Chapter Text
-I spoke to Korkie -Satine said quietly as Obi-Wan joined her on the couch after work.
-How was their journey?
-Safe. They are already in the apartment. He said everything was fine.
-So what's bothering you?
-I told him about us. He didn't take it very well -she replied, a little tearfully.
The way Korkie kept pushing her away hurt more than she wanted to admit. She knew it was her fault too, even mostly, but it still hurt and she didn't know how to fix it. She leaned a little to the side so that she could fall into Obi-Wan's arms and hide there from the world.
-It's okay. It'll work out somehow. We don't have to rush anything. Give him time to get used to it all. After all, he won't be angry with you forever, he'll understand that there is no point in It.
-He is proud, even if he changes his mind, he won't admit it. He's Kryze after all.
-And I can see from which side of the family he inherited it. I may have only met one Kryze personally, but for all her preposterousness and stubbornness, she loves her family more than anything in the world and won't let anything undermine it, especially bickering like this. If Korkie's anything like you, he just needs to cool down, shout it out and he'll come back and everything will be fine, right?
She nodded and sniffled. Obi-Wan ran his fingers lightly through her soft hair.
- Mmm. What if you're wrong? What if he never comes back?
-Love, he's a teenager. At his age, you behaved the same way, if not worse.
She looked up at him for a moment, frowning.
-I'm sure it was you who couldn't behave, but your memory is failing you.
-See, I'm not changing my mind, Kryze's bloody pride. Even after twenty years, you won't admit you were a pain in the ass.
-Do you want to comfort or insult me? If the latter, I remind you that soon you will also be Kryze and then you will speak differently -she murmured against his chest, a hint of a smile on her lips. Still, it helped, not completely, but at least a little.
-Excuse me, but at what point did we agree on your last name? -he asked with slight amusement. Not that he minded.
-Oh, I thought it was obvious. Ben Kryze sounds better than... whatever surname you came up with…what was it actually? -She couldn't remember ever telling her.
- Still Kenobi. Now I'm Ben Kenobi.
Saitne blinked in disbelief. She simply couldn't believe it. There was no way he could be that stupid. And that no one would catch him by now if he hadn't even bothered to change his name.
-We're definitely sticking with mine. You have no say in this matter.
-We're not married yet and you're already oppressing me.
-Someone has to, darling. Your boss is nice to you, I have to be disciplined. Otherwise, you'll become too lazy.
-Me? I'm sorry, I'm doing just fine
-You're soft -she said, pushing him over to the couch and laying on top of him.
-Just so you'll be more comfortable sleeping next to me.
-I don't like it when you're right like that.
He kissed her forehead. She was so lovely. He would never have said it out loud, she would have started arguing, but it was true. When she allowed herself to relax completely and shed all her masks during her free time, she was absolutely adorable and beautiful, and Obi-Wan knew that if he were faced with the same choice now that he had twenty years earlier, he would choose differently now, and he would stay, for better or worst, but with her. Even if it wasn't the way of the Jedi.
~*~
Coruscant University was very different from the Royal Academy on Mandalore. First of all, much bigger and more crowded.
The sheer size of the lobby was overwhelming when they walked in on the first day of term and the first thing they saw was the glass-covered flights of stairs stretching into the sky.
-How many floors can it have? -Korkie wondered, squeezing Orron's hand a little tighter to make sure they didn't get lost, even if they studied different majors and eventually had to split up anyway as soon as they managed to find a building plan and a list of classrooms.
-About six hundred -they heard Falleen's voice behind them. The person was smiling amiably clutching the datapad in one hand as they held out the other towards them. -I'm Sassa Zass, the first year of interplanetary relations.
The boys turned to say hello.
-Nice to meet you. Korkie Kryze, I'm just starting interplanetary relations too.
- Great, then we'll be in class together. Will you be with us too? -They looked at Orron.
-No, no. I'm just seeing Korkie off. I am going to study military engineering, this is my second year but it's very nice to meet you. -he smiled. - honey, will you find your way? I have to go if I don't want to be late.
-Yes, sure. See you at lunch?
-Of course. I love you, if you get lost, call me.
He kissed Korkie on the cheek and went his way, leaving Kryze with Sassa.
-Do you know where our first lecture is? I have no idea where to find the schedule.
- No problem, just give me your number and I'll send it to you. And now room C-17 on the 342nd floor.
-Thanks. You are saving my life.
He immediately dictated the number to them and after a while, he got a table with the schedule of classes and the two students went to the elevator.
~*~
The morning classes passed quickly, although quite dull as everything was just an introduction and discussion of the course of further work. Lunch break finally started, so Korkie with Sassa and two other friends they had just met, Mon Calamari-Lolyib and Mikkian-Del, went down to the cafeteria.
Orron had written earlier, he had already taken their table, so all they had to do was look for him, which turned out to be a rather difficult task, even with instructions. They finally made it and they reached the table occupied by Shei and his two friends.
Orron got up to give Korkie a quick hello kiss.
-Hey, how's your day?
- All right, a bit boring at the moment.
-I'd trade my lunch to make Reiss's class boring. This man must have had his heart shot off instead of his legs in the Clone wars -said the Rodian woman, who eagerly ate her mush, which was served here.
-Come on, Flee, it could have been a lot worse. - Said the Ictotchi woman sitting next to her, clearly less eager to eat. -He's heartless though. I don't understand why my parents made me come back here! I'm totally not up to it.
-Because without you this place would lose its charm -Orron laughed, patting her friendly on back.
-Okay there charming man, the charm of this place simply doesn't exist. With or without me.
- Jeez, why are you complaining so much? You'll scare the new ones. -The girl named Flee rolled her eyes and smiled friendly at the freshmen. -Don't worry, it's not that bad. I'm Fleemsa Reed. The ill-mannered one is Enno, pay no attention. Her parents forced her to study, and she spits on them every day. You can get used to it.
Korkie looked at the Iktotchi woman.
-Give me your parents, please -he said jokingly in a serious tone. -I had to convince my aunt for three years to let me go.
-You give me your aunt, I don't want to be here -Enno laughed.
-Yes, you don't want to, but then who keeps taking us out in the evenings? -Fleemsa said teasingly.
-You can always refuse, but you can't resist my charm -she winked. Meanwhile, she casually picked at her plate with a fork.
-Are you going to eat this? - Lolyib asked.
She pushed the food towards him and he took it quickly.
-Thanks.
-No problem. Right, we're going to the city after classes. Would you join us?
~*~
-What do you think about the wedding on Kalevala? It's so beautiful there in the fall. Or in the spring when everything blooms
Obi-Wan rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he looked at the calendar.
-I think the Kalevala will be perfect. In the fall, Korkie will probably go to college again, but you mentioned that he was supposed to have some time off in the spring, it will be more comfortable for him -he noted, checking the consistency of his words with the detailed notes in the calendar.
Satine had a habit of writing down every little thing that happened, which was very irritating when it was hard to go through all the records looking for one particular, but all the information was in one place.
-Yes you are right. Would you please give me the datapad for a moment?... Thank you - she opened the notebook to write it down.
-I just don't want anything big. Just us, your family, and a few closest friends. Will it be okay?
-You read my mind, darling.
During her career, she managed to attend many lavish balls, diplomatic ones on the occasion of the opening of various institutions, or at friends' weddings. They had their unique atmosphere, but she did not like them, not for such an intimate situation. She wanted to spend her own wedding only in the company of those closest to her. She did not see the point in inviting a million guests with whom she had not had contact for years, especially in this situation, when a big event, apart from huge costs, would also attract cameras. For security reasons, it was better to avoid it.
-I definitely want Korkie, if he wants to come, with Orron of course. Also, Elainea and I have some closer aunts, is that not a problem?
-No, of course not. How about Emiel?
-Yes, for sure. I like him, but we have to tell him we lied to him a bit.
- Yes ... I think he will forgive me if I buy him a bottle of tihaar - He stated, remembering not to refuse to go to the bar after work the next few times.
-And Bail Organa? I remember you said he was your friend. And I liked him too.
-Yes. By the way, we'll find out how's Leia. Do you have anyone else?
-I think no. That's enough, it'll be intimate. -She finished writing it all down and put the datapad on the table so that she could wrap her hands around the mug of warm tea that appeared there out of nowhere. Of course, she knew Ben had brought it in the meantime, but her brain didn't register the fact when.
Obi-Wan finished his and got up from the couch.
-Are you going to bed now?
She took two more sips, wondering if she had anything else to do that day. The prospect of going to bed was very tempting, but a progress report on the attempt to make the planet habitable again was more important. Since the end of the war, she'd been busy rebuilding all the planets and moons in the system so that vegetation could regrow, even if it didn't happen in her lifetime, small steps were important.
- I'll join you in half an hour, okay? But you can go now.
Obi-Wan leaned in to kiss her cheek.
-Okay, just don't stay too long.
~*~
Despite being the capital city, Coruscant was known throughout the galaxy for its nightlife. But hearing about it and actually being at the center of events are two completely different things.
Korkie was completely fascinated by the construction of the city. They were not yet at the lowest levels, but even here the dirty, narrow streets, illuminated with colorful neon lights, had their unique atmosphere. It was so different from clean, tidy Sundari, where only the poorest neighborhoods were in that state.
It had to be said, however, that the buildings of Coruscant were much older, and the attitude of the beings living here to going out in the evening, along with all the multiculturalism, was something completely different.
The whole group of students walked together, squeezing through the crowds of other passers-by and trying not to get lost, while Enno, who was leading them, simply walked forward, in a direction known only to herself, as if not paying attention to whether the rest was following her.
-Someone reminds me why we didn't bring a speeder? -Del groaned, dragging themselves furthest back.
After running all day between the floors of the college, they no longer had the strength to walk around the city. They were supposed to go somewhere to sit, not to organize sightseeing trips.
-Because you'll be too drunk to stand still, let alone drive, and we can't afford a taxi?
The latter was a lie, as the world used to be, it was easier to get into college simply by having money, so they could really afford transport, they just decided not to use it, and now it was too late to change their minds.
-Right.
They kept walking, trying to believe the Iktotchi that it was two more turns, but she had been doing it for at least fifteen, so everyone had lost faith in her. Despite the obstacles, they managed to reach the place and entered the old shooting range. It certainly didn't have the latest technology, but it was run by an acquaintance, friends of Aunt Enno's, and the older four had been going there for a year as practice for one of their classes, and had grown to like it as an after-school activity. Their newly met friends didn't need it for scientific purposes, but it didn't hurt to come too. And so after that, they were going to go to a nearby bar.
Upon entering, they hung up their jackets and Enno went to the front desk to get the guns for them. It was all secured, of course, and permanently set only to stun so no one would get hurt.
-Okay, then who hits the least puts in the first round? -Orron stretched his fingers with a wide grin.
He didn't really mean it, he had no idea what the newbies' skill level was and he didn't want to humiliate them too much, but if they agreed, it was only good for him.
- Okay, but you shoot with your left hand because it's not fair. You learn from it since you were a child! -Fleemsa replied.
Neither she nor Enno had ever stood a chance against him. It wasn't even that surprising to them, they'd heard the Mandalorian stereotypes, and Orron had confirmed that most of it before the Civil War was true. Now, under pacifist rule, of course, that has been forgotten, at least officially. Shei, however, lived in a traditional family and learned to fight anyway before he could write. His mother decided that if he was the future head of the clan, he had to be able to defend herself. Of course, all unofficially, but it was impossible to get rid of the skills.
-You never told me you can shoot -Korkie muttered.
-If I tell you that, your aunt would never let me see you.
-You've got the point -he agreed. It was hard to argue with this.
Someone handed him a blaster. Kryze picked it up and examined it. An old model, he thought they were out of circulation, but well, at least it wasn't overly complex. He waited his turn and stood in front of the shield. He estimated the distance, raised the gun, took aim, and fired. The glittering missile flew across the track, hitting the center of it.
-Now, I didn't know you could shoot like that -Shei said, looking at it with admiration.
-I have my secrets -he replied simply, shrugging.
It wasn't a secret, not really. As long as Satine didn't know, it wasn't a problem for the others. When he was a teenager and the Clone Wars began, he convinced one of his protectors to teach him "only for self-defense". Plus all the old aunts always said the Kryzes were always good shooters. Apparently, it was true that he had some natural talent for it.
~*~
He woke up feeling in the force that something was wrong. He lay flat on his back, breathing calmly, trying to sense what exactly was wrong. In the end, he decided it would be best to just get up and see.
He struggled to disentangle himself from Satine's firm grip, which proved to be a difficult task as she swung one leg over his hip and was practically on top of him, so attempts to get up ended up unintentionally waking her up.
-What's happening? She mumbled sleepily, loosening her grip a little.
-Nothing, honey. Sleep. I'll be right back.
He kissed her forehead and got out of bed. He shivered slightly as his bare feet touched the cold tile. He'd definitely gotten lazy in recent years if it bothered him. He found the slippers lying nearby.
He went out into the living room and noticed some movement on the opposite side. He wasn't sure if he was imagining it. He turned on the light. It turned out that the mysterious movement was the work of Luke. The boy slowly walked towards their bedroom, clumsily dragging his quilt behind him, holding his favorite plushie in the other hand.
Obi-Wan immediately walked over to him and crouched beside him.
-Luke? What's happening? he asked gently.
Tears glistening in his blue eyes ran down his cheeks, and Luke hugged him tightly.
-I'm scaaled
The former Jedi immediately took him in his arms and hugged him tightly.
- It's okay. It's okay. It's just a bad dream. Everything will be fine.
He remembered the first months with Anakin vividly. He was the same, scared and tormented by nightmares. The only difference between father and son at this point was that Luke was just younger.
He knew that now the little one would want to be with them to calm down, so he took him into the bedroom and put him between him and Satine.
The woman woke up when she noticed that Luke was crying.
-Hey sun, it's okay. I'm here, and so is Daddy. -She stroked his blond hair and began to rock him slightly. It helped when Korkie was his age. -And as long as Mom and Dad are with you, nothing bad can happen.
Obi-Wan hugged them both, careful not to crush the boy, who began to calm down knowing both his parents were there. Mom just said that everything will be fine with them. Mom couldn't lie.
The soft sound of his dad's humming lullaby made him slowly fall asleep, clutching his teddy bear in his hands and feeling safe when his parents were so close.
Satine kept running her fingers through his hair in a soothing gesture. Obi-Wan saw how natural she was about it. If he didn't know, he'd think Luke was really her son. He was very grateful to the force that had led him to this place. In fact, he never really thought he could have a family before, and now not only could he be with the woman he loved, but he also saw that she also loved the child he took in. He didn't think he could be in a better place, especially under the circumstances.
-Have you ever thought about having children? - He asked in a whisper, not to wake Luke, even if he was an extremely heavy sleeper.
Only a second later did he realize that this might not have been a very tactful question, after all, he didn't know everything that had happened in those twenty years.
-I had Korkie. -She shrugged, but even in the darkness, he could see a slightly sad twinkle in her eyes. -I've always wanted one, but there were no conditions for it. You know, lots of responsibilities and stuff. There wasn't even anyone I was supposed to be with. A child should have both parents otherwise it would be very selfish, to bring them here.
-Sorry, that wasn't the right thing to ask.
-No problem. It's rather normal that you wanted to know. -She smiled slightly at him.
He mentally sighed with relief. He was glad he didn't screw up all the way. He was afraid that at some point he can say something really stupid, even without realizing it and hurt her that way. He didn't want anything like this to happen.
He was about to go back to trying to sleep when Satine broke the silence.
-I still want, would you?
-I never thought about it. All my life I've been sure there would never even be a reason for it to cross my mind. You know the code forbids attachment. Now I'm not sure if the code was right in this case, but that doesn't change the fact that I've been guided by it all my friends life, and when I took Luke I was guided by the force, now I know it was right, but it doesn't change the fact that that I never really thought about it.
-Maybe we could think… One day… -she said a little timidly. She wasn't sure it was a good idea to say it, but this was her beloved Ben, she trusted him, and she knew that even if it wasn't what he wanted at all, they were mature enough to talk about anything in a civilized way.
Obi-Wan smiled warmly at her, it was too late to discuss the pros and cons just yet, but it didn't hurt to talk. Maybe not now, but when the opportunity arises.
-Maybe someday. -He kissed her. -For now, I think we both need to go to sleep because this one here won't let us when he wakes up.
-Yes I think so. Good night Ben.
-Good night, Satine. I love you