Esteemed High General and Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi was…exhausted.
Which wasn't new—hasn't been for quite some time now.
It's been that way for decades in fact. Ever since he'd taken on a padawan and even more so once the war began.
He could go for months without sleep if no one intervened and still remain "25% functional," to quote the medical droid. But what was unusual was that hazy look in his eye.
No matter what, Obi-Wan always had at least a bit of clarity in his gaze, quipping sarcastic remarks until the end.
But not this time.
Aaand it was also abnormal for the graceful Jedi to be bumping into walls.
THUMP.
Anakin looked up from his battle report with an arched eyebrow as his former master stumbled into the spacious archives.
He was lucky the archives were very quiet at midnight. There was maybe one or two Jedi sifting through the vast collection of information packed in each glowing blue historical record, Anakin being the third.
Obi-Wan spotted him and waved clumsily. He uncharacteristically staggered as he moved to lean against a shelf, nearly missing and falling in the process. Anakin turned off his holo tablet and smirked, rising to his feet.
As he walked toward him he tried to gauge what was wrong with his friend.
Was he drunk?
No, definitely not.
His master's face may be flushed and his eyes glazed over, but he hardly ever drank, and when he did, he never got drunk. Maybe tipsy, but not drunk. Obi-Wan hated how it muffled his connection to the Force. And never, ever was he intoxicated in the Temple. Ever.
What was it then? Drugged? Poisoned?
He sped the pace up a bit as he noticed Obi-Wan begin to sway. It increased dangerously until Anakin witnessed Obi-Wan trip over his feet.
With a burst of Force-enhanced speed, Anakin darted forward and quickly caught Obi-Wan before his skull cracked against the smooth, hard floor.
"Obi-Wan, what-?" Anakin cut himself off as a silly mischievous grin spread across his lips. There was a bandage wrapped around Obi-Wan's head and his arm was suspiciously bulky. A cast, no doubt.
Oh yes, he knew a Healers Wing escapee when he saw one. He should know. Oftentimes he was one.
"You good there, Obi-Wan?" he asked, trying to catch Obi-Wan's eye.
There was a soft hum in response as Anakin maneuvered them both into a more comfortable position. Obi-Wan's attention was restless and unfocused. He managed to look Anakin straight in the eye for a second, maybe two, before he seemed to get distracted by a bright light or he spaced out.
"I have a pretty good feeling you're supposed to be in the Halls of Healing. Not here in the archives," Anakin chuckled.
"Oh, is that where this is?" came Obi-Wan's abnormally cheerful and breathy response.
"Mm-hm."
"Then what…what are you doing here?" Obi-Wan murmured, eyes squinting.
"I was just going to ask you."
Obi-Wan groaned and shifted uncomfortably, blinking heavily.
"But I asked first."
"I don't think you're in a position to argue, Master."
Obi-Wan merely hummed again, his knees suddenly buckling underneath him. Anakin gently tightened his grip around him and lowered him to the floor.
"Why…?" Obi-Wan trailed off. His brows furrowed in confusion as the thought slipped from his grasp.
"Why what?" Anakin nudged him, prompting him to continue. Obi-Wan startled, as if surprised by Anakin's presence, and rubbed his eyes.
"Why're you not with…with…her...with..."
Obi-Wan cut himself off with a groan and pressed the palms of his hands against his temples.
"Blasted medics," he muttered.
Anakin suppressed a laugh.
"Ahsoka's sleeping, Master, as should you."
"No, no, no, no…not…ugh…Padme. Padme. Aren't you…with Padme? Should…be."
A pang of concern shot through Anakin. He paled, gently slapping Obi-Wan's cheek as the older Jedi's eyes fluttered closed. When that didn't work, he shook him, prompting a grumpy frown from Kenobi. But at least his eyes opened.
"What do you mean, Obi-Wan? What about Padme? Is she in trouble?" Anakin demanded, all hints of prior amusement vanishing into thin air. Obi-Wan sighed and reached up to rub his head again, but his hand didn't quite make it there, falling limply to his lap.
"Obi-Wan!" Anakin hissed, shaking the man when he seemed to zone out. Obi-Wan jerked back to reality.
"Hm?" he murmured, half-lidded.
"Padme Amidala, is she okay?" Anakin questioned urgently. He seriously considered leaving Obi-Wan and running straight to the senator's room, 'saber blazing.
"Oh," Obi-Wan formed an 'o' with his mouth and it remained there for far longer than necessary. Then he promptly spaced out again.
"Obi-Wan, c'mon, answer me. This is important."
Obi-Wan groaned and screwed his eyes shut, leaning his head against the shelf.
"Yes, yes, An'kin, she's perfectly fine. Now do please stop yelling."
"I'm not yelling."
"Yesyouare," he slurred.
Anakin sighed, crossing his arms, and looking around for any incoming attention. They were all clear. Good. It was time to get this old man back to the Halls of Healing before he embarrassed himself further.
"Alright, Master, do you think you can stand?" Anakin asked dubiously.
Even dazed, Obi-Wan managed to look offended. "Of course," he scoffed.
But Obi-Wan made no motion to move and neither did Anakin. They remained in awkward silence for a few moments before Anakin arched an eyebrow.
"Do you need help?"
Obi-Wan shook his head, no.
"Just a few minutes…," he whispered, eyes closed.
Just a few more minutes? Now that sounded familiar. Anakin found himself relishing in this, an evil chuckle building in his throat. He could finally have vengeance against his master for all those early mornings and all the times Obi-Wan mercilessly said no to Anakin's whined pleas for five more minutes. Of course, revenge wasn't the Jedi way…but surely this was an exception.
Crouching next to Obi-Wan so that his lips were nearly touching his ear, Anakin grinned in anticipation.
"Obi-Wan, wake up!" he shouted.
Obi-Wan startled and almost toppled over, his eyes snapping wide open. Instinctively, he reached for his lightsaber, but Anakin caught his hand midway.
Obi-Wan stared at Anakin, bewildered.
"Hi," Anakin smiled, adding a small wave. Obi-Wan nodded distantly as his eyes already started falling closed. Anakin flicked him on the nose and he jerked awake a third time.
"Come on, Master, up we go," Anakin grunted, slipping his arms under Obi-Wan's armpits. Before Obi-Wan could process Anakin's words, Anakin heaved the smaller Jedi to his feet, extending an arm to steady him.
"W-where are we going?" Obi-Wan asked as Anakin dragged him out of the musty Archives.
The Halls of Healing, Anakin thought.
"Your quarters," he said instead.
Obi-Wan gave a sigh of relief and a pathetic nod.
"Ah…good."
Anakin smiled to himself and draped Obi-Wan's arm over his shoulder, grateful the medics had taken off the armor vambraces. It would've poked and pinched at Anakin, a pet peeve of his whenever he had to carry Obi-Wan while saving his skin for the billionth time.
As they were nearing the Healing Wing, Obi-Wan's chin, which had dipped toward his chest, rose suddenly as he blinked owlishly at Anakin.
"Anakin?"
"Yes, Master?"
"Mm, shouldn't say that," Obi-Wan muttered, licking his chapped lips.
"Pardon?" Anakin frowned, bristling slightly.
"I'm not your master anymore. You're a knight, remember? Shouldn't…shouldn't call me master."
Anakin relaxed at that.
"Yeah, well, you'll always be my master to me, Obi-Wan," he smiled. He thought for a moment then smirked. "Whether you like it or not."
Obi-Wan chuckled at that.
They struggled in silence for a little while until Obi-Wan spoke up.
"Y'should get a pa-padanawn."
Anakin blew a strand of messy brown hair from his face.
"You mean a padawan? Seems like you're getting a little amnesiac, Master. I have a padawan," he corrected. "You were there. Ahsoka Tano? Does that ring a bell at all?"
Apparently not.
Obi-Wan's expression was utterly baffled, clouded by narrow-eyed confusion. Anakin would've laughed if he hadn't felt the slightest tinge of concern.
Thankfully it didn't last long.
He smiled weakly when he watched remembrance dawned on Obi-Wan's features and the man's bearded face reddened to a deeper shade of crimson.
"Oh, right. D-don't tell her I..."
Obi-Wan trailed off for what felt like the dozenth time as he began to slip from Anakin's grip.
Anakin adjusted his hold on his former master and clutched the Jedi's forearm tighter, prompting yet another groan from the dazed Jedi.
"Yeah, yeah, I won't tell her you forgot, old man," he assured him, chuckling.
Obi-Wan merely smiled at that.
The smile faltered, then fell away, however, and a curiously introspective expression took its place
Obi-Wan heaved a sigh.
"Growing up so fast," he muttered under his breath.
Anakin wasn't sure if Obi-Wan meant for him to hear it, so he said nothing. Not sure what to say if he did.
"So, Master, how was your last solo mission?" Anakin asked, changing the conversation.
A slow blink, then another smile.
"The usual."
"Yeah? How so? What were the objectives?"
Their conversation naturally petered out to silence (as naturally as possible with a Jedi who could hardly string coherent thoughts together) and soon they were simply enjoying each other's company.
There were a few priceless encounters with other Jedi who were either leaving or returning from missions that Obi-Wan would beat himself up about later (if he remembered) and Anakin would never let him live down, but they soon made it to the Halls of Healing. Master Healer Vokara Che's office was just around the corner. Anakin's aching shoulders screamed with relief as he handed the half-conscious Jedi back to the very displeased Healer.
But Obi-Wan wasn't done yet. He stumbled as Vokara Che ushered him back into a room, looking back at Anakin as he did.
"S-should be with…with her, Anakin. Don't…have much time…between missions," Obi-Wan called, a little louder than necessary. Vokara tried shushing him, but Anakin, who laughed slightly, wanted to know who he was rambling about.
"And who is that, Master?" Anakin asked, grinning. Obi-Wan rubbed his forehead furiously and yawned involuntarily, frustration etching the wrinkles on his brow.
"Your wife, Anakin! Go be with your…," another yawn. "With Padme!"
Time seemed to freeze at that. Well, Anakin froze, his grin wiped clean from his face. Vokara Che cast him a questioning glance and that broke him out of his daze. He chuckled nervously, rubbing his neck furiously.
"Eh, he's probably just delirious. I'm fond of the senator, but we are not…close. Not like that," he stammered, his skin flushing. He hoped against hope that the tips of his ears hadn't turned a stark red.
Vokara nodded slowly but looked like she was about to say something further. Luckily, Obi-Wan chose that exact moment to keel over and start throwing up. Anakin took this opportunity to back away and make a dash for it, eyes wide. His heart raced harder than it did during battles.
What the kriff? Obi-Wan…knew?