Glory of the Snow

by almostaquila

Summary:

Five times Cody crashes at Obi-Wan's place, and one night Obi-Wan spends at Cody's.

Notes:

this fic went through so many title changes. i went from sabrina carpenter lyrics to chappell roan to sombr to trying to come up with something on my own (which i immediately gave up) until i finally settled on clairo.
this took me over a month to write, so i'm extremely excited to finally share it. enjoy!

It's one of the habits they seem to have simply fallen into, and Obi-Wan isn't one to interfere with natural developments, especially not when the habit in question is doing wonders for his tension-riddled body and mind at the end of a long day.

 

Although he is certain Cody, whom he knows to be a particularly observant and introspective individual, is aware of his own feelings on the matter, he doesn't typically share them with Obi-Wan. The silhouette of his emotions, however, is a tangible thing in the Force, and so there's no need for Cody to tell him how their completing flimsiwork in each other's presence rather than on their own whenever their schedules allow it eases some of the weight bearing down on his shoulders, too.

 

It's a routine that appears to comfort them both, and the heaps of documents feel a little less unending when Obi-Wan takes mercy on himself and relaxes the shields guarding his mind. With Cody, there's nothing he could possibly wish to guard himself from. The tranquility he brings every night is a gift that soothes Obi-Wan's own mind, and what results is an exchange Obi-Wan isn't sure Cody even takes note of, an exchange of unarticulated gentleness on a different plane Obi-Wan doesn't think he could put into words if he tried, all as they pass reports back and forth for the other to sign.

 

Getting along with Cody, Obi-Wan finds, is the simplest thing. He's very thoughtful, so he doesn't tend to be rash with his decisions, which makes him very pleasant to be around. Obi-Wan doesn't mind impulsive people, he's been living with arguably the most notorious one of them for several years, after all; but Cody's composure is something he certainly appreciates about the man, and is without a doubt an invaluable constituent of the 212th's secret to success.

 

There's a downside to everything, of course, and as much as he admires Cody's personality, he isn't at all fond of the fact that his mindfulness can boil over into reticence that puts him at a disadvantage. Cody is never afraid to ask for anything his brothers request; he modifies their monthly purchase orders before signing them off, and when he runs them by Obi-Wan he does so in a tone that, while remaining respectful, strongly suggests that his additions aren't negotiable because his brothers' well-being may depend on them. And he never fails to check on them or to tell Obi-Wan, after they've gotten to know each other and Cody has started warming up to him, what's on their minds, what's bothering them and what changes they'd suggest if they weren't so bent on following orders and proving they know their place like it was drilled into them on Kamino.

 

He's determined to support those who are close to him; that is, until the spotlight falls onto himself. Obi-Wan has suspected this ever since he met him, of course, but one particular instance confirms his theory. One night when they decide to let their flimsiwork rest for now and retire, he asks Cody what his plans are for when the war is over, and Cody fails to come up with an answer.

 

"I heard Rex is considering becoming a farmer," he says, just in case Cody didn't understand what exactly he was referring to. "Surely there's something you've envisioned for yourself."

 

Cody seems to consider this. "I want to make sure the vode are recognised as citizens with full rights," he says, and Obi-Wan nods. Of course this isn't something he failed to consider. The majority of the Senate unfortunately sidesteps the question of what to do with the army after the end of the war. While the war itself is a topic of much discussion, the period afterwards is regrettably not of relevance to most.

 

"I'm certain you and your brothers will soon get the recognition you deserve," he settles on saying, and Cody glances at him with a smile. "We'll make sure of it."

 

"Then I'd like a place to stay. With windows," Cody says. "Somewhere to relax."

 

Obi-Wan scans his face, lingering on the scar for a moment. "Do you have anything specific in mind?"

 

"No, not really." He shrugs. "Should I?"

 

Obi-Wan is selfishly inclined to say Yes, because in his book, Cody is entitled to all the gall in the universe when it comes to making wishes for himself, because he deserves it. But it's not his place, and he can't let himself interfere, no matter how much the thought of nursing such distance between their respective lives tugs at the most undefended strings of his heart.

 

"Don't wait for someone else to allow you to dream, Cody." It's as far as he allows himself to go, and he still feels like he is crossing a line as the words flow out of his mouth, leaving a burning sensation in their wake. "Ah, it's getting late. We should probably—"

 

"We should," Cody agrees with a look on his face that has nothing to do with bidding each other goodnight but everything to do with the hot syrup of fondness that suddenly coils in Obi-Wan's chest and threatens to seep into every other part of him. Of course he tries to gather it up and let go of it before it can settle, but he fears it's a little bit too late for that now.

 

 

 

 

A few weeks later, they're taking care of the flimsiwork like always when Cody says, "I've thought of something I want, when the war is over."

 

Obi-Wan looks up from the report he's been writing and draws his gaze over the light and the shadows on Cody's face, the reflections in his eyes. "I want a bathtub."

 

The candid smile on his face lances right through Obi-Wan. "A bathtub?"

 

"Yes. I've always wanted one," he explains as he turns back to the flimsi in front of himself. "They seem much more comfortable than showers."

 

For a substantial moment, Obi-Wan can't tear his eyes off Cody. When he notices, he smiles sheepishly. "It might sound a bit stupid—"

 

"Not at all," Obi-Wan says. "If it's what you want, I'm certain it can be arranged."

 

*

 

And that's how Cody's new apartment becomes uninhabitable only two days after he moved in.

 

After the war ended, the Senate, preoccupied with re-elections after Palpatine was inevitably impeached, settled on an interim solution regarding the unignorably big remaining clone army currently residing in Coruscant. This interim solution includes financial support for accommodations, and is, in spite of how much effort Senator Organa, Senator Amidala and many more put into advocating for proper support and compensation to be provided for the army, bearing little to no fruit. The majority of the vode still remain in the quarters of their former ships, now parked on the according landing platforms, since it's easier said than done to find an apartment in Coruscant. On one hand, the lack of attention being paid to any issues that aren't the current state of political instability is understandable, what with the chancellor having been revealed as a Sith, but on the other hand, the uncertainty of the situation is quite frustrating. Obi-Wan and Cody, both overwhelmed with the urge to contribute to this crisis' resolution but unsure how, exactly, have already co-authored and published a variety of open letters in the Coruscant Journal. Obi-Wan for his part can't say it feels like he's doing nearly enough, but writing at least keeps him busy, and it does seem like they're making a difference, raising awareness and pulling the topic into the forefront of people's minds.

 

What'd keeping Cody busy is the fact that the apartment he managed to rent by a stroke of luck only a few days after their arrival in Coruscant has been transformed into a building site because his 'fresher is being renovated.

Cody was initially hesitant to spend the little money he has on an apartment, but Obi-Wan could tell he was desperate to get off the Negotiator. He told him so in the most neutral manner he could, disinclined to influence him in any way as it was, at the end of the day, Cody's choice to make. Obi-Wan reminded him that the articles and open letters he's been writing could easily land him a permanent position as a journalist for the Coruscant Journal, if he so wished, guaranteeing a source of income, and so Cody eventually overcame his doubts.

 

It was undeniably a good decision. Obi-Wan hasn't seen the apartment in person yet, but he has heard Cody's voice over comm the few times he has called, each time with the initial intention to discuss an article he was working on, but straying off to more personal matters rather quickly, including the move.

And it seems that the distance he has managed to put between himself and the war by moving out of his quarters on the ship, getting his own place and finding something he is passionate about, has made parts of his personality come alive that Obi-Wan hasn't had the pleasure of getting to know until now. Cody is an excellent writer. He never equivocates, doesn't euphemise or express himself in hyperboles; instead captures the message he is trying to get across in perfectly clear terms, conjuring up sharp, short texts that never fail to provide food for thought.

 

 

"My deadline is tomorrow, but it's difficult to focus," Cody tells him now over commlink, and the whirring and hammering in the background render further elaboration on his part redundant.

 

Obi-Wan takes a moment to lean back into his chair. He's in his own apartment at the temple, busy filling out forms as he has been doing all afternoon. He'd have advanced much further by now if his morning hadn't been interrupted by Anakin, who marched into his apartment, confident to such an exaggerated degree that it was completely obvious he was trying to hide his nervosity, with one confession that Obi-Wan only laughed at, because he hadn't believed Anakin so naive to assume Obi-Wan hasn't known about Padmé and his relationship for years; and then another confession that actually impressed Obi-Wan, namely that Padmé is pregnant. Obi-Wan's first instinct was to lecture him about being so irresponsible when they could very well still be in the middle of a war, but decided against it. The war is over. Sure, he can effortlessly picture countless scenarios where it isn't - and does so more often than is probably healthy or wise - but these scenarios are only that. Obi-Wan has his suspicions that he's still in a state of disbelief that the war ended so suddenly, and he has no doubts - as occurs to him later - that Anakin is aware of this and used it to his own advantage, operating on the hypothesis that if he told Obi-Wan the truth now, he won't judge him as harshly. Obi-Wan can only shake his head at his former padawan.

 

On the other end of the commlink, the whirring continues, and Cody sighs.

 

"I'm filing documents at the moment. I'd greatly appreciate some company, if you need a quiet place to work," he suggests, already trailing his eyes over the table where countless flimsiplasts, datapads and various other knick-knacks lie spread out. He much prefers getting this tiresome work done in his living space, where there's more light coming in from the windows, than in the dull office he was assigned. The war is over, and he's no longer a General, but simply a Jedi - why would he need an office in the first place? For the heaps of flimsiwork that emerged alongside galactic peace, apparently.

There are two unoccupied chairs next standing around the table in front of the kitchen isle. He could clear some space. Cody could occupy one of the chairs. They could put their work aside later and cook dinner together, he could let Cody pick their meal.

"Are you sure?" The commlink rustles. "I don't want to bother you."

 

Obi-Wan almost laughs. As if Cody's presence could ever bother him. "It would be no trouble at all. As I said, your company is always appreciated." He taps the back of his pen against the table, hoping Cody doesn't feel pressured and internally chastising himself for planning out the entire evening in his head in unwarranted, overeager anticipation.

 

He doesn't have to wait for much longer. "I'll take you up on the offer, in that case. Where, exactly, is your apartment?"

 

Considering how much time they've spent together, the notion that Cody has never been to his apartment appears absurd. But whenever they landed in Coruscant during the war, it was for diplomatic reasons or shore leave, and they had no reason to spend shore leave in each other's company back then. Not that Obi-Wan got up to much of anything other than sleeping whenever he was on shore leave.

"At the temple. I will pick you up at the entrance, my living quarters are a bit difficult to find."

 

"Thank you," Cody says, "I'll be there in a bit."

 

After the call ends, Obi-Wan glances briefly across his kitchen and living room. The concept of minimalism has always resonated with him, so there aren't enough things in his possession that his apartment might get disorganised, apart from the currently splayed out flimsiwork. There are a few plates in the sink, and he's struck with the urge to clean them up and put them away. It would be unnecessary, he tells himself, because there are going to be more dishes to wash later, anyway. Besides, he has forms to fill out.

 

 

He greets Cody in front of the temple as promised. He's dressed rather casually, and Obi-Wan realises he's never seen him wear anything other than uniforms the vode wore during the war. And there's a different texture to his hair; his curls have gotten more defined and somehow seem longer, although they couldn't have grown much in the few days they haven't seen each other. Obi-Wan attributes it to water showers. They didn't have those on the ship. And he supposes the helmets also made quite a difference. Not that any of it matters. What truly stands out to him is the way Cody carries himself; his gait is just a little bit more loose, and there's an easy smile on his face as he spots Obi-Wan. The Force has always shone around him as brightly as suns emanate beams of light. But of course, the war wore him down nevertheless, and now that it's over, there's a renewed opalescence to his presence, one that Obi-Wan might need a moment to get used to.

"I hope I didn't keep you waiting?" Cody says as he approaches, and Obi-Wan can't help but smile. It hasn't been long since they last saw each other, but compared to their previous routine, which involved daily their cooperation, they've been apart for a considerable amount of days.

 

"Not at all," Obi-Wan says, and reaches for Cody's hands, squeezing them as a greeting. Devoid of gloves that separate them, Cody's hands are warm to the touch, a labyrinth of calloused and soft patches of skin that fits against Obi-Wan's palm. "It's good to see you," he tries to verbalise the feeling, and is highly aware that the words don't do it justice. Cody smiles at him in return, a candid thing that reminds Obi-Wan to let go of his hands.

 

"Thanks again for the offer. I didn't expect 'fresher renovations to create such a fuss."

 

"Neither did I. Either way, you're always welcome at the temple if the constructions become too bothersome."

 

Cody hums. "I appreciate it. Anyway, how have you been? Any news?"

 

Obi-Wan sighs. "I've been busy filling out forms all day. A war certainly leaves a lot of flimsiwork in its wake." He sighs. "Also, Anakin came by this morning. Apparently he didn't deem it necessary to inform me until now that he's going to be a father."

 

Cody's eyebrows shoot up. "He only told you today?"

 

Obi-Wan blinks at him, incredulous. "You knew?"

 

Cody seems to realise the implication of his reaction only now, and his cheeks turn a dark shade of red. "I have been sworn to secrecy," he defends himself sheepishly, which is such a fascinating look on him Obi-Wan isn't even angry about apparently being the last one to find out about Anakin's imminent parenthood. "I assumed you knew."

 

"Sworn to secrecy by whom?" Obi-Wan asks despite himself. Cody presses his lips on top of one another and gives him an apologetic shrug that makes Obi-Wan laugh. He appears determined to reveal no further information, so that's the end of that conversation.

 

When they get to Obi-Wan's apartment, Cody lets his eyes roam the living room. Obi-Wan has cleared him some space at the table and Cody takes it gladly. "What are you working on?" he asks, pointing at Obi-Wan's datapad.

 

"I'm signing off the 212th's personal data," he says, tilting the tablet to show Cody one of the reports he's been filling out all day, with names and not just numbers of the vode who have served under Obi-Wan for the past years. Even with the Senate's interim solution, they are still under his possession, not officially recognised as autonomous citizens. "The Senate hasn't addressed the issue so far, but I imagine these documents will simplify the process of citizenship application once it's been made possible, so I'm getting a head start."

 

He goes back to writing, but pauses, his hand stilling as it hovers over the screen, as he feels a surge of emotion well up in the Force, so all-encompassing it wraps around him like a warm blanket. He looks up and finds Cody's eyes on him. Ah. He supposes this is an emotional topic for him. Of course it would be.

 

He gives him a gentle smile. "What are you working on?"

 

Cody swallows, glancing down at his own datapad and then up at Obi-Wan again. "The, uhm, Journal requested a comment on a recent interview with Senator Glantoni. I've written down my arguments, I just need to…" he clears his throat. "Formulate them properly."

 

Obi-Wan nods. "I'm looking forward to reading the result," he says, and goes back to work. He isn't as distracted as he can usually get in the silence of his apartment. It's like all the thoughts that normally intercept his workflow have been quieted by Cody's calming presence and the low tapping sound when his fingers hit the tablet.

They fall into an old rhythm, one that Obi-Wan wasn't sure he'd ever be able to or even wish to revisit. Upon arriving in Coruscant, his first instinct was to leave the war and all it entailed behind and look forward. But he soon realised that that isn't truly what he needs. Because nothing is ever all bad. He can feel it in the peacefulness that Cody breathes into the room. The past years feel like a blur, an exhausting, indistinguishable series of endless days, but when he thinks about it, they've known each other for such a long time now. Working so closely together has made them attuned to one another in a way Obi-Wan deems a waste to leave behind. Perhaps he should. Perhaps it's improper. But there is no impropriety when he searches his feelings regarding the matter, no falseness, no danger at all.

 

Looking over at Cody, stealing glances at him as he works, fills him with relief, he realises. He wasn't sure if Cody would want to continue their friendship after the war. Maybe he too experienced that instinct to free himself of the burden of the past. As Obi-Wan regards him now, he realises for the first time how worried he was that Cody might not want him in his life anymore.

 

He takes a deep breath, slowly so as not to make a sound, and lets the energy around him encircle and dilute those feelings of anxiety until they're all but gone. Cody isn't going anywhere, he assures himself. They're safe now. He needn't worry about anything of the sort.

 

The sound of a commlink going off startles him so much he almost flinches. He reaches for his own before realising it's Cody's that's ringing. With an unenthused look, he gets up from the table to answer it.

 

Obi-Wan pauses his work in favour of listening to Cody mumble out responses. The slightest traces of stress bleed into his signature, and when he hangs up, he sighs.

 

"What is it?"

 

"There's a 'piping issue', apparently." He draws quotes into the air, rolling his eyes. "They're fixing it right now, but it's gonna take a while. Said the whole house is pretty dusty, that I might wanna find someplace else to sleep tonight." He sits back down, heaving another sigh. "Back to the ship, I guess."

 

He sounds less than happy about it. Obi-Wan gives him a long look before saying, "I've heard my living room sofa is quite comfortable," he says carefully. "If you're interested."

 

Cody lifts his brows. "Oh, that's…" he starts, looking for words. "That's very generous, but I couldn't… I don't want to bother you."

 

"You wouldn't be bothering me. I wouldn't have offered if you would," Obi-Wan adds with a smile. "You shouldn't have to go back to the ship."

 

Cody swallows. "I'd hate to intrude," he repeats, and Obi-Wan shakes his head. Cody's presence has never been an intrusion. Obi-Wan doesn't mind sharing his apartment with him, he'd share his bed with him if he asked.

 

Which clearly he is not. So there's no use thinking about such things.

 

"You can think about it," Obi-Wan says, putting his tablet aside. "In the meantime, it would be a good idea to start preparing dinner. What do you want to eat?"

 

Cody looks at him like the question perplexes him. "I don't mind," he says, and Obi-Wan starts looking for ingredients. "How about noodles? That shouldn't take long."

 

"Sounds great. Do you want to help, or would you prefer to keep working on your article?"

 

He looks at him a bit sheepishly at that. "I'm almost done, but I don't really know…"

 

Obi-Wan turns around to open a cupboard, retrieving a cutting board. "How to cook?"

 

"Yes."

 

"No matter," he throws Cody a look that he hopes is encouraging over his shoulder. "I can show you. My skills aren't either, but I'm familiar with a handful of meals. Come on, you can start by slicing up an onion."

 

He hands Cody a knife and instructs him how to cut an onion, smiling apologetically when he tears up. "Could have mentioned that," Cody says, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand, and Obi-Wan chuckles.

 

Dinner is prepared quickly, and Cody clears the table while Obi-Wan loads two plates. Cody hums around his first taste, and Obi-Wan leans into the backrest of his chair a little more comfortably.

 

 

Cody finishes up his article after dinner and Obi-Wan can feel his curious eyes on him as he reads over it, his nervous excitement a tingling sensation in Obi-Wan's nape. When he's read everything, he hands Cody the datapad over the table. "It's perfect, my dear."

A smile. "No suggestions?"

 

Obi-Wan shakes his head. "It reads very well as it is. I don't have any additions." He pushes himself up from his seat and goes around the small kitchen island to the sink because his hands are prickling with the urge to do something, to move. He turns on the tap and lets the cold water run over his fingertips, having turned away from Cody because his reaction is tangible enough on Obi-Wan's skin, appreciation and satisfaction washing over him like warm rain. Obi-Wan soaps up one of the plates and watches the remains of the sauce they made go down the drain.

 

"Have you made up your mind?" he asks in an attempt to distract himself. "About staying, I mean."

 

Cody hums. "I think I will, if you're still offering."

 

"Very well. I'll set up the couch, then."

 

Cody joins him in the kitchen. "I can do the dishes," he offers, and Obi-Wan lets him, stepping aside to dry his hands.

 

 

 

When Obi-Wan opens his bedroom door the next morning after he wakes up, Cody is gone. The aftertaste of his presence, however, still lingers in the warmth of the sunbeams that slant through the window past the half-opened curtains. Cody has always been an early riser.

 

Obi-Wan allows himself to enjoy his residual energy as he makes himself tea. Once his cup is emptied, he rolls out a mat on his living room floor, in front of the window where he always does his morning stretches and meditation, and gets started. He closes his eyes, focuses on his breathing and the way the sensation of the Force running through him, spreading from his chest into his limbs up to the tips of his fingers. He lets the air fill his lungs, holds it there, and wonders what prompted Cody to leave so unceremoniously.

 

He exhales. Figures he must have had his reasons.

In the middle of another deep breath, there's a knock at his door that startles him out of his meditative state. He slowly gets up, the floor cool against the soles of his feet as he walks over to open the door.

 

There's Cody, with his bag slung across his shoulder and an air of something akin to hopefulness to him. "You're awake," he says.

 

"So I am."

 

"Good. I noticed you didn't have bread, so I," he raises the flap of his messenger bag, revealing a white paper bag that Obi-Wan recognises as a product of a nearby bakery. "I got some. For breakfast."

 

Obi-Wan looks at him for a moment as he processes this. He knew he was right to assume that Cody wasn't the type to simply leave without saying goodbye. "Thank you, that's very thoughtful."

 

Cody shrugs. "It's the least I could do. Your couch really is comfortable."

 

"I'm glad to hear it. Ah, do you mind if I complete my morning meditation before we eat?"

 

"Of course not," Cody looks around the room a bit awkwardly. "I can go somewhere else, if you want privacy."

 

Obi-Wan shakes his head. "There's no need for that. Just give me a moment."

 

Cody doesn't make a sound, but Obi-Wan can feel his eyes on him. It's not unpleasant, nothing like the way others sometimes glare at him, scalding, or the suspicious looks he has gotten so used to receiving, ones that try to coax him into feeling discomposed in his own skin. No, Cody's eyes on him, they're gentle, almost like a contactless caress. Like he's watching over him. Obi-Wan puts feeling away, and finds room for it somewhere in his chest, close to his heart, and lets his thoughts slip away for now.

 

*

 

Obi-Wan's commlink buzzes in the middle of a meeting with the Council, and so he suppresses the initial signal, hoping it isn't a matter of urgency. It’s an unusual occurrence to receive comms this late; the Council meeting has been stretching out longer than intended, and it’s long become dark outside. 

 

Today's topic of discussion is equally tiring.

 

"It is unclear whether Master Skywalker will be able to recover. Darth Sidious may be defeated, but this possibility is a threat we cannot close our eyes to."

 

"He is under the care of mind healers now," Obi-Wan repeats for what must be the dozenth time. "And I can assure you he is pursuing the path of recovery."

 

"But how can we be sure? With all due respect, Master Kenobi, it is entirely plausible that Master Skywalker's position as your former padawan renders your judgement regarding this affair clouded." That is, of course, a reference to Anakin's unceremonious knighting that only occurred when it did to remedy the lack of Jedi generals in the GAR, and thus didn't involve important aspects, most glaringly the severing of their Force bond. It is objectively reasonable to enter his remaining attachment to Anakin into the equation. But given that the subject of this dispute has been misrepresented from the start, the repeated mention of Obi-Wan's apparent incapability to take an unbiased stance in lieu of actual arguments is getting rather old; and he can't help the feeling that this wouldn't be brought up so frequently if he were in favour of Anakin's exclusion from the Order.

 

"Is it not true that Master Skywalker failed to raise his padawan to knighthood?"

 

"That bears no relevance in this discussion," Master Koon interjects, and Obi-Wan briefly closes his eyes in relief. "Ahsoka Tano left the Order in response to our distrust of her in the bombing case. This has nothing to do with Master Skywalker."

 

"In bringing up old disputes, there is no use," Master Yoda says, and Obi-Wan can't help the frown that forms on his face. Is that not what they have been doing all day? Bringing up all the instances that should have shone light on Anakin's deterioration like they have any bearing on the situation at hand?

 

"I see no point in excluding Anakin from the Jedi Order, regardless of whether his recovery will be successful or not." Obi-Wan says, and he is too tired of this discussion to care about the strictness in his tone, laced with frustration, or the looks he receives. He remembers them all too well from his years as Qui-Gon's padawan. As a young man prone to getting in over his head, he frequently tried to dissuade Qui-Gon from disobeying the Council quite so much, uncomfortable with the implications about himself that lay in his Master's persistent nonadherence. Needless to say, he understands him now. "If he truly has fallen to the dark side, would it not be wiser to keep him under supervision? Expelling him would do little more than potentially bring about his ire."

 

He knows Anakin hasn't fallen to the dark side. The insinuation that their close relationship would blind him is nonsensical in and of itself; if anyone knew, it would be Obi-Wan, as they are quite literally bound in the Force. The only way to twist the argument into making sense would be to assume that the Council does not trust Obi-Wan, either, and that would be… yes, Obi-Wan has come to understand his former Master quite well.

The objective of this repetitive, tiring debate is not to keep the Order or Anakin safe. It has evolved into mere elitism, an unnecessary course of action that will achieve nothing but provocation.

 

"Ponder all aspects, we must," Master Yoda says in a way that makes it clear he is trying to end the meeting. "Late now, it is. Continue this conversation soon, we will."

 

While he doesn't like that the discussion is being drawn out even further, he does feel relieved that they are finally being dismissed. It's not as though they could realistically reach an agreement at this point in time. Master Yoda fixes him with a look that suggests his frustration must be noticeable, but Obi-Wan decides not to pay him any mind. He is perfectly aware that it is atypical of him to let his emotions get the better of him, but this meeting has truly tested his patience.

He fails to regain his composure all the way to his apartment, which is when he finally remembers to check his commlink. He returns the missed call before he unlocks his apartment, and struggles with the lock as he waits. And he doesn't have to wait for long. “Hello?”

 

“General Kenobi,” is drawled into his ear, the words half obstructed by a chuckle. There’s unfiltered laughter and chatter in the background, and Obi-Wan himself feels laughter bubbling up in his throat. He tries to pull himself together, and while he manages to keep most of his amusement to himself, the wide grin on his face can definitely be heard in his voice over the comm.

 

“Now, there’s no need for that title anymore, you know that, dear,” he reminds Cody, perfectly aware that he meant it as a joke but surprised that he would make it nevertheless. He's always been rather strait-laced, would have never dared to treat honorifics carelessly. It cost Obi-Wan great effort to convince him to drop the titles when they were amongst themselves in the first place. But apparently today is the day that Cody has at last decided to neglect his ardent professionalism.

 

“Yeah, I know,” Cody says on the other end of the comm, voice rough. “Obi-Wan,” he then says instead, and the way his name rolls off Cody’s tongue… he’s not entirely sure he’s heard him say it before. He used to address him with honorifics, and afterwards hasn’t addressed him much at all. Obi-Wan has to admit he likes the sound of it. “Have you ever had… Coruscant Cooler?”

 

Obi-Wan stops, stunned. So he really is drinking. He's been suspecting it on account of Cody's unusually slurred speech - not particularly slurred at all, but in comparison to his normal way of speaking, downright incomprehensible - but he wasn't sure. They've talked about what the vode get up to during shore leave, and Cody said he doesn't see a point of getting drunk Obi-Wan wonders what changed his mind.

To answer Cody's question, he says, “I have, yes. I can’t say it’s among my favourites.”

 

Cody hums. “The name's deceptive. It's not cooling at all."

 

He can't refrain from laughing at that. "Are you alright? What did you call about?"

 

"I… don't remember. Ah, no, wait, I wanted to ask you to come by. 'Cause we're celebrating."

 

"What are you celebrating?"

 

"Hm. They debated the bill today," Cody says, and Obi-Wan, at this point having made it to the living room, pauses. "And it's looking good!"

 

"Really?" It's all he can think to say. How come he's only hearing about this now? This wasn't announced beforehand, was it? He would have requested the Council delay today's meeting so he could attend the debate in the Senate. He doesn't need to ask to know Cody's referring to the Clone Rights Bill. it was proposed a bit over a week ago, and Cody and he had a call about an article they are putting together about it just this morning. Obi-Wan didn't expect the Senate to circle back to it so soon. "But they haven't voted yet, have they?"

 

"No," Cody replies, "I said the same thing, but the others wanted to celebrate anyway, so…" There's rustling at the other end of the comm. "We're, uh, at 79's, you should… you should definitely come by!"

 

Obi-Wan is already pulling out a datapad and looking up the latest news and, indeed, there are a handful of articles that have been published over the course of the past few hours he spent with the Council. "I just got out of a meeting," he says, looking around his dark apartment. It might not be the wisest decision to go out after his patience has been worn down like this. He should meditate. Regain his composure. Get some sleep.

 

But on the other hand, this is a big step. If the debate really went well, the bill might be passed soon. And there is no reason to let the Council ruin his mood for such an occasion. "But I'll be there," he decides. He hasn't had a drink in a while, and seeing Cody has never failed to calm him down. "At 79's, you say?"

 

"Yes," Cody says, his smile palpable. "Yes, I'm… I wanna see you, Obi-Wan, you should come by."

 

Obi-Wan can't help it. He really can't help it when Cody's saying his name and sounds so elated for the first time in forever, no, he really can't help feeling affected by it. "Give me half an hour, I'll find you once I arrive," he assures Cody.

 

 

He manages to catch an airspeeder and spends the ride skimming over some of the articles regarding the bill. The debate was announced only an hour before its commencement. He reads over some of the arguments that were made. He'll have to watch one of the linked holovids tomorrow, but from what he's seen so far, they really do have a reason to celebrate.

 

And celebrations are certainly being held. As the speeder approaches the bar, the streets become more and more teeming with ex-troopers.

Obi-Wan pays the pilot and hops out of the speeder. He might have misspoken; it will be challenging to simply 'find' Cody in this crowd. But he's at least always been good at finding his way through mobs of people, especially drunk ones. He nods and smiles at familiar faces, but goes mostly unnoticed, and soon he reaches the bar and takes a proper look around the establishment. The air, besides its warmth and distinct alcoholic smell, is buzzing with elation that makes Obi-Wan's heart beat faster. He attempts to let these strong emotions blend into the background as he focuses on locating that particular colour, that familiar steady heartbeat and strong will. Cody may not be Force-sensitive himself, but his presence always stands out to Obi-Wan like a beacon. Obi-Wan realises this might have less to do with Cody himself and more with the way he feels about him, but… well, it helped during the war, to be able to approximately locate Cody, to easily distinguish his presence from that of other people, because it made their moves on the battlefield flow together. And it made it easy for Obi-Wan to relax in his presence, to truly let his guard down as far as the circumstances would allow after a long day. Throughout the war, he may have leaned on Cody's emanant presence more than was wise, but Obi-Wan is only human. And Cody makes him feel more human than anything else.

 

And so he find him in a booth in one corner of the bar, talking to Rex who is sitting on the bench opposite from him, leaning against the table between them.

 

"Good evening," Obi-Wan makes his presence known, and Cody's face lights up at the sight of him. Rex greets him with a nod.

 

"You're here," Cody says, patting the spot beside himself on the bench. Obi-Wan takes a seat.

 

"Of course I am, I came as soon as I heard," Obi-Wan tells him, taking a hold of Cody's hands. They're warm to the touch, so much so that Obi-Wan, who's a bit cold from the speeder ride, is reluctant to let go.

 

Rex knocks his hand against the table. "I'm gonna get another drink. Anything for you, Master Kenobi?"

 

"Please, drop the title. And a Coruscant Brandy for me, thank you."

 

He gives a nod, then looks at Cody. "I'm getting you another Blush Wine before you sober up," he says, and Cody looks like he wants to protest but isn't quick enough.

"This is the first time I see you drinking," Obi-Wan teases, nodding his head toward the two empty glasses in front of Cody.

 

"It's the first time I am drinking," Cody says, voice light like he's amused by the fact. Obi-Wan raises his eyebrows.

 

"Oh, really? And how do you find the experience so far?"

 

"Dizzying," He replies without missing a beat like he's thought about this question before Obi-Wan asked. It makes sense. He's an analytical person. "But I can see why it's popular now."

 

Obi-Wan looks at him with what he knows to be fondness that's likely visible in every part of his expression. There's little he can do about it. Then he wraps his arms around Cody, a bit awkwardly due to the way they're seated, not that he could give less of a damn. Cody stays still for a moment before hesitant hands come to rest against Obi-Wan's back, curling into the fabric of his tunic ever so slightly. "Congratulations, my dear," Obi-Wan says, no louder than he has to when they are close like this.

 

"On getting drunk?" Cody asks, a teasing notch to his voice Obi-Wan attributes to his inebriated state but can't say he minds.

 

"On enduring all of this," he says vaguely, but knows Cody will understand, "for such a long time without losing hope. And on your hard work, which has undoubtedly helped us get to this point."

 

Cody hums, a deep, rumbling sound Obi-Wan feels in his own chest. He draws back carefully, in spite of the careful satisfaction that fills him at the contact. Cody levels him with a look in his eyes that makes it difficult for Obi-Wan to avert his own. "Thank you," he says, like he wasn't expecting it, and runs the hand that has slid from Obi-Wan's back to his elbow down to his hand, his touch dancing over Obi-Wan's wrist. "And congratulations to you, too. One of our articles was quoted, you know—"

 

"There you go," says Rex, appearing suddenly from behind them with three glasses he balances expertly in his hands. He sets them down on the counter with a clunk, and Obi-Wan turns away from Cody, redirecting his lonely hands to his drink. The brandy is sweet, exactly the way he likes it.

 

"So Rex, tell me, what have you been up to?" he says, leaning closer over the table as he lets the alcohol wash down his earlier abashment.

 

 

So the night proceeds. Obi-Wan isn't in the habit of staying out late, hasn't been since his padawanship, and even then he always kept it to a minimum; but more and more familiar faces come up to talk to them, and so he lets himself get lost in exchanging congratulations and celebrating this very worthy cause. Cody rarely leaves his side, which makes it easier to stay, and they scoot closer, sitting with their thighs flush against one another, hands on shoulders and arms, fingers entangled under the table as the lines between them blur and they share a drink or to, lips taking turns seeking out the same spots on the rims of their glasses, savouring the taste. There aren't any particular rules regarding alcohol consumption in the Jedi code, but Obi-Wan sees why it isn't typically encouraged; he can tell his shields are lowered significantly from the way his thoughts become entangled with waves and hitches in the Force that aren't his. After a while he excuses himself to step outside for a bit, letting the cool air of the night pacify the tingling nerves in his skin. He lets it flood his lungs and attempts to breathe out the emotions that are coursing through him at a speed far to high, to release them into the polluted air of this bustling city. It doesn't quite work, which is an unequivocal sign that it would be wise to return to the temple.

 

He doesn't like the idea, but he's not drunk enough to let himself go in this way. He doesn't believe he's felt this unbalanced since he was a young padawan. It's not something a Jedi with as much experience as he has should be experiencing. Yes, this is the mental disarray of a youngling, of someone who doesn't know any better. He should go back and get some rest, should have done so hours ago.

 

Cody gets up from his seat as soon as he spots Obi-Wan. "Are you feeling alright?" He asks before Obi-Wan can say anything.

 

"I'm merely a little tired," he responds, which earns him a look of concern that does nothing to alleviate his condition. It seeps into him from where Cody's hand rests on his shoulder, and he automatically tries to soothe Cody's worries. Responding to Cody through the Force isn't what's made him so exhausted, he realises, because it's the most organic reaction; it's the fight his mind puts up at being forced to interfere when it knows interfering is not allowed. "I'm going to head to the temple."

 

"I was thinking the same thing," Cody says, which doesn't surprise Obi-Wan. It's as though they've been thinking the same things all night, and he already misses this togetherness. Which is why he shouldn't have indulged in it in the first place; because he will have learned ache for it by tomorrow.

 

He says his goodbyes to the rest of them, and then he and Cody step outside. He appreciates that the noise dies down as soon as the leave the building behind. He leans against Cody, making use of the hand he placed on Cody's shoulder, and Cody turns his head toward him. "Are you sure you're alright?"

 

Obi-Wan smiles as best as he can. "Certainly."

 

Cody sneaks an arm around his waist; to support him, of course, why else. "I have a speeder parked around the corner. Let me take you home?"

 

It's a tempting request. "There's no need for that," he tries to protest, which comes out half-heartedly.

 

"There's no need for you to call a taxi when I can take you to the temple," Cody offers once again, and Obi-Wan decides he has had too much brandy tonight to feign any more reluctance.

 

"Alright," he concedes. "Thank you, my dear. You're sure it's not too much trouble?"

 

"You're practically falling asleep on my shoulder," Cody points out, and he's not even teasing. "It would be more trouble for a taxi pilot to have to wake you when you fall asleep in the passenger seat."

 

Obi-Wan laughs. It comes out as more of a hum, so he figures he must be really worn out. It's strange. He used to push through days far more exhausting than this one, and they didn't affect him as much. It's likely a good sign, that he's coming off the constant adrenaline high. Still, "I'm not sure what's made me so tired," he mumbles, and Cody's grip on him tightens comfortably. He has given up fighting the urge to lean into his touch.

 

"Everyone gets tired," Cody says, and then they reach his speeder.

 

 

Cody's judgement, as always, turns out to have been sharp. Obi-Wan does doze off in the passenger seat. He's roused by Cody's warm hands on his shoulders that round his figure and finds his back when he doesn't move. "Don't… I'm awake, there's no…"

 

Tilting his head up at Cody, who looks as though he was ready to carry Obi-Wan's sleeping figure into the temple, makes Obi-Wan smile. "I can walk just fine," he says gently and gets out of the speeder as a demonstration. His limbs are heavy and warm, like those parts of his body are already fully asleep, and he leans into Cody's space on accident, chasing the warmth of his touch and regretting that he fended it off. "What were you planning to do, anyway?"

 

"I could have carried you upstairs," Cody insists, sounding a bit embarrassed.

 

"And how would you have opened the door to my apartment?"

 

Cody looks at him, mouth open like he wants to say something until he breaks off into an incredulous laugh. "Oh, be quiet."

 

"Didn't think that far ahead, did you?"

 

"You were more pleasant when you were asleep."

 

"Come on, now," Obi-Wan says, nudging him in the side. "You don't mean that."

 

Cody shakes his head, sighing. "No, I don't."

 

Only now does Obi-Wan realise Cody is following him to the entrance of the temple. It didn't occur to him before that there was something unnatural about it because he still feels as though they're linked to one another in some way. "You don't need to walk me inside," Obi-Wan says with a smile. "It's late."

 

Cody nods. "Right."

 

They say their goodbyes, and Obi-Wan walks up to his apartment as the cold from outside crawls into his bones. The temple is silent, especially at this hour, and he takes care not to produce a sound. He's truly tired, exhausted to the core. His mind is still buzzing. He needs to get some rest.

 

In his apartment, he gets changed and ready for bed in the 'fresher. He's about to retire to the bedroom when there's a knock at his door.

 

He's surprised to see Cody on the other side, and the abashment that obstructs his usual tranquility makes him tilt his head in concern. "Cody, is everything alright?"

 

"Yes— well, no," Cody runs a hand over his shoulder awkwardly. "The speeder broke down, and I seem to have lost my commlink. Could I use yours to make a call?" He swallows visibly. "Sorry to disturb you so late."

 

Obi-Wan steps aside. "Of course, darling." Cody follows him into the living room, and Obi-Wan, because he is tired and stupid and every inch of his body is itching for it, comes to a halt. "You could always deal with it tomorrow. The speeder is parked, and you said you liked my couch."

 

Cody looks at the couch, then at Obi-Wan. "I don't want to—"

 

"Intrude, I know, but I wouldn't have offered if you were. We've been over this before." He gives Cody an apologetic smile for cutting him off. It's just that he's too tired to argue with Cody's constant need to be polite and considerate. If he doesn't want to stay, he should leave, but if courtesy is all that's holding him back from getting the rest he's going to need after the amount of alcohol he's had tonight, then Obi-Wan simply can't accept that.

 

"Well, if you're offering," Cody says eventually, voice small, and Obi-Wan goes to get the bedding and a change of clothes.

 

"I advise you to drink some more water before you go to sleep—" He stops talking when Cody takes the pillow and blanket from his arms.

 

"You should go to sleep," he says softly, and Obi-Wan falters. The utter affection in Cody's eyes— yes, he should go to sleep.

 

"Alright," he mumbles, more to himself. "If you need anything, you know where to find me."

 

It's difficult to turn away from Cody - less difficult to know he's just a few steps away, sleeping on Obi-Wan's couch, than it would have been if he had gone home, but certainly more difficult than if Obi-Wan had never let himself indulge in their friendship to this extent. It's unbecoming of a Jedi to want to keep someone close all the time, to want to connect with them in the Force until you can't tell who is who.

Obi-Wan watches the ceiling in the darkness until he falls asleep, and listens to the energy of calm breathing and a steady heartbeat that streams in through the walls of his bedroom, trying to figure out a way to go back from here, or if it's already too late.

 

*

 

It turns out that the debate they celebrated that night would be the first one in a row of many, many more that drag out over the course of a month. Obi-Wan occupies himself by helping a few vode in the search of apartments in Coruscant, co-authoring articles with Cody, and filing so many documents each day they follow him into his dreams. The documents containing the vode's personal data do prove useful when the Clone Rights Bill is finally passed nearly two months after the end of the war.

The Grand Convocation Chamber is open to visitors when the results are annunciated, and Obi-Wan and Cody are sitting in one of the higher rows, holding their breaths, their linked hands resting on the bench between their thighs because there are bigger things to worry about, for the duration of that moment of terrible suspense where Bail Organa, the newly elected Chancellor, opens the envelope, than to be seen holding hands in the Senate Rotunda. The majority of the spectators, alongside some Senators, erupt in cheers as soon as Bail annunciates the result, And Obi-Wan is almost overwhelmed by the wave of joy and relief that breaks over the Chamber until his eyes meet Cody's; and then Cody is all he can think about as they fall into a tight embrace and Cody whispers something to him he doesn't catch, but it doesn't matter because Obi-Wan can feel the words in his chest, reverberating without disclosing their meaning, and yet.

 

That's the second time Obi-Wan ends up at 79', and he doesn't drink this time because he can't let himself get carried away again. The same can't be said for Cody, who is downing his drink at a pace that makes Obi-Wan laugh.

 

"I recommend you slow down," he says, and Cody raises a single brow at him.

 

"Why is that?"

 

"You'll feel dizzy if you drink too fast." He tries to get ahold of Cody's glass - he's the one with the drinking experience here, and he's only trying to look out for him, after all - and Cody places his hand around Obi-Wan's, curling around the glass, and fixes him with a look of amusement.

 

"I'm already dizzy," he says, and the way he's looking into his eyes seems to pass the feeling of vertigo right on to him.

 

"You'll feel even dizzier," Obi-Wan says with a smile. If Cody weren't holding his hand in place, he'd have surrendered his drink back to him. But if he insists…

 

"What if I like it that way?"

 

Obi-Wan laughs. Thank the Force Cody's brothers got him to try out alcohol. "If you want your drink back, you're going to have to let go of my hand, darling."

 

Cody's eyes flicker to where their hands are joined, then back to Obi-Wan's, and he's certain he doesn't imagine the shift in Cody's mood, the way he looks at Obi-Wan. "Shame," he says, and his palm leaves the back of Obi-Wan's hand. He doesn't look away as he takes another sip, and when their knees bump together under the table, neither of them pulls away. It's like Cody feels it too, the incessant need for any kind of physical contact. Obi-Wan had hoped that the itching urge in his bones would sort itself out if he refrained from drinking tonight, but with how easy it is for Cody to slip past his mental barriers, any effort on his side is entirely futile.

 

The speeder that broke down in front of the temple a month ago has, according to Cody, completely given up the ghost by now, and so Obi-Wan brings him back to his place. Cody trips over his feet twice on the way from Obi-Wan's newly acquired speeder to his doorstep, and Obi-Wan can't hold back a chuckle. The place looks nice from outside; it's a multi-unit dwelling, not too big of a building, with three balconies, which Obi-Wan assumes must mean there are two other apartments above Cody's. He catches a glimpse of Cody's balcony, but fails to make out much more than what appears to be three plant pots.

 

 

 

Another meeting with the Council that stretches on longer than anticipated awaits Obi-Wan the following day, and he remains glad he decided not to drink the previous night. No agreements can be reached despite the long duration of the conference, and Obi-Wan leaves with a handful of new problems stacked atop the old ones. Wherever he looks, more flimsiwork seems to appear, and the walls of his apartment are slowly but surely starting to feel confining. He ought to take on tasks at the temple that have nothing to do with the war. Of course documentation must be dealt with, but sometimes they make him forget that it is in the past, trembling hands suddenly rendering him unable to note anything else down, breath catching in his chest and making him feel as though he is still trapped, yes, trapped without escape on the Negotiator. He is no stranger to dealing with bouts of anxiety; but the problem is that he has been failing more and more frequently to identify these instances as such. The memories that come back to him in moments like these are delusive, similarly to how bad dreams are, in that the notion that they might merely be a product of his imagination doesn't even occur to him, sometimes for multiple minutes. No matter how much he meditates, these memories seem impossible to let go of.

 

So he visits the younglings at the temple to clear his head, and they greet him with excitement even though he isn't teaching them. This may be related to the history lesson they are currently receiving from Master Nu, which they don't seem all that interested in. Obi-Wan finds it amusing, but encourages them to pay attention nevertheless. He isn't sure he got through to them, but that is their responsibility to bear.

 

He brings up his wish to teach to Master Yoda that same day, and is met with unexpected hesitance.

 

"Dwelling on the past, you are," he says, and levels Obi-Wan with a strict look. "Dangerous, it is."

 

"That's why I think it'd be best for me to move on," Obi-Wan says. "All I deal with nowadays are matters concerning the war. I believe some normalcy would benefit my state of mind."

 

Master Yoda hums. "Very well. But careful, you must be."

 

He is assigned a class for history and languages, and figures it is for the best, for now. Master Yoda was right, he supposes. He isn't fit for teaching Force abilities at the moment, not when his mind is so frequently thrown into disarray. He should likely book an appointment with a mindhealer soon.

 

*

 

Obi-Wan is honestly quite surprised the twins' birth didn't cause a disturbance in the Force, because Anakin's emotions are all over the floor of not just Padmé's room, but really the entire hospital, like some kind of swamp you sink into as you try to wade through it. Although his emotional mire seems happy enough - a liquidy, runny kind of happy, but happy nonetheless - so Obi-Wan isn't too concerned about him.

 

The babies are sleeping when he arrives, and his heart swells immediately at the sight of them. Their tiny hands are curled into fists, and where Leia's face is screwed up, Luke's eyes are closed peacefully, and they're both so bright in the Force. He is overcome with the urge to remain as unnoticeable as possible; there's something about a hospital room that makes him very quiet, ever since he was a youngling.

 

When Anakin leaves the room to get a cup of coffee - which, by the look of his eye bags, he desperately needs - Padmé tells him it's the first time he's left her side all day. "It's like he thinks we'll be gone if he leaves us out of sight for a second." There's a note of melancholy in her smile, and Obi-Wan reaches over to give her hand a gentle squeeze of reassurance.

"Have his healer appointments been helping?" Obi-Wan asks carefully. He hasn't been spending a lot of time with Anakin over the past month, and right now there's no one who knows him better than Padmé. He feels more stable in the Force now, but Obi-Wan is still afraid that he isn't, and that something might happen that might make him worse again. He knows he shouldn't be afraid, but all of this is still so fresh, and sometimes Obi-Wan gets struck by the thought that all of this is a dream he might rouse from any moment. Of course he trusts that the Force would have always led them down the right path; but more often than not, his thoughts get caught up in that dense, sticky cobweb of scenarios that might have unfolded had they not discovered the Chancellor's identity when they did.

 

Padmé's voice snaps him out of it. "They have, yes." It's her turn to give him a reassuring smile. "Of course progress isn't always linear, but he's getting better."

 

Obi-Wan nods. "Right," he mumbles, more to himself than anything, as though it could silence his doubtful mind. In the same moment, Leia starts crying, and Padmé leans over to the little bed beside hers.

 

"You're hungry, aren't you?" She carefully lifts her out of the bed. "We're gonna feed you, and then you can say Hi to your uncle, hm?"

 

It's easier, Obi-Wan finds, to stay in the present when there's a baby in your arm, staring up at you with big, wondering eyes. Holding her fills him with a kind of serenity; it's the gentlest thing, and he immediately understands what has Anakin so affected that his Force signature is all over the hospital. "Hello there," he whispers, voice full of fondness. He holds out a finger, and Leia immediately grabs it, wrapping her hands around it with unexpected strength. Obi-Wan chuckles.

 

Luke, who wakes up a bit later, doesn't have as strong a grip, but he's equally curious. He stares at Obi-Wan for a good while, and then closes his eyes again; Obi-Wan gets to put him back in his bed and tug the little blanket over him. Anakin returns with coffee in the meantime and reluctantly accompanies Obi-Wan downstairs when visiting hours are over.

 

"Do you know when you can go home?" he asks in the elevator.

 

"Probably in two days," Anakin says, smiling at the prospect. "Ahsoka is visiting tomorrow."

 

"Tell her my greetings."

 

The ongoing discussion on the Council comes to Obi-Wan's mind as he watches Anakin from the side, smiling easily like he hasn't in what might have been years. He doesn't mention it; while the notion of being dishonest with Anakin leaves a sour taste in his throat, he has to admit it has been difficult lately to estimate how he will react to certain things. Obi-Wan can't risk upsetting him by bringing it up, suspecting it might well be too much for him to handle at this moment.

 

He decides he will talk to him about it another time. Maybe in a few days. He should focus on his family for now.

 

 

He lets himself be distracted by traffic on the ride home. He has a lessons to prepare for tomorrow morning, too; that should occupy him sufficiently.

 

He selects a variety of ancient Jedi texts that adhere to what level he has been told the younglings are on, skims over and arranges them, and almost misses the knock on his door. When he opens it, he's met with dark, gentle eyes and the warmest Force signature.

 

"Cody," he starts, unable to keep the surprise out of his voice. "What are you—"

Only then does he remember that they made plans for today. With the twins and the Council and everything else going on, he must actually have forgotten. A hand comes up to stroke his beard on autopilot. "I'm so sorry, I completely forgot. We were going to make stir fry, right?"

 

Cody lifts his hand, revealing a white bag. "I brought the ingredients," he says with a smile that makes Obi-Wan feel even worse for forgetting about it. "But if you don't have time, we can—"

 

"No, no no, absolutely not, of course I have time for you." He waves Cody inside, casting a glance around the room. Oh, Force, the kitchen is a mess. "I'm so sorry. I've been a bit preoccupied with—" he stops himself from delivering what was going to be an entirely too long monologue about things that don't concern Cody in the slightest. "It doesn't matter. I'll clean up the kitchen, you can sit down if you want— would you like something to drink?"

 

Cody sets down the bag on the dining table, and fixes Obi-Wan with a look that is in every way too soft. "Is everything alright?" he simply asks, and Obi-Wan goes a bit weak under the gently spoken words and the concerned crease that appears between Cody's brows.

 

"I may be a bit stressed," Obi-Wan admits, and some of the tension leaves his body because Cody understands. He always understands, there is no need to be dishonest with him around. "I spent all afternoon at the hospital, so I haven't gotten around to tidying the kitchen."

 

Cody's frown deepens. "Why, what happened?" He promptly neglects Obi-Wan's suggestion to sit down and instead follows him around the kitchen island. Obi-Wan pauses.

 

"Oh, right! Anakin and Padmé's twins arrived yesterday at night," he clarifies, and the worry that momentarily clouded Cody's mind immediately dissipates.

 

"That's wonderful," he says, and the moment allows them to exchange perfectly carefree smiles. "I'm surprised I haven't heard about it until now."

 

Obi-Wan chuckles. "I have a feeling that half Coruscant is going to know in a few days. Subtlety and secrecy have never been among Anakin's talents."

 

Cody hums. "And the tabloids."

"Tabloids?"

 

"Yes," he says, sounding somewhat disgruntled. "There are these magazines that keep reaching out to me. The GAR seems to be their newest target." He shakes his head. Obi-Wan notices that he's begun to help gather dirty dishes and place them in the sink. "You've never seen them? They're everywhere."

 

"I suppose there are some journalists in front of the temple every once in a while," He shrugs. "I never paid them any mind. Don't they have more interesting things to write about? Their questions are terribly trivial." He laughs. "I once got asked what my favourite food was."

 

Cody sighs. "Exactly. For some reason, they've become interested in us vode now. Keep trying to get interviews. I don't know what statement they're trying to make, exactly, but from what I've seen, I don't trust them."

 

Obi-Wan nods. The bill may have passed, but that doesn't mean everyone is in favour of it. "What a pointless pursuit." They tidy up in silence for a moment, until he remembers something. "On a different note, how is your bathtub?"

Cody throws him a look that makes Obi-Wan lift his brows. "It's still not done?"

 

Cody sighs. "No. The construction firm is on holiday. So no progress on that front either."

 

"Oh, Force," Obi-Wan sighs, and then laughs. "How come things are progressing so slowly?"

 

He receives a shrug in response. "Can't you consult the Force?"

 

He chuckles. "That's not quite how the Force works, my dear Cody."

 

"Shame."

 

Their joined effort gets the kitchen clean rather quickly. Obi-Wan makes a few more remarks, but Cody is focused on chopping vegetables, only responding in hums, so Obi-Wan lets him focus. This is the part that takes the longest; the ingredients don't need to stay in the pan for very long. As a padawan, Obi-Wan wasn't very fond of cooking, but after Qui-Gon's death, he had no choice but to teach himself some recipes. Neglecting his own health is one thing, but he couldn't have Anakin eat the same unhealthy junk he was in the habit of consuming. Stir fry was one of the first ones he remembers cooking. He messed it up pretty badly the first time, added too much seasoning, burned the vegetables at the bottom of the pan. Anakin made fun of him for it for months after, and he didn't plan on cooking it again. That was until Anakin's teasing got so annoying that he started trying even harder. And also because he deserved to eat meals every day that were the right amount of seared and seasoned.

 

Obi-Wan taught Anakin how to cook, too, at some point. As expected, Anakin outdid him very quickly, and Obi-Wan took offence to it only a little bit because he was mainly glad that Anakin never blew up the kitchen. He was in the habit of cooking for the two of them before the war, when they were both residing at the temple. Sometimes he invited others to eat with them, too. Obi-Wan recalls one time where they had dinner with Sidious. The memory frustrates him, because he had a bad feeling about it then, too. And yet he never said anything. It had been like Sidious was in his head, convincing him that his suspicions were unjustified without attracting his attention in any way. And Obi-Wan had to sit with that feeling that only bordered on consciousness but was still strong enough to make him a little sick. And never said anything. Anakin spent so much time at the side of that man whose mere presence made Obi-Wan sick to his stomach, and Obi-Wan never said anything.

 

"I'm done chopping," Cody says, and his voice is muffled, like he's talking to him from another room. Obi-Wan swallows thickly.

 

"Then we'll put them in the oil," he says, and his voice doesn't sound quite like his own. "The pans are in there, could you get the medium sized one?"

 

He's done this so many times, his brain operates on autopilot as he turns on the stove and tells Cody how much oil goes in the pan. It all sizzles as they tip the vegetables into the pan. "Now we should wait for around ten minutes," Obi-Wan says, remembering that he's supposed to be teaching Cody.

 

Cody nods. "I'll go to the 'fresher, I'll be right back."

 

For a moment, Obi-Wan is about to tell him where it is, but then remind himself that Cody's been here before. He knows where the 'fresher is, and so Obi-Wan says nothing. lets him walk away. The vegetables sizzle on, and the sound of the 'fresher door closing is loud in his ears. He lifts his head, the movement heavy as he looks around the room. A drop of oil jumps from the pan, lands hot on the exposed skin of his hand, and his heart lurches. He looks at his hand, and it appears as though a blaster bolt has grazed him. He can almost feel the burn as his men run over the battle field all around him, their hurried steps to the rhythmical march of nearby battle droids evolving into a horrid symphony that makes him feel as though he needs to tear his ears of, and it's worse to know it's all pointless because to some wretched man with too much power, they are mere holochess pieces, operated by the same hand, pitted against one another only to forge violence. He tilts his head at the sky like he's looking for it, but it's not there and there's nothing he can do as he's moved forward, as it pulls on his arms and legs like he's a marionette. Sizzling and screaming and his throat constricts, and his heart hammers against his chest like it's gonna give out any second. Any second now. He whips his head around, looking for the droid that shot him. It must be behind him, hiding somewhere, but he can't see it, he can't properly see anything, it's all too quick and loud and foggy.

 

There's a hand on his shoulder, and he ducks away from it. He thinks his name is being called. He blinks. And blinks, until the noise dies down little by little, and then the only thing he can hear is his short breath and the sizzling and Cody, who is standing beside him in his kitchen.

"Obi-Wan, I need you to breathe with me. Can you do that? Take a deep breath in, and a breath out. Breathe in…"

 

He grips Cody's hands and breathes. His chest becomes lighter as the realisation trickles in that he's in his kitchen, at the temple, giving Cody a cooking lesson. The war is over, Sidious is dead. He's gone. Anakin is safe; they're all safe.

 

"Cody," he gasps, and he hands around his come to his shoulder's gently pulling him in. Obi-Wan practically collapses against him. Cody's hands run over his back in careful circles, and the touch feels normal again, nothing like the distorted sensations that hailed down on him a moment ago. His breath is trembling as he tilts his head against Cody's shoulder, pressing his forehead into Cody's neck, skin against skin.

 

"You're okay," Cody mumbles, quietly and right next to Obi-Wan's ear. "You're safe, it's okay. I've got you."

 

Obi-Wan sniffles. "You need to," he chokes out, "Stir the vegetables, or they'll get burned."

 

Cody laughs without humour, and the vibration of his chest against Obi-Wan's does wonders to calm him down. "You're unbelievable." He tries to draw away, but Obi-Wan isn't ready for him to do so, not quite yet. Cody's embrace is like a warm blanket, soothing him. His heartbeat settles, too, and he wraps his arms around Cody a little tighter.

"I don't know what happened," he says, his voice hoarse, no louder than a whisper. "It was like I was there again."

 

Cody hums. He doesn't need to explain what he means by 'there'; Cody understands. "I know what you mean," he says.

 

"It's like a bad dream."

 

"I know."

 

Obi-Wan takes another breath and wills himself to pull away for the sake of their food. He turns to the stove and grabs the ladle with a shaking hand. Cody doesn't leave his side, one arm still wrapped around him, hand resting against his waist. Obi-Wan leans his head against Cody's shoulder as he stirs, trying to swallow down the lump in his throat. "I'm seeing a mindhealer in a few days," he says, keeping his eyes on the pan. "I should have done so earlier. I thought…" he trails off and sighs. "I thought I could handle it on my own, that it'd go away."

"You've always overestimated your ability to take care of things without asking for help," Cody says, and the light-hearted jab makes Obi-Wan lean into him a bit more.

 

"I can always try," he protests, and Cody huffs.

 

In a more serious tone, he says, "No, I get it." He pauses, and Obi-Wan listens to the sizzling vegetables, keeping quiet because he can tell Cody wants to say more. "I get them too," he admits. "From time to time." He takes an audible breath. "It gets worse when I think about the war a lot."

Obi-Wan hums. "Do you?"

 

"I haven't in a while. Sometimes, though, when I can't sleep."

 

That's when it's the worst. Sometimes the racing thoughts get so strong Obi-Wan feels like they're pressing him into the mattress. "I usually try to meditate, but nothing ever seems to fully put my mind at ease." He shakes his head. "You know, us Jedi need to be careful where we let our mind wander. We're not supposed to mull over the past. There's nothing to be done about what already happened."

He only notices that the tremor in his hands is getting worse again when Cody takes the ladle from him, his palm brushing Obi-Wan's knuckles in the process. "You're not supposed to have gone to war, either" he says. "Doesn't that change anything?"

 

Obi-Wan watches him stir, then add seasoning. He does it as carefully as he does anything else. "It doesn't make it less dangerous." He swallows painfully against his tight throat. "I can't stop thinking about what could have happened if we hadn't turned the situation around. To Anakin." He lifts his head off Cody's shoulder without realising what he's looking for until his eyes subconsciously find the scar - not the one stretching over Cody's temple, but the one behind his ear, visible below his curls where his head is trimmed. His trembling hand reaches out, and Cody doesn't move an inch as Obi-Wan ghosts his fingers over the spot, tracing the scar, the touch so light as though he might accidentally tear open the stitches. And to you, he thinks, if we hadn't found out about the chips in time. He doesn't need to say it, doesn't think he can because the notion of losing Cody to something so pointless, so cruel in nature is too unbearable to voice, especially when he's leaning into Cody still, clinging to his calming presence because it's keeping him in the present moment, and he can't remember the last time he's let someone soothe him. The majority of people in his life has always kept him grounded by pulling him into action. But Cody…

 

He doesn't need to speak his thoughts. When Cody turns his head, Obi-Wan lets his hand slip down to the base of his neck. "You're too hard on yourself," he mutters with an expression too soft to be called a frown, almost regretful, like the fact pains him, and Obi-Wan's heartbeat is speeding up now for entirely different reasons.

He wills himself to face the stove. "Should be ready," he says, turning it off, and Cody puts the ladle aside as they step apart so Obi-Wan can get plates and cutlery. It's like the distance he puts between them, no matter how small, tears at him.

 

They move to the table in comfortable silence, and Cody moves his chair so he can sit next to Obi-Wan's like he feels it too, that unwavering pull. "I hope it's not burned," Obi-Wan says before trying a spoonful. Cody does the same.

 

"We did well," Cody says with a smile, and Obi-Wan can only agree.

 

Cody starts to wash up once they're done before Obi-Wan can stop him. He can't say he's against it. It makes Cody feel less like a guest in his apartment and more like he belongs there, familiar with the kitchen already; he knows where to put away the seasoning they left next to the stove and where Obi-Wan stores the cups, plates and cutlery, and it's doing things to Obi-Wan's heart, worn out from the long day.

 

"I can do the dishes later," he tries, but the protest is weak, and Cody knows it.

 

"Didn't take you for a procrastinator," he says back.

 

Obi-Wan sighs. "I'm not," he protests as he picks up a rag to dry the washed crockery Cody has placed next to the sink.

 

"Are you sure? Because the mess you had in here earlier said otherwise."

 

He scoffs. "I simply like to carry out tasks in order of relevance. And cleaning the kitchen is not among my priorities most of the time."

 

"You just described the concept of procrastination." He can hear the smirk in Cody's voice. Before he can say anything else, Cody hands him the last spoon. "Last one, there you go." He takes the stack of dried plates next to Obi-Wan to put them away into the cupboard. "And what needs to get done so urgently we can't wash a few dishes first?"

 

Obi-Wan can think of a few off the top of his head, none of which he can say out loud. He shakes his head, mainly to get rid of those thoughts. "I have a few lessons to prepare for tomorrow," he answers with a sigh.

 

"You teach?"

 

"At the temple, yes. Starting tomorrow." He smiles. "I'm looking forward to it."

 

He puts away their cups as Cody pushes the cutlery drawer closed. He turns around at Obi-Wan with a candid expression. "That sounds great," he says. There are wrinkles in the corners of his eyes when he smiles. "I'll leave you to it, then?"

 

Before he can process the words properly, Obi-Wan blurts, "No." For a long moment, the thought of being alone again is too much to bear. Once the moment passes, he backpedals. "I meant— sorry, I meant you could stay for a little while longer, if you want." His neck and cheeks and even his ears are warm. "If not, that's alright, too, of course. I just…"

 

His eloquence earned him the byname 'Negotiator', which he held for the entire duration of the war - and now here he is, tripping over his words trying to ask Cody not to leave him alone without sounding too pushy. Magnificent.

 

Cody, of course, doesn't miss what's going on in his head. "Do you want me to stay?" he asks, like it's the simplest thing in the world to ask Obi-Wan what he wants.

 

"Yes," Obi-Wan admits, and intends to add on, but Cody is faster.

 

"Then I'll stay," he decides. "What are you teaching?"

 

Obi-Wan finally manages to somewhat regain his composure. "I can show you," he says, and the return to the living room once again.

 

 

They end up working side by side again, with Cody eventually grabbing his own tablet from his bag to work on another article. He's been offered a permanent position as a Journalist for the Coruscant Journal and is giving it his all. Obi-Wan usually reads his articles in the morning after meditating.

 

It takes Obi-Wan a while to complete his work, mainly because his eyes keep drifting over to Cody, who is typing away on his tablet with two creases of concentration between his brows. They aren't sitting next to each other anymore, but their ankles are touching under the table, and every time Cody catches Obi-Wan staring, he simply smiles and goes back to work.

 

Once he's done, Obi-Wan turns off his datapad and gets up. Cody looks up from his tablet with a questioning expression.

 

"It's time for my meditation," he says, and goes to get his mat.

 

"Oh," Cody says, and uncertainty bleeds into his Force signature. "Should I— I can leave, if you want."

 

Now, Obi-Wan is aware that his nightly meditation is one of the last things he gets up to before going to bed. But he is also aware that the most deeply foolish, childish part of him is displeased by the thought of Cody leaving tonight. There is no reason for him to stay. Obi-Wan has to get up early tomorrow. He has classes to teach.

 

Yet he says, "No, you can stay."

 

Cody says nothing, just continues to work with a hum. Neither of them addresses the fact that he's here essentially without cause. Obi-Wan rolls out his mat in the spot in front of the window and sits down.

 

A second later, he is abruptly very aware of why he needs Cody to stay with him. As soon as he starts to focus on his own mind and body, the thoughts from earlier return. Or rather, they were there the entire time, waiting to be dealt with while Obi-Wan distracted himself. It's nothing like the usual peace that wraps around him when he meditates; it's cold, all of a sudden, and dark.

 

Obi-Wan calms his breathing, and sits with all that floats around him. Lets it wash over him like tar, but keeps it on the outside, doesn't let it seep into his skin. And then it drips off of him slowly as he inhales through his nose and exhales through his mouth, not fighting it off but merely shielding himself. It's unpleasant, but the only way out has always been through, and so he waits. Waits until it's run past him, until his limbs start feeling lighter and the Force dances over his skin like sunbeams.

 

And Cody is still sitting somewhere behind him at the table, observing him. It can't be very interesting, as he's doing little more than sitting on the floor with his back turned to Cody, but he appreciates in nonetheless. It's not that he usually enjoys being watched. He's rather indifferent to it. But there's something about Cody being the one to pay attention to him that unfortunately appeals to Obi-Wan a great deal.

 

 

When he's done, Cody pretends to have been working. Obi-Wan walks over to the sink to pour himself some water; less because he's thirsty and more because he doesn't quite know what to do with himself.

 

"How was meditation?" Cody asks, and Obi-Wan smiles.

 

"Good. How was working? Got a lot done?"

 

"I— Yes," he lies, and he's always been a bad liar. Obi-Wan grins against the rim of his glass of water.

"It's getting late," he says, glancing out the window as he walks back to the table. It's dark outside, but not very late at all. The meditation simply seems to have made him tired.

 

"You're right," Cody says, grabbing his datapad. "Do you know when the next train is leaving?"

 

Obi-Wan sighs. This was certainly not what he was hoping to achieve when he made a comment about the time. "Leaving already?" he asks, and internally winces.

 

Cody appears to find it amusing. "I can tell you're tired, you know."Obi-Wan swallows. He is tired. But…

 

"Cody," he says truthfully, voice hoarse. "I'm not sure I'll be able to sleep."

 

Cody stops where he's packing his bag, turning around to look at him. He scans his face for a moment, and Obi-Wan isn't sure what exactly he finds there, but he hopes he understands what he's trying to tell him without saying it out loud. "I could stay," he says, tossing his bag on one of the chairs. "If you think it'd help."

 

Obi-Wan can think of little else he'd like more right now than to have him stay; he really does - but "You don't have somewhere else to be?"

 

Cody shakes his head. "I'm free," he insists, leaning back against the table.

 

Obi-Wan clears his throat. "And you're certain it's no bother?"

 

Cody shakes his head. "We used to wait for each other to fall asleep during the war, my brothers and I." Obi-Wan can tell it's a fond memory. "I told you, I get it."

 

"Alright," Obi-Wan mumbles, more to himself than to Cody. "I'll get you a change of clothes, then." He walks to the closet in his bedroom, becoming increasingly aware of the fact that this is the first time Cody is staying over for no solid reason and simply because Obi-Wan asked him to. The lack of excuse for his requesting Cody to stay close to him is making him strangely nervous; it's not as though he doesn't trust Cody to be able to decline his request, it's just…

 

Obi-Wan doesn't like asking for support. He does so when absolutely necessary, but can most of the time convince himself that in no instance is external help indispensable. He does so when his or someone else's life in on the line, but that's hardly the case right now.

 

He reminds himself that Cody repeatedly assured him it wasn't a problem, and that he should trust his judgement. Then turns around to Cody, who is waiting for him in the doorway to the bedroom.

 

"Thank you," he says when Obi-Wan hands him the clothes, and doesn't hesitate to undress right then and there. Nudity isn't considered an intimate matter among the vode, as far as Obi-Wan has gathered, which makes sense, with what their being genetically identical to one another; neither is it a taboo among the Jedi. A body is just that; there's nothing about it that warrants hiding or shame. Of course especially younger ones aren't entirely detached from the general societal connotation surrounding the topic, but they eventually grow out of it. Yet for some reason, Obi-Wan still goes to the 'fresher to get changed.

 

When he gets back, Cody is sitting on the edge of the bed in clothes Obi-Wan fixed up years ago after a duel in which one of sleeves got torn. He can tell because of the slight difference between the original fabric and the one he used to mend the sleeve. The image somehow makes his earlier nervosity dissipate.

"I figured the bed is big enough for the two of us," Cody says with a hint of a question in his voice. Obi-Wan circles the bed and takes the other side.

 

"It certainly is," he says, and relief floods him when his back hits the mattress. He often doesn't notice the extent of his exhaustion until the moment where he lies down. "And even more comfortable than the couch."

 

Cody pulls his legs up on the bed and slips under the blanket. "I didn't think it possible," he says, and then, "And I'd be of little use watching over you from the other room, wouldn't I?"

 

Obi-Wan turns to lie on his side, nuzzling his head into the soft pillow and letting his eyes fall closed. The sheets ruffle, and then Cody turns off the lamp on his side of the bed. Obi-Wan takes note of the darkness that falls over the room only through closed eyelids; Cody's presence next to him is like a night light itself, keeping the shadows away. "I'd feel your presence anyway," he says, voice low as he slowly succumbs to sleep. "But it's better like this."

 

Very distantly, he perceives the shift of weight on the mattress. When Cody speaks, his voice feels much closer. "You can feel my presence?"

 

Obi-Wan hums approvingly.

 

"What does it feel like?"

 

"'feels nice," Obi-Wan mumbles, and then his surroundings melt away, and he rests.

 

*

 

Obi-Wan is forced to experience the inconvenience that is tabloid and press reporters a few days later. Cody is once again visiting the temple; this time to pick something a restored document concerning Kamino from the library. It had been a bit of a hassle to acquire a permit to grant him access to the according section - Obi-Wan's connection to Master Nu, forged by the many hours he spent at the library with his nose buried in a book as a padawan, certainly helped. It was meant to be a quick exchange, but they got sidetracked when Obi-Wan started to show him a section he visits particularly often, and then stumbled upon a holochess board, which ended in the revelation that Cody has never plaid holochess before.

 

"I have played it before," Cody protests. "I just didn't understand it."

 

"I hope you weren't placing bets, then?"

 

"Why would I place bets on a game if I don't know how it works?"

 

"It's not very complex."

 

"You don't sound too fond of it, either."

 

"At least I know how to play," Obi-Wan levels with a grin, and that's how they end up playing several parties on one of the tables in the library. Cody gets the hang of it quite quickly, as Obi-Wan expected. As he said; it's not a very complicated game.

 

Master Nu glances at them from across the library a few times but doesn't say anything, even though Obi-Wan is certain Cody's permit doesn't cover whatever it is they are presently doing. But it hardly threatens the safety of the ancient knowledge stored in these shelves, which is why, Obi-Wan assumes, she allows it. As for the slightly accusatory looks she throws his way pertaining not Cody's presence, but the manner in which Obi-Wan interacts with him; he decides to ignore those. Maybe he shouldn't have brought Cody to the library, of all places; Master Nu is not exactly known to minding her own business.

 

When she does come over, Obi-Wan has just captured Cody's strider. "You are to be disadvised against leaving the temple," she says.

 

Obi-Wan frowns. "Why is that?"

 

She doesn't look to pleased. "Reporters have gathered at the entrance, looking for interviews. Apparently a sort of scandal has arisen."

 

Cody and he exchange a look; it's surprising neither of them have heard about it. "We will keep it in mind," Obi-Wan tells Master Nu, and she leaves them alone with a nod.

 

Obi-Wan doesn't need to ask what scandal she was talking about; Cody is already pulling out a tablet.

 

"Oh no," he mutters a moment later, burying his face in his hand.

"What?"

 

"They found out about Bly and Secura."

 

Obi-Wan leans over the table, trying to catch a glimpse of the tablet. "Found out what?"

 

Cody hands him the tablet. He skims over the headlines on the tabloid pages Cody has pulled open; most of them include keywords like 'Secret Relationship', 'Clone and Jedi' or even 'Fraternisation'. Obi-Wan clicks on one of them, and is immediately confronted with a holopic of Aayla Secura and Bly kissing in one of Coruscant's streets underneath a glowing bar sign. "I never knew they were that close," he says, and Cody snorts.

 

"You're probably alone with that," he says. "How did you not know? They're so obvious about it."

 

"How come I'm always the last one to find out about these things?" Obi-Wan gives Cody, who appears somewhat amused by this, a critical look. "Why didn't you say anything?"

 

"I assumed you knew."

 

"You should know by now that I am terribly uninformed."

 

Cody taps the screen. "I'll get you a subscription to one of these papers, so you always know who's seeing whom."

 

Obi-Wan scoffs at the idea. "I much prefer your writing," he says. "Besides, perhaps it's simply that I know to mind my own business." He turns his head only to see Master Nu standing next to one of the shelves, looking in their direction. "On that note, let's leave."

 

Cody shoves the tablet into his bag. "Where to? I thought we're not supposed to leave the temple?"

 

"I was going to head to the training rooms once we're done here," Obi-Wan says as they walk toward the exit of the library. "I would appreciate some company, if you aren't otherwise occupied."

 

Cody's mood perks up at that. "I have missed our spars."

 

"Well, then there's no time to lose."

 

 

 

The training room is empty, and they take advantage of that. After a few quick stretches, they start circling each other, Cody's expression stern and focused while Obi-Wan grins in anticipation.

 

"You haven't gotten rusty, have you?" He quirks a challenging brow.

 

"I don't think I'm going to get rusty at something that was drilled into me from the day I got out of the tube."

 

"Are you going to make a move, then?"

 

Cody gives him a look, and then he surges forward into Obi-Wan's space. He dodges the attack easily, slipping past Cody and intercepting his next jab.

 

"Not bad, " Obi-Wan says, and moves out of the way to avoid a kick.

 

"Back on the defence again, I see," Cody notes, furrowing his eyebrows as he tries in vain not to let on how much it annoys him.

 

With a smirk, Obi-Wan replies, "Think you can coax me out of it? Come on."

 

Cody falters only for a fraction of a second before he attacks again, so quickly this time that Obi-Wan barely has time to dodge. "That's more like it."

 

"Do you ever shut up?"

 

"You're gonna have to find out about that yourself, my dear."

 

There's a spark between them as Cody works to get an attack out of him, and Obi-Wan in turn tries not to give into his provocation. His instincts eventually take over, though, and the utter satisfaction on Cody's face, the nearly imperceptible sigh of relief that Obi-Wan swears he feels brush against his neck, is almost enough to unbalance him. He makes up for the time he spent on the defence now until Cody breaks out in a sweat. Slows down when Cody's punches start showing hints of inertia, and levels him with a smile. "Done already?" he asks, and Cody breathes audibly.

 

"Yeah, I'm getting pretty tired," he says, and Obi-Wan is about to cross his arms victoriously when Cody suddenly surges forward, crashing into him in a familiar, practised way that's somehow light enough not to hurt, and tackles him. "Just kidding," he says, the curl in the centre falling into his forehead as he looks down at him, hands pressing Obi-Wan's shoulders into the floor. Obi-Wan gives an amused hum, then pushes at Cody's shoulder with as much strength as he can to turn them around. It works, and Cody gasps as he's rolled onto his back. The way he looks up at Obi-Wan, eyes widened and surprised like he's been betrayed… Obi-Wan shouldn't allow himself to get distracted so easily.

 

"Do you surrender?" he asks. Cody tries to roll up in response - emphasis on tries, because Obi-Wan grabs a hold of his wrists and pins them to the floor.

 

"Do I have a choice?" Cody asks, breathless.

Obi-Wan purposefully tightens his grip; otherwise he might have gotten distracted and let his hands go slack. "I don't know, do you?"

 

Another moment goes by where Cody simply looks up at him, and the utter heat that seeps into Obi-Wan's bones in the places where they're touching can't just be from physical exercise. "I surrender," Cody concedes, and Obi-Wan is frozen in place for another moment, willing himself not to glance at Cody's lips, before he finally lets him go.

 

He offers Cody a hand, and goes even warmer when Cody accepts and their sweaty palms slot together. "Another round?" he suggests, and Cody nods, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand.

"Give me a moment."

 

"Are you sure you haven't gotten rusty, darling?"

 

"Don't get your hopes up."

 

 

Obi-Wan doesn't know how much time has passed when they leave the training room - only that they got lost in their sparring, and that his muscles ache in that deeply satisfying way brought on by exercise. There are little things that feel as good as the unity the mind and body enter at a certain point during a spar - he's so pleasantly, effortlessly aware of his surroundings, it's like they are engaging him in a dance.

 

He sits cross-legged on the floor in front of the window, listening to the sound of the shower. He's convinced Cody to use the 'fresher first, has provided with another change of clothes, and is now waiting for him to be done so he can also wash the sweat off his body. He doesn't mind having to wait; his undertunic is clinging to his back, and his hair is sticking to his forehead, but he has never found those bodily sensations particularly bothersome.

 

It does, however, feel nice to be finally standing under the shower, to let the water soak his hair and trickle over his shoulders. He dries himself quickly afterwards and slips into fresh clothes, wrapped in a pleasant cloud of weariness.

 

Cody is sitting on the sofa when he emerges from the 'fresher, reading. Obi-Wan sits down next to him, leaning into the backrest and in Cody's direction, following that incessant pull. "Is that the document you borrowed?"

 

Cody hums. "I'm trying to read it as quickly as possible so your librarian doesn't put a curse on me."

 

Obi-Wan chuckles. He's about to tell him that curses can't really be categorised as a Force ability, but on second thought decides that, if there were a way to curse others using the Force, Jocasta Nu would find it on account of unreturned books. "Smart man," he mumbles, and then his head is resting against Cody's shoulder.

 

"Do you think they're done besieging the temple by now?" Cody asks after a while, and Obi-Wan mumbles something incomprehensible against the fabric of the tunic he's wearing. He smells of the body wash Obi-Wan uses. His chest vibrates with a laugh.

 

 

Obi-Wan doesn't decide to take a nap. Sleep overtakes him rather unceremoniously, and seems to have taken Cody, too, because when Obi-Wan comes to again, the room is bathed in darkness, the sounds of night-time traffic filter in thorough the tilted window, and the only other sound is Cody's steady breath. Obi-Wan tilts his head into Cody's chest, listening to his heartbeat. The hand that's resting against Obi-Wan's back is warm. He doesn't know if they just fell into this position or Cody arranged them this way after Obi-Wan dozed off; it's comfortable, but the sofa is a little too slim for two people to lie next to each other.

 

Obi-Wan reluctantly lifts his head off Cody's arm, eyes slowly blinking open. "Cody," he whispers, voice heavy with sleep, and his hand sneaks up to Cody's shoulder to nudge him. He looks so peaceful, Obi-Wan almost doesn't want him to wake up. What he wants is to teleport them into the bed and to snuggle up against him as closely as possible, press tired lips to Cody's soft cheeks and temple.

 

Cody opens his eyes a moment after Obi-Wan's hand finds his shoulder. "Hm, what?" he asks, frowning. Oh, how Obi-Wan would love to smoothen the worried wrinkles on his forehead; instead he lets his palm slide down Cody's chest, giving into the urge to chase after his warmth.

 

"Let's go to bed," is all Obi-Wan can manage, and Cody looks at him for a while as his expression softens and his hand curls into the fabric on Obi-Wan's back, like he's trying to keep him where he is.

 

"Fine," he grumbles eventually. Obi-Wan sits up, reaches for Cody's hand just to hold it, then to pull him off the sofa. Cody stumbles a little on the way to the bedroom, his hand never leaving Obi-Wan's back, and for that moment, the only thing that matters is to get back into bed and sleep off their exhaustion together, curled up in each other, drinking up each other's warmth and gentle touches. Obi-Wan doesn't bother turning on the lamp or closing the door behind them. Instead he falls back into the mattress, pulling Cody along. They fumble with the blanket until it finally covers them both, and Obi-Wan tugs Cody into place on his chest so he can wrap his arms around him. Their legs are entangled, and Cody's weight on top of him brings him closer to the edge of consciousness. He threads a hand into Cody's hair, still damp from the shower, on instinct and pulls a satisfied hum from him in response. Lying back like this is the easiest thing in the world.

 

Cody drifts off first this time, and everything goes quiet once again as his Force signature evens out and covers the two of them like sun-warmed honey. It becomes just a little warmer when Obi-Wan presses his lips to the top of Cody's head in an attempt to find an outlet for the affection blooming deep within his chest.

 

 

 

Cody has rolled to the side in his sleep, and let Obi-Wan pull him to his chest like a pillow. Obi-Wan's body decides it has slept sufficiently at an earlier hour than usual, which makes sense considering they fell asleep in the late afternoon.

 

He nuzzles into Cody's nape with an unintentional sleepy noise, using the arm he's thrown around him to tug him just a little bit closer. His stomach gives a dissatisfied rumble, clenching painfully, which also adds up because they skipped dinner.

 

Obi-Wan sighs, and reluctantly disentangles himself from Cody so he can get out of bed. He throws one last look at his sleeping figure over his shoulder before he saunters into the kitchen. This time, he's not out of bread. Convenient, because he's not entirely sure the bakery around the corner has opened yet.

 

He doesn't mean to eat without Cody, but it would be unreasonable to rouse him this early, and Obi-Wan doesn't think it would be wise for him to wait much longer. His body is already protesting their accidental fasting.

 

He meditates and takes another look at today's lesson plans before he goes to check on Cody again; he seems to notice Obi-Wan's presence, stirring and eventually lifting his upper body off the mattress and turning his head to the door, slowly blinking at Obi-Wan like a confused tooka. "Mmwhat time is it," he drawls, voice scratchy, and rubs his eyes.

 

"It's still dark outside," Obi-Wan says, and Cody grumbles in response.

 

"Then why are you up?" He sounds so offended by the notion that Obi-Wan laughs. Obi-Wan isn't tired anymore; but the image of Cody still half-wrapped in the blankets with his hair all mussed up, looking at him from small eyes, is so comfortable he's tempted to join him for a bit, even just to lie next to one another.

 

"I think I've slept rather enough," he says with a smile, and Cody groans as he reluctantly rolls out of bed, legs getting tangled in the blanket, almost making him stumble. The sight is enough to make Obi-Wan laugh. "Would you like something to eat, dear?"

 

Cody isn't too opposed.

 

*

 

It seems like the longer they look, the more Separatist messes they find. Obi-Wan has mostly been taking care of local matters, but the Council is sending him to accompany Bail on a diplomatic mission to Neimoidia, leaving tomorrow morning. The Trade Federation was dissolved after the Republic's victory over the CIS, but its remnants need to be taken care of. Obi-Wan has gone through enough negotiations for a lifetime; but his job on this mission is primarily to guarantee the Bail's safety, and that he can certainly manage.

 

He's cooking when he receives a call. "Hello, Obi-Wan, sorry to disturb you this late."

 

"Cody," he says with mild concern. "Is everything alright?"

 

"Yes," Cody hurries to say. "It's just…"

 

The whirring and hammering in the background explains the situation sufficiently to Obi-Wan. "Are the constructions progressing?"

 

"Yes," Cody says, sounding somewhat unhappy about it. "They're finishing up the 'fresher. The noise is giving me a headache, so I was wondering—" He cuts himself off, but Obi-Wan knows what he was going to say anyway.

"You've been staying over so frequently, dear, I'd argue there's no need to ask," he says, and Cody sighs in relief.

 

"Thank you," he says earnestly, sounding far too relieved for Obi-Wan's liking - as far as he's concerned, they've gone over this at length.

 

"Did you think I was going to say No?" he asks incredulously, and Cody clears his throat.

 

"You might have been busy!" he tries to explain himself, and Obi-Wan shakes his head.

 

"As a matter of fact, I am leaving for Neimoidia tomorrow morning. But that doesn't interfere with your staying over tonight, does it? We're both early risers." He grins. "With a few exceptions."

 

Cody sighs. "That was one time! And you're the one who fell asleep in the middle of the afternoon."

 

"And if I recall correctly, you joined me not long afterwards."

 

"Alright, I'm hanging up now, see you soon!"

 

 

He greets Cody in sleepwear and nursing a cup of tea. "Would you like some?" he offers.

 

"What is it?"

 

Truth be told, the tea leaves in his cupboard have gotten a bit mixed up. Instead of trying to name the flavour, he holds the mug out to Cody, who carefully takes it out of his hand to take a sip.

 

"Bit too bitter for me," he says, and Obi-Wan can't help but smile at that.

 

"I could add honey and sugar," he suggests as Cody's returns the cup, and receives a look of consideration.

 

"I'd like that," he finally concedes, and Obi-Wan goes to the kitchen isle to pour him a cup with a satisfied smile. He adds in a spoonful of honey, stirring until it dissolves, and some sugar, before handing it to Cody. "Sweet enough?"

 

Cody hums approvingly, letting his eyes fall closed.

"It helps against headaches," Obi-Wan explains. "At least in my experience."

 

"Is that why you drink it so much?"

Obi-Wan tries to remember when he picked up the habit, but can't recall. "No, I simply like the taste. And I can be rather sensitive to the cold, so it's pleasant in that regard as well." Cody glances down at Obi-Wan's hands curled around the mug. Obi-Wan takes a moment to simply look at Cody, leaning back against the kitchen island; he's wearing loose-fitted clothing, and his curls look as though they'd be soft to the touch.

 

"How has your day been?" he changes the subject as he stands next to Cody, close enough he could lean against him. "Have you eaten?"

Cody nods. "Yes, I had dinner earlier. My day was fine," he shrugs. "Mostly editing. Yours?"

 

Obi-Wan smiles against his mug. "The younglings are still trying to change the curriculum to their liking," he tells him. "The youngest group, I believe I've mentioned them."

 

"The ones that insist you act out historical duels?"

 

He chuckles. "Exactly. I keep telling them to leave these scenes to their imaginative powers, since they have no shortage of that, but they are very persistent."

 

"Have you considered that they're just trying to procrastinate?"

 

"It is possible," he says. "But there is genuine interest there, also. And, well, I suppose if it helps them learn…"

 

Cody outright laughs at that. "Do you act them out by yourself, or do you get assistance?"

 

He smiles. "I've started to let them play it out. That way I can make sure they remember what they were taught."

 

Cody hums, turning into his direction the smallest amount, and it's enough to make their shoulders bump. "When are you moving to the big stage?"

 

"Don't rush the creative process, dear. They're still memorising the facts. At the moment, they're most invested in the action part.

 

Cody leans in closer, like he's about to share a secret. "I think they're just playing."

 

Obi-Wan pretends to take offence to that. "They're remembering important historical events by playing, if anything." In all seriousness, Obi-Wan can't blame them; he himself was not very interested in history and politics either when he was their age. Eventually he accepted that they were important subjects to study, if sometimes dry, but that was when he was older. If the playing raises their interest in the topic, then he's happy to continue on this way. He just can't let his other students find out, or else they might request the same, and he might end up teaching drama rather than history before he realises.

"Sure," Cody says, and then finishes the rest of his tea.

 

"Would you like another cup?" Obi-Wan offers, taking the cup from Cody's hands, and when he brushes them with his own, he's much warmer that Obi-Wan.

 

"Yes, thank you."

 

He throws him an amused look over his shoulder. "You're slowly being converted," he teases. "Soon you'll leave caf behind."

 

"I doubt that's going to happen."

 

"Then you need to have another taste." He hands the mug back. "Here, drink up."

 

 

 

A cup of tea later, Obi-Wan uses the 'fresher to get ready for bed and lets Cody do the same while he washes the used mugs for the sole purpose of having something to do. Once he's done he sits on the bed and sticks his cold feet under the blanket before laying down properly and pulling it all the way up to his shoulders. He's not sure why he's so cold tonight, but chalks it up to his growing drowsiness

 

Cody, upon leaving the 'fresher, comes to stand in the doorway, a hand clasped around his other arm as his gaze flickers across the room, and he rocks back on his heels, a telltale sign indicating tension that he never learned to cover up. Obi-Wan never made him aware of it; he doesn't like seeing Cody uncertain, but would rather he leave him a way to tell rather than force it all down.

"What is it, darling?" Obi-Wan asks as he remains buried under the blanket.

 

It occurs to him that what Cody is hesitant about is whether to enter the bedroom. Obi-Wan has left the other side of the bed to Cody, and it was less of a conscious choice than something akin to habit - which may be a strong word, considering Cody has only slept next to him twice. Perhaps he was wrong to assume he'd be willing to share a bed with him again. So he asks, "Would you prefer to sleep on the couch?" Of course he wouldn't want Cody to feel compelled to adhere to his assumptions; but there is voice in his head, not so ignorable as he would like, yelling at him for putting the possibility of separating them by a wall again on the table. Obi-Wan clears his throat."If so, that can be arranged."

 

Cody is so quick to shake his head, his eagerness makes Obi-Wan a little dizzy. "No, not at all, I just wasn't sure if…" he trails off, shakes his head minimally. "Never mind."

 

His uncertainty melts away as he joins Obi-Wan under the blanket, giving away to the familiar serenity Cody brings about; but there's something else attached to it, something more urgent, like fog blown away by a sudden wind. Cody gives him a long look as though he is considering something, an for a moment Obi-Wan waits for him to bring it up himself; only he doesn't. And Obi-Wan can't stop himself from asking, "Is something the matter?"

 

Cody slowly shakes his head, and whatever it is that's occupying his mind is making the hairs on Obi-Wan's skin stand up. "No," he says, "Just tired." Another moment passes where he doesn't avert his eyes. "Are you cold?" he asks finally.

 

"A bit." Obi-Wan admits. "Although I'm not sure why. Is it very cold outside?"

"Not particularly." He shuffles, getting comfortable, eyes never leaving Obi-Wan's. "Is there anything I can do?"

 

"Oh, no, it's not that bad—" Obi-Wan starts to reassure him, but then he cuts himself off because this is clearly an invitation, and he'd be very foolish to miss it. He clears his throat. "Well, you are rather warm. Would you care to share?"

 

Cody trails his eyes over Obi-Wan's expression, and the air sizzles with tugs into conflicting directions. Obi-Wan lets it engulf the both of them, then tries to dissolve some of it by letting his own tenderness fill the space between them. He doesn't know how much of that exchange is perceptible to Cody, but he can't be completely blind to it, because the buzzing nervosity settles quickly. "Come here," he mumbles, patting a spot on the mattress right next to himself.

 

Obi-Wan doesn't need to be told twice - although the words ignite a spark that lances straight through him. He scoots closer until he can bury his cold nose in the fabric that's forming creases over Cody's chest. "You are warm," he repeats, and the fact that he gets to lie here and listen to Cody's heartbeat all of a sudden strikes him as a very lucky thing, all circumstances considered. The odds that they'd make it out of that war largely unscathed weren't in their favour, and that only makes him more fond of the man lying beside him now - but it also leaves his arms itching with the urge to wrap around him and pull him close, so he will know, too, how much this means to Obi-Wan, in the privacy of his mind.

 

"Is this alright?" he asks, and Cody hums approvingly.

 

"I thought the Force told you these things."

 

Obi-Wan chuckles. "You're not entirely wrong," he admits, and pulls back a little so he can look up at Cody. "But I would like to hear it from you."

 

Cody's breath hitches. "It's very alright." He shifts his arm, and his hand comes to rest on Obi-Wan's lower back, warm, grounding. "Thank you for letting me crash at your place all the time."

 

Obi-Wan refrains from tucking his head back under Cody's neck and letting his warmth submerge him, lulling him to sleep. "Your company is always appreciated," he says through a scratchy throat as he fights off the various images that flash in his mind; all the nights he spends alone in his quarters with nothing and no one but the Force and his blanket to help him alleviate the cold that haunts his bones. And all the nights ahead of him he could spend differently.

 

For a moment, he indulges himself, drags his eyes over Cody's face, selfishly revels in the affection that dances on Obi-Wan's back where Cody's fingertips are resting on his back. He knows he's messed up when it completely floods him, all of a sudden like a crashing wave, the tenderness in Cody's arm as it lies wrapped around him, the slow looks fixed on Obi-Wan's face scorching in a way Obi-Wan isn't used from Cody; strait-laced, reticent Cody, who was unsure about joining Obi-Wan in bed just a moment ago. Obi-Wan's heart thumps, and Cody's does, too; he feels it in the surge of energy coursing through the room, the minuscule shifts in Cody's expression he only notices because of how close they are.

Cody blinks, and turns his head to the right, glancing at the lamp on the bedside table on his side. "How does this turn off," he mumbles, half-heartedly reaching out and trying to find a button of sorts my dragging his hand over the base, and if Obi-Wan isn't mistaken, his hands are trembling the slightest bit.

 

"That one's a bit tricky. Wait, let me—"

 

Obi-Wan lifts his upper body off the mattress. The blanket slides down his back, pooling at his hip, and Cody's eyes follow him, lidded with fatigue and something heavier that fills out the room, tugging at Obi-Wan's nerve endings. Cody's hand trails up his back to his nape where it catches, and the pad of his fingers travel over the bump at the base of his neck. "Cody, darling," he wants to ask, but it comes out all too hoarse, and the question gets lost along the way.

 

Cody looks up at him with a trickle of hope, anticipation that Obi-Wan can't allow to spill over to himself. "Obi-Wan," he says, rolls the name off his tongue like he's trying to pour everything - the dense, prickling air between them, the heat in the spots where their bodies brush and press against each other, and the acceleration of his heartbeat; the way he attempts to hide how his hands are trembling, curling one into the bedcloth on the mattress, pressing the other one to the back of Obi-Wan's neck - yes, everything into his voice. And Obi-Wan receives it, hit so hard by the weight of Cody's affection that a whimper catches in his throat.

 

There is so much he wants, all of a sudden, it makes his throat constrict. He wants to spend every night like this, lying in bed with Cody. He wants to teach him the few recipes he knows, and then to learn more until they have enough to fill a whole cookbook. Sit on the balcony and watch Coruscant's sun set, one of those balconies that are covered in overgrown plants and lanterns and all sorts of knick-knacks that can be observed from the streets. Breakfast in the kitchen, or breakfast in bed, and he wants them to hold each other after long, tiring days that wear them down more than they admit, run his hands over Cody's back the way Cody did for him, devastatingly gentle.

Only it doesn't truly occur to him suddenly; it's been there, in the back of his mind because that's where he's crammed it under the foolish impression that if he simply pretended not to have desires, it would be as good as if that notion were true - and now it's emerging with the urgency of a drowning castaway breaking the ocean's surface, as all neglected things inevitably do.

 

And Obi-wan wants— he wants Cody's lips on his, now, when his breath smells of mint toothpaste, and at 79', where he could lick the taste of wine out of Cody's mouth like any other pair of lovers does in the safety of the bar's dim light. He wants Cody's palms to slide down his back and underneath his sleep shirt, curl his own fingers into Cody's soft hair, lean into him until he can't tell who is who, make him feel good until they're both exhausted. The intensity with which it all hails down on him, these ideas that were never meant to appeal to him, punches the air out of his lungs.

 

Cody tilts his head into the pillow beneath, breaking eye contact to glance down at Obi-Wan's lips, and then back up with a pleading expression; Obi-Wan lets himself be tugged closer by the hand in his nape, and then he closes the last bit of distance himself, with one hand finding Cody's chest to support himself.

 

Cody hums when their lips meet, a low, pleased sound that vibrates against Obi-Wan's fingertips, and he knows he's thoroughly lost the battle he's been waging against himself when Cody tilts his head into a better angle and he becomes aware of the taste of his mouth - toothpaste and a little bit of sugared and honeyed tea that soothes headaches - and of the sensation that prickles over his scalp when Cody's hand sneaks its way into his hair, fingertips pressing into soft skin like a massage that has Obi-Wan suppressing a shudder.

Cody's face is soft against his palm as he brings it to his jaw and cheek, and so warm in relation to his fingers. Cody doesn't even flinch as the contrast; instead he leans into Obi-Wan's touch as he kisses him, runs the tip of his tongue over Obi-Wan's lips carefully, and Obi-Wan's breath hitches, a low noise escaping his throat as he parts his lips.

 

Cody goes about it carefully, as he does about all aspects of life, not out of fear, but with the intention to get it right. Obi-Wan can tell there are more ideas forming his head than he lets on, but can only feel their presence, not their nature, because Cody is keeping them to himself with a ridiculous amount of tactic and composure.

 

Obi-Wan draws back slightly, keeping his eyes closed, and shifts into a more comfortable position that allows his hands to trail their way over Cody's chest; and when their lips are reconnected, Cody gasps, finally, at the sensation of Obi-Wan's fingers tugging at the loose collar of his shirt and resting just above. His hand in Obi-Wan's hair tightens slightly, tugging, and there's a surge of heat that washes over him of which Obi-Wan doesn't even know whether it came from Cody or him, or if they produced it together, as he groans into Cody's mouth. Cody's perfect composure crumbles at the edges, and Obi-Wan is immediately wrapped up in his hot, pressing desire that bleeds into the Force; and it's not the light kind that typically emerges from situations such as the one they find themselves in, no, it's a nearly ancient sentiment, overwhelmingly overdue, heavy as it oozes from Cody. Obi-Wan pants, and his tangled thoughts slot into place around the realisation that Cody has wanted this and pretended not to for at least as long as Obi-Wan, if not longer. He pushes closer, heat coiling his stomach alongside the want he has forced down for years, and draws his leg up and around Cody's hips as they roll onto their sides.

 

Obi-Wan considers, using the only brain cells he has left that aren't currently ablaze, where this is going, and must still for a moment, because Cody draws back, and then their eyes lock, with a striking kind of sincerity.

"Cody," Obi-Wan pants, because he's the only thing he can think about, and runs his thumb over Cody's cheek as he tries to gather himself. Cody, lips still parted, closes his eyes at the sensation, breathing into the tiny gap between them. "We should take this slow."

 

For a moment, Cody only looks at him, like the words don't compute. Then he nods and says in a raspy voice, "Yes, we— yes, right."

 

Obi-Wan is warm all over, and the sight of Cody, cheeks tinted in a dark shade of red he can extinguish clearly despite the dim lighting, his hot breath brushing against Obi-Wan's lips, doesn't help; neither does the foggy need that envelopes the two of them and licks its way through Obi-Wan's veins, making it difficult to breathe.

But what they need is to slow down - if Obi-Wan is going to let himself act on his feelings, he'll have to think it through first, or else he could get tangled up in something that might interfere with his duties as a Jedi.

 

He mustn't get attached, reverberates in his brain, but the concern dissolves as his eyes meet Cody's and the tenderness, the affection that the foggy heat surrounding them is laced with tugs at his the strings of his heart. This isn't attachment. There is nothing possessive about the way this feels, nothing that makes him afraid despite the rotten circumstances under which they met and grew close. Cody's mere presence has always been its own entity in that way, a transcendent thing. If Cody hadn't made him aware that he reciprocates his feelings, he would never have brought it up. But now…

 

Cody carefully lifts his head off the mattress, only so far that he can press a kiss to Obi-Wan's forehead, right on the frow lines between his brows. "I can hear you thinking," he mumbles. Obi-Wan's heart clenches.

 

"Cody," he whispers, his accent wrapping around the letters like a fitted glove. "Darling."

 

With a hum, he settles back down against the pillow, against Obi-Wan's hand that is still resting there, lying his cheek into his palm, looking into his eyes. "Yes?"

 

The words bubble out of his mouth as soon as his lips part, having been caged up in his head for much too long. "I adore you, Cody," he confesses. It's not much a confession, because he's under the impression that he's made this fairly obvious tonight, but he says it anyway, can't allow any misunderstandings to occur when they have been holding back, waiting, for so long already. "You mean the world to me, I think you should know that."

 

Cody's hand comes up to tuck back strands of hair that have fallen into Obi-Wan's face. "I didn't know if you felt the same," he mumbles, his cheeks going even redder - Obi-Wan is certain he himself isn't doing much better. "Now I feel like we've wasted so much time."

 

Obi-Wan chuckles. "None of the time I've spent in your company was wasted, my dear, no matter how we chose to fill it."

 

Cody may be able to hide his grin, but the glint in his eyes is irrefutably there. "I didn't think you could be so sappy," he teases, and Obi-Wan tugs him closer so he can kiss him again, smile against smile. To that, Cody has no objections, if the way he leans into Obi-Wan, the tip of his nose poking the side of his face like he's trying to get closer yet, is anything to go by. When he pulls away, he keeps his eyes closed, lashes resting against the top of his cheeks, and whispers, "I love you."

Obi-Wan, overwhelmed by the effect this has on him, goes in for another kiss, then another, before he mumbles, "Now you're the one being sappy." And then, because it feels so right to finally say it, "I love you."

 

They do eventually fall asleep, with Cody's head resting on Obi-Wan's chest, tucked into the curve of Obi-Wan's neck. If it takes them another hour, well, that's between them and the Force.

 

*

 

Obi-Wan does not oversleep. If anything, he's a chronic under-sleeper. He does not fall back asleep after waking up at an unreasonable hour, which he would usually deem a sign that he should get up, simply because his sluggish brain registers Cody's weight and warmth as comfortable. The hurry he finds himself in once he's left his apartment when he realises he has very little time until he's supposed to depart is unrelated. It is also unrelated to the many cups of tea they share, or the goodbye kiss they get momentarily lost in. He ends up arriving on time regardless, so it doesn't matter.

 

The quickest route still takes two and a half days, and Obi-Wan can only play holochess so many times before it gets boring. On the other hand, it gives him more time than he's had since the end of the war to meditate, which is greatly appreciated. There is a lot he needs to think about.

The Jedi Order, of course, opposes close relationships, and Obi-Wan understands where they are coming from. The Code doesn't specifically mention romantic relationships, but it cannot be denied that they can open a direct path to attachment. One can easily grow possessive over a partner, make themselves dependant on them, whether that's emotionally or in other means, financially, for instance. It is easy to get lost in such intense feelings and forget yourself, as well as the rest of the universe.

 

Obi-Wan, after a considerable amount of meditation, can only say that he himself has never been, and will likely never be susceptible to such things. Being a Jedi is all he's ever known; it's hardly plausible that he'd forget all that he's been taught simply because of one person. He will consult the mind healer he has been seeing regarding the matter t o get an outside perspective on the matter, but he does strongly believe that he can manage staying true to the Jedi way while exploring this thing he's built with Cody, wherever it may lead them. Because what he said that night was true, he does love Cody. Not insurmountably, not in a way that renders distance a painful thing, but as something that comes and goes, that he can let come and go because he knows that they will always find each other again if it's the right thing. With Cody, he is rather inclined to think that it is.

 

 

 

There are multiple factors that play into the intricacy of this negotiation, and Obi-Wan is simultaneously glad to no longer be in charge of handling political matters and irritated by the whole ordeal. Bail performs his duties as chancellor excellently, so the urge to interfere, which Obi-Wan got quite familiar with during the war when he had to regularly watch far less competent politicians further complicate the Republics relations to various opponents, almost never arises. He reminds himself that he needn't concern himself with such things any longer; he is only here to ensure the Chancellor's safety, after all. It was wise to assign a Jedi to do the job. With their recent history, most of the Neimoidians aren't exactly welcoming, and it's easy for Obi-Wan to recognise ill intent among them. There are several glasses of alleged local beverages they receive that Obi-Wan has Bail put aside because he has a bad feeling about them. In the end, they get through negotiations unharmed and with a more or less satisfactory outcome.

 

He participates in a Council meeting on the way back to Coruscant, in which it is officially decided that Anakin is to be expelled from the Jedi Order. It doesn't normally require such a long time for the Council to reach an agreement, which at least proves that the decision has been thought through. It was clear that Anakin would be excluded from the Council, but Obi-Wan still sees little purpose in the act of ostracising him completely; nevertheless, if it is what the Council decided, then there is nothing to be done about it.

 

He pays Anakin and Padmé a visit not long after the ship reaches Coruscant, the planned expulsion weighing heavily on his mind. The sight of the twins, however, instantly improves his mood. Anakin is watching over them as they lie on the sofa, smiling serenely, while Padmé is apparently catching up on sleep in their bedroom. He only looks up when Obi-Wan enters the room, and the scene reminds Obi-Wan almost of a freeze frame with how calm it is. If asked to describe Anakin's force signature, Obi-Wan would liken it to the outer layer of a star, with all its erratic solar flares and brightness. Now, however, he appears entirely undisturbed in a way that Obi-Wan, despite all the years they spent together, is unfamiliar with. He can feel it even more clearly when Anakin gives him a hug as a greeting, that tranquility that seems to have overtaken his former padawan. It's unmistakably his environment that has been having such an impact on him. Padmé has always made him happier, and the twins seem to have the same effect on him.

 

"How was Neimoidia?" Anakin asks with a hint of sarcasm to his voice that Obi-Wan finds amusing.

 

"It certainly reminded me to appreciate galactic peace."

Obi-Wan clears his throat, deciding it'd be for the best to address the second reason he came - the first one, of course, being in order to visit Anakin, Padmé and Luke and Leia. "There is something I need to talk to you about," he says carefully, and tries not to let on that he is still a little worried. This new life seems to be doing Anakin a world of good; he doesn't want to create a rupture.

Anakin's expression morphs into something more serious, although it doesn't compromise his contentment. "Yes, I have something to tell you, too," he says, and crosses his arms, eyes never leaving Obi-Wan's. "I've been putting it off because I wasn't sure how you'd react," he admits with an apologetic look.

 

"What is it?" Obi-Wan can sense that, whatever it is, Anakin, despite hints of nervosity, is quite certain about it.

 

Anakin clears his throat. "I'm leaving the Order," he says, and Obi-Wan can't help the way his eyebrows shoot up. Anakin doesn't seem fazed. "I've been thinking about it for a long time. It's not… the life I want, not anymore."

 

When Obi-Wan observes Anakin now, his eyes are the same as the ones of that eight year old boy they found on Tatooine years ago; he recognises the excitement that stems from his starting something new, and the slight melancholy regarding what he is leaving behind. But it's all refined by a kind of certainty that only takes on such a noticeable form in those who have miraculously, seemingly out of nowhere and against all odds, grown up just when you weren't looking. Obi-Wan swallows against his constricting throat, and blinks as a smile tugs at his lips.

 

"Obi-Wan?" Anakin asks, awaiting a response, and Obi-Wan shakes his head as though it could wipe Anakin's worries away.

 

"I am very proud of you, Anakin," is all he can think to say, and the look Anakin gives him after his surprise melts away is almost sheepish.

 

"Sappy old man," Anakin says with a telling smile, and Obi-Wan huffs a laugh.

 

"It's funny you would say that," he says, "Cody called me the same thing. Well, safe for the 'old man' part."

 

"Cody?" Anakin gives him a look, and Obi-Wan does not miss the intonation. "Is that so?"

 

Obi-Wan hums. He can't blame Anakin for being able to read him so well. If anyone knew what is going on, it'd be him. "Quite so," he replies, and Anakin nods knowingly.

 

"In any case," he says, mercifully changing the subject. "What did you want to talk about?"

 

It's far easier to say it now after Anakin's confession. "The Council has been discussing your exclusion from the Order for quite some time now," he says in a more serious tone. "I didn't tell you because I didn't want to make you upset. I apologise for that." Anakin, to Obi-Wan's relief, doesn't look particularly bothered. "Your expulsion was determined a few hours ago. I wanted to let you know before you receive the official notice."

 

Anakin nods slowly. "I expected something like this to happen sooner or later," he says. "Honestly, I'm surprised they haven't kicked me out until now. The Council was never among my biggest supporters." He shrugs, as though he's come to terms with that. Obi-Wan knows it still mildly irks him, but the fact that he is accepting this so easily now is a good sign.

 

"Please know that I did my best to defend you," Obi-Wan says, and Anakin waves him off.

 

"It's fine," he says, and then, with a small smile, "Thank you, anyway."

 

It is at that moment that Luke starts bawling with the unrestrained power of a medical shuttle's siren. Anakin snorts, and bends over to pick him up. "Sick of letting the adult talk, hm?" He rocks him soothingly in his arms, leaning down to place a kiss on the tip of his tiny nose. "That's my boy."

He looks up at Obi-Wan. "Could you hold him for a moment? I'll see if Padmé's still asleep. I think Luke's hungry."

 

Luke goes quiet once Obi-Wan is holding him, staring up at him with big eyes. He decides that he needs to visit them more often.

 

*

Cody's refresher, so he tells Obi-Wan, is no longer under construction. He doesn't send him a holopic; instead he invites him over for dinner so he can see for himself. So here Obi-Wan is now, walking up to the doorstep and ringing the according bell. The stairwell is as chilly as it is outside, and Obi-Wan is glad when he reaches Cody's apartment. The smell of something on the stove that presumably includes tomatoes trickles into the stairwell from the ajar door, as well as warm light and some kind of tune Obi-Wan hasn't heard before, but that immediately fits the rest of the picture. He steps inside with a knock, just to announce his presence, and then pulls the door shut behind himself.

 

The entrance area is separated from what Obi-Wan supposes must be the living room and kitchen by a big shelf that creates the illusion of a corridor leading directly to a flight of stairs leading to the upper storey. Obi-Wan takes off his shoes and places his folded-up outer robe on the small bench beside the door. He then peeks past the shelf, taking a look at the living room, and, when he turns his head, spots Cody, stirring a pot on the stove with his back to Obi-Wan. He turns around a moment later, and the smile that appears on his face is utterly contagious.

 

"Sorry, I got distracted," he says with a nod to the stove, and then puts the wooden spoon aside. "Did you find the place alright?"

 

"Yes," Obi-Wan finally steps into the living area, and can't decide what to look at; the furniture, the carefully chosen ornaments on the walls and shelves, or Cody, who fits right into this space he's created for himself and seems to glow even brighter among it. "I flew you home that night after the bill was passed, remember?"

 

Cody huffs. "I honestly don't remember much about that night," he says, and Obi-Wan chuckles.

 

The hug they share then makes tension Obi-Wan only distantly realised was there trickle out of his muscles. The hugs Cody gives are tight, and he's unafraid to splay out his hand across Obi-Wan's shoulder now instead of curling it into a reticent fist. "It's good to see you," Obi-Wan says, and Cody hums.

 

"Good to see you, too." His voice is right next to Obi-Wan's ear, so close. "How was the mission?" he asks as he pulls away, and Obi-Wan lets his hand slide down Cody's arm and linger.

 

"It was alright." He sighs. "There was an unsurprising amount of hostility, but we managed. How was your week?"

 

"It was good," Cody says, and appears momentarily distracted because his gaze gets caught on Obi-Wan, as though he's remembering something. But the moment passes, and he turns back to the kitchen and walks over to the stove. "I caught up with Rex, and there was a press conference I attended."

 

Obi-Wan hums. "Can I help you with anything?"

"No, I'm almost done." Cody sends him a smile over his shoulder. "Well, you could set the table, if you want. Plates are over there."

 

Obi-Wan does so gladly. It's rare that new environments feel so easily familiar. Most of the time they are full of old, foreign sentiments and predispositions that Obi-Wan has to focus on blocking out in order not to get distracted. But this apartment is all Cody. It's like he has been here before, like he knows where to find everything already. It's strange how the Force can act when you've formed a bond with someone. Not unpleasant in the slightest, however.

"Did you set all this up by yourself?" Obi-Wan asks with another look around the living area.

 

"I got a little help from my brothers," Cody explains. "Most of the artwork is from them. The books I got at a charity event last week. And the coffee table is from one of the neighbours, they didn't need it anymore."

 

Obi-Wan lets his gaze wander over the countless items on the shelves. "What about that ash tray?" he asks, mainly because he likes listening to Cody talk about his home, explain the individual aspects of it; it's like he's telling his story.

 

"There was this one time early in the war when we were on shore leave on Coruscant," Cody says, and a little embarrassment bleeds into his Force signature. "We passed this market, and someone, I think it might have been Fox, dared me to buy something. You know, because personal possessions were against the rules." He laughs. "I don't even smoke, I just picked something cheap. I wanted to throw it away before we boarded, but I forgot, and then... it kind of grew on me."

 

Obi-Wan smiles. "And what about that vase over there?"

 

"That one was…"

 

Cody tells him stories until dinner is ready, and Obi-Wan adds his own details whenever he remembers what missions and instances Cody is talking about. He knows Cody well, but can also perfectly recall how professional their relationship was before they became friends, in the beginning of the war, how closed-off Cody was. He knows nearly nothing about the Cody from that period, which means that in a way, they have a lot of catching up to do.

 

"Do you remember the first time you suggested we complete our flimsiwork together?" Cody asks after the first few spoonfuls of the comfortingly warm, delicious vegetable soup he made.

 

"Not really," Obi-Wan admits, because that must have been such a long time ago. "When was that?"

 

"About six months into the war, I think." Cody huffs a laugh at the memory. "I thought I had done something wrong. I don't think my heart stopped hammering all evening."

 

"What made you think that?" he asks with a frown.

 

"Because you essentially asked to be alone with me, and I thought, that can't be a good sign." He shakes his head. "Took me a while to wrap my head around the fact that we could spend time together without a reason."

 

Obi-Wan hums. "Now I do remember. You were awfully jittery that day." He shakes his head. "You never said anything."

 

"Of course I didn't," Cody says, and in a different context it might have troubled Obi-Wan, but like this, now that they both know, it's a lighthearted thing to reveal, how they felt about each other in the past leading up to the present moment. "What was I supposed to say?"

 

Obi-Wan chuckles. "I suppose you're right. I did try to put you at ease, but…"

 

Cody shrugs. "I needed some time." He hesitates for a moment before adding, "Working together in the evening was the best part of most days, for me."

 

The words don't affect Obi-Wan nearly as much as the way Cody says them, nearly confessional as he keeps eye contact while his hands are nervously clasped together on the table. Obi-Wan knew that they felt similarly about each other's presence, during the war and now, he can sense it, after all; but it's another thing to hear it from him, a particular honour. He takes the liberty of reaching over the table to place his hand over Cody's. "It was the same for me," he says, trying not to sound too sentimental, but being able to say these things he was going to keep to himself out loud after all is almost overwhelmingly freeing. Cody's hands turn, and then he's holding Obi-Wan's in his palm, too, and it's like he can hear his heartbeat through the skin to skin contact, and can hear Cody's thoughts, too, like a distant, colourful echo, or an abstract painting on a wall. It's hard to put into words, but he doesn't need to, because Cody understands, he always does.

 

"Now," Obi-Wan says softly, "What about that house tour you promised?"

 

"We'll get to that right away," Cody says with a smile, and then reluctantly pulls his hands out from Obi-Wan's to pick up his empty plate. Obi-Wan does the same, and then Cody starts showing him around the house.

 

"I'm most curious about the 'fresher," Obi-Wan says. "You haven't told me anything about how the renovations turned out in the end."

Cody points him to the staircase. "Lead the way," he says, and Obi-Wan throws him a look over his shoulder as he follows the request, walking up the stairs with Cody in tow. There are artworks on these walls, too.

"You've got quite the hand for interior design, dear," he comments. As Cody thanks him, he trails his eyes over the small corridor on the first floor, and for a moment allows himself to picture staying here, not forever, but maybe a few days, to take some time off to get to know Cody's new home, because there is something particularly intimate about being in a space that is completely Cody's.

"There," Cody says, pointing toward the door to Obi-Wan's right. He pushes it open, and enters the surprisingly big 'fresher, eyes falling on the bathtub in the corner, easily big enough to accommodate two people, with shampoo bottles standing on the edges against the walls.

"This is rather fancy." Obi-Wan steps further into the 'fresher, eyeing the metal pieces on the sides of the tub. "Is that a jacuzzi?"

 

Cody shrugs with a sheepish smile. "I had the money, so I figured…"

 

Obi-Wan laughs. "I'm not complaining, my dear." In fact, he doesn't remember the last time he encountered a hot tub, and he can only imagine how nice it must be to let the day end like that, with the soft music that is only perceptible on the first floor when you aren't talking, and the soft light around the house… ah, he's getting carried away.

 

But Cody notices, and asks with gently confidence, "Would you like to try it out? I haven't gotten the chance yet, so I thought maybe tonight… only if you're up for it."

 

Obi-Wan doesn't have to contemplate for more than a second. "I would love to," he says, and Cody briefly places a hand on his shoulder as he passes him to turn on the water.

 

"Shouldn't take too long. I can show you the rest of the place in the meantime."

 

And so Cody leads him through the bedroom, which neither of them pays much attention to as though there's a silent agreement between them that they'll get to that later, and onto the small balcony that Obi-Wan already saw from outside the building when he dropped Cody off here weeks ago. There are two chairs in the corner now, and a few more plant pots, none housing anything bigger than a few young branches and leaves except for the biggest one, which contains little blue flowers. Obi-Wan can't help but give into his fascination for them, and asks Cody what kinds they are; he gets his explanation as they sit down on the balcony, listening to the sounds of nearby traffic and waiting for the tub to fill up.

 

 

 

Obi-Wan has said it before that he doesn't get nervous about nudity, and that much is still true. But his eyes are nevertheless inclines to fly toward Cody's body as he undresses, and so he trails his gaze over his back, down his spine to his dimples. There's a scar, well healed up now, that stretches over the side of his ribs and to his shoulder. Obi-Wan remembers the day he got it, but the worry that seized him then is a distant thing now. It's all healed up. The visual remains are a testament to that.

 

The water is just the right temperature, and he sinks in without hesitation, settling comfortably. "This was a wonderful idea," he says, sighing as he leans back into the water stream, briefly closing his eyes, taking it all in. He's sat in such a way that Cody's ankle is pressed against his shin, and he can feel him looking; it's a slow, hesitant thing that leaves his skin feeling warmer. He opens his eyes, looking right into Cody's, and raises his brows, just slightly, in a silent question.

Cody must pick up on it, but he doesn't say anything, which is more than alright with Obi-Wan; there's a joy in being able to just look, even with the other noticing, and so he reciprocates. It's an admirable image. The light makes Cody's features look softer, and he fits into this space so well, it's like he's finally at his destination, and… Obi-Wan can barely wrap his head around the fact that he's here with him. It seems almost too good to be true. But maybe they deserve such a thing after all that they've been through. Something soft, something right.

 

Cody moves, crossing his legs so that his shin slots into place against Obi-Wan's, and tilts his head. "You don't… there's nowhere you need to be the next few hours, right?" His voice is scratchy.

 

Obi-Wan shakes his head. "I teach classes tomorrow afternoon, that's all."

 

Cody nods, averting his eyes briefly before returning Obi-Wan's gaze with a new intensity that manifests in a spark racing down Obi-Wan's spine. "Good," he says, quiet but firm. Obi-Wan exhales audibly as he scoots away from the back of the tub and closer toward Cody, hand finding one of his knees to lean against for support. Cody's eyes briefly trail down his chest that's no longer submerged as Obi-Wan leans forward. "I wanted to ask if you wanted to stay over," he says, still with remarkable amounts of composure holding in the urges that Obi-Wan can instead feel curling around them and bouncing off the walls of the 'fresher; and Cody holds it together with a steady caution that Obi-Wan wishes he would finally jettison.

 

Obi-Wan finds himself smiling. "And what would we be doing?" he asks, aware of how unhelpful he's being, especially when Cody blinks at him, uncertain.

 

"We don't have to do anything," he says, and clears his throat in an attempt to make his voice sound less hoarse, which doesn't quite work. He places his hand over Obi-Wan's, thumb sneaking under his palm and pressing into a point below his index finger, as though he somehow knew it's one of the places where he's unnecessarily tense. "You said we should take this slow, so, yeah."

 

Obi-Wan swallows. "That is very considerate of you," he says, and it takes quite the effort to stay coherent when his own desire is joining Cody's in the invisible space between them, coiling hotly. "I appreciate that. I was, however, gone for over a week, and I missed you." The shaky breath Cody releases doesn't go past him, and he wants to feel it against his lips, wants to catch all the noises, no matter how subtle, that fall from Cody's mouth. "We can stop any time, of course, and if you don't want to do anything tonight, I will be just as happy to do anything else, as long as it's in your company," He searches Cody's eyes for discomfort, for any sign that he's overstepping, but there are no such indicators, only affection, and anticipation, and so he presses on, "But I, for my part, would very much like to go further with you."

 

Cody's lips part, and he leans forward in lieu of an answer, which Obi-Wan doesn't mind in the slightest. The heat with which their lips slide together, Obi-Wan would say, is answer enough. Cody's hand comes to rest on his shoulder, and his hold tightens when Obi-Wan slides his tongue over his bottom lip. Overall, it's probably a bit too sloppy, but Obi-Wan doesn't care, and Cody tilts his head to deepen the kiss, and, on top of that, they're already in a bathtub, so no one's really keeping count of how wet this is; especially not when Cody's hand slips off his shoulder, grabbing his pec and thumbing at his nipple. Obi-Wan gasps, and chases after Cody's mouth when he leans back against the tub. His hand slides higher up Cody's thigh, which punches a noise out of him that nearly makes Obi-Wan shudder.

 

Obi-Wan pulls back slightly with the intention to ask if this is alright, but Cody pulls him closer by the back of his neck so he can place a kiss on the corner of his mouth and then his cheek, and Obi-Wan forgets all about asking, tilts his head back, giving Cody the space to press kisses into his jaw and then lower, on his neck, where his mouth lingers and he flattens his tongue against hot skin. "Yes," Obi-Wan whispers with fervour, hand threading into Cody's hair, and he accidentally tightens his grip when Cody finds a particularly sensitive spot and sucks at his skin, so damn gently. Cody gasps, and Obi-Wan manages a choked out, "Sorry."

 

Cody pulls back so he can look at him, and his expression is so simply genuine when he whispers, "Don't be. I liked it."

 

Obi-Wan swallows thickly. "Okay," he croaks, out of breath, and then Cody's mouth is back on his neck, and he closes his eyes as he carefully tugs at the hair on the back of Cody's head, massaging his fingers into his scalp, feeling the water gently rock against his back whenever he moves. Cody's palm is wet against him, stroking over his chest hair. The 'fresher isn't particularly cold, but the warm water on his lower body in contrast to everything that isn't submerged in it makes him feel like it is, and his chest feels tight and sensitive around his hard nipples, making him extra sensitive to Cody's touch. His hand, however, slides further down to his waist, tugging, and Obi-Wan chokes back a noise of surprise. Cody's mouth leaves him as he leans back, and Obi-Wan's knees go even weaker when their eyes lock - the position he's in isn't the most steady in the first place, why did he decide it would be a good idea to half-hover like this—

 

So he slides forward, sitting in Cody's lap, and the skin-to-skin contact is almost overwhelming. When was the last time he did this with another person? Must have been long before the war even begun, ages ago, when he was younger; it's not like he needed it - but he needs it now, and getting it, getting to have him, Cody, here, like this, is making him realise just how much he needs it, needs to be close to him. "Cody," he whispers, and Cody kisses him all over again, scorching lips against his. "Are you— do you—" he tries, taking as deep a breath as his fast-working lungs will allow at this stage. "Wouldn't you rather enjoy your bathtub and do this later?" he manages with amazing coherence. Cody doesn't seem too impressed though, and instead appears rather unenthusiastic about the idea.

 

"Obi-Wan." His voice is rough, unlike anything Obi-Wan's heard from him before, which makes his hold on him tighten. "I've waited so long for this. And I don't mean the kriffing bathtub."

 

Obi-Wan nods without processing the words, and when they compute, he pulls Cody's head toward himself so he can kiss his forehead, and Cody's arms wrap around his back as he does so, keeping him close. "And would you like to do this here, or move—"

 

"Bedroom," Cody says, pulling him down by the shoulder, capturing his lips in a quick kiss. "I want to lie down with you."

 

"Alright," Obi-Wan mumbles, reluctantly lifting himself off Cody's lap, holding onto the edge of the tub as he steps out because his legs feel weak and right now would be an incredibly bad time for injury. "Towels?"

 

"Behind the door," Cody says, and his hands find Obi-Wan's shoulders as soon as he's back with two towels, warmly sliding over his wet skin. Obi-Wan shoves one of the towels into his chest as he leans into him for a kiss, and they continue like that until it becomes clear they're never going to get dry like that, and momentarily stop touching each other to actually use the towels.

 

When they abandon the 'fresher, Obi-Wan can think of times he's been dryer, but he really doesn't care. They'll air-dry in time. Cody's mouth is much more interesting to him, and so they stumble over to the bedroom, and when Cody falls back on the bed to sit on the edge of it, looking up at Obi-Wan expectantly, Obi-Wan pulls his legs apart and squeezes in between his thighs, leaning down to kiss him, tongues sliding together as Cody's hands tug at his naked hips. He's half hard already, they both are, which isn't surprising. Obi-Wan wants to take care of it for Cody, now that they're in his bedroom he wants it even more, to have him lie back and tell him what he wants, how he wants it. Whatever it is, Obi-Wan wants him to have it.

"How do you want to do this," he mumbles against Cody's mouth. Cody tilts his head, separating them.

"Not sure," he admits, "I want you. I don't care how."

Obi-Wan releases a breathy laugh. "Have you done this before?"

 

Cody hums. "Yeah, sort of." He huffs. "Wasn't very good, though."

 

"Anything specific that you didn't like?"

 

He shrugs, averting his eyes. "No, it… just didn't match, was all." He looks back at Obi-Wan. "Nothing specific."

 

Obi-Wan leans forward, and Cody's hands find his back, running down, down, holding him close. "I want to make this good for you," he whispers against the top of Cody's head, and the warmth that surges through him then is unmistakably Cody, his affection as he says back, voice low, "You're already making it good for me."

 

Obi-Wan leans down to kiss him, stroking the top of his thighs and then the inside, making Cody gasp, and the spike in his desire that Obi-Wan can feel next to his own makes him feel a little dizzy. When he pulls back and Cody's hands slide even lower, squeezing his ass, he groans and finally asks, "Can I suck you off?"

Cody nods, breathing shakily. "Yeah, please," he says, and Obi-Wan's heart clenches at how his voice curls around the request, almost desperate.

"I will," Obi-Wan reassures him, giving his thigh a reassuring pat. "How do you want it?"

 

"Hm?"

 

"On the bed?" Obi-Wan asks softly. "Or I could get down on my knees for you right here. Which do you prefer?"

 

Cody groans, kneading him in his hands, and finally says, "On the bed."

 

Obi-Wan nods, giving him another quick kiss. "Then get on the bed, love."

 

He stacks two pillows on top of one another and lies back against them, legs falling open, and Obi-Wan follows after him, kneels in between his thighs and kisses him again. They fit together differently like this, easier, and he drags a hand over Cody's chest, playing with his nipples a bit, which makes him arch up into the touch, and then pulls away to trail kisses from his chest down to his stomach, nosing at the thin trail of hair, slightly damp, and then he carefully takes him in hand as he kisses Cody's thigh. Cody's breath audibly hitches, and then he moans as Obi-Wan's grip tightens and he strokes him until he's hard.

"Now, I haven't done this in a while," Obi-Wan says, absentmindedly licking his lips in anticipation, "So I need you to keep your hips down for me, can you do that?"

 

Cody nods. "Yeah, sure."

 

"Good." Holding his dick at the base, Obi-Wan experimentally slides his tongue over the side, tracing a thick vein, before licking over the head.

 

"Obi-Wan," Cody moans, and Obi-Wan gives him another lick, tasting salty precome, before pressing his wet lips to Cody's tip, earning another gasp.

 

He closes his eyes then, focusing on the way Cody reacts not only verbally but in the Force, what he likes, what makes him feel closer, and does his best to help him chase his release, taking him in his mouth as far as he can and twirling his tongue, sucking and licking in a rhythm that works for them. The likes the weight of him in his mouth, the heat, the way he fills him; and he can also feel Cody as though he were sitting in his chest, right next to his heart, the sparks of excitement and satisfaction burning in his ribcage, and has to keep himself from grinding into the mattress when Cody's tangled, chaotic emotions of not-feeling-close-enough slowly melt into something else, something that's much closer to what he wants, what he's craving. His hips stutter, but he keeps them down, and without pulling off, Obi-Wan fumbles for Cody's hand and finds it clenched into a fist around the blanket below them, so he can tug it toward his own head. Cody fortunately gets the message, curling his hand into Obi-Wan's hair. "Obi-Wan," he whines, and desire coils impossibly tight in Obi-Wan's stomach at the sound of his voice. "You're so— haa, good, so good, I'm close, I'm—"

 

Obi-Wan opens his eyes so he can look up at him; Cody's thrown his head back into the pillow, chest arching off the bed slightly while he keeps his hips on the mattress like he promised, and the image makes Obi-Wan moan around his dick. He moves his head up and down, trying to take him deeper, and Cody, with a groan, tells him, "I'm gonna come."

 

Obi-Wan's dick twitches, and he pulls off a little so he can suck at the head, and that's all it takes; Cody's dick twitches as he releases into Obi-Wan's mouth with choked-off moans. Obi-Wan tightens his hand, sliding it over Cody's wet dick, stroking him through it as he pulls off his mouth, swallowing parts of his come, the rest dripping from his lips and onto Cody, mixed with Obi-Wan's spit.

 

He licks his lips, panting as he trails his hand over Cody's side, pulling himself up and lying down against Cody, hands stroking over his chest as he nips at his shoulder. "How was that?" he asks, still out of breath, and Cody tilts his head to the side, pupils blown as their eyes meet, arms wrapping around Obi-Wan.

 

"That was," Cody breathes, "Amazing, thank you."

 

Obi-Wan laughs, momentarily distracted by the way Cody is looking at him with so much admiration. He's painfully hard, even his thighs and stomach are aching, but he can't tear his eyes off of Cody's tired, satisfied face. So he stays where he is, lets Cody tilt his head into place so he can kiss him, and only breaks the kiss with a moan when Cody slots a thigh between his own and brushes his dick. "How do you want it?" Cody asks, no louder than a whisper, making Obi-Wan feel so needy all of a sudden, he turns his head and buries his face in Cody's neck, lazily dragging his hand over Cody's chest.

 

What Obi-Wan wants is to be close to him, as close as possible, feel Cody's thighs squeeze him and get off to the noises he makes and the warmth of his body. He's not sure Cody's still up for that, he's come already after all, and the thought that he might not be makes Obi-Wan frustrated with the two of them because they could have planned this better.

 

"Obi-Wan?" Cody mumbles into his hair. "Hm?"

 

"I want to fuck you," Obi-Wan admits, and can hear Cody's exhale. "If you want that, too, if not, that's alright, but I need something—"

 

"Yeah, I want that too," Cody interrupts him, and Obi-Wan almost whines in relief when he processes the words.

"Ah," he says, "That's, yeah, okay, that's great." The remains of rationality in his brain fill in another blank. "Do you have any lube?"

Cody nods, rolling to the side so he can get off the bed as he mumbles, "In the 'fresher, I think."

 

"Good," Obi-Wan repeats, like a stuck holorecording, and watches as Cody walks out of the room, almost tripping in his urgency, and Obi-Wan lies there, hands stroking his own chest to somewhat console himself as he waits.

 

Luckily, he doesn't have to wait for long. Cody gets back quickly with a tube in his hands that he tosses Obi-Wan before getting back on the bed, and Obi-Wan gets back in place between Cody's thighs, squirting some of it on his hands. "Have you done this before?" he asks, and Cody freezes for a moment before shaking his head. "Only by myself," he says.

"And you like it when you do it by yourself?"

 

"Yeah."

 

He nods, more to himself than to Cody. "Then we're gonna make it good for you, alright? Just tell me if you feel uncomfortable at any point."

 

He vaguely registers Cody's nodding, but it already focused on reaching down, bringing his slick fingers to Cody's perineum first, which makes him hiss. "Just cold," Cody assures him when he pauses. "Go on."

 

Obi-Wan does, he slides his fingers down to Cody's hole, circling it first, slicking it up, before pushing against it. Cody sucks in a sharp breath when he breaches the entrance. "Relax," Obi-Wan mumbles, carefully moving his finger, and Cody takes a deep breath as he tries to calm down. Obi-Wan uses his free hand to stroke up and down his thigh, and after some time ends up holding Cody's in his, letting him squeeze his hand as tightly as he needs as he opens him up.

 

"It's fine, I think," Cody says after a while, when Obi-Wan has three fingers in him already and is painfully hard from watching Cody's reactions to being touched this way, his gasps and moans and the twitch of his hips. "I'm ready."

 

"Are you sure?" Obi-Wan asks, because as desperate as he's feeling, he doesn't want to hurt Cody, needs to make him feel good, too.

 

Cody tilts his head at him, then brings a hand up to cup the side of Obi-Wan's face. At another time, Obi-Wan might have been embarrassed by the way he leans into his palm, like a touch-starved tooka, but he can't think about that now, can't think about much of anything, if he's being honest. "You're trembling," Cody says, and Obi-Wan only notices that moment that he's right. "Please fuck me already."

 

Obi-Wan nods, and grabs the bottle of lube with a shaky hand. "Will you—" he starts, but Cody is already taking it out of his hand.

 

"Yeah, of course. Come here."

 

Obi-Wan can't help the sparks in his gut as Cody says the words, can't help the desperate noise he makes as Cody pours some lube on his hand rubs it, to warm it, Obi-Wan realises, between him palms - and then he has to hold onto Cody's propped-up legs when Cody touches him, prepares him in turn after being prepared, squeezing only once or twice to take the edge off for him just a little bit, and then he's ready, and lines himself up with Cody's hole.

 

His mouth falls open in a silent moan the moment he pushes in, a sudden shudder rocking through his thighs, and Cody groans beneath him. Obi-Wan stills his him, waiting until Cody nods, telling him to go on. He swallows, breathing hard, and leans forward when he's all the way in because he need Cody to kiss him like this.

"Cody," he gasps against his mouth, rocking his hips, and Cody closes his eyes. "You feel so good, fuck."

 

"So do you," Cody whispers, slick hand sliding over Obi-Wan's back, touch sticky like honey, firm in a way that's so grounding and scalding at the same time. "You can move." His legs wrap around Obi-Wan's waist, and he hisses when Obi-Wan moves, a noise of pleasure rather than discomfort, a truth that is impossible to overlook because it washes over him, the sensation all over Cody's skin and his own like electricity, crackling as he cants his hips. "Right there," Cody mumbles, and Obi-Wan buries his face in the crook of his neck, planting lazy, weak kisses there. "Oh, Oh, Cody," he rambles, words tumbling out of his chest without intention because his thoughts are too foggy to grasp, "My love, oh, this is—"

 

Cody rocks back against him, making him groan, and runs his hand, still a little slick, up the path of his spine and then to the back of his neck, stroking his hair, so gently. "Good?" he asks, as if that much wasn't obvious, but Obi-Wan nods into his shoulder anyway.

 

"So good," he gasps, rolling his hips with emphasis, to make his point clear.

 

"Fuck." Cody meets his thrusts now, thighs squeezing around Obi-Wan's waist like he's trying to keep him there, buried in him, and Force, Obi-Wan only needs him to ask and he'll stay, for as long as he wants, he can pull himself together, delay the end of this, it doesn't have to end. His dick is throbbing already, but if he stays still for a moment, maybe—

 

"Obi-Wan," Cody pants, thighs wrapping around him more tightly. "Please."

 

Obi-Wan closes his eyes, kissing the side of Cody's neck and sucking at the spot. "Please what?"

 

"Don't hold back," Cody whispers into his ear with a pleading note. "Just let go for me, I want to feel you."

 

"I won't last much longer—"

 

"It's okay." Cody strokes his back so gently, Obi-Wan's knees go week, and he falters for a moment. "Just let go."

 

"It'll be messy—"

 

He interrupts him once again, "It's already messy. Please?"

 

Obi-Wan hums, and licks the spot he's been kissing. "Do you want to switch positions," he asks as soon as the idea pops into his head, and the mental image is like a black hole, absorbing all his thoughts. "Get on top?"

 

Cody breathes out audibly, and Obi-Wan pulls back to see him nodding. "Yeah, yeah, if you want" he mumbles, and Obi-Wan so pulls out and falls to the side, somewhat exhausted already.

 

Cody doesn't waste any time and gets on top of him, and Obi-Wan's hands fly to his thighs automatically and Cody positions himself, and then he slides down on Obi-Wan's dick, eyes closed, brows furrowed as his lips part around a deep groan. Obi-Wan can't take his eyes off of Cody as he bounces experimentally, leaning back a bit, adjusting the angle just the way he likes it. He's so tight and hot and Obi-Wan really isn't going to last. Cody fortunately got as much, and takes his dick in hand, jerking himself off as he grinds down against Obi-Wan, and when he spills all over Obi-Wan's chest and stomach, Obi-Wan throws his head back into the pillow, pushing his hips up, up, and then he's coming too, deep inside Cody. He pants, eyes closed, breath hitching as Cody's hand grazes his hipbone and slides up his figure in a gentle motion, fluid as the waves crashing into the sea. Sleepy lips find his jaw, his cheek, the corner of his eye, and he blinks his eyes open reluctantly.

 

Cody pulls himself off of him, which is about as messy an ordeal as Obi-Wan anticipated, but it hardly matters to either of them, neither does the slickness between their bodies as Cody lies down against him so they can share languid kisses while their breathing slows. Cody is touching him everywhere, kissing him everywhere, and it satisfies a deep sense of longing within Obi-Wan that he didn't expect another person to be able to reach, or want to. It's peace, what settles over them and in between their tangled bodies as they met together on Cody's bed now, finally. The war ended long ago, but this is a different kind of peace, one that was made for them only, and by them.

 

 

Cody eventually drags him off to the bathroom to get cleaned up, and Obi-Wan follows, reluctant to leave the bed, lets himself be pulled by the hand. It's not even half bad when it's Cody who's cleaning him up, with that same tenderness, but Obi-Wan is still glad when they make it back to the bedroom and he gets to fall asleep with Cody's head on his chest, with nothing to worry about at all, in that space they've made for themselves after all this time.

 

 

 

 

Obi-Wan has said before that he doesn't oversleep, which is especially convenient the next morning when they wake up in time to see Coruscant Prime rise from behind the endless stretch of the city. The balcony makes for an excellent viewing spot, and the tea they share tastes especially rich here. Together, they watch the little blue flowers in the biggest plant pots dance in the wind as the planet is bathed in a familiar shade of orange. It shines on Cody's skin, in his eyes and on his lips; when Obi-Wan leans over to kiss him, he can almost taste it.

 

 

 

Notes:

obi-wan: so what do you wanna do after the war?
cody, internally: you
cody: uh. bathtub

i hope none of you question the politics described in this fic too hard. this was supposed to be porn but i ended up disliking the lack of context, so it developed into A Whole Thing. i didn't have a choice. the insatiable urge to make codywan kiss under semi-realistic circumstances made me do it guys
i will properly edit this later, i just need to post it right now because my draft was scheduled for deletion yesterday and its stressing me out. i dont want to retype all those tags man

anyway. if you liked this, i would be very very happy if you left me a comment :) and you can find my tumblr here. thank you so much for reading!!