Objectively, allowing Anakin to go with him to his shuttle would only make it harder to say goodbye, Obi-Wan was well aware of that. But knowing how much his lover worried about him lately, he hadn't had the heart to say no and instead indulged Anakin's demand.
"I'll be fine, love, stop fussing about it." teased the redhead in hope to lift the mood but the smile Anakin gave him still felt forced.
"I know, darling, I just wish I could come with you." sighed the blonde, still bitter about his unsuccessful attempts to bargain with the Council. He had, after his failure with Master Windu, reached to the other members hoping one would be on his side on the matter, but none accepted his request.
Tugging his lover by the hand behind a shuttle where they would shelter from unwanted attention, Obi-Wan gently cupped Anakin's face, pressing a chaste kiss against the taller man's lips before speaking.
"Anakin, I know you're worried but I'll be okay."
He had no idea how many times those words passed his lips since he got with Anakin, but what he did know was that his lover needed him to say it. So he did and would keep saying it as many times as Anakin needed him to.
"I'll come back to you."
There was so much Anakin wanted to respond to that, so many thoughts swirling his head. What if this time you don't? What if this is the last time I get to hold you in my arms? The war showed no mercy. In soon three years it took too many lives for Anakin to keep count, and his fear of losing Obi-Wan to the monster reaping through the ranks grew stronger every time they had to part.
He knew death roamed the battlefields, following every trooper and Jedi, waiting for its opportunity to take them away. Anakin tried his best to protect his men from it, tried his best to shelter Ahsoka and yet even at their side his efforts sometimes weren't enough. The pain and loss endured in the fights was a burden he could share with his battalion, they understood what it felt like at least on some level.
But if he ever lost Obi-Wan, no one could understand. He'd lose the center of his world, his heart.
Fear gripped at him, tightening the knots in his stomach.
"Promise me you'll be careful," he demanded, urging his inwardly rising panic to stay under control.
Complying, Obi-Wan then gently brushed his lips against his lover's forehead and returned Anakin's embrace, content to remain in the taller man's arms for a little while longer.
The sound of Cody's voice calling out to the troopers to board eventually echoed in the hangar, bringing the couple back to reality.
"I have to go, Anakin."
He didn't want to leave his lover's side, but he had a duty to fulfill, lives in need of his help. He couldn't turn his back on that, no matter how good being held by Anakin felt.
Walking out from their hiding spot, the Jedi joined the troopers and Anakin forced himself to ignore the lump in his throat.
"I'll see you soon, Anakin." smiled Obi-Wan as he climbed in the shuttle.
"You better or I'll come and get you myself." half-joked Anakin, who offered his lover the brightest smile he could, unwilling to let him part ways with worry clouding his mind.
As he watched the shuttle rise from the ground, Anakin wished he told his lover how much he loved him one last time before he left.
Looking up at the copper hair he could still spot from the ground, he breathed in and prayed the Force.
Please care for my heart, I can't lose him.