"I can hear you thinking."
Obi-Wan glanced over at the Senator, her eyes fixated on the spot where Anakin had been only moments before. They had already taken him back, leaving them alone in the sterile room as the Droids and medical Clones went about their business around them. The Sith— Leia, Obi-Wan reminded himself, gently— sat in silence while Obi-Wan and Padmé had been left glued to their spots. Cody was there too, but he was so still and quiet that he had almost forgotten he was there at all.
"That loud?" he found himself asking.
She said nothing in response, just balanced on the balls of her feet, arms crossed over her chest. Obi-Wan wished that he could read her mind, to know what she was thinking. It might've helped ease the already tense situation.
"You're quiet," she said at last. "Too quiet."
"Yes, well," he drawled. "My mind has been a bit… Preoccupied."
She nodded, "I suppose I can understand that," she said before adding; "it's a lot. I know."
A lot was an understatement, but Kenobi didn't see the point in pressing the matter. At least, not yet, and certainly not in the middle of the medical bay either.
But he had so many questions.
"How long" he began, throat dry and lips cracked, "have you and Anakin been married?"
She considered the question for a few moments, eyes still not meeting his as he stared at her, awaiting her answer. It was as if she wasn't there, but somewhere else; remembering.
"We married shortly after Geonosis," she said quietly. "When Anakin escorted me back to Naboo. We uh… We had the ceremony at the lake house. It was only us and the Priest," she said before adding; "and Artoo and Threepio."
"That was nearly three years ago," muttered Obi-Wan. "Anakin had just been Knighted… You mean to tell me that you've been married this entire time?!" he asked, mortification rising inside of him. He had always suspected that there was something more between Anakin and Padmé. But this?
"We had to keep it a secret," her reasoning seemed weak, but she held her ground as she finally turned to face him. "It was the only way we could be together."
"Force," muttered Obi-Wan as he pinched the bridge of his nose before wincing in pain.
"General, are you—"
"I'm fine, Cody," said the Jedi, waving the concerned Clone Commander off with his hand. "Just bruised."
"I guess I should apologize for that," said Padmé, eyes traveling over the damage that she had done to his face. She seemed almost guilty, but Obi-Wan had bigger things to worry about than a bruised face.
"I always knew you two had something going on," he said, shaking his head as he ran a hand through his beard, exasperated. He had always suspected, as had everyone else, that Anakin and Padmé were together. They had always been close, especially after Geonosis… But in all of his musings, Obi-Wan had never considered the possibility that they were this involved. "But three years…" he muttered, lowering himself down onto one of the vacant bio-beds. "I don't… How could I have been so blind…?"
"We can't have been too obvious if you're this surprised," commented Padmé as Obi-Wan snorted.
"You are much better at hiding things," he said before adding; "But Anakin is about as sharp as a marble when it comes to keeping secrets. But I never thought you two would be so reckless," he continued, disapprovingly. "What were you two thinking?"
"I love him," said Padmé defensively. "Maybe it wasn't the best decision—"
"No," he said, firmly. "It wasn't."
She flinched. "Are you going to tell the Council?"
"I don't know," was his honest response. "I haven't thought that far ahead, truthfully."
"They'll kick him out."
The words sounded automatic, but they held weight. Enough weight to make Obi-Wan stop and think about what such actions would mean for Anakin.
Was he willing to do that to his former Padawan?
The door to the medbay swished open as Rex strolled into the room. "Sorry to interrupt," he began, eyes darting between the occupants in the room. "But medical has finished discharging the prisoner and we need to move her to the cellblock."
"Cellblock?" blinked Padmé. "I… You can't…"
Obi-Wan nodded towards the Clone. "Thank you, Rex. I'll take it from here."
Rex looked like he was about to vehemently refuse, but Padmé beat him to it. "You can't be serious."
"Unfortunately, I am," he said, not sugar-coating his words. "Daughter or not, she has committed serious crimes against the Republic. Theft, kidnapping, murder…" there was more he could've added to that list, but he knew that his point had already been made. "Until we can ascertain whether or not she is a threat— and you know as well as I do that she is— we have to ensure the safety of everyone on board this vessel."
"Obi-Wan, look at her," pleaded Padmé as she pointed towards the woman. "She needs help. Our help. That's why she's here… That's why she came back."
"She will have a chance to explain herself," explained Obi-Wan. "But I will not have a Sith running around this ship unsupervised. I'm sorry, Padmé," he said, earnestly. "I really am. But I have a duty to the Republic, as I'm sure you understand."
She opened her mouth, but the words never came. He could feel her frustration building, as well as her anger, but she managed to hide it under a stony expression as she considered his words carefully. "I would never question your loyalty to the Republic, Obi-Wan. I know you have a duty to this ship and your men, but Leia is my daughter," she breathed before adding; "and Anakin's. Doesn't that mean something to you?"
"Of course it does," he could feel the heat rising to his face. "It means everything to me. But you're letting your sentiments cloud your judgment, Senator."
"I'll have to agree with Kenobi on this one," Rex said, face grave and solemn. "I know she's your daughter, Senator. But she murdered three of my brothers and tried to kill General Skywalker," he pursed his lips before adding; "I don't trust her. None of us do."
It was eerie how much weight Rex's words held, and the way that they seemed to wrap around Padmé as they watched her take them in, eyes closing in resignation and defeat— and it hurt. Obi-Wan could feel it, seeping into the Force…
"I'll go," said Leia, speaking for the first time since leaving the surface of Endor. Her voice was a rasp, ill-used and almost grating as if there was something caught in it.
Obi-Wan watched quietly as the woman pushed herself off the bio-bed, brushing off her robes before holding her head high. She made her way towards them, her steps slow and tired as she held her hands out in front of her.
Rex went to put the cuffs back on her, but Obi-Wan held his hand out, feeling something strange emanating off the woman.
"No," he found himself saying. "Let me."
Rex didn't question him as he handed over the Force inhibiting cuffs. He could feel the woman's— Leia's (he was still trying to get used to her name) eyes on him as he stepped forward and gently placed the restraints on her, his eyes refusing to meet her's as he secured them with a click.
He felt like he should say something to the woman standing in front of him, but with the already tense situation, he felt it would only make things between them even more awkward.
"I will escort her down to the cellblock," he said before adding; "Rex will stay with Padmé and Cody—"
"Sir, I think it would be best if I went with you," said Rex, eyeing Leia with thinly veiled contempt.
"Your concern is noted," he said. "But that won't be necessary."
His words left no room for argument as Rex and Cody reluctantly stepped aside. He could feel Padmé's eyes on him as he led the woman out of the room, but she didn't follow them.
"There are two Jedi and hundreds of Clone troopers aboard this vessel," said Obi-Wan as soon as they had left the medbay, his eyes having caught her staring at the two lightsabers that hung at his side. "Even if you try, you won't get very far."
"Do you think I'm that stupid?" she asked, almost offended if her tone was any indication.
"Not at all," he says, his voice calm and even friendly. "Consider it a warning, though."
"You can rest assured that I have no intention of trying to escape," she said before muttering under her breath; "yet."
"You seem to be cooperative," began Obi-Wan as they walked down the corridor. "I would advise you remain so. You might find your stay here more… Pleasant if you do."
"And if I'm not?"
"Then I will have no choice but to inform the Council of our present situation," he said before adding; "and I would have to return you to Coruscant to stand trial."
She scoffed, "you would put a time traveler on trial?"
Obi-Wan had to agree that the idea seemed almost… Ludicrous, if he was being honest. But that didn't change the fact that Leia had still committed egregious crimes. Crimes that she would need to answer for, one way or another.
"I would rather not," he admitted truthfully. "I wasn't lying when I said I would give you a chance to explain yourself," he said before adding; "and I think we're all a little curious as to what you're doing here."
"I don't have to tell anyone that."
"You told Padmé," he said, glancing at her as they passed a group of Clone Troopers. He couldn't help but notice the way her eyes followed them, as if they were the threat and not her. "You didn't have to, but you did."
She didn't say anything to that as Obi-Wan resisted the urge to look at her again. He hadn't noticed it before, but Leia's eyes were no longer that sickly yellow color that he hated so much. Now they were brown, just like her mother's…
"I won't pretend to know anything about the future that you come from," he continued. "But I know you came back here for a reason," he said before adding; "what that reason is, I don't know. But I know desperation when I see it."
"You're right," she swallowed. "You don't know anything about the future. If you did know… You wouldn't be trying to stop me."
"I doubt that even with knowledge of the future I would be okay with your murdering Anakin," said Obi-Wan, sharply. "Or with anything that you've done, quite frankly."
"You have no idea what I'm trying to prevent," she sneered. "None."
There was such venom in her voice that Obi-Wan had to resist the urge to step away from her. Her presence was a blazing vortex that he felt he was too close to, but he held his ground. She was not the first Sith he had ever encountered, nor would she be the last.
"I'm trying to do you a courtesy by giving you the chance to explain," he said before adding; "not because you're Anakin and Padmé's daughter, but because I believe that deep down you have good intentions."
It was almost painful to admit, but Obi-Wan trusted his intuition. He just hoped he was right.
They stopped in front of the cellblock, taking a moment to stand together as they stared at the cell that would serve as her quarters for the foreseeable future. Until, at least, she was deemed no longer a threat. Obi-Wan didn't know how long that would take, or if it was even possible at that point.
"Stay your blade and we will help you," he said at last. "Whatever it is that has led you here, we can face it together."
Leia received his words stoically. He attempted to probe; to glean her emotions off of her because he didn't like not being able to read people. He had always been good at judging others and figuring out their desires and motives. After all, they didn't call him the Negotiator for nothing.
"Stop trying to be my friend. I don't need your help, nor do I want it."
He sighed, "I thought you might say that. Still, my offer stands."
Leia remained silent as she was escorted into her cell. But Obi-Wan can tell that his words affected her. Maybe, just maybe, she will accept his offer.
He hoped for her sake she would.
Cody was the first person to greet Obi-Wan (he must've been following him), so he was the first person to see his withered face, lined with worry. "Are you all right, Sir?"
He only made it a few steps before he slumped onto a crate. He felt bone-deep tiredness all of the sudden, and he knew it wasn't the physical sort. It was hard— being around someone with such anger and hatred inside of them. He felt drained; and just… Strangely empty.
"Cody?" he managed, not sure why the other man was there. "Have you been following me?"
"Guilty," said the Clone. "Thought you would've noticed by now."
"I've been distracted," said Obi-Wan, wondering how he had missed the other man's presence. They had spent so much time together here and on the battlefield that the Jedi had become used to his presence, much like he was Anakin's. And just like Anakin, he had always been able to sense him, whether he was near or far.
"I could tell," Cody said, worry etched onto his face. "I was worried she would try something."
Obi-Wan couldn't help the small smile that spread across his face. "And that was your excuse for following me?"
"I'm worried," was his honest response. "So are the rest of the men, but they won't admit it," he said before adding; "that and, well… Seeing as she did try to kill General Skywalker…"
Obi-Wan held up a hand. "You don't need to explain yourself. I understand."
He watched as the Clone shifted, his weight going from one foot to the next. Obi-Wan could tell that wasn't the reaction that Cody had been expecting, but the Clone brushed it off as he readied himself to ask another question.
"Did she say something to you?"
Obi-Wan frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Did she tell you why…?" he swallowed. "Did she tell you why she's here?" followed by the unspoken, 'did she tell you why she tried to kill Skywalker?'
"No," he shook his head. "She did talk… But not about that."
"I see," that was a lie, but Obi-Wan didn't press the matter. "Is she sane?"
"Sane?" asked Obi-Wan with raised eyebrows. It wasn't exactly a question he had been expecting from the other man.
"I can't imagine that she's all there… In the head, I mean," explained Cody before adding; "she tried to erase herself from the timeline. Doesn't strike me as something a sane person would want much less try to do."
"She's a Sith," said Obi-Wan weakly. "They do strange things."
"So is Dooku," began Cody. "And yet I doubt he would try something like this."
Cody was right… Dooku was a Sith, but he wasn't crazy. Everything he did was methodically planned out. It was clear that the Count paid attention to detail. He wasn't rash or impulsive… He was almost…
He shook his head. There wasn't any point in pondering about the Count's motives. Not when he had a bigger problem staring him down in the face.
"I can't speak for everyone, but desperation can drive a person to do insane things," he said. "I can imagine it being a driving force behind Leia's actions."
"She must be very desperate then," commented Cody.
"Yes," agreed Obi-Wan, a pit forming in his stomach at the thought. What about the future had driven her to such extremes? Did he even want to know? "Very desperate indeed."
AN: Thank you for all the lovely comments! I appreciate them :)