Destined to Pretend
Synopsis: Growing up in the same group of friends, Obi-wan Kenobi and Kade Draen have had a lifetime of history. As peacekeepers of the galaxy, they are bound and dedicated to a hard life of sacrifice. While destined for lives separate from one another, the Force constantly brings them circling back. Their story is one of balance, duty, and the simple human nature of love in difficult times. Obi-wan/OC AU
Author's notes: I am also going to be utilizing timeline elements from both Legends and Canon, so this is ultimately AU. For purposes of clarity, here's a general year breakdown of timeline in relation to the movies, so you don't have to look it up and can mostly track along:
32 BBY: A Phantom Menace
22 BBY: Attack of the Clones
22-19 BBY: Clone Wars
19 BBY: Revenge of the Sith
0 BBY: A New Hope
I will also cross-post this to AO3, because we will have some much spicier chapters and potential Mature triggers. I will post here as long as I can, if we get banned, I'm under virtually the same username (KatsWords), and the story title will be the same. I have been working on this story without posting, for about a year now, so strap in, we're in for the long haul! I hope you enjoy!
Chapter 1: Nostalgia
19 BBY
Though the twin suns had started their descent below the horizon, stale warmth lingered in the air. While he didn't particularly care for the intense heat of a Tatooine day, the setting suns were always a spectacular sight. From his vantage point on the southwestern edge of the Dune Sea, he had an unobstructed view of each evening's event.
He would take his little comforts where he could get them, especially in times like these.
Obi-wan settled back down in the coarse, pillowy sand, beside the small fire he had started earlier that evening. He crossed his legs beneath him and peered into the pot warming in the sand next to the flames. The water ticked loudly in the metal container, little bubbles gently rolling under the surface.
Careful not to burn his fingers, he wrapped his hand in the sleeve of his cloak and slid the pot back in the sand, towards him. The metal sides had long been charred where the flames had licked up against it, but Obi-wan didn't mind. The sonic dishwasher always took off the caked black soot.
He reached into a pouch on his belt and plucked out a delicate, dried ball of yoriflower tea. He dropped it into the empty cup that he had previously gotten up to retrieve from his kitchen. Carefully, Obi-wan poured the boiling water into his cup, relishing in the immediate aroma of the steam that trailed up to kiss his face.
He let the tea steep for a time, watching as the dried flower elegantly unfurled at the bottom of his cup. Hesitantly, he brought it to his lips and blew across the top. Through the long years, no matter how bad the days could get, yoriflower tea always reminded him of home and sent a gentle sensation of comfort to his core.
Particularly, tonight, it reminded him of the exhausting days reviewing mission notes in the Temple's mess hall over a steaming mug of tea. The gentle rustle and bustle of younglings excited for their midday meal, chattering around him without notice to the waring galaxies around them, their voices echoing in the high temple ceilings. His thoughts trailed to the day she sat down across from him, her own cup of tea close at hand, and smiled through her mischievous eyes. She would brush out her long braid with her fingers while they compared war stories and eccentricities of their Clone commanders. It had felt so rare when their off days at the Temple had lined up.
Cupping the mug between both of his hands, Obi-wan cleared his throat and stared off at the sandy horizon. He reminded himself that he would need to ration what little he had left of the yoriflower tea, as he would be unlikely to find such an unusual off-world import here on Tatooine.
Taking a tentative sip, he savored the smooth, floral warmth as it slid down his throat. The silence around him here, at his hut in the middle of nowhere, was going to be the hardest adjustment, he thought to himself. The last several years Obi-wan had gotten used to the constant noise of Clone banter, blaster fire, the loud metal grinding of warships in space and on land. War was anything but silent, particularly in the ways of the force.
The quiet wastelands of Tatooine were a stark contrast to the wars and far more akin to his days as a padawan. The Coruscant Temple was generally a quiet, peaceful place—conducive for meditation and reflection between missions. He had spent many of his teenage years lingering in the temple's library at Qui-gon's request, pulling prophecies in droves from the shelves. Even then, however, Obi-wan couldn't deny that he loved to escape to the loud atmosphere of friends, listening as each in turn excitedly retold their recent adventures through the galaxy over meals in the mess or a drink at the local cantina.
Qui-gon had always been the reclusive one of the pair, more comfortable meditating and taking solace in the silence than in the comfort of others. Before taking exile on Tatooine, Obi-wan had never really gotten the chance to become used to being alone. After Qui-gon's death, he inherited a padawan that was loud and energetic and who never ceased to stop talking.
Obi-wan smiled, sadly, towards the horizon. Being comfortable with solitude was a new skill that he would need to develop now that the Temple was gone. Now that the Jedi were gone.
Another sip. He hoped that someday he could learn the quiet resolve that Qui-gon seemed to prefer.
The fire shifted loudly and suddenly, sending embers floating into the darkening sky.
He could almost hear the playful laughter of his creche-mates in the popping and crackling of the fire. They had mostly all grown apart in their maturing years, each living lives independent of one another. It was no small part of Obi-wan that missed the days of sneaking off together to the lake levels, where they would all take midnight dips in the cool water, splashing around and trying to beat Bant's underwater breath-holding record—they never could.
Siri had passed away years ago, but the others were out in the universe when Order 66 was executed. Obi-wan found himself looking up at the stars that were blinking to life as the darkness emerged. He hoped that they had all somehow made an escape, unscathed, as he did.
Many Jedi died that day, though, and it was impossible to pinpoint and accurately identify one lifeforce being extinguished amongst thousands of others. Any who survived would surely have gone into exile and hidden away, like him. Even if they had survived, he knew he would likely never see them again.
Obi-wan Kenobi stroked his beard and leaned back on a large rock behind him. The two suns stretched below the horizon, finally bathing him in darkness. He closed his eyes against a light breeze and lifted his chin to meet it as the wind gently caressed his face.
All he had now of the past were memories and a few balls of dried tea.
44 BBY
"I don't mean to seem greedy, but are you going to eat your puff cake?"
A young Obi-wan Kenobi, lost in thought, looked up to his wrinkly-faced Dresselian friend who was licking his lips and staring at the untouched puff cake on Obi-wan's food tray.
"I'll give you some of mine," Bant posed cheerfully, pulling her sweet roll apart. She extended her webbed hand and offered half of her cake to him. A slight blush darkened her rosey skin as Reeft's eyes lit up and he happily accepted her gift.
"Thank you kindly!" The piece of puff cake was gone before Bant could blink her large, watery eyes.
Obi-wan glanced back down at his own tray and unenthusiastically pushed around the untouched food. Truthfully, he didn't feel much like eating. His nerves were on edge and he was still reeling from the consequences of Brock's trip to the healers after their previous evening scuffle. Master Yoda was forgiving about the unauthorized sparring, but only in so far as to let him compete one last time. Unless he proved himself at the matches today, he had a one-way ticket to Bandomeer.
Two more trays plopped unceremoniously down on the long table and scooted in close with the trio.
A shoulder brushed up hard against Obi-wan.
"Hey!" Kade exclaimed excitedly, leaning over her tray to address the group. She tried to keep her voice low. "Garen and I heard in the meal line that Master Jinn arrived early this morning from his away mission and will be at the matches..."
Obi-wan looked up at her beside him, running his eyes over her dark red hair that was loosely braided and laid over her shoulder. He felt somewhat annoyed by her sheer closeness. He was already in a bad mood and excessive touching always made it worse.
An oblivious, or perhaps uncaring, Kade caught his gaze and wagged her eyebrows at him. Obi-wan tried to muster a smile for her. She had known—the whole table knew—that Obi-wan was vying for Qui-gon's attention today. They knew this was potentially his last day at the Temple.
"It's true!" Garen confirmed, having chosen a seat on the opposite side of the table from Kade. "I can't wait to see who you get to spar with, Obi!"
"Spirits, guys," Quinlan Vos scolded, taking a seat next to Reeft. He brushed his long, dark dreadlocks over his shoulder as he settled into the table and shot a stern look to Kade and Garen. "Way to drum up the anxiety." Quinlan was a little older than the rest of the friend group and far more no-nonsense.
Kade and Garen passed a glance between them before muttering out apologies for even bringing up the matches scheduled for later that day. Kade gave Obi-wan a little nudge and gave him a small sympathetic smile before digging into her morning meal.
He knew she meant well by telling him the news of Qui-gon's arrival, but he still found it difficult to meet her gaze.
Reeft, his nose twitching, peered over to Quinlan's tray beside him. He fiddled with the tips of his fingers before hesitantly pointing to Quinlan's puff cake, "I don't mean to seem greedy, but—"
Quinlan rolled his eyes, "—Reeft. Come on, man. I just got here." He hadn't even finished unwrapping his silverware from his napkin.
"Here," Obi-wan motioned to Reeft to trade meal trays: Obi-wan's full tray for Reeft's empty one. Just the look of food was starting to make him feel queasy—he might as well give his meal to someone who wouldn't let it go to waste.
With an excited wiggle, Reeft happily obliged, thanking him before quickly digging in. It seemed Reeft had the biggest stomach of them all, always eating like the caretakers never fed him.
"I should be fine," Obi-wan sighed, finally ending the awkward silence at the table, "as long as I don't have to spar with Kade."
His comment sent giggles all around, even Quinlan stifled a smile.
Kade eyed Obi-wan from the side and smirked. She worked to quickly swallow the food in her mouth to send out a retort, but Garen beat her to the punch.
"I have a bruised elbow from yesterday," Garen interjected with a toothy grin and lifting his tunic-covered arm as if to show it to the group. "I feel like it's cheating if you use tackling moves in a lightsaber spar."
"I won, didn't I?" Kade defended, making a playful face at him and sticking her tongue out. "Master Yoda said it was innovative."
During yesterday's practice of blindfolded sparring, Kade had taken her usual defensive stance with Garen and was performing gracefully for the first few minutes. After trying some fancy footed defensive-to-offensive movements, she tripped on one of the rocky obstacles strewn across the floor as Garen was running towards her. Instead of connecting lightsabers, they connected bodies, becoming tangled and falling to the floor together. Kade was able to narrowly pin him to the ground and deliver the winning blow.
"I think his exact wording was 'hhmm, interesting.'" Bant giggled, doing her best perplexed impression of their little green Master.
That sent another set of laughter throughout the table. Kade blushed but joined in the laughter.
Obi-wan couldn't contain his own smile. No matter what happened today, he knew his life at the Temple had been both an adventure and a blessing.
He was sure going to miss his friends.