"Satine?"
"Sorry, I was just lost in my thoughts."
"About?" Obi-Wan asked, offering her his arm.
"Nothing."
"Nothing? Satine, you must know that it's impossible to be thinking about nothing!" Obi-Wan said aghast.
"I know… I know…" Satine said, patting Obi-Wan's arm. They continued walking in peaceful silence.
"Here it is," Obi-Wan said a few minutes later.
"Oh, Thank you," Satine said "But how do i-"
"Handprint," Obi-Wan said with amusement showing through in his voice.
"Oh." She put her hand on the pad on the wall.
The door opened instantaneously.
"It's more or less the same as Padmè's Apartment," Obi-Wan said, as Satine gasped.
"To be honest I hadn't really looked around but… oh, Obi, this is beautiful!"
Satine was a Duchess so she was accustomed to beautiful things, but this place still managed to inspire her awe. On one side of the entryway foyer was a dining room and on the other, a luxurious living area.
"I'm glad." Obi-Wan let out a breath of relief.
"My dear Obi, only you could get so quietly anxious over whether I like something or not."
Color spread across his cheeks, but he turned away before she could see.
"You should rest," Obi-Wan said after a few minutes
"I'm not tired. And, honestly, I can't sleep well when I know demonstrably dangerous people are still alive and out there." She sat down on the chaise lounge.
"Oh," he replied simply. Satine could see his compassion in his expression.
Obi-Wan jumped in surprise, then pressed his commlink. "Oh, let me ask her," he said to someone Satine couldn't hear.
"Ahsoka wants to come visit. Is that okay?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Of course! She's always welcome!" Satine said smiling.
"Okay, she said she'll be here soon. She's at the Jedi Temple," Obi-Wan explained.
"I- is that- Anakin!" Obi-Wan said alert.
"Sorry, Master! Just say "hello" to your girlfriend for me!" Anakin said quickly through both their comms.
"Anakin! She's not my…ugh! Nevermind," Obi-Wan said, shaking his head in annoyance.
"Don't worry, Obi." Satine smiled at him.
"You know," Obi-Wan began, stroking his beard in thought a few minutes later. "You look every bit a duchess right now."
"Well, I am a duchess, so I'd hope so," Satine said sarcastically, making sure her comm link was off, in case Anakin was still snooping.
"I'm here, Duchess. Will you open the door?" Ahsoka asked through the comm device.
"Oh, yes. I'm sorry, Ahsoka. I should've figured out how to add your handprint," Satine responded as she made her way to the door.
"Hi, Duchess!" Ahsoka waved as she stepped through the threshold.
"Please just call me Satine. Anyway, come sit and tell me why you wanted to visit."
"Okay… Satine. I have some free time, so I just wanted to check up on you!"
"Oh thank you, Ahsoka! I appreciate it."
Ahsoka nodded shyly,
"Hey, Snips, care to share?" an unwelcome voice cut in.
"Anakin!" Ahsoka whisper-shouted. "I already told you I'm not going to snoop! They'll figure everything out on their own!"
"Figure what out?!" Satine and Obi-Wan asked in puzzled unison. Ahsoka and Anakin started laughing maniacally.
"Ah, It's- j- it's just… so funny," Ahsoka tried to say around peels of laughter.
"Oh, you guys are so busted," Anakin, also overcome by laughter, taunted through the comm link.
Satine and Obi-Wan looked at each other in shared confusion.
"Ahsoka, will you please tell us what you meant?" Obi-Wan asked again, once the
Padawan's laughter had died down.
"Anakin, I told you they were going to ask!" Ahsoka said.
Anakin stayed silent.
"Well, Anakin and I think there is something going on with you two." Her eyes flickered between both of them.
"Like what?" Satine and Obi-Wan asked, once again speaking in unison. Ahsoka smiled at their simultaneous response.
"Like…" Ahsoka waved her hands around. "A relationship?"
"What? Ahsoka we already have a relationship-" Obi-Wan cut himself off as his eyes practically bulged. "Ahsoka! I can assure you, young Padawan, that we are not like that!"
"Sure," Ahsoka replied, clearly not buying it.
"Oh," Satine breathed, as it dawned on her what Ahsoka had meant. She didn't realize her response was audible until Obi-Wan and Ahsoka turned to look at her.
"Wha- Ahsoka, my dear you…you must be," Satine said, grasping for a suitable reply.
"Nope. I know it when I see it." Ahsoka said, smirking, knowing she was right.
Satine wasn't used to this type of teasing. Or, was it intrusiveness? She wasn't sure. But as a duchess, familiarity of this sort was foreign to her.
"I'm feeling quite tired. Please excuse me while I rest for a bit," she smiled politely, hoping they wouldn't think she was upset by the conversation.
She was only half-sure which door led to her bedroom. She felt awkward asking anyone though, particularly considering the conversation that had been going on. Thankfully, she guessed right.
She sat down on her bed. She needed time to think.
"Satine, are you alright?" Obi-Wan asked through the commlink.
"Yes. Don't worry, I just feel in need of a lie down. Tell Ahsoka she can come and go as she pleases," Satine said, massaging her temples.
"Okay. Ahsoka said she'll leave and if you want company she'll come if she's able." Obi-Wan said. "And, Satine, I am available if you need anything."
"Of course, Obi."
Satine rubbed her eyes, then lay back on the bed. She had been semi-truthful when she said she was tired. She was more mentally tired than anything else.
She drifted to sleep as she replayed the odd conversation with Anakin and Ashoka.
Later, with Obi-Wan
It had been a while since Satine had retired. After finishing a tiresome Jedi council meeting, Obi-Wan headed to her building to check on her. Like most of the meetings lately, it was taken up with council members discussing what action they should take now that Satine was their guest. It was decided she should go see a psychiatrist to help with the mental aftershock she might be experiencing after the Siege of Mandalore. Obi-Wan had shied away from giving his opinion on the topic since he knew Satine would not take kindly to the council's decision.
Obi-Wan arrived at the building and headed straight toward the turbo-lift. He pressed the button for Satine's floor.
Moments later, he stepped out and headed toward her apartment. The council had taken initiative and added his handprint to the system, as he was assigned to her welfare.
He pressed his hand to the panel and heard the door unlock and hiss open. He stepped in and looked around the lounge.
He was surprised to find no one in the lounge. He looked around before he felt a spike in the Force. He felt around to try to sense where it was coming from. He started to worry, realizing it was coming from Satine's room.
He cautiously opened her door and saw her asleep in her bed. Obi-Wan saw her brow scrunch in concentration and heard something worryingly close to a whimper escape her lips.
"Satine?" Obi-Wan whispered as he kneeled next to her. He saw her wriggle a bit. She was obviously having a nightmare. "Satine… shhhhh…" He watched her face intently. After a second he saw her mouth moving and heard her murmur something, evidently responding to something in her dream.
"N… no O- Obi… do- don't go…" She was still immersed in her dream.
"Shhhh… Satine, my dear, I'm right here. Nothing will ever happen to you. I'll never leave you," Obi-Wan said quietly, trying to comfort her with his voice. He hoped his words would make their way to her in the dream.
"O- Obi… no, d- don't… Maul- Manda- Mandalore… I- it's…" Satine's voice trailed off.
Obi-Wan carefully grasped her hand from under her head and rubbed it. "No, no, no… Satine, I'll never leave you. Never," Obi-Wan murmured into her hand. "It's only a dream, only a dream."
Obi-Wan saw her face smooth a bit. She made a quiet, barely perceivable, noise; almost a whimper. "Obi… you're…you…" Satine whispered her eyes just barely opening.
"I know. I know." Obi-Wan said quietly. "Now rest. I'll be back." He caressed her face before getting up and moving toward the door.
"You better," Satine managed and Obi-Wan looked back at her.
"Now sleep, ner cyar'ika," Obi-Wan said, switching to Mando'a briefly to calm her. He smiled softly at her as she laid her head back down. ("Now sleep my darling")
Obi-Wan left her apartment but stayed near the door for a minute to make sure she wasn't having another nightmare. He was pleased that her sleep seemed calm now. He could rest easy knowing he had soothed her mind, even as she slept.