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Chapter Text

In spite of his ordinary features, in Obi-Wan's eyes the man looked like an actual god.

Who else but an Olympian could have acted with such composure? Who could have managed to maintain himself as solid as the load-bearing column of a votive temple when faced with Anakin's beauty?

Obi-Wan was aware to be under the thumb of a recurring miasma. It was not the first time she suffered being lovesick for one of the girls of the thiasos, and it surely wasn’t going to be the last one - and yet, despite she was pretty confident with the repetitivity of such situations, the pain was still as vivid as a fresh cut.

Perhaps it was because Anakin’s beauty managed to outshine the other girls with such ease it almost appeared lazy, as if she did not care at all about the disruptive heartache she awoke in Obi-Wan with her existence alone.

The god-made-man was looking at her with equally shameless aplomb, unfazed by their vicinity while sitting one next to each other on the marble settle.

Obi-Wan sat nearby, pretending to be busy carving on her clay tables in the shade of an old cedar. It was not a truly necessity for her to do so, nobody would have thought of her being something else but a worried mentor witnessing the premarital encounter and ensuring it would go as Aphrodite wanted it to - Obi-Wan, however, felt like looking into her face to reveal the transparency of her current emotional state.

Anakin’s crystalline laughter echoed in the thiasos' garden, and Obi-Wan burnt with pure jealousy.

She didn’t want to look but at the same time couldn’t help herself. It was like watching a sinking ship from up the shore, a disturbing yet fascinating sight that bound her to keep her eyes on it to avoid missing out the plunging of even the most vapid wooden board. 

What else might you be, Obi-Wan thought as she looked at the young man, if not a god?

The mere sound of Anakin’s melodic voice and the glimpse of her smile, even from a distance, made Obi-Wan incapable of breathing properly: the want had made her stomach an ember and her body a fireplace made of bricks, her heart pumping just as godly in her aching chest and her. Obi-Wan instinctively parted her plump lips, enchanted by the way the morning sunlight projected itself on the young woman’s aureus face, but not even a single sound came out of her - the sight of Anakin had knotted her tongue and torched her sore intestines, which Obi-Wan felt pulsing like the ones belonging to a gutted calf on an altar. She suddenly struggled to even see, as if blinded by the sun itself.

They were not alone in the garden, other students and visitors were bathing in the warm sun while conversing and occupying themselves with daily activities, but their presence was nothing more than a muffled buzz in Obi-Wan’s ears. Her arm hairs were as straight as a bowstring, a boiling shiver running under her skin and making her feel overheated as a stream of sweat slides down her spine below the vest. She had no need to mirror herself to know she was as pale as a dead body even in that situation, countless times she had compared Anakin’s golden skin tone with hers to ensure that; on a par with a naive inexperienced girl Obi-Wan found herself crossing her legs, the fire of desire making her almost feverish.

They had lied together many times as was customary in the thiasos. Just like the other apprentices, Anakin was soon going to get married - perhaps with the young man she was talking with at that moment - and thus Obi-Wan had taught her what she knew pursuant to the cult of Aphrodite.

Anakin excelled in everything. At times it almost seemed she wasn’t even trying, her talent fully matching her own beauty in characteristics: effortless, radiant and as shiny as golden jewelry. When she sang she was a delight to ear, when she recited the ritual prayers she sounded like the most devoted priestess and when her hair was braided she didn’t suffer even the roughest hands: not that Obi-Wan’s fingers had ever ran through Anakin's golden curls with anything else but reverence, both before and after lying with one another or with other girls as well.

She was simply the most passionate, the most devoted, the most beautiful. She clouded the others without making any effort, and the fire living inside Obi-Wan crackled painfully at the thought of a man taking her away.

Anakin had obviously experienced pleasure with others, lying with one another among the girls was highly encouraged and thought to be effective in light of refining more quickly the art of love - besides Obi-Wan saw how she looked at Padmé, one of the oldest among her apprentices. She did not care who she layed with among the women.

Getting married, however… Obi-Wan’s heart creaked slightly, aching as she only contemplated that. Being given to a man was the natural outcome of things, as well as the main reason why the girls were sent to Lesbia in the first place: to learn to be good wives, reach refinement and know in depth the arts of love.

Obi-Wan had not loved them all, but she had burnt for many. Just like she was doing right now, for Anakin, although her last lovers almost cut a poor figure with the current intensity of her feelings: Obi-Wan used to think no one would have made her ache as Satine did, but she must had figured it was only a matter of time before the gods would send her yet another blonde as a punishment.

Not just another, she corrected herself, eyes following with pure greed the movement of Anakin’s fingers fixing her robes.

Anakin and Satine were alike just as day and night: where Satine was as pearlescent and snow-white as a crescent moon, Anakin was ardent and sunburnt on the edge of decency, showcasing confidently a complexion some would have reckoned to be inappropriate for a woman of her lineage; Satine’s eyes were icy blades holding the power to either hurt or please Obi-Wan with a single glare, while Anakin’s bright irises rivaled the light-blue sea skirting the shores of Lesbo.

Satine’s voice as Obi-Wan pleasured her was still demanding and resolute as the one belonging to a Spartan, which she partly was; Anakin’s voice on the other hand was raspy and breathy, she often struggled to speak when she tightened her soft legs around Obi-Wan’s head and begged her with even a greater devotion than when they would visit the temple to honor the goddess.

They were different and Obi-Wan had loved and lost both, since she would eventually part from Anakin as well.

She felt her fingertips tingle slightly, so she took what it was meant to be a deep breath. It came out more like gasp, and when Anakin’s sky-blue eyes suddenly landed on her Obi-Wan actually risked choking.

The young woman was clearly aware of being observed, Obi-Wan had not been exactly subtle in her adoration. Yet, those fresh water springs seemed to shine with amused irreverence mixed with complacency, as if Anakin was utterly delighted by that; soon Obi-Wan found herself having trouble breathing again, and while the man failed to notice the eye contact and kept talking about some prominent Athenian names he assured he knew personally, Anakin’s legs slowly but evidently parted under her immaculate robe.

Obi-Wan immediately grasped her silent message, and a tight smile blossomed on her lips in return. You got to see me, Anakin was reminding her, even letting her head fall backwards a little as she freed herself from some blonde locks on her face. The gorgeously glorious curve of her neck flexed and Obi-Wan’s greedy eyes followed every minute detail of that movement, as if she could feel the salty flavor that sucking that portion of skin gave her right under her tongue.

Every part of Anakin tasted like sea and shore and childish freedom, the one belonging to a young woman that had enjoyed the luxuries of a comfortable life and presumably a lenient father. The thought of her losing that spark after marriage was the primary cause of death for Obi-Wan’s subtle smile, as in spite of herself she called for Aphrodite to detach herself from those inappropriate thoughts.

Child of Zeus, weaver of wiles, she invoked. Forgive me. Free me.

But Obi-Wan did not wish for freedom. She should have, perhaps, it would have surely made her life easier. At the same time, though, there was nothing sweeter than suffering for love, burning like a dying star and prostrating to the feet of the girl in front of her, for she was the one that appeared to have been chosen by the gods to make Obi-Wan linger in her aches once more.

Obi-Wan let her head hang backwards against the tree, slowly letting out a proper sigh this time.

She thought it was worth it, in the end.

Love was a scorching pain, it burned more than sand under her feet when she walked through the beach without any footwear, but there was nothing like it. And for that woman that looked like molten gold and sunset alike, she would have cut her own chest open with a blessed dagger and handed her limbs and beating heart as a votive offering without a second thought.

Although Obi-Wan doubted that, with Anakin standing right in front of her, she would have been able to keep her hands steady enough to wield the blade in the first place.

Chapter Text

Goddammit, Kenobi. You had one rule.

Although she had been awake for twenty minutes or so, Obi-Wan refused to move from where she was, eyes stuck on the sand-colored ceiling. She tried to reach for her clothes, but the rustle of the sheets alone prompted a raspy grunt from the dormant man at her left, so she gave up.

Well, for around ten seconds. Obi-Wan still had places to be that morning.

She got seated with great caution, holding the well made sheets against her chest, and miraculously the man kept sleeping uninterrupted; summoning every ounce of skill passed down from Master Qui-Gon and holding her breath Obi-Wan’s right foot silently slid down from under the covers to the ground.

The tip of her hallux had barely made it to the wooden pavement when a long tan arm surrounded her prominent hips, while a woozy grunt mercilessly shattered any possibility for Obi-Wan to cut and run without being noticed.

«Where ya goin’?» Senator Skywalker mumbled, with a raspy voice.

Sith Hells.

«I can’t be late» Obi-Wan replied. «The Jedi Council requires my presence. There is an important meeting scheduled for today».

Skywalker let her go, hands now running across his face, and Obi-Wan refused to turn and follow the movement of his defined muscles flexing as he stretched with a loud yawn. She realized begrudgingly she didn’t need to, she knew it already. «It’s six standard in the morning».

«I need to go-»

«The Jedi Temple is exactly seven minutes away from here with a Speeder» he cut her off. «Plus I remember you saying you were on leave. Admit it, you were trying to dump me».

«Well, yes. I was trying to do it in a way that wouldn’t have hurt you, Senator. I thought you knew».

For a moment she feared she had not been clear enough in specifying the nature of their encounter. To be honest, Obi-Wan didn’t even think there was no need for it - she was a Jedi, she surely was not seeking love.

With the Galaxy entering its third year at war, it was a miracle she could remember what that word meant in the first place.

Skywalker huffed. «It’s Anakin as long as we’re both naked» he just said before pulling the sheets aside and standing up, perfectly at ease with his own nudity.

Obi-Wan did the same, and began to look for her underwear. «It was you who started it by calling me Master. We were both in this bed and very much naked, if memory serves».

One thing Obi-Wan had learnt since she had started to know Anakin Skywalker intimately was how incredibly easy it was, despite his apparent confidence, to make him blush. Needless to say Obi-Wan had made that her personal pleasure.

The Senator’s ears flushed pink. «I will be the one to let it go first, then - your bra is in that corner over there, Obi-Wan».

Contrary to him, Obi-Wan disposed of enough self-control to avoid losing herself in any childish redness. Nevertheless, the way the man pronounced her name, flipping it in his tongue with his harsh Outer Rim accent made her nape hair go straight up in an absolutely inconvenient way.

«Thank you» she said, heading towards said corner with a steady pace. «I’ll get out of your way as soon as possible. Could you tell me where I can find the closest ‘fresh-Anakin».

Turning her back on Senator Skywalker was more dangerous than doing it on a Sith. Without even realizing his sudden proximity - which was more than bad, considering the Force could have at least warned her - Obi-Wan felt Anakin’s arms surrounding her from behind once again, placing his chin on her shoulder in a way that deep down she found unsettling.

He was being a bit too… affectionate. In a diametrically opposed way compared to the sex they had the night before, but still too affectionate.

«Your meeting is not that close» Anakin said, as if he had the mathematical certainty of that statement. «Stay for breakfast. Then you’re free to go, Master Kenobi».

«I already am». Obi-Wan stopped Anakin’s cheeky hand from reaching between her legs. «Alright then. If you insist».

«I do» Anakin murmured against her ear, and for the second time Obi-Wan had to come to terms with unwanted shivers running down her spine.

It wasn’t the first time Obi-Wan found herself in a politician’s quarters - nor it was the first time she woke up in them after spending the night - but there was surely something peculiar in the setting Senator Skywalker had given to his place on Coruscant: barely any pageantry or opulence, much more spare-parts and unfinished machinery than in any repair shop and very few non essential furniture. Tatooine was not a wealthy planet, but it wasn’t democratic either in his its distribution of wealth and Obi-Wan seen in first person what the Hutts disposed of; the fact that the Senator seemed not to have put his hands of that wealth of dubious origin did him credit, in some way.

The only room in which Anakin had clearly invested was the bedroom, in particular the double size bed with the most comfortable mattress Obi-Wan had ever slept on since the beginning of the war.

The kitchen was small and unvarnished. After wearing at least his night pants, Anakin brought her there and placed a surprisingly variegated selection of tea and tisanes in front of her.

«From your expression I’d say you’re happy to see this» he chuckled, pushing the little box in her direction. «Take whatever you want. I’m not into tea that much, but I’ve recently been gifted with this selection by…»

«Lothal» Obi-Wan finished for him, grabbing a tea bag. «And top quality, from what I can see».

«Glad that at least someone in this house can appreciate this gift» Anakin replied, then turned his back on her to grab the coffee maker. «Be my guest. I imagine you’re not having coffee».

«No, indeed». Obi-Wan joined him at the counter, again feeling like being wrapped in an off-putting sensation of distress.

It was weird. She was the first to find important the morning after, despite her position as a Jedi had always prevented her from playing the part of the host: getting kicked out right after fucking was miserable, being invited to stay as long as desired was inappropriate, but spending the night and leaving in the morning was… fair.

And yet, when it came to Skywalker Obi-Wan always felt one step from crossing an invisible limit. Even looking at him for too much time felt unseemly, and although some good-natured flirting was her nature, Anakin’s response to that managed to bewilder Obi-Wan.

Sometimes he would reply on the verge of what was considered appropriate, while some others would blush and stutter like he didn’t expect it at all. It was an enigma of a man and despite herself Obi-Wan was inevitably attracted to him.

Force, she didn’t even know how old he was, though he surely was at least ten years her junior. Another terrible idea, Kenobi. Not in terms of the fucking, in that case it had been a great one, but all the rest.

«I’ve heard rumors about the Pantora’s deal on exportation of potable water» said Obi-Wan, soft-spoken. «I imagine I should congratulate you, Senator».

Anakin shot her a disapproving glare for the use of the title, huffing to free his own vision from a blonde lock. «It wasn’t hard. Senator Chuchi agreed already, so we encountered little to no resistance. If we’re lucky, the legislation will enter into force at the end of the standard month».

«I don’t think anyone in the Senate will oppose».

«I do» Anakin replied bitterly. «I believe you don’t need a reminder of our current situation, considering you experience it on your skin every single day on the front lines. Some… figures, in the Senate, seem to expect the debate to be perpetually focused on men and armaments, as if we are not able to develop parallel reforms».

Obi-Wan placed a hand on his shoulder. Younger or not, Anakin was so tall she struggled a bit. «The legislation will pass» she assured him. «It is the right time, I’m sure you know this».

With the reform on the new blaster prototypes recently implemented after the last round of voting, it could be said that even the most warmongering souls sitting in the Senate had been well appeased. 

Anakin gave her a tight-lipped smile. «We can only hope».

Luckily, the following silence didn’t make it on time to become embarrassing, because a few moments later the teapot started to whistle. Obi-Wan went quick to serve herself her tea, relieved by that distraction.

They sat one in front of the other. Despite the fact that Obi-Wan was larger than she was taller, their knees still ended up touching beneath the table due to the lack of space, and that surely didn’t help her enjoy her breakfast in peace.

On top of that, Anakin was staring. Obi-Wan took a generous sip of tea, forcing herself to ignore him, until a little smirk blossomed on the Senator’s plump lips.

«What is it?»

«Nothing» he said. «I’ve never seen you with your hair down. It suits you. You look younger».

Obi-Wan frowned so deeply she felt like the furrow risked staying forever.

«I mean… Kark, that didn’t sound good at all» Anakin’s hand went on his mouth, radiating awkwardness. «Not…Not that usually you don’t. Look young, I mean. Or not that you don’t look good with your hair tied up… never mind, forget that».

It was Obi-Wan’s turn to smirk now. She crossed her arms. «By all means, keep going. I want to see how you plan to get out of this swamp, Senator».

«I grew up in the desert, Master Kenobi. I don’t even know what a swamp is».

Obi-Wan laughed heartily, and Anakin’s eyes lit up at the sound.

 «I didn’t want to offend you» he retracted.

«I don’t feel offended. For the record, keeping my hair like this on the front would lead to a quick yet undignified death - just a gust of wind and it would be over».

There had been a time, as a youngster, when she used to adopt that hairstyle. Qui-Gon himself kept his hair like that, and even though he was actually a decent braider Obi-Wan had preferred imitating him than make use of his skill - only after her Knighting she had made the decision to cut it and subsequently tie it up in a tight bun so that it wouldn't get in the way.

As if he finally gained consciousness of having hair as well, Anakin’s hand ran through his blonde locks in an attempt to sort it out. «At least you don’t have curls. Your beloved Force has saved you from great pain».

Obi-Wan watched him untangle that mess for a few seconds, then leaned onwards and moved a cowlick from his face. «My hair is quite ordinary» she said. «Yours, on the other hand, brings along the gold of the desert you come from. And shine just like it too».

Now Anakin was staring again, the task of fixing his hair suddenly forgotten and his blue eyes locked in hers. When Obi-Wan’s callous hand (contrary to any type of common sense, Siths be damned) lowered to delicately caress his cheek he let her touch him, his usual loth-wolf glare seemingly staring into her soul.

«Obi-Wan» he called her after a moment or two, his voice rough. «Would you like to fuck again?»

Even before answering, getting offended or even actively pondering that blunt offering, Obi-Wan’s eyes flicked towards the standard clock on the pale wall. «Unfortunately, dear, we don’t seem to have time for-»

Again, the Force must have gone on vacation. In a heartbeat Anakin had stood up, clumsily pushing aside their almost empty cups, and had grabbed Obi-Wan making her lay down on the small kitchen table.

Obi-Wan let out a quite embarrassed “oof” that risked muting into a whine when she suddenly felt Anakin’s groin pressing against her without much ado. «Anakin… I didn’t say yes».

«You seemed to be complaining about the lack of time» he said, with a smug smile. «I do not agree, by the way. I would gladly spend the little time we dispose of with my head between your legs, If you allowed me to»

Although her stomach had flipped with want at those words, Obi-Wan lifted her chin with fake disdain and huffed. «I’d decline, I reckon. I am not the type that only takes a few minutes to come».

Suddenly Anakin appeared mortified. «I… it was only one time! And I said sorry».

«Apologies» Obi-Wan said, tightening her legs around his waist. «I meant that I enjoy taking my time. I wasn’t insinuating anything towards you, Anakin».

Anakin’s pout was more than what Obi-Wan could bear. She encouraged him to get closer and wrapped her arms around his neck, tightening her grip around his waist with her legs. All it took was some hip movement and a rubbing thrust between the layers of their clothes for the Senator’s scowl to melt in favor of a sweet sweet groan.

Obi-Wan smirked, her lips a few inches away from his. «Since you insisted, young one, you better hurry up. You don’t have much time to make me wet if you want to fuck me before I leave».

Force, Anakin was always so sensitive when it came to her voice. A couple of encouraging words and the right tone, and the man - his words - would have gladly spent the whole night on his knees for her. Obi-Wan would have been a liar if she had claimed that those words didn’t shamefully make her come when they were first said to her the night before.

Anakin started rubbing himself against her, mimicking intercourse with an already heavy breath and flushed face. Obi-Wan grabbed him by the hair and connected their lips, granting him the first kiss of the day: the coffee seemed to have erased any trace of morning breath in him, just like the tea had probably done to her. A particularly pleasant friction made Obi-Wan moan the kiss, causing Anakin to moan even louder at the sound; his left hand slowly shifted down, reaching for her sex, and caressed it with reverence over the fabric.

Obi-Wan detached herself from the kiss. «Anakin» she breathed heavily, feeling how hard he was against her. «It’s okay, just put it in. I’m ready».

«Are you sure? We can… I don’t wanna hurt you».

Now that made her smile a little. «You won’t» she assured him, leading his hand to the hem of her pants as an encouragement.

Anakin still stripped her slowly, as if the clock hanging on the wall was not signaling the very little time they had for that improvised quickie. His pupils got as large as a loth-cat’s when he could finally see the state of her panties and how wet she had gotten after all that rubbing.

«I told you» Obi-Wan said, spreading her legs further as an invitation. «Come on, be quick. If you’re hard enough, that is».

That provocation had gained a painless pinch on her thigh. Anakin freed his own cock from his night pants, jerking himself off with an uneven breathing already.

«This will be quick» he warned, making her laugh softly. He started rubbing his cock on her, teasing her over her panties. Obi-Wan let out a seemingly outraged groan, and this time it was Anakin’s turn to grin.

«Patience, Master Jedi» he breathed, two of his fingers moving the soaked panties aside and pinching her clit with ease. Obi-Wan was pretty sure she squeaked at that. «Just say please, and I’ll do it. Don’t be shy».

In response to that Obi-Wan huffed, puffing away a lock of hair from her face, then lifted herself on her forearms, her eyes shimmering with amusement. «Brave words, for a man that last night came just from being called a good boy» she caressed the words with her tongue, witnessing Anakin’s flush becoming pinker around his ears. «We both know you’re not fit for this game, dear - the fact that I let you fuck me doesn’t make you in charge. Now, be good and put your pretty little cock to use, before I lose my patience and decide to push you on this table and ride you stupid».

She could distinctly feel Anakin’s dick twitch violently against her skin. He didn’t make a single sound, his jaw clenched almost painfully, but the way his dick was dripping on her underwear and his flushed face spoke volumes on the effect of those words on him.

Obi-Wan moved her panties aside, showcasing her exposed cunt for him, and that was quite enough. With a groan, Anakin placed the head of his cock against her entrance and pushed, sinking inside her all at once.

Now, that was talking. Obi-Wan finally let herself fall down against the table, giving Anakin full carte blanche to the intercourse. At the end of the day he was good at fucking her, especially when he was so desperate for sticking his dick in something that he could only whine and groan with desire until given what he wanted - he just needed a little reminder of the fact that he was not, in fact, in charge of things.

Anakin’s thrusts were rapidly executed, his heavy breath echoing in Obi-Wan’s ear as he bit her lobe, the woman’s legs wrapped around his waist. His hand ran down to her clit again, rubbing it aggressively.

Obi-Wan grimaced, grabbing him by the hair to get his attention. She lowered her other hand and placed it on top of his, guiding his movements. «Slowly, dear» she panted, and oh, Anakin complied beautifully and followed her indications like it was the most natural thing in the world - like he was born to please her. «Good boy. Very good, Anakin, be gentle with it. Yes, just like that».

Obi-Wan’s head tilted backwards, as Anakin hit a sweet spot inside her with a well-placed thrust. An orgasm was slowly get built inside her, tightening her stomach in a knot, and Anakin’s whines and groans only made it closer and closer.

Without releasing her grip on his hair, Obi-Wan connected their lips again and kissed him, losing herself in the absolutely brutal storm of sensations that man was able to create in her. She caressed his back with her free hand and clearly felt Anakin’s muscles tensing altogether.

«Are you close?» he didn’t answer, so she tugged his hair a bit.

Anakin let out a whine. «Y-Yes» he blurted, breathless. Poor boy, he was all red. «Yes, I… I’m about to…»

«Ush, dear, you sound so desperate» Obi-Wan tightened her legs around him, arching her back to follow the flow of his thrusts. «What was that? Oh, yes. Just say please, am I right?»

It was mesmerizing, how much power she seemed to have on him in such situations. Obi-Wan wasn’t even on top, she couldn’t even fully control the course of their fucking and yet, Anakin behaved like she had full control on his pleasure. 

Her pussy throbbed at the sole thought, which only made Anakin groan louder.

«Please» he said eventually, his voice nothing more than a croaking whisper. He sunk his nails into Obi-Wan’s pale thighs. «Please, Obi-Wan… Master. Please, I want to…»

Three pleads were more than enough, in Obi-Wan’s opinion. With her legs getting a good grip of the man, she flipped him over with a grunt and ended up on top, Anakin’s back bumping into the wooden table as he huffed in surprise.

Obi-Wan placed a hand on his sweaty chest, breathing heavily as she lowered herself on him with trembling legs - that little stunt had gone more easily than what it felt like, she was close to her limit as well.

«Come on, then» she panted, as she started riding him. «Come for me, Anakin».

It took a bit more time for that, truth to be told, but he eventually complied. His head tilting backwards and his hands on her ass, Anakin finally came with an high pitched moan, his whole body tensing and his jaw twitching: Obi-Wan made a similar sound at the feeling of being filled by him, the sperm already dripping out of her, then gained her own orgasm as well through clumsily rubbing her swollen clit.

They took the descent of their climaxes as an opportunity to catch their breath. Obi-Wan was basically shaking when Anakin lifted himself and held her tight, kissing her deeply for the few seconds that their breathless lungs allowed to.

«That was nice» he commented, the ghost of his usual smirk peeping out on his face. «Especially the flipping part. I liked it».

Obi-Wan’s hand ran through her hair. She was less sweaty than she thought, which was good. «Yeah, well» she mumbled. «You’re heavy, so it took me a bit. Force, I need to take a shower».

Anakin hadn’t let go of her yet. «I’m serious, I want you to do to it again the next time we fuck».

He just assumed there was going to be a next time, and the worst thing was that Obi-Wan couldn’t blame him. Their supposedly one night stand had already been extended with that morning quickie, and for a good reason: as insufferable as he could be, that man was a true beauty in bed. And Obi-Wan didn’t feel like letting go of him, not yet.

After so much war and despair, she deserved some relief. It was not selfish if it didn’t lead to attachment, and Obi-Wan couldn’t care less who Anakin slept with while she was gone - she was a Jedi, she felt no jealousy. No, she just wanted to keep him near for the sake of it, no strings attached.

«Hello? Obi-Wan?» Anakin pinched her leg again, and Obi-Wan blinked a few times as she came back to the here and now. «Are you thinking about the splendid sex we will surely have again?»

«The next time,» she replied, hoarsely. «I will get you to be silent for at least a moment, you insufferable creature. Even by spanking you, if I have to».

Anakin’s now relaxed cock was still inside her, so Obi-Wan clearly felt it twitch feebly. She couldn’t help but grin at that, as the Senator’s cheeks gained back their pink undertone.

«It’s the after orgasm» he said defensively.

Obi-Wan lifted herself up to let him stand, an even larger grin depicted on her face as she followed him towards the ‘fresher. «Sure thing».

◈

When Obi-Wan emerged from her meditation, the suns had already set. After remaining in the same position for almost the whole day her body ached more than usual; she got up and let out a pained grunt, massaging her poor back, and her empty stomach manifested its discontentment by sending her a twinge of pain as a reminder it had been even more since she last touched some solid food. 

Obi-Wan stumbled across the dusty cave and reached for her burlap bag, rummaging through it in pursuit of something edible - she was so occupied with her search she didn’t even hear the footsteps.

«So,» someone said. «I little loth-bird told me you have been reluctant to join our Rebellion».

Obi-Wan stopped searching. She stopped moving altogether, truth to be told. Even her grip around the piece of dried meat she had found loosened remarkably, until it straight up fell on the dusty ground of the cave.

She raised her head, tiredly, like someone who couldn’t believe the day wasn’t over yet, and met the piercing gaze of the black dressed man standing in front of the entrance.

Anakin smiled fondly, light wrinkles appearing on the side of his sky blue eyes. «How have you been?»

He asked it as if Obi-Wan hadn’t been rotting on a Force-forgotten planet for the past ten years and she didn’t look like some kind of old musty hermit. Oh, that foolish man - he hadn’t changed a bit, and she could tell already. 

Obi-Wan took a deep breath from her nose, as she stood up with shaky legs and her stomach twisted painfully to both hunger and emotion. And before any of them could say anything more, she knew her fate was sealed and her path had been defined once again - the Force only sang so beautifully in those occasions, after all.

Damn you, Bail.

Chapter Text

Anakin picked up her pace, trying to look back without being noticed. 

The man was still behind her, his gaze stuck on her neck like a spike; she had started to notice him after he had turned left with her for the second time and now both of their paces sounded creepily even, as if he didn’t want to lose her.

Anakin muttered a curse. Rex is gonna kill me. He had strongly advised her not to go out alone, but she had insisted - she wasn’t gonna go far anyway, she just wanted to go for a walk to clear her mind like she always did the night before a show. The day in itself was going to be so packed and busy Anakin knew that would have been her only chance for some alone time (the last ten minutes in her trailer after rehearsal excluded), plus the way the Coruscanti skyline shone at night was just too marvelous to miss.

Anakin had seen more places in the past three years thanks to her job than she ever did in her entire life, and all in all there were landscapes that to her personally beat the Capital in beauty - Hoth’s endless stretch of ice and snow, Theed’s blooming fields and breathtaking buildings, Scarrif’s white beaches - , but even after all she saw there was still something in that big noisy city. Something that for some felt unbearable, perhaps, like the smell of smoke and concrete and trash of the Lower Levels, but to Anakin was the smell of endless possibilities. Probably a residual of when she was stuck on Tatooine with nothing but an untuned guitar and big dreams.

Well, needless to say right now she was kinda wishing she was somewhere else.

«Hei» the man said, proving himself to be closer than she thought. «Hei, Anakin! It’s you, isn’t it? Anakin!»

Fierfek, he had to stop yelling. Anakin kept her head low, doing everything she could to look unbothered, and at the same time she started scanning her surroundings in pursuit of an escape route: the hotel was in the opposite direction, so all she could do for now was keep walking on the crowded sideway pretending the man wasn’t actually talking to her. Anakin dodged a few more people, stumbling on her own pace, and the moment she felt the man’s hand almost touching her shoulder she instinctively sprinted forward. Primarily moved by desperation, she rushed towards a man in the midst of leaving some sort of shop and basically clung onto him with apparent familiarity, a hand going around his back like she’d known him forever.

«Here you are!» she whistled, then basically pushed the poor guy inside without waiting for an answer and closed the door behind them both.

Anakin immediately turned the Closed sign around, spelling a “sorry” as she stayed still against the door. Her heart was pounding like crazy in her chest, adrenaline running through her slightly sweaty body as she tried to center herself - with some fans you could never really know, and the way that man had insisted and insisted on staying with her even after Anakin took a picture with him and they had a little chat was enough for her to grow a bit uncomfortable with the interaction. She was extremely grateful for the people that listened to her music for a thousand reasons, but that was the night before the last show of the tour and she shouldn’t have been out there at all… plus, she did not like being touched like that by strangers.

Anakin decided to focus on the man in front of her. He was staying completely still as well, as if he had somehow sensed he needed to be, and his charming blue eyes were locked in Anakin's showcasing puzzlement and a hint of concern. 

Anakin waited a few moments more, took a look to make sure the guy was truly gone and only then she allowed herself to let out a long sigh, shoulders humping forward. «Yeah, uh… sorry about that».

That was all she managed to say, mostly because she had just realized the man looked quite handsome. Not her usual kind of handsome, sure, but still: he had a well-kept copper beard and hair, those bright eyes and wore a disheveled white shirt, a brown cardigan hanging on his arm and a set of keys in his hand. His big, callous-looking hand. Anakin gulped visibly.

«Ah! No problem, really» The man’s Coruscanti accent was particularly strong, yet pleasant to hear. «I’m the one who is sorry. I thought things like these wouldn't happen this far from the Lower Levels, and yet… Are you alright, dear?»

Now, Anakin had been called any sort of thing in bed. Most were her suggestions, and the crudest ones would have probably shocked the oddly large portion of her fans who believed her to be some sort of poppish goody-two-shoes who only sang about love and dreams. Yet, at that sincerely worried “dear” she felt something agitating her stomach in too much of a good way. 

«It’s okay, really. It happens more than one would think» she tried to joke about it, but the man frowned at that.

«Right,» he replied, now sounding embarrassed. «My apologies for assuming otherwise. I didn’t mean to be insensitive, I can only imagine what it’s like to be followed that way by some creep on the street».

Anakin blinked. By some creep. A faint glow of interest sparked in her, though half suppressed by doubt. 

«I’m Anakin» she blurted out against any kind of common sense, almost as a test.

The man’s perfect eyebrows arched upwards, before he gave her a bright smile. «Obi-Wan. It’s a pleasure to meet you».

«It’s all mine» Anakin muttered in return.

«Well, Anakin, can I give you anything to drink?»

Can I give you head? « Uh, to be honest… I think I should go. I'm going to stay here just a couple of minutes more to make sure the guy is gone and then I'll… uh, go home».

She couldn't see the man outside when she peeked, but she still did not feel so sure to leave. And going to some bar with another stranger, as handsome as he looked, was not the best idea. Especially when she didn't have her phone with her because of her stupid need for privacy, and she couldn't call the boys without asking for someone's phone. Obi-Wan's phone.

Instead of getting offended, though, Obi-Wan chuckled amusedly. «That's why I asked you in the first place. You see, the library is mine: you're welcome to stay here as much as you need to».

Oh, so it was a library. The entrance was a bit narrow and Anakin hadn't really had the chance to look around, but she did see a poster concerning some sort of book club hanging on the wall on her left. She pursed her lips at the possibility of staying, and after a moment or two she pushed down Rex's voice in her head warning her of the risks and smiled back at the charming stranger.

«Then I would love to, thanks».

Well, Anakin never said she was smart.

She proceeded to follow Obi-Wan down the hallway, being soon welcomed by a small but well stocked bookshop: apart from the wooden shelves overflowing with books, it was the amount of plants wildly growing on and around them that amazed Anakin. The place smelled like printed paper - duh - and tea, and the comfortableness of it made her feel much safer there rather than outside.

It was such a lovely place, she really hoped the guy was not another creep. 

Meanwhile, Obi-Wan had disappeared behind another small hallway and was listing her drinking options out loud. «I have got plenty of tea, coffee and tisanes, if you like. There's this order I've just got from Felucia that is just…»

«Water will be fine, thanks» she said. 

Obi-Wan came back with a full glass, handing it to her with a soft smile. Anakin thanked him again with a mutter, trying not to stutter as their hands briefly brushed together in the act. 

«So, uhm, you own this place» Anakin said after a while. She had taken a seat on a purplish couch at the side of the room, and maybe she had walked too much but it felt like the nicest thing in the world right now. «There's a lot of plants».

Leaned against a paperwork-filled wooden desk in front of her, Obi-Wan nodded. «It was my father's, he had a thing. The ones near the books are fake, paper and humidity don't get along well, but the rest is definitely real».

«It's beautiful» Anakin replied. «Really».

«All I do is keep it alive and thriving» Obi-Wan shuddered. «Have you moved to Coruscant recently?»

«Actually I'm only here for work. But every time I visit I feel welcomed like home».

For a moment something like delusion crossed Obi-Wan's eyes, but Anakin wasn't sure. Maybe she was just reading in the man what she lowkey hoped to find.

Obi-Wan hummed. «And what do you do? If you don't mind me asking».

She didn't mind at all - with that voice of his Obi-Wan could ask anything he wanted - but for a second a slight tension made Anakin straighten her back. They had been looking at each other for quite a while now, but still the man hadn’t in any way hinted at the fact that he knew who she was - he looked quite old for her demographic, so it might be. Nevertheless, Anakin was pretty sure a huge billboard with her face on it had been placed in the Coruscant center to advertise the end of her tour, so she definitely didn’t want to push it either.

Obi-Wan noticed her hesitation. «Apologies. You don't have to answer if you don't want to».

«It's fine» Anakin replied, and as she said it she felt relieved knowing that it actually was. Despite any form of common sense. «I do music for a living. I'm an artist».

She felt like she was currently digging her own grave there, but Obi-Wan's peaceful expression betrayed nothing but a light surprise at her words. Either he really did not know who she was, or he was incredibly good at pretending he didn't. For some reason, Anakin's spine accused a warm shiver at the second option.

«Oh! Well, that's remarkable. You said you were here for your job, so I assume you're performing in Coruscant soon».

The Temple arena, the country's biggest stadium after Alderaan's, went sold out for her in about an hour. Anakin didn't say that, though, and just nodded with a light flush adorning her ears. «Something like that. Though I don't think you would like my stuff, you don't exactly fit my average target audience».

She thought she could play it off by pretending to be some unknown indie artist in search of luck - which she had been until recently, to be fair - but Anakin was already saying too much. Obi-Wan's eyebrows arched in curiosity, but before he could ask more Anakin added: «Well, it's not like it matters. I mostly play in small venues».

«That still takes skill» Obi-Wan said, and his matter-of-fact tone warmed Anakin in a weird way. «A friend of mine is a musician too. It doesn't look like an easy industry to dedicate oneself in, that's for sure».

Anakin caught that opportunity like a champ. «Oh, he does? What's his name?»

«Technically he plays with other people, but don't feel bad if you've never heard of them. The name of the band is The Dark Disciple».

Anakin parted her lips. «Wait, what?»

«I know, they're pretty niche but-»

«No, no, I know them! They rock!» Anakin felt ecstatic, because honestly what were the chances? «I can't believe it. Their sound basically fueled me during high school years».

She never got the chance to properly honor her passion for punk with the EP and her first album, but after signing the contract with JEDI she finally got to work to follow that portion of the dream: with the new album and the boys’ help, Anakin managed to express herself and develop a completely new sound, the one that took her on top of the charts and in the end where she was now. And she owed that to bands like The Dark Disciple, at least partially. They were like a little window towards the world when she was in Tatooine, and they unknowingly made her childish dreams feel a little more reachable. Until, well, they became within reach.

«His name is Quinlan Vos» Obi-Wan said, with the ghost of a smile on his lips. He seemed content with Anakin's own happiness. «He's the guitarist, and he-»

«Writes as well, I know» Anakin blushed. «Ah, sorry. I'm a fan».

Luckily Obi-Wan didn't seem bothered. «It's alright».

They stayed silent for a couple of minutes after that. Anakin knew she had to leave soon, but couldn't bring herself to do that yet. It was just too peaceful, the library seemed to be able to keep out all the chaos that ran through Coruscant's veins and it was incredible, because no other place in the capital that Anakin had been to could do that. Perhaps Obi-Wan's tranquil aura helped, he was fixing the messy paperwork on the desk without a care in the world. As she watched him work, a thought arose in Anakin's mind while remembering the details of their first meeting.

«Wait, you were closing» she stood up, glass in hand. «I don't wanna keep you here if you have to leave, Obi-Wan. Shit, you could have told me». 

He had keys in his hand when Anakin pushed him inside and it was late in the evening, of course he was closing.

Obi-Wan shook his head dismissively. «Nonsense, you were being harassed by a creep. Besides, you turned the sign just right - nobody is coming here anymore for today. You're not causing me any trouble, Anakin».

«But-»

«Just stay» Obi-Wan said, and Anakin's heart skipped a beat in a very inappropriate way. «Please. I mean, as long as you need. I'd hate to know someone I could have helped might get in trouble just because I turned my head from them».

Was that what she was? Someone he could have helped? Anakin felt bitter, then blinked and told herself she was the biggest idiot in the galaxy. They met like twenty minutes ago, of course she was a stranger to him. Just like Obi-Wan was to her. It was such a linear thought, yet it startled her for some reason.

You're starting to hallucinate, Skywalker.

Obi-Wan was incredibly kind and good-hearted? Yes. He was hot as fuck and Anakin would have let him fuck her on the purple couch behind them? Also yes. But that definitely didn't mean she should have pursued that route; she was pretty sure the man was just being what he was, kind with no further motive. And in all honesty, if he truly just wanted to fuck, Anakin would have felt a bit worse about him - Obi-Wan was handsome because he was just helping, with no prize or treat in exchange for his humanity. It was what made him so nice in her eyes.

«Alright» Anakin surrendered at the end, with a sigh, and came up to him to put the glass on the desk. Perhaps her body lingered a bit too close to Obi-Wan's just to feel his breathing on her, perhaps it didn't. It happened quickly and Anakin stepped back even quicker, hands behind her back.

«So» she cleared her voice. «Since I’m here, maybe you can help me out with something. I’ve actually been looking for a book».

Obi-Wan lifted his head attentively. «Were you, now? Seems I have gained a client out of this unfortunate situation, then».

Anakin chuckled. «Don’t get ahead of yourself, Mister Librarian. This one might be a challenge even for you».

«Try me» he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement. «I’ve got quite a collection, you know. I might surprise you».

When Obi-Wan smiled, he tended to show off his teeth a lot. It was such a meaningless detail, but it had happened often enough in the spawn of that little time together that Anakin couldn’t help but notice. She truly didn’t know what to do with that information.

Twenty minutes after, that very same smile that Anakin was sure would have infested her dreams for the nights to come was gone. 

«I can get it for you» Obi-Wan promised, almost stumbling in his words. «I’m serious, I'll order it as soon as I get home».

«Obi-Wan» Anakin said, almost feeling bad for being so amused at his blatant desperation. «It’s fine, I wasn’t expecting you to have it. It’s basically a manual-»

«It still falls within a section of the library. Plus, the author’s name does ring a bell. I am mortified, Anakin».

Now she couldn’t help but laugh out loud. The man’s yearning made it impossible to resist any further. «Sorry, sorry. It’s just that you seem devastated. It’s okay, I didn’t come this far specifically to get that book. I was just curious to check If you had it».

She softened, adding: «It’s no big deal, Obi-Wan. Really».

Obi-Wan still crossed his arms in disappointment, a lock of copper hair now messily pending on his forehead. That, plus the rolled up sleeves of his shirt made him insanely attractive, so much that Anakin made the exhausting effort to turn again facing the shelves the man had been looking into up to that moment.

She cleared her voice. «That’s still a massive astrophysic section, I’m impressed. Usually people like to read stories, not boring manuals».

Anakin was not exactly a reader, though she did get into poetry class for a bit in high school. The books her teacher made her purchase were probably still somewhere in the rented storage Anakin had in Tatooine, Gods forbid Shmi would have ever thrown them away and surely Anakin hadn’t. 

No, what glued Anakin to the pages usually were notions of how the world itself was crafted. Plus she loved fast cars, it had been her first big purchase after the album got the platinum, and she loved to know how to take care of them even more.

They came back to the couch and this time Obi-Wan sat right next to her, letting himself fall backwards with a huff of defeat. «That was… humbling, to say the least. I don’t think I have ever sifted the back-shop so thoroughly in the past five years».

«Your dedication is enviable» Anakin chuckled. «Well, thank you anyway. For trying, and the rest».

Their legs were slightly touching, Obi-Wan’s warm thigh making a miserable yet very present contact against her own. Anakin could go home with that, she thought.

«Don’t mention that» Obi-Wan murmured, and all of a sudden he almost sounded sad. He also looked hesitant, and the tension of his shoulders didn’t seem to have eased up despite the comfortable position. While admiring the flawless profile of his nose and lips, Anakin’s mind started to wander towards dangerous places: what if Obi-Wan himself could not go home with that, but wasn’t sure he could say it out loud?

It would fit his character so well, that was why Anakin held that suspicion. And well, thanks to her Master in Delusional Fantasies she was rarely wrong.

«Obi-Wan» she called, sitting more upright. His eyes were on hers in a second. «Would you like a blowjob?»

The silence that followed was thick and completely uncomfortable, but Anakin had taken that into account. She kept her best poker face and watched the man next to her seemingly going through the whole five stages of grief in half a second: Obi-Wan’s eyes impossibly widened in almost a terrified surprise, and his face got at least two shades redder.

«Wha- Anakin, you don’t-»

«What? I don’t have to do that? I know» Anakin started chewing her lip, and the man followed the movement with his own lips still parted in shock. She stood up, faster than intended, and scratched her neck nervously. «You know what? Maybe I should just go. Sorry for being inappropriate, and thank you for being so kind to me. See you around».

Anakin was a delusional idiot who made a fool of herself, but what was new - you didn’t sell the copies she sold if you didn’t believe in the cheesy breakup songs you were singing. She was so sure of her failure her heart skipped a beat in fear when Obi-Wan suddenly grabbed her wrist and stood up as well, stopping her from leaving.

«To do things right» he said, his voice raspy and a bit choked making Anakin hold her breath, « I would be the one giving you head. For the sake of good manners, and for the trouble».

Anakin blinked a couple of times. «That makes literally zero sense. Have you ever even watched a porn? It’s the one that gets assisted that offers a payback, not the other way around».

«Please don’t use porn as a plausible sexual scenario». His grip on her wrist was still there, real and warm. Anakin gulped again. «I… you need to leave, don’t you? We don’t have to take it too far. We can see each other again».

Anakin did the math in her head in about three seconds, she was good at that. After the last date she was going to go back to Theed for some PR and scheduled shots, plus a bit of well earned rest after almost two months of touring. Of course she could catch a flight to Coruscant soon, but was it soon enough?

«I’m leaving in two days» she said. «And tomorrow I will be… busy. So yeah, if you want it we should-»

Obi-Wan decided to shut her up with an urgent kiss. Well, it was more accurate to say he briefly cut her off for about two seconds pressing his lips on hers, before pulling back like had been burnt and looking so sheepish he was almost pitiful to watch. He pursed his lips together, his breathing impacting Anakin’s face, but before he could say anything - a senseless apology, probably - Anakin cupped his cheeks and leaned forward to kiss him back, properly this time.

And oh, it was always wonderful when her Delusional Fantasies ended up being Non Delusional. Obi-Wan tasted as good as she imagined, and soon after Anakin was able to feel the inside of his mouth as well, their tongues clumsily swirling together as they fell back on the purple couch. Anakin ended up on top, straddling Obi-Wan, and she kept assaulting the man’s lips until her whole body yelled a plea for a breath of air.

Obi-Wan’s hands ran to her thighs and squeezed hard, while Anakin huffed to free her vision from a blonde curl and shot him a small grin. «You kiss well, Mister Librarian» she panted against his reddened lips. «So, have you changed your mind?»

Anakin placed a hand on Obi-Wan’s large chest, right on his heart. She felt it pounding like a drum against her palm.

Obi-Wan licked his lips, then one of his hands was lifted until it cupped Anakin’s right cheek. He ran his thumb on it with such gentleness that for a second Anakin felt more warm than horny, and her pounding heart made a funny jump in her chest. 

«Quite the opposite, dear» he breathed. Then, in a heartbeat, Anakin found her back landing on the softness of the couch with Obi-Wan finding his way between her parted legs and now being the one on top. «If I have to choose how to use the time we have, I’d rather make you feel good. If you want it, that is».

What Anakin really wanted was that man’s cock so deep inside her it would take a damn excavator to pull it out.

She dragged Obi-Wan by the hair and kissed him deeply instead. It seemed to send the message appropriately anyway, because the man started grinding against her like his life depended on it - the friction between clothing layers made Anakin’s moan in his mouth, arching to gain more contact. Obi-Wan let out a groan, breaking the contact between their lips only to lower his aim on Anakin’s neck, sucking it slowly.

«No marks» Anakin managed to pant as she ran a hand through the man’s soft hair. Her make-up artist, Aayla, would have been cool with that - it’s not like she never covered Anakin shit in that sense before a show - but to explain that to Rex would have been a bit more complicated. Luckily Obi-Wan just nodded, as he lowered his right hand and caressed Anakin’s lower stomach with his knuckles.

Anakin cursed between her teeth, then straight up moaned when Obi-Wan’s hand poked her maliciously over her jeans. «Old man… That ain't cool, come on».

«Careful, your Tatooine accent is showing» he teased before biting her ear playfully. «Now, how do you know that? I have never- shit» Anakin had no idea when exactly Obi-Wan had unbuttoned her pants, so she stuttered when his hand mischievously slid through the fabric and rubbed her gently on top of her panties. Anakin’s thighs twitched, a tight knot forming itself at the bottom of her stomach.

Obi-Wan’s hands were indecent. The way they caressed her, the way they gripped her, it was much better than what she imagined. «Ah… Obi-Wan».

«I know» he hushed her. «I’ll be quick, I promised, didn’t I? It’s just hard, dear. I like to take my time usually».

Insisting on the fact that she was on a schedule was way harder, especially when Obi-Wan’s beard tickled so beautifully her now bare inner thighs. Anakin licked her lips as she kicked off her lowered jeans, trying to spread herself as much as the small couch allowed her too: she tended to get wet a lot, it was just something that happened to her, but to see people’s reaction to it… Obi-Wan, to see Obi-Wan’s reaction to it, made her pussy throb. The man looked mesmerized, his blue eyes now a tone darker and his lips slightly parted: he reached for her center and kissed right there, on top of her underwear, before moving the fabric a side and slowly licking along her split.

Anakin moaned loudly. She tried to clench her legs but Obi-Wan didn’t let her, his grip strong on both of her thighs as he dedicated himself to eating her alive.

He had just started and she was already twice as wet. Anakin let out a long whine, throwing her head back and closing her eyes to focus on the feeling of that marvelous man undoing her from inside out.

◈

«Did you get laid recently?»

Obi-Wan frowned, not even fully seated yet. «Good morning to you too, Quin».

Vos gave him a half grin behind his cup of coffee, which he raised at him as if to celebrate. Next to him, Asajj didn’t bother lifting her gaze from her phone, black polished nails running on the screen. «So it’s a yes».

It was embarrassing how well they both knew him. «It is not» Obi-Wan huffed, lifting a hand and waving to catch the waiter’s attention. «And even if it were, it’d be my business. You don’t ask about my sex life and Gods forbid I will ask about yours again».

«Eh, not my fault you were curious about our perfectly healthy BDSM practices».

«I legitimately thought someone assaulted you-»

«He’s just jealous about your intuition» Asajj said with a mocking grin. She eventually lifted her eyes to take a look at Obi-Wan and added: «Oh yes, he got laid. You’re glowing, Kenobi».

«What does that even mean» Obi-Wan grumbled. «Again, I did not. We didn’t go all the way».

But Gods if it had been just as good. Despite his general tendency to give instead of receiving in bed Obi-Wan was just a man, so normally cutting off what seemed to lead to an intercourse would spark a hint of purely physiological frustration in him; when it came to Anakin, however, everything was different. That girl had swiped him off his feet so violently in the spawn of half an hour that Obi-Wan felt ashamed about it: she was a pure beauty and every time she spoke Obi-Wan found himself drawn to her even more, as if he was a sailor fighting for his independence in front of a siren’s voice.

Not that he pulled that much of a fight either. The moment Anakin had asked him so bluntly if she could blow him off, Obi-Wan almost had an aneurysm. There was no way he would take advantage of someone in Anakin’s situation, but at the same time the woman seemed into him. So everything that happened after - the heat, the grinding and the absolutely outrageous noises Anakin would let out even at the slightest touch on her golden skin - well, Obi-Wan blamed his own weaknesses for it. Yet even now, after two days, the arousal absolutely overtook the guilt in almost a shameful way and prevented him from feeling bad about what they had done.

Vos’ eyebrows arched in surprise. «Damn, my friend. That’s the glow of desperation then».

«It is not» Obi-Wan huffed, muttering a thank you when the waiter brought him his coffee. «It was very improvised, and I enjoyed it. She was lovely». And you’re probably not going to see her again.

Anakin had given him her number, yes, but it was clear that her career was going to swing her here and there for a long time. And Obi-Wan felt… weird, about it. It was just a quickie, not even a full one, yet he found himself mourning for the nonexistent opportunity of getting to know Anakin better - her passions and goals, what she liked and she didn’t like and such. He was an old, delusional man and he knew that, but in the past two days he couldn’t help but fantasize a little about a reality where that talented, incredible woman was actually interested in him for more than sex.

Again, he was aware of how delusional that sounded even in his own head.

Quin crossed his arms, smugly leaning against the puff chair. «Was she now? You look miserable, Obi. Don’t tell me you fell for a rando, it wouldn’t be like you».

Asajj snored. «Please».

Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. «Yes, thank you for being so understanding. I knew I open myself with you about my private life».

«Aw come on, don’t be like that! You’ll find a cooler girl or boy, Obi. The sea’s full of fish».

That did not, in any way, make Obi-Wan feel better. He sighed, taking a sip of his coffee, then shuddered carelessly. «Whatever, I’ll just get her off of my mind eventually. How was the concert?»

Quin’s grin morphed into a defeated sigh. «Humbling» was what he said, scratching his eyebrow. «The show was great, the kid is one of a kind. It was a pity we couldn’t stop by for a chat afterwards».

«She got much better» Asajj said with a nod. «I remember watching the cover she made of Forbidden Bond a couple of years ago. As much as it pains me to admit it, her development was crazy. And her guitarist has improved a lot since the last time they went live».

«It’s an immature sound, but it works» Vos agreed. «You should have come with us, Obi. I know you’re not a fan, but the Vip package was truly worth the money. At least we escaped the huge crowd of storming teens trying to get through the barriers like they were possessed, which is a relief».

Obi-Wan did not doubt that. «Is she that famous? What’s the name again?»

Sometimes he felt a bit old for being so cut out from those aspects of pop culture, but Obi-Wan couldn’t do anything about it. His musical tastes had been referred to as snobbishly selective from multiple people, and he couldn’t really object.

In response to that Quinlan showed him a short video he took with his phone. At first Obi-Wan had to squint to see the singer, until the camera zoomed and she was framed properly: she was facing the other side of the stage, but then she turned to follow the solo of her guitarist and Obi-Wan choked on his saliva.

He grabbed Vos’ phone without even asking and tried to zoom furtherly after playing the video again. «That’s… that’s Anakin» he managed to say, stunned. He turned up the volume and heard the roaring cheers of the crowd, as Anakin waved with a huge smile.

Quin chuckled. «See? I knew you knew her. She’s gotten pretty mainstream in the past year. There was a literal billboard of her in the-»

«No, I mean» and Obi-Wan could not stress this enough, what in the absolute fucking world? «That’s her. The woman I… she told me she was a singer, but I didn’t imagine she was…»

Despite the horrifying quality of Quinlan’s old phone, there was no doubt. That one was Anakin - well, a just as astounding and breathtaking version of her. She wore a mini skirt, a glittery tank top and some knee length boots; her golden locks were spread all over the place and a fierce expression was written on her face as she gripped the mic with both hands and seemingly screamed in it. Even trapped within the poor screen quality, she looked astounding. "Hello there, Coruscant! You look wonderful tonight!"

Probably due to his paleness and honestly speechless expression, Quinlan’s smile slowly died on her face. «Obi-Wan?» he inquired, and he sounded appalled.

Ventress let out a disbelieving snort, letting go of her phone. «Oh my fucking god. Kenobi, did you fuck a global popstar?»

It seemed he did. Obi-Wan couldn’t help but weakly specify: «We didn’t go all the way…»

«What the fuck» Quin said outloud. «What. the fuck. Obi-Wan, are you serious right now? Please tell me you’re not» Obi-Wan’s face told him all he needed to know, apparently, because the curse Quinlan let out after looking at it made a couple of people in the tables nearby turn around in shock. «Un-fucking-believable! And you didn’t even know she was- I don’t know if I wanna strangle you or compliment you right now!»

Obi-Wan was still looking at the video with a vacant expression. He didn’t know how to feel, or more precisely he was feeling many things at once: he recalled Anakin’s distress right after closing the door of the library to hide from that random man, her at the time odd defiance in taking Obi-Wan’s help and her eventual tranquility in accepting it when, now it was clear, she realized he had no idea who she was. It all made perfectly sense a posteriori.

«She said she was a singer» he repeated dumbly. «She said I probably didn’t know her because I didn’t fit her target, but she… well, she didn’t make it sound like she was a big deal».

«Well, she is» Asajj said in a matter-of-fact tone. «The tickets for her show went sold out in every venue she opened this year. Her last album got so many nominations it’s indecent, really».

«You must have heard of her on the radio, Obi» Quinlan insisted. «They kept playing her biggest song, Sand Hater. It’s not that great considering the other pieces in the album, if you ask me, but it does its job in climbing the charts like it did».

It was embarrassing how clueless Obi-Wan was at all that information being thrown at him like it was a universal truth of some sort. He scratched his forehead, returning Vos’ phone with a sweaty hand. «She never said. Gods, the man that was following her was probably a crazy fan or something, it makes a lot of sense now-»

Quinlan took a deep loud breath from his nose. «I can’t believe I’m saying this, but skip the sex part and just tell me what happened that day. And don’t leave out any other details, do you hear me? Or I won’t be able to sleep at night».

Well, that made two of them.

Later that day, Obi-Wan made use of the perfect opportunity to delve into the question. The library was pretty much empty at that time, the only clients were a couple of giggling teenager girls wandering around the romance section that made it perfectly clear they didn't need his help in any way. After sitting to his desk and turning on his laptop with unusually sweaty hands, Obi-Wan typed Anakin's name on the search bar.

A whole world rapidly unfolded in front of him.

Quin was right, Obi-Wan knew Anakin. She had been everywhere in the past year, he simply hadn’t cared enough for her to remember: her silhouette was on a kriffing billboard in the upper levels, her music was being streamed on the radio embarrassingly often and the most prominent media outlets of the country had been talking about her for months in their musical sections. Feeling like the biggest idiot in the goddamn galaxy, Obi-Wan clicked on a thumbnail that popped out on the screen: there was Anakin, again, all dressed up on what looked like a red carpet while she came closer to the microphone holder off camera.

«Excited, are we?» the journalist, a woman, seemed amused. Anakin’s loud laughter seemed to catch all the lights around, as she nodded. Gods, she was shining. 

«Plenty! Hope I won’t make a fool of myself and fall on these bad boys in front of all the cool kids» she lifted a long golden leg and the camera instantly caught the sight of her foot trapped in killer heels. «You look stunning, by the way. I love your dress».

«Thank you! But you shine brighter than me, really. Seems like you’re in for a couple of prizes tonight, how do you feel?»

Anakin chewed her lip before answering, and Obi-Wan suppressed a pained groan. For some reason, that felt more like torture than research: Anakin’s dress seemed to have been drawn on her body for the occasion - and considering the recent discoveries on her account, that was probably the case -, with long shiny earrings swinging around as she laughed and spoke, her perfect smile outshining her priceless jewelry.

Obi-Wan stopped the video just to make a quick checkup. Apparently, that night Anakin had taken three of the four nominations she had received: a predictable outcome, apparently, as none of the magazines he was reading snippets about seemed to be nothing but enthusiasts for her winnings. A star came to the fore , one said. Anakin Skywalker outshines every emerging pop artist of her generation and brings a breath of fresh air in the industry; another defined her as a diamond in the rough, and the more he read the more Obi-Wan was genuinely curious.

He was in another world when it came to music, yes. His tastes were notoriously unbending and that had led him to almost sleep with a global popstar without knowing, also yes. But he was not made of wood, he could be flexible for someone that had been proven to be an absolute beauty in bed even without going all the way.

Who cares, he thought absent-mindedly as he searched for her on his music app of trust, you’ll never see her again.

Apart from the ridiculous amount of streams Anakin held, something caught Obi-Wan’s attention almost immediately. He recognized a cover, he realized. Excited, he clicked on it and then lifted his head a little, with a furrow.

He read the titles, eyed the image again then parted his lips. «Fuck» he mumbled. Anakin was the PhD lady.

«Sorry» Obi-Wan said so loudly that he startled the two teenagers in the hall. «We’re closing. You’re welcome to come back tomorrow».

They didn’t protest that much despite the time, and Obi-Wan was thankful for that. At the exact moment he turned the close sign against the door, he ran back to his desk so fast he almost hit one of Qui Gon’s favorite plants. He cursed again, his heart pounding impossibly fast.

Obi-Wan recalled his PhD years with a bittersweet feeling. Qui Gon had died in the midst of it and had left him the library, he was struggling to get by and he was seriously considering just dropping everything and giving in once and for all with his dissertation- Quinlan had advised him to listen to some different music to pull the plug, and so Obi-Wan had found Anakin.

Well, her name wasn’t Anakin when he first came across her. She was just Ani, she didn’t have many streams and hadn’t it been for the algorithm suggesting him new music Obi-Wan would have never found her. The EP’s name was Wasteland, it only had four songs and even a nobody like him recognized poor production when he heard it, but it unironically kept him afloat: Anakin’s voice was soft as she sang about spending her life in a remote place where everything was the same and the weather was so dry it was like living under two suns. About not knowing her place in a boundless world she didn't get to see.

Her reality was diametrically different from Obi-Wan’s, and perhaps that was why he had found it fascinating enough to be soothed by it - the soft strumming of Anakin’s guitar and the melancholy of her words had guided him through his thesis, and after so many years it seemed they had come back to paving his way once again.

◈

«Obi-Wan said you can’t smoke in here».

Seating with his legs crossed on the living room table, Quinlan shrugged as he took another puff. «Well, Obi-Wan’s not here, is he?»

Korkie blinked, taking a spoonful of cereal and chewing it loudly. «He’s literally in the other room».

«Yeah, well, he can blame himself for not having a balcony-» his complaint was cut off by the sudden sound of the doorbell. «Ugh, you go, Korkie, will ya? You’re already standing».

Korkie was actually seated at the kitchen table, trying to enjoy his second breakfast after having to come so far just to give Obi-Wan some books he had borrowed to Korkie's aunt. He knew better than to argue logically with Quinlan, however, so he just sighed and begrudgingly let go of the spoon.

«Were you waiting for someone?» he asked as he twisted the key in the lock. Vos didn’t say anything, which meant he had just shrugged carelessly as a reply, but before Korkie could ask again the person standing in front of the door lifted her head up.

«Hi» global popstar Anakin Skywalker said, with a tight lipped smile and a tensed expression on her face. «Does, uh, Obi-Wan Kenobi live here?»

It took all of Korkie’s self control to not slam the door on the woman’s face on the spot. He stumbled on words he wasn’t even saying, in complete shock, but before he could formulate something at least resembling a sentence Quinlan was already there, basically teleporting himself as he confidently leaned against the door frame with a radiant smile.

«He does» he replied cheerfully, his cigarette done and his clothes now magically fixed and unwrinkled. «He’s on the phone as we speak. Please, come in. Would you like a drink in the meantime?»

«Ah, you see… I’m actually in a hurry. I just hoped I could speak to Obi-Wan for a couple of minutes» she seemed slightly uncomfortable, hands in her leather jacket and a hood on her head, and Korkie could imagine why. Both him and Vos were looking at her like blinking would have risked making her turn into ashes.

«Wait» Anakin then said, and Gods forbid if Korkie would ever hear the end of this, «You’re Quinlan Vos. Obi-Wan told me you guys knew each other».

Looking like Christmas had come early, Vos shook her hand with a lowkey unsettling all teeth smile. «He only spoke about the positives, I hope».

«He didn’t need to, I’m quite a fan myself. I saw something of your last gig in Felucia, I would have loved being there. I’m Anakin».

Definitely, none of them were not going to hear the end of it. Korkie cleared his voice, pointing to the bedroom with a nod of the head. «I’m gonna go tell Obi-Wan that you’re here. Please don’t hesitate to tell Quinlan off if he acts like a douchebag».

Vos wasn’t able to cuss him out properly, Korkie vanished too fast. «Obi-Wan» Anakin heard him say through the hallway «There is a popstar in the living room. Is she aunt Satine’s friend?»

Until three days ago Anakin would have been beyond thrilled about the chance of meeting one of the Dark Disciple founders - the creator of Forbidden Bond, the first song that made her do numbers on YouTube, and many more, an excellent guitarist and an even more impressive songwriter, with the coolest dreads and an aura that just confirmed all the playfulness he demonstrated in the interviews. However, Anakin’s world had been kind of turned upside down in the meantime, so all she could do was stand and stare at the blue-eyed, oddly disheveled man that came out of the hallway like someone told him there were burglars in his house.

Obi-Wan was wearing sweatpants and a plain t-shirt. It was kind of early, Anakin knew, but all of a sudden she was completely unable to feel any remorse for that; if that was the view, she had to thank Rex for the tight timing he gave her.

«Hi» Anakin and Obi-Wan blurted out at the same time. «Sorry,» Anakin said, and this time Obi-Wan was a split second slower in saying it as well. «Can we talk? I only have five minutes before my guitarist barges in and takes me away by force».

«I-Sure» Obi-Wan’s hand ran through his hair briefly, «For God’s sake, Quin, I told you not to smoke inside the house… Did he offer you anything? We have water-»

«Obi-Wan» Anakin cut him off, a small smile peeping from her lips despite all. «Five minutes, remember?»

«Right. This way».

Anakin heard the teenage boy that opened the door for her muttering something about an autograph, while Quinlan patted him on the shoulder.

«I should have texted» was the first thing Anakin said when they were finally alone. Obi-Wan’s bedroom was small and smelled like paper, with a small bookshelf against the wall and a bunch of plants decorating the open window along with translucent green curtains - it reminded Anakin of a smaller version of the man’s library. She liked it immediately.

«I was about to say that» Obi-Wan replied, his Adam's apple going up and down nervously. He was leaning against the door he had just closed, both hands still on the handle and his eyes stuck in Anakin almost disbelievingly. «Sorry, I… I assumed I’d never see you again, actually. I don’t see how you’d want anything from an old dusty man like me».

Anakin’s eyebrows arched so much they almost reached her hairline. «Woah. Don’t say that about yourself, you’re not dusty at all. I was… I mean, I thought you didn’t wanna see me! You never texted either».

«I apologize» Obi-Wan licked his lips nervously - good Gods, he was so handsome - before speaking again, his tone unsure: «Why didn’t you tell me, Anakin? You didn’t owe me anything, so I don’t even know why I’m asking, but I would not have cared».

Anakin’s heart skipped a beat against her best judgment. She gulped, taking a couple of tentative steps forward. «I know» she replied. «That was why. I couldn’t be completely sure, I still don’t know you that much, but even then you seemed-I mean, you seem a good man. Someone who would not have cared, like you said».

It had been thrilling for all the wrong reasons. Instead of being obscenely horny for hooking up with a man that had no idea who she was, Anakin had felt an odd sense of serenity in being held by Obi-Wan: on that couch, surrounded by books and plants and arching her back like a cat as Obi-Wan’s hands and mouth ruined her piece by piece, Anakin had felt like no one. And while that sensation had terrorized her for most of her youth and early twenties, that night she had welcomed it like an old friend.

Obi-Wan held an insane amount of power over her, she could tell by how much her body was reacting by their vicinity alone. She didn't mind being no one if it was thanks to him.

«I knew you» Obi-Wan said all of a sudden. Anakin had to make a great effort not to clench her legs at his choked whisper. «During grad school I used to listen to your EP a lot. It helped me graduate, I think».

Anakin blinked. «You know Wasteland? Really? I mean, I’m glad. It's not exactly the most popular among fans. Which, uh, which song did you like the best?»

Rex had said five minutes, which meant Anakin could stay a maximum of seven before he came for her. Anakin decided she was willing to risk it.

To her surprise, Obi-Wan had no hesitation. «Sun dragon» he answered. «The way you talk about your mother in that one is beautiful. I also appreciated the extended version that came with Resolute, I think the instrumentals added a lot to it... But I mean, there's no song I don't really appreciate in Wasteland. Racer has beautiful vocals, The stars want me back is lovely and I'm pretty sure I've listened to Twin Suns a hundred of times while writing my thesis».

Anakin’s lips parted a little in surprise. «Obi-Wan,» she said after a couple of seconds, sounding both amused and surprised, «Did you lie to me, or did you get yourself a forty-eight hour crash course on my discography after you found out who I was?»

«The second one you said. I found myself quite entertained with your interviews as well. The way no one seems to grasp you clearly wrote Sand Hater for a woman was extremely amusing to watch».

«The whole album was about her» Anakin admitted a bit awkwardly, though she chuckled. «You’ve got a good intuition, I'll give you that. You and a bunch of Twitter users that made some threads about it».

Obi-Wan’s amused expression now matched hers. «Darling, I might not be a pop music expert, but I’m not an idiot. At least two stanzas in By The Lake On Naboo are about your lover’s smooth skin and shiny lip gloss, forgive me if I doubt you were singing of a man».

Anakin laughed out loud this time, punching him on the arm with reddened ears. «Fuck off! Now you know too much of my music, I don’t like it. I was nineteen when I wrote that one, that’s why it sounds so cheesy».

Obi-Wan leaned over a bit until their breathings met each other, and Anakin’s amused smile muted into something else. «It is a bit cheesy» he agreed in a murmur, eyeing her lips in such a similar way to how he did it in the library that Anakin accused a boiling shiver down her spine. «It was extremely inappropriate as well. I kept thinking about how you reached for me while listening to a teenage love song. How you trembled as I made you come, and how I ached for not being able to take more».

Anakin’s breathing grew shaky. «Obi-Wan» she whispered, and it sounded both like a warning and a plea. «You big tease. I don’t have time for this».

«I’ve heard this one before» he purred against her ear, softly tugging a blond lock behind it before leaning back up with a small smile. «No more rushing, dear one. I want to be able to spend time with you without looking at the clock, if you agree».

Anakin took a couple of seconds to collect herself, before nodding repeatedly. «Yes, yes, you’re right. Still, you didn’t have to make me horny to prove your point».

Obi-Wan’s laugh was the best sound in the world, and Anakin should know because she created them for a living. The way it scratched her brain just right, like from now on she had the moral obligation to hear it over and over again, made her realize how screwed she actually was.

Maybe she shouldn’t have gone for a walk that day. It had definitely complicated things - she would have to tell her agent that she was gonna be in Coruscant much often, which would cost money. The security checks were gonna be a bummer, Anakin thought absent-mindedly as he cupped Obi-Wan’s cheek and reached for a kiss. But it didn’t feel like she cared that much already. 

She trusted her instincts enough to recognize when she had found herself a new muse, and she was not going to let go of it soon.

Chapter Text

«Anakin, that is disgusting».

Anakin couldn’t come up with an understandable answer, a mouthful of cheeseburger filling his cheeks and a reel of sauce dripping along his chin. He tried to gulp, but the food risked being stuck in his throat so he just mumbled something intelligible back.

Obi-Wan sighed loudly, handing him some wrinkled napkins across the table. «Come on, finish your snack and let’s go. We’re already late as it is».

Which was not in any way Anakin’s fault, for the record. Before they could leave Ahsoka had thrown a huge tantrum because someone had used all her body wash by accident, and Anakin was not the one smelling like a rose field at the moment.

The call for the job had come pretty unannounced too, which was why they had to retort to that last-minute supper before clocking in. Obi-Wan was not pleased about it - Anakin knew he’d rather cook something for him to avoid Anakin eating too much junk food - but again, this time they had been given zero notice by the Council. 

And as per protocol, Anakin’s stomach could not in any way be empty when they got to the place. 

«She locked him in their room» Anakin pointed out, gulping loudly as he finally won the battle against the piece of minced meat he had been trying to swallow. He cleaned his mouth with the back of his hand and stood up, blatantly ignoring the pile of napkins offered by his Master. «Plus, he's like a hundred. What can he do, chew off the door handle with his denture? We’ll be done before noon, Master».

«You know better than to underestimate a mission, Padawan. And do not talk about our client’s significant other in these terms when we get there, I beg you».

Anakin suppressed a small shiver at Obi-Wan’s dry tone, the last three words he said lingering in the air for a moment. 

They left the diner shortly after and headed towards the complex they had been instructed to reach, which was right on the other side of the road. Looking around, there were not many opened restaurants or fast food chains apart from the one they had chosen to stop by, so Anakin considered himself lucky to have had something; and his gratitude only rose in intensity, when the first hints of smell tickled his nose and made his arm hair rise up collectively.

Your stomach is full, he reprimanded himself. Under no circumstances is human flesh any better than mustard sauce.

They entered the building, Obi-Wan holding the door open so Anakin could pass through, and when they both found themselves in the small entry hall of the condo Anakin’s nostrils flared instinctively.

«Second floor» he said without hesitation. «We better hurry up. I smell blood».

The Jedi Order had two main techniques to identify their clients: one was to sense the amount of demonic energy in a commonly reported human area, where one would not expect to find any abnormal levels of inhuman activities - even the slightest alteration in the equilibrium might mean an imp had taken over, infiltrating in the life of the vessel it had possessed and was now pretending to live as a normal person, as much as the thirst for human flesh allowed it to at least. In those cases, the intervention of the Jedi was precise and aimed at securing the possessed body as fast as possible, so that the permanence of the demon in it would not deteriorate it too much and the unlucky victim could return to their senses with every bone in their place.

The other method was to just follow the trail of blood and see where it led to.

«Mrs. Myers?» Obi-Wan called out loud, a hand on his right hip in full alert. «We are coming in. Not to worry, we are here to help you».

Behind his Master, Anakin stiffened. He could hear a clock ticking in the kitchen, the creak of an old gas canister he would have gladly helped fix if he had his tools with him and a thin, frail chain of sobs, but that was it. No rattling of fangs, no clumsy stumbling of a possessed body through the hallway, no bloodthirsty grunting.

It was a bit too quiet, for a house that has allegedly suffered a possession. Yet, the smell of blood was persistent.

«She’s in the living room» Anakin said, but Obi-Wan was already gone.

Anakin hurried to follow him, but stopped in his tracks right after entering. Partly because the Myers’ apartment was quite small and they were already there, and partly because of what he saw.

Predictably, Mrs. Myers was the one crying. She was kneeling on the wooden pavement, her grayish hair all in disarray and her blue cardigan soaked in blood: she held a small dog in her arms, a dog that was not moving and had worryingly big scratches on its stomach. Its fur seemed like it used to be white, but was so stained with blood most of it had become a mixture of brown and pink.

Anakin’s heart sank. He immediately knew the puppy was dead, but from her state the woman seemed to know too. It was hard to watch.

Obi-Wan kneeled next to her, carefully placing a hand on her shoulder. «Mrs. Myers. My name is Obi-Wan and I am here to help you. Are you able to stand?»

She shook her head slightly, which at least meant she could hear them. Mrs. Myers held her dog tightly against her chest and just kept sobbing without saying anything.

«Alright. I am very sorry, ma’am» as he spoke, Obi-Wan gestured to Anakin to go close the front door. Anakin complied, figuring out how to lock it pretty quickly and doing so to the highest degree possible, then quickly inspected the kitchen to check if the windows were closed as well. If the possession had just taken place, there was a good chance the imp was not familiar with the vessel and couldn’t handle itself properly in it - this would mean it was imprecise, sloppy and struggled to open locks. If they could slow it down before it gained enough strength to smash doors and such, they had to.

«I can feel it» Anakin told Obi-Wan. «It’s in the bedroom, as she said. But it’s not moving».

Truth to be told, what Anakin could feel was the demonic energy. It permeated the place like smoke, invisible yet painfully evident to his senses as those of any other inhuman. It was how the Jedi spotted the imp, a textbook case of the sort in that sense. The silence, however, was upsetting - especially considering that Anakin was sure the imp had heard them come in.

«He’s in our room…» Mrs. Myers confirmed with a low chirp. She finally lifted her glassy eyes towards the Jedi, a tear sliding on her blood stained cheek. «Please. Just… Turn him back. He’s not himself, I...»

«We will. Now, Anakin, help Mrs. Myers to get safe while I-Anakin, wait!»

Anakin had already grown tired of waiting, and had headed towards the main bedroom of the apartment with a confident pace. 

He kicked the door open, drawing his dagger from the hilt and clutching it tightly at the intoxicating smell of blood. The abat-jour on the nightstand was the only light source in the room, projecting a display of distorted shadows on the wallpapered wall; the bed was unmade and the cabinet had been overthrown, a mess of clothes and robes spread on the carpeted pavement. On the other side of the room, in one of the goofiest attempts to open the window Anakin had ever witnessed in his life as a Jedi apprentice, was the imp.

Mr. Myers was not as blood-soaked as his wife, but he came pretty close. His once-green knitted gilet was at least two shades darker, wet as it was, his half-moon spectacles were stained and there was a mixture of drool, blood and another dark substance all around his lips and chin.

«Really?» Anakin said. «Is this your first time or something?»

The imp hissed, its bright yellow eyes shining in the dim light, but it barely moved. Its clawed wrinkly hands were shaky as it tried to force the knob, and even from there Anakin could tell it was doing it the wrong way around. It was a bit sad to watch, honestly.

«My Master is coming in like three seconds,» Anakin warned it. «So either you surrender or you- shit!»

Maybe he shouldn’t have pushed it. Likely sensing Obi-Wan approaching as well, the imp had let go of the handle and simply punched the glass in a desperate freedom attempt, shattering it in a million pieces. Anakin shielded himself from shrapnel, but before any of them could really do anything he was pushed to the side.

Obi-Wan came in in a split second, grabbing the imp by the collar and throwing him against the wall like it didn’t weigh an ounce. «The window» he commanded, sharply, and this time Anakin had the sense to listen to him and blocked the exit. 

The imp’s claws scratched the wallpaper before launching back, fangs bared. It aimed at the throat, like they all did, but Obi-Wan fended it off easily with his dagger, opening a red cut on his palm and kicking it harshly in the stomach; Mr. Myers was not going to wake up feeling nicely from that evening, that was for sure.

«Jedi scum» the imp barked with a growl, its voice trembling with anger. «I didn’t even get the chance to eat the hag. Fucking killjoys».

Anakin couldn’t help but mock it a little. «Your kind reeks of demonic energy, but to smell this bad after only killing a dog means you really suck at this».

The demon’s yellow eyes landed on him briefly with a hint of puzzlement, before coming back to Obi-Wan. «Maybe I’ll be dead before leaving this shit hole, but you can bet I’ll take a piece of you with me on my way out».

«That,» the Jedi said, wielding his blade in his characteristic stance, «is unlikely to happen».

They stared at each other for a couple of seconds, before the imp launched itself towards the door. Obi-Wan was closer but Anakin was a split second faster to react, engaging in the demon with annoyingly measured force. His Master had gone quite soft on the guy, surely because of the vessel's old age, and Anakin had to be even softer to avoid breaking bones - not too many of them, at least.

In response to their blatant kindness, the imp detached a painting from the wall and threw it at them, hushing through the hallway with an uneven pace. Anakin dodged it, but in the process he was again crossed by Obi-Wan, who decided to just throw himself at the demon letting go of any restraint about poor Mr. Myers' health.

Mrs. Myers let out a yelp as the two men landed on the living room pavement and started fighting again, the demon's claws clumsily striking to kill as Obi-Wan fended them off with his dagger. With a snap of teeth, the imp tried to bite him and almost did, its fangs snapping a hair from Obi-Wan's right hand.

«You are making things harder» the Jedi huffed, in an attempt to catch its wrists.

«Eat shit» the demon spat, causing an outraged cry coming out of Mrs. Myers. «I will devour you all».

With a hip trust, the imp freed itself of Obi-Wan's weight on it and charged him with fangs bare. Anakin grabbed it by the collar before it could land, and threw him against the greenish couch overthrowing it. Before that, though, the demon had managed to sink its claws on Anakin's shoulder, making a hole through his hoodie and piercing the skin.

It was barely painful, but it stang.

«Anakin» Obi-Wan warned, getting back to his feet. «Do not damage the vessel».

«You're very welcome, Master. Next time I'll let you get scratched».

«I don't like your attitude, Padawan. Mrs. Myers, please go back to the main bedroom, we will take care of the rest».

With a low snarl, the imp got back up. It looked pretty beat up, the glasses had been lost somewhere in the fight and the bloody clothes were all disheveled. The man's fingertips were now darkened, as it occurred some time after the possession.

They didn't have that much time left before the vessel was consumed beyond repair.

«We'll take it together» Obi-Wan said. «Are you ready?»

Anakin just nodded, clutching his dagger tightly.

The demon eyed both of them, suddenly defensive. The living room was the biggest room of the apartment, but it wasn't particularly spacious either and they were all quite close, with only an overthrown couch and some furniture dividing them.

Furniture that had started trembling slightly. Anakin noticed, then rose his eyes up to the imp and saw it contort its face in concentration.

«Master».

«Duck» Obi-Wan murmured, right one second before the glass table was sent flying in their direction.

It smashed loudly on the wall behind them, and the crash almost covered the imp's devilish laugh.

«So I do have some power in this realm» it grunted, with a pointy grin. «I told you, Jedi. I'll take a piece of you with me before I go».

It wouldn't have made such a redundant remark again if it didn't have to do with something sharp coming. Still, Anakin struggled to intercept the thin paper cutter that was sent spinning aiming at his head; he ducked it again, then started dodging books and some other small objects in an attempt to get nearer. Luckily, imps were not that powerful and their telekinesis capabilities could only take them so far - the couch kept trembling but wasn't really moving, and neither were the heaviest sets of furniture in the room. They could still make it before the guy remembered the kitchen had actual knives to throw.

Anakin shot a side look at the green armchair at the left, and purposely ran in that direction making it seem like he wanted to attack the imp from the left. Predictably, the creature reached for the nearest obstacle to put in his way and threw it at him, but at the very last moment Anakin jumped. Using the flying armchair as a platform, he then pushed himself forward and reached the demon, finally making it through that small storm of furniture and tossing it against the nearest wall. 

Anakin snarled, short fangs peeping out of his lips, and breathed heavily on the imp’s face as he pressed his forearm against its throat.

«Throw something else» he growled, a yellowish undertone now reflected in his irises. «I dare you».

«Bastard» the demon choked with dilated eyes. «How can… it's not possible, you smell human. What are you?»

Anakin’s grin lasted a moment, before Obi-Wan’s touch on his good shoulder prompted him to let go. «According to Mom, special» he rasped, as he casted away the demonic energy inside him and his eyes turned back to blue. In a moment or two his fangs and claws were also gone, leaving that familiar sense of decentering and leakage in him.

«The ritual is complete» Obi-Wan said. He shot a concerned look at Anakin’s shoulder, then up to meet his gaze. «You did good, Padawan. Do you want to extract it yourself or should I do it?»

Anakin shuddered. «I don’t mind. My arm works just fine to dig».

The demon now looked distinctly preoccupied. «What do you mean, dig?»

«So it is your first time» Anakin said, and promptly ignored Obi-Wan’s rolled eyes with a renewed grin. «Your imp friends didn’t tell you? You either come out of the old man willingly, or we make you. I have gotten pretty good at it without damaging organs, but it’s nasty work. And sometimes I have killed the imp by accident-»

«Traitor little shit» the demon blurted out, but it looked paler than before. «You're tricking me. I'll be dead either way».

«Maybe. Or maybe you can come out on your own, spare this guy a sore throat when he wakes and rise your chances of living».

That was a lie, but Anakin knew fear when he smelled it. And imps were known to be big cowards, pushing their buttons was surprisingly easy at times.

«So? What do you say?»

The imp let out a growl, but after a moment or two drops of a dark, thick substance started dripping from the man's ears, nose and mouth with a grossly bubbling sound.

Watching as Mr. Myers' light blue eyes finally started emerging from the now faint yellowish ones of the imp, Anakin slowly loosened his grip on the guy's throat. «Good pick».

◈

Anakin locked the bathroom door with a sharp shut and turned on the light. He took off his hoodie and t-shirt and hopped goofily to get out of his jeans as well, leaving all the dirty laundry in the basket he and Obi-Wan used when they came home from a mission - the t-shirt was sweaty but unstained, so he spared it and dropped it in the other one instead. 

Anakin caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror on top of the sink, then looked away like he had been burnt by the sight.

The dim light of the bathroom showed it as clearly as it was, he was unusually red. So red the fluster reached his neck, right next to the white patch that covered a portion of his scratched calves and shoulder. Anakin gulped visibly. Obi-Wan had treated him earlier, putting the disinfectant on the injury with some cotton and covering it like Anakin was going to cry any minute. He had ended up worse when wrestling with Ahsoka in the demon realm without bothering to medicate himself, he had told him with a hint of hurt pride at the overly cautious treatment.

You're in my realm now, his Master had replied without batting an eye. Here, humans get their aches fixed without unnecessary suffering. Stay put, Padawan.

If only Anakin could focus on anything that wasn't Obi-Wan's callous hands touching his shoulder and back, he would have gladly come up with a salty comeback. Instead he had stayed silent, lips pursed in what one could think was pain for the stinging disinfectant on the bleeding injury, but was nothing more than deep all-consuming shame instead.

Whatever it was that he felt, it was getting worse. Now Obi-Wan couldn't even stand next to him without Anakin yearning for his Master to touch him - to brush his shoulder, mess up his hair, flicker his ear like he used to do when he was a kid. Back then Anakin would get mad as hell for that. Now, if that was going to get Obi-Wan to touch him, he would have let him torment him as much as the man wanted.

Anakin groaned at his own pathetic thoughts, his reddened cheeks and neck testifying his shameful desires. That was not the only way he wanted Obi-Wan to touch him, but he was restraining himself from thinking about that in detail.

With a sharp inhale, Anakin looked down. «Fierfek» he said. He was hard again.

Having a half-human body had its perks, yet a mostly human biology was not among them for sure. After entering puberty Anakin had started getting aroused at the most inopportune times, even when he wasn't specifically trying to be or there were not real stimuli for him to fall for. So of course that was bound to happen when just thinking of Obi-Wan.

With a defeated sigh, Anakin took off his underwear and jumped under the running water, his hand on the shower handle ready to set it to as cold as possible to make the arousal go away. At the very last moment, though, he hesitated.

He knew perfectly why he felt so torn. In his head, the vision of Obi-Wan clenching his grip on that imp not to let it go was as vivid as it could be, and it was slowly driving Anakin mad. Again, something he had seen his Master do a hundred times was now shown to him in another light completely: the strength and vigor of Obi-Wan's arm muscles flexing while manhandling the vessel on the pavement of the apartment shot an immediate wave of arousal straight to Anakin's groin, making him curse between gritted teeth. After a moment or two he set the temperature to warm, and took his dick in his hand with a small sigh of resignation. 

He was particularly good at it. Pretending like jerking off was just a chore, an annoying task he had to fulfill only to accommodate his human half, and not another not so subtle opportunity for Anakin to indulge in his crooked fantasies.

He knew it was wrong, yet that knowledge only managed to turn him on more. Lately Anakin had been feeling so hot all the damn time, it was indecent and he couldn't masturbate to anything else anymore, not when the prospect of thinking about his Master while touching himself was lingering like the most obscure of the temptations. Anakin slid his hand up and down his staff, the hot water dripping through his head and body as he held himself with his free hand on the glass of the shower door. 

He bit his lower lip, fighting back the low moan that climbed up his throat. With his eyes shut and the ghost of Obi-Wan's fingers touching his upper back and shoulders, Anakin indulged in the same old scenario: namely, Obi-Wan putting his hands on him.

Fragments of real conversations melted with the fantasy. “You’re never careful,” fantasy-Obi-Wan reprimanded, sliding his open palm on Anakin’s bare chest. “My orders are always in your best interest, Padawan. You should know this by now”.

The only thing Anakin liked of Obi-Wan’s orders nowadays was the sharp tone he used, and that still struggled to make him follow them. Anakin caressed the sensible tip with his thumb, picturing Obi-Wan’s stormy eyes slowly rising to meet his own. He looked ethereal in the fantasy, like something was not quite right - the fact that he was looking at Anakin with desire, presumably.

“What will it take for you to learn, mmh? What do I have to do?”

«…you want» Anakin mumbled incoherently, hand running fast on his dripping dick. «You can do… whatever you want to me».

He wasn’t timing himself, but he felt embarrassed at the realization that he was about to come already. A small part of him wanted to indulge in the fantasy, so Anakin pressed his thumb on the tip and suffocated a high-pitched moan, focusing on Obi-Wan’s fictional hands on him.

He sensed them on his arms, on his hips, on his ass. Gripping, caressing, scratching the skin with more sweetness than any clawed demon could ever imagine to do - Aayla had told him he had to try sex with inhumans before doing it with humans, since apparently it left deeper marks and funnier memories, but Anakin was not interested. When he had found out what his dick was for his fantasies were still mixed, but lately they had been colonized by the man that was probably cooking a late night snack for him in the other room. And he had no fangs, no claws and no glowy skin - he was human, pure and simple, and yet he made him burn like the deepest depths of Mustafar. Anakin’s body was now boiling with desire, he ached for Obi-Wan to just rush in, get undressed and join him in the shower, finally taking anything Anakin was going to give him. The best part of the fantasy was always the fantasy ending, and the temptation becoming a reality.

I’d give you everything, Anakin thought as he started to jerk off faster and faster. You wouldn’t even have to ask. It would be yours. I am yours.

Maybe it was a bit weird how sappy he got when masturbating, but Anakin had always been like that: he couldn’t properly focus on the object of his desire without the prospect of giving, satisfying, pleasing. He wanted to do good, to be good for the person he craved and Obi-Wan perfectly incarnated this need, first as a Jedi Master and then as a person.

Anakin felt his orgasm building in his stomach like a growing wave, his legs trembling and his muscles tensing in anticipation. He growled, covering his mouth immediately after as the claws slowly came out and the tips of his horns painfully tickled on his skull: he saw red as he came, as it usually happened when he evoked his demonic energy, then he simply crushed against the wall slurring Obi-Wan’s name between his swollen lips.

«Fuck me» Anakin said, his head hanging backwards. Unfortunately, due to the lucidity brought by the post-orgasm clarity, that did not sound like an invitation but more of a condemnation of his own weakness.

«There you are» Obi-Wan said when he finally saw him emerge from the hallway. Anakin scratched his neck, his dump hair and bare feet immediately catching a disapproval glare from his Master. «Come on, I made you eggs. Eat».

Anakin mumbled a thank you, taking a seat at the chipped table. Ahsoka had left some new marks on it from their last wrestling match. 

«And to think I just bought it» Obi-Wan sighed, caressing the splintered edge with his hand. His large, warm hand. Anakin forced himself to only look at the goddamn eggs, shoulders hunched forwards and head low. «How’s your shoulder?»

«Fine» Anakin grumbled, grabbing some toast. «I told you, it’s nothing. It would have been much worse if you got that, Master».

«I am not made of glass, Anakin. And I have to ask you not to do that again in the future».

That managed to make him lift his shameful eyes from the plate. Obi-Wan’s expression was dead serious, so Anakin’s became as well.

He gulped a bite of eggs and bread. «You can’t» he replied, clear as day. «You are more trained than me, but you don’t have my instincts. If I feel like stepping in, Master, it’s because I sensed something is coming for you before you can see it».

«You got that right, Anakin» Obi-Wan said. «I am more trained than you. Therefore, I assure you I am more than able to face anything the darkness of the demon realm throws at me - especially if it’s a common imp, like the one we confronted tonight».

Anakin pouted, he couldn’t help himself. At the same time though, he was too tired to fight for real and Obi-Wan seemed to notice, because his tone softened a bit.

«I am grateful for your thoughtfulness and I always will be, Anakin, but I promise you don’t have to worry about me. Your Master can take care of himself. I’d like you to focus on the people we are in charge of protecting instead».

Anakin understood the sense of his words, he really did. Yet, he couldn’t find himself to fully agree: of course he was going to protect the clients, along with sealing the trespassing demon it was like the one common goal of almost every single mission. Caring for Obi-Wan only meant he was going to look out for him too.

«I’ll always have your back» was what he chose to say in the end. Still, Anakin used less stubbornness in his tone, like he was subtly accepting his Master’s request in a way.

Obi-Wan’s exasperated yet fond look seemed to indicate he could go home with that. «And I, yours. Hurry up now, before Ahsoka smells the eggs and I have to cook six more».

According to Anakin’s half-inhuman ears, Ahsoka was more than awake in their room, her sticky fingers mischievously tapping on the iPad under the covers, but he decided his Master didn’t have to know. Instead, he simply nodded and went back to his food. Obi-Wan softly patted him on his good shoulder and left, probably to go take a shower himself.

Anakin was still eating when his Master’s outraged cry echoed in the apartment, followed by a dull thud. «Anakin! You left a pool on the pavement again!»

Anakin hid his smile in a bite of bread. «Sorry!»

«I can’t hear my show!» Ahsoka squealed from the other room, then immediately went silent knowing she was supposed to be asleep by now.

Anakin snorted, shaking his head. He truly couldn’t understand his Master’s requests, at times: all he saw around him was a bunch of people worth protecting more than any human the Council could ever assign them to. 

He could take a few scratches for the clients, he had figured already. But those people, Anakin would gladly pull out his own claws and become the problem.

It’s not like he never showed his teeth to other demons, anyway.