Chapter Text
“Obi-Wan,” Anakin whined. “Are you done?”
“Almost. I just need to-“ Before Obi-Wan could finish filing his report or speak his sentence, he was pulled from his desk and landed promptly in his bed where the rest of his pack was already waiting.
“-finish my report. Honestly, Anakin. Couldn’t you wait five more minutes?”
The blond Knight in question didn’t even have the decency to look ashamed or repentant for the blatant misuse of the Force. Instead, Anakin only hummed, pleased Obi-Wan was here now and nuzzled his neck. Obi-Wan supposed he should consider himself lucky that Anakin hadn’t dragged him away from his own ship, but was comfortable enough in Obi-Wan’s room. Then again, he might also just enjoy that this was Obi-Wan’s space. For all that Anakin was overly possessive when it came to his pack, he wasn’t all too picky about the space he was in. He had certainly adjusted well to living on a ship, much quicker too than other Omega Jedi.
“Anakin, I have work to do,” Obi-Wan said, a weak attempt at getting back to his desk. He already knew he wouldn’t stand up again. He’d missed his pack. He wanted to do nothing but lay here for the next days where he could keep track of them and be assured that they were healthy and safe, but duty denied him.
“No, you don’t,” Ahsoka said from Anakin’s other side. The short Padawan was almost entirely drowning in a dark brown robe Obi-Wan was fairly sure actually belonged inside his wardrobe. Togruta were just as tactile as humans if not more and Ahsoka had very much latched onto Anakin’s demands concerning pack-bonding. They were good for each other and Obi-Wan was glad Anakin had another person to fuss over. Getting Anakin to settle a little more by dumping an Initiate without a pack in front of him might have been a little underhand, Mace had certainly disapproved, but nobody could deny the result. Obi-Wan supposed he’d feel ashamed about it if Ahsoka hadn’t fit perfectly into their bonds.
“I do,” Obi-Wan sighed. “The Council-“
“Sent us here, Obi-Wan.” Anakin rolled his eyes and grabbed yet another blanket. Obi-Wan didn’t even own that many, had Anakin brought them all with him? It wouldn’t surprise Obi-Wan if Anakin had enlisted a couple of his Troopers helping him carry half a nest here. While Jedi, with the wonderful exception of Anakin, generally speaking built their nests on their own, it was very much a communal activity for the clones. Anakin had been downright delighted when he’d learned that.
“They’re not gonna expect you to be 100% available when you have gotten a scheduled pack-bonding time,” Anakin said. “Do you know how often the other packs get to see each other?”
Yes, Obi-Wan did know and he always felt a little guilty when reminded, but he couldn’t afford downtime. He was on the Council and in charge of a rather huge portion of the war effort. Any personal needs and wants had to be pushed to the back of his mind. He couldn’t be so selfish and put his own life above the millions he was sworn to protect. In moments like this Obi-Wan wished they’d have gotten more time to prepare for the war, perhaps then the long separations from the rest of his pack would have been easier to deal with.
Anakin’s Knighting had come too early. His entire generation should be able to enjoy a couple more years as Padawans and get a proper transitional period instead of being forcibly pushed into the position of General. Obi-Wan had already done plenty of solo missions without Qui-Gon before his sudden Knighting and he wasn’t sure if he would have dealt as well with the sudden separation if not for them. Anakin had adapted quickly at least, but he’d always been self-sufficient when put into life-or-death situations. He didn’t necessarily always made the smartest or least dangerous choices, but he trusted the Force and prevailed. This unshaken trust was hopefully something he passed on to Ahsoka. She was much too young for the horrors they were forced to put her through.
“I’m sorry, dear one,” Obi-Wan finally admitted defeat. “I’ll try to do better in the future.”
Anakin smiled, happy and unburdened in a way Obi-Wan hadn’t seen in a while. “Good.”
Seeing that he now didn’t have to hold up the pretense anymore, Obi-Wan gave in to his instincts. He let himself enjoy having Anakin and Ahsoka by his side again. Truthfully, they hadn’t had much time together outside of the battlefield and mission briefings. Back in the temple, they hadn’t even gotten Ahsoka settled properly. They should have had time to move her out of the Initiate room and into their small apartment or rooms actually meant to house more than two people. Right now her belongings were still stuck in boxes or haphazardly thrown into their wardrobes somewhere. Ahsoka didn’t even have a bed. He supposed they could give her Anakin’s, he never slept in there anyway nowadays, preferring to crawl into Obi-Wan’s bed, but Anakin’s entire room was basically a danger zone on his own. Her room on the Resolute was probably more a home to her than their apartment back in the Temple.
“Since we’ll be here a little longer,” Obi-Wan began to say, amusement coloring his voice as Anakin’s eyes lit up. “Give me your Padawan.”
Anakin laughed and reached over for Ahsoka, who promptly squealed in protest. “Master!”
“Nu-hu, no protesting,” Anakin replied and dumped Ahsoka in Obi-Wan’s lap.
Ahsoka crossed her arms and pouted, but when Obi-Wan began checking her for injuries, she leaned into his touch.
“I’m fine,” Ahsoka insisted. “No need to go all Alpha on me.”
Obi-Wan only hummed in acknowledgment but didn’t stop reassuring himself that she was alright.
“Hush, little one, you benefit from it,” Anakin said next to him.
“You’re only saying that because you’re not being manhandled,” Ahsoka argued.
“Yet,” Anakin added and Obi-Wan found himself nodding along with that sentiment. Ahsoka was a child, of course he had to check her first. And as reckless as Anakin could be, Obi-Wan did trust his mate. When he was done, he didn’t bother to move Ahsoka away from him as Anakin pressed himself into Obi-Wan’s side, a low whine escaping his throat.
Anakin was clingy, much more than usual. Obi-Wan frowned and pulled Anakin closer while Ahsoka used that opportunity to crawl out of Obi-Wan’s lap and drop herself across her Master’s instead. Obi-Wan rolled his eyes at her antics, but let her be, focusing on Anakin instead. He hadn’t noticed it immediately, it had been a couple weeks after all, but Anakin’s scent was off. The usual scent of burning embers was followed by something quite sweet, but nothing that reminded Obi-Wan of a heat.
“Anakin, when was your last heat?”
The silence that followed was answer enough. Obi-Wan groaned and wished not for the first time that Anakin still had his Padawan braid so he could tug at it.
“You’re taking suppressants again! You know how dangerous they are-”
“I’ve not been taking any suppressants!” Anakin protested. “I just haven’t had a heat since Snips-“
Anakin trailed off and turned to look at his Padawan. Over their bond, Obi-Wan could feel the moment when the realization settled in and just a few seconds later, Obi-Wan had figured it out as well. Anakin sighed and buried his face in Ahsoka’s neck, deeply inhaling her scent.
“The Council’s gonna kill me,” Anakin muttered, confirmation all but clear now.
Obi-Wan could tell he was troubled, worried by how they would react. Going by the way Ahsoka was looking at him, she could likely feel it as well.
“You’re hardly the first Master who has had to update their file since the war began,” Obi-Wan said, attempting to calm Anakin. There had only been two cases so far with older Masters and Padawans about Ahsoka’s age and they had been pretty much covered up. Nobody had thrown too much of a fuss about it, they couldn’t afford it, but the two also weren’t Anakin Skywalker, the public’s darling General.
“Not helping,” Anakin said. The conflict was clearly visible on his face, but Obi-Wan was relieved to see that there was no regret. The worst thing that could happen now was that Anakin would reject the bond.
“Could somebody please tell me what’s going on?” Ahsoka finally spoke up.
She looked at them both with narrowed eyes, suspicion spilling all over her mental shield.
“Anakin’s nesting,” Obi-Wan explained over Anakin’s murmured shut up, shut up, shut up, shut-
“Nesting!?” Ahsoka sat up straight and paled. “Master, are you preg-“
“No,” Anakin interrupted her and clasped his hand over her mouth to shut her up. “No, nope, I’m not, I promise. I wouldn’t be so stupid to have a baby. Let’s not even go there. It’s because of you.”
Ahsoka attempted to say something, but her voice was muffled. She pried Anakin’s hand off before repeating her words.
“What do you mean it’s because of me? I didn’t do anything!”
Her tone wasn’t accusing, she was honestly just confused, but Obi-Wan wasn’t so sure that even got through to Anakin, as tense as he was. In an attempt at calming him, he put his right hand over Anakin’s neck. He stiffened, then he closed his eyes and relaxed, his breathing evening out as well.
“Ahsoka,” Obi-Wan said. “When do Initiates usually become Padawans?”
Ahsoka frowned at him, likely unable to follow his train of thought. Obi-Wan waited patiently for her answer.
“Uuh, shortly after they’ve presented?” Ahsoka offered after a moment. “So roughly around the ages ten to thirteen of their species’ equivalent.”
“Correct,” Obi-Wan replied and watched as Ahsoka beamed. “And why do we do that?”
She was quicker to answer this time. “It’s so that a proper training bond can snap into place instead of a parent-child bond.”
Obi-Wan continued to look at her encouragingly. She was almost there, she only had to make that one final jump and she would have figured it out on her own.
“Togruta are later though,” she said slowly. “We’re 15 at youngest, but I was made a Padawan anyway because of the war…”
She stopped talking, a sure-fire sign that she was on the right track.
“And I haven’t presented yet, but I’ve bonded with Master and we use our bond frequently to communicate. I know the other Padawans don’t really do that. Is it because- oh.”
Ahsoka looked at Anakin with wide eyes, hoping he’ll affirm the conclusion she’d reached. Anakin didn’t open his eyes, but he did open up his arm, inviting Ahsoka to join his embrace. She didn’t wait another second to make herself comfortable in his arms. She rested her head against his chest curled into herself. They’d need to call the Council later, but that still had time. Instead, Obi-Wan tugged at one of the many blankets and pulled it over the three of them.
“I’m sorry, Snips,” Anakin said. “Now you’ll always be stuck with your Master in your mind.”
“It’s not like you planned this,” Ahsoka retorted, then flashed Anakin a smile that was really more fangs and wicked joy than blissful happiness. “Besides, stronger bonds are an advantage on the field. But I’m not calling you Dad, Skyguy.”
Obi-Wan snorted while Anakin just looked appalled. “Please don’t ever do that.”
Ahsoka had been pretty mischievous already when she had become a part of their pack, but the way she was smiling now was 100% Anakin’s influence and as far as Obi-Wan was concerned, he absolutely deserved to be at the receiving end of her teasing.
“On the other hand, I’m not sure,” Ahsoka mused. “It does have a certain flair and maybe the Chancellor would stop demanding your time so often if he knows you have a youngling around.”
“Ahsoka, I will assign you extra meditation if you don't shut up now.”
“But then you’ll have to meditate as well.”
Oh, yes, Obi-Wan had definitely missed their lighthearted bickering.