Chapter Text
They had returned from their most recent mission almost two days ago, and while Obi-Wan was glad that Anakin was no longer taking every single opportunity to complain about how cold he was, the silence that followed was unnerving.
And there was a persistent, muffled coughing that Obi-Wan knew that Anakin was doing his best to hide.
He didn't want to think about why Anakin felt the need to do this- not when he already had the answer, given the kind of childhood that he had.
But still, it was something that worried him- the habit that Anakin had of hiding that anything was wrong. Working himself to the bone.
Not, that he had been the best role model for some of those things, but Obi-Wan didn't want Anakin to make the same mistakes that he had.
And with Ahsoka out on a mission with Master Plo, that left only the two of them in their apartment, leaving Anakin few places to hide.
It was on the evening of that day, which had been mostly normal and routine, that Obi-Wan was able to sit down with Anakin.
The sun was setting, earlier now than it had been before they had left, as Coruscant was now entering its winter cycle. And the temple was cold, not bitterly like the planet they had been on, but cold enough that almost everyone was wearing their cloak no matter where they went. A smile passed over Obi-Wan's face as he tried to imagine just how many layers Anakin was wearing under his clothes.
But the sound of harsh coughing brought him out of his head, back to the present where he heard Anakin in the kitchen of their apartment, muffling harsh coughs into his elbow.
"You sound horrible," Obi-Wan pointed out, looking up from the datapad that he was reading an article on and at Anakin, who sighed and cleared his throat.
"Thanks," he replied, his voice cracking.
Obi-Wan studied Anakin closely, noting that he had changed out of the robes that he had been wearing during the day for a comfortable and worn blue hoodie with the symbol of the over on the front. His curls were messy, matted, and frizzed as if he had just been laying down and had gotten up quickly.
"Anakin," Obi-Wan said after a moment, but stopped once Anakin started to cough again. Instead, he stood up and walked into the kitchen, rubbing slow circles onto Anakin's back as the fit subsided.
"Better?" Obi-Wan asked and Anakin nodded instead of saying anything, wiping tears away from his eyes as he did so.
"Please don't lecture me," Anakin muttered as he crossed his arms over his chest and now looked over at Obi-Wan with a pout.
"I don't think I would be able to get through to you any better than your own body telling you that you need to slow down," Obi-Wan pointed out with a shrug. "You sound awful, and I'd be surprised if you'd be allowed to teach the younglings."
"I already told Master Windu I wasn't coming," Anakin muttered as he ran a hand over his face.
"Really?" Obi-Wan replied in surprise, his eyebrows shooting up and eyes widening. Anakin nodded, and then began to cough again.
"Did you admit to not feeling well, or did Master Windu hear how horrible you sounded and asked you not to come?" Obi-Wan asked with a smirk and Anakin rolled his eyes.
"Does it matter?" he asked in response and Obi-Wan shrugged, having the answer to his question.
"Well, if anything, I'm sure a cup of tea would help to soothe your throat," Obi-Wan replied after a moment, resting his hand on Anakin's shoulder.
"Tea isn't the answer for everything, Obi-Wan," Anakin said in response, rolling his eyes with a fond smile.
"No," Obi-Wan began as he stepped away from Anakin to prepare two cups.
"But I could feel you shaking just now, and I'm assuming that you're feeling much worse than you want to admit."
Anakin huffed in response, and then turned away to cough harshly, this fit lasting longer than the others.
"Maybe you're right," he admitted, his voice hardly above a whisper as he turned back to face Obi-Wan.
"And maybe you should go get some more rest," Obi-Wan said, and when Anakin opened his mouth to respond, he held up his hand.
"I'll bring you your cup."
Anakin closed his mouth, and then after a moment, walked away, the sound of muffled footsteps and coughing following him until Obi-Wan heard the sound of a door sliding open and then closed again.
But by the time everything was ready and cooled enough so that they could drink it, Anakin was fast asleep, the covers pulled up so high that only the top of his head was sticking out, his curls a complete mess.
And Obi-Wan brought the cup back, leaving it on the counter, knowing that he would get to it.
Eventually, since he had a feeling that Anakin wouldn't be feeling any better when he woke up next.