āArenāt you likeā¦tired? Stop putting up a fight!ā From the prompts ā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļø
Yes! Here it is!! Iām so sorry it took me so long, it was very hard thinking of what to write lol
Since you didnāt specify a ship, I decided to write a follow up to this one. For a little context: this is an AU where Anakin didnāt fall, PadmĆ© had the children but died, Anakin managed to take the chip out of Appo duirng the temple attack and they both barely escaped Coruscant with some younglings and the twins.Ā
Anakin still doesnāt know that Ahsoka and Obi-Wan had survived at this point in the story
Also, this is like, eventual obikin
With all that said, here we go!
Tatooineās heat was as horrible as Anakin remembered it and terrible dark memories haunted Anakin ever since they had landed near the old Lars farm.Ā
Beru and Owen had welcomed him, Appo and the dozen of Jedi younglings with baffled expressions but open arms. The younglings, already well trained in the arts of being polite, had quickly bought them with charming bows and soft-spoken āThank you for letting us into your home, mister, miss.ā And if that hadnāt been enough, the sight of Anakinās newborn twins had probably sealed the deal.Ā
The small farm soon became cramped, but it still was far better than the ship they had arrived in and, most importantly, it was safe. Palpatine knew Anakin hated the place, it would be the last place he would look for him.Ā
And it also came with the bonus of needing a lot of work. Soon, all of them adapted to life in the old farm.Ā
Early in the morning, Anakin would rise with the two suns, just as he had when he was a slave, and then check on the twins, getting them ready for the day. He would leave them for the first hours with Beru or Owen, depending on who was free at the time.Ā
As soon as the twins were safe with either their uncle or aunt, he would focus on training the children. He needed them to shield, and fast. With Appo taking over patrolling the borders of the farm, keeping it clear of any threat, the morning went by quickly and soon the two suns were too punishing to keep training outside.Ā
Anakin would go back with them into the farm and together they would work on lunch for everyone. By then, the younglings would be assigned different tasks around the farm under Beruās supervision while Owen would leave to collect fungi and Anakin would put a sling over his chest and back, a baby on each side and would walk around checking that the vaporizers were working as efficiently as they could.Ā
During the night, he would lay down next to Appo in bed and they would shortly chat before quickly falling asleep. Appo wasnāt and had never been as easy going as Rex, but he was more realistic, which helped Anakin stay on track the first couple of weeks.
Overall, it was a quiet, busy life. Anakin threw himself to each task, easily getting lost in them, avoiding thinking about what had happened, the losses he had felt and the grief that would soon arrive if he let himself think about Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, even Rex and PadmĆ© as well.Ā
He had even avoided visiting his motherās grave, now with Clieggās one next to hers.Ā
Of course, things couldnāt last. He slowly grew more and more tired, refusing to decline any job that could be done. He knew Beru and Owen followed him around with their eyes, worried about his declining health. They knew Luke and Leia had yet to get a regular sleep cycle, which only meant Anakin stopped having one.Ā
He had also taken over the difficult task of easing the younglings fears and worries while also being honest with them. It was a wonder he hadnāt collapsed already.
Which was the reason why Appo had decided to assist him that afternoon, the suns setting on the horizon. The third time Anakin had stumbled and almost fallen over, only his reflexes, the Force and the imminent risk of one of the twins getting hurt that Appo decided to intervene.Ā
He stomped over his general, putting one of his arms over his own shoulders and helping him straighten. āThatās enough, sir, weāre going back and youāre going to sleep.āĀ
Anakin tried to pull away at that. āNot yet, thereās still a couple of vaporizers moreā¦ā He tried to take a step forward and almost fell again. And even then, his arm was still trying to escape Appoās grip.Ā
A long suffering sigh left the cloneās mouth and he gently put Anakin down on the sand, ignoring the frown that brought to his face. With great care, he took one sling and then the other, the twins asleep inside them and adjusted them behind his back. āTime to go home, sir.āĀ
Anakin shook his head and moved as if he were about to stand up. āYou go, make sure Beru takes the twins and Iāll finish checking theseā¦ā
He didnāt get to finish the phrase when Appo picked him up in his arms and turned around. āHey!ā He complained. āPut me down, thatās an order!āĀ
Appo ignored him. āIām serious!ā He insisted, squirming on the hold Appo had on him, but not too hard, worried about making the clone trip and hurting the babies in the process.Ā
Finally, Appo stopped and levelled a hard stare at Anakin. āArenāt you likeā¦tired? Stop putting up a fight!ā He barked at Anakin, successfully shutting him up. āI know why youāre doing this, general.ā Then his face softened. āI understand.ā
It was as if a dam had broken. A sob left Anakinās lips, his whole frame beginning to shake. Appo held him through it, a couple of his own tears falling from his eyes. They cried together, not Anakinās pained howls waking the children up, finally allowing themselves to mourn the loss of their families, both Jedi and clones. And when every tear had fallen, they dried their cheeks and got up, supporting each other on the walk back to the farm.Ā
At this point, Iāll probably get enough silly drabbles going that Iāll may write the actual AU!Ā
Thank you so much for asking! I hope you enjoy!