Chapter Text
Obi-Wan put his hands on the table in front of him as he listened to another briefing aboard his ship. He and his men, together with the 501st, were trying to figure out how to quell a Separatist revolt on a jungle planet. What was supposed to be a simple mission was turning into an extended attack, and they had already lost many, many men on both sides. He hated the thought of losing any more lives, and he needed to focus if he wanted to prevent that. But today, he was finding it difficult to focus, and the hologram in front of him was bothering his eyes. Even though he wasn’t particularly tired, he found himself yawning repeatedly, despite his best efforts to stifle the yawns.
After several minutes of telling himself to focus, Obi-Wan, he noticed Anakin’s attention on him from across the table. He met his concerned gaze with a small smile, communicating that he was fine. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to refocus. Yes, Anakin was more perceptive than most, but still, Obi-Wan needed to be better at hiding how unfocused he was. He put his hand to his beard, stroking it as he listened to what Cody was saying. He hoped this plan would work. It had to.
“So, Anakin and I will attack from behind here,” he gestured to the hologram, “while the rest of you go in on the sides,” said Obi-Wan, making sure they were all on the same page. “Once we take control of the tower, we’ll release the prisoners and go from there,” he concluded. He sighed. “This needs to work. We’ll all have to stay alert; we’ve been here a long time, but hopefully it’ll be over soon.” He looked around at the soldiers surrounding him. They looked almost haggard, but determined to see this mission to completion. “Is everyone on board with this plan?” When he was met by nods, he continued. “Good. We’ll start the campaign in two hours to get some things together before then. Conveniently, the sun will be in our enemy’s eyes then too. We’ll head out at that time,” he concluded.
“Good job out there, men. Let’s finish the job,” said Anakin. He looked at Obi-Wan again as he turned the hologram off, then Obi-Wan turned to see his men off as they left the room.
Finally, he watched the last member of the 212th leave the room, and now that no one was watching, Obi-Wan let himself yawn hugely.
“So, what was that you said about staying alert?”
Well, no one was watching except Anakin, then. He turned as Anakin made his way towards him and leaned against the table next to Obi-Wan, crossing his arms.
“I said that more to myself than anyone else,” Obi-Wan replied as he yawned again. “I’m sorry, Anakin. I seem to have forgotten my manners. It’s very rude to yawn, you know,” he said.
Anakin snorted beside him. “Manners? Obi-Wan, we’re fighting a war. I don’t think anyone would blame you for letting a few manners slide.”
Obi-Wan glared playfully at his former padawan. “Come now. Just because some people still haven’t learned how to properly hold a fork, doesn’t mean that we can throw all sense of propriety out the window.”
Anakin gave a dramatic, offended scoff, and Obi-Wan chuckled. Being with Anakin like this always helped him forget the realities of the war. It was as though everything else ceased to exist, and they could tease each other about manners in the planning room forever. Obi-Wan craved that lightness, and he was sure Anakin felt the same way. He smiled fondly in his direction.
When he looked at Anakin, however, he noticed that he couldn’t see Anakin’s right eye. It was like… like it didn’t exist, like he had only ever had one eye. Obi-Wan blinked and rubbed his eyes, and still saw the same thing. Odd. He felt a sharp twinge of nauseous panic. Was he going blind? He immediately pushed down that feeling, breathing through it. No, this was nothing to worry about–just something strange that would pass. And there was no use in worrying about the future. He looked around different parts of Anakin’s face, and he noticed that the blind spot moved along with Obi-Wan’s eyes, and it had an odd rainbow, electric halo around it. He felt another spike of nausea as the strange visual effect made him dizzy.
“...Master? Are you okay?” Anakin’s concerned voice spoke as Obi-Wan moved his hand to his eyes.
“Yes, Anakin. Um…” Obi-Wan found himself at a loss for words. He was never at a loss for words, but somehow he was finding it difficult to even think .
“You’ve seemed… more tired than normal today, Obi-Wan,” said Anakin. “When was the last time you slept? Do you need food? Water? I can get something for you.”
“No need, Anakin. I’m fine,” replied Obi-Wan. “I’m just…” he swallowed, raising his other hand over his eyes as another swoop of nausea overcame him.
Suddenly, he felt Anakin’s hands on his shoulders, and he heard panic rising in Anakin’s voice. “I’m going to help you lie down in your room. We still have over an hour until we begin the mission, so… yeah. That’s what we’ll do.” He began to steer Obi-Wan in that direction.
Although Obi-Wan wasn’t looking at him, he could tell Anakin was chewing his lip. “That’s hardly necessary, Anakin,” he said, but he lacked conviction behind his words. Lying down sounded… well, it sounded wonderful, and Obi-Wan felt guilty. How many days had everyone else gone without proper sleep? What made Obi-Wan any different, so special that he could lie down in the dark while everyone else prepared to fight the Separatists?
“Obi-Wan, it’s okay,” Anakin said softly, as though he could hear his thoughts. Obi-Wan considered himself an expert at hiding his feelings, but unfortunately, Anakin always seemed to see through his ruses. “You know you would let any of your men lie down for a bit if they needed to, and there wasn’t any immediate need for them. Heck, even if there was an immediate need, you would probably just cover for them anyway. You’ve done it with me enough times,” he said.
Obi-Wan tried to come up with a clever retort, but he fell flat. “I… I suppose you’re right,” he conceded. “Fine. I’ll lie down for a few minutes, if only so I can remain alert on the battlefield.” In truth, Obi-Wan was very concerned and on the verge of panicking, but he reminded himself that he was probably fine. Just a weird trick of the eyes, which both of his hands still covered. He was afraid that if he opened them, he would still see the strange rainbow halo light effect, and he didn’t want to confirm that it was still there. Still, he didn’t need Anakin doting on him. “I’ll get there myself just fi- Anakin! ”
He yelped in a very undignified manner as he felt Anakin grab him and pick him up. “Anakin, what are you doing? ” His voice was muffled against Anakin’s tunics, as he was held awkwardly against his chest as Anakin started running.
“We don’t have very long, Master,” Anakin said, confidently pretending like this was something they did every day–like it wasn’t absolutely bizarre to pick up one’s friend–one’s Master – and start running down the hallway. “I want to give you as much time as possible to rest. I don’t want you to be all tired and loopy when we try to take over this Separatist tower. This is purely for efficiency’s sake,” he said, and Obi-Wan wanted to roll his eyes at the proud smile he heard in Anakin’s voice.
“Oh, please. I assure you, I can handle walking to my quarters on my own,” he retorted, but honestly, he was becoming less sure that that was true. Maybe he could get there on his own, but probably not without vomiting. He could now see the lights in his vision with his eyes closed, and they were becoming larger, taking up more of his field of vision.
“Almost there,” said Anakin, and Obi-Wan wondered what people thought of them as they passed by. Hopefully everyone else was too busy doing other, more important business to notice him and Anakin. Hopefully.
Just then, Obi-Wan heard the door to his room slide open, and Anakin released him into a standing position. Obi-Wan brushed off his tunics, eyes still shut. “Anakin, you know you can, in fact, use your hands to open the door, not rely on an improper use of the Force to-” another bout of nausea kicked in as he opened his eyes and he started wobbling, but Anakin caught him and held him to his chest.
“Too bad I was using both of my hands to carry you,” he noted as the door closed behind them, “which I seem to be doing again now.” Anakin sounded worried. “Obi-Wan, what’s wrong? This isn’t normal.”
Obi-Wan pulled himself from Anakin and sat on his bed. It was more of a cot, really, but Obi-Wan had always preferred harder beds anyway. Even though it was dark in the room, he still felt the need to put his hands over his eyes. “I’m not sure, Anakin. I’m having strange vision… things,” he said, and he described what was happening to Anakin. “I’m sure it’s fine, though, and it will pass soon.”
“Umm… I’m pretty sure that’s not fine,” said Anakin, sounding increasingly worried as Obi-Wan told him his symptoms. “I’m going to comm Healer Che out in the hallway. Try to… uh… get some rest? Please be okay. I don’t know what I’d do if you weren’t.” And with that, he left the room.
Now alone, Obi-Wan sighed, lying down on the bed. He still saw the strange lights in his eyes, and they were brighter now, but they had moved mostly to his peripheral vision. Hopefully it would move all the way out of his eyes, and this strange… episode would pass. He would be fine.
I don’t know what I’d do if you weren’t.
Well. Obi-Wan didn’t know how to react to this kind of overt care Anakin was showing him. A part of him knew that he probably shouldn’t let this kind of attachment fester, but this was war. Exceptions simply had to be made.
And… he had to admit that another part of him enjoyed the attention and care Anakin showed him. He felt warm inside at the thought, even though his fingers and toes were cold. He wrapped his blanket around himself and tried to get some sleep.
But sleep wouldn’t come. The lights in his vision were bothering him to no end, and his nausea persisted despite his efforts to quell it. He also wondered if he’d put too much product in his beard that morning–although he was always careful about not adding too much–because the smell of it was bothering him too. His head was also starting to hurt with all these sensations. He let out a dull groan as he shifted in his blankets.
Just then, Anakin came back into the room, and Obi-Wan groggily looked over at him as light flooded into the room. “Good news, Master,” he said as the door closed, cloaking them in darkness again. He crossed the small room, sat down on the floor and leaned back against Obi-Wan’s bed. “Well, I guess it’s good news, anyway. Che says you’re probably having a migraine, and that it’ll pass soon. What you’re seeing is apparently called an ‘aura.’ She said you should take some standard-issue painkillers and lie down for now, but she wants to see you at the temple as soon as we get back from this mission. She also said…” he gulped.
“Yes, Anakin?” Obi-Wan asked, but he knew what was coming.
“She also said that you probably shouldn’t go on this campaign. That your migraine might make you… compromised.” He felt Anakin wince against the bed frame.
Obi-Wan groaned. A migraine? He’d heard of this condition before, but he thought it was just a bad headache, which he’d certainly had before. He’d never had these strange visual effects before, but still. It was a relief to know that it would pass, and that he wasn’t going to go blind, or any of the other horrors his mind had conjured up despite his best efforts. He could deal with this. He would deal with this.
“I’m not sure we have a choice,” said Obi-Wan finally with a sigh. “If I’m not there, our mission won’t work.”
Obi-Wan felt Anakin shift on the floor, turning to face Obi-Wan so his head rested against Obi-Wan’s thigh. “I guess once you take the painkillers, we can go from there.” He sighed. “I’ll go get them.” He hesitated, seeming to consider something, then got up and went to the door. “I’ll be right back,” he said before opening the door and leaving.
Once again, Obi-Wan was left with nothing but his nausea, pain, and the strange aura that was almost gone now. He curled into a ball. Obi-Wan was no stranger to pain or torture, but he could always previously blame external forces on that pain. Now, though, his own body was rebelling against him, and Anakin had to do all this extra work for his sake. Anakin shouldn’t have to do any of this for him–Obi-Wan was burdening him when he should instead be dependable and strong for Anakin.
All of these thoughts made his head feel tight. He took a deep, steadying breath. This would soon pass.
Anakin returned then, once again flooding the room with light. Obi-Wan kept his eyes closed as the light bothered him. “Finally. I was beginning to wonder if you’d gotten lost,” said Obi-Wan, even though Anakin had actually been much quicker than he’d anticipated. He must’ve run there and back, and the corner of Obi-Wan’s mouth quirked up at the thought.
“I see you’re back to your usual self,” said Anakin with a hint of a smile in his voice. He was out of breath, confirming Obi-Wan’s suspicions. He quickly sat down by the bed again, popping open a medicine bottle and opening a container of water. “Here, Master, take this,” he said, pressing a pill into Obi-Wan’s hand.
Obi-Wan sighed, sitting up and thanking Anakin. He felt even more nauseous than he did before, and he worried that he wouldn’t be able to keep the pill down. But it was worth a try anyway. He swallowed the pill, then settled back under his covers, facing Anakin. Opening his eyes, he noticed Anakin looking at him intently, his blue eyes focusing on Obi-Wan’s face. His gaze was so… intense, that Obi-Wan had to look away, closing his eyes again.
When he did so, Anakin leaned back against him. His weight was comforting on Obi-Wan’s leg, and Obi-Wan felt a strong urge to run his hands through Anakin’s hair. He reached out, then stopped himself an inch from his head. Would this be weird? It wasn’t that they never had physical contact, but this seemed… very intimate, even for them.
As Obi-Wan tried to decide the best course of action, Anakin leaned back further, touching Obi-Wan’s hand with his head. Well, he supposed the choice was made for him, then. Obi-Wan laughed lightly, running his hand through his hair, and Anakin leaned into the touch. He’d let his hair grow out since becoming a knight, and his gentle curls were surprisingly soft, despite all the rough battles they had endured.
Obi-Wan shifted, bringing himself to a more comfortable position closer to Anakin, so he was practically curled around him. “Thank you, Anakin,” he said softly. “For taking care of me. It’s very kind of you.”
Anakin leaned further into Obi-Wan’s hand, letting out a breath. “Of course, Obi-Wan. I would do anything for you,” he practically whispered.
Obi-Wan knew that should set off alarm bells in his mind, but at the moment, his head hurt too badly to care. Alarm bells would just make it worse. So instead, he let himself melt into the warmth of the room, content to know that Anakin was there, and drifted off to sleep.