Chapter Text
Satine prepared to meet the 212th and 104th out front as they arrived planetside. It had been sometime since she last saw Obi-Wan.
She wasn’t expecting a hairless man with a pale pallor and swollen face. Despite his puffy, pale appearance, Obi-Wan was feeling okay. Being four days post-chemo meant he was through the worst of the side affects and just feeling a little sleepy.
“General”, Satine greeted.
”Duchess.”
”And who is this?”, Satine gave Cody an appreciative look.
“My Commander, Cody. He’ll be implementing security while I oversee our efforts to keep you and Mandalore save.”
Cody greets her with a Mandolorian hello. She grins, sending Obi-Wan a wolfish grin. You have a type, Kenobi. He rolled his eyes. I certainly do not. The Dreamer and the soldier did not need words to communicate. They had their own language with nonverbal symbols and looks.
“You look dashing with the beard, darling.”, Satine whispered as they greeted each other.
”As beautiful as ever, Duchess.”
”Let’s sit for tea. We have much business to discuss.”
”Lead the way.”, Obi-Wan extended his elbow. She took it, guiding him gently forward.
They gathered in the tea room of the palace. Satine brought him up to speed on the increase in threats from Death Watch.
Obi-Wan shares with her his desire to examine her Royal Guard more closely. They need to develop a tighter grasp on security at the place and at Korkie’s school. They disagree on whether GRA troops can be stationed on guard.
“I know you’re not just here on business.”
“Senator Amidala called in a favor.”, Obi-Wan shrugged.
”For you or me.”
”Both.”
”Quite being cryptic. You’re scaring me, Ben.”
”I’m sorry, my darling.”
”You aren’t well.”, Satine’s eyes soften taking his hand.
He has a coughing fit, and struggles to catch his breath. Obi-Wan had a nasty cold last week. The Jedi Master was still recovering.
”I am not, I am afraid.”
”Is the cancer back?”, Satine’s voice was quiet.
”Er. Yes and no. Different cancer than before. Lymphoma.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
”Shh, I don’t need apologies. It’s neither of our faults.”
”Are you dying, Ben?”
“We all die a little more everyday.”, Kenobi quipped sarcastically.
”Ben.”, Satine chided, concern in her voice.
”Actively dying no. But my life hangs very much in the balance of here and there.”
“You came to say goodbye.”
”There are many things I left unsaid. We can’t afford that any longer.”, Obi-Wan said with such tenderness Satine had known him capable of.
“I always thought I’d die first.”, The Duchess said quietly.
”Oh, Satine. My greatest regret has always been walking away from you and Korkie.”
“You always loved being a Jedi more.”
”Once, yes. My days are numbered, and love, darling. Love will outlast me.”
”It’s not a critique. I understand duty comes first.”
“My young padawan thinks family ought to come first, and perhaps he is right.”
”You’re a different man than the one I knew.”
”Yes, staring death in the face tends to change a person.”
They look at each other intensely trying to make sense of their complicated emotions. It is a delicate dance. Who is going to give first? Being vulnerable does not come naturally for either of them.
“You love him.”, Satine breaks the silence first. It is a statement, not a question.
Obi-Wan smiles, “Yes, I do.”
“Someone ought to care for you when I cannot.”, The Duchess hummed her approval
“I don’t belong to you.”
”You are correct, my secret not-quite husband.”
“You don’t mind?”
”No, you deserve happinesses. I cannot give you my heart as freely as I wish I could.”
”Yes, yes. Our lives have always kept us apart.”
”Let me open my heart and care for you, now, dear. I fret I may not have another opportunity.”
”Of course.”
“Perhaps, one day, your Jedi will change their stance and you don’t have to keep your love secret.”
”I wish I could give you, what Cody and I have.”
”For just right now, let us care for you.”
Satine kissed Obi-Wan’s forehead, tenderly. She stroked his hand, letting him rest his head on her shoulder. He was getting tired, eyes drooping heavily.
The Duchess quietly called Cody back in the room. The Commander was polite and accommodating as he entered the tea room. Eyes on Obi-Wan, and then back on the Duchess.
“If it’s alright with you, I think Ben needs a rest.”
“Of course, ma’m.”
”Do you mind helping me carrying him to my quarters?”
“Sure. He could use some rest, Duchess.”
Cody gingerly picked Obi-Wan. He still remained concerned by how light and easy it was. Despite his increased appetite, Obi-Wan’s body is still awfully thin. They’re working on gaining weight back.
Cody carried Obi-Wan down the hallway, and commed Wolfee to let him know he had taken a strategy with the pair. As far as the 104th and 212th knew, the trio was talking shop.
Satine stopped when they reached her quarters. Cody put Obi-Wan down gently in her bed. Sleepily, Obi-Wan clung to Cody.
”Stay. Take a rest with us.”, Satine smiled softly.
”I don’t take orders from you, Ma’m.”
Cody looked between Satine and Obi-Wan. Well, Obi-Wan is being a cuddly octopus. It would be awfully difficult to detach him.
”We should undress. Too many clothes for a cuddle.”
”Duchess?”
The Duchess stripped down to her soft underclothes. The Commander’s cheeks burned, still unsure. Cody moved to remove Obi-Wan’s boots, cloak, and outer tunic. The commander left him in leggings and thin shirt.
He observed Satine’s behavior, unsure how to proceed. Cody kept his eyes forward, being professional and respectful, even with a blush on his cheeks.
“Join us.”, Satine passed a spot.
Obi-Wan sleepily opened his eyes, “Stay, ‘ody.”
”As you wish, sweetheart.”, Cody kissed his forehead.
He turned away from Satine to step out of armor, and into his blacks. Cody held Obi-Wan, rubbing his back. The three of them rested for a chance.
As Cody rolled up his sleeve, Satine caught an eyeful of his tattoo.
“I didn’t know you and Ben were betrothed.”
”A little more than week now. He felt we had no time to waste.”, Cody swallowed thickly.
”How sick he is, Cody?”
”This is the best I have ever seen him feel. However, disease progression remains concerning. We still have options, depending on how his cancer responds to this round of treatment.”
”I’ve never seen him so open, vulnerable, giving.”
”Straddling the road between the Living and the Dead changes a person. Not just him either, I mean, me too.”, Cody’s eyes were wet and soft.
“Thank you. You are a good man, Cody.”, Satine squeezed his hand.
”For what?”
”For giving him happiness, and love when I cannot.”
”He loves you, you know?”
Satine’s eyes are wet too. “Oh, darling, he loves you.”
“Who says he can’t love us both?”
”We have very different relationships, Cody. You two have something I can never have.”
”You two are absolutely impossible and stubborn. Fuck.”, Cody pinched his nose.
“It comes with the territory, I’m afraid.”
Cody rolled his eyes, “You know, he almost told the nurses that I’m Kote Kenobi-Kyrze.”
“Sounds like you’re stuck with me now.”, Satine gave him a shit eating grin.
”Ugh. There are two of them!”
Cody shook his head, and held his sleepy fiancé. The Duchness and the Commander began plotting how they would care for Obi-Wan. God knows that man needs some serious rest and relaxation.