When he opened his eyes, he was slightly confused by how utterly content and relaxed he was feeling immediately after waking up. That was unusual, to say the least, especially this early in the morning. Then the events of last night came to him —and he certainly had reasons for smiling.

He looked wistfully at the vacant space next to him on the bed—why does he have to wake up so damn early— when he heard noises coming from the kitchen. He got up in the blink of an eye and tried to find something to put on amidst his scattered clothes all over the floor. Just his trousers would have to do for now.

"Hello there" Obi-Wan heard against his ear as he was enclosed in a tight embrace from behind.

"Now, you should really stop stealing my phrases."

"And what if I don't?" Anakin left a trail of kisses on his neck, inhaling the fresh and pleasant scent of cologne that he had come to associate with Obi-Wan.

"So insolent" Obi-Wan complained absentmindedly, unable to keep track of the conversation. When their eyes met, he couldn't really repress the loving smile that pulled across his lips. "Good morning." He turned around to softly press his lips against Anakin's as he held him in a proper embrace.

"It would have been better if I hadn't woken up alone" he pouted.

"My apologies." He smiled against his mouth. "But, while you may arrive late to every class without any consequence whatsoever, I can't really be late at work. I didn't expect you to wake up so soon, though. Should I be worried?" He touched his forehead. "You don't seem to be ill."

"Really" Anakin deadpanned. "Even less funny than usual. It's me who should be worried."

"Then why are you smiling?"

"Love is blind, I guess" he answered nuzzling his cheek.

"Indeed. I can certainly attest to that." He chuckled at the face Anakin made to that statement, before closing the distance between them once more. It was not fair, Anakin thought to himself, that he himself was half-naked, getting goose bumps at every tender caress on his back, while Obi-Wan was so annoyingly overdressed.

Anakin broke away from the kiss with a frown. "I don't think I can do it." How was he supposed to see Obi-Wan between classes and not think about this? If it was difficult enough before, now after last night it just seemed like torture. "Let's just stay at home all day, and to hell with everything" he joked.

Obi-Wan smiled. "Don't tempt me." Anakin was playing around with his tie distractedly, still not looking at his eyes, when Obi-Wan's hands settled upon his. "For what it's worth, I don't know how I'm going to do it either." His lips ghosted over his cheek before he whispered against his hear. "I'm certain I will not be able to look at you without thinking about the feeling of your skin on mine." Now, every part of Anakin was very much awake, and he supposed it should be embarrassing how easily Obi-Wan could set his flesh on fire. Just a few words, that's all it took. Sure, it also helped that immediately after saying that Obi-Wan had buried his face on the crook of his neck, his beard tickling his skin while he placed open mouthed kisses alternated with soft bites and gentle sucking that he was sure would leave a mark afterwards.

Well, at least he should be grateful that today he wouldn't have class with Obi-Wan. Or not. At this point, he didn't know what of the two options was better.

"I wish I could give you a lift, but it would seem rather suspicious if we arrive together."Anakin chuckled at Obi-Wan's genuine remorse for not being able to accompany him. Geez. Such a gentleman. He had to admit, it was kind of cute. "Why are you laughing?"

Anakin just shook his head. "Nothing. Just go, you're going to be late. By the way, this is the second morning I stay at your home while you're out." That night he'd run to his teacher's home in despair over mum and Padmé's death anniversaries seemed so far away now. He remember with clarity how utterly embarrassed he'd felt after waking up alone at the sofa. Which reminded him of..."Hey Obi-Wan, that night, did you sleep at the sofa too?"

"Yes. It would have certainly been impossible to break free from your hold without waking you up."

He groaned. "I knew it." He blushed furiously even if he should no longer feel embarrassed about this, considering the present circumstances. "You must have thought I was a nuisance."

"Yes."

Anakin gave him an unimpressed look.

"An adorable nuisance" Obi-Wan corrected himself amused.

"Stop calling me that."

"And what if I don't?"

Anakin rolled his eyes, barely able to conceal his own amusement. When Obi-Wan leant in to kiss him goodbye, he responded in kind, quite enthusiastically in fact. He parted his lips to deepen the kiss, and at the first contact of their tongues together, Obi-Wan dropped his briefcase to wrap his arms around him, at the same time that Anakin yanked him by his tie to bring him closer. He really had no freaking clue as to how on earth he was going to be able to keep his distance at the university. He just couldn't get enough of that mouth, of those hands that were now roaming down the expanse of his chest, with the same tenderness as always but with a sense of repressed urgency that clearly left no doubt as to how this moment would have ended if they only had more time. Both were panting when they pulled away. Obi-Wan lovingly bumped their noses together. "Have a nice day, my dear." Anakin swallowed before replying with a shaky voice. "You too."

He had always found the task of teaching others to be so incredibly rewarding. It was a privilege, getting to share his knowledge of the things which held his interest and, perhaps, manage to instil some of his enthusiasm on his students. Nevertheless, there were some days when, while still acknowledging how privileged he was, he found this task extremely tiring.

Due to his one month stay at the congress, he had a lot of work to catch up on. It certainly didn't help matters that he'd done next to nothing the previous day—nothing related to work, that is— but then again, he'd much rather endure thousands of stressful and exhausting mornings like this one in exchange for days like yesterday.

At least now he had a break of half an hour to organize his work. He came across Windu on the corridor, and now he had twenty minutes to organize his work. As much as he esteemed his colleague and once Jedi Master fellow, he had a tendency to gabble at the most inconvenient of times.

Obi-Wan took a detour through a corridor that tended to be empty most of the time, so as to avoid any further interruptions. If there was one thing he loved about this university, that was its antique and classical design. There were many places, such as the present corridor, which had a mysterious and captivating air about it.

He had no time to react. A pair of hands that appeared out of nowhere yanked him into a dark room, which he dimly recognized as a storage room that harboured among other things several cleaning products. His back was pressed against a wall with a loud thud, and, in the midst of his confusion, he terribly missed his time as a Jedi and war general, when defending himself against any unexpected attack had come so natural to him. Now he had the knowledge, but he lacked the ability to do it.

The confusion and fear lasted less than a few seconds; the time it took him to take in the familiar scent and frame of his companion. Even amidst the darkness, he would never fail to recognize those features.

"You're incorrigible" he admonished him half-heartedly, his words swallowed by his mouth. "What if someone had seen you?" It was extremely difficult to stay focused under the attention of those exquisite lips on his, though. "Anakin..."

"Relax. There was no one outside." Blue eyes stood out among the shadows of the room, shining with mischief. "So, it turns out I wasn't able to keep my distance after all." Obi-Wan kissed that cheeky smile of his. And it turns out I'm not able to resist you. Anakin, pleased to sense his mood change, let him take control of the kiss, while his hands wandered down the front of his shirt, ending up on his belt.

"We shouldn't, not here..." His voice couldn't have fooled even the most naive person in the whole planet. "This is so..."

"Uncivilized?" Anakin smirked against his lips when his hand grasped the bulge that was overwhelmingly visible behind his underwear. Obi-Wan gasped. "I don't know, Obi-Wan, I have good proof in my hands that your body disagrees with that." Obi-Wan rolled his eyes—in amusement or pleasure, he couldn't say— for Anakin chose that moment to free his length out of his boxers, and now it was skin against skin. He rolled his hips, urging him to move his hand faster, and Anakin took mercy on him and stroked him more firmly, at the same time he placed a tender kiss on his cheek. Obi-Wan glanced nervously towards the door. "Relax, Obi-Wan. It's locked. If someone tries to enter, they will think it's blocked or something like that. Don't worry."

Just before he could give in to this— as every fibre of his being was asking him to— Anakin's hand was gone far too soon, just like the warmth of his body against him. Then he realised he was kneeling in front of him, his hands pulling Obi-Wan's boxers and trousers down his thighs, a playful smile on his face that made his knees tremble.

"What—what are you doing?" He could barely recognise his own voice.

"What does it look like?" he asked with one raised eyebrow, that mischievous look of his on his face again, before placing a tender kiss on his hipbone. "Because I assure you..." he said in a low murmur, nuzzling into his pubic hair. "...it's exactly what it looks like." Anakin then pulled away. "But of course, if doing this here is too uncivilized for you, we can leave it for another moment" he finished off smugly, looking far too much satisfied with himself. And rightly so: from where he was kneeling, he had an excellent view of how painfully hard Obi-Wan was at this point.

Obi-Wan could feel his own heartbeat pulsing in his ears as his eyes interlocked with Anakin's. Oh, God. I need you so much. "Please..." he let out weakly.

Anakin's teasing expression was replaced by a heartfelt smile. "That's what I thought." He soothingly caressed his thighs from his knees and upwards before he rested his hands on his hips, and then he took him in his mouth.

"Force" Obi-Wan gasped. It was sensory overload. He forced himself to close his eyes, or else he wouldn't last long. Anakin's succulent lips around his length was certainly a sight that he was not ever going to forget, and one that he could gladly get used to. "Anakin..." He buried his hands in his head, fingers tangled in those soft blond curls. A moan left Anakin's throat, which he could practically feel against him, and oh, Force. I love you. I love you so much. How could he have ever opposed to this in the first place? Yes, he did have lots of things that he should be working on in this moment. And yes, this was all kinds of uncivilized: here he was, hiding in the university inside a storage room with his student and former Padawan. He leant his head against the wall and, through half-lidded eyes, amidst the darkness he could glimpse some boxes with cleaning products, a broom and a mop lying against a shelf which contained other recipients his sight couldn't manage to distinguish. And, in the midst of that chaos, all he could hear were the obscene noises coming from the wonders that Anakin was doing to him with his mouth.

Yes, uncivilized didn't begin to cover it. But, revelling in the marvellous sensation of Anakin's hot and wet cavern engulfing him, he concluded that there were times when it was more than worth it to be uncivilized.

Exams were coming near, and he needed way more days to catch up on everything. But he was not worried, not too much, at least. He would manage to do it. Sure, the work at Watto's garage was not helpful either. The effects of Obi-Wan's threats on him seemed to be cooling down, and, even if he wasn't as exploitative as he used to, a jerk will always be a jerk. But even when he wasn't being annoying, the night shift prevented him from getting a much needed sleep many days. But it was okay. A few coffees— or tea, in case he was staying at a certain someone's place— and he was as good as new. Also, he seemed to be at a standstill with that literature thing, just when he thought he had made a lot of progress. But still that was okay. He just needed to practice more to completely get the hang of it.

For the first time since what seemed forever, Anakin was utterly happy. He felt as if nothing could weigh him down. And it was such a good feeling, that it sometimes terrified him. Normally, good things didn't happen to him, and when they did, they never lasted for too long. A part of him couldn't help waiting for the other shoe to drop.

But still, even that was okay. Not even that fear of losing what he had could sombre his mood. The past didn't have to repeat itself, after all. Perhaps, good things did happen. Perhaps this time it would be different. He could only hope.

He tore his gaze away from the window to steal a glance at him. There he was, on the sofa, focused on some papers and an endless pile of books, just as he always seemed to be as of lately. Obi-Wan had a lot of work to catch up on these days as well. Seeing him like this, reading pensively and brushing his beard while he thought, reminded him so much to his former Jedi Master. He smiled to himself as a memory came to him.

They had come such a long way since then.

"Hey" Anakin greeted him with a smile as he entered Obi-Wan's apartment in the Jedi temple. "What's up, old man? Do you have any time to spare to your former Padawan?"

"Why do you ask, if you're going to come in whatever my answer is?" he sighed exasperated, although Anakin thought he could see the beginning of a smile pulling across his lips.

"Good point." Anakin sprawled on the sofa, resting his legs on the coffee table.

"By all means, make yourself at home" the older of the two said with sarcasm.

Anakin gave him a cheeky grin. "That's what I'm doing."

Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. "That was an ironic remark. Not that I expected you to catch such a subtle figure of speech."

"Oh, come on." Anakin feigned to be offended. In truth, he was enjoying the banter far too much. "This is how you thank me for paying a visit to my friend and former Master? We barely see one another lately. Well, I mean, when we're not fighting in the kriffing war, that is."

"Oh, forgive me, Anakin. You're right, I should be grateful that the 'Poster Boy' deigned himself to pay me a visit."

"Don't call me that!" Now, Anakin's annoyance was not only feigned. "You know I hate it when you call me that."

"Oh, yes." Obi-Wan smiled smugly. "And that's why I'll never stop calling you that." Before Anakin could reply, Obi-Wan continued speaking. "You're right, of course. This time, that is. Precisely because of how rare it is to have a few days off as of lately, last night Ahsoka and I were trying to contact you so as to do something together. But you never answered your comlink. Where were you?"

"Oh, uh, sorry. You know how I get when I'm working on some spaceship." He tried to laugh it off. "I just forget about everything else. I was at the hangar until very late."

"Sure." Was it Anakin's imagination, or had Obi-Wan sounded sarcastic right there? For a fleeting moment, he wondered if he suspected where— and most importantly, with whom— he'd spent the night. Then he had to contain his laughter at such a crazy idea. Obi-Wan knowing anything about him and Padmé together? Ridiculous! If that were so, the whole Council would know it by now, Anakin would no longer be a Jedi, and they wouldn't be having this conversation right now.

It wasn't so funny, though. Anakin felt a twinge of guilt every time he had to lie to his friend. But it was not his fault that the Jedi had such a ridiculous rule against attachments! Yes, he was doing nothing wrong. Surely there's no harm in keeping a secret from your best friend.

Except, it was not the only secret. Before he could start feeling guilty for his secret about what he did to the Tuskens, Obi-Wan's voice brought him back to the present.

"...Anakin. Anakin!"

"What?"

"Were you listening to a single word I said?"

"Well, no! You just talk too damn much."He gave him a lopsided smile to let him know he was speaking in jest. Then he frowned. "Why do I have a cup of tea in my hands?"

"I offered you tea, and you accepted. Perhaps you shouldn't space out so much when I'm talking."

"Well, I actually don't hate tea. Just your unhealthy obsession with it. Anyways, as fun as this is, I didn't come here just for the banter."

Obi-Wan raised one eyebrow. "Let me guess, you came here for the tea." They both shared a chuckle.

"Nope, sorry." He looked at him with excitement. "How about we spar? It's been a while since we do it, just for the fun of it. And I do enjoy seeing you lose at something."

"Your honesty is astonishing. Almost as much as your lack of humility."

Anakin laughed. "You chose to see it that way. I did imply that you are better than me at other things other than a lightsaber duel. So I was praising you... from a certain point of view." Obi-Wan rolled his eyes again. "Come on, what do you say?"

He looked at him for a few seconds, seemingly amused at his eagerness. "Alright, fine."

"Great!"

"But not until I'm finished with what I was doing."

Anakin groaned, sitting down again on the sofa. "And what were you doing?"

"Completing a report on my last mission. I was almost done, so if you're actually able to stay silent for a few minutes without exploding, we may go to spar sooner than you think."

He bit his lips, swallowing his retort to that—'I'm perfectly able to stay silent for more than a few minutes without exploding, thank you very much'— because he would have only proven him right by saying it. So he just stayed silent, looking amused at the way Obi-Wan brushed his beard every now and then when he was thinking hard about something while completing his report.

Yes, it felt nice being around his friend without the weight of war on their shoulders for one day.

Anakin gave a long sigh. That was a nice memory, even if nothing remarkable had happened in it. Perhaps that was what made it special.

And, indeed, they had come such a long way since then.

"You're thinking too loud." Obi-Wan's voice brought him back to the present this time as well.

Anakin chuckled lightly. "What, can you read minds now?" He joined him on the sofa. "Need I remind you we're no longer Jedi?"

Obi-Wan huffed amused. "I don't need to read minds to notice that frown of yours and that vacant stare. What were you thinking about?"

"How many times do I have to tell you, I'm not always brooding." Anakin held his hand, lacing their fingers together. "It was a nice memory." He smiled when Obi-Wan's free hand started caressing his cheekbone. They both were sprawled on the sofa facing each other, Obi-Wan's books forgotten for the moment.

"Do you ever miss it? Being a Jedi."

Anakin stayed silent as he thought about his answer. "Well, I do not miss the nonsensical rules of the Jedi Code, that's for sure...But I do miss the excitement of that life." War had been hard, and he certainly didn't miss that, but it had been nice to feel that you were fighting for a noble cause. Also, in spite of the pressure of living up to the expectations, it had also been nice having been the Chosen One, to feel that he was destined for great things. And, according to the Yoda of his dream, he did manage to fulfil the prophecy in that other reality. Yes, but at what cost? Yoda's ominous and imprecise words never failed to give him chills, so he brushed that thought aside. "I miss the feeling of having a purpose in life."

"But we still have a purpose in this life."

"But it's not the same, you know?"

Obi-Wan looked at him thoughtfully. "I know what you mean, but I insist, we do have a purpose. Everyone does. The fact that it's not grand, or lofty—call it as you will— doesn't make it any less valuable." Anakin still seemed unconvinced. "Look at it this way. Back then, would you have said that any of the civilians that were not involved in great conflicts—that were allowed to live simple, happy lives— had no purpose in life whatsoever?"

"No! Of course I would have never thought something like that."

"Then there's your answer." Obi-Wan smiled to him. "Do not underestimate the value of 'simple' lives, Anakin. Sometimes, the greatest things come out of those, whereas loftiness and power end up degenerating more often than not."

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Anakin snuggled closer against him. "Do you know what I miss the most about being a Jedi?"

"Let me guess... my lectures?"

"Please, Obi-Wan. How can I miss something that I have to endure in this life as well?" Anakin erased his grimace with a peck on his lips. "No, what I miss the most is being able to move things without touching them. Think about it, not having to stand up ever again whenever you need to take something" he joked, eliciting a laugh from Obi-Wan.

"You know, for someone who is so restless, you can be pretty lazy when you want to."

"What about you?" Anakin asked intrigued. "What do you miss the most?"

Obi-Wan gazed intently into his eyes. "Our Force bond."

Oh.

Obi-Wan smiled at Anakin's awed expression. He placed a tender kiss on his eyebrow. "I miss being able to sense you when we were near, and even to feel that uncontrolled whirlwind of emotions of yours whenever you failed to raise your shields." Anakin's lips on his prevented him from saying more.

"I miss our bond too." Anakin said between kisses. "In fact, I think that's the thing I miss the most. Even more than flying. And even more than moving things without touching them."

Obi-Wan laughed against his lips. "I should be honoured."

Anakin hummed in the middle of their kiss. "Although, to be fair, we have something even better now."

"Indeed."

"And, I think we're still able to sense what the other is thinking most of the time."

"Is that so?" Obi-Wan raised one eyebrow, grey-blue eyes shining with mirth. "Then, what am I thinking right now?"

Anakin smiled. "That you love me" he whispered against his ear.

"Well, then I believe that we both are thinking the same thing." He met his lips effusively, and there was no more talking for a while.

Anakin woke up feeling uneasy. He couldn't remember what he'd been dreaming about; only that it had not been good. His last thoughts before falling asleep had been about how terrified he was about feeling so happy, if that made any sense. It did make sense to him.

He looked to the side, hoping to find him next to him. He also remembered having waited up for him inside the bed— Obi-Wan had been preparing his classes, correcting exams and whatnot in the living room— but Anakin himself had been feeling so sleepy, and the blankets had felt so warm around his body, that his eyes had closed against his will pretty soon.

Obi-Wan was next to him inside the bed now; only, not resting— as he should be at one AM— but buried amongst piles of sheets and books; and the man really needed to take a break, for God's sakes.

The older of the two realised he was being watched. "Oh, I'm sorry. Did the light wake you? I can go back to the living room if you want—"

Anakin placed all those kriffing books and all his working stuff on the nightstand. "No, the light didn't wake me, and don't even think about going anywhere else. But you should really stop working, Obi-Wan." He placed his hand on his chest. "You need to take a break! Ever since you came back from the congress, you've been working almost nonstop."

Obi-Wan sighed soundly. "Precisely, that blasted congress... I don't even know why they sent me there, it's not as if it was useful in any way. It certainly wasn't worth it all the things I've got left to do now."

"I know, but you have to take it easy, Obi-Wan."

"Yes, like you're one to talk." He huffed ironically. "Today must be the only day you don't have to work at the garage. And the exams are getting closer. If only you accepted my help and left that blasted job..."

Anakin rolled his eyes. "Please, not this again. You know I'm grateful but—"

"But you're just too proud to accept my help—"

"Now, we were not talking about me. Don't try to divert the attention, Obi-Wan." He snuggled closer until he was resting on top of him. "You're so stressed-out. Let me take care of you" he said as he started placing kisses and small bites down his neck.

"And yet it's you the one who always manages to divert the conversation" he complained, unable to not react to his loving attention. His hands settled on his thighs. On his smooth and very naked thighs. "A-Anakin. You're not wearing your sleep pants."

Anakin smiled smugly. He also remembered having planned to seduce Obi-Wan when he came to bed, but his own exhaustion had spoilt his plans. Well, he had a second chance now. "Not quite, Obi-Wan. I'm not wearing anything at all."

Obi-Wan groaned. That's not fair. "I still have to finish my work."

"Is it something you need to do for tomorrow?"

"Well, no, but—"

"Then it can wait." Anakin's tongue prodded between his lips, and he couldn't help opening his mouth fully to invite him in. He wasn't sure what had happened during his absence, what had brought about Anakin's change of mind and his not feeling guilty any time things got passionate between them. Perhaps it was my absence itself? Or maybe our love confession at the beach? Whatever the reason, it filled Obi-Wan's heart with joy; not because that meant he got to be intimate with the man he loved— which was wonderful in ways he couldn't begin to describe— but rather because his dear Anakin had stopped suffering. He could see it in his eyes, and whenever he smiled to him. He was happy. And to know that he was one of the reasons for that— well, that was another feeling for which he lacked adequate words that could make it justice.

... but he really needed to get out of bed and finish his work, no matter how good it felt to have a completely naked Anakin—oh, Force— lying on top of him. No matter how perfectly well their tongues fit together.

He mustered all of his self-restraint to break away from the kiss and switch positions, pinning him down with his hands on his wrists. "I really should go" he said victorious. He might have claimed victory too soon, though, for now Anakin's warm and smooth body was beneath him, and he was looking up at him with inviting eyes.

"Yes. You should." Anakin was looking too much satisfied with himself— he knew Obi-Wan had lost this battle— and Obi-Wan always knew when it was time to admit defeat.

He kissed him as if his life depended on it—since he had already lost, he might as well make the most of it— and Anakin responded with the same fierceness, fumbling hands getting Obi-Wan's sleep pants and underwear out of the way, too impatient to bother with his nightshirt . When his former Padawan felt Obi-Wan's thumbs caressing the underside of his thighs, just behind the knees, he smiled against his lips and he opened his legs in invitation.

"You're going to be the death of me" Obi-Wan said breathless as he settled between the warmth of Anakin's long legs.

"Don't say that" Anakin complained. "You know I didn't like it when you said that."

"It was just a joke."

"I don't like that joke. It's not funny" Anakin looked seriously at him, then he gasped in pleasure when one finger teased his entrance.

Obi-Wan brushed his lips over his. "Alright, I'm sorry. I won't say it again." It was quite endearing how worked up Anakin could get by the sole idea of anything happening to him, even when it was a simple, nonsensical joke.

"Thank you" he whispered against his mouth before letting out a series of whimpers as Obi-Wan's fingers spread inside of him. Obi-Wan's mind was miles away from the work now, his senses overwhelmed by the tight heat surrounding his digits, and his sole purpose to bring pleasure to the writhing man under him.

As for Anakin, he was pretty lost in the moment as well, but even then that thought never left his mind. Please, just please, he silently prayed to whatever deity that might be listening, don't take this happiness away from me.