Author comments: Ok so I suck at updating. My bad…I haven't been feeling that well in myself and even though writing helps, sometimes when my mood really drops it's hard to concentrate on anything. For all who are interested, I hope that the wait was worth it. Let me know what you think.
Disclaimer: These characters belong to George Lucas. No infringement is intended and I make no profit from this….what so ever.
"Against All Odds"
Chapter Four: An Interesting Development.
Hiding behind the Jedi Code was easy for Obi-Wan. The code offered him security, a way of shutting out the pain of life. Everything was stated in black and white, and was either wrong or right. There was no confusion, no ambiguity. It was simple, obey the rules and do your duty.
Built in the aftermath of his Master's death was a well-constructed wall. One that he could hide behind to save himself from further heartache. This rational reasoning helped him to push aside his overwhelming grief. If he told himself it was wrong to love Qui-Gon in the first place and accept the pain of his passing as punishment, he would survive.
So after that day on Naboo, Obi-Wan swore that he would never leave himself vulnerable again - he would never allow himself to love. Just as the Code stated.
Words were easy to manipulate. Feelings, however, were not.
Obi-Wan sat up in his bed staring at a small mark on the wall. The blemish moved under his intense gaze, splitting in two before then merging back into one. He exhaled heavily, releasing a breath he had not realised he had been holding. The sensation shook him out of his trance and he blinked a couple of times to moisten his dry eyes.
Breaking down in the arms of his Padawan was not something that Obi-Wan had intended to do. Anakin's force signature had radiated warmth, compassion and love. His aura had enveloped Obi-Wan completely. He had tried so hard not to let Anakin in. Obi-Wan knew that once he was well again, Anakin would run back to Padmé. The love he felt for her was of a different kind to the one he felt for his Master. Obi-Wan was sure of it. Anakin would never reciprocate his feelings of attraction. Why would he? When he had her.
So now the irrational jealously Obi-Wan had buried was now burning at the surface. It was both exhilarating and infuriating to have Anakin so close all the time. It both fed his deepest desire and fuelled a raging voice deep inside him.
'Why not me?'
Obi-Wan brushed his fingers through his hair, grimacing as he pulled away his hand. "It would probably help if I was a little more presentable," he mumbled sarcastically.
Moving slowly he gently pulled himself up off the bed. A wave of dizziness struck him straight away and he threw his arms out to steady himself. He waited for a moment while his body adjusted to being in an upright position before tentatively taking a step forward. He groaned as his weak and battered body protested and as his knees began to wobble he threw his arms forward involuntary, protecting his face from the inevitable impact.
"Oh Force this is going to…" As strong arms wrapped around his waist to catch him, Obi-Wan sighed in relief.
"What the Sith are you doing? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" Anakin was not impressed.
"I want a shower." Obi-Wan replied turning around to grasp at Anakin's tunic in order to steady himself.
Anakin rolled his eyes. "You can't get that wound in your side wet….and it will never heal properly if you keep jumping around the room."
Obi-Wan scoffed pulling away from Anakin's embrace. "I'm hardly jumping around the room, Anakin. I can't even walk across the room." Another wave of dizziness struck him and he leaned against Anakin again. "Force, I feel so weak."
"That's because you're not eating, Master," Anakin said as he wrapped his arm around Obi-Wan's waist. "Come on, back to bed."
"No…not the bed. I've seen far too much of this room. There are exactly forty eight tiles framing that window," Obi-Wan protested, pointing at the offensive object in question.
Anakin laughed and led Obi-Wan into the common room, supporting the elder man gently as he walked him over to the couch. "There, you can spend the day curled up in front of the HoloNet and…" He quirked up his eyebrows, grinning in what looked like a flirtatious way, " I can keep an eye on you in here."
"I'm not a youngling, Anakin." Obi-Wan replied, wrapping his arms around himself as he felt the chill in the room. He flicked his eyes up at Anakin feeling a little embarrassed. "C-can I have my blanket, please?"
"Not a youngling, hey?" Anakin quipped as he walked back into the bedroom to retrieve the blanket.
Under normal circumstances Obi-Wan would have reprimanded Anakin for his impudent behaviour. But he didn't have the energy or the care to do so. Instead he compromised, opting for a glare which he directed at the younger Jedi's back.
"We are a grumpy one this morning aren't we, Master." Anakin said catching sight of his Master's expression.
"I'm tired, sore, weak, hungry, bored and…" He brushed his fingers through his hair. "I do not look…erm…feel my best." Obi-Wan took the blanket from Anakin, wrapping it around his shoulders tightly.
Anakin knelt down on the floor beside the sofa and lay his hand on Obi-Wan's knee. "You're getting stronger everyday and your wounds are healing. Breakfast is ready, and if you want me to I can wash your hair for you when you've finished eating." He said softy.
Obi-Wan tried to suppress the smile that formed on his face. He had woken up feeling cranky and was resolved to stay that way for the rest of the day. Being mad around Anakin though was impossible when he was this endearing. "What's for breakfast then?"
"The only thing I know how to cook. Traditional Nubian breakfast." Anakin replied as walked back to the kitchen area.
"No doubt it's Padmé's favourite."
Anakin shot him a look. "We've been through this a thousand times. No more lectures please?"
"I'm probably not in the right frame of mind to give you a lecture on forbidden attachment anyway." Obi-Wan sighed deeply. "Anakin, I am grateful for all that you are doing. You must appreciate that this whole situation is very frustrating for me."
"I know." Anakin's expression softened when he met Obi-Wan's gaze and after a moment of contemplation he shook his head and walked over to couch. "I'll leave you alone to eat this while I take a shower," he said as he lowered a tray on Obi-Wan's lap.
Obi-Wan eyed the plate heaped with food and licked his lips as he took in the exotic aroma. "Smells good."
"Well make sure you eat it all up then." Anakin replied, ruffling Obi-Wan's hair as he walked past.
"Still not a youngling."
Anakin laughed as entered the fresher. "But you are adorable when you behave like one." He said, closing the door before Obi-Wan could retort.
Now that Anakin was out of sight, Obi-Wan hurriedly tucked into his breakfast. He didn't want his cheeky Padawan to see how hungry he truly was. His appetite had come back with a vengeance and there was no dignified way to eat in front of anyone when he felt this hungry.
With a flick of the wrist he turned on the Holo-Reciever, frowning in distaste as the image flickered on the screen. "Stars' end, I can't believe they are still showing this." As he moved to change the channel, a woman on the screen cried out in pain and slumped to the floor. With his curiosity now piqued, Obi-Wan continued to watch.
As the show reached its climax, Obi-Wan sat on the edge of his seat watching eagerly to see whether the female character would survive. Deeply immersed in the intense, if not, cheesy drama; he didn't hear Anakin sneak up behind him.
"Wow, I never would have guessed."
The sound of Anakin's voice made Obi-Wan jump and he yelped in shook. He quickly moved to change the channel but Anakin grabbed his wrist, laughing incredulously at his Master's poor taste in viewing.
"I expected you to be watching the HoloNews, not this load of rubbish. Obi-Wan Kenobi you..."
"That's Master Obi-Wan Kenobi to you." Obi-Wan interrupted; mortified that he had been caught in the act. Still, he made no effort to remove his Padawan's hand from his...
"Oh no! You can't get out of it by being all 'Masterly.'"
Obi-Wan sighed in exasperation and nodded to his plate, hoping that it would avert Anakin's attention. "I ate it all, look."
"Good job," Anakin said as set the plate to one side. He pulled the elder Jedi from the sofa, letting Obi-Wan support most of his own weight as he led him to the fresher.
Anakin pulled up a stool in front of the sink and gestured for Obi-Wan to sit down. "When you're feeling stronger we can go down to the training room's. You can work off some of that frustration and grumpiness burning away in there," he said as wrapped a towel around his Master's shoulders. "You'd probably kick my ass."
Obi-Wan inhaled deeply as his Padawan leant over. He could smell the soap Anakin had used to wash himself with. The sweet scent merged with the familiar 'Anakin' aroma and he smiled as he took it all in. He reassured himself that there was nothing inappropriate about having his hair washed and relaxed, content to let himself be pampered for a while.
"Lean back." Anakin whispered softly.
As a wave of warm water washed over his head, Obi-Wan closed his eyes and sighed slowly. Anakin took his time, brushing his fingers slowly through Obi-Wan's hair stopping periodically to massage his scalp and temple. Anakin was a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield, his strong calloused hands as much of a weapon as his lightsabre was. Yet To Obi-Wan's surprise, his touch was soft and gentle.
Obi-Wan groaned in response, leaning into Anakin's caress. His heart leapt when Anakin knelt down beside him, as the younger Jedi began run a comb through the mass of tangles in his hair. Gazing deep into Anakin's eyes, Obi-Wan was once again struck by an almost overpowering sense of love flowing from his Padawan's Force signature. As wave after wave hit him, Obi-Wan felt his head start to spin. He grasped at the hand Anakin had set on his knee and sighed when his Padawan laced his fingers with his.
"Gorgeous."
"What?" Obi-Wan shook his head in disbelief.
Anakin gazed longingly into Obi-Wan eyes, brushing his fingers through the wet auburn strands. "Hair wet…you look, gorgeous."
"You, think so?" Obi-Wan replied in wonderment.
Anakin nodded, words lost in the moment as he tentatively moved forward. Obi-Wan's lips twitched in response and he felt his body begin to tremble in anticipation. There was no time for reasoning or debate and when Anakin's lips touched his, Obi-Wan gasped at the sensation, allowing Anakin access to his mouth with his tongue. Taken aback at first Obi-Wan began to respond, deepening the kiss even more. He tugged hard at Anakin's tunic, pulling his Padawan in closer.
"Wait," Anakin panted, breaking the kiss.
Obi-Wan was suddenly struck by a wave of anxiety. It was radiating from Anakin. Concerned, he pulled away. "What's wrong?"
"Things are beginning to take an interesting turn…but…"
Obi-Wan looked down. "…Padmé."
Anakin tilted Obi-Wan's chin up, forcing him to make eye contact again. "Is my wife yes…but I want you…"
"Do you not love her?" Obi-Wan whispered.
"Yes…I do…I did…in a way. I'm not sure. I've hardly seen her and I have spent every day apart from her with you. I feel so confused…" Anakin shook his head. "One thing I know is what I'm doing here is wrong."
"All of this is wrong, Anakin. Your marriage, my attraction to you … A Jedi does not know passion … love."
"But you feel it all the same?" There was a pause before Anakin continued, "If I ask you something do you promise to answer honestly, no cryptic messages or Jedi platitudes?"
"I will try."
"Stripped down so there was just the two of us, no code, council, obligation, war or wife. Would you…consider me? Could I be with you…would you…?" Anakin trailed off, frustrated that he was unable to articulate the question.
"I am interested, yes." Obi-Wan started. He was a little shocked by his own admission
Anakin eyes widened in surprise. "You are?"
"Yes." Obi-Wan replied softly, cupping the side of Anakin's face.
Anakin smiled wryly. "So if we were to win the war, destroy the Sith, rewrite the Jedi Code and if I was to divorce Padmé - we could be together. Talk about overwhelming odds."
"Sometimes things prevail against all odds, Anakin."
"I guess so. You're living proof of that. How you escaped Ventress I'll never know."
Obi-Wan shifted uncomfortably in his seat and wrapped his arms around himself. The mere thought of that sadistic creature sending chills down his body.
Anakin took hold of Obi-Wan's hand, squeezing it tightly "I should go and see her, Padmé. I should talk to her."
"I think you should." Obi-Wan replied.
Anakin smiled lightly as he pulled Obi-Wan to his feet. They embraced for a while before Anakin gently escorted the elder Jedi back to the couch.
The waves of anxiety rolling off Anakin became more intense as he pulled on his boots and cloak. Before he left, he bent down to place a soft kiss on Obi-Wan's forehead. "I'll be back soon."
Obi-Wan sighed deeply, reaching out to grasp Anakin's hand. He hung on, until finally they were fingertip to fingertip. When his Padawan walked out of reach and earshot, he voiced the words that he had desperately wanted to say.
"I love you."
TBC