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"Dad! Dad! Check out what Grampa Ben found!"
This shouting echoed throughout the praxeum, along with the soft pitter-patter of feet belonging to the always overexcited Ben Skywalker.
Luke had just come out of one of the meditation rooms, feeling relaxed and refreshed, which now would likely not last very long. But that was alright; he didn't mind if Ben stole his calm away. He never minded when it was his boy. Putting on a slow, small smile, he reached out and caught his son as he approached.
Even in his teenaged years, Ben was never very good at putting on the brakes and often crashed into people.
"What is that you have? A holovideo?" Tilting his head slightly, Luke put a hand to his son's back and led him off toward one of the sitting rooms. It would be quieter there, and far more private than the hallway.
Going along with his father while nodding enthusiastically, Ben lifted the video and nodded, grinning. "Yup! Grampa Ben says it's from when you and Auntie were little and everybody lived together in Coruscant. Waaaaay back when Grampa was still Grand Justice!"
Laughing softly, Luke ruffled Ben's ginger curls. "It wasn't that long ago that Leia kicked him out of the hot seat. Ten years, maybe. Whenever Annie came to the praxeum..." A pause, as he gave it some thought. "It's hard to recall. I know the both of you started about the same time, but remembering when exactly it was is difficult, given that you would toddle off and sneak into classes when you were far too young.
His grin somehow widening, Ben looked up at his father. "You should have taken it as a sign that I was meant to start sooner." "I would have preferred it, but Grandpa said you were too young. So it wasn't possible."
“Oh, right. He doesn’t like the whole Jedi babystealing thing, huh. I keep forgetting about the old days.”
Snorting, Luke raised a brow. “What do you mean ‘forgetting’? I wasn’t even born then. Or are you diving into the past when I’m not looking, little one?” “Heeeey I’m not that little!” Ben countered, glaring up at his father. Sometimes it was utterly terrifying just how much the boy could resemble his mother.
“You are just as little as you should be. And you’ll probably stay this small. When I was about half your age, I was so certain I was going to be as tall as Grandpa. Boy was I wrong. But I get along just fine; there’s nothing wrong with being a bit smaller than the rest. Do you think that makes me any less strong?”
Trying not to smile as Ben’s eyes nearly crossed, he was apparently think oh so hard about it...
“Nope! I guess not! I don’t think you’d be any different if you were a different size. So being short doesn’t make me less strong or capable. Right?” “That’s very good. You were just a baby when he passed, but Master Yoda was half your size and he was the Jedi Grand Master for centuries. Size only matters for very superficial things; never for what’s truly important.”
Nodding thoughtfully, Ben walked into the lounge and went to have himself a seat on the couch. It felt good to speak to his father. It reminded him of how things used to be. He didn’t seem so closed or dark or scary right now.
He was having such a good time just talking that he’d nearly forgotten what he’d called upon his father for.
Nearly.
“Okay, check it out! I thought it was really cool.”
Ben clicked on the video and held it out for his father to watch.
-----------
"And here we are, having a delightful swim! Anakin, children, wave to the camera!"
Obi-Wan's voice, a bit older and more worn than it was now.
The camera was focused on the large outdoor pool that was attached to the old family apartment that Anakin still possessed. They were all out for a leisurely fun time, Leia on Anakin's back as he swam laps around the pool. Luke was sitting on the edge off to the side, kicking his feet lightly in the water, not looking anywhere near as happy or excited as Leia. He merely watched the other two enjoy themselves.
The Skywalker twins were no older than nine.
There wasn't much to the video; Leia and Anakin being loud and exhuberant as they always were, Luke keeping to himself as the others had fun. Anakin threatening to come throw him into the pool~
Which did happen. Twice. After the second time, the holovideo went crashing to the floor and turned off, marking the end of the recording.
-------------
When it was over, Ben looked to his father as if waiting for happy comments. Instead, what he saw, was a look of utter conflict.
Luke turned the video in again and reached out to the image of Anakin, as if he could touch it. Touch him.
"It's my father..." He stated quietly. "It's him. Before he died. I... it's been a long time since I've seen him."
....oooooookaaaay. Now Ben was confused. "You see Grampa every day. It's only been a few hours since breakfast, Dad." Which was when they both saw him last.
"No," Luke said, shaking his head. "This is my father. My real father." The time period, his appearance, and above all else his ungloved mechanical arm made it clear. It was before he'd died and found peace in the Force. When he was conflicted still, when he understood what it was like to be so full of confusion and turmoil.
Just like Luke was now.
"... he would understand me." Swallowing back a heavy lump in his throat, Luke turned the video off and handed it back to Ben, forcing a small smile when he could feel the worry so plainly radiating from the boy.
Chuckling, he swung an arm around his shoulders and pulled him in close to kiss his forehead, speaking into his hair as his cheek rested atop his head.
"Thank you for showing me. It was nice to see back into those days... I'd forgotten what it was like, before we were torn apart. It wasn't long after that when your Aunt Sarai came into our lives and Grandpa Ben had to leave." They'd finally been a family, and so quickly it had all changed...
"That's why Aunt Leia hates Aunt Sarai, isn't it?" While the other adults didn't talk about it, or insisted to the children that there was no animosity between the two, Ben had always felt otherwise. It was a poison in Auntie Leia's heart that he hoped could someday be cured, but his hopes weren't too high... she epitomized their Skywalker stubbornness.
His father, however, almost never hid anything from him. "That's right. She'll give you some nonsense about embarrassing her years ago, but it all comes down to blaming Sarai for your grandfathers parting ways."
"But whose fault was it then?" "No one's." Luke insisted, giving him a tap on the nose. "Don't be quick to find fault in people. They both had their own reasons for separating and if you'd like to know more, you can ask either of them. But don't go looking to find anyone guilty."
There were reasons behind everything. Who was right to pass judgment and deem anything good or bad?
"Okay. I think I understand. I'm gonna go show Annie now, okay? They're supposed to be back from the junkyard with Uncle Han anytime now!"
Amused as ever by his son's energy, Luke gave a last kiss to his forehead and released him. "Alright. Have fun. Don't forget we're going into the city for dinner tonight."
Perking up, Ben opened his mouth to speak-- "Yes, Annie can come too if he doesn't have any further plans with Han."
He knew his son all too well.
Laughing and giving his father a brief hug, Ben got up and ran off, nearly skidding into the door on his way out.
Really, Luke did wonder if you could attach brakes to a person like you could a speeder...
Shaking his head at that thought, Luke stood and made his way from the room quietly to find Proxy.
There was an old module he wanted to become reacquainted with.
This shouting echoed throughout the praxeum, along with the soft pitter-patter of feet belonging to the always overexcited Ben Skywalker.
Luke had just come out of one of the meditation rooms, feeling relaxed and refreshed, which now would likely not last very long. But that was alright; he didn't mind if Ben stole his calm away. He never minded when it was his boy. Putting on a slow, small smile, he reached out and caught his son as he approached.
Even in his teenaged years, Ben was never very good at putting on the brakes and often crashed into people.
"What is that you have? A holovideo?" Tilting his head slightly, Luke put a hand to his son's back and led him off toward one of the sitting rooms. It would be quieter there, and far more private than the hallway.
Going along with his father while nodding enthusiastically, Ben lifted the video and nodded, grinning. "Yup! Grampa Ben says it's from when you and Auntie were little and everybody lived together in Coruscant. Waaaaay back when Grampa was still Grand Justice!"
Laughing softly, Luke ruffled Ben's ginger curls. "It wasn't that long ago that Leia kicked him out of the hot seat. Ten years, maybe. Whenever Annie came to the praxeum..." A pause, as he gave it some thought. "It's hard to recall. I know the both of you started about the same time, but remembering when exactly it was is difficult, given that you would toddle off and sneak into classes when you were far too young.
His grin somehow widening, Ben looked up at his father. "You should have taken it as a sign that I was meant to start sooner." "I would have preferred it, but Grandpa said you were too young. So it wasn't possible."
“Oh, right. He doesn’t like the whole Jedi babystealing thing, huh. I keep forgetting about the old days.”
Snorting, Luke raised a brow. “What do you mean ‘forgetting’? I wasn’t even born then. Or are you diving into the past when I’m not looking, little one?” “Heeeey I’m not that little!” Ben countered, glaring up at his father. Sometimes it was utterly terrifying just how much the boy could resemble his mother.
“You are just as little as you should be. And you’ll probably stay this small. When I was about half your age, I was so certain I was going to be as tall as Grandpa. Boy was I wrong. But I get along just fine; there’s nothing wrong with being a bit smaller than the rest. Do you think that makes me any less strong?”
Trying not to smile as Ben’s eyes nearly crossed, he was apparently think oh so hard about it...
“Nope! I guess not! I don’t think you’d be any different if you were a different size. So being short doesn’t make me less strong or capable. Right?” “That’s very good. You were just a baby when he passed, but Master Yoda was half your size and he was the Jedi Grand Master for centuries. Size only matters for very superficial things; never for what’s truly important.”
Nodding thoughtfully, Ben walked into the lounge and went to have himself a seat on the couch. It felt good to speak to his father. It reminded him of how things used to be. He didn’t seem so closed or dark or scary right now.
He was having such a good time just talking that he’d nearly forgotten what he’d called upon his father for.
Nearly.
“Okay, check it out! I thought it was really cool.”
Ben clicked on the video and held it out for his father to watch.
-----------
"And here we are, having a delightful swim! Anakin, children, wave to the camera!"
Obi-Wan's voice, a bit older and more worn than it was now.
The camera was focused on the large outdoor pool that was attached to the old family apartment that Anakin still possessed. They were all out for a leisurely fun time, Leia on Anakin's back as he swam laps around the pool. Luke was sitting on the edge off to the side, kicking his feet lightly in the water, not looking anywhere near as happy or excited as Leia. He merely watched the other two enjoy themselves.
The Skywalker twins were no older than nine.
There wasn't much to the video; Leia and Anakin being loud and exhuberant as they always were, Luke keeping to himself as the others had fun. Anakin threatening to come throw him into the pool~
Which did happen. Twice. After the second time, the holovideo went crashing to the floor and turned off, marking the end of the recording.
-------------
When it was over, Ben looked to his father as if waiting for happy comments. Instead, what he saw, was a look of utter conflict.
Luke turned the video in again and reached out to the image of Anakin, as if he could touch it. Touch him.
"It's my father..." He stated quietly. "It's him. Before he died. I... it's been a long time since I've seen him."
....oooooookaaaay. Now Ben was confused. "You see Grampa every day. It's only been a few hours since breakfast, Dad." Which was when they both saw him last.
"No," Luke said, shaking his head. "This is my father. My real father." The time period, his appearance, and above all else his ungloved mechanical arm made it clear. It was before he'd died and found peace in the Force. When he was conflicted still, when he understood what it was like to be so full of confusion and turmoil.
Just like Luke was now.
"... he would understand me." Swallowing back a heavy lump in his throat, Luke turned the video off and handed it back to Ben, forcing a small smile when he could feel the worry so plainly radiating from the boy.
Chuckling, he swung an arm around his shoulders and pulled him in close to kiss his forehead, speaking into his hair as his cheek rested atop his head.
"Thank you for showing me. It was nice to see back into those days... I'd forgotten what it was like, before we were torn apart. It wasn't long after that when your Aunt Sarai came into our lives and Grandpa Ben had to leave." They'd finally been a family, and so quickly it had all changed...
"That's why Aunt Leia hates Aunt Sarai, isn't it?" While the other adults didn't talk about it, or insisted to the children that there was no animosity between the two, Ben had always felt otherwise. It was a poison in Auntie Leia's heart that he hoped could someday be cured, but his hopes weren't too high... she epitomized their Skywalker stubbornness.
His father, however, almost never hid anything from him. "That's right. She'll give you some nonsense about embarrassing her years ago, but it all comes down to blaming Sarai for your grandfathers parting ways."
"But whose fault was it then?" "No one's." Luke insisted, giving him a tap on the nose. "Don't be quick to find fault in people. They both had their own reasons for separating and if you'd like to know more, you can ask either of them. But don't go looking to find anyone guilty."
There were reasons behind everything. Who was right to pass judgment and deem anything good or bad?
"Okay. I think I understand. I'm gonna go show Annie now, okay? They're supposed to be back from the junkyard with Uncle Han anytime now!"
Amused as ever by his son's energy, Luke gave a last kiss to his forehead and released him. "Alright. Have fun. Don't forget we're going into the city for dinner tonight."
Perking up, Ben opened his mouth to speak-- "Yes, Annie can come too if he doesn't have any further plans with Han."
He knew his son all too well.
Laughing and giving his father a brief hug, Ben got up and ran off, nearly skidding into the door on his way out.
Really, Luke did wonder if you could attach brakes to a person like you could a speeder...
Shaking his head at that thought, Luke stood and made his way from the room quietly to find Proxy.
There was an old module he wanted to become reacquainted with.
