That he did not think it occur to Anakin to come to Tatooine was one factor in choosing it, but more important it was a back corner of the galaxy. No one wanted to live on Tatooine, unless you had family there. And Luke... Luke did.
Not to say that Obi Wan didn't plan to stay. He did. He owed his old padawan and his old friend that much. He would watch over Luke, as such a bright child grew, and hide him from those who would seek him out to do him harm. He is out wandering the Jundland Wastes, as is his wont. It is a meditation, of a sort, when he finds that even he cannot bear the stillness and the shadows that silence and memory bring.
He thinks this is a memory, at first, a terrible one. The acrid hate and dark that is Anakin, almost, but twisted and broken. Wrong. He remembers of the feel of it, knows it how terrible the black hole where the blazing sun of Anakin's light used to be. But it is too strong for a mere memory, and when he draws back into himself he can feel it, the slick oil of his hatred and intention.
So he heads home. The opposite sides of the Wastes from the Lars farm, and very possibly the safest place for him to go, drawing Anakin away. Slowly, at first, as though he had been too wrapped up in his surroundings to notice, and then, once he was sure that Anakin had at least a hint of his direction picking up speed. Fleeing, perhaps. He would like to live to see Luke grow, but if he cannot, he knows Yoda, at least, is far away and safe, and if he need to direct Luke from beyond the grave to Yoda, then he would find the means to do so. He does not see himself defeating Anakin. He is not sure he could, even if he could summon the strength within to truly give a strong assault.
Already, he is too broken, too shattered and lost, unable to reconcile the love he holds for his near-brother and the truth that Anakin is not that man, not any more.
Obi-Wan's light is almost like a giant beacon, and a reminder of the past. A terrible reminder. Despite all the hate he holds inside, he is focused, paying no mind to anything else he passes.
Which is a good thing for Obi-Wan, because it means he does not sense Luke. As far as he knows, his child died along with Padme. And somehow it was partially his former master's fault.
He knew that wasn't true, but it was an idea he clung onto. When he neared Obi-Wan's lone residence, his pace slows dramatically.
"Come out Master. Or are you going to hide from me like the rest of the coward Jedi?"
He did not draw his lightsaber yet. Oh no. He had a bit more in mind than just outright killing Obi-Wan. He had the full intention of breaking him first.
Obi-Wan simply settles into the middle of the floor of his small hut, legs crossed and pose something like a still meditation. He lets himself sink into the Force, just slightly, a solid anchor-point and friend to hold steady and still. To lose something of the boundaries that define himself, and feel the rest of the galaxy.
"You are welcome to come in, Anakin. The door is open."
The words are soft, almost instructive, as though Anakin was newly-knighted yet, and had come to see his former Master again on one of the rare times they had leave and were at the Jedi Temple. This will try him, Obi-Wan knows. It will be full of pain, and not only the physical. But Luke and Leia... they must remain safe and protected. And he had been tortured before.
Vader enters the building almost calmly at first, through there is a rising air of burning hatred at the mention of that name. But he holds it back. For now.
"Anakin is dead. He was left to die back on Mustafar."
His stare is cold and dark, and if he had the ability, he would have burned a hole through Obi-Wan with just his gaze alone. He stops a few feet away and it takes all of his constrained willpower to not just end it in a swift moment.
No, he couldn't do that because he needed to savor this.
He doesn't open his eyes, doesn't stir from his meditation. a part of him knows that inaction can be equally as frustrating as action, and Kenobi is nothing if not a master of waiting.
"I left a man, a brother, I thought lost, in hopes that I might save the life of the woman he loved, and their child."
His voice is calm, even. No hint of accusation or rebuttal, simply a statement of fact. He opens his eyes slowly, and looks to where Vader stands in the form of someone Obi-Wan loved—loves—very dearly.
"You left that man to die and still you failed -- in both your attempts."
Though truthfully, he knew it wasn't Obi-Wan's fault for Padme. Not directly, anyway. But if his former master had not turned her against him, none of it would have happened!
Those twisted thoughts kept his anger together and he approached, but he circled around, walking off to the side for a moment. Almost as if he were checking out Obi-Wan's decorating.
"And now you hide here ... what do you run from? Your guilt?"
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swiggity swooty
Not to say that Obi Wan didn't plan to stay. He did. He owed his old padawan and his old friend that much. He would watch over Luke, as such a bright child grew, and hide him from those who would seek him out to do him harm. He is out wandering the Jundland Wastes, as is his wont. It is a meditation, of a sort, when he finds that even he cannot bear the stillness and the shadows that silence and memory bring.
He thinks this is a memory, at first, a terrible one. The acrid hate and dark that is Anakin, almost, but twisted and broken. Wrong. He remembers of the feel of it, knows it how terrible the black hole where the blazing sun of Anakin's light used to be. But it is too strong for a mere memory, and when he draws back into himself he can feel it, the slick oil of his hatred and intention.
So he heads home. The opposite sides of the Wastes from the Lars farm, and very possibly the safest place for him to go, drawing Anakin away. Slowly, at first, as though he had been too wrapped up in his surroundings to notice, and then, once he was sure that Anakin had at least a hint of his direction picking up speed. Fleeing, perhaps. He would like to live to see Luke grow, but if he cannot, he knows Yoda, at least, is far away and safe, and if he need to direct Luke from beyond the grave to Yoda, then he would find the means to do so. He does not see himself defeating Anakin. He is not sure he could, even if he could summon the strength within to truly give a strong assault.
Already, he is too broken, too shattered and lost, unable to reconcile the love he holds for his near-brother and the truth that Anakin is not that man, not any more.
8D
Which is a good thing for Obi-Wan, because it means he does not sense Luke. As far as he knows, his child died along with Padme. And somehow it was partially his former master's fault.
He knew that wasn't true, but it was an idea he clung onto. When he neared Obi-Wan's lone residence, his pace slows dramatically.
"Come out Master. Or are you going to hide from me like the rest of the coward Jedi?"
He did not draw his lightsaber yet. Oh no. He had a bit more in mind than just outright killing Obi-Wan. He had the full intention of breaking him first.
no subject
"You are welcome to come in, Anakin. The door is open."
The words are soft, almost instructive, as though Anakin was newly-knighted yet, and had come to see his former Master again on one of the rare times they had leave and were at the Jedi Temple. This will try him, Obi-Wan knows. It will be full of pain, and not only the physical. But Luke and Leia... they must remain safe and protected. And he had been tortured before.
no subject
"Anakin is dead. He was left to die back on Mustafar."
His stare is cold and dark, and if he had the ability, he would have burned a hole through Obi-Wan with just his gaze alone. He stops a few feet away and it takes all of his constrained willpower to not just end it in a swift moment.
No, he couldn't do that because he needed to savor this.
"You left him there. Certainly you remember."
no subject
"I left a man, a brother, I thought lost, in hopes that I might save the life of the woman he loved, and their child."
His voice is calm, even. No hint of accusation or rebuttal, simply a statement of fact. He opens his eyes slowly, and looks to where Vader stands in the form of someone Obi-Wan loved—loves—very dearly.
"Are you not that man?"
no subject
Though truthfully, he knew it wasn't Obi-Wan's fault for Padme. Not directly, anyway. But if his former master had not turned her against him, none of it would have happened!
Those twisted thoughts kept his anger together and he approached, but he circled around, walking off to the side for a moment. Almost as if he were checking out Obi-Wan's decorating.
"And now you hide here ... what do you run from? Your guilt?"