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Obi-Wan strode through the Jedi Temple in pursuit of Anakin’s quarters. A council meeting in which their clone Captains would speak was to commence in twenty minutes, and he needed to ensure Anakin had thoroughly prepared Captain Rex.
Stopping before the entrance, he gave a rhythmic knock on the wall. “Anakin, can I come in?”
Shuffling could be heard from inside, along with frantic giggles.
After a moment, Anakin spoke. “Come right in, Master!”
Obi-Wan shook his head as the door raised, and he entered. “Have you informed Rex of the meeting he will be required to speak in?” He scanned the room.
However, just as he questioned, his eyes fell on the Captain himself standing broadly in the corner. It appeared as if he were prepared in the event he was spotted, but he wasn’t actively encouraging it. A ghost of a smirk was still visible on his lips.
“Oh, hello, Captain, why are you—“ He glanced to Anakin, then to the beverage on the table next to piles of mint wrappers.
Anakin couldn’t contain a snort. “We’re ready for the meeting, Obi-Wan. We were just having a bit of fun before it, is all.”
Obi-Wan’s eyes shifted between the mint treats as well as the drink beside it. Exasperation bled into his every word as he massaged the bridge of his nose. “Anakin, why are you doing this?”
He beamed, a piece of blue Chewstim poking out between his teeth. “To test my limits, Master.” He picked up a silver glass from a table in front of them, displaying it to Obi-Wan. “I wanted to see just how much mint I could possibly handle, and then we’re gonna drink Ardees—“
“We?”
Anakin faltered. “Uuh…” He crossed his arms proudly. “Me and my taste buds.”
Rex stiffened.
Obi-Wan surveyed the room suspiciously, locking eyes on an item in the Captain’s hands. “Are your taste buds holding a twelve-pack of Chewstim?”
Rex hastily tucked the chewing treat behind his back, raising his chin in an attempted display of professionalism.
“Captain Rex, you can tell me if you’re in on this little scheme.”
Anakin interjected. “Actually, Master, that won’t be necessary because Rex is entirely innocent—“
“No, Sir,” came a soft reply from Rex as the Captain ducked his head away from the Jedi Master.
Obi-Wan approached Rex, lifting an eyebrow to scrutinize his hesitant demeanor. “No?”
“I’m afraid not,” Rex’s reply fell in a decrescendo as he kept his head turned away from Obi-Wan before him.
A cheeky smirk painted Obi-Wan’s face as his upper-hand over the two floundering men dawned on him. “Then I suppose you’ll have no hesitations speaking for the council in fifteen minutes? I’ll be right beside you, you know, as well as Master Windu.”
Obi-Wan could see Rex’s throat bob in a gulp. He imagined it was an icy mint gulp.
“That won’t be—“ He lifted his head at last, strengthening his voice to its usual firm tone. “That won’t be an issue, Sir.”
Ah. Obi-Wan’s eyes twinkled satisfactorily. The mint was radiating from Captain Rex, now.
Obi-Wan placed a hand on Rex’s shoulder, looking into brown eyes thoughtfully. “Your breath is lovely. Just be upfront next time.” He turned to leave the room. “There’s truly no shame in wanting pleasant breath.”
On his way out, he plucked the Ardees off the table where it sat.
“Because I know those were your intentions in consuming copious amounts of mint.” With a quick swig from the drink, Obi-Wan opened the door to leave. “Just be ready in fifteen minutes. It’d be a shame to keep the council waiting.”