Chapter Text
Respite
He wakes up, but through long habit (and one too many times falling into enemy hands), doesn’t open his eyes immediately.
Instead, Obi-Wan reaches out his senses. The Force responds first, a gentle tide that ripples over him with peace and warmth and happiness.
Soft breaths filter in next, sounding in tandem with the chest rising and falling beneath his head. He presses his ear to a firm pectoral muscle, listening to the steady, thudding beat of the heart concealed beneath.
Sighing, he settles, untensing the muscles in his shoulders. But then he starts thinking of all the things he has to do today, and tenses right back up.
“You’re the worst at relaxing,” Cody murmurs. His arms come up around Obi-Wan, pinning him in place.
“Am not,” Obi-Wan retorts stubbornly. He burrows into Cody’s hold. “I am a master at relaxing.”
“Jedi Master, yes. Good at letting go, no.”
Cody’s arms go heavy around him, his grip changing as he briefly drifts off. Obi-Wan smiles, trying once again to release the tension in his shoulders.
“M’ssage later?” Cody whispers. His hands move to Obi-Wan’s shoulders, thumbs digging into the muscles in a way that makes Obi-Wan whimper immediately. It’s a pleasurable kind of pain, but it means he’s definitely awake now, eyes shooting open to stare across their quarters at the wall of holophotos he and Cody have hung there.
“Later,” he agrees. He pulls away from Cody’s grip, rolling off his chest to scoot up the bed. Cody lets him get his head on the second pillow before snagging him again, pulling him close. Obi-Wan turns his head away from Cody’s stale morning breath, but deigns to kiss him on the forehead. “Morning.”
Cody’s eyes flutter open slowly before he groans and squinches them shut again.
“Morning,” he groans. “Why are we awake again? We had a late night, if you remember.”
Obi-Wan stretches, then winces as other parts of his body pull and twinge in reminder.
“An excellent night, thank you. But we have things to do today.”
“Like?” Cody says, letting his hand drift down to Obi-Wan’s ass, groping a cheek to pull him closer.
“We’re going to visit Anakin and Padme and the twins. Don’t act like you don’t remember. I’ve seen the carvings.”
“Kids need toys,” Cody says simply, and Obi-Wan grimaces at the reminder that the vode didn’t really have toys.
“You get to be the one to explain to Padme why you think toy blasters are appropriate for toddlers.”
“Leia’s going to be a crack shot one of these days. I can just feel it.”
Obi-Wan snickers.
“I have a feeling you’re not wrong. Her mother certainly is. And she has a wide range of teachers lined up. Luke as well.”
“Even you, I wager. I’ve seen you on the range. Blasters may be ‘uncivilized,’ but you sure know your way around one.”
“That was just to win a bet with Rex, and you know it. The 212th's pride was at stake!”
“And you performed beautifully,” Cody says, pressing his forehead against Obi-Wan’s. Then he freezes. “Wait, what day is today?”
“Benduday. Why?”
Cody melts back into the pillows.
“Oh, thank goodness. Thought I’d missed it.”
“Missed what?”
“You really don’t remember what today is?” Cody teases.
“Considering how adventurous our lives continue to be, that question could be answered in a lot of ways.”
“Ah, ‘The Negotiator’ at work. Or do you prefer ‘The Reformer’? ‘Grand Leader of the Kenobi Reformation’? I always forget which of your many, many titles I’m supposed to use these days.”
“You’re one to talk, oh ‘Great Outer Rim Peacemaker’. Or was it the ‘Freedom Fighter’? Or, oh what was the one that Hutt called you?” Cody groans, and Obi-Wan grins triumphantly. “Ah, yes. ‘Sugar Tits.’ Truly imaginative. You were rather fetching in all that crimson silk, I must say.”
“Forget I said anything.”
“Now, you know that’s just not possible,” Obi-Wan says, smirk firmly in place as he smacks a kiss against Cody’s nose. “But as for why today is special, I’m afraid I haven’t the foggiest. I know the visit is on the calendar, because Anakin has commed no less than eight times in the past three days to make sure we’re coming. Ahsoka’s meeting us there. She just got back from Felucia yesterday.”
“Knight Tano. It’s still weird. I keep looking down to meet the eyes of that little slip of a Commander, and then have to look up.”
“I did hope I might be taller than someone in my lineage, but alas.”
“You’re still taller than Yoda. And me,” Cody says.
“And grateful the Force granted me that one thing every day,” Obi-Wan says. He squirms a little, moving his face out of the path of a sunbeam intruding from between the curtains. “I’m afraid I don’t remember the significance of today. Enlighten me?”
He presses further into Cody’s embrace, leaning their foreheads together and closing his eyes. He may be terrible at sleeping in, but he is absolutely a fan of morning snuggles (it’s the most novel part of his day, excluding other bedroom activities). He tucks one hand up between their chests, and throws the other over Cody’s hip, taking the time for a little groping of his own before letting his hand rest against Cody’s sleep-warm body. He throws one of his legs over Cody’s own for good measure, pleased when Cody slots a thigh between his own.
“On this very day, years ago, you asked me if I was happy.”
Obi-Wan feels his expression soften without any input from him.
“I recall you said to ask you after the War.”
“I did,” Cody says, nodding encouragingly.
Obi-Wan pulls him a little closer.
“Are you happy, Cody?”
The smile Cody gives him is beatific.
“I am. I really, truly am. And I’ve got a question for you as well.”
“Okay. Shoot.”
“Obi-Wan Kenobi, you are the most infuriating person I’ve ever met.”
Obi-Wan recoils a bit, then shakes himself.
“That’s not a question.”
“I’m not done.”
“Ah. Carry on then.”
Cody headbutts him softly.
“Perfect example. Infuriating. I’ve watched you leap into battles you had no chance of winning just because you saw someone in danger. I’ve seen you fight for what was right hundreds of times over, even when it cost you blood, sweat, and tears. I’ve seen you go absolutely gushy when rescuing baby tookas, and fiercer than a mama gundark when it comes to your padawans or any you consider close.”
“Cody, what are…”
But Cody keeps going.
“And I don’t know when I fell in love with you. I really don’t. It could have been on a battlefield, or at Dex’s, or one of the hundreds of nights we spent crammed in your quarters working. But I fell in love with you. And I didn’t even know what that meant, but we figured it out together. Because you fell in love with me too, because you are a person who loves, Obi-Wan.”
“I love you too, Cody.”
Cody gives him that beautiful smile again, and the headbutt is gentler, practically affectionate, this time.
“So, my question is…”
And Obi-Wan has a clue what the question is, the Force practically bubbling with it like sparkling wine, but he waits for Cody to say it.
“Obi-Wan Kenobi, will you be my partner in life? For missions, for adventures big and small, and for whatever Force shenanigans you inevitably get us both dragged into?”
Obi-Wan snorts at the last bit, and decides he can forgive morning breath this once as he dives in to kiss Cody. Cody wastes no time in returning the gesture, letting their lips and tongues play out the dance they’ve both grown used to the steps of.
“Is that a ‘yes’?” Cody asks when they break apart, and Obi-Wan giggles, feeling buoyant.
“My dearest Cody, I would love to be your partner in life. To exchange vows in whatever culture or tradition you wish. To drag your ass into and out of fires as often as you do to me. And to know that my heart will always be intertwined with yours, even when we pass onto the Force.”
Cody’s eyes are suspiciously bright as he kisses Obi-Wan again, pressing their bodies together until only their skin keeps them from merging together.
“That’s…that’s good. Now I really am happy.”
Obi-Wan nuzzles their noses together.
“You know what, dearest? So am I.” Around him, the Force trills with a song he’s never heard before, one that rings out with the notes of the Temple around them, one that connects to the notes of the vode and those with hope in their hearts for a better tomorrow.
He basks in it as much as he does Cody’s presence, warm and solid against him.
And then, because he’s capable of taking advice about accepting good things for himself, he peeks over Cody’s shoulder at the chrono on the table there.
“You know, we don’t have to be to Anakin and Padme’s place for another four hours.”
Cody, his ever in-tune partner, perks up at that.
“Whatever shall we do to pass the time?”
Obi-Wan rolls on top of the other man, straddling his waist and aligning parts that are perking up with interest.
“New unions are a cause for celebration.” he says, leaning down to give Cody a kiss. “I bet we can think of something.”