[ There are moments in the last decade or so where he wondered if he's been too lax with Luke, if his love and devotion had made the boy too soft and weak, too sensitive to the harsh realities of the galaxy. When he had been left to be trained as a Jedi, even when they had both agreed to commit him to the studies of the Jedi Order, he had worried for him. He feels so acutely the bond between father and son that ever minute vibration, stretch, every change was felt in his whole being; the first feeling of prolonged absence, the first surge of independence from his only son, the first hurt, disappointment, and blistering anger from it, The inkling of darkness in his golden boy.
He wasn't there for any of them. Because he couldn't. Those were Luke's battles, they've decided that when he left. But their distance doesn't put any distance between Anakin and his worries. His only son ran away and the first thing he did was to dig himself out of the marshes he was in, chuck off the leeches stuck to his legs and back to his ship. Later, his wife commed him to tell him of the news while he was en-route to her. A brief stay in Dac to reassure her that he'll be fine - they'll be fine, another trip to Naboo University visit his daughter, to conceal their mutual worries with laughter and picking on Luke, then he's here. Xithum.
The loading ramp hits the sand. Anakin stands at the end of it, staring into the sand. His hands are on his hips but he looks any but stern. He looks more weary than anything. ]
Xithum. Huh. You know what Obi-Wan would say - you couldn't pick a more civilized place for a vacation?
[ His boots digs into the sand and he wraps his arms around his son. ]
[Luke embraces his father, hugging him a second longer, maybe a little closer, than he normally would. He’s missed him, that much is obvious. When he breaks away, he’s smiling.] It’s not a vacation. I earned my way—they’re paying me.
[He doesn’t know why he’s pointed this out. He doesn’t expect his father to be proud. Quite the reverse, actually, but it was necessary. He thinks it was. He wishes he were more sure.]
[ He reluctantly lets his boy go. His flesh hand cups Luke's face for a moment. A hint of a stubble scraps along his palm when he lets go. It's been too long. He turns back to the beach, wearily rubbing his back. ]
Well, the Council isn't pleased. But you didn't leave them much of a choice. [ His smile fades slightly and he toss Luke a look, slight raised eyebrow and edging on a lecture he's not really enthused about giving. ] You didn't give me much of a choice.
[ He chuckles; the irony of him lecturing about unexpected and unexplained absences doesn't escape him. He spreads an arm towards Luke and wraps it around his shoulders. His son is safe. That's all that matters. Everything else is just details. ] Now, tell me about the unsavory types you've been hanging around with.
The council is never pleased. [Luke says, while actually, literally kicking sand.]
[He'd go into more detail-- he has a litany of complaints he's been practicing since he got off Coruscant. But his father wants to know about being a smuggler's bodyguard, so he talks about that instead, eyes wide.]
Oh, just smugglers. They're not so bad. They all told me stories from the War, [there's only one War anymore,] and battles they saw, or fought in, or smuggled for. I didn't know so many smugglers were veterans.
[Separatists, mostly. Be on the losing side, and it gets harder and harder to find legitimate work.]
[ In his youth, he might have been quicker to jump to conclusions. But he's too old for that shit. His back hurts from sitting so long, and his feet still feels cold from being in the marshes. Anakin close his eyes and sighs.
They've been cracking down on smuggling operations all over the galaxy. The Council isn't going to like hearing about Luke being involved. Though the Council doesn't need to know... ]
Knowledge about the space routes can get you far. No matter what your background is. Isn't that right, my son. [ He's smiling despite the jab. ] Do you even know what are they smuggling?
[Luke knows jabs from his father are never intended to draw blood, or even prick the skin. More often than not, they highlight similarities between him and his father. Luke always greets them with a smile.]
Zuzi fruit. [He shakes his head.] Don't laugh. There's an embargo on it in seven systems. Something about local farmers... [He shrugs. What does Luke Skywalker know about farming.]
I wasn't exactly going to smuggle spice, was I? [Luke has limits. But now he's curious.] Did you think I was?
[ Both his eyebrows rise. Zuzi fruit is an unexpected answer but where there's a need, there's a demand and a supplier. He's been in this galaxy long enough to know spice is the more expensive but ultimately riskier game. Anakin lift a shoulder and pats Luke's head, comforting and reassuring both his son and himself. ]
Spice is the commodity out here. Good people do bad things to survive, it wouldn't surprise me if you and your company were. [ A sternness appears in his voice, his expression. His Padawans would be familiar with it. ] It doesn't make it excusable. Tell me, what would you do if you found out they were smuggling spice?
[Luke ducks out from under his father's hand, as though he doesn't enjoy having his head patted. He's older, now, he suspects he shouldn't, but the contact is reassuring.]
[He's too attached to this-- he sets the thought aside. He doesn't want to dwell on it now.]
I would have gotten onto another ship. No one can stop a Jedi.
[ He remembers a shy little boy who tucked his head into his father's hand when being introduced to strangers. Now the boy is introducing him to strangers and stranger planets. With a long inhale, he tucks his hands on his belt and breathes. ]
[This gets far more of a reaction out of Luke. He crosses his hands over his chest, frowning and slumping his shoulders in a huff.]
Why should I? The council doesn't care enough to fix the problem in the first place, so I should just- only care if it falls into my lap? That's not fair.
[ He nods and makes an agreeable noise, watching Luke carefully and measuring his presence in the Force. It's irritation and frustration and doubt all wrapped into one. That's a feeling - and thought - he understands a lot more than he likes to admit. And if this was any other Jedi, he would've delivered a swift (but lax, too lax probably) reprimand already. ]
The Council is the Council. And you, Luke, are not the Council. I would think that after this experience, you would think again before letting the council's decisions define your actions. [ He huffs a small laugh and grips Luke's shoulder fondly. Relax echoes in the Force. ]
Do you want to tell me why you ran away, or should we talk about why Zuzi is more popular than the Pika fruit?
[Relaxing has never been Luke's strong point, a fact that the Council is always all too ready to point out. He throws his hands up in the air.]
Because everything I do is wrong! [And Luke doesn't have that obedient streak that tells him to follow orders.] They wanted to send me off to train more-- they said I was too reckless! But I never fail any of my missions, I always do well with tests... [It sounds silly, and Luke knows it before he says it, but he has to say it,] Father, I just don't think I'm cut out for this.
[ Anakin says his name in a way Padme would, if she were here, that goes to prove that marriage merges two to one. He shakes his head, silly doesn't even cover it though he feels silly himself. ]
It's difficult. I know. The difficulties you face now are ones I've had when I was your age. [ Younger, but he skips it ] And I persevered. These failures are a test of character, Luke. You're not being tested as a Jedi, but as Luke Skywalker. And I know it may seem unfair. The Council-- No, I've placed so much on you. [ He looks at his son and lets go of the regret he feels for not being more selfish in keeping his then teenage son with him another year or decade more. They are here now. Sandy beaches and frustration. ] If you want to come home, Luke, come home.
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no subject
He wasn't there for any of them. Because he couldn't. Those were Luke's battles, they've decided that when he left. But their distance doesn't put any distance between Anakin and his worries. His only son ran away and the first thing he did was to dig himself out of the marshes he was in, chuck off the leeches stuck to his legs and back to his ship. Later, his wife commed him to tell him of the news while he was en-route to her. A brief stay in Dac to reassure her that he'll be fine - they'll be fine, another trip to Naboo University visit his daughter, to conceal their mutual worries with laughter and picking on Luke, then he's here. Xithum.
The loading ramp hits the sand. Anakin stands at the end of it, staring into the sand. His hands are on his hips but he looks any but stern. He looks more weary than anything. ]
Xithum. Huh. You know what Obi-Wan would say - you couldn't pick a more civilized place for a vacation?
[ His boots digs into the sand and he wraps his arms around his son. ]
no subject
[He doesn’t know why he’s pointed this out. He doesn’t expect his father to be proud. Quite the reverse, actually, but it was necessary. He thinks it was. He wishes he were more sure.]
I’m glad they let you come and find me.
no subject
Well, the Council isn't pleased. But you didn't leave them much of a choice. [ His smile fades slightly and he toss Luke a look, slight raised eyebrow and edging on a lecture he's not really enthused about giving. ] You didn't give me much of a choice.
[ He chuckles; the irony of him lecturing about unexpected and unexplained absences doesn't escape him. He spreads an arm towards Luke and wraps it around his shoulders. His son is safe. That's all that matters. Everything else is just details. ] Now, tell me about the unsavory types you've been hanging around with.
no subject
[He'd go into more detail-- he has a litany of complaints he's been practicing since he got off Coruscant. But his father wants to know about being a smuggler's bodyguard, so he talks about that instead, eyes wide.]
Oh, just smugglers. They're not so bad. They all told me stories from the War, [there's only one War anymore,] and battles they saw, or fought in, or smuggled for. I didn't know so many smugglers were veterans.
[Separatists, mostly. Be on the losing side, and it gets harder and harder to find legitimate work.]
no subject
They've been cracking down on smuggling operations all over the galaxy. The Council isn't going to like hearing about Luke being involved. Though the Council doesn't need to know... ]
Knowledge about the space routes can get you far. No matter what your background is. Isn't that right, my son. [ He's smiling despite the jab. ] Do you even know what are they smuggling?
no subject
Zuzi fruit. [He shakes his head.] Don't laugh. There's an embargo on it in seven systems. Something about local farmers... [He shrugs. What does Luke Skywalker know about farming.]
I wasn't exactly going to smuggle spice, was I? [Luke has limits. But now he's curious.] Did you think I was?
no subject
Spice is the commodity out here. Good people do bad things to survive, it wouldn't surprise me if you and your company were. [ A sternness appears in his voice, his expression. His Padawans would be familiar with it. ] It doesn't make it excusable. Tell me, what would you do if you found out they were smuggling spice?
no subject
[He's too attached to this-- he sets the thought aside. He doesn't want to dwell on it now.]
I would have gotten onto another ship. No one can stop a Jedi.
no subject
You wouldn't stop them and break their operation?
no subject
Why should I? The council doesn't care enough to fix the problem in the first place, so I should just- only care if it falls into my lap? That's not fair.
no subject
The Council is the Council. And you, Luke, are not the Council. I would think that after this experience, you would think again before letting the council's decisions define your actions. [ He huffs a small laugh and grips Luke's shoulder fondly. Relax echoes in the Force. ]
Do you want to tell me why you ran away, or should we talk about why Zuzi is more popular than the Pika fruit?
no subject
Because everything I do is wrong! [And Luke doesn't have that obedient streak that tells him to follow orders.] They wanted to send me off to train more-- they said I was too reckless! But I never fail any of my missions, I always do well with tests... [It sounds silly, and Luke knows it before he says it, but he has to say it,] Father, I just don't think I'm cut out for this.
no subject
[ Anakin says his name in a way Padme would, if she were here, that goes to prove that marriage merges two to one. He shakes his head, silly doesn't even cover it though he feels silly himself. ]
It's difficult. I know. The difficulties you face now are ones I've had when I was your age. [ Younger, but he skips it ] And I persevered. These failures are a test of character, Luke. You're not being tested as a Jedi, but as Luke Skywalker. And I know it may seem unfair. The Council-- No, I've placed so much on you. [ He looks at his son and lets go of the regret he feels for not being more selfish in keeping his then teenage son with him another year or decade more. They are here now. Sandy beaches and frustration. ] If you want to come home, Luke, come home.