Note: updates will be posted every four to five days. There are 10 chapters total, plus a short epilogue.
Chapter 6
Anakin moved his meager belongings back into the smaller bedroom of their shared quarters. And within the week, Obi-Wan was happily surveying the mess that was Anakin on the kitchen table, all over the couch, and in the 'fresher. He never thought he would miss cleaning up after the young man.
But the very life that Anakin brought into the space with him was worth any amount of clutter or mess. They shared all of their meals again, Obi-Wan relishing the opportunities to cook for someone other than just himself. And even puttering around the apartment in the evenings, reading, tinkering with mechanical devices, or watching the HoloNet together was more fulfilling than it had ever been before. Obi-Wan, for one, did not want any more excitement after the years of battle. If anything, he wanted quiet and maybe even a nice boring little rut for himself.
One evening, they found one of Anakin's favorite vids on the HoloNet. It was a typical action affair with very little plot and even less dialog. Obi-Wan watched out of the corner of his eye as Anakin snacked with his feet up on the low table in front of the couch. At least he doesn't have his boots on, the Master consoled himself. He looks happy though, followed quickly on that thought.
I wonder . . .
"Would you like something to drink with that?" he offered his younger partner.
Anakin politely refrained from speaking with his mouth full and nodded, never taking his eyes off of the action. Obi-Wan walked to the kitchen and opened the bottle of wine he had been saving for a special occasion. He couldn't think of anything more special than spending time with his friend.
When he came back to the living room, he reached out to hand the wine glass to Anakin, but paused. "For Force's sake, Anakin. Don't choke on it," he chastised. He retracted the proffered glass until Anakin had swallowed at least three times. "How did you get that much chocolate popcorn into your mouth at once?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Bit-by-bit, Master," Anakin said and reached for the wine to wash down the remnants of kernels. Obi-Wan held it out of his reach.
"No, you're not going to ruin the taste of this wine by gulping it down after that," he said. "Go get yourself a glass of water first." He gestured toward the kitchen with his head.
Anakin jumped up and feinted a move to tickle his very ticklish Master. "Don't you dare!" Obi-Wan shouted with wide eyes.
"Fine," Anakin pouted. "You spoil all of my fun." He proceeded to chug down three glasses of water before returning to the couch. Obi-Wan had stretched out with his feet in Anakin's seat. He offered the blond his wine glass again.
"Move. You're in my seat," He motioned toward Obi-Wan's usurping appendages. Obi-Wan sipped his wine and looked innocently over the rim of his glass. Then he grinned and shook his head.
"I'm comfy," he replied and wriggled a little to show Anakin how comfy he was.
"Fine," Anakin huffed again. He picked up Obi-Wan's legs, scooted under them into his spot, and dropped them officiously on his lap-all while not spilling a drop of wine. With a triumphant smile, he took a gulp of the red liquid.
"Sip. Don't gulp. Did I teach you nothing?" Obi-Wan reprimanded. He was enjoying this game immensely.
Anakin, however, was done. He was back into his vid. "Oh, good," he said. "This is my favorite part!" Unthinking, his free hand fell to Obi-Wan's shins lightly. Obi-Wan enjoyed the warmth that hand conveyed through his thin leggings. Closing his eyes, he sipped his wine and concentrated on happiness.
Two weeks later, their first state dinner attended in tandem was a much more 'colorful' affair for Obi-Wan due to Anakin's presence. They quipped and giggled their way through the entire proceeding.
"Imagine Windu wearing that headdress," Anakin said quietly to Obi-Wan during the speeches.
"I can't imagine how that ambassador ever became renowned for his speeches when he can barely open his mouth," Obi-Wan remarked later.
Each of them tried valiantly to hide the sniggers and guffaws behind a napkin or hand. But as the night wore on, their competitive natures got the better of them. It was now a race to see who could make whom lose their composure first.
Seated side-by-side at a long reception table, Anakin surveyed the other dignitaries searching for just the right thing to remark on. When his eyes lit on the blasé face of a tall Muun who seemed to be almost asleep in his seat, he smiled to himself.
Nudging Obi-Wan discreetly with his elbow as he raised his glass of water to cover the movement of his lips, he said, "Muun at ten o'clock. Twenty credits says bright orange drool hits his dessert." He had timed his comment to coincide with Obi-Wan also taking a sip of his wine. The snort that emanated from deep within Obi-Wan's chest threatened to bring some wine with it out of his nose. He was forced into a coughing fit instead. The dignitary on the other side of him looked deeply non-plussed.
When the coughing was finally under control, Obi-Wan settled his features into quiet interest once again. He wasn't sure if he had lost the contest since his laughter had very quickly slid into coughing. He looked sidelong at Anakin and bided his time.
When the speakers were switching, an unusual quiet descended on the gathering. Obi-Wan decided it was time for payback. He carefully reached under the table toward Anakin. The young man was distracted by something else amusing down the table in the opposite direction from Obi-Wan's position. He never saw anything coming.
Obi-Wan grabbed the inside of Anakin's thigh and squeezed almost to a pinch. Anakin's yelp of surprise was so loud that everyone, even the speaker at the podium arranging his notes, turned toward the Jedi. Anakin's face turned the brightest shade of red Obi-Wan had ever seen on it. Obi-Wan kept his face neutral but concerned. He had no trace of his amusement on display.
Anakin thought quickly. He rose with a slight stumble and murmured something about a leg cramp before limping off toward the nearest 'fresher. Looking entirely sympathetic, Obi-Wan wiped his mouth politely with his cloth napkin and excused himself to check on his friend.
When he opened the door to the 'fresher seconds later, he didn't immediately see Anakin. But he could feel his irritation in the Force. Suddenly, strong arms whirled him around to face the entry door again.
"What the hell was that?" Anakin demanded with half a smile on his face and narrowed eyes. "You play dirty, Obi-Wan Kenobi," he accused.
Obi-Wan smirked back with a lilt of his head. "Indeed. I play to win."
They collapsed against each other in helpless laughter. Anakin slapped Obi-Wan's back several times in a congratulatory gesture. He had been bested, and he didn't mind at all. It was the most interesting part of the evening.
Obi-Wan took his embrace of Anakin a little more seriously, running his hands up and down the young man's strong, broad back. When Anakin started to pull away, Obi-Wan gave him one last squeeze before reluctantly letting him loose.
"Do we have to go back?" Anakin asked in a whiny tone. "I'm so bored, I'm going to start stabbing myself with my fork."
"Unfortunately, we do. But not right away. Cramps can take awhile to unclench. I didn't hurt you, did I?" Obi-Wan asked with concern. He ran his hand down Anakin's thigh where he had pinched him.
Anakin batted away the hand unconcernedly. "Nah. I was just surprised. I thought that woman across the table had somehow grown really long arms. She's been giving me fuck-me eyes all night." He rolled his fuck-me eyes. She was definitely not his type-she was too reptilian for him.
"And what would you know about 'fuck-me eyes', my Padawan?" Obi-Wan asked with an arched brow. He was intensely curious about this aspect of being Anakin Skywalker.
Anakin leaned casually back against the entry door. "Well, first of all, I get them all the time-from women and men-and it's really embarrassing most of the time. They bat their eyelashes or blink their eye membranes, lick their lips no matter how long or what color their tongues are, and try to touch me as much as possible." He shivered as he thought back on some of the less desirable attention he had had over the years.
"Take any up on the offer?" Obi-Wan pressed.
Anakin smiled shyly, looking up at his friend through lowered, flirty eyelashes of his own. "Maybe," he admitted. "But not often," he was quick to append.
Obi-Wan grunted. He had not had to deal with the issue all that often, but it hadn't been unheard of either. He, however, had never dallied with anyone who might be seen to want more than just the obvious. To Obi-Wan's mind, any political or social leverage one could gain over a Jedi did not seem worth the physical release. He had been happy with anonymous encounters with pleasure workers who had no designs on him.
He had been happy with that.
Listening intently, he determined that the last speech had ended. "Let's return for the last ten minutes, and then we can slip out, ok?" He placed a hand on Anakin's shoulder to pull him away from the door.
"Lead the way, Master," Anakin replied.
TBC