Author's Note: Since this story (which I hope will be part one of a longer series) is purely about Anakin and Obi-Wan getting together we're almost at the end. I hope you've all been enjoying it.

Chapter 12: Dinner with the Chancellor

Anakin woke up feeling warmer than he usually did in the Jedi Temple, thanks to Obi-Wan's tight embrace. He snuggled against his boyfriend, who stirred awake and nuzzled his neck.

"Good afternoon, my darling," said Obi-Wan. It must have been afternoon by then, though not evening, since it was bright outside. "I trust you slept well."

"I did," said Anakin. For the first time since the night he faced the Trial of the Spirit, his sleep hadn't been interrupted by the vision. He'd seen glimpses of it after passing out on Tatooine, but now even those were gone. Had his lover's tender touch kept them away? Or had his destiny changed now that Obi-Wan had made him into a better man? Either way he was grateful. "I'm going to miss this, when we go back to the front."

"So will I, but we'll be fighting together, at least until the Council assigns you a new Padawan."

"You think I'm ready?" asked Anakin. Despite what had happened between them, he wasn't entirely accustomed to Obi-Wan treating him like a grown up.

"Of course. I can't wait to see you become an amazing teacher, even if it means seeing less of you."

"I … uh … wouldn't be so sure of that," said Anakin. "I've been thinking. I could use Artoo to record something for you, so you could watch it if you ever got lonely. It'll be completely secure. We'll be the only ones to know the passcode." Droids didn't read their own files unless ordered to and could record footage with their consciousness switched off.

Obi-Wan gave a knowing snigger, then kissed his collarbone. "What a lovely idea! But you'll have to get back to your room to film it." They'd sent their droids away after landing at the Temple. "And I won't make that easy."

Anakin shivered as his lover stroked his abdomen. "Obi-Wan," he said, "I'd love to stay, but I promised the Chancellor I'd have dinner with him."

Obi-Wan's hand froze. "You did."

"Yeah, I sent him a message to let him know I'd passed the Trials and he asked if we could meet up to celebrate, while we both had time."

"Darling," said Obi-Wan, his voice cold. "I must ask you to rethink this."

Anakin scowled. "You can't stop me seeing my friend. You don't own me."

"I was only asking. The choice is yours, but be careful. Dinner is an intimate meal. He might want more than friendship from you."

"But we've had dinner together loads of times."

Obi-Wan chuckled. "My point exactly."

"Oh right," said Anakin. Their morning together didn't feel entirely real. "But you trust me, don't you?"

"I do, it's him I don't trust."

Anakin snorted. "You think an elderly man could overpower me?"

Obi-Wan sighed. "Not physically, but he could exploit his political power to make you comply with his wishes. As Supreme Chancellor he wields influence over the Jedi Order and, thanks to his emergency powers, he'll continue to wield it until the war ends."

Anakin rolled his eyes. "Spare me the political lecture. It's our last day off."

"Alright then, but if he tries anything I want to hear about it."

"Fine." He'd have nothing to report. The Chancellor was too charismatic to need such tactics, though Obi-Wan wouldn't want to hear that. "I'll see you at the briefing tomorrow."

"You don't have to go just yet, do you?" Obi-Wan traced circles on his lover's thigh.

"I suppose not," said Anakin, quivering with anticipation, despite his anger.

"Good," said Obi-Wan. "Dex will want to know how our date went. He might be disappointed if I tell him we only made love once. He wanted me to aim for eight, though I doubt he understands our biology all that well."

Anakin laughed. "Two should be plenty." He turned to face Obi-Wan so they could press their groins together. They moaned softly. So long as he could feel his boyfriend's cock inside him one more time before returning to the front, he was happy.

Anakin sat across from the Chancellor in a dimly lit private booth that was large enough for ten human-sized beings, but that he'd reserved for the two of them. They were in Kristi's Klub, a location the young Jedi had been curious about for years but couldn't hope to find on his own. Despite its high price tag, it was busy and loud enough for them not to be overheard.

They'd both eaten their dinners. Anakin had ordered the Fried Endorian Tip-Yip, which cost double what it did at Dex's Diner. Not that it mattered. Palpatine was paying and his exotically spiced Kublag Curry had cost triple that. He'd paired it with a glass of vintage Sunberry wine from the bottle he'd had brought with him. They were now sharing the rest of it, while catching up on what had happened since they last met on Geonosis.

Anakin showed off his prosthetic, while privately recalling how he'd used it in Obi-Wan's quarters. A slight smile crossed his face.

"I hope you can forgive me for noticing," said the Chancellor, rousing him from his fantasies, "but you look unusually cheerful. I suspect your new hand isn't all you're excited about."

Anakin gulped. Was it that obvious? No, he had to be referring to his recent knighting, the reason they'd decided to go out together in the first place. "I'm glad I finally passed the Trials," he said. "It means Obi-Wan can't tell me what to do anymore." He filled his flute with wine, then raised it. "To freedom," he said.

Palpatine winked. "To freedom."

Anakin clinked the glass against his companion's and tried to maintain his dignity as he sipped from it. The wine was even sweeter than one he'd enjoyed yesterday and Palpatine likely had many more in his possession. If the Chancellor did want more than friendship, they could all be his, along with any speeder or fighter we wanted. Even as a Jedi Master, Obi-Wan couldn't — and wouldn't — spoilt him like that.

Anakin's stomach churned. He'd confessed his feelings for his boyfriend less than a day ago. How could he already be tempted to betray him? He wouldn't act on it though. He may not be the perfect Jedi, but he wasn't a greedy traitor. Besides, the Chancellor wasn't interested in that sort of thing. He was too old and had a war effort to lead. His warm smiles meant nothing, no matter how much they made his heart flutter.

"I trust you're enjoying your life as a Jedi Knight," said Palpatine. "You deserve to, having passed the Trials under difficult circumstances. Mastering a prosthetic in two weeks is no easy feat."

Anakin cheeks grew warm. He hoped the wine was to blame. "I'm flattered, Chancellor, but I have Obi-Wan to thank for that. I couldn't have done it without him." He was speaking to himself as much as to Palpatine.

"Nonsense, my boy. You've earned your place in the Order. Unless … the rumour is true?"

Anakin furrowed his brow. "What rumour?"

"You don't know? It mustn't have spread beyond us politicians then." Or it had spread and he wasn't aware of it because he'd been off-world for a day. "In which case, I wouldn't worry about it. If you ask me, it's nothing but jealous gossip. Forget I said anything."

"I can't," said Anakin, his teeth gritted. "I need to know." That way he could track down whoever started the rumour and give them a piece of his mind.

Palpatine sighed. "Alright then, if you insist, but you can't say I didn't warn you. Several senators are under the impression you — in exchange for his permission to face the Trials — slept with your former master."

Anakin smashed his fist against the table. "How dare they! Why would they think that?"

Palpatine shrugged. "They might've noticed the way Obi-Wan gazed at you whenever you accompanied him on a diplomatic mission. A man with your looks probably gets that reaction often, but if you wish to be seen as a man of integrity, you mustn't exploit it."

"I didn't. He was going to let me take the Trials either way."

Palpatine raised an eyebrow. "So, he did ask you to sleep with him?"

Anakin stiffened. His words had indeed implied that. From now on, he'd be more careful around alcohol.

The Chancellor shook his head. "I've heard of Jedi Masters using their authority and reputation to gain sexual favours, but I never dreamed Obi-Wan would be one of them or that he'd go as far as to target his Padawan. What is the galaxy coming to if even a man as seemingly decent as him can't be trusted!"

Anakin didn't appreciate the Chancellor's accusations. He wanted to storm off in protest, but as a Jedi he was meant to control himself. Besides, if he explained the situation, surely Palpatine would understand. "Obi-Wan didn't do that."

"Then what did he do? You might as well tell me or I'll assume the worst."

"Alright then." Anakin took a deep breath, then repeated what Obi-Wan had confessed to him before his trip to Naboo, leaving out the most incriminating parts. "He helped me pass the Trials, so he wouldn't have power over me and I could choose whether to be him."

"I see," said Palpatine, "and what did you choose?"

"I … uh." Anakin fiddled with his robes, instead of answering.

"You chose to court him?"

Anakin broke into a sudden sweat. "How do you …"

Palpatine chuckled. "If you hadn't, you wouldn't be so embarrassed, nor so quick to defend your new lover."

"You're right," said Anakin. "Obi-Wan and I are together." There was no hiding it now. His boyfriend had been was right. He shouldn't have met with Palpatine at such a late hour. It would've been wiser to speak with him the next morning, before the mission briefing, but he couldn't undo his choice. He had to salvage the situation as best he could. "We promised the Council we'd keep it to ourselves and I don't want the public to think he's using me, so please don't tell anyone."

"Of course, my boy. When have I ever betrayed your secrets? But there may be someone out there with less respect for your privacy. Perhaps a Separatist spy looking to sow division within the Republic? Or a fellow Jedi who's envious of your abilities?"

"I can't think of anyone."

"Are you sure? Is anyone besides myself and the Council aware of your relationship?"

Anakin had shocked Owen by telling him about it, but the words of a moisture farmer on Tatooine wouldn't spread far. "No one important," he said, "apart from Padme and she'd never betray us." Nor would Dex. If Obi-Wan trusted him, so did Anakin. That was everyone ... or was it? "Hold on, do you know of a brothel in the Urso district that caters to Jedi?"

Palpatine raised an eyebrow. "Oh my," he said, "don't tell me you're corrupt too?"

"I didn't mean it like that," said Anakin, with a slight snarl. "I have an idea of who started the rumour. The Council hired a Changeling to pretend to be Obi-Wan, so they could determine if I was too devoted to him. I bet there's a senator or two who'd seek her, uh, other services, using credits meant for the war effort." He tried not to dwell on that.

"I see. My aides tell me of an establishment favoured by high-class clients — mostly politicians, along with a few Jedi Masters." So, such a place did exist. Anakin had hoped it didn't. "I've never set foot there myself, but I can enter the address into your datapad if you hand it to me. I would send it to you, but the Republic's enemies might hack my devices, discover the message and use it against me."

"But what if my datapad gets hacked?" asked Anakin.

"If you confront the Changeling tonight, you can delete the address and you won't have anything to worry about."

"Tonight? But I need to rest before my mission."

"It'd be wise to act quickly, my boy. If she is spreading the rumour, you must prove to her you're not to be trifled with."

What did he mean? Was the Chancellor suggesting he physically attack Tasha? No, he'd never encourage that. His own violent imagination was getting away with him. "Jedi don't show off our powers to get our way," he said. That must've been what he was suggesting. "She can say what she wants. I'll intervene later if it becomes a problem."

"Are you sure? You'll be risking your reputation." He stared deep into Anakin's eyes, as if monitoring him for a reaction. "Not to mention Obi-Wan's."

Anakin trembled. Tasha had gleefully warned him that the galaxy would judge Obi-Wan's feelings harshly and once he'd been reduced to her level, she could have him for herself. She'd clearly started the rumour to make that happen.

Anakin wanted to slice her to pieces, but if his boyfriend were here, he'd urge him not to control himself, while reassuring him that the Council would take their side and allow them to stay in the Order, no matter what the public thought. "Only politicians worry about their reputations," he said, with a brief chuckle.

Palpatine frowned. He mustn't have caught his humorous intent. "Spoken like a clone of Obi-Wan Kenobi."

Anakin laughed with delight at the comparison. "We have become more alike, haven't we? I suppose that's what happens when you fall in love. I can't complain, though. He's a good influence." He quietened his voice and added. "I don't think I'll be repeating what I did on Tatooine any time soon." He smiled with relief.

Palpatine narrowed his brow. He was clearly fed up with his friend's angst, having heard enough of it on Geonosis. "That's good news," he said, relaxing his face, "but you mustn't let your new boyfriend soften you too much. We have a war to fight."

"Oh, don't worry, Chancellor. Obi-Wan's helped me prepare for that." His former master had taught him to fight with skill rather than raw brutality. He couldn't wait to learn more from him when they had the chance. "Being with him is the best decision I ever made, and speaking of that, I should head back. I uh … promised to record something for him." Should he have told Palpatine about that? It couldn't hurt. He knew of their relationship and he'd never ask to see the footage. "Thanks for having dinner with me. It's been a pleasure."

"You're welcome."

As Anakin got up to leave, he noticed a grimace of pure loathing on the Chancellor's face and wondered what Separatist atrocity could've caused it. Then he strode to the club's entrance — he had no need for its back-door exits — trusting that his Force bond with Obi-Wan would lead him back to the Temple.

Since this story (which I hope will be part one of a longer series) is purely about Anakin and Obi-Wan getting together we're almost at the end. I hope you've all been enjoying it.