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tatooinebarnes · 2 years ago

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As It Was - Obi-Wan Kenobi (Part 1)

Obi-Wan Kenobi x Gender Neutral Original Character

Read on AO3

Word Count: 10.5k

Warnings: cursing, canon typical violence

Summary: Obi-Wan Kenobi and Cecil Palmarin have known each other since childhood. and for as long as they can remember they've been pushing down the feelings of affection that always seem to be present between them. But war changes people. And war changes perceptions on what risks you're willing to take.

Gender Neutral Original Character written from their POV. No y/n. Minor allusions to OC presenting as/being socialized as fem. But mostly just their POV.

Asexual Spectrum OC and Obi-Wan

Begins in the Clone Wars, ends in A New Hope

Part 1 (Chapters 1-7)

CH. 1 - Home

Back-to-back with Obi-Wan while reflecting blaster shots had begun to feel like a familiar task, something I did as easy as lacing up my boots rather than a fight for my life.

Perhaps it’s an exaggeration to say that we were fighting for our lives; this Separatist base was ill-prepared to deter the attack of two Jedi and a host of Republic forces and were all but holding the door open for us. The only reason Obi-wan and I were here was to assure that the intel we were seeking was delivered into the hands of the Jedi Council as quickly as possible. Frankly, we were unneeded.

And I wished they had let us stay behind because the falling snow was already piling halfway up my shins and the temperature was steadily dropping as we ventured closer to the base’s main entrance. My hair had broken loose of its tie and was blowing wildly around my face being anything but helpful in deflecting blaster fire. I cursed myself for not making time to do up the braids again before this mission.

The snow fell slowly, a thick blanket muffling the sounds of battle and making everything glow eerily under the blaze of our lightsabers. Finally the blaster fire slowed and I could see our forces setting charges on the main doors. I lowered my saber, letting it fall to my side and click off, breathing hard. Obi-Wan did the same, pushing the long hair I had been begging him to let me trim out of his face.

“Something is wrong,” Obi-Wan said suddenly, his body going rigid as he jumped back into a defensive stance.

I reached out and could feel it too, a sudden shift in the Force, a dark presence that had been slyly concealing itself. At the same moment, the charges set on the base’s doors went off, spraying debris and clouding the air. Blaster fire emitted from the now gaping hole and as our own forces returned fire a red saber lit up within the smoke.

“Ventress,” I said definitely. It was rumored she was in this system but no one had thought she would be on this planet, let alone this little outpost.

“Unfortunately,” Obi-Wan muttered, “this just got a whole lot more complicated.”

“You don’t say?” I said, rolling my eyes before refocusing on where Ventress’s slim figure was emerging from the cloud of debris.

Even from afar, I could see Ventress was pink in the face and feel her aversion to this god-forsaken ice planet. Nobody wanted to be here, least of all the foreboding periwinkle woman. On that subject I agreed with her; this was far too cold a place to call inhabitable.

“Cecil-” Obi-wan started, his tone annoyed.

“Don’t ‘Cecil’ me, Obi-Wan,” I said badly impersonating him, my own accent fading poorly when I tried to conceal it, “I am not Anakin. Or Ahsoka. You can’t scold me for sassing you. How many times must I remind you of that?”

“You are insufferable,” Obi-Wan said, humor creeping into his voice and he spared a glance at me, eyes crinkling.

Ventress had spotted us almost immediately and I could feel her anger growing. I had crossed her path only once before and that occasion had resulted in the death of far too many clones and a saber burn across my forearms. But today, she was mad.

She met us with smashing hacks, lightsaber crackling as anger rolled off her in waves, seething in a way that seemed to surprise even Obi-Wan. But he recovered quickly, easily retaliating against her attacks, the two of us soon gaining the upper hand.

I had the feeling that the entire compound had stopped to watch; two Jedi carefully navigating an enraged Sith, all three stumbling through the growing snow drifts. The more we gained control the madder she became, her attacks sloppy but annoyingly effective. She was moving so fast that even with our combined attack everything was beginning to blur, only our trust in the Force keeping us from falling beneath the scarlet blade. But it was only a matter of time before one of us made a mistake.

The first mistake was Ventress’s - leaving her side unguarded - earning her deep, sizzling mark from Obi-Wan. But the second mistake was mine - assuming that she would recoil instead of attack - a mistake which sent me flying across the compound, the smell of burning flesh accompanying me.

“Cecil!” I heard Obi-Wan’s voice yell, but knew nothing else but a searing pain along my right side.

–

I woke from the memory gasping, sitting up so fast I almost knocked my head on the bunk above me. Ahsoka was staring at me, bent to my level and grasping my hands.

“Are you okay?” she asked, her voice anxious.

Unconsciously I reached up to where what was left of my ear tingled, tracing the scar of the saber burn down my neck to where it disappeared beneath my tunic. My other hand automatically reached up to feel my other ear, as if it would disappear without my noticing.

“Another nightmare Master Palmarin?”

“Yes,” I said, still unable to fully catch my breath and unwilling to lie to her, “the same one as always. I doubt it will ever go away.”

Her gaze softened, “It’s only been four and a half months. The burn is barely even healed.”

I nodded but did not share her sentiment. A series of long soaks in a bacta tank had healed the wound enough that it did not hinder my movement much and I could hide that half my ear was missing, but the pink scar still stood out against my dark skin, painfully obvious anytime I caught a passing reflection of myself. I wondered if it would ever really fade to something that only I could see instead of being the glaring reminder that I had almost died, Ventress had escaped and that the whole mission had failed because of my mistake.

Ahsoka did not press any further but gave my hands a squeeze as she got up and headed back to the cockpit, “We’re coming in on the rendezvous point. Anakin requested we join them on the planet’s surface instead of boarding their cruiser to transfer the supplies since they’d have to bring it down anyway.”

I nodded and followed her, eternally thanking the gods that Anakin’s Padawan was responsible beyond her years and could be trusted to pilot the cargo ship while her superior had nightmares about things they should not fear.

“I’m not going to lie Master Palmarin,” Ahsoka said without looking at me as she guided the ship onto the landing pad “You don’t look so good. Are you sure you should be doing all this with that wound?”

“I’m sure,” I replied, refusing to dwell on the way I could see that my reflection in the windshield looked tired, my dark complexion lacking its usual glow. Instead, I let a smile form as my gaze caught on two familiar robed figures on the landing pad, the bearded one’s grin visible from afar.

–

“General Palmarin. Commander Tano,” a trooper saluted us as we exited the ship, “Good to see you both again.”

I nodded in return, not recognizing his identification number and did not have time to ask his name before being enveloped in a bone crushing hug. To my own dismay, I did not conceal my flinch in pain well enough and Obi-Wan immediately retracted his grip, holding me at arm’s length looking immensely guilty.

“Cecil I’m so sorry- I keep forgetting-” he started.

“It’s alright. It’s still just a little tender sometimes,” I said, smiling widely at him, feeling giddy to see that ever-present amusement in his expression. He always seemed to be looking at me like we were sharing a personal and deeply hilarious joke, a gaze that never quite left me.

Obi-Wan almost unconsciously reached up to tuck one of my long braids behind my still existent ear but quickly retracted his hand looking embarrassed.

“It’s good to see you,” I smiled, pushing my feeling of joy at him through the Force. He smiled wider this time and wrapped me in another short hug.

Anakin broke in across his former Master’s light grip, his hug less invasive than Obi-Wan’s but genuine never-the-less, “I hope you’re ready to give Snips back because I am getting tired of taking orders from General Serious-Business-Only.”

I chuckled and caught Obi-Wan’s eye as he frowned, only making me laugh harder, “I’m sure General Serious-Business-Only could find some excuse to lighten up.”

Anakin grinned wickedly, the sort of grin that told me he already had something up his sleeve and he just needed someone of authority to egg him on. Sometimes I wondered why he was allowed to have a Padawan.

“The High Council of this planet is hosting a celebration tonight in thanks for you dropping medical supplies and our involvement in keeping their planet ‘Separitist free.’ How about staying for the night instead of leaving now?”

“Anakin-” Obi-Wan started, the signature scolding tone entering his voice.

“Come on Master, it will be FUN,” Anakin continued.

When Obi-Wan did not have an immediate comeback Anakin nodded curtly, bouncing on his toes, “it’s been decided then! We’re staying for the night. Come on Snips, let’s go join the party.”

We watched them go, Obi-Wan frowning with his arms crossed.

“It really won’t hurt to stay the night,” I said, nudging him in the ribs, “Ahsoka hasn’t slept since we left Endor. She deserves a good rest.”

“That goes for you too,” Obi-Wan smiled, “Get some good sleep.”

Before I could respond, Anakin's voice crackled over Obi-Wan’s comm link, “And don’t you two even think of going to bed early. Tonight is for celebration.”

“Anakin-” Obi-Wan started in the same exasperated voice.

“And yes, I promise to get Ahsoka to bed at a reasonable hour. She needs the sleep. But also a little fun in her life. And so do you.”

I laughed at the expression on Obi-Wan’s face, “We’re at war, Anakin.”

“Yes I know Master, that’s why you have to take any opportunity you can get.”

Obi-Wan rolled his eyes again and this time I couldn’t resist joining him.

–

The four of us were perched on barstools, crammed around a small hightopped table clearly not meant to have four Jedi leaning on it, especially with the way Anakin kept excitedly gesturing. The celebration was in full swing around us, the room a blur of pale blue-skinned natives dancing, eating and conversing as we remained the only stationary point.

“You know,” Anakin started, letting his glass hit the table a little too hard. “I am really a very responsible teacher. I never let Ahsoka do anything I think she can’t handle.”

Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow like he wanted to protest but didn’t want to offend Ahsoka.

“Except for the time-” Ahsoka started.

“I knew you could handle it-” Anakin interrupted a frown of annoyance forming a crease between his brows.

“Oh? And what was that?” I asked grinning mischievously.

“Nothing.” Anakin and Ahsoka said together.

“See now you have my interest sparked,” I said, already knowing we would not be getting this story out of them anytime soon.

“It was just a little miscommunication, and things got a little…. hairy.”

“I see….” Obi-Wan mumbled, “Probably something I’ll be hearing about later and have to reprimand you for?”

Anakin grinned, briefly catching Ahsoka’s eye, “Yeah, probably.”

I shook my head with amusement, reveling in the dynamic the three shared. I knew them all well individually, but I rarely got to see them all together. They exuded a joy and glow that was rare in the midst of the war, a sense of home that seemed to travel with them wherever they went. When they were together they made everyone around them feel like they were in on some hilarious practical joke that was always at the precipice of occurring. Never before within the Jedi Order had I felt quite so at home.

“Cecil! Are you listening?” Anakin said, waving a hand in front of my face, “They’re playing your favorite song.”

I zoned back in to discover that Anakin was right: this little planet on the edge of the galaxy had somehow managed to dig up an old relic far outside their culture to play at the exact moment that we happened to be on-planet. I all but jumped to my feet, unable to stay stay seated as the familiar baseline filled the room.

“Did you request this?” I asked, feeling that the grin on my face was one none of them had seen for far too long.

Anakin grinned back and glanced conspiratorially at Obi-Wan, “No, but I do know someone who did.”

“Obi-Wan! You remembered!” I said a little too loudly, causing the people around us to stare as I leaned over the table to grasp his hands and tug him off his stool.

“Cecil no-”

“Oh relax, you requested the song. You’re required to dance now,” I laughed, pulling him after me into the throng of people in the center of the room where the tables had been pushed to the side. I flailed my arms in a way that I knew would look ridiculous in hopes I could at least get him to crack a smile.

The tactic worked and he seemed to relax a little, letting himself bob up and down on the balls of his feet to the beat of the music. Unsatisfied, I did not let go of his hands, instead forcing them to move, forcing him to at least move his upper body to the music a little. I could hear Anakin laughing and Ahsoka giggling but I couldn’t see anything else but the amused way Obi-Wan was smiling as if it took all his restraint to not burst out laughing.

“You can laugh, you know. I do look ridiculous. We look ridiculous,” I said.

“That is precisely what I’m worried about,” he deadpanned, still looking extremely uncomfortable with having been dragged out into the throng of dancing blue people, their smaller builds leaving us towering over them and making us stand out.

“No one else is here. No one to tell on you if you have a little fun,” I prompted, “and I think Anakin and ‘Soka will bother you more about it if you don’t at least pretend to have fun.”

We both looked back at Anakin and Ahsoka to find that they had disappeared, probably in search of the drinks we had forbidden them from seeking. I frowned but their lack of presence seemed to make Obi-Wan more comfortable and he finally started to move, his feet actually shuffling along the ground as he danced.

Maybe ‘danced’ was a strong word. It was more of just moving his limbs in a way that made them slightly off beat but somehow managed to not look completely ridiculous. By the end of the song we were hanging off each other, breathless and giggling like little kids.

The last note of the song faded and the moment of unadulterated joy faded, bringing us back to reality. The next song picked up slowly, something obviously more familiar to our hosts but also obviously meant for slow dancing. They all coupled up and began slow promanaudes around the room before I could even register that we might want to excuse ourselves. In an instant it was too late and we were the only ones in the middle of the crowd not swaying to the music alongside a partner.

Much to my surprise, Obi-Wan bowed low before me, offering his hand and said in a serious tone, “Would you care to dance Master Palmarin?”

“How could I refuse Master Kenobi?” I grinned accepting his hand.

Although I had been holding his hands only moments before in our fervent excitement of my favorite song, this felt forbidden, like something we were not allowed to partake in. A blush rose in my cheeks and all the way through my ears and I hoped that the fact my braids were beginning to frizz out would hide it. However, Obi-Wan’s lips tilted up into a half smile like he noticed and I felt his presence in the Force shift, falling from the unorganized joy he had been exuding to a carefully masked affection that I was immediately sure he had not meant to let me feel.

The blush rose higher in my cheeks as one of his hands fell on the curve of my waist and the other remained carefully wrapped in mine. I placed my free hand on his shoulder, the familiar feeling of Jedi tunics suddenly alien when I was touching someone else’s.

He led, slowly weaving out of the center of swaying couples, spinning us in slow revolutions around the room. Not for a moment did he break eye contact and not for a moment did I want him to. When he had spun us to the edge of the crowd and could lead us no further he stopped as if he’d been prepared for everything up to that moment. He took his eyes off me for a half second to search the room behind me and I could feel him reaching into the Force, checking for Anakin and Ahsoka. When he did not seem to find them he returned his gaze to mine and I could all but hear his heart hammering in his chest.

The blush in my cheeks had risen so much I was sure I was looking like an ripe tomato and I couldn’t even begin to effectively push it down because my heart was fluttering just as fast as Obi-Wan’s. A curious desire to hug him closer came over me, to pull him down to where I could study each and every detail of the light blue eyes that were searching my hazel ones so intently.

Instead I settled for letting my other hand come up to rest on his neck, his long hair hiding the fact that I was practically hanging off him. Both his hands on my waist now, the subtle weight of them feeling completely right and natural despite the little voice in the back of my head that would not stop repeating “Jedi Do Not Form Attachments.”

“I hope you know, Obi-Wan whispered, his breath hot across my face, “I never feel more at home than with you.”

“Obi-Wan-”

“I won’t say anything else compromising,” he said, his eyes twinkling as they remained locked on mine, “but I want you to know.”

I let my hands wander up to cup his face, “Don’t say that out loud. Because then I’d never be able to unhear it. And I’ll never want to leave home either.”

Obi-Wan sucked in a breath, his eyes closing as he leaned his head into my right hand. After a moment he turned his head just enough so his lips brushed my palm, a motion that sent an involuntary shiver through my whole body.

He remained silent and unmoving for the smallest moment before opening his eyes. His hands came off my waist to grasp my wrist, pulling my hand away. My fingertips trailed down his face like the tears I felt like crying before falling between us where he held my hands in his.

“You’re right, Cecil, you’re always right.”

I smiled, my voice low and on the verge of breaking, “I know.”

---------------------------------------

Ch. 2 - Not A Secret

Obi-Wan sat atop the Jedi Temple, legs crossed and deep in meditation. If his eyes had been open he’d have seen the slowly fading light as it began to cast long shadows over Coruscant. This late in the year the far off edges of the great city were shrouded in smog, a glittering haze that was invisible up close.

The sounds of the Temple district were far off, the dull roar of the deep cityscape almost unnoticeable to Obi-Wan’s ear. Up here it was easy to let everything else go and simply float, let the Force wash over him. The gnawing pressure of the war could almost be pushed away, so far he could barely feel the haunting tension.

Abruptly his concentration was broken, footsteps appearing before him. His eyes snapped open to find Cecil looking down at him.

“Wow, startling THE Obi-Wan Kenobi?” Cecil grinned.

Obi-Wan chuckled, “Only because I wasn’t expecting anyone up here.”

“You’re always up here. It’s not like it’s a secret.”

“And I thought I was being discreet about my meditation spot.”

Cecil smiled, sinking to the ground in front of him and pushing forward a paper cup full of caf, “I heard a rumor there’s a Council meeting later.”

Obi-Wan ducked his head in thanks, “Yes, there is. But nobody has told me when.”

“Rude of them, seeing as you are on the Council.”

“Which means they want something from me,” he said, eyes sparkling. He returned his gaze to Cecil, briefly getting distracted by the way they nearly glowed backlit by the sunset.

“Why are you staring at me like that?” Cecil asked. Obi-Wan noticed the way they fidgeted with their own paper cup; the folded edge had been unrolled and rerolled into a mangled depiction of its original form.

“Nothing,” he said, careful to maintain a level tone, “the sunset is just so incredible this time of year.”

Obi-Wan thought he caught a smile creep across Cecil’s features as they turned away, long braids swaying. He had to force himself to not stare, but even still, a stab of guilt flashed through him as the movement revealed the still pink saber burn. Nearly seven months later it still looked painful.

“It’s rude to stare you know,” Cecil said without looking at him.

Obi-Wan blanched, feeling like he had been doing an excellent job not staring.

Cecil turned back, this time carefully pulling the many long braids away, exposing the saber burn where it descended into their tunic. With a clearer view, Obi-Wan could tell the wound was healing, that it no longer looked nearly as painful as it had been. But it would scar. A remembrance of those terrible moments. And to think he could have stopped it-

“I know you’re thinking you could have prevented it,” Cecil said, their voice interrupting his thoughts.

“You know it's possible.”

“But it didn’t happen that way. I’ll always have this wicked scar cracking me open.”

“That makes it sound so dramatic,” he said.

“When am I not dramatic?” Cecil asked, taking a sip of the caf and wrinkling their nose, “what does the Temple have against having good caf?”

“Everything apparently,” Obi-Wan said, taking a swig of his own and making a similar face.

Abruptly, Cecil’s comm crackled, “Master Palmarin, yousa needed inda council chambers.”

They sighed deeply before responding, “Yeah, I’ll be right down Jar Jar.”

“Roger roger,” his voice replied.

Not two seconds later Obi-Wan’s comm went off, “Master Kenobi, yousa also needed inda Council chambers.”

Cecil choked on the caf, attempting to stifle a giggle; only Jar Jar would be so bold to assume they were always together. Obi-Wan’s eyebrows shot up and the humor was clear in his voice when he replied, “Will do.”

“Whatsa so funny?” Jar Jar asked.

“Nothing, nothing,” Obi-Wan said, trying to hide his light hearted tone.

“Iffen yousa say so,” he replied, the line going silent.

“I guess they want something from me too,” Cecil said with a grin.

“The rumors circling are about an undercover-ish mission,” Obi-Wan started.

This time Cecil’s eyebrows shot up and Obi-Wan swore he felt a leap in their Force signature, “Do you think they’d really send us on another mission together after what happened last time?”

Obi-Wan frowned, “It was not our fault Ventress showed up. And every other time we’ve been on stuff together we’re literally unstoppable.”

“That’s a bit presumptuous,” Cecil laughed, “Anakin is finally rubbing off on you.”

He laughed too, a feeling of warmth spreading across his chest as their voices echoed across the otherwise empty rooftop, “I guess he is.”

“Good,” Cecil said and flashed a smile that Obi-Wan somehow felt was only meant for him.

---------------------------------------

Ch.3 - Preparations

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Anakin said looking around the council chamber with a disbelieving grin, “Those two? As a couple? No one is going to buy that.”

I felt my face go hot and my fingernails bit into my palm. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Obi-Wan shift in his seat and almost imperceptibly felt his Force signature change to match mine: a deep annoyance that well obscured the shock of excitement.

Padmé’s hologram glared at him, “Fortunately, no one asked you Anakin.”

This time it was Obi-Wan’s turn to hide his grin. Even Master Windu’s mouth twitched. I bit my lip but only wished that I’d been the one who said it.

“I only meant,” Anakin said quietly, “that everyone in the galaxy knows who they are. That they’re friendly with the Senator.”

“Yes,” Master Yoda said, “but young Skywalker. You everyone will expect to see. But suspect a regal and powerful warlord couple they will not.”

The look on Anakin’s face was priceless but he rearranged it so quickly that I doubt anyone but myself and Obi-Wan recognized it: a mix between awe and horror that Yoda would so blatantly hint at something more between the Senator and himself.

“If I may interject,” Obi-Wan said before Anakin had the chance to say anything he’d regret, “Anakin does have a point. Especially with all three of us, that combination is to be expected.”

Yoda nodded thoughtfully as if he had not already considered this at length.

“As well known as you think, Master Malmarin is not. Their job discreetly they do,” he said nodding to me, “and disguises you will have.”

“And that is where I come in,” Padmé said, “You’ll both be unrecognizable out of your Jedi robes. I’m arriving in Coruscant shortly and will get you all ready before we depart for Naboo.”

I raised my eyebrows, not even daring to ask what lavish outfits the former Queen of Naboo had stored away that would coincidentally be my size.

“And why does this meeting have to be on Naboo again?” Anakin interrupted again.

“To show them we trust them. Enough to invite them into my home,” Padmé explained, barely hiding her exasperated tone.

“But couldn’t we meet them in some neutral system where you and your family are not at so great of risk?

“It’s an olive branch, Anakin. Whether we like it or not, it is the best course of action to get this system on the side of the Republic,” Obi-Wan said, making far less effort than Padmé to hide his exasperated tone.

Yoda seemed to care little for this exchange, “Prepare Master Kenobi and Master Palmarin, Senator Amidala will. And to Naboo follow they will.”

Seeing it would do no good to argue, Anakin was content to frown and glare menacingly as the rest of the plan was laid out.

It was simple really. Obi-Wan and I in disguise. Anakin seemingly the only protection to the Senator in the midst of a potentially hostile environment. A dinner over which politics would be discussed. The guests to sleep in an elaborate lakeside villa. And on their way the next morning after another round of political discussions over a lavish meal. What could go wrong?

---------------------------------------

CH. 4 - Chemistry POSTED

When Padmé arrived on Coruscant I did my best to be late meeting her, purposely taking the long route to her landing pad. But I still had to pretend to not see Anakin’s speeder take off, pretend I did not see the flushed look of joy on Padmé’s face.

“Good evening Senator,” I said, shaking her hand, “I trust you’re well?”

“No need to stand on guard Cecil,” she said grinning “I’d like to think we’re friends by now.”

“Of course,” I laughed, “I just still feel like I should greet you with formality.”

“Well don’t feel that way. Especially when I’m about to make you stand around in your underwear for far longer than you’re comfortable in effort to find the perfect outfit for you.”

I frowned, having not considered this.

“Don’t worry,” she said, grabbing my arm and whispering conspiratorially, “I’ve sent Master Kenobi his own squadron of people to get him ready. It will just be you and my personal handmaidens.”

“I see,” I said, my frown deepening as I watched the handmaidens unload a multitude of elaborate trunks from her ship, all of them clearly full of clothing.

Arriving in her personal quarters, Padmé slammed the doors shut for effect and skipped ahead of me.

“Now,” she said, dramatically tossing her overcoat, “not only am I outfitting you, I’m helping you to prepare and embrace your role as a hopelessly in-love warlord couple who are so regal and stunning that no one would dare speak to them without a reason of utmost importance.”

I frowned crossing my arms across my chest, “I-”

“Nope!” she said cutting me off, “that’s step number one. No crossing your arms. You’re practically royalty for the next seventy-two hours. You have to stop carrying yourself like a Jedi.”

“But-”

“First lose the Jedi robes. And then we’ll work on the rest.”

“Padmé-”

She had crossed the room and began undoing my robes a little too expertly, ignoring my protests. Without the full weight of my Jedi robes I felt naked, not just in the sense of lacking clothing but that I could not remember a time without them.

“Here,” she said, handing me a small pile of clothes, “put this on. You’re a filthy rich warlord. No Jedi undergarments allowed. And when you’re done, I think you’ll like the first outfit on the top here,” she said, gesturing to one of the sprawling suitcases that seemed to be exploding clothing all over the room.

I nodded, turning away in an attempt at privacy. This made Padmé roll her eyes but she retreated from the room, leaving me momentarily alone.

Half dressed and struggling to right the deep purple garment that had been laid out for me, I struggled as one of Padmé’s handmaidens appeared. The woman was taller than Padmé if only by a fraction but eerily resembled the Senator. I knew she had a decoy but I was not aware they spent so much time together.

“Let me,” the woman said, her fingers reaching past mine to rearrange the fabric and close the final zipper.

She spun me around so I faced the mirror. Someone I did not recognize stared back.

They were tall and regal, their hair teased into its natural style creating a magnificent halo around their head. The jewelry Padmé had chosen glittered brightly as the handmaiden slipped it on the person in the mirror, their wrists adorned with heavy gold bangles and an equally impressive set of necklaces settled on their neck.

The outfit itself hugged the figure in the mirror tightly around the torso, the neckline covering far less than I had ever imagined showing. At the waist it flowed away from them in a way I was sure would fan when they walked and give the impression of having great violet wings. It was sleeveless, or what could pass as sleeveless save for the draping of fabric attached at each shoulder that cascaded down to meet the rest of the garment.

“I picked you something you could still fight in,” Padmé said reappearing, “I hope it’s not too much. If you don’t like it I have a couple other options.”

I stared at myself a second longer, “It’s beautiful Padmé,” I whispered, “I barely recognize myself.”

“That is exactly the intent darling Cecil. And you look absolutely jaw-dropping, I can’t wait until Obi-Wan sees you.

I felt my jaw drop but quickly snapped it shut.

“Dormé,” she said addressing her handmaiden, “Go fetch Obi-Wan will you? He should be ready by now.”

Dormé nodded curtly and disappeared from the room, leaving us alone together.

“Did you think my choice of Jedi I requested as protection was random Cecil?” Padmé all but whispered, “I’m not about to prod in your business, but you have chemistry. And I needed chemistry for this to work.”

I flushed. It had never occurred to me that someone else might have noticed the thing I’d been trying so hard to quiet within myself.

“Does anyone else know that?” I asked, my voice quiet and wavering.

“Of course not,” she said cheerily and patted my hand, “Only you. Because if I told Obi-Wan he’d simply combust of awkwardness.”

“I mean-”

Padmé looked at me steadily before striding out of the room, “Life is fleeting Cecil. Don’t miss out on something because of someone else’s rules you aren’t sure you believe in.”

I stood staring after her, my hands all the sudden shaking.

The door creaking open pulled me out of my momentary stupor, Obi-Wan’s figure emerging.

The attire Padmé had chosen for Obi-Wan was far less extravagant than my own, but so far from something Obi-Wan would choose himself that it disguised him well. It was a deep purple, almost black, but the satin shone brilliantly. Similar to my own, the outer layer cascaded down behind him, flowing in an invisible wind when he moved. Underneath was an even darker, yet still purple tunic and trousers. The tunic was of the same satin fabric that looked fit for royalty. Which is exactly what we were pretending to be, so I supposed it was intentional.

Even from the way he was walking I could tell Obi-Wan was deeply uncomfortable outside of his typical dress but the look suited him. It changed the energy he exuded, less Jedi Master, more warlord with enough money to drown in.

And he had shaved, the clean shaven face making him look younger, more like the way he looked when I had met nearly two decades ago. Nothing could erase his old soul though, the way smile lines gathered around his eyes just as they always had. As a teenager I’d remarked on them once and he had blushed as his hand went up to feel them. I think he knew I was telling him I loved the way he smiled because I remember that being the first time I really felt his presence in the Force bloom with happiness.

I shook my head, trying to displace the memory. It scattered only to be replaced with the real thing, Obi-Wan’s smile bringing me new confidence in my outfit.

“You look stunning darling,” Obi-Wan said, not even resisting adding the pet name.

“As do you,” I smiled, reaching up to adjust the satin collar of his shirt, “I’m glad you agreed to this particular outfit.”

He let me do so before catching my hand in his, bringing it to his lips and bowing low, “Only so that I don’t look like a peasant next to you.”

I felt heat rise in my cheeks and broke our eye contact with nervous laughter not knowing what to say.

Padmé did me the grace of clearing her throat and Obi-Wan dropped my hand, shooting me a wink. For a moment Padmé circled us observing, trying to decide if we would pass someone other than the Jedi we were.

“I think the mullet has to go,” she said suddenly to Obi-Wan.

“What!” he exclaimed, his hand flying to his hair.

“I think people know you too well for it. At least since the war. You already look much different without the beard, but I think a touchup to the hair will help.”

Obi-Wan frowned like she had personally offended him.

“Thank you Padmé. I have been begging him to let me cut it.”

“But I just now got it to fit into a hair-tie,” he started.

“You sound like Anakin,” Padmé laughed and I could tell she said it just to stop Obi-Wan from protesting anymore, “Go change out of these outfits both of you. I’ll have Dormé package them up for you. And a couple other outfits to lay low in.”

“Yes ma’am,” Obi-Wan said, saluting her.

Padmé laughed and swatted him on the shoulder, “Just go. And cut that mullet off.”

I saluted her as well, earning us another grin before she disappeared.

“I’m not letting you anywhere near my hair Cecil,” Obi-Wan said matter of factly.

“Okay,” I smiled, biting my lip, “I’ll take you to the best barber I know.”

Obi-Wan groaned but didn’t protest. I swore I caught a hint of a smile as he left the room.

---------------------------------------

Ch. 5- Varykino Villa

The looping hallways of Varykino Villa had sated my nervousness; I felt I was sinking into the place, the part I was playing becoming more and more real. Obi-Wan had taken my hand, holding it like it was the most normal thing in the galaxy. For a fleeting instant I could see us standing together in some other life, some version of ourselves that did not involve the Jedi Order and was just us living on some gorgeous planet where no one ever bothered us.

“You still with me?” Obi-Wan asked, squeezing my hand.

I shook my head, sending the images scurrying away, “Sure am. Let’s go husband.”

He leaned in so only I could hear, “Let’s go Mx. Kenobi.”

—

As the night wore on, I couldn't help but wonder why nothing had gone wrong. Nothing ever went this right. No one had even looked sideways at Padmé. No one had squinted at us in recognition. The political discussions were going swimmingly. And I was giddy with joy at getting to spend the evening hanging off Obi-Wan’s arm.

Anakin and Senator Amidala had long since disappeared and I was beginning to think that this was all a ploy to get Anakin on-planet where the two could excusably be alone together. Obi-Wan pretended not to notice their absence and I pretended not to notice the way he had averted his gaze every time he saw them. I imagined that he deliberately shoved away any memories of other times his former Padawan sat too close to the regal Senator or gave her too long of a hug.

Everything added up now. I’d always pretended not to notice the way Anakin’s presence in the Force burst with life anytime Padme was in the room, the way he never stopped looking at her, the way he had been so nervous to meet her again for the first time all those years ago. Even the image of little Anakin rose in my mind, the way Obi-Wan had told it, Anakin’s eyes took in Padme as if she were an angel coming to rescue him.

But tonight with the evidence staring me in the face, I came to the same conclusion that I suspected Obi-Wan had: as long as it never directly interfered with Anakin’s official duties, he could pretend it wasn’t happening before his eyes. Because they needed Anakin far more than the Jedi Council needed to know that Anakin had fallen in love with the Senator.

As the evening progressed, Naboo’s sunset faded, only one moon reflecting onto the lake now, the guests slowly vanishing into Varykino Villa’s many rooms. Only the occasional wanderer in search of a midnight snack appeared, but scurried away upon catching sight of the two sharing a plate of food on the grand balcony overlooking the lake.

At least that was my impression of the one child who wandered into the room behind us and all but ran away when we turned to look.

“I’d turn and run too if I saw you backlit by moonlight and glowing so ethereally,” Obi-Wan said without looking at me.

I felt a blush rise on my cheeks, “Ah yes, because I am oh so angelic with my hair in desperate need of taming and a good night’s sleep.”

I didn’t look at him either. It felt safer to tease him without looking for risk he’d see right through me, for fear that he would sense that I wanted him to continue, to tell me everything about how he thought I was angelic in his eyes.

Obi-Wan set down the glass of wine he had been nursing, the dark red substance glittering in the twinkling light of the moon, “Cecil, you’re always angelic.”

I mentally berated myself for the shot of joy the words gave me, the warm flame of affection I’d been snuffing out making a new attempt to surface. An involuntary shiver passed through me and I thought about how Naboo’s summer was cool this year, uncharacteristically so according to Padme. But after the earlier rainstorm, the clouds had vanished and left the outlook onto the lake clear. With our backs to one of the intricately carved pillars of the balcony we were almost touching, our arms balancing careful millimeters away from each other.

“Are you cold?” he asked after a second when I did not respond.

“No. Just tired.”

“Let’s go to bed then. We still have a long breakfast full of more politics tomorrow.”

I nodded and accepted his hand as I stood up and we made our way back to our rooms.

With my hand in Obi-Wan’s, my head was swimming. Neither of us had consumed anything alcoholic but it felt like I was somewhere else, not in the moment anymore, like a memory surfacing so clearly I could feel it. A moment seemingly outside of time, a dream.

We were on some planet in a far off system, no one recognized us. The planet’s summer weather was just beginning and it was one of those evenings where a careful coolness sets in after the sun sets. The balcony doors of our room opened onto the countryside sprawled out below to meet the nearby town. And save for the birds, we were alone.

“Can you undo this? It’s stuck in a knot,” Obi-Wan complained, flopping dramatically into a chair.

I turned from beginning to unbutton my own clothes to look at him, shaking my head, “you know, I really had thought you’d know how to at least undo a tie if not tie it up.”

Obi-Wan frowned, “I think the issue is that I did it wrong and now it won’t come untangled,” he said, gesturing to the now wrinkled and disheveled garment.

I rolled my eyes but crossed the room to where he sat, standing in front of him just close enough to slip my fingers underneath, working it loose from the knot he’d managed to wrestle it into. Chin tilted up to allow me to untangle it, I could feel his eyes steadily searching my face but I stubbornly refused to meet his gaze, focusing intently on the issue at hand.

“You’re right,” I said, “there is no way this was correct in the first place.”

“Hey,” he said, his voice flying up an octave, “Just because I can’t tie a tie doesn’t mean I’m not a gentleman.”

After a moment the garment came free and fell into my hands. Obi-Wan did not stop looking at me and I suddenly felt it was very obvious that I was refusing to meet his gaze. Instead of meeting his eyes, I handed him the tie and lifted my hands again to straighten his collar.

Even though I wasn’t meeting his eyes I could feel his smile; it reached out to me through his Force signature. And Obi-Wan was doing nothing to conceal the affection in it.

He seemed to sense the moment I realized this, like he was waiting for me to see it, waiting for me to realize that right here on this planet in the middle of nowhere he was holding nothing back.

“Cecil,” he said, not whispering, but sure, confident that everything he was doing was alright, permissible even.

“Cecil, will you look at me?” he asked finally, standing and lifting a hand to gently grip my chin. Meeting his gaze I found the soft blue sea that I so desperately wanted to get lost in. As I did so, that seemed to bring him to a decision, his presence in the Force suddenly softening, a wall that I hadn’t known he’d been holding suddenly no longer there. The bright warmth of his presence felt like the first day of sunshine after a cold winter, something I could never replicate elsewhere. He’d brought down this wall before, but only just enough to peak past. Now I could see everything.

As he stood, I let my hands trail down his neck and slowly fall onto his chest.

“Can I kiss you now?” he said, whispering this time, like asking too loudly would scare me away.

I nodded, almost imperceptible, also pushing assurance of my consent at him in my Force signature, assurance that despite my rare desire to kiss someone, right now I wanted to. To kiss him.

He breathed out and closed the small distance between us, one hand reaching up to cradle my head, the other twining around my waist, pulling me to him. As with every other thing he did, he was gentle, every fiber of his being exuding a soft but vibrant joy.

I was first to pull away, suddenly so breathless the room had started to spin. Obi-Wan’s hands were light, barely touching.

“Are you okay?,” he whispered.

I swallowed, resting my forehead against his, “More than okay.”

My breath was ragged and I knew he could feel my fingers shaking. This was something I'd never experienced before. Wanting more. I’d never wanted more. Not ever.

Obi-Wan seemed to notice the fluttering of my pulse and visibly leaned back, “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah,” I paused my voice unsteady, “Obi-Wan, I’m sorry, I don’t think I want to-”

“Don’t apologize for anything,” he said, his voice firm, “there is nothing to apologize for. I will never expect anything from you.”

“But I-”

He softly placed a finger on my lips, “I think you and I have very similar approaches to uh- things like this.” He gestured between us before gripping my hands firmly, “I want you to know that.”

“Oh,” I whispered. I tuned in to his Force signature hoping I’d find a better explanation there.

His presence in the Force was warm, welcoming, but tainted with nervous anxiety. But the hint of fear wasn’t because he knew the Order would never allow affection like this. It wasn’t because he was truly nervous about kissing me. The feeling bleeding through the Force was something else entirely.

He was afraid that I wouldn’t be okay with just this. And nothing more. He was afraid that I would want more from him, that I wouldn’t be okay with just this.

“Oh,” I whispered again and I could tell he was letting me see a part of him no one ever saw. At my feeling of acceptance in the Force he pushed something more; another hesitation, a feeling that he wasn’t even sure what he wanted, that he had never had the opportunity to find out what he wanted.

“Oh,” I repeated for a third time, beginning to feel that I needed to respond to this soul-baring moment with something more than a single syllable.

—

“Just stay,” I thought as we climbed into bed, clad in our fancy silk pajamas, “stay right here and let me fall asleep next to you just once,” letting the thought bleed into the Force. Maybe the words were not there but the feeling was, the intense desire to be close to him. Just like this, wrapped in cozy blankets and content to be beside each other.

The look on his face changed and he relaxed, sinking back into the bed. He lifted his arm, reaching around me to pull me close. I sucked in a breath but did not resist, letting him gather me to his side, all but falling into his lap.

“Is this okay,” Obi-Wan said, freezing for a moment, his life Force fluttering with uncharacteristic uncertainty.

Now with my head nestled into the crook of his neck I had to pull away to look up at him, finding his eyes filled with emotion as he looked down at me. For a second I couldn’t breath, his eyes, the smile lines, the little strand of hair falling into his face at this exact moment- it was everything I saw every day but right now it was only for me to look at.

“Yes of course.”

—

Obi-Wan watched Cecil carefully, the slight rise and fall of their side, the way a lock of hair fluttered softly every time they breathed out. As he imagined was the case with most Jedi, they looked younger while asleep. His final thought before drifting into sleep was that he couldn’t wait to wake up next to them; it was something he knew he could get used to.

---------------------------------------

Ch. 6 - Reassurances

Outside, rain came down in huge droplets. But the roar of Naboo’s sudden downpour was barely audible over the hundreds of voices conversing merrily, the din almost masking the music. In the midst of it all no one paid Obi-Wan and I any notice, the two of us holding the room under observation, watching for any potential harm to Senator Amidala.

Some time ago he had taken my hand in his own and to any onlooker we looked like any other couple present. All evening I’d been watching the other couples, mimicking their behavior, watching the way they mirrored their partners, the shorter ones beginning to lean their heads on the shoulders of the taller ones as the night wore on. I followed suit, leaning into Obi-Wan’s frame-

“Master Palmarin,” Commander Cody’s voice said suddenly, “can you weigh in on this?”

I jolted out of the memory and back into reality. The whole table was staring at me, the Jedi Council’s holographic images flickering faintly, the smirk on Anakin’s face poorly hidden. The war room lights of Obi-Wan’s Star Destroyer were suddenly too bright, their fluorescent humming loud in my ears.

“Sorry, what?”

“Commander Cody was just asking if you thought the warlords from the Naboo meeting could be pushed for more definite support?” Anakin interjected, “Unless you have something more important on your mind you’d care to share?”

I resisted the urge to stick my tongue out at him as I answered, very intently not looking at Obi-Wan either. He sat at the head of the table, carefully observing everything being said, his face stoic, voice always calm and steady. He gave no indication that he was distracted.

As for me, I couldn’t stop replaying every moment of Naboo in my head. It had been a week since we had left and we had barely spoken. The silence was loud, loud enough to gnaw anxiety into my heart. Loud enough to make my stomach twist in knots. Loud enough to let me hear the imaginary whisper that said he didn’t mean anything he’d said and that he regretted it at all.

I turned the thought over and over in my head. By the time the meeting concluded, I had convinced myself we had broken our friendship and that everything was over between us.

“Well,” Anakin said slamming his hands down on the table as soon as the holocomms shut off, “Snips and I have shit to do-”

“Language Anakin,” Obi-Wan warned.

“We’ve got shit to do Master” Ahsoka repeated, a wicked grin on her face as she stood with Anakin.

“You two are hopeless,” Obi-Wan said and crossed his arms. I laughed and he sent me a half-hearted glare that shot a jolt through me.

“But you love us, don’t ya?” Anakin said.

“Unfortunately yes,” Obi-Wan laughed, “Now scram, get off my ship.”

“Yes sir,” Anakin grinned, mock saluting his former Master.

“We’re scramming, Master,” Ahsoka giggled as she followed Anakin out.

I couldn’t help but smile after them, adoring the way the three acted like family. Even Cody had a smile on his face when he stood to leave. He only nodded in farewell, ever the perfect soldier returning to his post.

As soon as his footsteps faded Obi-Wan’s fingers flicked over the controls before him, closing the bridge’s doors and opening the blast shields. The swath of empty space stared back at me, stars twinkling, daring me to wish upon them.

“Cecil, you’re so anxious I can hear your heart beating across the room,” Obi-Wan said, nearing me.

I still didn’t look at him, the thoughts I’d been chasing all week roaring in my head. He leaned against the table, very close but not touching.

“I- I’m just thinking.”

“About…?” he prompted and I could feel his Force signature probing mine.

“We’ve barely talked all week. Do you regret something you told me on Naboo? Or the kiss? Or what the Council would say? Or-” I spluttered, all my questions rushing out before I could stop them.

“Oh darling,” Obi-Wan whispered, his voice soft. He leaned down to press a kiss to my forehead before squatting before me so his eyes were level with mine, “I should have just said it before. You shouldn’t have to guess.”

“Guess what?” I said, my voice shaky.

“That I love you. I always have. From the moment we met, even if I wasn’t aware of it, you were always tangled in my soul.”

I sighed in relief, a sound that came out as a sob, “Me too. I mean- I thought it was just me-”

“Certainly not,” Obi-Wan said as his hand came up to wipe the tears that were trying to form.

“I always have. And I didn’t know it. Even with our Force bond-” I said, my voice still wavering.

Obi-Wan laughed, and drew away to stand where he could hold my hands in his, “You know - maybe you don’t know - but our Force bond, our dyad, it’s stronger than mine with Anakin. Stronger than the one with my own Padawan.”

“Oh,” I laughed, suddenly very self conscious.

“So don’t doubt for a minute that I love you Cecil Palmarin,” he whispered as he pulled me from my seat.

“I won’t. Only if you don’t doubt me either,” I said, my lips smiling into his.

“Wouldn’t think of it darling,” he breathed as he captured my mouth with his.

I leaned into the kiss, my hands finding their way into his hair. His fingers ghosted along my torso before drawing me closer, pulling me against him. He broke away first, but only so he could kiss down my jaw, his lips straying to my neck, the sensation sending involuntary shivers through me. Abruptly his nose poked my face and I giggled. Once I started I couldn’t stop and my laughter echoed through the room.

Obi-Wan kept a hand cradling my face as he pulled away, his smile-lines crinkling in the way I loved so dearly.

“Are you really that ticklish?” he asked, his Force signature warm.

“No,” I beamed, “I just can’t believe I’m kissing you in the War Room of your Star Destroyer.”

Obi-Wan chuckled and leaned in so our lips were nearly touching “Well it is my Star Destroyer.”

I laughed too, “If you say so, General Kenobi.”

He rolled his eyes, “I do indeed say so, General Palmarin.”

“And what would people say if they were to check the security footage of your Star Destroyer? And see two of their Generals making out?” I asked, still so close to him that I’d barely have to move to touch my lips to his.

He grinned, “I’m sure they’d just be mad that Anakin was right.”

I pulled away from him in surprise and tried to keep the annoyance out of my tone, “Oh really?”

“Don’t worry. He only berates me about you in private. Not even in front of Ahsoka.”

“And how long has he ‘been berating you about me?’” I quoted back.

He blushed and he averted his eyes, “Since the moment he met you.”

It was my turn to blush. “That long?”

“Well sort of. He did ask if the two of us were something more as a kid. But then he didn’t bring it up again until- until much later.

“And by much later you mean…?”

Obi-Wan cringed and took a small step away from me, a flash of something that must have been guilt passing through the Force.

“Remember when I had to fake my death-”

I felt a surge of annoyance, “How could I forget?”

“After that, after it was all over-”

“Don’t think I ever really forgave you for that-” I said, poking his chest.

“Yeah well, that’s what I mean. After that, Anakin was livid. And not just because he’s Anakin. Because he saw what it did to you.”

Obi-Wan had paused and seemed to lose himself in a memory, “And then last year, when we almost lost you to Ventress- he saw what that did to me.”

“And then he wouldn’t let it go,” I said matter-a-factly.

“So much so that he tried to stop us from pretending to be a couple for the Naboo mission because he was afraid that it would become obvious to everyone else too,” Obi-Wan chuckled.

I shook my head and smiled before I pulled him back toward me, “That really doesn’t add up-”

“Well, it’s what he thinks.”

“Let him, or anyone, think whatever they want,” I whispered before kissing him again.

If I could have stayed in that moment forever, I would have. But eventually he pecked the corner of my mouth and pulled away.

“I could kiss you all day, but I fear we have duties to attend to,” he said.

I closed the distance between us once more, kissing him a moment longer, melting into him.

“I fear the same,” I whispered when I pulled away.

“Most importantly, deleting the security footage,” Obi-Wan said, his voice tinged with regret.

I smoothed his hair from his face, arranging it so it wouldn’t look like he’d been making out with someone, “unfortunately, you're right.”

“And you know that what we talked about at that meeting means I won’t see you for ages,” Obi-Wan said, but made no move to retract himself from my embrace.

“It’s probably for the best,” I whispered and averted my eyes.

Obi-Wan seemed to mull it over as he searched my face. It would be good for us to be away from each other after all that had transpired. We couldn’t let our focus be compromised by each other any more than it already was. And we certainly couldn't allow rumors about two Jedi Masters falling in love.

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Ch. 7 - Pep-Talks

It was months after our kiss in the War-Room and every time I could find an excuse to visit The Negotiator and its General I gladly repeated the practice. Frankly, I’d only visited twice because I had my own fleet to run, but it kept me on my toes, just knowing that Obi-Wan would be there if I went to visit. It was never more than stolen kisses and whispered adorations but I found I didn’t want more. Not now, maybe not ever.

“Do you remember when they first told you that you’d be a general in this war?” Obi-Wan asked.

I was curled up in his lap where we sat on the floor with our backs to the bridge and looking out into the vastness of space.

“I do. Vividly. It was right here in this room,” I said, not wanting to recall the memory.

“I only ask because I want you to know that what you felt then, for once in your life you were wrong. You are a wonderful General.”

I craned my head to look up at him, “And you know that I would have refused to do it if it hadn’t been for you.”

He glanced down at me, “What do you mean?”

“You gave me this whole pep-talk. About how I was one of the most accomplished Jedi of the age and if anyone was prepared to lead an army, it was me.”

“And it was true. Still is,” he smiled.

“And you gave me this hug,” I started, “it made me feel like it would all be okay.”

“Because it was going to be,” Obi-Wan sighed, placing a kiss on my head.

“And,” I paused, not sure how to get the words out but knowing I was ready to say them, “that’s when I knew I loved you.”

I paused because Obi-Wan had pulled away so he could see me, hands still grasping mine but now sitting cross legged.

“But especially in this war,” I continued, feeling cruel that I’d make this confession of love but litter it with my war philosophy, “it would have been excusable for us to fall in love. The whole world has gone to shit and even if we win, it would never have been the same. Too much has changed. The Jedi order will be reorganized. I just wish we’d known it then.”

Obi-Wan looked like he didn’t know what to say, “How are you so sure?”

“I can feel it,” I said, surprised, “Can you not?”

Obi-Wan frowned and I continued, “Something has shifted. Too much is different now, even the Force feels different. Maybe it’s just that the Dark side has gained too much power, but we can never go back to those ancient traditions if we hope to retain anything of the Jedi.

Obi-Wan drew back further, staring intently, “Those are dangerous words Cecil Palmarin.”

I rolled my eyes, “I know. That’s why I haven’t said them out loud before. But whatever happens, it won’t be the same.”

Obi-Wan didn’t respond but I could tell he was weighing my words, his Force presence full of conflict and apprehension.

“But we don’t have to worry about that yet,” I said, reaching up to soothe his hair away from his face; in the last couple months it had started to get long again.

“What worries me Cecil, is that you are always right,” Obi-Wan mused.

“No I’m not-”

“About the things that matter, you tend to be. You have excellent intuition. And I just don’t know if I’m ready to confront that reality.”

“You can’t live in the confines of the Jedi Order’s reality forever.”

“Couldn’t I? That is the call of the Jedi, is it not?”

“Not anymore,” I whispered.

“But-”

“And you know far better than I, Obi-Wan, it’s not about the Jedi. It’s about the Force. You could live without the Jedi. But not the Force. That’s the life we will always be tied to.”

“Hmm,” Obi-Wan said, his eyes focusing on something far away. I could feel him contemplating again, mind working over what I said. A pang of anxiety hit me in knowing how much value he placed in my opinion - and that with this knowledge I would so willingly shatter the little shard of hope that was left for returning to the time before.

---------------------------------------

Part 2 (Chapters 8-13)

#obi wan kenobi x original character #obi wan x oc #obi wan kenobi x oc #canon asexual character #obi wan kenobi #original character #gender neutral reader #gender neutral original character #the force ships it #jedi as found family #star wars fic #slow burn #bittersweet ending #obi wan kenobi fic #star wars #n's notebook

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tatooinebarnes · 2 years ago

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As It Was - Obi-Wan Kenobi (Part 2)

Obi-Wan Kenobi x Gender Neutral Original Character

Part 1 or Read in full on AO3

Word Count: 16k

See Part 1 for full tags and description

Part 2 (Chapter 8-13)

Ch. 8 - Goodbye, Old Friend

We were falling, both scrambling to right ourselves, but only succeeding in making the situation worse. A comically large gust of wind from a speeder had swept through the flora covered ravine, knocking us off the pathway on which we’d been walking. Obviously this happened often because the landing was soft, a gravity cushion catching us.

Breathless, Obi-Wan was hovering above me, his face inches from mine.

“Darling,” he said, his tone mischievous, “we have to stop getting into such compromising situations.”

“I think this is the first time this has happened,” I stated, pretending not to be bothered even though I knew he could hear my heart beating out of my chest.

“Perhaps,” he laughed, his eyes crinkling, “I just wanted to say that because I knew it would make you flustered.”

I blushed, “Well it worked.”

“So do I get to kiss you now?”

“Must you always be so polite?”

“Always darling, always,” he said before pressing his lips to mine.

“If I look down there and I see two people snogging I will be absolutely livid,” Anakin’s voice suddenly crackled on Obi-Wan’s commlink, bitterness tinging it, “Master, you’re supposed to be hunting General Grievous are you not?

Obi-Wan rolled off me with a dramatic sigh. I looked over at him, giggling.

“You have lipstick on your face.”

“Since when do you wear lipstick?” he said, wiping at his face.

“Since I was requested to attend a ‘gala’ as ‘security’ tonight on Coruscant’s party moon” I said, my tone laced with sarcasm.

“Well fortunately,” Obi-Wan said as he helped me up, “it looks like you don’t have any grass stains on you.”

“How fortunate,” I grinned, kissing him again.

“And for me too because I can’t be showing up to get rid of our favorite cyborg general with grass stains on my outfit.”

“Somehow I think grass stains are the least of your problems.”

“Do you know this ravine has incredible acoustics?” Anakin’s voice came on my comm this time, “get your asses up here.”

“I think he’s annoyed with us.”

“Potentially.”

Laughing over each other, we hiked up and out of the ravine to where Anakin was waiting with his arms crossed.

“You two are like younglings in the temple who’ve just discovered the best makeout spot.”

Obi-Wan turned a dark shade of scarlet but said nothing. I doubted any other former Padawan had ever said something so snarky to their former Master and lived to tell the tale.

“And you would know that, how Anakin?” I teased.

As I had intended, Anakin also turned a bright shade of red.

“Now that we’ve all had our verbal accoustings out of the way, we really do have to be on our way,” I said cheerily and walked off to where our speeder was waiting.

Anakin and Obi-Wan looked at each other like they were siblings who’d just been told off for arguing in public.

“Get in!” I motioned as the speeder roared to life.

The wind whipped past us, causing my braids to fly up around me and bat Anakin in the face. Obi-Wan laughed, the sound lost behind us almost before I had a chance to savor it. Anakin was trying to complain that I should be required to tie my braids back when piloting a speeder but I just flipped the speeder’s receiver to blast music from one of Coruscant’s lower levels, tuning into a frequency that spit out a cacophony of sounds. I mimed that I couldn’t hear him and he frowned, but soon his face broke into a grin at the ridiculousness of the music.

As we neared to the hanger where Obi-Wan would board the Negotiator, Ahsoka’s silhouette became visible, her arms crossed over her chest.

“What took you all so long to get here from the Council chambers?” Ahsoka yelled over the sound of the music.

“Not my fault I was put in charge of these two love-birds,” Anakin said under his breath so only Obi-Wan and I could hear.

I elbowed Anakin in the ribs and Obi-Wan frowned deeply. He hated when Anakin said anything about us aloud, even if discreetly.

“Come on,” Ahsoka said, grabbing my elbow and dragging me from the speeder, “You need to get going to Hesperidium.”

“I’ve got plenty of time if I’ve got this,” I patted the yellow speeder fondly.

“Nope. Speeder’s mine. I’m Anakin’s ride. Plus you have grass stains on your robes - you have to change.

“Damnit,” I cursed, as the color rose in my cheeks.

We were standing slightly apart from Anakin and Obi-Wan, but from Obi-Wan’s tone I knew to give them a moment. Even after all these years he was still Anakin’s Master.

“-Be patient, Anakin. It will not be long before the Council makes you a Jedi Master.”

Anakin nodded as he turned to go, pausing once more, “Obi-Wan, may the Force be with you.”

“Good-bye, old friend. May the Force be with you,” Obi-Wan said as he watched Anakin go.

A chill went through me, the air suddenly taught with finality. Nobody else seemed to notice it, something in the Force shifting uncomfortably. Even as I watched Anakin walk away I couldn’t shake the feeling.

“Anakin, wait!” I called.

He turned back, nothing in his behavior out of place, just the ever chaotic energy rolling off him as it normally did.

“What?” he asked, as a small crease formed between his eyebrows.

I ran to throw my arms around him, tackling him in an unsuspecting hug. Cautiously he returned the gesture, his frame towering over mine.

“What’s this about?” he said, his tone suspicious.

From the corner of my eye I saw Obi-Wan raise his eyebrows and felt Ahsoka’s Force presence push questions at me.

“Thank you for- for everything. For being a part of my family,” I said, not knowing where the words were coming from but knowing I needed to say them.

“Okay….?” he said, forming it as a question.

“I just hope you know that. All of you,” I said turning to Ahsoka and Obi-Wan, “I cannot imagine life without you.”

“Cecil-” Ahsoka started.

“No really,” I interrupted and gave her a hug too, “I mean it when I say I wouldn’t have been able to get through this war without you.”

“It isn’t over yet,” Obi-Wan said quietly, ever the pessimist.

“But we’re closer than we’ve ever been,” Anakin said, bouncing on the balls of his feet, “and you need to go and finish it,” he said, sending a barely disguised glare at Obi-Wan.

“Bitterness won’t get you anywhere Anakin. The Council wants you here for a reason,” Obi-Wan started, the lecturing tone re-entering his voice.

Anakin huffed and crossed his arms but didn’t respond.

“May the Force be with you,” I nodded in finality after a brief moment of silence.

Both Anakin and Ahsoka nodded, smiling widely before hopping in the speeder. When it roared to life, Ahsoka turned the music up even further much to Anakin’s annoyance. They waved before zipping off into the late afternoon light.

“What was that about?” Obi-Wan said as he turned to me, his demeanor instantly less guarded.

“I felt something,” I whispered, “Something in the Force. It felt like an ending.”

“The ending to this war?” Obi-Wan grinned.

“No. Not in a good way. Something sinister,” I said, struggling for the right words.

“Oh,” he said, voice soft.

“But it will all be fine,” I said cheerily, “Everything will work out.”

The look on Obi-Wan’s face told me he didn’t believe my optimism either, “Be careful out there Cecil,” he said, leaning almost imperceptibly towards me.

Now was the appropriate time to nod goodbye and walk away, but it felt so much like a tragic ending that I couldn’t make myself do it. Instead I threw my arms around him, not caring who saw. He stiffened for a moment before melting, wrapping his arms around me and burying his face in the crook of my neck.

“Everything will be fine,” he whispered, his voice muffled.

“I hope so,” I whispered back, not wanting to let go.

Obi-Wan broke the hug first, but he didn’t let go of me. He grasped my hands in his, briefly bringing them to his lips.

“I love you Cecil Palmarin. Whatever happens these next few days, just know I love you.”

I sighed, suddenly tears pricking at my eyes. I focused on the feeling of his hands holding mine, imagining that in another life he’d have the softest hands. But in this life - the one riddled by war and chaos - I loved the way they felt around mine, calloused palms that mirrored my own. I sniffed loudly and cleared my throat in an attempt to steady my voice, “I love you too.”

He nodded curtly like he had never doubted it for a second. I kissed him on the cheek and turned away, not doubting it either.

------

Ch. 9 - Order Sixty-Six

The explosion had blown the windows out of the building and sent me flying out the now gaping opening. There was a momentary eerie silence where alarms blared and glass scattered as I hung by my fingertips out of a Coruscant highrise. A comm outside the door, assumingly the one belonging to the trooper that had thrown the bomb into my room, blared the same message repeatedly in an eerily familiar voice: “Execute Order 66.”

And then it was a blur. More Clones flooded the room, their tones making it clear they meant to kill me. Confusion swirled in my brain as my body went on autopilot, letting go of the ledge on its own accord, landing lightly on a small outcropping a story below. In a daze I maneuvered my way to the roof where I knew there’d be extra speeders. I barely remember getting there and finding that there were no speeders, but something better: a ship. I couldn’t even stop to think about how that was my battalion of Clones trying to kill me - my soldiers who had saved my life countless times were trying to kill me.

Nothing settled into focus again until I landed on Polis Massa and ran into Obi-Wan’s arms. The weight of the day momentarily lifted in his embrace, knowing that he was here, safe and alive because the same could not be said for many others. A sob escaped me and I crumpled, tears streaking my face.

“You made it,” Obi-Wan whispered, his voice ragged with emotion.

“I did,” I whispered back, still grasping him like a lifeline, “And Anakin?”

“Gone,” he choked out, “And Ahsoka’s still missing.”

“And Padmé?” I asked, sensing I already knew the answer.

Obi-Wan didn’t reply but pulled away so he could look at me, his eyes brimming with tears. My heart jolted; I’d never seen Obi-Wan cry.

His hands reached up to my face, carefully folding my now frizzy braids behind my ears. He held my face for a moment before kissing my forehead.

“Come. We have much to do before we send the twins away,” he said, his voice strained with effort. He always did have a knack for diving into the tasks at hand when things got hard.

“Twins?” I said, my voice flying up an octave.

He almost smiled, the sparkle of light I was so used to returning to his eyes momentarily “Leia and Luke Skywalker.”

“Don’t leave me,” I whispered, suddenly feeling the weight of the impending loneliness as we stood just outside a landing bay.

Out there, I knew Bail stood waiting for Obi-Wan, waiting to hand him little Luke Skywalker to take to Tatooine, but I couldn’t pull myself away. Despite everything we had survived in the last day, I didn’t want these moments to end. Because to end this day, to walk away from these horrors would mean goodbye. It would mean walking away from a family I could never hope to have again. I was about to lose the one person I had for so long called home even as they were already beyond my reach.

“My darling,” Obi-Wan whispered back, his hands reaching to cup my face, eyes searching mine, “You have me. Until the last star in the galaxy dies, you have me.”

I choked down another sob, “I know.”

“Good,” he said, pressing his lips to my forehead before speaking once more, “May the Force be with you.”

“What do I do now?” I asked, unable to tear my gaze away from Obi-Wan’s retreating figure as Master Yoda appeared next to me.

“Become the Rebellion you do,” Master Yoda said solemnly, “Come to pass an era of light will, but first endure this darkness we must.”

I watched Obi-Wan go, his robes catching an imperceptible wind as he walked away. When he finally reached the ship he turned and looked one more time. He nodded and I felt his presence reach out in the Force, not even caring if Master Yoda was there to witness it: “I love you,” the feeling said. I said it back, letting every feeling I’ve had for him flow into the words.

I swore I saw another smug grin form on Master Yoda’s face and could almost feel him thinking that Anakin was not the only one to fall in love during this war. But I couldn’t be sure because I was wiping away tears as the ship took off. The last piece of my family, gone. Padmé dead. Anakin dead. Or worse, a sinister part of my brain whispered. The Jedi scattered across the galaxy. The Republic in shambles. Order completely lost.

It would never be the same as it was.

a/n: “You have me. Until the last star in the galaxy dies, you have me” is a quote from “Illuminae” by Amie Kaufman. I’ve never read the book but I just adore that line and how well it fits into the Star Wars Universe.

--------

Ch. 10 - Ben and Cece

It had been ten years.

I hadn’t seen his face in ten years.

But here he was flashing on my holopad as a wanted enemy of the Empire: Obi-Wan Kenobi.

I almost sobbed when I saw it. Out of fear yes, but mostly of relief he was still alive. Not an hour later I got a message from Senator Organa with a request to join him on Alderaan.

I sat staring at the now silent holocom, the message gone after it played once. Something must be terribly wrong if Bail wanted me to leave my post. He knew what I was doing for the Rebellion and leaving the position unprotected was dangerous, reckless even. But doable.

A panic stricken flight to Alderon was not how I had been anticipating this day to go, but I made it. Safely docking in the private landing bay Bail had sent me to, I attempted to stretch my feelings out, feeling for something amiss. To my surprise I felt nothing. So much nothing it was almost alarming. I hadn’t felt that sort of peace in years, nearly a decade-

And that’s when I saw him.

He was standing with his back to me, the sunset beaming beyond him. The slowly fading rays of sunshine illuminated his hair making it appear red, his robes almost reminiscent of a time long before. He turned to face me at the exact moment my gaze landed on him and our eyes locked.

And then I was running across the landing pad, the last ten years disappearing because Obi-Wan Kenobi was right here. Right now.

I all but leapt into his arms, my cry of joy only muffled by the sound of his laughter. He picked me up and spun me around, warmth flooding the Force around me. I had forgotten what it was like to feel so loved.

“You’re here! How are you here?” I gasped when he set me down, holding me at arm’s length.

“I’m just a little bit more tricky to catch than the Empire thought,” he laughed, his eyes crinkling.

“But Bail was so worried. He thought that you were gone and that Leia-” I began, anxiously reaching up to smooth his hair out of his face, my hands coming to rest on his chest.

“And he was very nearly right. But she’s safe. She’s here.”

“She is?” I said, unable to keep my voice steady because I hadn’t thought this day could get better. Frankly I had expected this day to be terrible.

“Would you like to meet her?” he grinned, humor filling his voice, “She’s grown up to be so much like them.”

My heart twisted at the way he said ‘them,’ knowing he was not speaking of the Organas. He was talking about Padmé’s knack for leadership, her fierceness. He was talking about Anakin’s pride, his loyalty. Even with the joy rolling from Obi-Wan’s presence in the Force I could feel the twinge of sadness beneath.

Before I could answer I was interrupted by a little girl running across the platform - a little girl who could be no one but Leia.

“Ben! Ben! You forgot this!” she cried running up to us with a satchel in hand.

I stepped away from Obi-Wan, suddenly feeling self-conscious of our proximity. But there was no reason to be. The Jedi Order was no more and to Leia, I was just a stranger.

“Oh thank you,” he smiled, accepting the package, “I would be desolate without my dinner on my way home.”

Leia giggled, “I think you’d probably be just fine. But I wanted to make sure you got some dinner since you won’t stay and eat with us.

Obi-Wan looked down at her sadly, his eyes flickering to me, “I can’t Leia. It’s dangerous for me to stay here too long.”

“I understand,” she said, nodding matter-a-factly. Then she turned her gaze on me, “And who are you? Are you a Jedi too?”

“Why would you say that?” I asked, unable to keep the smile off my face.

“You remind me of Ben. I don’t know how but you do. Just something in the air,” she said like it was obvious.

I exchanged a look with Obi-Wan. He grinned.

“You’re very perceptive aren’t you?” I laughed.

“And you still haven’t answered my question,” she stated.

“I’m Cece,” I said, extending my hand in greeting, the nickname uncomfortable in my mouth after all these years, even more so saying it in front of Obi-Wan. But Cece and Ben sounded just as good as Cecil and Obi-Wan.

“Leia,” she said, shaking my hand, “so you are a Jedi.”

“I was,” I said carefully, “But not anymore.”

“I don’t think you stop being one. Just like Ben, you just have to believe.”

“I suppose so.”

Leia nodded like she had solved the matter entirely, “Goodbye Ben. Nice to meet you Cece. ”

She skipped away, two long braids flopping on her shoulders. Half-way across the platform she stopped and turned back to us, “And don’t forget to kiss each other goodbye. I think you should. I mean- I think you were about to.”

She said it with so much amused confidence that I couldn’t help but see Anakin as he’d been the last time I’d seen him - on that day he’d scolded us for making out in the ravine we’d ‘accidentally’ fallen into. Regardless, my face burned and Obi-Wan’s turned an equal shade of scarlett as we watched her disappear.

“Well-” I started.

But Obi-Wan cut me off, hands suddenly landing on my waist and pulling me to him, “And for the thousandth time today… she’s right.”

My gaze met his, the proximity sending my heart beating wildly in a way I scarcely remembered could happen. Not that being a part of the Rebellion had left much time for becoming emotionally close with anyone, but I was so content in existing on my own I had forgotten what it was like to exist beneath the gaze of someone who knew me so well and still loved everything about me.

We sat cross-legged on the floor of Obi-Wan’s little ship that he’d take back to Tatooine while eating the meal Leia had brought us. By some twist of fate that I was sure wasn’t luck, she’d packed enough for two.

A decade worth of stories flowed between us: mine of stoking the fire that was the Rebellion and Obi-Wan’s of watching little Luke grow up. The banter that had always existed between us was as strong as ever, almost seeming like no time had passed.

As the stars came out to twinkle in the Alderaan sky I knew our time was coming to an end. Our meal had long since been finished and we’d spilled all the secrets to each other that would have seen the Rebellion fall to pieces right then and there had the wrong ears heard us. I leaned against Obi-Wan, my head resting on his shoulder.

“Do you remember that night on Naboo? When we were sitting just like this on that balcony overlooking the lake?” Obi-Wan asked, interrupting the comfortable silence in which we’d been basking.

“Of course,” I said, the memory one of the happiest from the war, “how could I forget?”

“I feel like that right now. Like I don’t want us to ever have to get off this floor and go do whatever it is we have to do.”

“And back then, the stakes were somehow lower,” I laughed without humor.

“They were,” he said, his voice tinged with remorse, “but there was a future too. A hope that we could win and that everything would be alright. And that we’d get to experience it together.”

I shifted so I could face him, studying the way his eyes were fixed on some point in the far off past, “there is hope. There is always hope.”

“Is there? How will we ever overcome what the Empire has become?”

I took his hand in mine, gently tracing the lines on his palms, “When did you become such a pessimist? A cynic?”

“I’ve always been a cynic,” he chuckled, “but it seems an impossible task.”

“Maybe,” I said, dropping his hand and leaning to press my forehead to his. He closed his eyes as I did so. “But something is brewing. It might take another ten years, but something is coming,” I whispered.

“And you do tend to be right about these things,” he said, his eyes opening to meet mine.

“Yeah,” I grinned as he leaned closer and I could feel his smile against my lips, so familiar it seemed impossible we had been apart for ten years, “But hopefully this time for the better rather than worse.”

He chuckled, the sound warm and comforting. He closed the miniscule distance between us, lips on mine careful, tentative even. But that didn’t last long. The kiss was filled with a desperate sense of goodbye, a farewell that he couldn’t bear to say out loud. Eventually he pulled away, both of us breathless.

“Goodbye Obi-Wan,” I said softly, knowing that if I didn’t say it now I might not ever get the chance.

“I hope not,” he said, smiling lightly.

“Me too. But if it is, I want to make sure I got the chance to say it.”

Another goodbye after the thousands we’d already said and I was standing alone in the landing bay watching his ship disappear into the horizon. It was the millionth time I watched him go, not knowing if I would ever see him again.

-------

Ch. 11 - Goodbye?

I was on a ship to Yavin 4 when I received the message, something coded and from an unknown signal. I knew who it was without opening it.

I was alone, finally having left my undercover post and heading to the base of operations where things were changing - where the Rebellion wanted me to become General Palmarin again.

It felt like fate: on my way to the Rebel base of operations after so many years of working in the shadows, driving the Resistance forward - only to hear Obi-Wan's voice again. It was the timbre I remembered and adored, the man whose soft spoken tone had the ability to command armies and sway empires. But as was all too common, it was filled with deep sadness.

My heart swelled when his face came into view, older and showing the time he had spent on a desert planet with twin suns. But it was still Obi-Wan, his smile lines prominent, the ever-present twinkle to his gaze still there, regardless of his grim tone.

“I’ve just killed Maul,” he said, the hologram flickering faintly, “He found me on Tatooine. I don’t know how, but he did. So I’m going dark.”

He chuckled, interrupting himself, “that was dramatic, I sound like-”

He stopped himself and I felt tears forming. I could see him visibly choke up, unable to say his name even after all this time, “This might be the last time you hear from me. At least until- until the time is right.”

Obi-Wan smiled suddenly, “The kid, he’s strong in the Force you know. Really strong. He could change the course of history again. As could his sister. As you know.”

I smiled this time, tears falling rapidly knowing that I would only get to hear the message once, that it would self-destruct the file the moment it concluded.

“So I hope this isn’t goodbye, but it might be. And I’m sorry if it is. I love you Cecil. Don’t forget it,” he paused and it felt like he was staring right at me, like he was right there in front of me, “may the Force be with you, my darling.”

-------

Ch. 12 - Goodbye.

Content warning: grief

A day ago thousands of souls reached out and then were silent. And I did not know what it was.

Hours later we found it to be the destruction of Alderaan.

An hour ago one soul reached out, one so familiar it was like the other half of me. And then it was silent. And I knew what happened.

Obi-Wan was gone.

I had been asleep, fitfully so because I felt a deep tension in the Force, something shifting in the balance. Yavin 4 was peaceful, serene even, and I had been getting excellent sleep here over the past two years so it was unusual.

But the fluttering of tension in the Force woke me. Something wasn’t right, like the Force was screaming at me to do something, anything, but I did not know what I was supposed to do.

Because it knew, it knew what was coming.

I’d taken a walk through the compound, the hanger doors wide open to let in the cool summer night. It was quiet, I’d even checked over the compound for anything out of place. A far off watchman saluted me and I nodded back, not willing to break the silence. The clouds shifted, revealing a rarely seen glow from another moon.

In that moment I felt it, the presence I had not felt in years, as if he was right there with me - as if Obi-Wan were about to reach out and touch me on the shoulder.

But then he was gone. Really and truly gone. I hadn’t ever before realized that I had always faintly felt him. But suddenly he was not there, like a breath ripped from my lungs.

I fell to my knees, a sob escaping me, my body crumpling. There was no doubt in my mind, in fact I’d never been more certain of anything: Obi-Wan Kenobi was gone.

I faintly made out the watchman’s footsteps nearing me, her footfalls hurried, but I shut them out. Even when the woman reached down to touch me I couldn’t help it, the Force exploded from me, sending her flying, her body seeming to soar through the air in slow motion. Almost without my permission the Force caught her, cushioning her fall.

This all happened in silence, even the crash of the woman hitting the ground seemed muffled to me. Because my entire life was playing before me, everything I had ever done included him. There was not a moment he was not there, at least in thought, with the knowledge that I could return to him as a safe place, a home. He was a stationary point in a constantly moving universe, something solid to hold on too when the world seemed to spin too fast.

But he was gone. I knew it more certainly than if I had watched him die, more certainly than if I had held him in my arms while he breathed his last breath.

And the Universe grieved with me. She even shed tears - I could hear them falling outside - mourning the other half of my soul.

I think I stayed there for hours, far into the early hours of the morning until someone came to get me, to tell me that they had to land a ship in the landing bay and I was in the way. I met the gaze of Jan Dodonna, his eyes soft, waiting .

“He’s gone,” I whispered, voice breaking and heart shattering, “Obi-Wan is gone.” “I’m sorry,” General Dodonna said, “I’m sorry you didn’t get to say goodbye.”

I nodded, my tears falling anew. I let him almost pick me up, barely cognisant of my feet moving. In the nearly two years I had been on Yavin 4 he knew me best, frankly he was one of the very few people I knew from before the Republic fell.

General Dodonna ushered me out of the landing bay, gently depositing me in an unused meeting room. I flopped into a chair, my limbs numb, my heart empty. He knelt down in front of me looking worried but his eyes sparkled with a glimmer of hope I barely recognized.

“Take your time,” he started, “But I think you’ll want to meet the kids about to get off this ship.”

“Kids?” I asked, my voice cracking.

“Leia Organa,” he smiled, “And a boy she said came from Tatooine.”

-------

Ch. 13 - Hope

The ship docks and Leia runs down the gangplank first, a man and two droids following. I let out a sob at the sight of them, the familiar tottling of the gold plated one, the sassy chatter of the second following closely behind.

And someone else. Someone who feels immediately like Anakin but with the softness of Padmé. But not Leia, it’s not just Leia I’m feeling.

It’s Luke.

Leia’s twin strides down after her, his gait confident as his mother’s, chin held high enough that I can see his father’s arrogance. The twins, together at last and they don’t even know it.

A smile breaks across my face through the tears and I laugh because the next era of Skywalkers changing the course of history has just stepped foot in the base of Rebel operations.

The droids reach me before the scruffy looking pilot and Leia do.

“Artoo!” I exclaim, kneeling down in front of him, where have you been?”

He beeps affectionately in response, but adds a snarky comment that makes me feel more loved than his initial welcoming greeting.

“Oh, do you know R2?” C-3PO asks, coming to stand beside us.

“3PO of course I do!”

I seem to stun the droid into silence for half a second by the fact I knew his name and called him by a shortened version of it, “And next you’ll be telling me I know you too I suppose?”

“In another life, yes,” I smiled, “we all knew each other very well.”

“Stupid mindwipes,” he mutters, seeming to shake his head before tottling off.

I hug Leia briefly before she turns to business with General Dodonna. My heart contracts at the thought of how many times Padme had done the same.

I nod to Luke in greeting, extending my hand, “I’m Cece,” I say, the name sounding foreign in my mouth even after so many years of going by the nickname. And it hurts to not introduce myself to Anakin’s son as myself.

“Nice to meet you General,” Luke nods respectfully.

I frown, “How did you-”

“You have the aura of someone in charge,” he grins.

I smile, unsure of what else to say. But I can’t say nothing because I want to know, to be sure, “he was with you wasn’t he?”

“Who?” Luke asks, his eyebrows knitting in a way that was so deeply reminiscent of Anakin I almost start to cry again.

“Obi-Wan- Or Ben. He probably asked you to call him that.”

Luke’s face lights up and falls at the same time, “You knew him?”

“Of course I knew him,” I said smiling.

“He’s, ah, he’s gone you know-” he said, his voice quieting.

“I know.”

“On that battle station, Darth Vader killed him.”

It shocks me, even though I already knew it to be true, that the remnant of Anakin would strike him down. I see the sadness in Luke’s eyes and know I can’t let him see mine because it will give too much away. Too much that he shouldn’t know yet.

But he sees it anyway, or rather, I think he feels it. I feel his Force signature shift in a way that shakes me because it is so full of feeling, of passion, just as Anakin was. And even if he doesn’t know what it means yet, he feels me feel it. He feels the slight shift in my presence and the deep sadness that I cannot hold in. At the same moment, I feel Leia’s eyes on me too and have to keep myself from sobbing because the Skywalkers can’t help but have a powerful presence in the Force. It is who they are.

This all happens in a flash that no one else seems to notice. Luke nods like he understands something new and Leia averts her eyes like she knows I don’t want to share my grief yet.

“Ben mentioned you. Cecil, right?” Luke asks, a fresh respect and near awe in his eyes, “General Palmarin. Master Palmarin.”

I smile, unable to hide it this time, “And what cautionary tales did he tell of me?”

Luke smiles in return and responds in a tone older than his years “Only that he missed you. And that you were,” he corrected himself, “that you are the best Jedi of the age.”

I grin, the compliment warming me just as much as if Obi-Wan was here to say it. My heart swells as I watch Luke go, wishing with all my heart that I could stay, that I could train him.

But that is not my job. My job is done. The rebellion has wings. It has hope. This is the beginning of the end.

-------

Playlist:

Yours - Conan Gray

Love Of My Life - Harry Styles

As It Was - Harry Styles

Brooklyn Baby - Lana Del Rey

Dancing With Our Hands Tied - Taylor Swift

Another Love - Tom Odell

Complete Mess - 5 Seconds of Summer

One More Weekend - Maude Latour

Supercut - Lorde

What If I Love You - Gatlin

Wish You Were Sober - Conan Gray

All These Things I’ve Done - The Killers

right where you left me - Taylor Swift

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