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For all that everyone seemed to think Obi-Wan and Padmé got along as good friends and acquaintances, Padmé could say with full confidence that this was not the case.
It was true enough at first, Obi-Wan was kind and courteous, a true gentleman. But after Padmé tied the knot with Anakin, it was like a switch was flipped in Obi-Wan’s brain that instantly put Padmé in enemy territory rather than friend territory.
He was still kind and courteous, but his polite tone and soft smile hid vicious scrutiny and slight passive-aggressive remarks.
She had almost thought herself crazy the first time Obi-Wan said something questionable.
“Padmé, I know that things are difficult for you with the war, but you’ve done so well with the abilities you have,” Obi-Wan said warmly. But Padmé hadn’t been crowned queen as a child for nothing.
Condescending, Obi-Wan was being condescending to her right now.
She turned shocked eyes to Anakin, hoping that he too heard his patronizing tone hidden under amiability but unfortunately she was to be disappointed.
“He’s right Padmé, you're doing amazing,” he praised instead. Which Padmé supposed was kind of him but that wasn't the issue.
On the surface, the words seemed like a compliment, but then you looked underneath and you realized they were rotten.
Obi-Wan was basically implying that Padmé was lacking.
He didn't say resources you have, he said abilities.
Padmé wondered if she was being paranoid.
Perhaps being around politicians so often caused her to look too deeply into everyone’s words?
After all, people could say things without truly understanding the full weight of what was coming out of their mouth.
Obi-Wan must have just used the wrong word.
Padmé could have convinced herself as such if the next time Obi-Wan spoke to her, the same thing didn't happen.
“Padmé, that was a surprisingly effective speech,” Obi-Wan told her with geniality. Padmé narrowed her eyes.
“What do you mean by surprisingly?” Padmé asked tightly, barely keeping out the upset that settled in.
“I just didn't think the Conani population would be so willing to listen after months of war. You're very talented in the use of the abilities you have,” Obi-Wan smiled at her winningly but Padmé couldn't shake the feeling that he was mocking her.
“Truer words Master! Truer words!” Anakin said with giddied delight.
And when night fell and Anakin visited her, she tried to get across her feelings but it was for not.
“Anakin, don't you think Obi-Wan dislikes me?” Padmé hesitantly after things settled down enough for them to simply talk. Anakin looked at her in blatant confusion.
“What? But he compliments you all the time,” Anakin was quick to reassure.
“Anakin, those aren't- they sound like compliments yes? But when you actually listen to the words being said, they aren't. Take today, he said my speech was surprisingly effective. Like he didn't expect me to succeed at all,” Padmé tried to articulate.
“Yeah but Padmé, I was surprised too. The Conani seemed like they were going to be pro separatists to the last breath. We lost a lot of men in battle. It’s really surprising that all it took for them to back down after so much bloodshed was a speech. Of course, the speech was amazing but Obi-Wan’s right, it’s surprising,” Anakin explained.
Padmé nodded her head in agreement.
Anakin was right of course and both Obi-Wan and he had spent far longer on the battlefront than she had. Of course, Obi-Wan would be surprised.
But her gut told her there was more to it.
That Obi-Wan was being deliberate in the words he said.
Still, despite this, she put her doubts away and spent the night simply basking in Anakin’s presence.
“It’s like he’s targeting me,” Padmé finally said months later. Sabé raises her eyebrows but Padmé pays it no mind.
“He’s- he’s making all these easily explained comments that look nice at first, but then when you think about them they're like hidden daggers. And he always has an excuse for why he said it the way he did. And god knows Anakin won't hear a word against him. To Anakin, everything has an explanation and he believes that explanation despite how often it happens!” Padmé raised her hands up and swung them around in exaggerated movements. Sabé watched her with mild amusement.
“Padmé, no offense, but what you just explained is the relationship between a mother-in-law and her new bride,” Sabé finally said after Padmé was finished.
“What?” Padmé asked, unsure if she had heard correctly.
“You know, passive-aggressive remarks, posturing, the son always takes the mother’s side even though the wife is angry. Ring a bell?” Sabé asked with mirth, thoroughly enjoying this.
“Sabé, are you saying that Obi-Wan is my mother-in-law?” Padmé tried asking for clarification.
“Yeah, and you're the harlot that married his son without even asking for his permission or inviting him to the wedding,” Sabé said with evil glee.
“Oh my god,” Padmé whispered, sitting down on her couch with a plop.
“I’m not sure why you're surprised, Obi-Wan raised Anakin, he’s his master,” Sabé shook her head in honest confusion. It was a fair question though, what did Padmé expect?
A warm welcome?
“Oh my god,” Padmé repeated, the true implications of it all finally hitting her.
She had been treating Obi-Wan not as a respected parent of her partner, but instead as a friend that was butting in where he was not needed.
God if her parents ever found out how she treated her father-in-law they would spank her for the disrespect.
It was bad enough that her own parents hadn't been at the wedding but they’d at least been informed and invited.
Obi-Wan had been given the courtesy of neither.
“Oh my god,” Padmé reiterated because it bears repeating.
Time continues on and Padmé starts genuinely treating Obi-Wan as she should have in the first place.
Not as a friend of a friend or a politician to a Jedi, but instead as daughter-in-law to her new mother-in-law.
And it works.
Obi-Wan backs off.
At first, he had considered her with confusion and distrust, but after steady and constant behavior, Obi-Wan finally cooled off.
Anakin had been jealous and bewildered at first before Padmé told him that she needed to be respectful to her husband’s family.
At which point he went bright red, stuttering that Obi-Wan wasn't his parent.
Which wasn't even what Padmé had said?
Needless to say, they both stared at the other in silence before Anakin ran off in embarrassment.
“Master Kenobi,” Padmé greets respectfully.
Obi-Wan glances at her before smiling.
The smile was more real than that of two years prior.
“Senator Amidala, it’s been too long,” Obi-Wan says fondly.
Padmé grins back and basks in the satisfaction that was her mother-in-law’s approval.
“Ah, I must give you something before I forget,” Obi-Wan hands her a datapad from his satchel and Padmé opens it with the slightest bit of puzzlement.
When she finally turns it on and skims the context she looks up and smiles brightly.
“Thank you,” Padmé says softly, truly thankful.
Obi-Wan just nods before turning away.
A two-month mission with Anakin as her bodyguard.
After so long with no time to themselves, this would be wonderful.