So! I've already talked about this on ao3, but I thought I would bring it up here and see if y'all had any preference. I've got two endings in mind. One that would make this very AU, and one that wouldn't. I'm starting to want to write both of them and I think I will anyway, but I'm interested to see what you all want from this. Because like i said, I'm already planning on writing both endings, but if you only want a certain ending then I can do that! Obviously I won't tell you my plans for the AU ending hahaha. But yeah! Just Uh...let me know what you think or want!


The walk to Obi-Wan's quarters was quiet. Yes, the halls were bare of any Jedi, but Obi-Wan was silent. The only noise that echoed in the halls was the muffled sound of both his and Mace's boots against the floor.

Mace didn't hate the silence. There were times that he enjoyed it, but this was not one of those times. Obi-Wan had been a quiet Padawan, that much was true, but as he had grown, he opened up more and spoke with more confidence.

So, seeing Obi-Wan so silent as he limped down the halls to his quarters flipped Mace's view of the world on its head.

"Credit for your thoughts?" Obi-Wan asked without looking over at the Master accompanying him.

Mace floundered for a bit. What was he supposed to say?

"Just thinking."

Obi-Wan snorts and smiles just a bit.

"Yes, I can smell the smoke from the overtaxed cogs in your mind." He smirks and shoots a side-glance at the Korrun Master. "You can talk to me," Obi-Wan adds after a moment. "I promise any embarrassing things said will remain between the two of us."

The teasing and the playfulness had been new. Mace didn't always see this side of Obi-Wan, but he liked it.

"And if the thoughts are about you?"

Obi-Wan raises an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?"

"I was just thinking about how quiet you've been on the walk," Mace admits, turning his gaze in front of him once more. He shrugs and tilts his head. "It's new."

"It's hardly new," Obi-Wan says quietly. "I've been quiet before." He reminds his friend. He was a quiet Padawan. Those closest to him knew that.

"Yes, but that was years ago."

Obi-Wan hummed and nodded.

"I suppose I'm just thinking about all that's occurred."

The reminder stings Mace. Obi-Wan speaks of his ordeal so calmly that Mace sometimes forgets how bad it was for him.

"And?" Mace asks, prompting the smaller man to continue.

Obi-Wan sighs. "I suppose I'm counting myself lucky." He whispers eyes lowered as he thinks back. "I know there's no such thing as luck, so I suppose it's the will of the Force that I'm still alive." The will of the Force that keeps him here. It kept him and Bail alive.

"That may be so," Mace cuts in as he thinks about the events that Obi-Wan had relayed back to him. "However, you were without the Force for a while, weren't you?" He turns his head to look at Obi-Wan. "I think it was just as much your will as it was the Force's."

"I suppose."

Neither of the Jedi speaks as they walk the last bit of distance to Obi-Wan's quarters. When they arrive, Obi-Wan guides him into the bare rooms with a wave of his hand.

"There's just a few things I need to grab." He informs Mace as he wanders around his quarters slowly and carefully.

Mace watches him with a careful eye. He takes in the slow, limping steps and the way his body seems to slouch a bit more. He watches the other Master go from one place to the next as he grabs clothing and datapads. The items are tucked neatly inside a bag that doesn't look heavy and therefore Mace isn't concerned with his friend straining himself.

Obi-Wan gives Mace his full attention with a smile. He has the bag clutched in his hands.

"I believe I've got everything."

Mace raises an eyebrow at him, then lowers his gaze to the bag.

"Some clothes, and datapads?" Mace inquires. He lifts his gaze to meet Obi-Wan's confused eyes. "That's it?" He watches the cogs turn in Obi-Wan's mind as he tries to figure out what Mace is implying.

"Yes?"

Mace sighs and huffs a laugh as he turns his attention to the small kitchen. He can feel Obi-Wan's curious eyes as he rummages around. When he finds what he's looking for, he turns to face the other Master.

It's Obi-Wan's turn to raise an eyebrow as he looks at the tins of tea in the arms of Mace. He notes that there's some floating around the other Master as well.

"I don't know what tea you like, so we'll take your stash," Mace explains as he makes his way to Obi-Wan and places the tins in the bag. He then grabs it from the shorter man.

"Hey, wait a moment!" Obi-Wan exclaims, trying to take the bag back as Mace turns and starts to make his way out of Obi-Wan's quarters. "I can take that." Obi-Wan insists, but Mace keeps walking forward.

The huff of breath that comes from the copper-haired man makes Mace smirk.

"It's not that far." Mace replies. "I don't mind taking your bag."

"It's not that heavy. You don't need to carry it."

"Master Kenobi," Mace can feel Obi-Wan's flinch, but he doesn't turn around. "You've been ordered to rest and take the next week or two lightly. I can already see you tiring from the walk."

Obi-Wan sputters and feels his face grow hot.

Mace finally turns around and looks at him with a soft expression.

"I know you're not used to allowing others to help you," Mace speaks in a soft tone that has Obi-Wan ducking his head to hide his flushed cheeks. "But we both know you can't do everything on you're own. Right now, you need to rest and regain your strength."

Obi-Wan keeps his eyes to the ground as he nods his head.

"If you'd like, it's not much further to my quarters." Mace holds out the bag and Obi-Wan lifts his head. His cheeks are still red as he reaches out for the straps.

"Thank you." He whispers, clutching the bag tightly as he begins to walk once more.

Mace keeps pace with him easily. He doesn't stray too far and he's always watching to make sure the other Jedi doesn't falter or stumble.

"It's not a problem." Mace replies. He knows the few days he has with Obi-Wan are going to be difficult. The man won't take kindly to being coddled and looked after. It was going to be an adventure.