Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

“Oh, Master Kenobi! You’re back early!”

Usually Ahsoka’s presence was a lovely sight for sore eyes, but the way her voice shot up an octave indicated something else. She didn’t expect him back, and well neither did Obi-Wan. 

“Yes, the threat on Mandalore was eliminated early.” Obi-Wan said, “So I thought to come home.”

“Of course, right. I mean who wouldn’t?” She laughed awkwardly, eyes shifting back to the hallways where their apartments lay. “But–you know what, we should go get lunch! I was heading to Dex’s. Let’s go.”

She attempted to pull his tunic, but Obi-Wan shook his head. “Thank you, but I am quite tired and would rather head to a real bed first. How about we reschedule for dinner, my treat?”

He already turned, set for his bed in his shared apartment. One where all his material possessions resided, even if minimal. He desperately missed his pillows and strangely enough, the smell of oil that lingered around the apartment because of Anakin’s fixer uppers. 

Anakin… he heard of his accident on Delta Five, and he could only imagine how bored his former Padawan was now that he was on forced medical leave. He wondered how badly he turned their kitchen upside down, trying to fix the caffe machine that did not need fixing. 

“Okay, but Master there’s something you need to know first–”

“I’m sure Anakin didn’t damage our apartment that badly.” He mused, until Ahsoka’s face dropped. “What did Anakin do?”

“Well, it’s not what he did–”

As tired as he was, Obi-Wan picked up the pace, passing through the halls and up the lift to the apartment level of the temple. Ahsoka just barely made it into the lift with him.

“He didn’t hurt himself, did he?”

“There was a small accident–small!” She insisted with a pointed finger. “He’s fine! Kix said he was fine.”

“Kix? Why didn’t Master Che see him?”

“Ah, we were with the 501st–”

Oh, of course Anakin would go train with his men since he would have been barred from the temple grounds due to his injury. He doubted anyone there would have stopped him either. 

“But he’s good! He bacta-healed! That isn’t it–Master wait!”

He loved Ahsoka, he really did, but her loyalty to her Master always came first. This was not the first time she covered for one of his antics, just as Anakin always covered up for her. Too bad both were bad at hiding their mishaps.

As he drew closer to his apartment, he sensed another familiar being in their room. Anakin was in the refresher with someone else. But their force signature was like his own, almost a copy if somewhat muted. 

He opened the door and beelined for the refresher, tuning out Ahsoka’s cries as he slid it open with full force–

And was greeted with Anakin, naked in a tub, kissing a young blonde boy.

Though his first emotion should have been anger, Obi-Wan was too distracted by the familiar Force signature surrounding the boy. When the boy looked at him back, it was as if the wind was blown out of his lungs.

He was staring into some trick mirror, one that reflected his seventeen year-old self. Back before he cut his hair to the short buzz cut, back before he earned his first set of battle scars on a mission gone wrong. Back when he was sure Qui-Gon was going to abandon him.

Obi-Wan had long accepted his early feelings of inadequacy. When he had thought of himself as a burden to Qui-Gon, who instead was just as unsure as how to raise a Padawan since he was also an unconventional Jedi. They grew closer with time and missions, and Obi-Wan has often sought out Qui-Gon’s words and teachings during times of peril.

He wondered now if his Master would answer his call, or laugh in his face. 

“I’m sorry Skyguy, he wouldn’t–eep!” Ahsoka covered her eyes, turning her back from them. “Why is he in the bath with you?!” 

“Who’s this?” His younger self asked, and no matter what it would always be weird to hear himself speak with a higher voice. Puberty did not hit Obi-Wan until he was twenty, unfortunately.

“Would you all get out!” Anakin cried, gesturing out the door. 

That was all they could do while Anakin was indisposed. Huffing, Obi-Wan turned on his heels. “I’ll be waiting in our living room.”

“You too, Obi-Wan.” He heard Anakin refer to the teenager, and the kid walked out of the refresher with a pout. 

The two were face to face, the younger one with his arms crossed over his chest, standing to make himself look taller. Obi-Wan took to putting his hands on his hips.

This just could not be real. He was dreaming, or this was an odd prank. Hell, if clones of an infamous bounty hunter exist why wouldn’t clones of a Jedi? Were they cloning Jedi now? Surely he would have been made aware of that regardless of his status on Mandalore. 

“I’m…gonna go.” Ahsoka spoke up, already sneaking out through the front door.

“Ahsoka–”

“Sorry, I said I was doing a lunch run! Uh the usual Master Kenobi? Two? You two got it!” 

That was not her most graceful exit, but he couldn’t blame her. Obi-Wan wanted to retreat as well, to finally flop onto his own bed and pass out for the next forty-eight hours but the Force had other plans.

Anakin finally emerged from the refresher, only in a bathrobe and a towel around his neck. He winced at them, at first, but his voice was surprisingly chipper as his face lit up. “Huh, so the Universe didn’t explode. Guess rule number 3 didn’t apply to us”! 

By the end of it, Obi-Wan felt as if Anakin made up some holodrama instead of explaining the full story, but what other explanation was there when his teenage self was sitting across from him?

Calling Tech, the genius member of Clone Force 99, barely put it into better perspective. He seemed disappointed that all theories of time travel and some sort of paradox were proven false, but he couldn’t help but agree on one thing: Obi-Wan would have definitely remembered time traveling and meeting his older self.

Which begged the question how did he end up here, instead of Lenahra? Obi-Wan remembered the mission vividly. The first time he defied The Order, stealing a ship to investigate some ancient writings carved in the temple library walls, leading him to a strange planet of Force sensitive teenagers like himself. 

His younger counterpart’s story aligned up until the asteroid field. Obi-Wan and the pilot droid managed to dodge a collision before landing on the planet. In the younger’s case, he landed back on Coruscant, twenty one years into the future. 

He remembered Lenahra having a strange Force signature around it, filled with mystery that the Jedi at the time could not comprehend. If Obi-Wan had to guess, his teenage self dropping in was probably the planet’s doing. 

For what reason in this particular timeline, he had no idea why.  

“So…that’s it.” Anakin concluded. “He’s here now…and you’re back–wait why are you back? I thought you weren’t coming home for another week?”

Home , the way Anakin described their small living quarters. Assigned by the Jedi, acting more as dormitories than a personalized space, but it was theirs. What he was looking forward to when returning. 

“Disappointed to see me so soon?” He teased.

“Not at all! But a warning would have helped, in case the universe imploded.”

“I believe Tech may have been exaggerating his theories since we are clearly alive. Now the question is what to do with…” he paused, staring at himself. 

The younger one rolled his eyes. “Well, Master Skywalker and I were enjoying ourselves–”

Anakin coughed into his hand. “He was helping me.”

“And I suppose since you’re back, I’m either taking the couch again or spend my nights in the brig.”

“No, that’s not happening.” Anakin said, voice stern. “Master, I told him he could stay here where he would be comfortable. He was using your room for a while but he can take mine instead.”

His younger self beamed at the idea, until Anakin continued with, “I’ll take the couch until…well until we figure something out. With this new information I’m sure we can get Tech and Cordova could guide us on what to do next.”

“What? Master, that isn’t good for your leg.” And wow, was it even stranger to hear himself call Anakin Master . 

It always had a good ring to him. He was a natural teacher who deserved the title. But for Obi-Wan to call him that felt…no, strange wasn’t correct. It almost felt right. 

“It’s practically healed. Another bacta session and some PT and I’ll be back on the field in no time.”

“You deserve to rest,” Obi-Wan said. “That was a hard mission for you and your men.”

Anakin gave him a pointed look. “You, telling me to rest? After you take on back to back missions? Plus, I haven’t really had time to rest, not when you,” he turned to the teenager with a fond smile, “Are a very curious Padawan.”

Anakin had him there. Obi-Wan had always been restless, which was why he found meditation so hard. He couldn’t sit around and concentrate for hours, not when he found better use of his time. 

“Well, I’m sure we can find something to keep you two occupied.” Obi-Wan said and immediately regretted his choice of words with the way the younger brightened. “Separately.”

“I’m not letting him take the couch.” Anakin said.

“And I’m not letting you either, Master.”

“Jeeze, why not let both Kenobis share a room?”

Obi-Wan didn’t even hear the door open. Ahsoka leaned on the frame, holding a giant bag of take out from Dex’s. “Your bed is big enough, Master Kenobi.”

Something about her tone found this entirely amusing. It was no wonder she was Anakin’s Padawan, because only they would come up with such a disastrous idea.

“That’ll work.” Anakin said. “Who better to watch over yourself than…yourself!”

“I’m a Padawan, not a child.” the younger said.

I beg to differ, Obi-Wan thought. “It would have to do for now.”

Anything to keep them apart. 

The rest of dinner was thankfully uneventful. Ahsoka occupied much of their time with her retelling adventures with Plo Koon and the other Padawans. Though, Obi-Wan was sure he noticed how his younger self scooted closer to Anakin, and by the end of the story they were practically sharing the same chair.

Ahsoka said her goodbyes, heading down to her own room when Obi-Wan realized that his teenage self could have been in her room this entire time. She was sharing with another Padawan, whom if Obi-Wan recalled correctly was off planet with her own Master. 

But before he could ask that, she was long gone. 

“Well, another day of sleeping in. I’ll see you two in the morning.” Anakin said as he finished drying the last dish. He gave them both a warm smile, and leaned down to touch foreheads with the Padawan before limping his way back to his side of the apartment. 

Obi-Wan was met with a glare from himself. He should probably get used to that. 

He let the younger one use the refresher first to give himself time to unpack. When they switched, Obi-Wan took an extra long time to enjoy the hot water. He was just relieved to be back with his toiletries, even his own towels that were plush and softer than the ones he traveled with.

He returned to his bedroom where the Padawan was occupying himself with Obi-Wan's datapad. “Hey,” Obi-Wan snatched it back. “That is confidential. How did you get in it?”

The kid held up his thumb. Damn biometrics not accounting for your past clone. “She’s pretty.”

“Who?”

“The Duchess.”

“I suppose she is.” Obi-Wan set up an extra lock, a passcode only he would know. 

“But not as pretty as Master Skywalker.”

So he really was not imagining things–but how could he when the first thing he saw upon returning home was them kissing? 

“You will meet many pretty people.” Obi-Wan said truthfully. Lenahra was the first time he realized he was attracted to all genders, and later down the line he’d find flirting a great tactic in distraction.

He laid down in the bed, ample space between the two of them. If he wasn’t already using the pillow as for himself, he’d have it between them. 

“I don’t think I’d find anyone as pretty as him, though.”

And that was more of the truth. Of all the people Obi-Wan’s been with, his mind and heart always drifted back to Anakin. Even if he couldn’t have him the way his heart so desired. 

“Why aren’t you two together?”

In the darkness, Obi-Wan glared. His younger self seemed unphased by his anger. “You know the answer to that, Padawan.”

“I thought I did. But then he said he loved us.”

What?

Obi-Wan shot up from his bed, only to be returned with a smirk. One he desperately wanted to wipe off his own face. 

“Master Skywalker loves us. It’s against the code but he didn’t deny it.”

No, no that couldn't be true. Because Anakin was with Padme. He failed at his own discretion when entering an illicit relationship with the Senator, and while he was unsure of their status now he knew that he still loved her. Loved her enough he’d leave the Order when the war ends, to finally have the family he desired.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Obi-Wan said, unable to reveal Anakin’s relationship. That was for him to do on his own. 

“I do. I could finally feel him through the Force. Maybe that’s why I was brought here.” His younger self pulled the covers over his body. “It’s been muted for so long…but he helped me open back up. I think the Force wanted me here, to be with him.”

Obi-Wan’s jaw clenched. “The Force simply guides us, it does not have a want. But I do. Right now I want to sleep.”

"Fine.” the teenager shrugged, turning his back to him. “But I know I’m right.”

Obi-Wan could not remember being this cocky as a teenager, but unsure what else to say he turned his back to him too, wishing into the Force that this was all a strange dream, and he would wake up alone.

In his sleep, however, he thought he heard Qui-Gon laugh.

Bastard. 

He now understood why Qui-Gon had a hard time with him when they were first assigned to each other.

Teenager Obi-Wan was insufferable. 

Was he always this clingy? He wanted nothing more than to be a good Padawan but he was taking it too far with a Master that wasn’t his own. 

The younger Obi-Wan, whom he mentally called Obi since it was a childhood nickname, was by Anakin’s side of the apartment the second he woke up, asking to help make breakfast and brew some caffe. Except Obi-Wan never learned to make caffe until he was thirty because he and Qui-Gon always drank tea. 

And then when Obi messed up, he’d turned to Anakin with tears in his eyes and mouth wobbling as if he was about to cry which–okay– Obi-Wan never did even when he felt like he disappointed Qui-Gon. He never let his sadness show so easily, and instead let it go through the Force.

Obi acted as if he didn’t have the Force at all. He did everything he could to get Anakin’s attention and it worked. Anakin would ruffle his hair and tell him it was okay he burnt the caffe, and show him how to make it properly. They stood side by side making eggs, the simplest thing to cook–shut up Waxer he burnt them one time–and even insisted they hand wash their dishes together despite the machine installed in the apartment. 

Because Anakin was fidgety even on medical leave, he insisted he go out to the market again. He needed some droid parts and a circuit board for a project and Obi immediately grabbed the keys to Anakin’s speeder. 

“You know, Ahsoka would probably like to come along.” Obi-Wan said since Anakin did have his own Padawan.

“She said she was going to hang out with Rex this morning.” Anakin shrugged, “I’ll be meeting her for her lessons later.”

He didn’t miss the smug look on his younger self’s face as they left the door, and Obi-Wan was going to pretend it didn’t hurt that they didn’t ask him to join them.

“Really? Kix said he was sweet.” Cody said that afternoon when Obi-Wan grew bored by himself and made his way to the clone barracks just to talk to someone. Though he was probably going to leave if the clones thought the kid was ‘sweet’. 

Their men had the privilege to never deal with a teenager like himself. Ahsoka Tano was caring, Barris Offee was tactical, and Cal Kestis, young as he is, treated everyone like an older sibling. Obi-Wan Kenobi was whatever siths hell spawned. 

“Do I…hover?” It was the only word he could come up with besides cling. Clinging was for a child. 

“Not much more than other generals.” Cody answered honestly, but then his eyes twinkled. “But if you mean do you somehow always gravitate to General Skywalker even when you two are away on long missions…”

Obi-Wan groaned, hiding his face in his hands. Had he been that obvious, even now as an adult?

Cody laughed patting his shoulder. “Finally, you get with the program.”

“You knew ?! I’ve told no one!” 

“Sir, I’ve served with you for the past three years. It was obvious during the first few months. However, you’ve cost me quite a bit of credits.”

“Credits? You’ve been betting ?!”

“Got a combined pool with the 501st, and I have to say I honestly believed you two would have been together ages ago. So my time has passed.”

Obi-Wan frowned. “Who's winning so far?”

“I believe Echo, Hardcase, Boiler, and Rex have estimated another few years,” Cody took a sip of his drink. “Though, I wonder if it counts if General Skywalker and your younger self get together.”

It was the wrong moment for Obi-Wan to try talk as instead he inhaled so sharply he began coughing up the dust lodged in his throat. “They are not– .”

But then Cody has the audacity to pull up his com. A holo of Anakin and the teenager walking through the market, hand in hand. Like a couple. 

Oh Force, the teenager was absolutely smitten with Anakin. He looked at Anakin like he hung the stars.

Sometimes, Obi-Wan believed Anakin did. 

“Waxer was by the markets and saw them earlier.” Cody explained. “So, are you going to be the best man? Give your younger self away.”

“Quiet,” Obi-Wan said, rubbing his temples. “We’re trying to get rid of him.”

“Well that’s a poor way of talking about yourself. Even the clones are nicer to each other than you are to yourself.”

“You ever dealt with a teenage Cody?”

“Good point. Though I was told by the Kaminos I was pleasant to have in class.”

“Of course you were.”

Clone Force 99 seemed to be getting closer to a solution, though Tech admitted it would take a few more cycles before he had anything conclusive. That appeased Mace and Yoda, and maybe it was due to his new roommate kicking him in his sleep, but tired and irritated, Obi-Wan groaned at the answer as Tech hung up their call.

“I’ll admit, I thought it would be much worse.” Mace said as he walked with Obi-Wan down the temple halls. “But Skywalker is keeping him in place. Haven’t heard much from them.”

“So you didn’t hear of his accident in the Clone training facility?”

“No? Was anyone injured?”

Obi-Wan sighed. “Nothing serious.”

“Surprising, for Skywalker.” Mace said dryly. “Though I believe your Padawan self is also keeping him in check. He’s always calmer with you around.”

“Calmer? He still bites at the Council even when I’m in the room.”

Mace shrugged. “It’s worse when you aren’t around. I thought he and the younger you would be off galavanting the universe, but he’s kept his word to keep him safe in the temple.”

The idea of his teenager self and Anakin, stealing a ship and running away in the middle of the night on a romantic journey…just as Anakin did with Padme when he was Padawan. Just as Obi-Wan tried with Satine all those years ago…it made him seethe. “Right…”

“You’re unhappy.”

Obi-wan stopped in his tracks. “Unhappy isn’t the word I would use.” He’s ignoring the feeling in his chest that was jealousy. “It is strange, is all. If the theory were true, I would have remembered time traveling to the future, but I did not. This is just…”

His friend gave him a comforting smile. “I cannot imagine your feelings, but I’m sure he’s frustrated too.”

“How so?”

“You were always buzzing around, paired with a Master who could meditate for so long, you’d think he died because he wasn’t breathing. Now Skywalker is also restless but he’s not giving him so much to do without compromising his safety. How much longer could he keep him entertained until you steal another ship?”

“It was one time!” Mace raised an eyebrow, and Obi-Wan groaned. “Fine, you’re right. I will consider his feelings more. Was entertaining a teenager always this hard? Anakin was a handful but he wasn’t like this.”

Because Obi-Wan wasn’t in competition with his Padawan. Not that he was in competition with himself either. 

But Mace could only laugh. “Depa was a delight. I would not know about this struggle.”

Obi-Wan considered his younger’s feelings all for twenty minutes, which was the amount of time it took for him to return from the council room to his apartment. When he entered, he sensed Anakin and Obi in Anakin’s room. With the door closed.

He stomped his way over and pulled the sliding door open, letting it rattle against the wall. 

“..Wan?”

Under the dark covers was Anakin, eyes still sleepy and hair tousled from being buried in pillows. But next to him, thankfully above the comforter, was the teenager, laying on his side and staring at him with nothing but love in his eyes. 

The way Obi-Wan used to look at Satine around that age.

The way Obi-Wan wished he could look at Anakin now.

The teenager glared at Obi-Wan, putting his index finger to his lips. “He’s trying to sleep.” He whispered.

It was barely the afternoon, Anakin would never sleep this early unless he was gravely sick or on the brink of unconsciousness. 

“Is he–?”

Anakin forced himself to sit up, about to explain when Obi cooed him back to bed, touching his cheek with his hand. “I’ll talk to him. Stay in bed, Master.”

Anakin shrugged, sinking back into the comforts of his bed as Obi kissed his forehead. If the door cracked because Obi-Wan was gripping it too tightly, well he just hoped Anakin wouldn’t notice later.

His Padawan self joined him in their own bedroom, door also closed in hopes Anakin could not hear them. 

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“Taking care of him.” Obi said like it was obvious. 

“He’s a grown man, he doesn’t need someone hovering over him.”

“But he likes it.” His voice was too high, too innocent as if he can’t see how highly inappropriate it looked. When Anakin was a child he allowed him to sleep with him during his nightmares, but that habit was quickly broken in just a few months. Never had Obi-Wan crossed that boundary when Anakin was a teenager, nor has Anakin done the same to Ahsoka. “He said he doesn’t like going to bed alone.”

“We all go to bed alone. Don’t think just because he’s watching over you that you can invade his space that way.”

“Doctor’s orders. He wanted to make sure he didn’t react negatively to the medicine.”

“What medicine?”

Oh, the kid had the audacity to roll his eyes. “Well, if you were around you’d know he was at physical therapy today and he hurt himself, badly. He offered himself to try a new medication, an injection that’s supposed to work faster than bacta but it makes him tired.”

This would all sound made up if not for the fact Anakin hated the bacta tank, preferring to quickly cover his wounds with the gel or an injection over submerging himself entirely. And leave it to Anakin to use himself as a test subject, as the clones were often subjected to experimentation that he highly disapproved of. 

And of course, Anakin would be injured, again, because he was trying to rush his physical therapy. At this rate it would be another few weeks before he was cleared for active duty.

“Then he can call us if he needs help. But right now, it would be appropriate for you to watch him from a chair, not in his bed.” 

Obi blew a strand of hair that was covering his eyes. That was why Obi-Wan eventually cut his hair. 

“Why do you keep butting in?” The teenager asked. 

“Excuse me?”

“I can sense it, you know. You don’t like me.”

“I am you, why would I dislike myself?” An existential question he often went through as a teenager, no need to bring it back up as an adult. 

“You glare at me every time I get close to Master Skywalker. You insist I have to keep a distance despite the fact he doesn’t initiate anything first. It’s very possessive of you, Master.”

Obi-Wan already knew this about himself. He knew his affection towards Anakin went beyond Master and Padawan. If he could end the war now to protect him, damn the Sith and the Jedi, he would. 

He wanted Anakin safe from the battles, the deaths. He wanted him home in their apartment, waking up late and enjoying their homemade meals on the couch together, reading the news of peace talks and gossip about politicians instead of reading mission reports.

“As his Master I am making sure he is on the right path, and having a child in his bed is far from that.”

The kid scoffed. “I am seventeen, eighteen in just a few days. Yet here you are turning forty-five.”

Obi-wan choked on his own tongue. “I am thirty-seven!”  

“The grays in your hair say otherwise.”

Force how he wished Qui-Gon was here now to help him. How did his old master deal with him? How was it that Anakin sneaking out for illegal pod races or Ahsoka losing her lightsaber was less of a problem than his own self?  

“Besides, I’m closer to his age than you are. Wouldn’t you want someone more suited, that Duchess perhaps?”

Well that was still a problem. He wanted to keep Satine out as long as possible, seeing as he did not meet her for a few more years. “What does she have to do with this?”

“Everything, actually.” He watched Obi cross his arms, mirroring Obi-Wan. “You have her, and I have yet to meet her, so I have Master Skywalker. We all win.”

Who was winning what? What competition was he missing out on? “I am not with the Duchess.”

“You’re not?” He asked, clearly skeptical. “You didn’t just spend an entire month on Mandalore, from which I heard has a huge civil war problem and had rejected the Jedi several times, to be with your ex girlfriend?”

“It was a personal favor. And–-no,” Obi-Wan raised his hand. “I do not have to explain this to you. You will cease this behavior or else I will go to Mace and Yoda.”

That finally seemed to do the trick. Threatened to separate him from Anakin, and Obi-Wan refused to feel bad when he watched his own face fall. He knew that look, the one where he would do everything in his power to hide back the tears he so desperately wanted to cry out. 

“Fine. But you don’t get to be jealous. You already chose the Duchess, so let him be happy.”

“I’m not–”

“I’ll prepare dinner then,” Obi said, taking a deep breath to calm himself down. Let the anger flow through the Force. Let it go. “Are you eating with us?”

It was better than nothing. “Yes. Please make extra for Ahsoka too.”

There was an odd twitch in the younger’s mouth at the mention of her name. “Sure.” He said before finally leaving the room.

Once he heard the pots and pans clank Obi-Wan let himself fall into his bed, a headache settling in. 

He reached out into the Force again, desperate to get something from Qui-Gon. He’s instead met with silence. 

“Did it seem like I was courting the Duchess?”

“Sir, if not for your obvious infatuation with Skywalker I would say yes. Which by the way some of the men changed their bets once we got to Mandalore.”

“Is there anything your men don’t bet on?”

“Podracing. That’s actually illegal.”

The younger Obi-Wan headed his warnings, keeping all forms of PDA to a bare minimum. While he still preferred to sit by Anakin during meals and accompany him when out, they do nothing more than stand side by side. At night Anakin went to bed, alone, while he pouted loudly in their room. 

Tech and Cordova swore on the Force they were close to a final answer. They were taking a detour to the star system near Lenahra to find some sort of anomaly before reporting back to Coruscant, meaning his younger self would still be stuck with them for the time being. 

After all this time living together, the three of them were civil at best, and maybe it was Anakin’s naivety but he did not seem to notice the tension between the two of them. Nor had he found a way to differentiate the two, always referring to them by their first name, and smiling so brightly when they would both reply. 

That smile was always reserved for him, and now he had to share it with himself. 

Anakin was finally taking time with his PT. He could walk around the apartment without obviously limping, and asked to be accompanied when taking a stroll through the temple gardens. Both Obi-Wans offered. So it was an afternoon of Anakin mindlessly talking as Obi-Wan glared at his younger self, and the younger returning. 

“New betting pool Rex ,” He overheard Fives, when the three of them left the Clone barracks one night, “Which Kenobi will kill the other first ?”

What was Obi-Wan’s life?

He finally got a break from himself when he Obi was dragged out by Ahsoka and Barriss for their birthday. He was protesting lightly, but Ahsoka insisted, saying they all needed to celebrate first as Padawans, and that they’d have him back later so he could celebrate with the Masters.

He truly had forgotten about his birthday, too preoccupied with not murdering the terror that was himself. 

Usually, he and Anakin would celebrate their days with dinner, either at a nice restaurant downtown with dessert to-go and enjoy themselves in their room, but last year they were separated, deployed on two different missions. Anakin still called him, in the middle of a battle with lasers flying and telling him that he better live to celebrate next year. It was sweet, it was dangerous. Maybe that was when Obi-Wan realized he loved Anakin more than a Padawan, more than a brother.

But with his younger self gone, he had a few moments to just himself and Anakin. Maybe he could steal Anakin away for the whole afternoon, just the two of them like old times. 

All thoughts left his head when Anakin walked out of the refresher in just a towel that hung very low around his waist. He couldn't miss the trail of trimmed hair that disappeared under the towel, nor how perk his nipples were from the cool air of the room. “Happy Birthday, Master” Anakin said with a wink.

Happy birthday indeed. 

“Hey, did you want to try that new dumpling place? I hear they have a special.”

Obi-Wan choked on his own spit as he watched a droplet of water slide down Anakin’s toned abs and disappear under the towel. 

“Obi-Wan?”

“Yes, yeah that sounds…” Delicious as he thought of licking the water off him.

“Cool, I’ll reserve for tonight so little Wan can join.”

Now his fantasy was broken. “Little-Wan?”

“Yeah, I mean he is the little version of you.” Anakin said as he sauntered to his room. He didn’t close his door and kept talking, louder so Obi-Wan could hear him. “Obi’s a cute nickname but I can’t help but say ‘Wan’ and then it’s confusing again. Well, I guess I could keep calling you Master.”

“I don’t think nicknames are necessary.” Obi-Wan said, following Anakin to his room. He watched as his former Padawan shuffled through his closet, debating between a dark tunic and a darker tunic. “He will not be here for long for that to be necessary anymore.”

“…about that.” Anakin was holding a robe, playing with the fabric between his fingers. “What if we can’t bring him back?”

“Whatever do you mean? We have several people working on that.”

“I know, but we barely understand how he got here in the first place, and I haven’t felt that weird shift in the Force since his arrival. What if he’s stuck here?”

Obi-Wan frowned, crossing his arms over his chest to keep his hands in place. “I doubt he will be here any longer than his unwelcomed stay, but I am sure we can arrange something with Master Yoda as to what to do with him.”

He was surprised when Anakin turned to him with a harsh glare, one he only saw directed at Separatists. “Why do you hate him?”

“Excuse me?”

Anakin waved a mech-finger at him. “I thought you were just weirded out–which I understand–but you want him gone . Don’t think I’ve noticed how you two are constantly glaring at each other during meals, or when he offers to take me to PT.”

Damn the Force, he was so sure Anakin was just ignorantly bliss as he never said anything.

“I do not hate myself, Anakin.”

“Could have fooled me. He’s you, Obi-Wan. You must remember what it was like to be him at that age.” He did, clearly, But he also knew at that point of his life he was a little busy surviving on a planet that literally ate its inhabitants alive. “Look, he’s scared. He doesn’t say it out loud but I can sense it. He doesn’t know what happened either, but he’s just as afraid to return.”

Obi-Wan knew that too. That was his mindset when he set off for Lenahra on a stolen ship, knowing he would surely be kicked out of the Order for running away. He knew it would be proof, he was not meant to be a Jedi. 

“We are all unsure of what to do, but coddling him will not help.”

Anakin snorted, tossing his clothes aside to sit on his bed. Obi-Wan had to look away, as Anakin had his legs open shamelessly. “I am not coddling him. I don’t even coddle Ahsoka.”

“No, you don’t. But you’re not treating him like you treat Ahsoka. You two cuddle while watching holos! He tries to sleep in your bed! If you wouldn’t allow Ahsoka to do that, why him?”

“Because he reciprocates!” 

“Reciprocates what?!”

Anakin stared at him like Obi-Wan grew a third head, eyes widened and mouth agape. “Did puberty make you oblivious, Master?”

“Oblivious?!”

He wasn’t going to allow his heart to open. For Anakin to reciprocate his hidden feelings–-it was impossible. 

Anakin scoffed, running his hand through his wet hair. He turned his gaze away and quieted his voice. “I…Obi-Wan I’ve always loved you. More than I’m allowed, but you would never love me that way. And then a younger you drops in my life, not afflicted with the war or the Jedi code or the Duchess so…how could I not?”

Unable to hold himself up, Obi-Wan clumsily took a seat by Anakin’s desk as he took in his former Padawan’s words. And once again, Satine’s name was brought up, filled with dismay when no one truly knew her. They may no longer be together, he may no longer love her like he did as a Padawan, but he could not fathom why Anakin and his younger self said her name with negativity. 

“Satine and I are not together.” Obi-Wan said. “And to take a version of me so naive, untouched by the war, unscarred…Am I imperfect to you now?”

Maybe that was why Anakin could never love him. He knew Obi-Wan had killed, how many times he chose the lives of many over a few. The nightmares he tried to keep at bay, unbeknownst how every death lived in his head. 

“Imperfect?! Far from that Master!” Anakin’s chest was rising and falling as his voice grew louder. “I love you no matter what–but you do not feel that way. He does!”

“I do love you!” Obi-Wan confessed, matching Anakin’s tone. “So why have you chosen him over me?!”

A beat of silence. Anakin's eyes widened with shock, mind completely muted from the Force. 

“You love me?” It was as if the wind was knocked out of Anakin. “You truly love me?”

It was all out in the open now, and Obi-Wan felt no qualms to take it back. He wanted Anakin to know he was here, now, and he would not lose to himself. “Anakin, I’ve loved you for so long, I just thought..,”

Thought that Anakin was still in love with Padme, despite their break up. Thought Anakin could never love a man broken like him. Why would he love a man sixteen years his senior when he had people his own age by his side? 

Why would he fall in love with a man who was never a good Jedi?

Anakin stood up abruptly, startling Obi-Wan. But then by the Force, Obi-Wan was put on his feet. “Anakin–”

And their lips crashed.

Anakin held his face like he was a precious gem, gentle yet firm so he couldn’t run. Obi-Wan didn’t want to run and instead tangled his hands in Anakin’s long hair, pressing their bodies closer. 

Suddenly, Obi-Wan was aware he was wearing too many layers just as Anakin’s towel fell to the floor. He didn’t want to let go of Anakin, though, and his body protested to be naked with him, or rut like an animal against his skin.

As if Anakin could read his mind, he began undoing Obi-Wan’s robes, pushing them over his shoulders to join with the ever growing pile of clothes on the floor. And when he was finally naked too, Obi-Wan pushed him onto the bed with a laugh. 

Anakin laughed with him, but Obi-Wan didn’t miss the way he was wincing. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, just the leg.” Anakin kissed the top of Obi-Wan’s forehead. “I’m good, don’t leave me.”

“Never.” Obi-Wan promised. “I won’t, now that I have you.” 

Anakin’s smile was brighter than any sun. He reached for Obi-Wan’s hand and brought his knuckles to his lips. “You’re mine. I’m yours.”

“Yes.” Obi-Wan's breath hitched with every kiss. “Anakin, my dear I want you.”

“Yeah, yeah I want you, too. Fuck can you reach over?” Anakin tilted his head to his nightstand drawer, and Obi-Wan, straddling his hips, reached over to find a bottle of lube, half full. He turned to Anakin, eyebrow raised.

“Hey, I was bored during my first week in the cast.”

“Hope you thought of me.”

“Always.”

Squeezing a generous amount of lube on his fingers, Obi-Wan leaned down to kiss Anakin once again, and then reached behind himself and pressed a finger in. 

Anakin’s hands rubbed his back, soothing Obi-Wan as he adjusted to his own intrusion. It had been ages since he’s last taken care of himself this way, too cramped in his ship bunk or too loud in the camp he’d set up in, but with Anakin present he relaxed, wanting nothing more than to finally have his best friend, the man he longed for, inside him.

“You’re kriffing gorgeous, Obi-Wan.” Anakin was now rubbing his hips, sliding down to his splayed thighs. “You should be naked more often.”

“I don’t–” He bit his lips when he inserted a third finger, “--think the council would approve.”

“Kriff them, stay here, just for me.”

And how much Obi-Wan truly wanted that. To always be in Anakin’s bed, in Anakin’s arms, skin on skin and their tongues tasting each other for the rest of their lives. 

He felt Anakin’s cock twitch against his thigh, hard and wet just for him. Anakin couldn’t take his eyes off Obi-Wan’s either, making him feel somewhat self conscious of his body. Unlike Anakin, who was completely fit with a nice set of abs and toned muscles, Obi-Wan was softer around his stomach, muscles aching rather than hard. 

“Hey, don’t think like that.” Anakin was definitely reading his thoughts. Or was Obi-Wan’s sudden shyness flowing through the Force? “I love every part of you.”

“Anakin…”

“When I can get on my knees, let me worship you.” Anakin promised, kissing Obi-Wan’s wrist, and Obi-Wan so desperately wanted that. He selfishly wanted all of Anakin’s love and passion, just for him. 

He leaned down, capturing his lips once again just as he adjusted his hips. He couldn’t wait any longer as he blindly reached for Anakin’s cock, aligning it with his wet hole. But just as he sank down on the tip, a new presence in the Force caught his attention, and evidently so did Anakin.

They turn to the now open door, met with the flustered face of his younger self.

Obi tugged at his braid, feet shuffling as he tried to regain balance. His eyes were on them, but they’re also on the verge of tears. “S-sorry! I’m–”

“Shit, Obi-Wan!” Anakin yelled as the younger sprinted out of the room. 

Cursing, Obi-Wan leapt off the bed, grabbing a piece of clothing from the floor to cover himself as he chased after his younger version, just catching him before he was out of the apartment. 

“I’m sorry!” He cried out, trying to hide his face. He couldn't hold it in anymore, face wet and cheeks puffed “Something felt weird, so I just came back and–”

Oh no, he wondered if he felt what they were doing. What cursed Force connection did he have? 

“I’ll go. Please just let me–”

But Obi-Wan could feel his distress, more so than embarrassment. No matter how much Obi-Wan tried to control his emotions as a teen, eventually he would burst like a dam for holding it in too long.

Consider his feelings, Mace had said. Maybe it was time to truly do that. To watch the man he loved with another-–he could only imagine how much it hurt, especially at his age.  

“Obi-Wan, please don’t go.”

Joining them was Anakin, who had the right mind to find a pair of boxers to cover himself. He approached with caution, metal hand on Obi-Wan’s lower back, the other extended out for the younger one. 

But Obi shook his head. “No, you two have each other. It’s not–” fair , he knew he wanted to say. “Right.” 

“Why not?” Anakin asked. “I told you. Both of you. I love you.”

Anakin’s determination, all his love and devotion surged through the Force, engulfing them with warmth. 

“And I’m selfish.” Anakin said with a small laugh. “I will always love you, I’m not choosing between the two of you when I want it all.”

It was strange, knowing Anakin was talking to both of them yet his words were for one person. Because in the end this Padawan was still Obi-Wan. They shared similar memories, their fears and their hopes. Obi-Wan was just being reminded of who he used to be, while the younger one could see the man he became. 

To seal it all, Anakin leaned down and kissed the younger Obi-Wan, and then turned to kiss him. “Now, I want to go lie down. You two are welcome to join me, but if you run out, either of you, I will chase you down,  twist my foot, and I’ll be stuck in PT until the end of time.”

An odd threat from him, but unnecessary as the Padawan finally took Anakin’s hand, and he led the two back to his bedroom. 

Anakin was the first to fall on his back, arms spread out for the other two to join him. Obi-Wan went in first, snuggling close to Anakin’s right side. The younger stayed at the edge of the bed, still tugging at his braid. “S-should I take off my clothes?”

Ah, yes they were both practically naked. “Whatever you want, Obi.” Anakin said. 

He watched his younger self debate internally before he undid his robe, and then his under tunic. He kept his pants on, however, before joining them on the bed to Anakin’s left.

“Hm, this wasn’t necessarily a fantasy of mine.” Anakin’s voice was filled with amusement as he squeezed them both. “But I’m not questioning the Force.”

“Oh? And what are these fantasies?” Obi-Wan asked as he pressed a kiss to Anakin’s neck.

“Easy, having you ride me while sitting on your Council chair.” Obi choked on air, squirming closer to Anakin as to hide his face. “Can you imagine it? You’d definitely give the Council a show.”

Obi kept his face hidden. “No, don’t want them to see me.” 

Obi-Wan felt the same. He only wanted to be at his most vulnerable for Anakin, and Anakin only. 

Luckily Anakin also understood, pressing a kiss to the younger’s forehead. “Don’t worry, it’s just a fantasy. You’re all just for me.” Then he turned, kissing Obi-Wan too, “Now, wanna lay here for a bit or celebrate your birthday?”

“How about we celebrate here?” Obi-Wan asked. “Just us?” 

Because that’s all he really wanted. His day with Anakin. 

“Hm, okay.” Anakin agreed with a yawn. “Just let me know what you wanna do.”

“Hey, no yawning. It’s our birthdays and you’re getting  tired?” Obi asked with a pout. 

Anakin shrugged. “I have the men I love in my arms, in my bed, I can either fuck you two or nap with you. Either way I’m happy.”

Such simplicity with Anakin, but Obi-Wan didn’t miss how the word fuck affected his teenage self. Hell, Obi-Wan still wanted to fuck too. 

“I’ve been waiting for years for you to kark me,” Obi-Wan admitted, watching with delight as Anakin flushed at his words. “Are you going to do it?”

The way Anakin’s cock strained in his boxers, leaving a very impressional outline made Obi-Wan drool, as if he wasn’t holding it just a few minutes earlier. Evidently, Obi noticed too, his face turning impossibly redder. 

“I haven’t…”

“It’s okay, Obi.” Anakin carded his fingers through his long hair. “You don’t have to–”

“No! I want to! But I’m not…experienced. Like you two.”

Ah, right. Obi-Wan definitely did not start experimenting until after Lenahra. But it was no harm to start early, if he was still considering the teenager’s feelings. And because he was him, he knew he wanted to do more. 

Never say Obi-Wan Kenobi was not an eager learner.

“Then we can start by watching.” Obi-Wan said. “What kind of masters would we be if we just made you jump in?”

Obi-Wan shimmed down the bed, tugging at Anakin’s boxers along the way and helped him out of it. Having Anakin’s cock right by his face was a delight when he only ever caught a glimpse when he left the refresher. Taking a whiff of his smell, Obi-Wan glided his tongue over the slit where pre-cum leaked. He smiled as Anakin twitched in his mouth, but kept all touches light as to tease him. 

Anakin gripped the sheets with one hand, the other tangled on Obi’s long hair. He was trying his best not to thrust his hips so suddenly, and Obi-Wan smiled around his cock, wanting to see Anakin lose control but also do everything in his power to stay where he was. 

Anakin growled lowly as the bed shifted. Obi-Wan opened his eyes to see his younger reflection staring intently, so Obi-Wan popped off with a trail of saliva still connected to his cock. 

“Want to give him a try?”

Obi nodded furiously, clear with intent and determination. Pushing his hair over his ear, Obi leaned in and tried to copy the older’s moves, first licking tentatively at the slit and pulling back when the saltiness danced on his tongue. “Taste weird?”

“Hey,” Anakin whined.

“Didn’t…expect it.” Obi said but went back anyway.

He was like a kitten, testing the waters with his pink tongue and just licking to get used to the taste. Obi-Wan reached out and rubbed his back, encouraging him to take the cock further into his mouth. Obi did so too fast, trying to take as much as he could and gagging as Anakin suddenly thrust his hips. 

“Sorry! Sorry!” Anakin sat up on his elbows, clearly concerned for him.

Obi coughed but shook his head. “It’s okay, I can do it.”

“Take it slowly, Padawan.” Obi-Wan said to him. “Lick around here.” He placed his hand on the base of Anakin’s cock, and with the lightest touch trailed his finger up his shaft. “I’ll take care of the head.”

Anakin immediately fell back with a low groan as the two Obi-Wans got to work. The younger one followed his instructions.

He was sure the sensation was too much for Anakin as his former Padawan held off as long as he could. But two mouths, two tongues dancing with each other would drive any man wild. 

“Obi-Wan, I’m going–”

“In my mouth, or on our faces?” Obi-Wan asked right before taking the cock back in.

“Kark , I don’t–anything.” Anakin withered, “Fuck, fuck Obi-Wan!”

And that was the only warning Obi-Wan had when his mouth was suddenly filled with Anakin’s cum, thick and salty yet his . He pulled back to see his younger’s eyes with pure fascination and lust. Licking his lips, Obi-Wan gently tipped Obi’s chin to meet his gaze and went in for a kiss, allowing the Padawan to taste too. 

Obi moaned under his touch, opening his mouth and swallowing what Obi-Wan offered. 

“Oh Force that’s fucking hot.” Anakin said, breaking all tension. “Happy karking birthday to me.”

Obi-Wan pulled away with a raised brow. He peered down, seeing his cock already twitching for more. “Must you ruin the moment?”

“Must you be such a slut?” Anakin snipped back.

He felt Obi shudder at the word. 

“Get up here, both of you.” Anakin demanded, and they scrambled back into his arms as Anakin first gave Obi a deep kiss, tongue and all. Once he left him breathless he turned to Obi-Wan and kissed him with the same intensity, tasting himself on his lips. 

Obi-Wan reached down to stroke Anakin’s cock back to full hardness. As fun as it was to have him come in his mouth he wanted more. He wanted Anakin in his ass forever, and whenever they could. 

“I’m riding you, dear one.” Obi-Wan declared. He found the lube that was still miraculously on the bed, squeezing a generous amount onto his hand. “And when your leg is better you can fuck me standing up.”

“Yes, yes to all of that. Kark, why couldn’t I heal faster?”

“Because you are irresponsible.” Obi-Wan said fondly. Anakin’s cock was twitching under his touch, and once he was fully slick Obi-Wan repositioned himself as he was before.

Beside Anakin, Obi fully removed his pants and boxers, revealing his cock that was red and leaking. “Can I go next?”

Obi-Wan and Anakin shared a concerned look, and either through their bond, or because they just knew each other that well, they had to decline him. “No, you aren’t ready yet.”

“How am I not?”

“Have you done this before?” Obi-Wan asked, knowing the answer. “Ever try to finger yourself, even?”

Obi huffed, hiding his face in Anakin’s shoulder. “No…”

“This would be too much for you,” Anakin said. “But…”

The way his younger self perked was honestly adorable. How could Obi-Wan find him so annoying just hours earlier?

[He knew why. Turns out the best way to get along with yourself is to share the Chosen One]

“You could sit on my face.”

Oh how innocent he still was, clearly confused. “Won’t you…is that comfortable for you?”

“Very much.” Anakin smiled. “Come on up, face Obi-Wan, thighs by the side of my head.”

He felt Anakin’s cock press between his ass, but he waited until his younger self got into position. Obi still looked skeptical as he leaned forward in order to balance himself with the weight of his arms on the bed. Obi-Wan reached out, stroking his hair until Anakin finally went in for the kill.

He watched his younger self shudder, eyes widened with the sudden intrusion of a tongue in his arse. “M-Master!”

His cock twitched beautifully, already dripping as Anakin gripped his thighs tightly, unashamed of the noises he made as he ate him out.

“Say his name, young one.” Obi-Wan encouraged.

“A-Anakin! You–”

Somehow, Obi-Wan knew Anakin was smirking as he had this tongue in his ass. For all the talking he did, he sure knew when to use his mouth correctly, and Obi-Wan thrived knowing that one day that would be him

Until then, though, Obi-Wan finally sank down on Anakin’s cock, inch by inch until he was sitting on him fully. It had been so long since he felt this full but it felt so right. It was like Anakin was made for him, just as he was made for Anakin.

Something surged through the Force, nothing but pure bliss and pleasure as the two Kenobis took it all. Obi-Wan slowly began riding him, gyrating his hips just for a bit of teasing, just as Anakin was doing to his younger self. 

It was arousing, watching the kid’s face fall back with pure bliss, mouth agape with saliva, eyes close and head thrown back. Anakin was doing such a good job with him, and Obi-Wan couldn’t wait to eventually have all that attention just for himself. 

When Obi began stroking himself, Obi-Wan decided to pick up the pace. He found the perfect rhythm, the perfect angle that electrified his body. He couldn’t stop now as he gripped his cock, thrusting into his hand at the same pace he bounced on Anakin’s cock. 

“Anakin! Master–” Obi looked directly at him as he pleaded . "I wanna come, please!”

“So polite.” Obi-Wan cooed. “Come, Padawan. You deserve it.”

He cried out, shooting onto Anakin’s stomach and painting him. Obi-Wan was not far behind, clenching down and finally coming too. Inside his ass, Anakin emptied himself while still trying to thrust in, keeping all his seed in him.

Obi-Wan hummed at the sensation as he came down from his high, helping his younger stay upright as he removed himself from Anakin’s face. 

Obi-Wan peppered him with kisses and praises, saying he did so well and they were proud of him. Obi preened at his words, nuzzling into Obi-Wan’s touch. 

Hand out, Obi-Wan pulled a towel with the Force and began wiping them down. Preferably, he wanted to lick their spend off of Anakin’s abs, but he couldn’t overwhelm them in one afternoon.

“Ah, improper use of the Force.” Anakin laughed. 

Obi-Wan clicked his tongue, tossing the dirty towel onto the floor of their clothes before snuggling back into bed, both Obi-Wans on either side of Anakin. Obi-Wan took to kissing him first, needing to feel his lips on him again when Obi made a noise.

“But, your mouth was just…”

“And you two shared my cum.” Anakin said, making the younger blush furiously. “We can be a little gross here.”

“Please do not refer to my arse as gross.” Obi-Wan said, lightly pinching Anakin’s side as punishment.

“Never, Master.” Anakin turned to Obi with a smile. “Never, Obi-Wan.”

Celebrating was far from over, but Anakin quickly fell asleep with a dopey smile on his face. He had his arms wrapped around them, head turned towards Obi. Obi-Wan watched his chest rise and fall, memorizing his own scars he’s gained over the years of war. He thought the younger one was asleep too, until he spoke up.

“Do I really have to go back?”

His voice was so quiet, scared. A feeling Obi-Wan never liked to experience. “It is for the best. I cannot imagine the distress Qui-Gon is going through now that you are missing.”

“But…he doesn’t… We're a burden to him.”

Obi-Wan held his tongue from correcting him They were never a burden to Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon was simply inexperienced, just barely knighted and left by his own Master and suddenly given a Padawan learner. It was what Obi-Wan went through when he begged to train Anakin. Neither of them at their ranks were ready for the responsibility. 

Yet, Obi-Wan still remembered the hurt. The feeling of being unwanted. He was not chosen by Master Jinn, simply assigned. He wanted to prove himself so badly he was worthy of being a Jedi when every step he took said otherwise. 

But he learned, and he grew with his Master. No matter how unconventional Qui-Gon was, Obi-Wan couldn’t have asked for another Master. 

“We are not.” Obi-Wan said, reaching out to his Padawan braid. “Qui-Gon is an odd man, but we were never a burden to him.”

“Does it get better?”

He ignored the pain of his Master dying in his arms. The beginning of what would soon be the rise of the sith. He ignored the questions if it was truly better when your Master was dead. 

“It will." He said instead. Because even with his death, it was always good between them. "But you will just have to be patient.”

Obi rolled his eyes, knowing full well Obi-Wan was just repeating what Jinn probably told him a million times. “Ugh, I guess we are Qui-Gon’s Padawan.”

Obi-Wan laughed. “We really are.” 

Needless to say it was the best name day Obi-Wan’s ever celebrated. When they were awake and refreshed from a shower, the three headed out for dinner, surprised by their troops and Ahsoka too for warm festivities. With drinks and songs, and being with the people he loved, Obi-Wan couldn’t ask for a better day.

The morning after, Clone Force 99 landed with a solution.

“The gravitational pull around Lenahra is surrounded by  temporal wormholes,” Tech began to explain. “Your ship said it had odd readings, correct?”

“Yes, there was an asteroid system I could see, but the droid and the computer could not.”

“That is just one example. You must have entered a wormhole that returned you here, and after comparing the readings from the ship’s droid, we were able to pinpoint your timeline. You’d return as if no time had passed.”

It was great news, and definitely one of scientific discoveries to later explore.

But it was still bittersweet to suddenly have him leave.

It was for the best, they all knew. There was already one Obi-Wan Kenobi here, and the other’s universe needed their’s back. 

They said their goodbyes in the hanger, Tech already inputting the coordinates where Obi-Wan needed to fly to. Still, he watched his younger self hesitate as he looked at his ship. 

“I’ll miss you.” His younger self said to Anakin, just out of ear shot from everyone else. “What if…what if I don’t have you in my time?”

But Anakin, graceful as ever, snorted at the idea, pulling Obi into a tight hug. “Where there is a Kenobi, a Skywalker is not far behind.” He kissed the top of his head. “You’ll find me.”

There wasn’t much more for Obi-Wan to add. Through all this, he hoped his younger self just knew if this was what he wanted, he’d go through it. No matter the challenges, no matter how many times he’d fall, he’d get back up and try again.

With one last goodbye, he watched his Padawan self enter the stolen ship, and fly out into the universe.

Anakin joined him by his side, wrapping his arm around his shoulder and kissing Obi-Wan’s temple. “He’ll be okay.”

“I know he will.” Obi-Wan said. “But when he finds you–”

“He’ll call me an insignificant lifeform?”

“I already apologized for that, dear one.”

Anakin laughed, this time pulling Obi-Wan closer to him, uncaring who may be watching in the hanger. “And his Anakin will forgive him.”

No matter how long it had taken for Obi-Wan and Anakin to finally be together, it was worth every hardship, every time his heart broke, every battle they fought to protect the galaxy. Obi-Wan was ready for the present, with his Anakin. 

And he knew, the young Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi would find his path into the arms of the man he loved.

18 years later:

Obi-Wan stirred awake as the bed creaked. He smiled, though, when the body behind him rutted against his bare arse, completely unaware of what he was actually doing.

Oh to be young and full of vigor. Obi-Wan wished he still had that stamina, but his lover more than made up for it. 

“Anakin,” he whispered, lightly squeezing the arm around his waist to wake him up. The movements stopped, and behind him he felt the other man lift his head. 

“Master?”

“You were rutting on me like an animal in heat.”

“Sorry Master…I was having a good dream.”

So shameless about his feelings, Obi-Wan turned in his arms to face him. 

This really was his Anakin. The boy he would come to meet on an outer rim planet, away from the war but familiar with violence. The Chosen One, Qui-Gon had said, and for Obi-Wan he was chosen to be his , just as the other Anakin promised him.

He thought it was wrong at first to be his Master. Obi-Wan grew fondly to the idea of being Skywalker’s Padawan, still holding that bit of jealousy on the Togruta girl who did not deserve his selfish behavior, but now that he was in the role, he wouldn’t ask it another way. He reached out for Anakin’s braid, twirling it in his fingers. 

Anakin smiled, leaning in for a quick kiss. “Hm, Master, I have lessons today.”

“I know you do.” Obi-Wan said, kissing him again. “But not for another hour. We can go back to sleep or–”

He laughed when he felt Anakin’s cock twitch against his. “Sorry Master, but it is morning.”

“Never apologize for that, dear one.” 

Anakin preened at the nickname, somehow pushing their bodies closer than ever. “Then…may I have you again?”

Yes, always yes, was what Obi-Wan thought. For as long as Anakin would have him. 

Present day:

“Cody, who won the betting pool?”

“99”

“The special force?”

“No, the old clone 99”

“He was in on the bet? How?” 

“Good hearing, or so he says.”

“Hey Obi-Wan, Cody! I hear 99 is retiring. We should throw him a party!”

“Did you ever tell General Skywalker about the betting pool?”

“No, and if you speak of it I will have you demoted.”

“Sir yes sir.”