Chapter Four: Anxieties
There was a knock at his door, startling him while he made his lunch. "It's open!" he yelled over his shoulder.
Ki-Adi strode in, his face grim. "I need to talk to you - not as the Master of the Order, but as a friend."
"Oh?" Mace moved to the cabinet, pulling out two bowls. He set both down, gesturing for the master to sit at the table. "Then as a friend, the least I can do is offer you a meal."
Everyone knew better than to argue with Mace when a meal was being cooked. Ki-Adi sat, waiting only a moment before a rice stir fry was scooped into the bowl. He nodded in thanks, taking the chopsticks offered to him and taking a bite.
The pair were quiet for some time, focused on their meal.
Mace eventually set his chopsticks down across the bowl, pointing away from his longtime friend. Folding his fingers beneath his chin, he raised his eyebrows a bit. "Well?"
Ki-Adi set his chopsticks down in the same position and leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest. "Do you believe it is a good idea to let Obi-Wan be a watchman - to Mandalore?"
"We are not a prison nor a cult. I cannot force anyone to stay in the Order."
"Mace." Ki-Adi sighed, shaking his head. "We both know the effect the relationship had on Obi-Wan and the Duchess. Why subject him to that again - and possibly bring children into that mess too?"
Mace rubbed at his chin, thinking of all those years ago, when the senior padawan and the new Duchess struggled and fought to maintain a relationship. When Obi-Wan drank and did drugs so often it was a miracle he survived. While the Duchess was in and out of psychiatric hospitals, struggling to rule a system that hated her.
He shrugged, his mind turning to the man that Obi-Wan had become. The kind, sad man that cared too deeply and maybe drank a bit too much. That had proved the Order wrong and become a strong warrior, an excellent general, a mentor…
"We both know that Obi-Wan would have left the Order eventually. I'm surprised it took this long." Mace stood, heading to the refrigerator and pulling out two bottles of beer.
Ki-Adi managed a snort, accepting the beer. "A little early for drink, don't you think?"
"We're elders, Ki-Adi - I'm drinking a damn beer whenever I want too." Mace used the edge of the table to pop the cap off the bottle before sitting down and taking a drink. "To be honest, I am glad that Obi-Wan made a decision that benefits himself instead of those around him. His heart has not been with the Order for a long time, especially not since Siri passed."
"Mmm...I suppose." Ki-Adi used the Force to pop the cap off his bottle, taking a small sip before grimacing. "You made this didn't you?"
"From Qui-Gon's old recipe," Mace muttered with a wicked grin.
"Between you and me, you would have been an excellent Sith."
"So would Obi-Wan."
"He'll be a Mandalorian soon - that's almost worse."
"You took a test didn't you?"
"Good morning to you too," Satine muttered while she pinned her hair up. She didn't have to glance at the holo to see his shake of the head. It was shaping to be a busy day - she was visiting the children's hospital that had been affected by the scandal this time last year. Better for a simple hairdo and outfit than anything elaborate.
Personal issues did not stop a system from being governed.
Obi-Wan gave a sigh, massaging his brow.
"Obi-Wan." Satine brushed the bangs she had been growing out and twisted them ontop of her head, pinning it with a pink flower pin.
"It's only been six weeks since…"
"The miscarriage?" Satine refrained from rolling her eyes. She knew he was struggling with - well, everything. The sudden changes in their life would be too much for anyone. Reaching for the hair gel, she scooped a bit onto her fingers and smoothed the frizzies that appeared in her reflection.
She would admit, however, that Obi-Wan was giving a good effort.
Still...she wished he hadn't buried his grief so much. Grief regarding their baby, leaving the Order, leaving the only family he knew...hell, even leaving the war effort. She even knew that he had been struggling in the Force, constantly having migraines and barely mediating. There was something amiss, though he didn't mention it.
Maybe he chalked it up to grief.
Maybe that's all it was.
It would have been nice to cry beside each other instead of listening to him sob in the shower, because he had internalized the dumb ideal that men needed to strong no matter not.
"I only took a test because we've been off contraceptives for a few weeks. Perfectly reasonable - I'm not worrying yet." Satine gave a shrug, leaning against the counter of her fresher sink and twisting her lips wryly. "Besides - based on past experience your seed is rather potent."
Obi-Wan managed a snort. It looked like he was in some empty room, but it was hard to say. Maybe some conference room in the Temple. "I'm just worried for your mental health."
"As I'm worried about yours."
He ignored that, rubbing at his neck and grimacing. Spotting her look of concern he gave a half-shrug. "Anakin and I sparred for awhile."
"Ah." Satine didn't press the issue - either he was telling the truth, or it was the Force issues again. Taking the comlink in her hand, she moved to her bedchamber. Christo was making the bed and gave a small smirk when she glimpsed whom was being spoken too.
"Hello Obi," Christo murmured with a wink. "Sleeping around Coruscant again?"
"I'm sure if I would do that again nothing good would come out of it."
Satine gave a snort, moving to the living chamber and sitting on the couch. She didn't have to leave for awhile. "Speaking of Coruscant - how goes discussing watchman status with the Council?"
Obi-Wan sighed, glancing away. He pressed his lips together for a moment before looking back. "It's approved on their part, but a large section are not happy with our relationship. They say my loyalties will be torn, especially considering you share my bed."
"It's hard to protect any ideal if you do not have some sort of loyalty to it," Satine murmured. "Master Ki-Adi-Mundi is one of the most prominent figures on his planet even if he was not Force Sensitive - and the man has five wives and what, eight children? The fact that the Order is not leaping to shove you here to keep Mandalore submissive is ridiculous."
"Keep Mandalore submissive? I hardly doubt that will ever happen." Obi-Wan's attempt at humor fell quickly, and he leaned forward. "They agree to it because they believe I will be able to sway you to join the Republic."
"Exactly the reason I fear the Council of Clans will disagree to it."
"When's the meeting again?"
"Next week - you'll be back by then?"
'"I see no reason why I will not be." Obi-Wan thought for a moment. "On what basis will you argue my case?"
"That keeping the Jedi's prized general here we keep a steady stream of supplies, food, and aide, not to mention we will ensure that the Force Sensitives that are so often stolen by pirates may be safer." Satine pulled her legs to her chest, resting her head on her knees. "Though I am worried that Death Watch will become more reckless in their attacks because of your presence."
Obi-Wan hummed, about to open his mouth when a chime was heard. He frowned, then realized that it was from her end. "Time to go?"
"Mmm hmm."
"Okay - I love you."
"I love you more." Satine had to laugh when he gave a mock salute and cut the transmission. She stared at the seal left spinning - the Jedi seal - and sighed. Leaning her head back on the couch, she stared at the mural on the ceiling. It depicted a battle from the Mando'a and Jett'i wars. For some reason she had never bothered to have it repainted.
"Ready, cyare?" Christo asked, hobbling into the living room. She went to the fish tank, taking the bottle of dried fish feed and dropping a few pinches into the tank. The fish swam to the surface, sucking in the feed.
Satine followed a pink one - ridiculously by her brother Jared named Super Blossom - before nodding. "Yes...care to walk me to the platform?"
Christo glanced at her, thin eyebrows raised before nodding.
"I want to put a bid on Anakin and Obi-Wan's apartment."
Kit glanced from his datapad to his girlfriend, who was sliding into the seat on the other side of the table. He reached for the caf cup by him, feeling the heat seep through his fingers. "Did you request a padawan? That's a good apartment, especially if your padawan is younger or - "
"I meant for us, Kristopher."
He choked on the caf, slamming the cup down and coughing for a few moments before looking at her, a little teary eyed. "One Jedi leaves the Order for love and now you want to abandon all pretense about us?"
Aayla shrugged, glancing around the tables to see who was listening. There was hardly anyone around the library, not this late in the evening. "It's not like we hide it very well."
"Mmm."
"Kit." Aayla leaned forward, one of her lekku falling over her shoulder. She looked happier than she had in a long time. "It's a good apartment - and besides, by the two of us moving into a single apartment it frees up two other apartments. You and I both know how much some of the masters want to move out of their apartments."
Kit blinked slow, then leaned back in his seat. He studied her a moment, the woman he had decided to spend his life with - that is, if the war didn't kill either of them first. Age difference mattered little to them, especially since they both lived a tad longer than humans.
"Why do you want the spare room?"
"I'm not pregnant," she muttered with an eyeroll.
Dressed in his Jedi robes, Obi-Wan walked the halls of the Temple, heading towards the Grand Master's chambers. Why he'd been summoned he didn't know.
He felt rather ill. The damn migraine he had been suffering with had yet to fade. It'd been there ever since he'd set foot on Coruscant.
... migraines only happened with him when there was a severe disturbance in the Force.
An excellent trait for a Jedi.
Not.
Massaging the side of his temple, Obi-Wan reached the door. It slid open and he stepped through, thankful that the chambers were dimmed like the halls were. It was far past evening, after all. Everyone was probably in bed or in the common rooms, if they weren't on the streets.
"Master Yoda."
Yoda had his back to him, staring out the window at the busy lanes of traffic. "Feel the disturbance in the Force, do you?"
Obi-Wan stepped forward. "Yes master."
"Feel you are in danger, I do. From the dead, an old enemy has awakened. Seeking vengeance."
Swallowing, Obi-Wan came closer so he could face the master. "An old enemy?"
"Killed your master, many moons ago, he did."
He was surprised he didn't vomit. Jumping out the window seemed like a good option right now.
Struggling - and failing - to maintain a sober expression, Obi-Wan tried to keep his voice level. "How can this be? I killed him myself."
"Is is so, I fear."
Obi-Wan looked away, trying to comprehend what was happening. Of course this would happen. Of course this would happen when happiness was so close he could touch it.
"Darth Maul... alive?"
Author's note: hello, it's your friendly disabled writer back with another update! sorry it took such a long time to update guys - medical issues, y'all know the drill. Health before anything else.
The last scene happens in Season 4, when Maul comes back. I'm excited to reveal my plans for this universe. :D
Also - who thinks Obi-Wan will be impulsive and propose to Satine, or he'll fuck off to go face Maul like he did in canon? Both?
ii Digestive Reader ii
