Who: Anakin Skywalker and Finn What: Random meeting. When: Thursday. Where: In town, then Starbucks. Warnings: None. Status: Closed | Completed GDoc.
Anakin had the day off, and he’d decided to roam around the town for a bit. He was clad in his usual black Jedi robes, and had R2D2 trailing behind him. If anyone had any doubts where he was from, they’d likely recognize the droid. That wasn’t why he’d brought Artoo with him, though, he just decided it wasn’t fair to have the droid cooped up in the apartment all the time.
He had his lightsaber strapped to his belt, as usual, and a black glove covering his robotic hand. Which was also usual for the Jedi.
Ani stopped in front of a bookstore, and peered into the window of the shop, trying to decide if there was anything he needed from there. Perhaps there was…
***
Finn was wandering as well, trying to get better acquainted with the place. He just wanted to know it, and learn what he could. Wandering along, he spotted the man who wore a very familiar object… and had R2D2 next to him. With Luke having taken the lightsaber, now he just had his blaster in a holster at his side, and it was clearly of old, Republic make, the one he had gotten from the General.
“R2D2! “ He hurried over that way.
***
R2D2 beeped in recognition of his name, spinning around toward the source of his name. He beeped a couple times at Anakin, as though trying to get his attention. “Yeah, yeah, I heard it too, Artoo.” He turned toward the direction of the man’s voice, and studied him for a moment.
“How do you know my droid, then?”
He knew of the movies, he knew Artoo has been in more movies than Anakin. But this man, he didn’t look like someone who’d have known the droid from the movies.
***
“I met him back home. My name is Finn, and R2 was there, with the Resistance, and…” He stopped.
“Oh man, you must be from the past, or from a different timeline, like Luke, huh?” He was so confused by that mess.
***
Artoo beepeed again. Anakin studied the man in front of him, “Luke told me you were here. With a lightsaber wound.”
“Yeah, I’m likely from your past. I’m from Luke’s past, too. I’m his father. His mother, Padme, is here, too.”
***
“Yeah. I was in the hospital for several weeks. Somehow they managed to get me well quickly.” He breathed out and nodded. “Thank you.”
He listened, mind-blown, and staring. “Holy stars! This is… you are… wow!” Finn stared, then shook his head. “Sorry. You’re all legends in my time.”
***
He arched an eyebrow, he hadn’t exactly been expecting that reaction to the news of his being Luke’s father. “Yes. I am Anakin, Luke’s father.” He offered the young man a small smile, and motioned toward Artoo, “I take it you already know Artoo, then. He seems to know everyone.” Which was confirmed by a series of beeps from R2D2.
***
“Anakin? Cool! The legends of you are mixed. And dark sometimes, but you are not a bad person. Not here. Not if Luke is so proud of you, as he seemed to be.” He spoke impulsively.
“I met his sister, the General, and Han Solo, and the Wookie, Chewbacca,”
***
Anakin had heard of Han Solo from Luke, and knew of Chewbacca. It was hard to not have heard of the Wookiee.
“I’m glad you were able to get to the hospital upon your arrival here. Lightsaber wounds are nothing to be messed with.”
***
“A young man found me, a Kurt Wagner. I don’t remember how he got me there, but he got me to the hospital.” He nodded. “And he told Luke Skywalker who came to see me then in the hospital.”
He shook his head.
“Without him, I would never have survived, and never have met you.”
***
Anakin had heard of Kurt Wagner, it was hard to miss the young mutant. He was the only blue person in Madison Valley. He didn’t know anything about him, though, except that he happened to be blue.
“I’m glad he found you, and knew enough to get you to a hospital.” He wasn’t sure how Kurt had gotten him to the hospital, either, but he was glad he had gotten Finn there.
Artoo beeped a few times, and Anakin nodded. “Do you want to go get some coffee, maybe?”
***
“Really? Sure! I’d be glad to.” Finn smiled. He nodded to him and to Artoo. “I’d be glad to spend a few minutes with you both.”
Finn was starstruck. This man was a legend. And yes, there were the dark things, but there were amazing things, too! He had heard of them all. From multiple perspectives, now.
“Lead on.”
***
Anakin smirked slightly. He was glad Finn didn’t seem put off by who he was. He had come from Luke’s future, so maybe people didn’t think him to be as bad as people considered him to be when Luke was younger. Who knew.
“There’s a coffee shop just down the road. They don’t mind Artoo, so he can come too.” R2D2 beeped a bit happily, and trailed behind the two.
“How long have you been here?”
***
“That sounds good to me. And hey, Artoo deserves to be with the people, too.” He nodded to Artoo. He missed BB-8 a little in that moment, but hoped he was safe with Poe and Rey, somewhere beyond the stars.
“About two or three weeks now, I think. You?”
***
Anakin considered Finn’s question for a moment. “A good while, though I’ve lost track of exactly how long. Almost a year on this planet, I think.” He nodded a bit at this. He smiled down at R2D2 when the droid beeped in agreement that he should be with people.
“They seem accepting of him here, which is a good thing.” He stopped at the door to Starbucks, and held the door open for the other man.
***
“Thanks.” He stepped inward when the man opened and held the door and nodded. “That’s a good thing. Everyone deserves a chance here, I think, to be more and different than what they might have been outside.” He nodded.
Finn looked up at the menu and blinked. “Whoah, what even is all of this stuff?” He was still new.
***
There was a soft laugh from Anakin. That’s how he’d been when he first came into Starbucks as well. If he hadn’t run into someone who knew what she was doing there, then… he probably would have left the store without purchasing anything.
“Lots of coffee. And tea. There are many flavors of coffee and tea and everything. If you just want plain coffee, they can do that, too. I like the pumpkin coffee.”
***
“What’s pumpkin? I guess I’ll try it.” And he pulled out his wallet. “ON me.” He grinned a little. “Do they have anything Artoo can enjoy?”
He didn’t know. Could they carry stuff like that?
***
“I’d never had pumpkin before, either. Padme likes it, she bought me one once. A pumpkin spice latte. It decent.” He smiled a bit when FInn said he wanted one. He nodded when the man said it would be on him, Anakin wasn’t one to turn down that.
“I don’t think they have anything Artoo can have, but I work at a place that lets me bring home things for him. He likes that.”
***
“I can get two of those then, if you want another?” Finna asked and examined the confusing menu one more time.
“That’s good, that your work allows you to take care of him. From what I’ve heard, he was a hero of the war, himself.” Legends, distortions, and more. He had actually heard Artoo’s name cursed by the First Order, which translated to his mind as a hero, now.
This was going to be the best!
***
Anakin nodded, “That sounds like a good idea.” He liked this Finn person. Not just because he was getting free coffee out of it, but Finn seemed like a decent guy. Concerned about Artoo and everything, even.
He would have to thank this Kurt Wagner person, for getting Finn the help so quickly.
Finn was right, Madison Valley was kind of the best.