

"I just... don't know how to do it. I guess... I should be working on the chip finder."

[neverjedi]

"You'll have a lot more resources to use to work on things once you're away from here, and you need to grow up too, Anakin. Then maybe we can get the Queen to help." How much the actual Queen cared, Obi-Wan did not know-

but her handmaidens were promising.

[justasmallfry]

Anakin played with the part in his hand.

"You really know a lot. I hope I grow up to be like you."

[neverjedi]

"I'd rather you grow up to be like you...."

He takes a drink and- there might be a little something pointed there. "Because who you are is pretty great."

[justasmallfry]

"But you're pretty great, too," Anakin said without missing a beat.

[neverjedi]

"I'm sorry, but I accept gifts and hugs way more easily than compliments." He flashes a smile, that's just kind of proud of 'his' kid.

[justasmallfry]

Anakin tipped his head to the side. "Why don't you like compliments?"

[neverjedi]

"I dunno. I guess I just don't really like attention focused on me all that much." What a conversation.

What a question from a nine year old.

But also how very Anakin.

"Is your mom okay?"

[justasmallfry]

"Oh," Anakin said. He did think it was weird, but he couldn't really explain why. It was too big for him.

"She's okay. Watto isn't mad with us. He's really excited, actually. Probably hopes I'll win again. For him this time."

[neverjedi]

"I really hope we're out of there before there are any more races." Mostly for Anakin, actually, because he didn't think it was going to go well no matter what Anakin did and that wasn't a fair position to put Anakin in.

[justasmallfry]

Anakin kicked his feet.

"I kinda wanna win again..." he confessed.

"But," he said quickly. "I won't cuz then Sebulba will hurt you. I wish... something would happen to Sebulba."

[neverjedi]

That worried him, a lot, and his expression shifted to concern, but he also just took a drink and said, "But I don't."

[justasmallfry]

"Why not?" Anakin asked. He could feel something change in Obi-Wan. But he wasn't able to pick up what or why. "If he was gone, you wouldn't get hurt anymore."

[neverjedi]

He lifted his eyebrows just a tiny touch. "Because he's not a good person, but he is a person."

[justasmallfry]

"So are you," Anakin said. "Don't you matter? Slavery is wrong and he shouldn't hurt you."

[neverjedi]

"I am also a person and shouldn't be hurt. Because I'm a person. No one should be hurt, no matter what wrong thing they do, unless it's the only way you can stop them from hurting more people." A pause: "And he's not hurting me right now."

[justasmallfry]

Anakin didn't feel satisfied by that answer, because it didn't... fix things for them.

"Then how do you keep him from hurting people?"

[neverjedi]

"You grow up and make sure there's no one for him to hurt without the same repercussions he'd face for hurting Watto." It's complicated, Anakin, and you're 9.

[justasmallfry]

"Oh," he said.

It was complicated. How did they do that? But Obi-Wan did seem so smart, the question was just natural to ask- "Do you know how to do that?"