Chapter Text
Obi-Wan sighed when he woke up and felt the ropes on his wrists. That was a poor attempt at capture. He could easily escape ropes. But first... he needed to find out why the Empire, or so he assumed, had chosen to capture him. The Empire was conquering the lands, trying to unify all peoples, but doing so in a way that was absolutely horrible. He, and many others, did not believe the Empire was all that innocent in their goals.
A groan startled Obi-Wan out of his thoughts and he sat up. He was not alone this time. He frowned. The man looked familiar. But he had a rather unique scar curled around his eye. The man groaned again.
Obi-Wan moved over. “You okay there?”
“No...” The man sat up anyways. “Who are you?”
“My name is Obi-Wan Kenobi. You?”
“Cody. Uh. Koon. I was adopted.”
Obi-Wan studied him for a moment, noting the familiar, yet somewhat common last name. “Ah, you are one of those clones of Mand'alor Fett.”
Cody sighed. “Unfortunately. The Empire keeps mistaking us for him. Dads have moved us several times and we still haven't known peace. And I'm sure the other clones who didn't get so lucky as to appear by people willing to adopt them have had far worse luck.”
“I've never been captured by the Empire itself before, but all kinds of people would like to get their hands on me, so this is nothing new. I just need to be sure why the Empire wants me before we get out of here.”
“How do you expect to do that?” Cody asked. “No offense, but they've got us locked up. We don't have armor or weapons.”
“Jango Fett wished to have a child in his likeness to carry his family and Mandalore into the future, and the witch who granted his wish gave him many children, so that he never needed to worry about that again. That's where you came from.My parents took me to be blessed by the local witch when I was a baby, worried about how sickly I was. I believe their words were that they wanted me to be 'as vibrant as a fire, as adaptable as water, as free as the sky, as sturdy as the earth... and honestly I lose track after that. Are you thirsty?”
“...yes?”
Obi-Wan held up his bound hands and an orb of water appeared. Cody stared but drank the water when it floated up to his lips.
“The blessing the witches gave me based off my own parents' words turned me into an elemental. I was two when Master Qui-Gon rescued me from them trying to kill me for my unnatural powers. He rescued me and taught me how to utilize my gifts, though he only could utilize the air, the wind, himself. As such... I can easily get us out of here. Rope burns. If they want to keep me, they'll have to try harder than this.”
Obi-Wan remained casual, sipping his own orb of water. He was tense. Most people hated the unnatural. Witches were fine, they popped up everywhere and just kind of used magic, even if their ways of granting requests, wishes, could get a bit... insane. But anything else? Elementals, especially those who could use more than one? People hated that in most parts of the world, and those that were okay with it was growing smaller and smaller as the Empire conquered the lands and spread its propaganda against the unnatural.
Cody stared at him, then at the water. “Well, at least you have that. All I have to show for my father's wish is my existence and some extra durability.”
Obi-Wan smiled at him. “I'm sure that you have gifts of your own. Far too many people underestimate themselves when compared to those who seem more special. Maybe we will find them, as I can't imagine it will be easy to reunite with your family.”
Cody nodded, now leaning against the wall. “I suppose you are right. You are a wanderer, then, not of any land?”
“I technically can claim to be of Kiffu, though that is because one of them has claimed me as his brother in a blood oath. But I wander so that I can follow in Qui-Gon's footsteps and help those in need. Although that path has been getting harder and more dangerous as the Empire continues to grow.”
“My family, the Koons... Dad's from Kel Dor, but cannot return due to a curse that will see him dying the moment he steps foot there. Da on the other hand was not really of any land, settling for wherever he could. I was taken from Alderaan, and I fear they will be overrun soon.”
Obi-Wan nodded; wondering how common that curse was. “Alderaan is a good place to live, and they have been a beacon of hope against the Empire. I am not surprised they ended up being targets of the Empire.”
“We were getting ready to flee, to where... I don't know. Not Mandalore, we don't want to go anywhere near there because my brothers and I will be forced to fight. All of us are clones.”
Obi-Wan nodded slowly. “That makes sense. Kiffu is still an option. The Empire has been ignoring their existence, and they're better than some of the remaining lawless places.”
“Kiffu? But aren't Kiffar the ones that run in trees, always have energy and can read your innermost thoughts with a touch? The insane ones?”
Obi-Wan chuckled. “Oh, they are quite insane. Their land is also the land that is most seeped in magic. It is an island, so there's a good buffer. If the Empire can conquer them... there's no safety left. I know a few Kiffar, and they've always been the ones to accept me the easiest.”
When they heard the guards walking their way, both tensed. Obi-Wan waved his hands and the water disappeared. Neither spoke.
And then Obi-Wan scowled at the person at the door. Anakin. The boy who he'd tried to befriend in Tatooine, who could build anything, and decided the Empire was right and good when he started exploring the world as a teen. At least Obi-Wan had never told Anakin about his elemental abilities. His instincts had never steered him wrong, and for some reason, it was the one time he'd been so convinced he couldn't share the elemental abilities he usually never bothered to keep secret. Over the years of Qui-Gon raising him and teaching him, that was one thing he had learned.
The secret always got out somehow. He earned more trust from people by being open about it than not. But not with Anakin, and it was probably going to save his life, as it had already.
“Ah, Ani, good to see you again. I'm a bit surprised you decided to take me prisoner.”
“Where is Quinlan Vos?” Ani asked, eyes flashing with anger.
Obi-Wan stiffened. “Why do you want to know where he is? I thought you didn't like him.”
“Don't play games with me, Obi-Wan. I need to know where the prince of Kiffu is.”
“Why does the Empire need the prince of Kiffu?” Obi-Wan tilted his head curiously. “I thought the Empire didn't care for Kiffu, it being an island, no matter how large it is.”
Anakin's face twisted with rage and he picked Obi-Wan up, shoving him against the wall. “Tell me.”
“No.”
Anakin pressed his hand to Obi-Wan's throat. “We need knowledge on Kiffu so we can invade them and take advantage of their magical energy. You will tell me, eventually.” He turned and walked away.
Obi-Wan slide to the ground, coughing. But he couldn't resist taunting Ani one last time. “You used to be so sweet and kind, and then you joined the Empire, even if you can't bring yourself to kill me. I see you are now unreachable.”
Anakin stiffened and glared at him. “You will pay for that. You have forgotten that you are the reason my mom is DEAD!” After punching the wall, he stalked off.
“So. Uh, you know each other?” Cody asked.
“Yes, he's about five years younger than me. We were friends once, but things happened, and I prevented him from walking into a trap... which led to his mother's death. There was a good chance she was dead either way, and I didn't want him to die, but try telling that to Ani.”
“Oh. Um. And the prince of Kiffu?”
“Quinlan hardly likes to be reminded that he's prince, he much prefers the wandering life. I really need to find him, and warn him... and Kiffu that the Empire is looking their way.”
“And how are we doing that?”
“I'm a elemental of more than just water.” Obi-Wan's rope caught fire and burned. He then leaned over with a flame at the end of one finger and carefully burned the rope around Cody's wrists in one spot until it felt apart. “Every single element my parents compared me to, I can control it.”
“Oh. Right.” Cody rubbed his wrists. “So... metal? Stone?”
“Stone will be the safer way out.” Obi-Wan placed his hands on the stone and it moved, opening a space for them to get out. Obi-Wan held out his hand to Cody. “Shall we?”
Cody accepted it and stood. “Let's get out of here and find your friend.”
Obi-Wan paused. “You would come with me?” His face showed just a hint of shock and hope as he turned back to leave.
Cody shrugged, following. “I mostly know life on a farm and in a bakery, I know some of how to fight, how to survive, but I'm not experienced in it. And I have no clue where my family might have gone. I will have just as much luck looking for them while with you as on my own.”
“Even knowing what I can do?”
“Especially knowing what you can do. Those of us who get screwed over by wishes to witches by other people should stick together.”
“Not many would ever agree with that... but thank you, Cody.” Obi-Wan helped him out as needed and then they were free. “Now... let's start in the woods, I know this area, we're in Naboo's territory. Kiffu is a ways away from here, but we need to try the opposite direction. I believe I last heard that Quin had gone to Lothal, so we will head that direction and see if we can catch him on his way back before the Empire does.”
Cody nodded. “And then what?”
“Well, if you are still with me, we will help Quinlan get back to Kiffu, and I plan to help Kiffu protect itself. They are the only people who have ever fully embraced me besides Qui-Gon and those that taught him or learned from the same people.”
“Then maybe they're not as insane as I thought.”
Obi-Wan chuckled. “Maybe not.” They made it to the forest. Obi-Wan was very efficient about moving through the trees, showing Cody some of his tricks along the way.
“Are you sure we don't need to run?”
“Ani is arrogant, he won't notice we're gone for hours, and thanks to me hiding all traces of our escape, he won't even know where to begin. There will be plenty of time to exhaust ourselves in the coming days, so best to conserve our strength.”
“You really are good at this.”
“I do try.” Obi-Wan smiled at him. “But this has been my life as long as I can remember. Always wandering, never settling down. Helping those in need. Getting chased out of countless towns for my gifts.”
“Would you settle down?”
“I could never entirely give up wandering, but I suppose I would like a home to come back to, some day. For now, though, this is enough.”
It was hours before they came across an inn. Obi-Wan bartered for a room for the night with dinner and breakfast, in exchange for them doing the dishes and some other chores. Cody was relieved he knew that he was doing because Cody could not have sorted that out on his own. And probably would have signed up for too much work.
They ate their dinner, did the dishes, and the other chores, then went up to the room.
“...there's only one bed,” Cody pointed out flatly.
Obi-Wan winced. “This was the only room available. I can sleep on the floor.”
Cody sighed. “No, you're the one who's doing everything right now, I feel rather useless. I'll sleep on the floor.”
“Oh, no, I can't let you do that. I should be the one to sleep on the floor.”
“No, you're the... fine we'll both share the bed, how about that?”
Obi-Wan looked away. “I've been told that I cuddle any warm body near me, I do not think you want to deal with that.”
“Well, I don't mind a little cuddling. All my brothers are cuddlers, though most of them would never admit it. We'll make it work. I'm more concerned about supplies.”
Obi-Wan opened up his bags. “Yes, we'll need to make a stop before we leave... But we do need something to trade for those supplies.”
Cody thought about it. “I could get up early and bake some bread and other things. Leave some for the inn since I'm using their supplies, trade the rest.”
“That actually could work. You think you can do it?”
“Especially if you help. My dads taught me to bake and some of the times we've moved over the years we set up a bakery rather than a farm. I know what I'm doing.”
“Then that's a plan.” Obi-Wan smiled.
That night they started on separate sides of the bed, backs to each other.
Cody woke up at his usual farm/bakery morning time and found Obi-Wan was clinging to him far more than his brothers ever did. Cody wasn't sure where to begin to remove his new friend from himself, but he had to get up if he wanted to bake anything good to trade.
After a few minutes of Obi-Wan's arms snapping back into place, Cody finally gave in and woke him up. Obi-Wan blinked blearily at him.
“Hmm?”
“I need to get up,” Cody whispered. “Can you let me up?”
Obi-Wan scrambled away, going red. “I'm sorry. I did not meant to hold you back from your morning.”
Cody eyed him, then sighed. “I know that sometimes cuddling does happen. Besides, I was not in the same place I fell asleep in, so I daresay I hold some blame in this situation as well.”
“Oh. Well... good morning, Cody.”
“Good morning, Obi-Wan.” Cody started getting ready for the day, then headed down to the kitchen and to get started on the baking. Obi-Wan joined him shortly after, and proved to be good at following directions though he had never actually made bread before.
Cody beamed proudly at the loaves of bread that came out of the oven hours later. Perfect. The rolls came out well too. They left plenty for the inn, stored some for themselves, and the rest would be traded for supplies. They even did a few extra chores to make up for the extra cost of ingredients.
And then they were off again, further back into forest, this time following a river.
“We'll be out in the wilderness for a few days, if I'm remembering this area right, we're not going to find another village until we enter Alderaan's territory. That'll give us a chance to scout out the situation there, and then we'll head further out, passing through Mandalore, unfortunately, and a few other territories before we reach Lothal.”
“I sure hope you know how to get food out here because we did not bring much out with us.”
“I know how to gather, hunting is easy with my magic, and I know how to store leftover stew in a stone.”
“How to store... that's... You know what you're the expert, I'm sure it's fine. And sleeping?”
“We have bedrolls. I know a few other tricks if you have trouble sleeping, but I'm used to sleeping outside.”
“Okay. Do you think we're going to encounter any of the Empire?”
“They only have outposts here in Naboo, they don't have total control, and anyways, that's why we're taking the way that avoids towns and villages. Today we'll focus on getting as far away as possible, and you might not like the trick I use for that, tomorrow we'll walk half a day and then I'll hunt, and make stew.”
“We can't be tracked?”
“Oh, I remove our impressions in the ground as we walk. Wind chases away most of our scent. I can't remove every sign of our passing, but I can make it extremely difficult. Ah, perfect.” Obi-Wan pulled out some rope and had Cody help him tie the downed branches together.
“...are we going to ride the river? How will everything stay dry?”
“Leave it to me.” Obi-Wan smirked. “This is the most efficient way to erase our trail. It will be far harder to track us over water.” He stepped onto the raft.
“I'm not sure it will hold both of us...”
“Trust me, Cody, I know what I'm doing.” Obi-Wan held out his hand.
Cody hesitated, then stepped onto the raft. It definitely should not be holding them. “Uh... what kind of elemental trick are you using here?”
“Oh, just a combination of water and air, mostly. I'm not sure how it works, though I could probably figure it out if I wanted to. I don't particularly like using rafts that shouldn't hold my weight, but sometimes it's necessary. Like now.”
Obi-Wan waved his hand and the raft started moving far faster. “And now we will be moving more than double the speed we were before. We'll be close to six days walk from where we started by the time we stop for the night.”
“You can keep it up that long?”
“Well, the river was already helping us go faster than we would otherwise be moving, so I'll be taking breaks, for the most part though, I do have the stamina.”
“Huh.” Cody watched the land go by, leaning back on his hands. “Well, at least this isn't a bad way to travel even if it is hard to wrap my head around this working when it shouldn't.”
“I much prefer gliding.”
“What?”
“Oh, I can fashion a kite of sorts and use the air to glide places. Quite fun, really.”
Cody considered that, looking up at the sky. “I can see that being enjoyable. Maybe a bit terrifying, but enjoyable.”
Obi-Wan laughed. “One must learn to fall before they can walk, so I was quite well versed in how to save myself before I tried anything serious with it.”
Cody stared at him, then looked away. “I'm starting to think that you're just as insane as kiffar.”
Obi-Wan grinned. “I'll take that as a complement because they know how to live.”
Cody paused. “What do you mean by that?”
Obi-Wan winced. “Okay, it's not exactly fair, it's just...” He let a hand trail through the water. “Most people I encounter, they're just trying to live day to day. Planting, weeding and tending, harvesting, baking bread day after day, sewing clothes and dealing with endless chores, many of them miserable at how much effort it takes to live. Few living their best lives, few having time unless they have enough family to help out. Which means they're not having fun. They're not always focusing on the good. They're just trying to survive.”
He tilted his head and pulled his hand out of the water. “It's like...” He pulled out a candle and lit it with one finger. “It's like this candle. They're always burning at work, they're never doing anything else besides raising kids, maybe taking occasional rest days, but usually only if their religion or country dictates they do so. They're just... burning and burning until the end of their lives, melting and hardening, getting back to work.”
Obi-Wan extinguished the candle. “But Kiffar? They're more like... a solid fire on the hearth, or in the wild. Burning, hungry for more and more.” He started a fire in his hand and fed it some little sticks, flaring it higher. “And yeah, they have their candles,” he lit the candle from the fire in his hand, “but they always are burning brightly and when they are done melting for the day...”
He used air to blow out the candle.
“They still have this burning desire to live and play. They find ways to ensure they spend days playing, to explore new things, to live their best lives. The magic of their island, that helps, of course. Makes life fair easier. They burn brightly, reaching new heights of innovation and love, truly happy as they spread their fires. That is a good way to live, and one I much prefer for myself. It's a reason I like wandering. There are always those that find ways to be happy, to truly live, and there are more than just the Kiffar that make it work on a wider scale... but it's hard to find if you don't know what you're looking for because it's so easy to get caught up in burning the candle.”
Cody stared at him with wide eyes. “That's... that's an interesting way to put it... but... I guess it makes sense. It's hard sometimes to see life beyond the next meal, the next chore. But... I think my dads have taught us a good balance between that and living. Because it's good to be responsible, and to work hard, but it's equally as good to enjoy the moment, to enjoy family and hobbies. But... if the kiffar are insane because they find that sort of thing living, I guess... I guess that makes sense. And no wonder you would take that as a complement.”