epidemiology | ( closed. )

[ anakin smiles wryly. ]

Not quite. [ he leaves the response vague. though he knows nothing yet of the atrocities for which darth vader will gain notoriety — and though every deed committed until this point has been rationalized to fall into the realm of "good" — ( and he ignores the play of color that washed across a desert night as he ignores the sound of two lightsabers pulling together. )

he could do a lot worse. that he has no intention to has him reach out. anakin's gloved hand clasps stiles' shoulder. ]

I think that's enough for today.

[ a different application of the force: no persuasion; no targeting of the mind. a relaxing sensation spreads from the point of contact. like sinking back into a pool of cool, clear water and floating. the contact lasts only a second before anakin removes his hand and stands. ]

We can continue tomorrow.

No —

[ he starts, sharply, after the pressure of Anakin's hand is no longer on his shoulder, when his entire body feels like it's been submerged in a lake and is suddenly pulled out into cold winter air, chill and fatigue shaking his limbs.

quieter, ] No. No, I can still... one more. Just one more time. I almost had it the last time, there's just... I know I can do it, I just need to figure out the key.

[ he knows Anakin is right, he already feels like crap, they should just call it a day... but he's never been good at stopping, even when he knows he should. he looks at Anakin, imploring. ] Please, one more time. Then we can stop. I can take it, I swear.

[ anakin studies him for a moment, silent, then — ]

Why a shield?

[ he takes his seat again, hands folded inside his sleeves. ]

You could have requested anything.

I didn't, that's the point.

[ he realizes that isn't a very clear explanation and elaborates quickly, sighing as he promptly sits down on the ground, too exhausted to even keep standing up. ]

I didn't ask for anything, they just... gave it to me. Out of the blue. I guess they thought I... needed it. [ not wanted; needed. ]

A shield for the one running headlong into danger? I can't imagine why.

[ he sarcasms because he cares or something. ]

Hey! I don't run into danger, I... [ a pause. a pause that stretches on longer than intended. ] ... uh, walk into it carefully and with a plan?

[ BESIDES, YOU DO IT TOO, MR. DROPS-OUT-OF-A-MOVING-SPEEDER-OVER-CORUSCANT ]

[ that's because he can. see: chosen one, hero with no fear, better than u, etc.

wryly, ] Convincing. But maybe that's the reason you're having difficulty.

[ r i g h t you keep telling yourself that, buddy. ]

Wait, what? With this? Because... I'm not planning enough? I'm planning too much?

[ ??? his Anakin-English-Anakin dictionary is failing him, pls help, consulting services needed. ]

[ the anakin-english-anakin dictionary hasn't yet been accepted into the game, please check later.

armed with a theory, anakin declines to answer. his hand waves before him. ]

Tell me the name of the person closest to you.

The person... closest to me?

[ confused, he repeats the words, seeking less for confirmation and more for reason, finding none. ]

Here or back home? [ deciding he must mean in general, he quickly follows this up with, ] That's my Dad. Noah Stilinski.

[ here or back home makes no difference, though "here" would have carried an immediacy not otherwise present. regardless, now with a specific figure in mind, anakin leans slightly forward. his eyes are fixed on stiles'. ]

You're tired of looking after him.

[ knowing nothing of the father, but based on what he has seen motivates the son, anakin knows it not to be true. but it doesn't need to possess the slightest inkling of truth for the force to seed suggestion as fact. ]

[ even sitting down, he flinches as if punched, his eyes squeezed shut as the hammering headache starts again at the back of his head, one-two-three-four-five.

the force, when wielded by someone like Anakin Skywalker, is a deadly weapon, the weight of the suggestion making it weave inside his mind, trying to alter the feelings, memories. but it's not without opposition — in fact, it seems like more than anything that they've managed in the hour leading up to this, Stiles fights this like his life depends on it. ]

No, [ he manages to grit out, unsure what it is he is protesting but knowing more clearly than anything else that he has to fight it. ]

[ in the force, anakin can sense stiles' conflict. more encouraging, he can sense stiles' resistance. for the first time, he gets a no. but he hasn't thrown off the suggestion yet.

so the obvious follow-up is to keep at it. ]

You're tired now. You want a change.

[ come on, stiles. ]

[ you're tired, Anakin says, and Stiles sways slightly, almost like the words have a physical effect on him. his mind is a mess; with the Nogitsune, it was ever only an unnatural calm, a game he couldn't seem to win, an empty room of white.

now, his mind is at war. ]

I...

[ does he want a change? is he tired? of... of what? his father?

(no. no. no. there's his dad, working long hours, coming home late. there's his dad, tirelessly helping people. there's his dad, never forgetting to make time for him, telling him how much he cares, how he should be taking care of his son, not the other way around.

but he never... he never agreed. because taking care of his dad isn't a burden. it's never been... it will never be.) ]

... no, I don't.

[ slowly, the air in front of him seems to shimmer — it's a shield that isn't only mental but physical, too. ]

[ the shield manifests between them. when anakin stretches his senses, they encounter…nothing. not a hint of stiles' thoughts nor his emotions. he threw off the suggestion verbally, and anakin can see it: no hint of conflict any longer in his eyes. ]

Looks like you got it, [ he commends stiles. ] There's your answer.

I... I did.

[ it starts out as a question; it ends like a revelation, his words slow like he can't quite believe it.

but it isn't a surprise, is it, that his answer would be protecting those he loves, that his powers only truly manifest when it isn't him in danger, but what he considers more important than himself.

he manages the slightest of smiles before he sways on his feet. ]

... oh god, I think I need to sit down. [ which he does, promptly, by practically falling down on the spot. ]

[ anakin laughs. ] Easy. [ he lays a hand on stiles' shoulder in case he also keels over. ]

Breathe. You're okay.

[ anakin smiles at him in encouragement. ]

You have a few minutes to recover, then we'll go again.

[ he's joking. ( maybe. ) ]

Y — [ a cough ] — yeah.

[ he manages a small grin back, one that's both proud and grateful at once... though it soon gives way to a disbelieving groan. ]

You've gotta be kidding me.

[ with the heaviest of sighs, he leans his head forward, rests his arms on his knees. he's not saying no, though... if it's what Anakin thinks is necessary, then he'll handle it. somehow.

hopefully. ]

[ anakin laughs. yes, he was kidding. no, he's not apologizing for being terrible. yes, rethink your life and choices, stiles. ]

You've earned a break. With time and practice, it'll get easier.

[ anakin does not dole out praise lightly. his smile is warm as he says, ] You did well, Stiles.

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wrapping up?

ye.