Chapter 10
"Anakin!"
The moment Anakin opened the door, Obi-wan lunged forward, capturing him in a tight hug.
"I was so worried," he mumbled into Anakin's hair. "What happened? Was it Maul? Did he threaten you? You know I'll always keep you safe."
"Quiet," Anakin hissed. "Ahsoka will hear. Come on, let's go inside."
He led Obi-wan to his bedroom and closed the door. Obi-wan sat down on the edge of the bed, pulling Anakin down with him. He put an arm around Anakin, stroking Anakin's hair with his free hand.
"What happened, dearest? Why in the world would you run from me instead of talking to me?"
His concern was just making Anakin feel even worse than he already did. "I did it for you," he said quietly.
"What?"
"I heard you. The conversation you had about your investors. The ones who are going to pull out of your business if you don't get rid of me."
"Oh, Anakin. Dearest, you never should have thought you had to leave because of that."
"I won't be responsible for your business taking a hit. You don't deserve that, Obi-wan. This way, your investors will stay with you."
"Those investors are already gone. I told them that I had no further use for their money the moment they revealed that they saw you as anything less than the amazing human being that you are. Anyone who doesn't see how wonderful you are is someone I won't have in my life, business or personal."
Anakin gaped at him. "Why would you do that?"
"You know I'd do anything for you."
"No! Obi-wan, this has to stop. You need to get over it."
"Get over it?"
"This feeling of responsibility you have for me! Yes, you helped me out of a shitty situation, but I'm ok now, thanks to you. I have enough money saved up to keep Ahsoka and me afloat until I find a new job. And I've got enough self-defense skills to take care of Maul if he shows up again. You're off the hook. You don't need to take care of me anymore."
Obi-wan was staring at Anakin as though he'd lost his mind. "Anakin, tell me you don't seriously think that."
"What?"
"That I'm doing all this because I feel responsible for you."
"Of course, that's why you're doing it."
"No, it's not." Obi-wan grabbed Anakin's hands in his. "I'm doing this because I love you."
Anakin's world came screeching to a halt. He barely even breathed as he stared at Obi-wan. Surely, Obi-wan didn't just say the words Anakin had been dreaming of for months now?
"What?" he whispered.
"I love you," Obi-wan repeated clearly. "I know you don't feel the same, and that's ok. It was always a business arrangement for you, and I don't expect you to feel –"
His words were cut off by Anakin's lips on his. Anakin kissed him fiercely, joy pounding through his veins. When he pulled back, he was smiling so widely it hurt his face. "I love you too, Obi-wan."
"You don't need to say that just because I –"
"I'm not just saying it. It's the truth. I'm so in love with you it hurts. I never imagined you would feel the same."
The same joy Anakin was feeling reflected back in Obi-wan's eyes. "Really? You love me?"
"More than anything. I can't believe you really love me back."
"Of course, I do, dearest. How could I not? You're the most incredible man I've ever met."
Anakin sighed and leaned into Obi-wan. Obi-wan immediately put an arm around him.
Anakin knew that he wasn't worthy of Obi-wan's love, but he was beyond grateful to have it.
"What are you thinking, dearest?"
"You shouldn't have fallen in love with me," Anakin admitted. "I don't deserve you."
"Ani, you deserve everything. I know you don't believe it, but someday, I hope you will."
Anakin shrugged. He didn't want to get into an argument, not when he was so content and happy.
"Will you and Ahsoka move back in with me? Please?"
"I don't know, Obi-wan. I don't want to mess things up for you. Your business is important to you."
"Not as important as you – not even close. Please, move back in with me? I promise, my business will be fine. A few investors might decline investing with us, but we honestly have more investors than we need anyway. I'd tell you if my business was in real trouble, I promise you."
Anakin couldn't deny the lure of going back to Obi-wan. He wanted it more than anything, and if Obi-wan really thought his business would be alright…
"Ok. I'll move back in with you."
Obi-wan pulled Anakin close, kissing him enthusiastically. "Thank you! You won't regret it, I promise."
"There's one thing that needs to change, though. In all honesty, it should have changed a long time ago. You need to stop paying me. This isn't about the money. It hasn't been for months. I don't need you to pay to be with me."
"I don't want you to have to work while you're studying and caring for Ahsoka," Obi-wan said firmly. "I have more than enough money for both of us. If you'd like, once you start working, I'll stop paying you, but while you're a student, I want to keep doing it."
"You don't have to. I don't like to think of you paying me to stay with you when I'm so in love with you that I feel like the world stops when you're not around."
"Don't think of it like that. I know that I'm not paying for you to stay anymore. We're partners, Anakin. It's our job to support each other, and I want to support you in this."
"It just seems unfair that you're always the one doing all the supporting."
"Don't ever think that. Do you have any idea how miserable I was before I met you? You've helped me learn to love life again, Anakin. I don't know what I'd do without you. Besides, you cook for me every day, as well as take care of household tasks. Do you have any idea how long that tap in the kitchen wasn't working before you took the initiative and called someone to fix it?"
"You're at work all day. You wouldn't have been home to let anyone in to fix it."
"Exactly. Just because you're not contributing financially doesn't mean you're not contributing."
Anakin nodded slowly. Obi-wan had a point. He was still reeling from the knowledge that Obi-wan loved him and wanted to keep him.
"Alright. You can keep paying me, but only until I get a job. When I do, I'm contributing to some of the bills."
"Whatever you like, dearest. Now, shall we tell Ahsoka the news?"
Ahsoka was sitting at the kitchen table, pretending to do homework, but Anakin could see that her book was upside down.
"We're moving back in with Obi-wan."
"Good! You two really are idiots. Next time, talk rather than run away, Skyguy."
"Yeah, Snips, you were right."
They spent the rest of the day moving their stuff back to Obi-wan's apartment.
"Aren't you needed at work?"
"I took the day off. I could never concentrate when I was worried for your safety. I thought Maul might have caught up with you."
Anakin glanced around, but Ahsoka was already in her room.
"What about you? Don't you have college today?"
Ah. Yes, he still needed to tell Obi-wan about that.
"Actually, no. I'm going to need to start looking for a job."
"What are you talking about? You're giving up on your degree? But you love mechanical engineering!"
"It's not like I have much of a choice. They kicked me out," Anakin admitted. "They found out that I used to be an escort and said it reflected badly on the college."
Obi-wan's face darkened. "They can't do that."
"Well, they have. It's fine. I have some skills. I'm sure I can find a job." It would be a job with shitty hours and shitty pay, but there wasn't anything to be done about that.
"Hold off on that. They can't do this to you. I'm going to fix it."
"How could you possibly fix it? They've made up their minds. They're not going to listen to you, and I somehow doubt they'd take a bribe, no matter how much money you throw at them."
"I will fix it, I promise. Give me a couple of hours."
Anakin knew that this was one thing Obi-wan couldn't fix, but he nodded anyway. Best let him discover on his own that there was no way around this one.
Obi-wan vanished into his office for several hours. Anakin used the time to do some cleaning around the house. His phone pinged and he absently opened the email.
Dear Mr. Skywalker
I must offer my sincere apologies for the actions of my predecessor. She was completely out of line in asking you to leave. Your work has been spectacular, and we are lucky to have you. If you are willing, I would love to have you back as a student.
Jocasta (Dean)
Anakin stared at the phone in amazement. What the hell had Obi-wan done?
He hurried through to the office. Obi-wan was just getting up from his desk, looking extremely pleased with himself.
"What did you do?"
"I take it the new Dean has contacted you?"
"Yeah! How the hell did you get Depa replaced?"
"It doesn't matter. All that matters is that your place there is secure."
"Seriously, Obi-wan, what did you do? Please tell me it wasn't anything illegal."
"No, nothing like that," Obi-wan assured him.
"Then what?"
Obi-wan sighed. "Promise you won't be upset."
"What did you do?" Anakin repeated.
"I may have… bought the college."
"I'm sorry, did you just say you bought my college?"
"Well, they weren't accepting bribes, as you suspected, so I had to resort to drastic action."
"But – but that must have cost a fortune!"
"I would gladly give every cent I have if it would make you happy. I would do anything for you, dearest."
Anakin's insides warmed as he positively glowed with love for the man before him. He pulled Obi-wan into a hug. "Thank you. I don't know how I could ever repay you."
"Stay with me. That's all I want."
"Nothing could ever drag me away," Anakin promised. He leaned down and kissed Obi-wan. Obi-wan returned the kiss, and Anakin prodded Obi-wan's lips with his tongue, urging him to open his mouth. Obi-wan did so at once, and then their tongues were tangling together in the most delicious way.
Obi-wan walked Anakin backward until they were in the bedroom. Anakin kicked the door shut and pinned Obi-wan to the wall, kissing him fiercely. He could feel the bulge in Obi-wan's pants. He wondered if dared do what he desperately wanted to do.
Anakin decided that he would risk a flashback. They had been kissing for ages now, and he wanted to move forward on a physical level.
He smoothly dropped to his knees and started undoing Obi-wan's pants.
"What are you doing?"
"What does it look like I'm doing?"
"Anakin, you don't have to."
"I want to. Please, let me try? I'll stop if it's too much, I promise."
"I – alright, but please don't hesitate to stop if you're at all uncomfortable."
"I will, don't worry."
Anakin pulled Obi-wan's cock out of his pants.
Fuck, Obi-wan was huge. Anakin wasn't sure how much of Obi-wan's length he would be able to fit in his mouth, but he was sure going to try.
Obi-wan let out a strangled cry as Anakin took Obi-wan's cock into his mouth. Anakin hummed in pleasure and started bobbing his head up and down, using his hand to stroke the bottom of Obi-wan's cock that he couldn't fit in his mouth.
Obi-wan's fists were clenched at his sides, and Anakin was sure that he was exerting all of his considerable willpower to stop himself from thrusting his hips forward. Anakin loved the noises Obi-wan was making. His own cock was achingly hard in his pants, but right now, he just wanted to focus on Obi-wan's pleasure.
It didn't take long. "Anakin, I'm going to come!"
Anakin hummed again and that was all it took. Obi-wan cried out as he came down Anakin's throat. Anakin mostly managed to swallow, wiping the excess come off on his shirt.
Obi-wan grabbed his hand and hauled him to his feet. "Come here."
Obi-wan kissed him gently before leading him to the bed. "Can I do the same for you?"
"You don't have to –"
"I want to. Please? I promise I'll stop the moment you tell me if it becomes too much."
"I – ok."
Anakin was more than a little nervous, but he wanted to try this. Obi-wan pressed soft kisses along the length of his cock, slowly melting Anakin's doubts away. This was wonderful. How could he ever have hesitated?
He cried out and bucked his hips upward as Obi-wan took him into his mouth. Obi-wan's tongue was the most delicious thing Anakin had ever felt. Obi-wan swirled his tongue around the head of Anakin's cock, over his slit, and Anakin just about lost his mind with lust.
He wasn't going to last at this rate. He gripped Obi-wan's hair and pulled his head down further onto his cock. Obi-wan didn't seem to mind, taking Anakin in deeply and humming a little the way Anakin had when he'd had Obi-wan's cock in his mouth.
"Obi-wan, I'm coming!"
Obi-wan didn't pull off, managing to swallow all of Anakin's come. Anakin groaned loudly and thrust into Obi-wan's mouth a few more times, drawing his orgasm out into an impossible wave of pleasure that just went on and on.
When it finally ended, he fell back, panting. It had been so long since he'd come – months, now. Ever since the first time Maul had attacked him. The relief was intense.
Obi-wan crawled up so that he was level with Anakin and kissed him lightly. "You taste delicious, dear one. Even better than I imagined."
Anakin chuckled. "We'll have to do that again sometime. I'd forgotten how good orgasms are."
"You're still having trouble with yourself?"
"Yeah." Anakin felt his face going red. "Every time I try to touch my cock, all I can see is his."
"Well, it's a good thing you've got me, then."
"I guess it is." Anakin wrapped his arms around Obi-wan, and Obi-wan did the same for him.
"So, that was ok for you? No flashbacks?"
"Nothing," Anakin said happily. For the first time in a while, he had hope – hope that he would someday be able to put everything Maul had done behind him. He wanted to work up to penetrative sex. After seeing Obi-wan's bare cock, Anakin wanted it in his ass more than ever. It would probably take a while to get to that stage, but at least they were making progress.
Anakin wasn't worried anymore about Obi-wan's patience running out. Obi-wan loved him. As irrational and silly as it was, Obi-wan had fallen in love with him. He said he would do anything for Anakin, and Anakin believed him.
He allowed himself to think of the future – the future he was going to build with Obi-wan. He imagined waking up next to him every day for the rest of his life. Anakin felt like he was alight with happiness, that the room must surely combust when exposed to the light and heat of his joy.
Being loved by Obi-wan was the best feeling in the world.
They lay there for a while, talking about everything and nothing. Anakin loved talking with Obi-wan. No matter how many conversations they had, they never seemed to run out of things to say to each other.
He eventually dragged himself out of bed. "I should get started on supper."
"We could order in," Obi-wan suggested.
"I can cook, Obi-wan." Anakin didn't contribute much to this relationship, but this was at least something he could do. He could cook for Obi-wan, and he could do it well.
"You're too good to me."
Anakin knew that it was in fact the other way around, but he didn't say so. Obi-wan truly was a fool in love to think Anakin was worth any of the kindness he had shown him, but Anakin was grateful for it all the same.
