When Sith Beat Jedi To The Prize (Of The Chosen One)

[neverwantedtobesith]

Garth'zel had intended never to go to Tatooine again. The entire experience the first time he was there was hot and miserable. The only good point, so far as he was concerned, was meeting Andronikos. But as luck would have it, his ship ended up deciding to need minor repairs. Nothing too bad, but it did require him to land somewhere to get the parts he needed, because of course, the bit that went was something he didn't have spare parts for. The only planet within reasonable range? Tatooine.

It didn't take long for a Force-sensitive boy to catch his attention. One strong enough that he was surprised the Jedi didn't already find him. Well, their loss was his gain. ...Once he pried him loose from Watto, anyway. He suspects he actually had an easier time of it than a Jedi would, although he's not going to hang around and give one the chance to give it a shot. At least, unlike them, he's willing to come to Tatooine from time to time so Anakin could see his mother. Probably not more than a couple times a year or so, due to it being best to go there when they're at least vaguely in that part of the galaxy anyway, but it's far better than 'sorry kid, we're never bringing you back'.

Of course, there is one tiny problem with this whole thing. He's never had to raise children before and doesn't know what he's doing. With the ship safely in hyperspace and not due to come out of it for a good long while, enabling him to do things that didn't involve sitting in the pilot's seat of the ship, he's in the lounge area. Time to figure out what he's doing. "Have you managed to get any kind of schooling? Like from someone you know, sitting down with you for an hour here and there as time permitted to teach you things like how to write?"

May as well figure out what he needs to teach besides how to use the Force consciously instead of unconsciously drawing on it.

Comments

[neverwantedtobesith]

Garth'zel slows to a stop and just looks at Anakin. "One, are you aware of how that's coming off, and two, am I going to want to pay Watto a little visit?" he asks in a quiet tone, which anyone from his own time who knew him would recognize was a dangerous sign.

Question from Anakin, what question from Anakin?

[bittykin]

Oh Anakin recognized it as dangerous - he wouldn't have survived as long as he had in Gardulla's estate if he didn't know to read 'danger' when it bared it's teeth in front of him. And that he held the posture for just a moment before rolling his shoulders back and lifting his head to a level position before shrugging probably answered at least the first question before Anakin could even try to put it to words. "I know what it's for," was finally what he settled on.

"He never actually let anyone do anything," at least, not to Anakin's thinking, "said he'd lose too much money with me not working in the shop. But if I didn't make money or kept losing him money on the races..." Well. The threat was there. "But I knew how to look pretty before Gardulla lost us to him. Mom used to try to hide me in places but she couldn't always." Anakin was entirely too calm about everything - the danger right in front of him, the very long list of wrongs he'd just named. It wasn't a freeze or a shutdown - he didn't tend to react that way - but it was measured. A subconscious throwing of the brakes to figure out if fleeing, flighting, or fawning was the safest response.

[neverwantedtobesith]

A muscle in Garth'zel's jaw twitches. "You're not who I'm pissed off with." Just to head that off at the pass. "I want you to act like you normally do when you're outside a cantina in there. Otherwise, I may have to murder someone if they interpret that pose as permission."

The best he could say about that happening is that whoever it was would die fast. He would not be kriffing around.

[bittykin]

Anakin wouldn't believe there wasn't mutual studying going on, Anakin studying Garth'zel intently and Garth'zel studying him just as much. General life experience told Anakin it didn't actually matter if Garth'zel was pissed off with him or not - he was close and had no recourse to fight back. Experience with Garth'zel said he wasn't the type to take his temper out on Anakin. The latter wins out, even if only barely. With time, Anakin would trust that more - he just needed time. "Ok." He could do that even if he wasn't going to be relaxed.

Not everyone waited for permission, but he was dressed better at least. That would be some protection.

[neverwantedtobesith]

Garth'zel smiles thinly. "Anyone who tries anything with or without saying anything to me first is in for a rude surprise." Yes, he could hear the unspoken.

He takes a moment to blow out a slow breath, focusing on that to get his mind off its current track, before shaking his head slightly and getting moving again. "Shall we?"