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agirlunderarock · 2 years

Text

It takes some Getting used to

This is yet another fic based on art by @journen because her art is amazing and if you don't follow her go follow her right now. But anyway, she HURT ME AGAIN WITH THIS and naturally that meant I had to write a fic to go with it. I think I deviated a little from her original idea she had in mind, but like we don't get a visual for what happened after that fight with Darth Maul and I was watching the Obi-Wan series while writing this and so this is kinda the result of all of that. I sorta wanted this to be a precursor to hint at how Obi-Wan deals with this sort of confusion and grief that leads to what we see in series. Also I wanted an excuse to write a little bit of Ventress for the first time. That being said I'd also like to thank Juneee and @itsonlymyecho for reading it before and helping with some things I wasn't sure about 🥺 But anyways, hope you enjoy!

Summary: After facing Darth Maul for the first time in over ten years, Obi-Wan finds that he isn't willing to open up easily about the past, no matter how clear his pain is to those who care about him

Pairings: Obi-WanXOC - some good hurt comfort

Warnings: Some references to alcohol, Obi-Wan blames himself for Maul's rampage, some angst- I guess this counts as a whump fic

Read on AO3

Obi-Wan had witnessed many things over the course of the war, certainly more than he thought he would in a single lifetime. Naturally, he had grown up hearing stories from other jedi of their experiences, many of them seeming larger than life at the time, but given his current experiences, they all seemed rather mundane. Of course that was probably the wrong word, but how many mission briefings started off with holo messages from sith assassins one presumed they had killed nearly twelve years earlier. Then again that sort of thing isn’t exactly taught in padawan history lessons if it did happen.

“Kenobi wake up!”

The jedi startled awake at the woman’s irritated hiss. He had woke up to Ventress slapping him twice now within at least one rotation. He hoped that wasn’t something he'd have to get used to. He took a deep breath and sat up more in his seat, only to be met with the Jedi temple growing larger in the main viewport. He didn’t remember falling asleep. The last thing he was conscious of was he and Ventress circling back to get her ship, stopping for fuel- His brain started pounding on the inside of his skull as he mentally retraced his steps.

“Didn’t take you to be a drinker Kenobi,” Ventress started. “Or at least I thought you would have been able to hold it better.”

Or maybe it was just the start of a hangover. Not that he had all that much- just a bottle. Then again it might have been stronger than he anticipated. It was meant to take his mind off the bruises forming all over his body, but that pain only seemed to have settled more deeply in his heavy limbs as he shifted again in his seat. He didn’t have to look at the assassin turned bounty hunter to know she was watching him. Whether it was out of concern or thinking about just throwing him out of her ship he tried not to think about it. Somehow the option where he fell to his demise was easier to process than the thought she might actually be concerned about him.

“No, no, not the main hanger,” Obi-Wan objected as she brought the ship around through the busy Coruscant traffic toward the bustling temple below. His stomach lurched as she abruptly changed direction. At least he had slept through most of her traffic dodging until this point.

“Afraid of being seen with me, Kenobi?” Ventress taunted.

“Well I’d prefer my rescuer not be spotted and chased down for former war crimes.” Though he was confident that wouldn’t happen. The reality was Obi-Wan didn’t want to be seen at all. “Drop me off near the lower levels, theres an entrance there. I trust you’ll not share that with anyone.”

Again Ventress seemed to see right through him. He didn’t like it. He wasn’t sure if it was just her own connection to the force that made it seem that way, or if it was because he was more accustomed to her trying to kill him that had him still on edge. He knew she saved his life, but that didn’t exactly make them friends now, right?

That was too much for the pounding in his head to think about. Instead he gave her directions to the lower landing. It was rarely used, and out of the way of the busier passages in the Temple. It was only ever really mentioned in discussions for emergency procedures, and still those discussions were few and far between despite the war. Thankfully, the landing fed right into the halls just under the living quarters for the majority of the jedi. It wouldn’t take him long to get to his own chambers once he was inside.

“I suppose this is it then,” Obi-Wan said, attempting to mask the pain that shot through his back when he tried to stand up. “No need to land.”

"Is that what you tell your little green girlfriend too? I don't imagine she takes kindly to that."

Now he knew she was trying to get some kind of reaction from him. Ventress and Sas had crossed paths several times, none of those times overlapped with the time he had been in a relationship with the shapeshifter. Of course he knew that Sas and Cody often appeared with him on holo broadcast from the front very often, he would need to be more mindful of how they conducted themselves. Regardless of why Ventress was prying, Obi-Wan did little to acknowledge the comment.

"Thank you, Ventress," he said once he pushed himself to his feet. He took a moment to steady himself on the back of the chair he was in. He looked back at Ventress trying to see if she had jostled the controls of her ship. She didn’t. He told himself he would be fine. He just needed to sleep off the drink, and hope that would drain the ache in his limbs. The tightness in his chest and difficulty breathing would sort itself out. He would be fine.

“Obi-Wan,” Ventress called once he had limped most of the way down the ramp. To his surprise she stood half way in her ship, as if she were going to follow him down the ramp. Obi-Wan couldn’t help but wonder if she meant to walk him inside. “You might want to get something for that black eye. I’d hate to see that face plastered all over the holonet.” Her usual teasing tone didn't match the worry lines creasing her forehead.

Obi-Wan just gave a small wave in answer before finishing his trek down the ramp and to the door. He didn’t look back to see if Ventress was watching him. He could feel her gaze on his back until he disappeared into the temple. Despite being out of her sight, he still felt unsettled. He could only hope that showing her the mostly forgotten entrance to the temple wouldn’t come back to haunt him later.

He took a deep breath to steady himself. He was home. That was what mattered. He just needed to sleep off the hangover and then he could give his report to the council. He slowly released the breath and forced himself to look up and down the empty corridor. He was completely alone, and he was home. He was home. He was home and yet, the long expanse of hallway seemed to stretch onward unnaturally. In the shadow of the pillars he could see the smokey hollow doorwars that lined the streets of the village, the patterns on the carpet twisted into the forms of slain innocent, the people who didn’t know why they were being attacked. He looked up expecting to see the smoke filled skies sinking low over the ruined village, but all he found were the dim lights spaced evenly along the ceiling, leading the way toward more lively areas of the temple. He knew he was home but he had to be sure. His chest still ached like it was difficult to breathe. He was almost to his chambers. He could rest then.

He took as deep a breath as he could manage to steady his nerves, and let the hall stop spinning between his home and the village before heading slowly down the hall to his room. He just needed a few moments alone to figure out his thoughts. The weight settling on his shoulders was only the exhaustion from the last few hours, nothing more.

Obi-Wan pushed himself step by step down the corridor, ignoring the double takes and staring once he got to more populated halls. It was fine. He told himself it was just like he returned from any other mission. Besides it wasn’t like it was the first time a sith had roughed him up, he and everyone at the temple should be used to it by now. Then again, an appearance like this usually meant he was accompanied by Cody and Sas looking just as roughed up, as they watched, or usually helped, the rest of their men unload the battleship. Lucky for him there still weren’t that many jedi roaming the halls to his room, and inquisitive younglings were housed on the other side of the temple. It was just Obi-Wan, and the steady pounding of his heart in his ears drowning out the sound of his footsteps as he finally came to his door.

“Nah, thats a little too greasy. Last time we ate there, I thought I was going to turn inside out.”

Obi-Wan paused just outside his door, listening to the familiar woman’s voice from inside.

“That was one time, Sas,” Cody’s voice replied. “Every other time before that it was fine.”

“I’ve only been there once! I think you had my sister with you and the boys those other times.”

“I would have remembered if it was Crix. She never would have thrown her fries at me-”

“Maybe if you would have asked-”

“I did-”

“After you stuck your fingers in my fries! My point is, you don’t know my sister like I do. Ask Balls and Enabler- do you not see their holos? The three of them are mess when they get together-”

“I blame you for that-”

“Me?!”

Obi-Wan stayed listening for a moment, the smallest hint of a smile coming to him as he could almost imagine the scene taking place in his room. Sas was either sprawled out on his bed or on the floor, several data pads in front of her, only the one with a list of delivery restaurants on and in her emerald colored hands. Cody was likely sitting at his desk, his work stacked in neat piles to give the appearance of organization. Truthfully there was no order to his madness and instead of looking up other places to eat, the commander was probably trying to read over Sas’ shoulder. Obi-Wan was very familiar with that scene, and despite the way his stomach churned, he was eager to see them both. He pressed his head to the door frame and closed his eyes for a second. More weight seemed to settle on his shoulders and chest, and his limbs felt heavier by the second. He took a deep breath, and stood up to walk into his room.

The door slid open, and he nearly collided with Sas as she was about to walk out the door. Obi-Wan watched as her expression went from surprised to horrified to concerned as her brows settled low over her brown eyes. A quick glance to Cody and he saw the same worry etched onto his face that he had seen too many times already today. Nothing was wrong. This was nothing out of the ordinary. He was fine.

“I heard we were getting take out? Personally, I think that Twi’lek place a few blocks down has the best,” Obi-Wan said, as he propped his elbow up against the side of the door frame and offered them both a tired smile. Neither Sas nor Cody seemed amused by his greeting. “I’ll take your stunned silence to mean that you missed me?” he said just as the ground shifted violently under all of them.

The next thing Obi-Wan knew, he was face down in the dirt, coughing as the dust infiltrated his lungs. His head burned, and his side exploded with pain as he was kicked into the ground again.He needed to fight back. He owed the people of the village He was trapped in the Raydonia, perhaps he never left. He couldn’t fight back against the hands that reached out for him. He blinked and it was the large green Zabrak dragging him through the dirt and carnage lining the streets of the village, the next second it was Sas grabbing him under his armpits.

“Cody, help me get him to the bed-”

“Right- let me get his arm over here-”

“Where’d he drop his lightsaber-?”

A flash of red blazed across Obi-Wan’s vision. Whether from the Zabrak attacking him, or from the lightsaber his opponent held, he didn’t know. He was being dragged back to their ship. His vision came and went as he caught brief flashes of the dark smoke plumes and the high ceilings of his chambers. His body felt much too heavy. Surely whatever had happened with Ventress, and seeing Sas and Cody was some kind of dream. He could still hear the hum of the blazing lightsaber held to his face, the hiss of his beard burning against the blade. He was too weak to fight back.

“It rolled under the desk-”

“Got it. I’m gonna get something to wipe away the blood.”

Obi-Wan blinked a few times, trying to get his bearings.He didn’t remember walking in with his lightsaber in his hand. He must have been holding it though. His right hand felt tense, and his fingers stiff. All he did was blink and suddenly Cody was practically carrying him to bed. “What happened?” he asked.

“I think we should be asking you that, sir,” Cody answered, steadying the jedi in a sitting position. “Sas and I were told you were sent on a mission but-”

“But we were expecting you to come back in one piece,” Sas’ finished as she came from another part of the room and pressed a cool damp cloth to Obi-Wan’s forehead. He hadn’t even noticed her leave.

“I still am in one piece,” Obi-Wan insisted, watching as the woman he loved clenched her jaw as she continued to dab the cloth along his forehead.

“Thats still up for debate, Pretty Boy,” Sas answered. “Why didn’t you go to the med bay?” She pulled the cloth away and pulled up a chair to sit in front of him, while Cody kept him up right.

Silence passed between the trio as Sas and Cody waited for the jedi to answer. Obi-Wan avoided eye contact with the both of them. It wasn’t as bad as they seemed to think. He definitely had worse injuries after Umbara. Sure his head was pounding and the room was spinning, and if he thought for too long, it was a little difficult to find the words he really wanted to say, but that was only because whatever drink Ventress had given him was too strong. Now he knew better.

“Obi-Wan,” Cody’s voice broke through the fog. “What happened?”

“The council sent me on a brief mission, nothing unusual.”

He didn’t miss the silent exchange between Cody and Sas. She sat on the edge of the chair now, her knees bumping lightly against Obi-Wan’s as she took his hands in her own. He watched as she dabbed the cloth over his bruised knuckles and cut up hands, the dried blood gradually fading away with each pass.

“Let me rephrase that,” Cody tried again, “What was the mission they gave you? We were told to gather a task force and be on stand-by the moment you left. It was only a few hours ago that they said we could stand down, but it looks like you could have used the back up.”

Obi-Wan still didn’t meet Sas or Cody’s gaze, despite being able to feel their eyes searching his face. He didn’t have to use the force to know what they were feeling, the concern and worry was almost overwhelming, even if they were trying to keep themselves composed. Instead of that however, Obi-Wan did his best to focus on another feeling under all that tension, a warmth he often found himself seeking more and more. He focused his attention on the gentle touch of Sas’ hands cleaning his wounds, Cody’s hand on his shoulder. Small things to keep him grounded in the current moment. He didn’t want to worry them. What happened, happened, and there was nothing he could do about it in that moment.

Sas was the one to break the silence this time. “Was it another mission to Mandalore?” she asked. Obi-Wan finally looked up at her and this time she couldn’t meet his gaze. “We were told to be on standby, Mace wanted us to be prepared just in case…The only thing Cody and I could think of was that Death Watch had made a move against Mandalore, and because of their neutrality, we can’t exactly just launch the fleet to evacuate the Duchess.”

Obi-Wan shook his head, suddenly finding his neck muscles feeling incredibly sore.

“We were only told to stand down a few hours ago…because of a holo Mace got from your com line.” Sas paused again, waiting to see if the jedi would elaborate on what was said. He didn’t. Cody and Sas exchanged another look. Obi-Wan wondered when they had gotten so good at reading one another.

“The holo came from Ventress of all people,” Cody prompted, but still Obi-Wan stayed quiet. The truth was, at least about the holo, Obi-Wan didn’t know what she had said or told Mace. He never knew she sent the transmission in the first place.

“I just need to get some rest,” Obi-Wan said at last.

“Not before getting checked out at least by Chip,” Sas pressed. “You’re practically slurring your speech-”

“Its just the drink Ventress gave me. I just need to sleep it off.” This time Obi-Wan did miss the look Cody gave Sas.

“Why were you getting drinks with the Witch?” Cody pressed.

Obi-Wan realized he had let something slip. He shouldn’t have mentioned that. “Was it wrong for me to have a drink? Don’t you and the others go out for drinks after a long battle?” He looked up when Sas gave his hands a gentle but firm squeeze. Her brows furrowed low over her brown eyes, there was a determination in her look, something he usually loved, but currently had him feeling more anxious.

Cody didn’t miss it either and seemed to say exactly what she had been thinking. “Usually its with the other commanders or just you and Sas- not an enemy who’s tried to kill all of us on multiple occasions, sir.”

Obi-Wan could tell he upset Cody. There was a certain change in his tone that really only happened when he was frustrated. He might not always be able to see his face under the helmet, but Cody's voice tended to give him away. He didn’t mean to upset Cody. He looked away from the clone commander unable to think of an answer that truly justified any of it outside the truth. He couldn’t talk about it, yet.

“I’m going to go get Chip,” Cody started, and stood up. “See if he’ll make a house call this time.”

The jedi didn’t look up, and flinched when Cody accidentally put his hand on a bruise on his shoulder. The commander gave a quick apology, then clasped Sas on the shoulder before he left. Obi-Wan sat in silence with Sas for a moment, her hands still holding his as she gently brushed her thumbs over his bruised knuckles.

“You know, he’s just worried, right? We both are,” Sas said, though she wasn’t meeting his eyes. “We just weren’t sure what to think. You left so abruptly, not even Anakin knew until Mace told us to be ready to deploy.”

“I don’t mean to worry you so much,” Obi-Wan said quietly. He turned his hands so that he was holding onto her fingers and brushed his thumb over the back of her hands. “You don’t need to worry about me. Neither of you do. This is just part of my life”

The little hum Sas gave in answer told Obi-Wan she wasn’t going to accept that as an explanation. When they finally met each other’s gaze, he was surprised to see that even with the worry creases between her brows, she almost seemed amused. He had seen that small smile before, usually when Pyres Squad was trying to cover up the results of their latest mischief. “You know, even when we first met and you told me that, I didn't believe you. That I really didn’t need to worry about you-”

Obi-Wan narrowed his good eye at her, unintentionally prompting her to put the cool cloth over his swollen one.

“Getting tossed around and getting a few scrapes and bruises was a pretty normal day for both of us, I guess it still is but instead of a once in a while kinda thing, its every other day now…” Obi-Wan realized Sas lost what she was wanting to say. He didn’t mind though, he’d be patient like always. “You’d think we’d be used to that by now, but it doesn’t get easier. It doesn’t get easier knowing that we’re fighting a full out war, even though we’ve been in the thick of it for the last two almost three years. So, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that you still aren’t used to people outside the Jedi Order worrying about you.”

“Sas-” he started unsure of how to answer that. He had mostly let her rambling lull him into a relaxed state but her final comment had him at a loss. He couldn’t tell if it was the splitting pain in his head or the small ache in his chest that was making it difficult for him to answer. He could feel that same pang twisting off of her as she seemed to think about what to say next.

“If Anakin is a Master of crash landings, you, Love, are the Master of damage control. You go to great lengths to remain positive and keep others calm, and that isn’t always a bad thing, but it can get a little annoying for those of us who love you and know you’re not doing well.”

Obi-Wan had just leaned more into her touch as she held the cloth to his eye, before turning his head to kiss the inside of her wrist. He knew exactly what she was talking about. He was supposed to be looking out for her though. He was the one with the lightsaber, he was the jedi master. Sas, Cody and Anakin were his responsibility. He loved them too much to drag them into Maul’s crosshairs. “My dear… I don’t know what I can say that can make you see that this mission was nothing for you to worry about.” He blinked, feeling her hand pull away from his face.

“I think you might have hit your head harder than we thought-” Sas said with a tired, heavy sigh. “Obi-Wan, whether or not you believe that Anakin, Cody and I shouldn’t worry about you, we’re going to. You’re their friend. You have my heart in every way-” She paused, “We all love you, so we’re not just going to sit back while you're in pain, when you wouldn’t let us do the same.” She took a deep breath and slowly let it out before continuing. “Our feelings aside, if this mission was big enough that Mace thought to send a task force after you, I would like to know what to prepare for, what to prepare the others for, should something like this happen again."

Obi-Wan turned his head away, and did his best to focus on the stack of books on his desk and the data pad hanging just over the edge. He knew she was right. That even if the mission had been a personal matter, the people that were unfortunately being drawn in deserved to know why. “I don’t want anyone else to be dragged into this…”

“You don't have to shoulder this on your own. You're not dragging anyone into anything…orders or not, Cody, and I will be right there with you. But you have to let us."

He took a deep breath letting her words sink into his hazy mind. Obi-Wan knew she was right. For as patient as she was being with him at the moment, he also knew she was incredibly stubborn and would be at his side in just about any situation without him asking. He was reminded of this as he started slouching forward, as the room seemed to shift around them once again. Without another word, Sas was sitting at his side, one arm on his back keeping him steady, and the other still holding one of his hands.

“Lean on me if you need to. Its okay,” she said softly. “After Chip gives the all clear, then you can rest.”

Obi-Wan gave a nod, but didn’t lean into her. He couldn’t not yet. She was right. People were already getting hurt because of him. He needed to prepare her and the others. He took another deep breath, a sharp pain in his chest made him let it out sooner than he had anticipated. “I was supposed to capture a sith lord,” he said at last. He kept his eyes trained on Sas’ fingers interlocking with his. He took another deep breath.He waited for her to say something, but she waited patiently for him to continue. “Yesterday, afternoon the council received a transmission from Raydonia….Darth Maul was terrorizing a villiage of refugees there. The villagers were waiting for the supply ship he stole, and had no way to prepare- His only demands were that I go to the planet and challenge him. By the time I had arrived he and the monster Savage Opress, had wiped out the village.”

It wasn’t until he felt Sas’ fingers move through his hair, rubbing the back of his head that he realized he had slumped against her after all. Again he waited for her to say something. He was too tired to pick his head up to see her face,even if he wanted to see what she was thinking. After a few more seconds he felt her breath ruffle the ends of his hair. “So, Dooku tried to take on another assassin,” she said at last. He supposed that was the easiest part to process, even if it was incorrect. “That would at least explain Ventress stepping in- she wants her place back…But why you, of all the jedi generals? Why go to those lengths?”

Though her voice was even, maybe even too casual to someone who didn’t know her, Obi-Wan could feel the small trembles running through her. Whether in anger or fear he couldn’t say. He did not want to say more. It would be easy to just ignore those last questions she asked, to say he didn’t know. But he did know. Obi-Wan would only put her in more danger if he didn’t tell her everything. “Darth Maul, isn’t Dooku’s new apprentice,” he started slowly. One thing at a time. “He was attempting to take revenge against me. We’ve fought before, about ten years ago actually. I thought I killed him on Naboo, clearly cutting him in half and falling down a garbage shoot wasn’t enough.”

“You just know how to make the most interesting friends don’t you?” Sas said quietly against his head. Any other time, he might have made a joke about their own first meeting and all the trouble she caused him. Right now though, he didn’t feel like lumping her in with Maul and Savage. “It must have been hard for you to see that holo message though. Mace didn’t show us the holo, at least not me or Cody. He might have shown Anakin. But if it was enough for Mace to want to send a task force with you to Raydonia, then I can only imagine what must have been going through your head.”

He closed his eyes for a brief moment when he felt her lips on top of his head and squeezed his hand. Several things came to him at that moment, including the words I love you. He couldn’t say that yet. She wouldn’t realize how much he meant it; she would only think that he was trying to redirect the conversation. He had to be honest with her. If not for just themselves but for people he failed in the village. “I thought I had put an end to it then- I-” He paused for a moment feeling nauseated. “Those villagers died because of me,” he said. “I never thought that anyone else would-”

“Hey, hold on- You’re not seriously blaming yourself for what happened are you?” The tone of Sas’ voice surprised him. Not that he was surprised to hear her concern, but almost an accusation, as if it wasn’t his fault.

“I didn’t- Stop them.”

“You didn’t know he was even alive. How were you supposed to know that cutting him in half didn’t work? Were you supposed to jump down the shoot to double check?”

Obi-Wan stayed quiet still processing that. Again, he knew she was right but there had to be something else he could have done. There could have been something in the force, some kind of vision or something he had missed. Some kind of sign. He supposed his sign was when Dooku brought in Savage. He should have been more alert. He felt his throat close up and ached as he tried to find the words to explain. He should have done better.

“You’re just one man, Obi-Wan. Sure you can move things with your hand, and force gives you all sorts of abilities- but you’re just one man.”

“I have one obligation, Sas, to protect life, to protect those villagers. They didn’t even know why they were being attacked.”

“Do you think that would have helped?”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you think it would have made the last moments of their lives easier, if they knew their world was falling apart because of a one sided grudge match?”

Obi-Wan paused for a moment. Maybe it wasn’t so one sided. “It wasn’t just the villagers I failed. He killed my Master on Naboo. I couldn’t get to them in time. It was my fault he died. Maul said that I should go alone, and he would spare the village. He had already destroyed them when I arrived. I was too late.”

For a moment there was nothing but the sound of their breathing. Obi-Wan hoped that would be the end of it for the moment. His head felt like it was ready to split open, and he couldn’t tell if it was because of how many times he hit it in the fight, or if he was just tired. “You weren’t too late to save Padmé, or to keep Maul from tearing through another village,” she said at last. Though she spoke softly, he could hear the determination in her voice, in the way she started trembling again. “You said it yourself, Maul gave you an ultimatum to meet him alone, and he had no intention of being held to it.”

“Sas- I brought that on them-”

“Did you?” She wasn’t convinced. He felt her bump her forehead against the side of his. “I know you feel guilty. You wouldn’t be trying to convince me you were guilty if you didn’t feel horrible. But its like you’ve told me before, you can’t control everything. You’re one person, and you can’t control what an old enemy does. How could you have even known? You, and everyone else thought he was dead for the last ten years. Placing the blame for his actions on yourself doesn’t bring back those people and it doesn’t give them peace.”

For a moment, Obi-Wan recalled having a similar conversation with Sas a few months ago. That she could appear as an infinite number of faces, but it didn’t change that she was still one woman. “So you have been listening to me these past few months,” Obi-Wan said, holding her hand a little closer to himself, before taking a deep breath and slowly sitting up.

“Sometimes, only when you make sense,” She teased softly. He turned his head to her finally, his face of course still swollen and bruised as he offered her a small smile. He looked away again, wondering if he should let her walk him down to the medical wing now, but stopped when she spoke up again. “Its okay to be upset, I worry more when you try to pretend things are fine.”

“I know and I am sorry for that. I just need time to really process it. It still feels like a lot to take in,” he admitted. “I just need time.”

“And you have time…just try not to let it make your health worse at the same time. We like having you in one piece. You’ve got me, Anakin and Cody to help you. Just don’t push us away. We’re with you through it all.”

Obi-Wan turned his head, when he felt Sas let go of his hand only to lean into her touch when she cupped his cheek. “I love you,” he said quietly.

“I love you, too,” she answered.

For just a second, Obi-Wan thought she was going to lean in for a kiss, but her brown eyes quickly snapped to the door and he pulled away from her touch. Her hand dropped back to his, but she shifted to put some space between the two of them, just as his door opened.

Cody, and Chip stood in the doorway, behind them, Obi-Wan thought he saw the top of Ahsoka’s montrals passing behind the clone medic. If she was there, he didn’t doubt Anakin was standing just out of sight. “We’ll be back later- don’t want to crowd him right now.” He thought he heard his former padawan’s voice say. He assumed it was to Cody, who just gave a nod and a wave down the hall.

Chip was the first to push his way into the room. “No please, don’t stop on our account,” he teased as he moved past Cody. Obi-Wan just shook his head, or at least tried to and stopped when the room started spinning. Instead of just seeing Chip and Cody, Obi-Wan could have sworn a whole squad was trying to squeeze in his doorway.

“Stop what exactly?” Cody asked, shooting the jedi a small grin. Obi-Wan was just glad to see that the few minutes away had settled his friend. Maybe it did them all a little good. “Ran into General Skywalker on the way to get Chip. He uh, got me up to speed on what the mission was,” Cody said sitting down on the other side of Obi-Wan. “We’ll be ready next time.”

Obi-Wan did his best to clasp his friend’s shoulder in thanks. He could sense there was more he wanted to say, but he guessed that he was looking more tired than when he first stumbled in the room. “I should have told you from the beginning-” Obi-Wan started.

“Actually you should have had Ventress drop you off at the medbay landing,” Chip interrupted bluntly as he took the chair Sas had been sitting in earlier and tossed her his med bag. The medic then immediately took the bag back and started digging through it. “Would have saved all of us some trouble- mostly would have saved you a headache.” He pulled out a scanner and held it out in front of Obi-Wan.

“Chip-” Cody warned.

“What it would have! Then a droid could have had this done and he’d be swimming in bacta.”

Obi-Wan closed his eyes as the little blue beam shot out of the scanner and he did his best to hold still. He wasn’t going to be surprised if they had to walk him down to the bacta tanks across the temple, but he was feeling a little more relaxed than when he first arrived.

His attention was pulled away when Cody cleared his throat. “So, General Skywalker couldn’t exactly explain the part about the witch-”

“I’m not sure I fully understand it either, Cody,” Obi-Wan admitted. Truthfully there were a lot of pieces that if he had the mental clarity to focus on them, would probably paint a pretty clear picture. He glanced at Sas who had fallen silent the moment Cody and Chip walked in , and wondered for a moment what all was going through her head or if she was trying to connect the dots for them. He gave her hand a small squeeze and she seemed to blink back to the present. She gave a small smile, most of the worry unfurrowed from her brows.

“Can we wait until after I tell Kenobi if he’s dying or not to speculate about the Witch?” Chip demanded as he studied the little screen.

“Actually Chip, it was my dying wish,” Obi-Wan answered.

“Good to see your sense of humor is more intact than your ribs,” the medic answered.

Silence fell over the group for a moment before Cody spoke up again. “Oh forgot to tell you Vom, Skywalker and Tano said they were going pick up something for us to eat-”

“Guess that's our cue to walk you down to the medbay,” Sas said with a nod to Cody who shifted to help Obi-Wan stand.

“Actually I just sent word for some droids to bring a stretcher. The General has been moving probably more than he should have been after that fight-”

“So we’re probably having those burger things-”

“Not my fault if he agrees with me that place was good.” Cody said quickly before Chip decided to chime in as well.

Obi-Wan didn’t mean to tune out Cody, Chip and Sas’ debating dinner options. It all blended together. Not in a bad way. He just let himself lean over back against Sas, listened to her talk, and downplay her worries. He was tired still, and had no doubts that he was about to get dunked in a bacta tank, but part of the weight on his chest and shoulders felt lighter. Despite nothing really changing, he felt like he was having an easier time breathing. He closed his eyes for a moment focusing on the warmth and light surrounding him. That was a feeling he wouldn’t mind getting used to.

#Obi-Wan fanfic #Star Wars #Star wars fanfic #obi wan kenobi #asajj ventress #commander cody #clone oc #swtcw fic #Darth Maul #star wars oc #obi wan x oc #this fic took a lot longer than I thought it was going to #mostly because I'm insecure about how I write canon character pov and how Sas comes off in fics #Sas Vom #Me? not publishing at midnight? what is this?

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