If It Keeps On Rainin'… Levee's Going To Break

Obi-Wan couldn't remember the last time he felt this at peace. The sun's rays that had snuck in through the blinds illuminated the room and made him feel warm and happy.

"This is nice."

"I told you it would be."

Obi-Wan would have groaned at Xanatos's need to prove his infallibility, but he was too content for that.

He pushed himself closer to the older man and brushed his lips against the other's. "So you did. And it wasn't completely a lie. I did need a break." He pressed his forehead against Xanatos's, his warm breath sending goosebumps down his arms. "And there's no fun in solitary meditation."

"I never much saw the point of it."

"So, we've done the… relaxing part," Obi-Wan kissed Xanatos chest and cuddled closer. "What next?"

"I didn't think that far ahead."

"How unlike you."

"Maybe," Xanatos sighed. "I'm fine right here."

Obi-Wan rolled over and pushed off the sleepcouch. "I'm going to find some tea, don't move."

Not bothering to get dressed, the teenager walked through Xanatos's Telosian home until he found the kitchen. It was strange to be in a country house with Xanatos. It was such a normal place for such a singular man. There was even a holoscreen in the kitchen, to Obi-Wan's surprise. Briefly he wondered if it was there for Xanatos's son, but quickly moved on. If he thought about the child it would only make him wonder where he currently was, what he was doing, and those questions would only annoy Xanatos. Obi-Wan didn't want to do anything to ruin the other man's mellow mood.

After some digging he found a pot to heat some water, and the tea mix was next to it. Absentmindedly he flicked on the holoscreen while brewing the tea. It was a comedy program he didn't know (which wasn't surprising). When the pot began to whistle he removed it and poured a cup.

Something about him as changed; Obi-Wan knelt against the counter. Inviting me here, introducing me to another part of his life I was never allowed in. What's happened?

An alarm jerked him out of his reverie, and he immediately turned to the stove. But he had turned it off when he retrieved the teapot, there was no fire there. It took several moments before he realized the noise was coming from the screen. An emergency announcement had interrupted the show.

He was dumbfounded as the image flickered into appearance. Without a word he turned off the screen and the stove.

He returned to the bedroom and slammed his cup down on the nearest flat surface. Tea sloshed over the sides and on to the hand-carved wood.

"That," Xanatos started, without opening his eyes. "Was an antique."

"The temple's been attacked!" Obi-Wan shouted, not bothering to control his rage. The light from outside no longer seemed joyful; it just intensified the shadows in the room.

"I know."

"You know?!" Xanatos's serenity was not helping Obi-Wan's tantrum. "You know because you instigated it!"

This time, the dark Jedi opened his eyes. "I did not plan the attack.

"But," he continued after a moment. "I was aware it was going to happen."

"And that's why you brought me here," Obi-Wan snapped in disgust.

Xanatos simply nodded and reclined his head, once again shutting his eyes.

The younger man was furious. He didn't even know he could be this angry. His lover's indifference fueled a violent rage he wasn't familiar with, and didn't know how to release. Without thinking he kicked the bureau his cup was lying on. The wood splintered in a circle around his now throbbing foot and his cup rolled to the floor, spilling what few drops remained.

Xanatos sat up. "Are you having some sort of psychotic fit?" He demanded in irritation.

The boy grabbed the first thing his hand landed on, a small painted vase, and chucked it at the other while shouting. "The temple is on fire."

The dark Jedi lifted a single hand and caught the vase around its stem. He placed it on the nightstand and returned his gaze to Obi-Wan. It was hard and cold.

"The fire will be put out," he said with a chilled steadiness. "The plan of attack was flawed and the culprits will be caught. The deaths will be minimal, maybe half a dozen. This is not a tragedy."

"Every life is precious, every death is tragic," Obi-Wan shook his head, anger evaporating into a heavy sadness. "I love many people in that temple."

"You could try being grateful."

"For what? You took me away from my friends – my family – when they needed me the most."

"I was protecting you."

"I don't need your protection. What I did need was your prevention," Obi-Wan's eyes began to burn. "You said you knew. You could have stopped this."

Xanatos sighed and pushed off the sleepcouch. "You're not coming back to bed, so I might as well find a cup of caff."

"Xanatos."

"If you're honestly surprised that I didn't help the Jedi you don't know me at all."

Obi-Wan was not stung by this comment. Truly, he would have been more surprised had Xanatos warned them. Of course his lover had chosen to play a game instead. That was very like Xanatos, and he would never change. But everyday Obi-Wan hoped…

Maybe it was finally time to stop.

"I can't do this anymore."

He couldn't see the other man, but he knew his steps had halted at the doorway.

"You say that like you can walk away."

"I can."

"And you're so sure I'll let you?"

The dark Jedi moved so he was standing directly behind Obi-Wan. His right hand slid up the boy's back and came to grip the side of his neck. He bent slightly to kiss his jawline.

Obi-Wan tried to move away, but Xanatos grabbed him tightly. "What happened at the temple has nothing to do with you and me."

"Except is has everything to do with us," Obi-Wan argued.

"What do you want to hear? An apology? That would be one of those lies you so detest, but I'll say it if you want me to."

With the other man at this proximity, Obi-Wan had to cling to his resolve. It was becoming a chore not to fall for him. Obi-Wan felt like he was drowning in his feelings.

"I don't want anything from you, I just want to go back."

"Why?" Xanatos asked, almost softly. "There's nothing you can do now."

"I have to get out of here," Obi-Wan said, his voice choking with frustration. "Because I should hate you for what you've done, and I can't."

"That doesn't sound like a reason to end a relationship."

"You don't understand me or the things I want. You don't even try."

"That's because there isn't a point," Xanatos released his grip on Obi-Wan. "And for the record, you don't bother to see my side of things."

"I see your side very clearly," Obi-Wan took a deep breath. "And that's why I'm ending this."

Suddenly and surprisingly Xanatos smiled at him. His handsome, disarming smile. "You know why I don't believe you?"

Obi-Wan sighed. "No more games Xanatos."

"Because," he continued regardless, "you have no intention of ending anything. You want something, though I'm not sure what. What are you searching for? Some promise that I'll end my disagreeable ways? A declaration of love? I'm not going to give you either, so you might as well drop it."

"Your disagreeable ways?! Evil. Just say the word," Obi-Wan spat at him. All of his anger came rushing back at Xanatos's dismissal. "How dare you tell me what I feel?!"

"You're being a child; it's time to calm down."

Shocked, Obi-Wan raised his hands in defeat. "I'm done, I'm leaving. If I have to call Qui-Gon and tell him where I am, I will."

"I think you're taking this ultimatum too far."

If Obi-Wan had any chance, any chance at all, of hitting Xanatos and actually landing the blow, he would have. Nothing he said got through to the other man; he just ignored anything that displeased him. Or destroyed it.

"This is not a threat," Obi-Wan said slowly. "I'm telling you my intentions."

"And you've thought this through?"

The question startled Obi-Wan. Had he? What would he do with himself without Xanatos? He had a routine while on Coruscant, one that he followed carefully. What would fill the time without his lover? Would he find another? It would never be the same. But he couldn't reconcile what he wanted with what Xanatos did.

Xanatos smirked. "That's what I thought."

"You're not even sorry."

"You're right, I'm not sorry for the death of Jedi," Xanatos made careful eye contact with Obi-Wan. "But I am sorry that my actions have caused you pain."

"I don't believe you."

"I think you do."

"So what?" Obi-Wan snapped. "I'm supposed to forgive and forget? We move forward like this never happened?"

"That's what I had planned. I have no intentions of changing for you, and I've never asked you to change for me."

Xanatos strolled across the room and grasped the sides of Obi-Wan's face, kissing him roughly and without warning. He spoke when they broke apart.

"The best thing we can do is make a pact. What we do when we're apart has no effect on us when we're together."

"That's ridiculous."

"And you have a better alternative?"

Xanatos has maneuvered him into a corner, and the older man knew it. Obi-Wan could already see the triumph in his eyes. They had no other options, no choices. He couldn't just break away, too much of him was tied up in Xanatos.

He couldn't go back, he could only move forward. That's what a Jedi would say.

~*~

Important: The main reason why it takes me so long to update the ficlets is that I often run out of ideas. If any of you has a scenario you'd like to see with Obi-Wan/Xanatos let me know in a review, PM, e-mail, etc. and I'll try to make it happen.

A/N: So I promised you guys ch.6 before this update, but I've kind of written myself into a corner, so I need to knock down some walls. I'm hoping to have the new chappie up soon. Thanks for reading, please review!

P.S. Brownie points for anyone who knows what song I'm referencing in the title.