Chapter Text
Dr. Obi-Wan Kenobi has slowly but surely fought his way to the top of Coruscant University’s esteemed academic ladder. He defended his Master’s degree with Jocasta Nu on the directorial panel, the harshest theoretical physicist in the country, maybe the world. She had passed him with honors and forwarded his work to three different PhD programs, a gift for which he’d be eternally grateful. He’s taught impossible students, faced budget cuts and pearl-clutching-ly rude administrators.
The Force has defeated an entire army of invading aliens, disbanded a cell of domestic terrorists, and unmasked countless costumed villains with secret identities just like his own. He’s convinced criminals to peacefully turn themselves in. He personally rescued the Queen of Naboo and her Chancellor last month, preventing an all-out war from taking place between two nearby countries. He has been vigilant and careful when moving between the worlds of academia and superheroism… Until today.
Allowing Anakin to be captured, to be hurt, is Obi-Wan’s greatest failure.
Gently, he jostles the younger man’s shoulder, “Anakin? Ani? Can you hear me?”
The blonde man doesn’t answer, and the cut on his cheekbone is still bleeding sluggishly; he requires immediate medical attention that he cannot receive while tied to a chair.
In a fit of rage and frustration at his own incompetence, the hero kneels and rips the metal cuffs from around Anakin’s ankles. He straightens to pry the wrist restraints open and tenderly pick Anakin up, tucking the taller man against his chest with little effort. He’s about to lift off into the air when he hears Anakin groan softly. “Y-Your mask…”
Grateful for his energy manipulation with both hands currently full, Obi-Wan floats his mask back onto his face and smooths it down over his eyes. “Better, dear one?”
“Glamour… too…”
“Right, of course. Where would I be without you, my clever darling?”
Anakin doesn’t answer, returning to the world of quiet unconsciousness with a soft exhale as soon as Obi-Wan’s shielding technology is operational. Of course he wakes up just long enough to make sure my identity remains a secret, thoughtful thing that he is.
Without waiting another moment, Obi-Wan takes off at full speed. He turns on his Galactic League communicator in order to radio Ocean Man (a talented marine biologist) and Chaotica (a rather brilliant Hollywood fight choreographer) for backup, alerting them to Darth Maul’s location.
“I apologize for not taking care of him myself, but he took a personal hostage and I’m afraid they’ve been wounded.”
“Are they going to be alright, Force?” Chaotica asks. She’s still young, still learning how to handle the stress of fighting evil and the risks it entails.
“Yes, my dear, they’ll be alright. It’s a minor injury but I’d still rather see to it myself and in a timely manner.”
“Understood, Force. We can pick Maul up and release him to the authorities,” Ocean Man asserts. “We’ll check for any minions while we’re at the lair.”
“Good idea. And you’re welcome to take all the credit, too, if you’d like,” he huffs into the communicator. “I’d rather not have anyone knowing that I was involved. For the sake of my… My partner.”
“Ah, well, that’s understandable. Take care, Force.”
“Thank you again, Chaotica. Ocean Man.”
“Anytime, pal.”
Anakin sighs softly in his arms and Obi-Wan speeds his flight, pushing against gravity and riding the wind back to the safety of his hidden headquarters. They’re only a few miles away when Anakin’s eyes blink open and his arms tighten around Obi-Wan’s neck. When the hero looks down, the younger man seems panicked. “Are you okay, Ani?”
“W-We’re very high up.”
“I thought you loved flying. Don’t you have a pilot’s license?”
“Yeah but that’s– A cockpit is very different from an open-air flight like this. You don’t have an altimeter that I’m aware of, do you? Or perhaps a safety belt?”
Obi-Wan chuckles at the level of sass only Anakin could manage in such a situation. “No, I’m afraid not. I promise we’re nearly there, but I won’t be offended if you need to close your eyes, dear one.”
“And miss being carried away from danger by everyone’s favorite superhero, The Force? Absolutely not.”
Obi-Wan winces, guilt sliding its way up his spine like slipping into an ice-bath. “I’m sorry for not telling you about my powers sooner, and I’m even more sorry that my own foolishness put you in harm’s way. It was never my intention to let anyone find you, Anakin, I swear.”
“Your apologies are accepted, but I am a little peeved you didn’t admit your feelings for me sooner. Did you really patrol outside my apartment some nights?”
“You don’t exactly live in a great part of town, my love.”
“Your love, huh? I can work with that,” Anakin winks with the less bloody side of his face. Obi-Wan’s heart skips a beat or three. He blinks and his mask echoes the movement.
“Yes, well, I would be honored to call you my partner… Only if you have me, of course,” Obi-Wan clears his throat and blushes beneath his mask. He’s sure Anakin can feel the white-hot embarrassment radiating from his cheeks and neck, fueled by his anxiety that his precious Anakin may reject him after this fiasco.
“Did you miss my ‘final words’ back there, Obi-Wan Kenobi? I love you. With my whole heart. I would be delighted, nay, overjoyed, to be your partner. That means boyfriend, right?”
“Yes.”
“Woohoo!” Anakin cheers. Obi-Wan laughs and alights near the secret entrance to his headquarters.
“I need to take a closer look at that wound on your forehead. We’d best get inside.”
“Insi– Oh my gods, am I about to enter The Force’s inner sanctum?”
Obi-Wan snorts out a laugh, shaking his head. “Yes, but please never say that again. I beg of you.”
“If you insist,” Anakin teases. He’s still being held aloft by his recently acquired super-boyfriend, and The Force isn’t eager to put him down. Instead, Obi-Wan steps behind a particularly wide rock and an elevator swivels open. The hero carries Anakin inside and they begin to descend, quickly arriving in the simple headquarters.
Anakin looks around, curious and eager, as Obi-Wan carries him to a small, brightly light ‘fresher and sets him on the counter. A first-aid kit floats out of the cupboard and lands near his right leg.
“That’s so cool! Can you use your powers during the day?”
Obi-Wan turns his Glamour off a second time and sets his mask and gloves to the side, leaving him in the blue-and-white bodysuit and blue cape. He washes his hands before opening a fresh packet of alcohol swabs. “Yes, but I resist doing so on most occasions.”
“Most?”
“Do you remember when you slipped last week and nearly brained yourself on that desk?”
Now it’s the graduate student’s turn to blush. “Yeah.”
“I moved the desk just in time, or you would have needed a visit to the hospital.”
“I’m a bit of a klutz.”
“I’ve noticed, dear one, and if it didn’t threaten your well-being so often I’d find it endearing.”
“Oops.”
Obi-Wan gently wipes the blood off Anakin’s cheek and disinfects the cut. “I’m so terribly sorry, Ani. I didn’t mean–”
“I know,” Anakin reaches out to cup his face, petting his thumb through Obi-Wan’s soft red beard while the hero applies a few adhesive stitches. “You do so much to keep me safe, I know this wasn’t your fault, babe. I’m here now, I'm alive, and everything will work out.”
“How can you be so sure?”
Obi-Wan has faced death so many times already. He has been met with impossible odds and risked everything for the lives of his fellow people. But right here, staring into the sharp blue eyes of Anakin Skywalker, he is undone.
“Because there was no force on earth, not even yourself, who could have stopped me from falling head over heels for you the moment I was introduced as a new assistant professor. You shook my hand and said hello in that warm, kind voice of yours and I was a goner. So stop moping and kiss me already, Doctor Kenobi.”
“You are such a bright light in this world, Ani,” Obi-Wan leans close, a hair’s breadth from closing the distance. “I am going to absolutely bask in it.”
And then they’re kissing. Anakin’s lips are soft, giving sweetly beneath his own rougher, slightly chapped mouth. Obi-Wan tangles his fingers in Anakin’s curls, cupping the back of his head for support as they wrap around each other in every possible way. The younger man’s mouth is hot and wet and falls open for him with so little prompting that he can’t help a little moan.
When they finally pull back for air, Anakin is bright red and beaming.
“We’re going to have to file paperwork with the University.”
“Is that really what you’re worried about, Ani? Paperwork?”
“You know I’m terrible with remembering that stuff.”
“Yes, but I’m here for you now. We can do this together,” Obi-Wan grins. Anakin slides his hand into Obi-Wan’s, holding tight.
“Yeah, together. A team.”
“ The team.”
“I think I like the sound of that.”