Author's Note: Spoiler alert, I wrote this whole fanfic to explain why Owen was concerned about Luke following "old" Obi-Wan on a "dammed fool idealistic crusade" like his father. That's what this has been really about, solving a plot hole. I'm kidding of course, enjoy the (hopefully) hot make out session.
Chapter 10: The Kiss
It was dawn when Anakin awoke on the back of the swoop bike. He was pressed against Obi-Wan, who was using the Force to keep him there, as they cruised through the familiar desert. The Jedi Master must've found his own way back toward the Lars' moisture farm, using the navigation skills he'd honed through decades of planetary exploration.
Obi-Wan drove more gently than his passenger had, but with enough speed to send him flying if he lost his focus. Anakin grabbed his waist to relieve him of that burden. "Thank you," he whispered into his ear.
"It was nothing," said Obi-Wan. That couldn't be true for a Jedi of ordinary power. To get Anakin to the bike, he'd have had to carry him to the cliff, then leap to its brink while holding him — hardly an easy feat. His desire to rescue his unconscious companion must've strengthened him, both physically and in the Force. So much for attachment being a weakness. "We're almost at the moisture farm. You slept for most of the journey. I can't say I'm surprised, after everything you did yesterday."
"And you did absolutely nothing," said Anakin, sarcastically. "How come you're awake?"
"The Force can sharpen a weary mind, as can the coffee I filled my flask with before we left the Temple, but we should head back there for some proper rest. Once we reach the Lars' home, we'll bid them farewell and take off as soon as we can."
"Agreed." Having done what he set out to, Anakin couldn't wait to get off the desolate planet and away from the cursed memories of his mother's kidnapping. But to his annoyance, Obi-Wan suddenly brought them to a halt at the base of a slanted outcrop. "What's happening? Why are we stopping?"
"Oh, nothing to worry about," said Obi-Wan, as he swung himself off the bike. "I just wanted to admire the view before we left." He set off up the rocky slope.
Anakin stayed where he was, his eyebrow raised, until Obi-Wan beckoned to him. "What view?" he asked, as he followed him to the edge of the outcrop. They looked out at the dark, orange-tinted sky and the rising suns that would bring another hot and harsh day. There was beauty to the binary sunrise, but it wasn't any prettier than those on less cruel worlds. "There's not much to see here."
"Oh, I disagree," said Obi-Wan. He spun to face Anakin and fixed him with his lustful gaze. Then he laid one hand on the nape of his neck and the other on his cheek.
Anakin laughed. So he was the "view". He should've suspected that, though his companion clearly wanted to do more than admire him.
When he decided to date Obi-Wan, he hadn't expected their first kiss to happen on Tatooine of all planets. Its deserts couldn't be more different from the Naboo lakeside he'd visited with Padme, but maybe that was for the best. If he could kiss the Jedi Master here — while they were coated in sand and sweat, the stench of decay lingering on their tunics — he could kiss him anywhere.
He took hold of his companion's waist. Obi-Wan winked but didn't move. He'd found the patience he'd lacked in the Temple Garden, but he didn't need it. Anakin was ready.
He tilted his head and pressed his parted lips to Obi-Wan's. Without a trace of hesitation, the Jedi kissed him back, sighing with delight and flicking his tongue against his teeth. Was he requesting access? It was worth a shot.
Anakin opened his mouth, allowing Obi-Wan to explore it eagerly. They tightened their grip on each other, pressed their chests together and moaned loudly.
Several minutes later, they finally pulled apart, gasping for air. Anakin quivered with excitement. So that was how a kiss was meant to work. Not that Padme was a bad kisser. She'd done well enough at first, but then became uneasy.
Obi-Wan, however, had committed to his decision and waited far too long to have his commitment rewarded. "That was incredible," he said. "I take it you enjoyed it too?"
"I did," said Anakin. "It makes me wish we'd done it earlier. I just had to pass out after telling you how I felt. Sorry about that."
"Don't be. I wouldn't have wanted our first kiss to happen there anyway. We were in graveyard remember?"
"Oh yeah, that would've been a strange, though it might've been fitting, considering how deadly attachments are." He chuckled. They weren't really. His love for his mother might've driven him to do something terrible, but Obi-Wan's love had wrenched him from that darkness. He shuddered to think of where he'd be without it. "Maybe we should be careful?" Careful not to let anything stop them, that is.
Obi-Wan sniggered. "You've never run from danger before, have you?" He glanced at his companion's lips, before drawing him in.
Anakin grinned as he kissed him, this time with more confidence and hunger. At this rate, it might be some time before they left the planet, but he wasn't too fussed. An extensive make out session with the second most gorgeous Jedi alive — he, of course, was the first — was just what he needed.
When Anakin and Obi-Wan arrived at the Lars homestead, Owen was guarding the star fighters, his blaster rifle raised. He scowled as they pulled to a stop in front of him.
"You can have your bike back," said Obi-Wan, as they dismounted and R2 whistled to them excitedly from Anakin's fighter. "Unfortunately, it seems we received faulty intel. The Separatist leader isn't here."
Owen snorted. "You searched the entire Jundland Wastes in less than a day, did you?"
"We did," said Anakin, his chin raised. "I'm strong enough in the Force to spot a threat from miles away. Now if you'll excuse us, we have business on Coruscant."
"Thanks for looking after our fighters," said Obi-Wan, in his diplomat voice. As always, he wanted to avoid a fight. He couldn't be naïve enough to think that Owen was genuinely there to help them. His furious frown made it clear he wasn't.
"Look," said the moisture farmer. He addressed Anakin, turning his back to Obi-Wan. "I don't know what you were after, but if I were you, I wouldn't risk my life for an impossible dream."
Anakin snarled. "What dream?"
"The Republic," said Owen, "don't tell me you believe in it. A bunch of politicians couldn't unite every star system in the galaxy and keep them in order. There will always be planets that want to do things their way. It was only a matter of time before they formed their own movement and there's nothing any of us can do about it."
"You support the Separatists?" Anakin reached for his lightsabre.
"I don't. I'm not interested in either side's nonsense. If you ask me, anyone who reckons they can change the galaxy is wasting their time."
"But the Republic has changed things," said Anakin, his hand still stayed over his weapon. "When thousands of star systems come work together, they can do anything. You'd understand if you'd seen the Core Worlds. For thousands of years, they've known nothing but peace, prosperity and freedom. Meanwhile your planet still has slaves. That's what I was when I lived here. I'm not going back to that."
"You won't have to. My father and I talked this over and, seeing as you're family, we want you to live with us, help us out on the farm. You look strong and you're good with machines, not to mention that Jedi magic of yours." The Force was no magic trick, but Anakin was in no mood to correct him. "You'll get more done here than you would by following some old man on an idealistic crusade."
"His name's Obi-Wan," said Anakin, drawing and igniting his sabre. "And I'd watch who I called old if I were you. He's only thirty-five. You don't look much younger than that."
"It's alright," said Obi-Wan, "We were in the sun for hours and I haven't slept in over a day. I must look as withered as a prune. There's no need to attack anyone on my account."
Anakin sighed and switched off his blade. "You're right, I'll save it for the Separatists."
"You can't fight them," said Owen. "From what I've seen on the Holonet, they have the most advanced droid army ever built and a limitless thirst for blood. You'd have to be a damned fool to take them on."
Anakin gritted his teeth. It took all his self-control not to reignite his blade and stab the selfish moron through the chest. "I'm not afraid of those monsters. Every innocent life they take is a reason to fight them, not an excuse to run away and cower. You want me to do nothing while millions die?"
Never. By burying the Tuskans, he'd begun to restore his sense of himself as a hero and he intended to keep being one. He couldn't believe he'd considered abandoning Obi-Wan, the Jedi and the Republic. What was he thinking? He'd become so wrapped up in his past crimes he'd forgotten his duty was to create a better future.
"There's no sense getting involved in something that's none of your business," said Owen. "Those weak Republic politicians created this mess. They can fix it."
"Oh yes," said Obi-Wan, sarcastically, "They're clearly the most qualified beings for the job."
Owen did not acknowledge his words and instead kept his focus on Anakin, who snarled at him. "I won't abandon the galaxy," he said, "and neither should you. You're part of it whether you like it or not. The Separatists might come for you one day and when they do I bet you'll be glad to have the Jedi and the Republic protecting you.
Owen smirked. "Neither side is going to bother with an isolated planet like Tatooine. That's what great about this place."
"Well in that case," said Anakin, with a cheeky grin, "my boyfriend and I can dump the Separatists here once we've saved everyone else." Obi-Wan's eyes lit up.
"He's your boyfriend?" said Owen. His mouth gaped open.
"Yes," said Anakin, "and I'll follow him wherever I like. Now move aside, unless you want to get fried by our thrusters."
The moisture farmer scowled, then trudged back to the homestead, leaving the Jedi to board their star fighters.
"Thank you," said Obi-Wan, over his coms system, once they were both ready to take off.
"For what?" said Anakin.
"For standing up for me..."
"It's nothing, we're a team..."
"... and for calling me your boyfriend."
"What else would I call you? We said we loved each other and made out for fifteen minutes. Surely that'll do it."
"It's earned me the title I suppose, but are you sure there isn't … more you'd like to do with me? I've been assigned new living quarters now that I'm a Jedi Master. They're a little larger and better furnished than my old ones. You're welcome to join me there."
Anakin's chest tingled. Did Obi-Wan mean what he hoped he did? He was eager to discover what a man with his experience could do to him. "I'd like that, but aren't you tired?"
"I'll manage. I have enough coffee to last me until Coruscant and you can talk to me to keep me awake. Besides I doubt I'll be able to sleep when I could be kissing you, stroking you, making you moan. You want that, don't you?"
Anakin licked his lips and nodded, then realised his seducer couldn't see him, though he might've sensed his arousal through the Force. "I do," he said, in case he hadn't. "But only if I get to do the same to you. I did dedicate my life to serving others." And he was glad he had. Owen had no idea what he'd tried to take from him.
"As you wish, my darling," said Obi-Wan. Darling — Anakin liked being called that and once they were back at the Temple, he'd prove he deserved it.
In case you're curious, I wrote a timeline for this part of the story (everything from their date to their return to Coruscant in the next chapter). In it, I assume that the journey to Tatooine takes five hours, which is way faster than the canonical travel times, but in my defence, it seems to line up with how it works in the movies. Also, we can imagine that Anakin's and Obi-Wan's starfighters are capable of unusually fast travel.
But most of you probably aren't here for that, are you? Hope you're looking forward to things heating up even more between them in the next chapter. Obi-Wan really earned it, I reckon.