Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Cody was wiping the counter of his family’s coffee shop down towards the end of a regular autumn afternoon when the front door opened rather more violently than normal, the bell ringing in protest.

He glanced up, slightly wary of incoming trouble. Maybe one of his brothers had had a bad day at school or work or something.

Nope, that’s not any of his brothers coming in the glass door with a gust of cool air. Of course not, it’s the most gorgeous redhead that Cody’s ever seen.

Cody clenched his fingers, glad they’re hidden in the cloth still pretending to wipe at the already spotless counter as his gaze is fixed on the slim redhead currently somehow storming towards the counter without a single stomp and with a pleasant smile fixed on his face. Cody could almost see the furious air roiling around him.

The bell above the door rings again, and Cody retained enough brainpower that he glanced towards it. A broad-shouldered man with dark skin and long dreadlocks came sulking in, clearly trailing behind the redhead.

The other man caught up to the redhead before they made it to the counter, and went to speak. “Ben…”

“Ah!” The redhead held up a single, commanding finger and continued his march forwards. “No.”

The darker man slumped again and stuck his hands in the back pocket of his jeans, clearly obeying the command, minimal though it was.

The pretty redhead arrived at the counter and Cody gave himself enough of a mental slap upside the head to be able to smile at him while speaking.

“Hello, welcome to 212^th Street Coffee Shop. What can I get you today?”

The slim man doesn’t even bother looking at the menu. “A large chai tea with four espresso shots and three sugar, please and thank you.” He handed over a crumpled ten-dollar bill.

Cody’s eyes flicked over his shoulder to the other man, as they clearly came in together, but the redhead didn’t even twitch at the non-verbal question and the darker man didn’t look up, so Cody simply rang up his change and handed it back over.

“It’ll be just a moment.”

The redhead nodded, and the two men moved over the three or so feet until they were standing at the receiving end of the counter.

Cody watched them out of the corner of his eye as he put the order together. The darker man peered over the redhead’s shoulder towards the baked goods on display, apparently going to speak again. The redhead again held up a single commanding finger, and the other subsided once more, without even a word spoken between them. It was certainly an interesting relationship dynamic.

Cody put the large cup on the counter, and the redhead took it.

“Thank you.”

Cody nodded back. “Not a problem.” He didn’t end with his usual ‘have a good day’. Somehow he thought it may not be received by the roiling storm cloud masquerading as a polite human in front of him. Somehow.

The redhead retreated to one of the tables alongside the wall of windows that looked over the street and the colourful park on the other side of it. The darker man slumped into the other chair, twitching with the need to say something, but clearly refraining.

Cody had not been so entertained by a customer in ages.

The duo remained silent, and Cody pretended not to blatantly watch them by wiping down the coffee machine very slowly. Very slowly. He hoped that no one else would come in until he got to find out what was going on.

The redhead took a large gulp of his drink, then another. Then he set it down on the table, very deliberately, folded his hands and set them on the table as well, and pinned the darker man with a stare.

“Speak.”

“Well, you see Ben, it wasn’t really that big of a deal in the first place. I don’t know what the cops were all on about.” The man waved a hand around very nonchalantly, the gold sleeve tattoo on his upper arm an interesting contrast to his dark skin.

“Quin! You were arrested for getting into a fistfight with four other people in a public shop! You’re lucky that Captain Fox somehow likes you and just held you for a few hours instead of actually charging you!” Despite his sharp tone, Ben’s voice does not get any louder whatsoever. Nor did his body so much as twitch.

“Yeah, but they deserved it!” Quin leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms, his dreadlocks slipping over his shoulders. He somehow looked like Cody’s younger brothers did when they were explaining why they shouldn’t get in trouble at school to their father. Despite having several inches both in height and breadth on the slim redhead, it was clear who was in charge there.  

“Even if they did,” Ben held up a hand, “And knowing you, they very well may have, but I still had to come get you! In the middle of the afternoon during the workweek! You’re lucky Shaak even let me leave! You know better than that!”

Quin slumped forwards and rested his forehead on the table. “Fair enough. ‘M sorry, Ben.”

The redhead rolled his eyes. “I know, Quin.” He studied the back of his friend’s head for a moment. “Just don’t get caught next time, okay? I know you can do better than that.”

“Got it loud and clear.” Quin bounced up out of his seat grinning. He pressed a kiss to Ben’s temple. You’re the best, Ben.”

“Yeah, yeah.” The redhead waved him off. “Go on, I know you’ve got someone to meet.”

The dark-skinned man laughed before heading out of the shop with a spring to his step.

Ben stared into space for a minute before slumping down in his chair and rubbing both hands over his face. It looked as though he was muttering to himself, though Cody couldn’t make out what he was saying.

He was still sitting like that when another customer finally came in and Cody got pulled away.

The next time Cody looked up, both the pretty redhead and his drink were gone.

Chapter Text

Cody didn’t bother mentioning the situation to any of his brothers or cousins. The redhead had never been in before, and it was clear that the coffee shop was not in his normal area.

Besides, he had no desire to be teased for his reaction to the redhead. The curse of having younger brothers and cousins. Especially when several of them were already in relationships.

It was another quiet afternoon, this time with a storm blowing in with grey skies and a bite to the wind. The morning had been very busy, so Cody, working once again by himself for the afternoon, was restocking the displays with baked goods and some of the novelty wood carvings that Gregor made.

A slim blonde woman came in, wrapped up well in a grey knee-length coat and a purple scarf. Cody nodded to her over his shoulder.

“Be with you in just a minute!”

She nodded, scanning the display case he was restocking as well as the drinks menu. Cody placed the last of the tarts into the case and brushed the sugar off his hands.

He smiled at her from behind the cash register. “What can I get for you today?”

The woman smiled back at him before pulling a hand out of a pocket and handing him a note.

Slightly puzzled, Cody unfolded the note. In a careful, neat script, it read: Large earl grey with 2 cream, large lemon tea with three honey, a chocolate hazelnut twist. Thank you

Cody glanced back up at the woman, curious but not willing to intrude, before ringing her up and telling her the total.

She pulled out a coin purse and counted it all out in change as Cody got the drinks together and pulled out the pastry.

The blonde took her completed order with a smile and a nod and brought the drinks to one of the tables by the window. She set everything down, arranging the pastry and the earl grey tea at the second chair, and waved to someone outside the window.

Still curious, Cody followed her line of view.

The same redhead from the last time, Ben, was standing up from the bench outside and coming into the coffee shop. Cody immediately ducked into the back room for only a few seconds to take a deep breath and control his blush before stepping back out to the cash register.

“Good afternoon. Welcome to the 212^th Street Coffee Shop.”

The redhead nodded at Cody and gave a polite smile as he headed straight for the blonde set up at the table by the window. “Good afternoon.”

Cody wondered fleetingly if this conversation would be as interesting as the last time Ben had been at the coffee shop.

Cody watched the blonde watch Ben take a seat, arrange his pastry at a fussy angle on the plate, and take a sip of his tea before taking a larger drink. That he also set down, arranging it at a precise angle in relation to the plate before looking up at the blonde.

He raised an eyebrow at her. “Drink your tea, Siri. Or you won’t be able to talk tomorrow either.”

The blonde, Siri, tipped her head down to stare at her tea, the edges of her straight, shoulder length hair brushing the edges of the mug. She made a disgusted face that Cody could see from his totally not-hiding spot drying the glasses from the dishwasher behind the counter.

Ben sighed. “Well, Siri, if you don’t want to drink the tea, maybe don’t spend hours yelling at the general population and then the police.”

She made another face. Cody wasn’t sure what this one meant, but it was clearly not complimentary.

“Yes, I know you think the police and the general public deserve it. But really, Siri. Learn to pace yourself or drink more water or something!” The redhead leaned back in his chair and regarded his friend. “Public protests work for a reason, but you don’t need to wreck your throat over them.”

The blonde’s shoulders shrunk in, and she morosely took a drink of her tea before making a displeased face.

Ben raised his eyebrow again. “The whole thing, Siri. We’ll sit here until it’s gone.”

She glared up at him from under her bangs.

He just rolled his eyes and took a bite of the hazelnut chocolate pastry. Ben’s eyes widened in surprise and he looked down at the pastry before looking over to the counter, where Cody hastily averted his gaze back to the glasses he was drying.

When Cody next dared to look back at the pair, Ben was clearly savouring the pastry just as much as Siri was hating her tea. It made Cody flush with something warm to see the redhead so obviously enjoying the pastry, despite the fact that Cody was not the baker of the family. That would be Bly and Denal, with Ponds and Wooley helping most often.

Once Ben had finished the pastry, he spent a moment just holding his tea and watching his friend grimace down her drink.

“And honestly, Siri.” He sighed. “Getting arrested is not actually required to lead a protest. Please try to avoid it next time. This is the second time I’ve been to the jail in a week.”

The blonde tilted her head in an obvious question.

Ben sighed. “Quinlan. Of course.”

Siri’s head tipped forwards, her shoulders shaking with what Cody was pretty sure was laughter.

The redhead rolled his eyes again. “Yes, yes. But remember, you were the second one.”

Her head came up with an expression of surprise.

Ben’s expression was pure wicked mischief, and Cody almost dropped the teacup he was holding at the bolt of arousal that went through him.

Ben leaned forwards over the table, regarding the blonde like a loth cat regards a particularly interesting bug it intends to eat.

“So watch yourself, my dear.” At her accusative look, he laughed.

Cody melted at the sound.

The redhead settled himself into the chair again, a smirk on his face as he fiddled with his tea. “I am not planning to let this one go for a while, Siri. And just in case you get any ideas, I do have photographic proof.”

Blonde eyebrows narrowed in his direction.

The smug smirk did not disappear. “No, Siri, they are not only on my phone. So don’t even bother trying.”

Now she was pouting. Ben laughed again, and this time Cody actually had to go into the back and stick his head in the fridge.

He told himself that it was to get more creamer. But that was a lie.

When Cody got himself enough together to leave, both people were gone.

He wondered if the redhead would be back, or if the second time had been the final time. He hoped it wasn’t. Cody actually wanted to learn the redhead’s last name, at some point.

And his phone number, but Cody maintained that that was besides the point.

Chapter Text

After the second time, Cody held out hope that Ben would end up coming by the coffee shop again. He did wonder, though, why the redhead seemed to be the designated police pickup. Cody shook his head. Two data points did not a pattern make. He’d need more information first.

Hopefully he’d get a chance to add more data points to his observations of the pretty redhead.

It took almost two weeks before Ben walked back into 212^th Street Coffee, during which Cody was hyperalert to the bell above the door ringing.

Which he got teased for, of course.

None of his family knew why he was watching the doorway so closely, but they definitely did tease him about watching for a person.

“Waiting for that boyfriend of yours to come in, Cody?” Ponds snickered at him one morning when his head had snapped up at the sound of the bell.

Cody had simply rolled his eyes and punched his brother in the shoulder. The little twerp had twisted enough to avoid most of the light-hearted blow and danced away, cackling.

Cody was simply grateful that when the redhead did arrive, that he was once again the only one working the afternoon shift.

The weather was finally starting to deliver on its teasing, and the flat grey sky and cold wind threatened the first snowfall of the season. Said cold air blew in along the redhead and his new companion as they entered the coffee shop, Cody calling the standard greeting from his place behind the counter.

“Good afternoon, and welcome to 212^th Street Coffee Shop.”

Cody told himself it wasn’t rude to observe the pair as the redhead and his blond companion neared the counter.

This time, the other person with Ben was a lanky blond, maybe twenty something, whose shoulder-length dirty blond hair was not enough to hide his pout.

The tight grip that the pretty redhead had on his wrist was a first, as well. Maybe this one was more of a flight risk than the others.

Ben was no less polite ordering his drink this time than the last, still offering Cody that same small smile that never failed to make his spine tingle. In another break from the previous visits, he ordered a single large coffee with honey instead of any of the teas.

Cody was pleased to see that he also ordered another chocolate hazelnut pastry twist. He liked feeding Ben things that made him happy.

Wow that was a sappy thought.

Cody shook himself out of his head and handed over the coffee, with the pastry carefully balanced on top of it since Ben didn’t seem inclined to let go of the younger man’s wrist any time soon.

Another small smile was offered. “Thank you.”

Cody nodded, at least partly to hide his slight flush. “Not a problem. Enjoy.”

The redhead’s pale blue eyes took on a gleam as he tipped his head to one side. “I’m sure I will.”

Cody could feel his blush spreading up his neck, but fortunately Ben had turned around before he could catch a glimpse of it, and, tugging his companion behind him, moved them both to the same table he had occupied at the previous visits.

He deposited the blond in the chair before pinning him there with a hard look.

Cody was impressed at that look, and at the way the blond immediately folded under it. Cody continued tapping away at the computer behind the counter, somehow conviently placed so he could see the table without appearing to be staring. Strange that. Quite the coincidence.

The redhead took his seat in a chair and sipped at his drink silently.

Cody wasn’t sure if he was waiting for something, or just wanting the caffeine boost, but the deliberate silence made the blond fidget increasingly obviously until he broke.

“All right! You win!” The young man jabbed a finger in the direction of the redhead. “Ask your stupid questions.”

Ben set down his drink and folded his arms. “You punched a guy in the nose, and broke it. In a high-end clothing store.”

The blond flailed his hands dramatically. “He insulted Padme! He deserved it!”

The redhead simply raised a singular eyebrow.

Cody was starting to develop a thing for that eyebrow. Was that embarassing? Did he care if it was?

Probably not.

The younger man folded his arms and sulked. “Besides, it’s not like the guy is pressing charges.”

Ben tilted his head slightly and pinned the blond with a look that make him shrink down into his chair. “Only because of Padme. Again. She talked him out of it, lucky you.”

There was a besotted smile on the younger man’s face. “Yeah. Isn’t she great?”

Ben sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, closing his brilliant blue eyes. “That is very much so not the point, Anakin. I know you love your fiancee. Everyone who ever comes within five feet of you knows how much you love Padme.”

Anakin opened his mouth, and Ben held up a single finger. The blond snapped his mouth shut.

Cody was now in awe. He wished he could get his younger brothers to listen to him quite as well as the redhead seemed to manage with all the people he brought in.

“The point, Anakin, is that you punched him in the nose with your prosthetic, instead of with your other hand.” He eyed the blond disappiontedly. “Which you explicity promised both Qui-gon and I you would not do.”

Cody was delighted. That expression was clearly weaponized and effective, as he watched Anakin fold under the look until he was crumpled up in his chair, a slightly miserable ball.

“’M sorry, Obi.” He shook his head. “Just got mad again, and Padme didn’t even seem to notice what he was saying.”

Obi? Cody had thought the redhead’s name was Ben. Maybe one or the other was a nickname? Or his last name?

The redhead sighed, and reached out a hand to the younger man, who grabbed onto it like a lifeline.

“I know, Anakin. But we’re working on the mad, and it’s been going fairly well, hasn’t it?”

The blond nodded slowly.

"Then this is just a set-back. I'll keep you on track." He watched the younger man for a moment before speaking again.

“And secondly, is Padme smarter than you?”

Cody could feel the look the blond sent at Ben (Obi?). “Of course she is.”

Ben continued to press, looking earnest. “And does she know how to navigate social situations better than you do?”

“Well, obviously.” Anakin shifted his position, long legs unfolding slightly to rest on the floor again.

The redhead nodded, emphasizing his point. “Then why don’t you take your cues from her in situations like that?”

The blond blinked at him, surprised.

Ben continued. “Follow what Padme does, and when you’re home, if you’re still upset, call me and I’ll come help you work it out. Okay?”

The young man seemed to totally relax, all the tension leaving his body. “Okay,” he breathed out. He smiled at the redhead. “Thanks, Obi.”

The other man patted the blond’s arm. “That’s what I’m here for, Anakin. You’re working on it, we just need to keep at it, all right?”

“All right.” The blond clambered up out of his chair to drape himself over the redhead in what Cody was pretty sure was supposed to be a hug.

Probably Ben tolerated it for a long moment, much as Cody would do for his younger siblings, before swatting at the body lounging on top of him. “Now get. That fiancee of yours will be waiting for you.”

Anakin beamed before racing out the door, bell ringing frantically behind him.

Cody returned his gaze to the back table, only to see the redhead looking back at him.

Ben smiled, and raised the pastry in a toast.

Cody gaped, flushed crimson, and promptly ducked his head and slid down in his chair so he was hiding behind the computer screen.

Well, that was mortifying. The pretty redhead had very clearly caught him watching the drama going on. The very, obviously, highly personal drama.

When he finally worked up the courage to peek out around the screen, the redhead was gone once again.

The bell above the door hadn’t even rung once.

Chapter Text

Ben, (Obi? Cody will stick with Ben for now, at a 2:1 ratio for visits using the name) came back only a week later, and Cody praised the highly improbable luck that resulted in him being, yet again, the only person that was working in the shop at the time. He knew it wouldn't last, that his family would find out about his crush sooner or later, but he would prefer it to be as later as possible.

Especially since he’d never actually talked to the man outside of the social niceties required to take his coffee orders.

It would lessen the inevitable teasing if he’d actually talk to Ben, but that wasn't likely to happen yet.

Yes, Cody was aware that he turned into a bit of a disaster around his redheaded crush. What of it?

Regardless, said redhead had returned to 212th Street Coffee Shop once again. Or, sort of.

He was currently standing in the doorway, propping the door open enough that Cody shivered slightly in the cold breeze that blew in around the redhead's slim form. Winter had definitely arrived, despite the current lack of snow.

Ben was, well, not exactly yelling, but definitely being both firm and loud.

"Qui-gon Jinn! In here! Now!"

Cody watched as the redhead's crossed arms and firm stance seemed to spit fire at the older man with long grey-streaked brown hair that ambled towards the shop and said exasperated redhead.

Just before the older man entered the shop, Ben let the door swung shut right into his face, before turning sharply on his heel and marching straight for the counter.

Straight for Cody.

Cody immediately tried to look as though he hadn’t been watching this newest installment of drama closely. He was pretty sure he failed, going by the small smile that tugged at the corner of Ben’s mouth and softened his entire face.

By the Ka’ra, he was gorgeous.

Right. Words. Coffee things.

No, he was not blushing. He refused.

Cody could feel the heat on the back of his neck, though thankfully not up onto his cheeks, as he spoke to the pretty redhead.

“Hello. Welcome to 212^th Street Coffee Shop. What can I get for you today?”

There. Did it.

Ben smiled at him, actually smiled.

Cody melted, and glanced down at his screen. He needed to keep it together enough to get through this.

“A large peppermint tea with two cream and two honey, please.”

Cody nodded as he input the order, and tried (unsuccessfully) to ignore the smooth lilt of the redhead’s voice. Was there anything about him that was not attractive?

“Anything else?”

Ben hummed, glancing down the side of the counter to look at the bakery display. “A chocolate tart, please. Just a small one.”

“Okay. Ready to pay?”

“Yes, thank you.”

Ben paid neatly, and Cody turned away to prepare his drink.

As Ben was putting away his wallet, the redhead’s head snapped around to glare at the older man who had taken a seat at Ben’s customary table. He snapped out, “People who lose their wallets breaking into other people’s property don’t get tea, Qui-gon.”

The brown-haired man raised an awfully familiar-looking eyebrow, but didn’t say anything.

Maybe they were related somehow? Because that looked terribly like Ben’s eyebrow raise, just with slightly less sass. Ben seemed to have an abundance of sass, and that included his eyebrow raises.

By the time Cody turned back around with the tea and the pastry on a small napkin, Ben was facing him again, smiling politely.

“Here you go.”

The redhead nodded, taking his treats. “Thank you very much.”

Cody could feel the heat on the back of his neck again. “Not a problem. Enjoy.”

A purely predatory look flashed over Ben’s face as his eyes narrowed slightly. “Oh, I will.”

Yup. Cody was definitely attracted to that.   

The redhead took his drink and pastry over to the table and sat down, refusing to look at the serene countenance of the older man across from him.

It took several minutes, fully half the tart, and several drinks of the tea that was probably still too hot before Ben spoke again.

“Qui-gon, really? Arrested for breaking and entering? Into someone’s private garden, nonetheless?”

“Obi-wan…” The other man hadn’t even twitched at the barely hidden venom in that statement.

Cody could see how the nickname “Obi” had come from “Obi-wan”. Still confused over the whole “Ben” thing, though. But “Ben” did seem like a more common nickname than something more obscure like “Obi-wan”.

Apparently Obi-wan pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation and sighed. “I literally just had Anakin in here the other week, telling him off for getting picked up by the police.” He lowered his hand and glared at the tall man across the table. “And now here you are! I’d say you should have known better than this, but we both know that’s a lie.”

The redhead leaned across the table and hissed at Qui-gon. “And if you give me any of your ‘it was the will of the universe’ kark, I will put this fork right through your hand.” He brandished the fork in question.

Cody was alarmed, surprised, and definitely, definitely aroused. Where the hell had the redhead gotten that fork? He hadn’t given him a fork. They didn’t even have metal forks in the coffee shop. He didn't have a bag. Had it been in his pocket? Why did the redhead have a fork?

Was it a serious threat? It certainly seemed like one.

The rest of his brain was just on a loop of ‘holy crap that is hot!’

The other man held up both hands as if in surrender and closed his mouth again.

Somehow he never lost his look of serenity.

Cody knew he would have, had he been in the older man’s place.

“Qui-gon, you promised me,” Ben/Obi-wan pointed a stern finger at the older man, “You promised me, several times, nonetheless, that you wouldn’t get picked up again for something like this!”

The redhead ran a hand through his hair before sighing and pinning Qui-gon with an immovable sort of look, as though his spine was made of steel. “You will deal with Dooku, understood?”

The two stared at each other for a moment before the brown-haired man bowed his head. “Very well.”

“Good.” Ben slapped both hands down on the table and pushed to his feet, snagging his drink on the way up. “Then let’s go.”

Cody saw the first look of apprehension from the other man.

“Now?”

The look the redhead shot him was withering. “If I don’t bring you there myself, right now. It will not happen. And then I will have to explain to Dooku, again, how you got caught by the cops and charged. For something entirely stupid and pointless. And I am not doing that. Not again. So yes. Up.”

Qui-gon rose to his feet in a deceptively smooth motion for such a large man and headed for the door.

Ben followed him, not pausing in his walk as he turned and shot Cody a wink, mischief in his blue eyes.

Cody watched after the pair of them, stunned, before blinking back to himself when they finally left his view, realizing that he really did have a stupid smile on his face.

And that he hadn’t even bothered to try and pretend that he hadn’t been watching that entire scene.

He groaned and thumped his forehead again the doorframe into the back.

“Wow Cody!” His obnoxious younger brother Rex bounced in from the back room. “Who was that? Was that your not-boyfriend? Is that why you were so lame?”

Cody threw a sealed container of coffee at his head. Rex cackled.

That was it. The teasing would start for real now. Unless….

Cody lifted his head up, peering towards the overly energetic blond still chattering away. If he strangled the twerp, then no one else would have to hear about it.

“Cody?” Said twerp noticed his intent look. Brown eyes narrowed suspiciously. “What are you doing?”

The coffee shop was filled with delighted and offended shrieking for several minutes after that. Rex ended up with buttercream smeared all in his hair, which meant that Cody won.

Well, sort of. Now Rex would definitely tell everyone about his not-pretend crush.

Still worth it.

Chapter Text

Cody only had to endure four days of high intensity teasing before it settled into a calmer state with only the occasional comment. Usually when he startled at the sound of the bell above the door and whipped around to see who had entered. Maybe he deserved it then. Maybe.

Of course, those four days had also included eight tickle fights, eleven headlocks, two incidents of food smeared in hair (plus Rex and that buttercream), six items thrown at high velocity, seven tea towels used as gags, and four screeching brothers and cousins locking themselves in the bathroom while Cody waited patiently outside.

Jango had just looked at Cody and hummed. “Has anything happened yet?”

Cody had flushed. “No. Not yet.”

His buir had nodded. “Well, if it does, bring him around.” Then the man had turned away and gone back to kneading bread dough in their home’s kitchen.

Fortunately for Cody, Ben/Obi-wan didn’t come back until day six.

Cody wasn’t the only one working that morning; both his younger brother Bly and cousin Denal were as well. As per the usual, it was a fairly busy morning, and all three of them were kept hopping, Cody and Bly in the front taking orders and making coffee, and Denal in the back trying to keep up with the baking.

There was the standard mix of customers for a weekday morning: both regulars and newcomers, businesspeople and parents who’d just dropped their kids off at school, people going for a run and those headed for the nearby college, and the cops from the police station three blocks over.

One new customer came up to Cody’s station to order. A tall lady, taller than Cody, with copper skin and black hair braided into some sort of complicated pair of buns on the top of her head. She had fascinating tattoos around her eyes that stretched onto her temples and crinkled when she smiled at him when he spoke.

“Hello, and welcome to 212^th Street Coffee Shop, what can I get you today?”

“A cheese bun, a medium green tea with one honey, two raspberry thumbprint cookies, and a large orange spice tea with two sugars.”

Cody rang up her orders, musing over her unique accent. It was one he hadn’t heard before, but it almost seemed as if it held shades of several accents he had heard.

“$9.15, please. And if I could have a name for the order?” Cody pulled off the order slip and grabbed his pen.

“Shaak, please.” She slid a ten onto the counter. “Keep the change.”

Cody dithered for a moment over how to spell the name before going with his best guess, it wasn’t like she’d see the slip, after all. It was just for him and Bly.

He slid the order slip over the Bly at the other end of the counter, and set her deserts onto one of their plates before handing it over.

“Here you are, the drinks will be just a minute.”

“Not a problem.” She smiled pleasantly and took a step back to wait.

Cody turned back to the register for the next customer.

When the stream of customers finally slowed, then mostly stopped, Cody took a moment to breathe before taking a quick look around the seating area of the shop, checking for dirty dishes that would need to get picked up and washed.

He startled slightly when he realized that his redhead was back, and was sitting at his usual table with the striking woman from earlier.

Now that the shop was quiet, Cody could pick up on their conversation.

Not that he was intentionally eavesdropping or anything. Not at all.

Ben (Obi-wan? Ben? Cody was going to stick with Ben for now, unless told otherwise. Or unless the redhead introduced himself. No points as to which one Cody was hoping for.) was gesturing with one hand, more emotive than Cody had ever seen him, the other hand securely holding his tea like something precious.

“……and then Anakin punched someone for Padme in public! With his prosthetic hand! And then Qui-gon gets picked up for breaking and entering just days later!”

Ben slumped in his chair and ran a hand through his hair. “Why, Shaak? Why is everyone around me like this? You’d think they’d all know better by now.”

Shaak chuckled, the sound deep and rich. “With that group, Ben, I would make no such declarations.”

Bly sidled up beside where Cody was watching the newest installment of the redhead’s drama and leaned in. “So, this is the not-boyfriend then?”

Cody knocked an elbow into his ribcage. “Shut up, vod’ika. Try and tell me he’s not ridiculously pretty.”

Bly eyed the redhead, who was still slumped dramatically in his chair. “I suppose, though he’s not really my type.”

“No, that’s just Aayla, isn’t it?” Aayla was one of the casual staff who worked at the coffee shop, and Bly had had a crush on her from day one. They had started dating only a few months ago. “Now shut up, I’m trying to listen.”

Bly rolled his eyes. “Wow, that’s not creepy at all, is it.”

Cody swatted at him, but his younger brother had already moved to the back room to help Denal with the baking and dishes. There was quiet discussion from the back, then Cody could hear Denal abandon whatever it was he was working on and move forwards to come see the man his family had dubbed “Cody’s not-boyfriend”. Cody wasn’t worried. Denal was the quietest of their family and wouldn’t come tease Cody while they were both working.

Cody moved to the drinks end of the counter and began wiping down the counters with a clean rag. Totally not listening to the still ongoing conversation, of course.

“Honestly, Shaak, I think the boys over at the station are tired of seeing me by now. It’s been four visits in a month!”

The black-haired woman reached over the table and patted at Ben’s hand. “I would think they would actually be happy to see you, Ben, since you keep showing up to take trouble off their hands.”

Ben made a face. “True enough. Imagine having to keep track of Quin. Or Anakin.” He shuddered, both hands tightening around his tea. “Or, stars forbid, Qui-gon.”

The redhead shuddered again and took a large gulp of his tea. “Never again.”

Shaak shook her head, her hair not even twitching with the movement. “You did that for enough years, Ben. Going to get them is enough now. They are all adults.” She raised one perfect eyebrow. “Even that Anakin.”

Ben looked up at her, blue eyes mournful. “Then why can’t they act like adults and stop getting caught? I mean really, it’s not that hard!”

That….was an interesting comment. Not ‘stop doing what got them in trouble in the first place’, but ‘stop getting caught’. Cody tipped his head slightly to one side, eyes staring sightlessly in the direction of the tea selection. Curious.

Shaak chuckled again and tapped two fingers against the table. “I suppose you would know, wouldn’t you?”

And wasn’t that also a very interesting statement?

Cody was somehow more intrigued than he had been before. Turns out his redhead had more secrets than he would have thought.

The redhead just rolled his eyes at her, taking another drink of his tea. “Don’t you have a meeting?”

She blew out a long breath of air, vaguely exasperated. “Don’t I always?”

Ben snickered.

Snickered.

That was, officially, Cody’s new favourite sound.

It bumped the sound of Ben laughing down to second place.

Cody mentally shook himself, attempting to not embarrass himself again in front of his crush. Especially since his brother and cousin would be able to see it this time.

He looked up again in time to watch the statuesque woman stride out the door in a swirl of her long skirts, and Ben bring the dishes up to the counter.

Where he was standing.

Staring.

At the redhead.

Who was walking towards him.

Stop with the staring and focus!

Cody smiled. “All done?”

Ben smiled back and set the dishes onto the counter. “Indeed. My thanks, the baked goods are always excellent.”

Cody was pleased, once again, at getting to give his crush something he enjoyed eating.

“Thank you. Our family makes them in-house, so they’re always fresh.” Cody shrugged. “Makes them taste better, in my opinion.”

The redhead hummed and smiled again. “I quite agree. Have a good rest of your day.”

“You as well.”

Cody watched the redhead walk out the door, hands tucked into his pockets, until he was all the way out of sight. Then the brown-haired man blew out a sigh and relaxed against the counter.

Too soon, as it turned out, as he saw Bly’s face peering around the doorframe, a mischievous smirk growing across it.

Not again.

At least Bly wouldn’t tease too much. He was familiar with these sorts of situations after meeting Aayla.

And besides, Cody had plenty of blackmail on him, and was willing to use it if necessary.

Chapter Text

Unfortunately, the next time Ben came in, it was a busy Saturday morning.

Unfortunate because that meant that Cody was not the only one working.

No, there were four other family members present.

One of whom was Rex.

Cody was helping Denal in the back, enjoying the opportunity to work with dough instead of customers for once, when Wooley came skidding into the back and promptly shut the door behind him and leaned on it.

Denal and Cody both stopped what they were doing and stared at him. Cody raised an eyebrow.

Wooley started shaking his head, still pressed against the door. “Nope. Nothing’s wrong. Everything is fine, perfectly fine, Cody, you don’t need to go out front or anything, there’s nothing out there.”

Now Cody had both eyebrows raised.

Wooley crumpled under the look from his eldest cousin, same as he ever had.

“Okay fine.” He blew out a breath, ruffling the curls that hung over his forehead. “Cody’s not-boyfriend is out front and Rex is going to serve him and actually get his name instead of being a chicken because his brain isn’t fried from just looking at the guy and Bly pointed him out when he came in and wow he really is hot and we think it may be a new person with him because he doesn’t look like anyone who’s already been in here with your redhead when we looked at the security tapes.”

Cody just stared at him, more than slightly poleaxed by both the information and the sheer speed with which it had been delivered.

Before Cody could figure out how to respond to that, Wooley pushed off the door and grabbed at his arm.

“Ok Cody. Go wash your hands then I’m sending you out front to restock.” He dragged Cody over to the sink and turned the water on, pouring soap over his hands. “By the time you get out there Rex will have done what he needs to do and then you can still see him!”

Cody’s brain was still struggling to keep up, but he started washing his hands nonetheless. He could hear Wooley and Denal behind him, bustling around to grab the baked goods that were needed. Once he dried his hands and turned around, the tray with the baked goods was shoved into his hands, and Wooley escorted him to the door before opening it and practically pushing him through it.

Cody stepped out into the main area of the coffee shop, tray in hand. It had slowed down from the initial morning rush, though there were still a fair few customers moving through the place. Few stayed though, with only a handful of people sitting at tables.

One of which was Ben, with yet another new person.

This time it was a man who appeared to be about the same age as the redhead, with straight black hair that fell halfway to his shoulders and pale skin. Both men were nursing a drink and a pastry of some sort.

Rex, having finished with the latest customer’s drink, bumped Cody’s elbow with his. “The name he gave me was Ben. His friend’s was Garen. And now you’re out here too!”

Cody rolled his eyes, momentarily distracted from his crush by his moron of a younger brother.

Rex bumped him with his elbow again. “Now go set out those pastries so you can stare longingly at your not-boyfriend at the same time!”

Cody would have smacked him, but both his hands were full. He moved over to the baked goods case, making sure to stay out of Bly’s way, and started pulling out trays to restock. He was in a good position to both watch the table and hear the redhead and his friend.

When he tuned in to the conversation, Ben was speaking, gesturing with one hand. “Why do you people keep calling me to come pick you up? Why? Surely there’s someone else in town?”

Garen shook his head and began counting people off on his fingers. “Quin is out of town on that archaeological dig in whatever desert it is this time. Siri is at that human rights conference she’s speaking at up the coast. Luminara is with Barriss on her school’s field trip. Kit is off on his boat. Plo has that meeting with that lawyer several hours away. Mace is terrifying, and also has meetings out of town this week. And you really think the cops would let Qui-gon or Anakin pick someone up?” He gestured wildly with the last bite of his pastry before dropping it in his mouth. “Also I would rather stab myself then be stuck in a car with either one of those two.”

Cody recognized a few of those names from the redhead’s previous visits. Clearly they shared a friend group.

Ben rubbed at the back of his neck and chuckled. “Yeah, okay. That’s fair.” He paused and eyed the other man. “Well, it’s actually more likely that you would stab them.”

The black-haired man laughed. “True.” He snorted. “Then Anakin would whine and Qui-gon would be unperturbed but somehow still disappointed.”

“Force.” Ben dropped his forehead down onto the table. “Why is that true.”

Garen laughed again.

Ben sighed and rolled his head from side to side before sitting up again and taking another sip of his tea. He fixed the other with his signature eyebrow. (That Cody was very attracted to, still.)

“Seriously though, Garen, you’re lucky it was just trespassing and not corporate espionage. Those were brand new experimental planes you were looking at.”

Garen rolled his eyes. “Oh, come on Ben. You know I’m better than that.”

Ben pinned him with a look. “Not good enough to avoid getting caught entirely, though.”

Cody watched the black-haired man deflate slightly. He wished he could do that to his siblings and cousins: make them regret all their decisions with a single look. It would make his life a lot easier.

“I’m sorry you had to come pick me up, Ben.” He peered up at the redhead from under the edge of his bangs.

Said redhead sighed, reaching to grab the other man’s wrist. “I’m glad to see you Garen. Force knows we haven’t seen enough of each other lately. But this is the fifth time I’ve been to the jail in the past month to pick someone up. Did you all decide to get into trouble at the same time? Was there some sort of a conspiracy?”

Garen snorted. “Ah yes. A terrible conspiracy to make you be the mom-friend of our group and help us out when we need it. Horrible.”

Ben threw a balled-up napkin at him.

The black-haired man flailed dramatically when it bounced off his forehead, sliding sideways and proclaiming, “I am hurt! I am hurt! I am very much hurt!”

Cody snickered quietly at his dramatics before realizing that he had finished restocking the baked goods. He slid the last tray back into place and rose to his feet.

He happened to look up, directly at the redhead seated across the room, and made eye contact.

Ben’s blue eyes were looking directly at him.

Despite the growing flush Cody could feel climbing up his neck, he offered a smile.

Ben winked at him in return.

Cody fled.

He ended up in the back room, back flat against the wall beside the door, both Wooley and Denal staring at him.

Cody hissed. “I’m going to kill Rex.”

“No, you’re not!” Rex called out singsong as he sauntered through the door into the back, waving a napkin around. “Because guess who has your not-boyfriend’s phone number?”

Cody had him in a headlock and the napkin out of his hand before Rex had time to do more than squawk.

In that same elegant writing he had seen before, the napkin said ‘For Cody. Text me’ and a phone number.

Cody didn’t even register Rex’s yelp of indignation when he was dropped on the floor as Cody rushed back out to the front. Bly turned around at his sudden entrance, surprised.

But the redhead was gone.

Cody eyed the napkin he was holding tightly in his fist, a smile growing across his face.

He was still going to kill Rex for this.

But nicely.

Chapter Text

Two days later, and Cody still hadn’t texted Ben.

He knew that Ben doesn’t have his phone number, not even Rex would do that to him, and that moving their interactions to a new level is currently on him.

But wow, if this wasn’t making him anxious as hell. Why would he even say?

Somehow, his family picked up on the massive amount of anxiety he was giving off about the subject, and he got a reprieve from teasing for the time being. Though he did still get the occasional “Have you texted him yet?”

Once again, Jango caught him in the kitchen, in the heart of their home, and somehow knew just what to say.

“You like him?”

Cody flushed, but nodded.

His buir hummed, giving Cody most of his attention while still chopping fruit for a pie. “Then start with ‘hello’.”

Cody then had to rush off to start his shift, but he resolved to text Ben that day.

The coffee shop was fairly busy that morning, as per usual, keeping Cody and his second-youngest brother, Ponds, hopping. It slowed down by lunch, enough for the two of them to start thinking about getting their own food.

“Maul, it’s actually winter! Put on the bloody scarf before I tie it around your neck more than slightly too tight!”

Cody and Ponds both looked up as the door to the coffee shop swung open harshly, followed by a voice that was just shy of yelling.

A man stomped in, with extensive tattoos in striking red and black over almost all the skin Cody could see, wearing only a light jacket despite the building snowstorm outside as well as a scarf that was draped over a shoulder instead of around his neck.

“The gloves too!” Said pair of gloves bounced off the back of the tattooed man’s head, drawing Cody’s attention to the other man who had been doing the not-quite yelling.

It was Ben.

Whom he hadn’t texted yet.

Cody snagged a startled Ponds by the elbow, dragged him into position at the register, and disappeared into the back, closing the door behind him.

Crap.

Crap!

Cody pulled his phone out of his pocket, staring at the contact he had named “Ben”.

He took a deep breath.

Time was up. He had to do this now.

He tapped out a quick message.

          Hi Ben. This is Cody. Sorry I didn’t text you earlier, I was pretty nervous. It’s nice to see you again 😊.

His phoned dinged with a reply only seconds later.

          No problem, Cody. And you are pretty. Will you come back out so I can see you?

Cody went bright red. Wow, that was a drastic increase in the level of flirting.

Okay. He blew out a breath. He could do this.

Cody willed his flush to go away before he pushed the door open and moved into the service area behind the counter.

Ponds turned around to look at him, and Ben and Maul, still both standing at the counter, looked at him as well.

Cody diligently ignored the flush that was spreading up the back of his neck and moved to stand at the counter across from Ben.

Cody smiled shyly. “Hi.”

A large smile grew across Ben’s face. “Hi yourself. It’s nice to finally do this properly.”

Slightly stunned by Ben’s direct attention, Cody ducked his head slightly.

It was silent for only a moment before it was broken.

“This is disgustingly sappy, and I will not stand for it!” Maul snapped. He stomped over to a table and threw himself into a chair, crossing his arms and scowling fiercely, which had quite the effect on his dramatic facial tattoos.

Cody flushed rapidly, but Ben just rolled his eyes. “Don’t worry about Maul. He’s just an overblown drama queen.”

Cody laughed as he caught sight of Ponds. “No problem. I feel I should apologize for my brother’s reaction, though.”

 Ben followed Cody’s gaze to where his younger brother was bent over retching dramatically.

The redhead laughed, and Cody felt his stomach swoop.

“Younger siblings, hey?” Ben grinned. “I have one of those as well, and have no doubt that he’d react just about the same way as your sibling there.”

Cody laughed in response. He glanced down towards the cash register. “I’m holding you up. Have the two of you ordered yet?”

Ben’s blue eyes were warm. “I’m enjoying talking with you, Cody, it’s no trouble. But no, we haven’t ordered yet.”

Cody nodded and moved to his place in front of the cash register. “Then what would you like?”

The redhead hummed, glancing up at the menu board to scan his options. “A large mocha with whipped cream and a blueberry muffin.”

“And Maul?” Cody began inputting the order.

Ben huffed. “Large black coffee with five caramel shots and an apple Danish.”

Cody looked up and stared at him. “Sorry, did you say five caramel shots?”

Ben laughed. “Yes. For all his fearsome appearance, my friend there has quite the sweet tooth.”

Maul bared his teeth and called across the room. “I am not your friend, Kenobi.”

Ben’s grin was feral. “Of course you are, snookums.”

Maul’s only response was an inarticulate snarl of rage.

Cody choked on his laughter, and had to set down the cup he was working on in order to laugh properly.

When he finally got himself under control and looked back up, Ben was grinning widely at him, obviously pleased with himself.

“Please don’t apologize for that.” Ben tipped his head to one side. “I like seeing you laugh.”

Cody flushed and looked away, spotting Ponds perched on the chair across from Maul.

“Ponds,” he called. “Get back over here. This is an actual job, you know.”

Ponds just waved him off, pushing the loose curls that ran along the top of his head out of his eyes to better stare at Maul, who was staring back just as intently. “There’s no one else here, Cody. And I think you’d rather be the one taking Ben’s order.”

To Cody’s surprise, Ponds was correct. During the last little bit, the few remaining customers from the lunch rush had cleared out, and it was just the two Fett brothers and Maul and Ben in the coffee shop.

“Besides,” Ponds said, not looking away from his staring contest with Maul, “I’m making a new friend.”

Without breaking eye contact, Maul threw a balled-up napkin at Ponds’ head. The brunette squawked and flailed slightly but refused to look away and lose the staring contest.

Cody just sighed while it was Ben’s turn to chuckle.

“I’d be concerned,” the redhead said, gesturing at the pair across the room, “but this is pretty much standard behaviour for Maul.”

Cody rolled his eyes. “Figures. Ponds likes to find unusual people and integrate himself into their lives in order to become friends.”

Ben hummed. “Seems to be effective.”

Cody threw up his hands. “It is! And I do not understand how.” He finished putting the deserts on plates and slid them across the counter to join the pair of cups. “Here’s your  order.”

Ben nodded and grabbed a plate and a cup. “I’ll bring this over to Maul, since I doubt they’ll be done staring at each other any time soon. But, if it’s okay, I’d like to eat mine with you?”

Cody stared for a moment, breathless, before shaking himself out of it. “Yes. Yes, please, I would enjoy that. But I do have to stay here at the counter just in case someone comes in.”

Blue eyes crinkled as Ben smiled. “Not a problem.”

Maul glanced down slightly as Ben set the dishes on the table.

Ponds, obviously taking this as an indicator of his victory, straight-out asked, “So, what were you being held at the police station for?”

Three sets of eyes stared at him in varying degrees of shock.

Cody yelped. “Ponds! What the hell?”

“What?” His younger brother spun himself around to raise an eyebrow at Cody and shrug. “Five of the six times Ben has been in here it’s been because he was picking someone up from being held at the police station. That’s more than enough basis for a pattern!”

Cody closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose as both Ben and Maul chuckled at the statement. Maul’s was rough and deep, but Ben’s sent tingles up Cody’s spine even through his exasperation at his younger brother. Seriously, Ponds? Why must all his siblings be like this?

“I promise we’re not actually stalking you.” Cody lowered his hand and looked across the counter at Ben. “My siblings are just overly interested in my love life and went through the security camera footage from the shop.”

Ben waved him off. “Don’t worry about it. I know no one is stalking me.” His eyes twinkled. “And I have several friends who would have done the exact same thing to me, given the opportunity.”

Both their attentions were brought back to the table when Ponds spoke again.

“Well? You never answered my question. That’s considered rude!”

Maul rolled his eyes. “Kid, your question was rude. But no.” He leaned forwards onto his elbows. “Kenobi was not picking me up from holding. He picked me up from prison.”

“Whoa.” Ponds swung his feet and tipped his head to once side. “What did you do?”

Maul bared his teeth. They almost looked sharp, and were intimidating against his facial tattoos. “Nothing nice kids like you should know about.”

Ponds nodded. “Cool. Cool.”

Cody sighed, yet again. “Ponds. Ponds. Just stop. Leave the poor man alone and pick a different tactic to make friends aside from overly invasive questions.”

The bell over the door rang, and a new pair of customers walked in.

Ben spoke up. “Well, looks like that’ll have to be the end of this for today.” He smiled at Cody. “Text you later?”

Cody’s heart leapt. “Yes please.”

Ben smiled again, and crossed the store over to where Maul was fiddling with a phone. He put a hand on the other man’s shoulder. “Give it back.”

Maul rolled his eyes. “I wasn’t going to keep it. I was just putting my phone number in.” He handed the phone back to Ponds, who patted down all of his currently empty pockets wide-eyed before sliding his phone back into his jeans pocket, still gaping at Maul.

“That was epic. We are going to be such awesome friends.”

Cody called across the store. “Please don’t teach him that.”

Maul responded with bared teeth.

Ben rolled his eyes and began dragging his friend out of the store. “Talk to you later, Cody!”

Cody stared after him until the other customers were ready to order.

That went much less horribly that he had imagined.

A wide grin remained plastered across his face for the rest of the day.

Chapter Text

Cody texted back and forth with Ben several times over the next day. Mostly just polite, getting-to-know-you questions, though they did end up going down a few rabbit holes.

Like whether most herbal teas even deserve to be called teas. (They don’t. They’re either an herbal infusion or a tisane, since they don’t actually contain tea.)

Or the scientific ethics in the Jurassic Park movies. (There aren’t any. They failed at every possible type of ethics involved.)

Cody had just sent his latest rebuttal to Ben’s earlier comment on why the colour yellow was obviously better than blue when the bell above the coffee shop door dinged. He looked up to greet the customer, hoping they wouldn’t stay long since it was almost time to close.

Startled, Cody realized that it was Ben, with a gentle hand on the shoulder of a teenage girl with a dark blue headscarf. She looked miserable, eyes red and arms wrapped around herself, and Cody was instantly concerned.

He walked around the counter, glad that there wasn’t anyone else in the shop at the moment, and met the pair halfway.

“Hey Ben. What’s up?” Cody made certain to keep his voice and demeanor level. His plentiful experience with younger siblings and cousins meant that until he’d had a chance to figure out what was going on, he would try to avoid prodding at the situation, especially since Ben seemed to have it well in hand.

Ben nodded at him. “Cody. Would we be able to have somewhere private to sit for a while?”

“No problem.” Cody gestured for them to follow. “There’s a table in the back room, and I’m the only other one in the shop right now.” He led Ben and the teenager to the employee room in the back, which held only a short row of lockers and a table with a pair of chairs.

Cody addressed the redhead again, since the girl seemed to be trying to make herself invisible by curling her shoulders in and head down. “I’ll bring something hot in to drink, if that’s okay.”

Ben sent Cody a grateful smile. “Barriss and I would appreciate that. But no dairy, please.”

“Got it.” Cody paused and sent Ben a stern look. “Take as long as you need, alright?”

This time Ben’s smile even hit his blue, blue eyes. “Thank you, Cody.”

Cody nodded and left the room, letting the curtain that separated the room from the kitchen swing shut behind him.

First things first.

Cody went to the front of the shop and flipped the sign to ‘closed’. It was near enough to closing time anyways, and there wasn’t anybody else in the shop at the moment.

Besides, it wasn’t like Jango would be upset with him for it. His buir trusted his judgement. Especially if he heard why.

Cody pulled the blinds and locked the front door. For some reason, lots of people didn’t bother to look at the open or closed sign and thought they could just walk right in. They’d had to throw out a few irate people who’d just walked in and started demanding service before.

At least they could just throw them out. Cody shuddered. Rex had worked at a coffee chain for a few months when he wanted to be more independent. He came back with horror stories about entitled customers and fawning managers.

Completely unrelated, Rex had been fired for yelling at a customer who had thrown a hot drink at another server.

Cody and Jango had both been very proud of him for it.

Moving back to the service counter, Cody began putting together a tray for the pair in the back room.

Two cups of orange spice tea with moderate amounts of sugar. The tea was his favourite comfort tea, and he thought the pair in the back room may need the comfort.

After a moment of thought, he added a small plate of jam thumbprint cookies. They didn’t use butter or milk in that specific recipe, so they should be okay.

He arranged the cups carefully on the tray so they wouldn’t spill and lifted it up to bring it to the back room.

As he entered the kitchen, Cody was able to pick up on the conversation between Ben and the teenager.

“But Uncle Obi, I didn’t even do anything!”

“That’s true, Barriss, and I’m glad for that. It’s the reason I could come and get you right away. But if your friends are getting arrested while you’re hanging out with them, even if you weren’t involved, maybe you need to think about who you’re hanging out with. Your mom doesn’t want you to get hurt, and neither do I.”

Cody rebalanced the tray he was holding in order to knock on the wall beside the door before sweeping the curtain aside.

Barriss was curled up in one of the chairs, knees to her chest and arms wrapped around her legs. Her face was tear-stained, but more alive than it had been before. She had a tissue clenched in one hand, and several crumpled ones on the table beside her.

Ben was sitting beside her, chair turned sideways to face the teenager. His face and demeanor were calm but open.

Cody was impressed. Clearly, the redhead knew how to handle both a distraught teenager and this type of situation. Cody knew from experience that both situations took practice.

The ten Fett kids had gotten into quite a lot of trouble when they were younger.

And now, to be fair. But mostly while they were younger.

Cody circled the table leaned over to set the tray down between the two of them. “The teas are an orange spice with some sugar. The cookies are raspberry jam thumbprints, without any dairy. On the house,” he added, at Ben’s raised eyebrow. “Everything is better with tea and cookies.”

That got a choked chuckle from the teenager, so Cody counted it as a win as he smiled at the redhead and returned to the main area of the shop to continue shutting it down.

He plugged in his headphones to prevent eavesdropping. Normally, that was how it went with Ben, but this seemed a bit more private conversation. Besides, cleaning always went faster when there was music playing.

It was some time later, and Cody had just finished wiping down all the counters when the duo exited the back room. He removed his headphones and smiled at them both.

The teenage girl, Barriss, came to stand in front of him and tipped her head back a bit to look him in the eye, the fringe on her headscarf falling across her forehead. “It was nice to meet you, Cody. Thank you for the tea and cookies, they were both delicious.”

“You’re welcome, Barriss. I’m always willing to help out when a friend needs it.”

A mischievous look crossed her face. “Or more than a friend, hey Uncle Obi?”

Behind her, Ben rolled his eyes as she cackled. “Really, Barriss? What are you learning from that mother of yours?”

The teenager twirled around to face him, and Ben held up a hand, sighing. “Don’t even bother to answer that question. Luminara would have said much the same, if not as politely.”

Barriss laughed again. Cody was glad to hear it.

Ben shooed the teenager away, and she danced across the floor to look at the poster stuck up on the back wall. The redhead stepped closer to talk to Cody.

“I really appreciate this, Cody. I picked her up and we needed somewhere to talk, especially since she was so upset about disappointing her mom.”

Cody winced. “Trust me, I get that. Parents are complicated.” He smiled at Ben. “And I don’t mind that you came here. In fact, I am glad that you did.” He paused for a moment, tipping his head. “I don’t really do flings, Ben. If we are going to be doing anything, I want all of it.”

Ben’s smile was incandescent. “So do I, Cody. So do I.”

Chapter Text

Cody was somehow refraining from checking his phone every five seconds to see how fast time was passing.

He was inordinately proud of himself for this, regardless of the fact that he had already been teased for it several times by Bly and Denal, as they were working with him in the coffee shop today.

He was going on a date with Ben tonight, as soon as his shift was done. The redhead was coming to the coffee shop and they were going to go out for dinner.

Dinner. With Ben. Somewhere the redhead chose.

Cody resisted the impulse to check the time again. It was late afternoon by this point, time passing even though it had seemed to drag out interminably since he had gotten up that morning. Only about two more hours, then he would be going on a date with Ben.  

He took a deep breath, smoothed his hands down the sides of his jeans and turned with a smile to the next customer.

Cody dealt with the next bunch of customers, since they always seemed to appear in groups, before he felt the urge to check the time again.

Before he could do so, Bly’s elbow connected with his ribs.

Cody winced, and shoved blindly off to one side, making contact with his younger brother enough that he jolted sideways.

“Come on, Cody,” Bly laughed. “Time isn’t going to pass any faster just because you keep checking it.”

Cody turned around and crossed his arms, raising a judgemental eyebrow at Bly. “You would know, wouldn’t you? After how bad you were when you were first dating Aayla?”

Bly winced at the mention of his now-girlfriend, and the disaster he had been the first few months. Then he smirked. “Exactly. That’s why I’m allowed to mock you now. It’s payback!”

Cody lunged for his brother, who had been smart enough to move out of arm’s reach, and who fled, laughing, to the kitchen and a chuckling Denal.

Cody turned back around as the bell over the door rang. A swirl of snow blew in as the door opened; not the first snow of the season, but the first that looked like it was really going to stick.

A skinny tanned man stepped in first, wearing only a long hoodie and sweatpants, snowflakes sticking to wet dreadlocks. He turned to hold the door open, and a very familiar redhead stepped in.

Cody smiled as the pair approached the counter. “Hey, Ben. How are you doing? I thought you worked until later.”

Ben smiled in response and then rolled his eyes. “Hi Cody. I’m good, thanks. And yes, I was still supposed to be at work.” He raised an eyebrow at the other man. “Fortunately, the hours at my job are very flexible and my boss is very nice to me. Since, you know, I got another phone call from the police station.”

The brunet gaped, then snorted a laugh. “No way. Again?”

Ben chuckled. “Yes, again.” He waved a hand. “Meet Kit Fisto. He’s a good friend who has a tendency to make some interesting decisions.”

Kit waved, the laugh lines around his eyes crinkling as he smiled. “It’s nice to meet you, Cody. I’ve heard a bit about you from Ben.”

Cody nodded. “Nice to meet another one of Ben’s group of chaos people. And since you look like you’re freezing, what can I get you?”

Kit laughed and shook his head. “I can see why you like him, Ben.” He looked up and scanned the board. “Large peppermint tea with three sugar and cream, and a warm blueberry muffin with butter.”

Cody put in the order and returned Kit’s change before looking to Ben.

“A large mocha and an unfrosted cinnamon bun, please.”

“Coming right up.”

Cody made up the pair of orders to the sound of Ben’s friend humming along to the Christmas music playing over the speakers.

He slid them across the counter and nodded towards one of the booths tucked in a back corner. “That booth in the back has a heating vent blowing up under one of the seats.” He eyed Kit up and down. The wet spot on his hoodie under his dreadlocks was growing. “Since it looks like you need it.”

Ben’s smile was warm. “Thanks, Cody.” He nudged his friend with an elbow, and Kit ambled over to the indicated seat with only minor grumbling.

Cody wished he could wrangle his brothers and cousins half as well as Ben seemed to have a handle on his various friends and family members.

Cody wiped down the counter, hoping no customers would come in so he could hear what was bound to be a fascinating conversation, and engaged in a short shoving match with Bly when he finally returned from the back room.

Bly was also quiet, wanting to hear what would be said.

His family was so nosy.

Cody leaned against a counter and pulled out his phone to stare at it in order to eavesdrop slightly less obviously. Bly was doing the exact same thing, and he would have rolled his eyes at his brother, but that would have been very hypocritical.

Not that that wasn’t allowed as the eldest brother. But still. May as well keep it for when it was necessary.

Ben was the one speaking when Cody tuned into their conversation.

“Yes, Kit, I am aware that you were doing it to prove a point to that asshole about arbitrary social norms being punished more than what should be seen as major crimes, but that doesn’t change the fact that you were skinny dipping in a public fountain in the middle of the afternoon! In the winter! Didn’t you have to break the ice to get in? Shouldn't that have indicated that maybe, just maybe, it wasn't the best idea?”

Cody couldn’t see either of them from where he was standing, but he could imagine the exasperated look on Ben’s face from previous experience.

“Technically, I wasn’t actually naked. So it wasn’t really skinny dipping.”

“No, but your underwear so closely matched your skin colour that nobody could tell!”

Cody choked, covering his mouth in an attempt to remain silent, and accidentally made eye contact with Bly, who had both hands slapped over his mouth and shoulders heaving, before tearing his gaze away to avoid breaking outright into laughter.

“Besides,” Ben’s voice had softened.

Oh no, Cody thought. Now Ben was concerned ™. Kit was doomed. He could feel the other man’s resistance crumbling from here.

“You know you get sick in the winter a lot, Kit,” Ben continued. “I don’t want you to end up in the hospital again because you did something like this to prove a point to somebody who doesn’t matter.”

There was the sound of movement, and Kit’s voice came back muffled. “I know Ben. Thanks for caring.”

Cody dared a quick look. Kit had switched benches and was wrapped in a hug, his face buried into Ben’s shoulder.

Cody turned back around, his heart melting. Ben was just so perfect.

He scowled at the exaggeratedly sappy look Bly mocked him with.

Both Fetts looked up as footsteps approached the counter.

Kit smiled at the pair of them and nodded at Cody. “It was nice to meet you, Cody.” He smirked. “I’m sure we’ll meet again.”

Cody flushed, and Ben who had walked up beside his friend, elbowed him.

Kit simply laughed and left the shop, cold air sweeping in behind him.

Cody leaned forward and propped both elbows on the counter, looking at the redhead still standing there. “I guess I’ll see you in about an hour, then?”

Ben raised an eyebrow, smiling. “Or you could come with me now, and we could start our date early.”

Cody hesitated, looking back to Bly to confirm it would be alright.

Bly waved him off. “Oh, just leave Cody. You would be functionally useless for the next hour anyways, and I’m certain the two of you can come up with something to do before going for dinner. Denal and I'll be fine.”

Cody threw a wet dishcloth at his head, and laughed when his brother peeled it off his face with an absolutely disgusted look. He turned to Ben.

“If you're okay with that?”

Ben’s smile was glorious. “Absolutely.”

Chapter Text

Cody watched out the car’s window at the lights speeding by in the dark of night, enjoying the happiness from the pleasant date with Ben. It had been a wonderful dinner, preceded as it was by a wander through one of the museums close by.

Cody turned to the driver’s seat, where Ben was seated and humming along to the classical music playing through the car’s speakers.

The redhead had been exceptionally charming, and Cody had spent more time than he cared to admit with a flush. Though all the laughing he had done had more than made up for any lingering embarrassment.

Ben glanced sideways, maybe sensing that Cody had been watching him, and grinned at the brunette.

“Well, how did that measure up to your previous dates?”

Cody flushed again, the warmth of Ben’s gaze spreading through him. “It was the best date I’ve ever been on,” he said. Cody paused before deciding to just go with it. “Though I think it was because it was with you.”

Cody watched, fascinated, as a slight flush crawled up Ben’s neck, barely visible in the light coming in off the street.

It was the first time he had seen Ben blush.

It sent a pleased feeling through him, knowing that he affected Ben even a little.

Cody shrugged, still smiling. “I haven’t really had any previous relationships, though, so I don’t have much experience with dates. One kind of dating thing in high school, but that didn’t last any longer than a few months and never really went past making out.”

Ben nodded. “Dating has never really been my thing, either. The closest thing I’ve had to a serious relationship was with Quinlan when we were both quite a bit younger. We discovered after a while that we were better off as friends, though we went on some crazy dates in the meantime.”

Cody laughed. He could imagine that Quinlan and Ben would certainly cause chaos wherever they went, both from that initial visit to the coffee shop and some of the stories Ben had shared while on their date.

Ben continued. “Since then, I’ve had a few hookups here and there, but my job didn’t really permit much in the way of free time.”

“What was your job?” Cody asked.

“I’m currently a government consultant.”

“And before that?”

Ben grimaced. “It’s classified. Very classified.”

Cody just nodded. He would take what information Ben could give him, and respect his privacy for the rest of it. It was still just a first date, after all.

Cody chuckled at his next thought, causing Ben to glance at him. Cody explained. “I bet your friends and such are glad you have more flexible hours now, since they keep needing you to come get them from jail.”

Ben rolled his eyes and sighed. “Maybe I should get my boss to not allow me to leave the next time, maybe that will teach them a lesson.”

Cody snorted.

Ben sighed again. “Yeah, I doubt it too.”

Cody reached over and patted Ben on the shoulder. “Maybe some of your lecturing will take root eventually.”

The redhead sent him a very dry look. “It hasn’t yet.”

A phone started ringing, and Ben immediately pulled over to the side of the road, sending Cody an apologetic look.

“That’s my ‘important people’ ringtone, so I really need to answer it.”

Cody shook his head. “Don’t worry about it.”

The car stopped and Ben pulled out his phone to answer it. Cody couldn’t make out what the person on the other end of the line was saying, but Ben’s part of the conversation was informative.

“Ben Kenobi.” He paused, then sighed heavily, lifting a hand to pinch at his nose. “Yes. No, I wasn’t aware of that. Yes, I can come and get her.” He rolled his eyes. “Trust me, I’m familiar with the paperwork.” He snorted. “No kidding.” The redhead checked his watch. “I’ll be about ten minutes. Okay. Yes. No, you don’t need to call him, I’ll deal with it. See you then.”

He hung up and turned to Cody, who simply raised an eyebrow in question.

The redhead sighed again, gesturing with a hand. “Believe it or not, that was the police station. I need to go pick up Anakin’s ward.” He paused, looking at Cody. “I can drop you off somewhere, if you’d prefer.”

Cody shook his head. “If it’s okay with you, I don’t mind coming.” He tilted his head to one side. “I like spending time with you. And I’m very familiar with family-related chaos.”

Ben smiled, and it made Cody warm. “Then I would enjoy having you come. And Ahsoka will like having the chance to meet you. She’s been pestering me ever since Barriss met you.”

Cody raised an eyebrow. “Only Barriss?”

Ben laughed. “Anakin and Qui-gon are both oblivious to my love life, and I’m happy to keep it that way.”

“I don’t blame you for that,” Cody said, remembering the chaos that came with his family’s involvement in his life.

The redhead restarted the car and pulled back onto the road.

Cody was curious. “So, you said she was Anakin’s ward? How did that happen? He didn’t seem the type, from what I saw of him.”

Ben full on laughed, hard enough that Cody flushed.

“No, no he’s not, is he.” Ben snorted. “That’s quite the story, and really could have only happened in my family.”

“We’ve got ten minutes?” Cody offered. Now he was really curious.

“Okay.” Ben blew out a breath. “Ahsoka was in the foster care system for quite a long time. Just over two years ago, she was in a group home by a large park. She spent quite a lot of time in the park, and that’s where she met my great-grandfather.” He glanced over at Cody. “My great-grandfather, Yoda, was the original chaos gremlin in our family.” He looked back to the road. “They became friends, and hatched a plot. Yoda knew that he wouldn’t be allowed to take her, since he would be deemed too old. Dooku, his son and my grandfather, would never.” Ben sniffed. “He’s far too settled in his lifestyle to change it at this point. Qui-gon had sworn off taking in any more children after Anakin and I. I wasn’t in a place that would allow me to take a child, what with work. So that left Anakin.”

“Oh no,” Cody breathed, already sensing where this story was going.

Ben snorted. “Exactly. Anyways, one week when Padme, Anakin’s fiancée, was out of town.” Ben paused, glancing over at Cody then back to the road. “Since she’s almost all of his good sense and impulse control.”

Cody nodded. “At least he found a good one.”

Ben sighed. “Agreed. Though we’re still in agreement that Padme found him, not the other way around.”

Cody laughed.

Ben continued. “So she was out of town, and so were Qui-gon and I, so Ahsoka and Yoda put their plan into action. Ahsoka called Anakin, who was very confused since he had never met her, and got him to come to her school. When he showed up, she met him in the parking lot, and talked him into signing a paper. Then she dragged him into the principal’s office and showed the principal the signed guardianship papers, which Yoda had acquired and backdated, so that Anakin could take her out of school to go get ice cream. Through sheer force of personality, she adopted him as her big brother and got him to adopt her in return.”

Cody gaped at him. “What the hell? Isn’t that illegal? How could she manage to convince him like that?”

Ben snorted. “Very illegal, but Yoda is close friends with a major judge in the area, who trusted him enough to sign off on the paperwork. And even at sixteen, Ahsoka was a force of nature. And Anakin doesn’t always think things through when he gets in a fast-paced situation.” He paused. “Of course, there was quite a lot of yelling, both at Anakin and Yoda, afterwards, but it all worked out and now Ahsoka is part of the family. She’s not really Anakin’s kid,” he mused, “but somehow it still works. Even Dooku likes her, and he doesn’t like Anakin at all.”

Cody was absolutely flabbergasted. There was no way stuff like this happened in real life. Only in cheesy animated tv shows. He shook his head. “Your family is its own kind of insanity, Ben.”

The redhead rolled his eyes. “Tell me about it.” He pulled the car into the parking lot of the police station and parked, turning to Cody. “If you don’t mind waiting in the car?”

Cody nodded. “All good.” He smiled wryly. “I think I’ll need a few minutes to absorb all that, anyways.”

Ben grinned. “True enough. We’ll be back shortly.” He shut the door behind himself.

Cody took the next few minutes to just try and wrap his mind around the story Ben had told him. It didn’t seem as though it could be real. Though it did seem to fit in with the rest of Ben’s chaos people, as far as Cody had seen.

He shook his head. He could never let this Ahsoka meet Rex. Between the two of them, they could probably take over the entire city just through sheer force of personality. One of them was enough to deal with. He had absolutely no desire to try and deal with two.

Knowing them, they would exponentially increase the chaos, not just add to it.

Cody startled slightly at a thump against the car before the rear door on the driver’s side swung open and a teenager practically bounced in. He twisted to face her.

A white grin spread across a tan face framed with blue and white french braids that draped over her shoulders.

“Hi!” she chirped. “I’m Ahsoka! You must be Cody!”

Ben slid into his seat before Cody could respond and sent a look towards his passenger in the backseat. “Be polite, Ahsoka.”

She pouted, a clear manipulation if Cody had ever seen one. (And he had, given his numerous younger siblings and cousins.)

“But I am being polite.”

Ben just raised an eyebrow.

She sighed and settled into her seat, buckling her seatbelt just before Ben left the parking lot. She looked back towards Cody with a much less manic grin on her face.

“It really is nice to meet you, Cody.”

Cody smiled. “It’s nice to meet you as well, Ahsoka.”

“So, Ahsoka.” Ben’s sharp blue eyes met the teenager's blue eyes in the backseat. “Care to explain?”

She shrugged, looking nonchalantly out the window. “I was just doing some parkour. They decided I was being ‘reckless’,” she used finger quotes for emphasis. “And brought me in to the station to give me a warning.”

Cody watched in delight as Ben sighed.

“Ahsoka, you were climbing on the outside of a bridge. That does indeed count as reckless.” He had a stern look on his face, and Cody was loving it.

“Ah!” Ben held up a finger as the teenager went to speak. She subsided and crossed her arms.

“I know you are very capable. I helped train you, after all.”

Really? Cody wondered what exactly it was Ben did for a job. He certainly seemed to have quite the skill set.

Ben continued. “However, part of that training was on how to assess acceptable risk. This was pushing it.”

Ahsoka’s shoulders slumped. Cody recognized the posture. She knew she had been pushing it, and probably felt bad for being called out on it. Not necessarily for doing it, but for getting called out. 

The redhead sighed. “The other part of that training, Ahsoka, was on being stealthy. So what did you do wrong?”

The teenager’s head perked up, and she began to count off on her fingers. “I wasn’t paying attention to my surroundings, so I didn’t notice the police car. I didn’t have a safe route planned, so I wasn’t able to leave once they spotted me because I couldn’t find my next safe hold.”

“And?” Ben raised another eyebrow.

Yeah, Cody was still attracted to that eyebrow. In all its forms.

She blew out a breath. “And I didn’t cover my hair so I was easier to see.”

It was unfair how attractive Ben was, scolding a teenager for getting caught by the police. Cody wasn’t really certain of all the subtext going on within the conversation, but he didn’t really care. The kid was fine, the behaviour was getting adjusted, and that was really all he cared about.

He would worry about the rest of it later.

Or not.

Ben’s group of chaos people seemed to have a fairly lax attitude in relation to the law. Despite all of Fox’s rants that he went on as a police chief, Cody found he agreed with a lot of what they did.

He trusted good people over strict rule-followers, any day.

Chapter Text

The late evening sky threatened snow as Cody stepped outside to bring in the sidewalk sign. He squinted up at the darkening sky, trying to see if the snow had already started or not.

Not yet, but it would probably be several inches deep by morning.

Stepping back into the coffee shop, Cody shook off the lingering cold and moved to continue cleaning up the shop in preparation for closing in a while. As he worked, his mind went to his new favourite thing to think about: Ben.

Cody had thoroughly enjoyed the date that he had gone on with the redhead the previous week, stopping by the police station to pick up Ahsoka notwithstanding. Since then he had talked to Ben over text multiple times a day, even talking over the phone once or twice. But he hadn’t seen the redhead in person since then.

Cody wondered if it was too soon to ask Ben out on another date. He didn’t have much experience with the social rules of dating.

Not that he thought Ben would care about ‘social rules’, but still.

Maybe tomorrow he would text and ask if he wanted to go on another date.

Cody nodded to himself, moving to empty the dishwasher. It was a plan.

He continued working, thoughts drifting, humming along with the pop music playing in the empty coffee shop.

The brunet wrinkled his nose as he found himself humming along to a song he didn’t actually like. Curse Rex for adding that to the playlist so often.

The bell over the door rang and Cody looked up, a broad smile breaking across his face. 

A tall, bald man with a rather severe face was holding the door open for a certain redhead, both of them dressed rather nicely.

“Good to see you, Ben.” Cody leaned on the counter, still smiling.

Ben grinned at him in return, moving closer, his friend trailing along behind him. “Nice to see you too, Cody. How are you?”

“Better now that you’re here, but just fine either way. You?”

“I’m good, but you are definitely fine.” Ben winked, and Cody flushed all the way up to his hairline, prompting chuckles from the dark man standing beside Ben.

“Ah.” Ben smiled, gesturing to his friend. “Pardon my manners. Cody, this is one of my very good friends, Mace Windu. We were just out at the ballet.”

“A most excellent performance of the Nutcracker, indeed.” Mace nodded at Cody. “Nice to meet you, Cody. Ben may have mentioned you a few times.”

This time it was Cody’s turn to chuckle as Ben rolled his eyes.

“Regardless, is it alright if we sit for a bit to have some tea?” Ben tipped his head slightly to one side and Cody found the action entirely too endearing.

“It’s a bit of a tradition of ours, but I know you close soon.”

Cody shook his head. “Not a problem, Ben. I don’t mind at all. What would you like?”

“I would like it if you would join us, Cody, if that’s okay?” Ben smiled at him, and Cody’s heart skipped a beat.

Cody considered it, despite immediately wanting to say yes. The shop was empty aside from Ben and his friend, and it was late enough that Cody could get away with locking the front door and closing the shop.

Just for Ben. Again. Cody internally rolled his eyes at himself. Was he smitten or what?

However….

Cody hesitated before speaking and looked over to the dark man wrapped up in scarf and a long coat.

Mace’s face softened into what was almost a smile before he nodded. “I would be pleased to have you join us, Cody, as a friend of Ben’s.”

That settled it, then.

Cody smiled back at Ben. “Then I would love to join you. Just give me a few minutes to get your drinks together and lock the door so no one else wanders in.”

By the time Cody had got drinks and treats and locked up the door and closed the blinds, Ben and Mace had settled into the chairs around one of the small tables close to the fireplace, coats and scarves shed and carefully draped over nearby chairs.

Cody placed all three teas down on the table, along with a plate with a small selection of baked goods, before settling down into a third chair, enjoying the warm comfort given off by the fireplace.

Both men acknowledged him with a murmur of thanks before returning to their conversation. Cody just sat back and let it wash over him, enjoying the opportunity to watch Ben with his friend.

More than half of him was hoping it would be another entertaining conversation, given Ben’s history.

The rest of him was just happy to listen to Ben talk. Cody could listen to his crisp accent all day.

“First of all, it is a committee with Dooku on it.” Mace wrinkled his nose. “As much as I respect the man, he is infuriatingly stubborn and long-winded. And then!” He pointed a finger at Ben. “And then Qui-gon shows up!”

Qui-gon was Ben’s father, if Cody remembered correctly. But also one of the people he had brought into the coffee shop to lecture, so…..

Ben laughed as the dark man waved his hands about agitatedly.

“Qui-gon is not on the committee! Qui-gon has nothing to do with the committee! Qui-gon has no reason to know when or where the committee is meeting and there’s no way Dooku told him! And yet he shows up! Seemingly solely to argue with Dooku!”

Ben is now doubled over, cackling.

Cody is amazed that Ben’s family managed to function with the sheer amount of chaos they seem to spawn.

Not that he can talk. The Fetts certainly spawn their own specific type of chaos.  

Mace huffed, still gesturing emphatically. “And then we couldn’t get Qui-gon to leave! Him and Dooku were so wrapped up in their argument they didn’t even seem to notice when the rest of us left!”

The bald man sighed, looking down into his cup mournfully. “I don’t understand how you put up with Qui-gon for so many years, much less both of them. I really don’t. I’ve been friends with Dooku for decades and yet when his son shows up it’s like he reverts to a toddler. Albeit one with very snobby mannerisms.”

Ben rolled his eyes, still chuckling. “Trust me, I am aware.”

“You would be, wouldn’t you?” Mace eyed the redhead. “Since you use some of those mannerisms in certain situations.”

“Guilty as charged.” Ben raised his cup in a salute before taking a sip of his tea.

Cody chuckled quietly. He had certainly seen Ben use some of those mannerisms in a weaponized fashion when lecturing one person or another. It was entirely too attractive.

The conversation quieted for a moment, all three enjoying the warmth of their tea, before Mace spoke again.

“So how’s Shaak doing these days? I’ve been out of town just enough that I haven’t seen her in a while.”

Ben smiled fondly, and Cody remembered the elegant woman with the fascinating tattoos Ben had met with at the coffee shop to complain about people with.

“She’s doing just fine.” The redhead tapped his fingers against the side of his teacup. “Too many meetings for her taste, but it’s always like that. And trying to keep Plo out of trouble keeps her busy outside of work.”

“And Plo? How’s he doing?”

Ben laughed. “Well, you know Plo Koon. Always running into trouble. He’s in the middle of one of his projects right now.”

Mace chuckled in response, and a thought connected in Cody’s head with enough force that he sat up straight.

Both men turned to look at him in response to his sudden movement.

“Sorry, Plo Koon?” Cody asked, looking back and forth from one bemused face to another. “With the beard?”

He gestured at his own face in an attempt to indicate the insanity that is the man’s facial hair.

The redhead nodded. “Yes, that Plo Koon. He’s married to Shaak, and a very dear friend. How do you know him, my dear?”

Cody paused, his brain momentarily sidetracked by Ben calling him by that nickname, before internally shaking himself and continuing. “He’s been over to dinner a few times. He’s very close with Wolffe, my younger brother.”

Mace nodded. “Ah yes. I’ve met Wolffe. He’s very protective of Plo.”

Cody stared at him. “Oh dear.” Visions of some of Wolffe’s antics ran through his head. He hoped his brother hadn’t bit anyone important.

The bald man chuckled. “Quite.” He looked at Cody consideringly. “I never knew his last name, but now that you mention it, I can see the resemblance between the two of you.”

Ben nodded. “I agree, and I can’t believe I didn’t see it before.”

Cody waved them off. “Not a problem. Wolffe’s blue eye and scar put quite a bit of difference between us, and I tend to be on my best behaviour in the coffee shop, so some of our shared mannerisms may have not come through, since Wolffe tends to only go as far as ‘good’ behaviour.”

The redhead was staring at Cody, amused, before turning to Mace. “If that was an example of Wolffe’s good behaviour, then I’m not surprised Plo brings him along.”

Mace rolled his eyes. “No kidding, Ben.” He shuddered. “He can be a menace on a good day.” The dark man paused before turning to Cody. “No offense.”

Cody laughed, shaking his head. “None taken. I know what he’s like.”

Ben hummed, brushing the last few crumbs of the cookie he had just finished before speaking. “So Wolffe is your brother, and Bly and Rex are as well, how many siblings do you have?”

Cody put his teacup down so he could count them off on his fingers. “Five. I’m the oldest, then Gregor, Wolffe, Bly, Ponds, and Rex. All boys.” He laughed at the looks on both men’s faces. “Yes, we were unholy terrors when we were younger. Our father didn’t stand a chance. Especially since there are four cousins, also all boys, who basically grew up with us.”

The bald man shook his head. “I feel sorry for your father.”

“Don’t be.” Cody laughed. “According to our grandfather, he was worse than any of us.”

“Speaking of grandfathers, or, rather, great-grandfathers,” Ben drawled, a mischievous smile on his face.

Mace immediately began shaking his head. “No. No. Nope. Don’t even tell me what he’s done, I don’t want to know. I need at least a little plausible deniability, if only for my own sanity.” He pointed an accusing finger at the smirking redhead. “I refuse to get sucked into it this time.”

Cody wondered what had happened previously, before remembering the story Ben had told him when they were picking up Ahsoka.

“Was this the same great-grandfather responsible for the same Ahsoka thing you told me about,” he asked.

Ben started laughed as Mace swore before throwing a napkin at the redhead.

“Yes!” The dark man glared at the redhead. “Yoda is a chaos gremlin of the highest order, and I’ve been pulled into far too many of his schemes. I refuse!”

Ben held up both hands in surrender, still laughing. “Alright! Alright, I won’t say anything, Mace.”

Mace crossed his arms in a huff. “Good!”

The redhead wiped his eyes before glancing up at the wall clock. “Well, Mace, we should stop imposing on Cody, it’s rather late. And you at least have work in the morning.”

Glancing at the clock, Cody was surprised at how late it truly was even as he rose from his seat, shaking his head. “Not an imposition at all, Ben, I rather enjoyed myself.”

The smile Ben sent him made Cody warmer than the fireplace had.

“Thank you for the evening, Ben, I enjoyed it immensely.” Mace nodded a goodbye to the redhead and then one to Cody. “I was pleased to meet you as well, Cody. Have a good evening.”

Cody nodded in response. “You as well, Mace. It was nice meeting you.”

The dark man donned his coat and scarf and headed out into the night, snowflakes swirling into the shop when he opened the door. “Good night, all.”

It was quiet in the shop aside from the music playing from the overhead speakers as Ben helped Cody put away the few dishes they’d used and finish cleaning up.

Cody was loading the last few things into the dishwasher when he paused and stood up. Ben standing on the other side of the counter, fiddling with a display of gift cards.

He looked at the redhead for a moment, gathering his courage, before he spoke.

“Would you like to go to the aquarium with me this weekend, Ben?”

The smile he received in response was all the answer he needed, and the joy spread all the way down to his toes.

Chapter Text

Cody ducked into Ben’s car as it pulled up to the curb outside of the coffee shop, glad to get out of the deepening winter chill. He settled into the warm seat with a sigh and a smile at the redhead driver.

“Hello again, Ben.”

He received a smile in return.

“Hello there, Cody.” Ben pulled the car back into traffic, heading for the aquarium about 20 minutes away. “How are you?”

“I’m excellent. Excited for this date.” Cody received another pleased smile from the driver’s seat that warmed him up more than the hot air in the car did.

“As am I.” Pulling up to a red light, Ben turned a bit to look at Cody. “You know, I don’t mind picking you up at your house. You don’t always have to meet me at the shop.”

Cody laughed, before hurrying to explain himself. “That would require a great deal of strategic planning and time on both our parts, since you would get sucked inside and interrogated by my family and we would never get to actually go on our date.”

Ben chuckled in return, the slightly anxious look on his face easing off. “Well then, we’ll just have to plan that in one time, won’t we?”

Cody glowed at the fact that Ben wanted to meet his family. Even though they still had a fairly new relationship, he had a good feeling about this.

They pulled up to the aquarium a while later, the time having been passed with idle chatter. Cody hopped out of the car as soon as it parked and ran around to Ben’s side, opening his door for him with a dramatic flourish.

It made Ben laugh, which was what Cody had been hoping for, and that sent a warm trickle up his spine.

Then Ben took his hand, almost absent mindedly, as they headed into the aquarium, and it took Cody’s brain several dozen feet to click back into gear after shorting out.

He felt as though he could dive into the infamous penguin winter exhibit without getting even the slightest bit chilly.

Cody tightened his grip involuntarily when it felt as though Ben’s hand was pulling away, only to flush and remove his hand immediately when he registered that Ben was trying to reclaim his hand in order to pay for both their entrance tickets.

“Sorry.”

Blue eyes were warm. “Not a problem, my dear.” Ben finished paying, pocketing both tickets, and held out his hand to Cody as they began walking into the aquarium proper.

Cody took it again gladly.

They wandered through the exhibits, Cody enjoying both the random facts that Ben knew about all sorts of aquatic and semi-aquatic creatures and the way the blue rippling light was playing off of Ben’s face.

They had just finished working their way through the outdoor penguin exhibit and were heading towards the Amazon exhibit for some much-needed warmth when Ben’s face lit up.

“Plo!” He called out, changing direction and dragging Cody towards a trio containing the aforementioned Plo Koon, a tiny redhead child, and Cody’s younger brother, Wolffe.

Cody wasn’t sure who was more surprised to see them, Plo or Wolffe.

He may have neglected to tell anybody that he was going on a date tonight. At all. And definitely on purpose.

Cody nodded at his brother, who nodded in return as the large man beside them wrapped Ben into a tight hug, almost lifting him off his feet. He’d seen Wolffe only the other day, and knew that he was in town, but the tiny redhead with him was a surprise.

Or maybe not, considering what little he knew about what Plo and the Wolf Pack did.

“Obi-wan!” Plo released him from the hug and beamed at him, the expression coming through clearly despite the copious amounts of orange facial hair that made up the man’s beard and mustache and the tinted glasses he always wore. “It’s very nice to see you, my friend.”

He turned away from Ben and in the next second Cody was being smothered in that same mane of hair with all the air being crushed out of his lungs.

“Cody! Well met, my friend.”

When Plo finally released him and Cody had made sure he wasn’t going to tip over from a lack of air, he patted Plo on the arm and smiled. “Nice to see you as well, Plo. It’s always good to see you and Wolffe when you’re in town.”

His brother smacked him on the arm. Cody ignored it.

Plo looked between Ben and Cody. “Gentlemen, I’d like to introduce you to Cal Kestis.” At this, he brought the tiny redheaded child forward with a gentle hand on his shoulder. “He’s staying with Wolffe and I for a bit until we can get everything sorted out.”

Cody was treated to the delightful sight of Ben raising a single, judgemental eyebrow. He really was fond of that eyebrow. 

Plo held up a hand, never losing his good humour. “It actually wasn’t kidnapping this time, Obi-wan, I promise. His guardian died and the rest of the family was…..”

Wolffe cut in, as short and sharp as ever. “Unsuitable.”

Plo nodded, beard hardly moving with the motion. “We even got permission from a judge.”

Ben rolled his eyes, relaxing into a smile. “This time.”

Wolffe bared his teeth in what was not exactly a smile. “Not that anyone can prove that.”

Cody’s redhead nodded amicably. “Good. Wouldn’t want you to get in trouble again, would we, Plo?”

The large man chuckled, the sound deep and comforting, even to Cody. “Indeed, Obi-wan. Indeed.”

Forgoing further conversation with the adults, Ben crouched down in front of the child and smiled. “Hello there Cal. My name is Obi-wan Kenobi, but most of my friends call me Ben. Are you enjoying the aquarium?”

The tiny head nodded so fast Cody may have thought it was going to fall off if he hadn’t had so much experience with his younger siblings and cousins. The small face was glowing with an extremely wide smile.

“Very much, Mr. Ben! The sharks have been my favourite part so far but I also loved all the jellyfish but now we’re going to see the penguins and they’re always my favourite so I’m very excited!”

Ben chuckled and the other three adults all smiled.

“That sounds like lots of fun, Cal.” He gestured up towards Cody, who crouched down as well so he didn’t loom over the small child. “This is my friend Cody.”

Cal very solemnly held out his hand and Cody shook it with equal seriousness. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Cody. Are you enjoying the aquarium too?”

Cody smiled. “I am enjoying it very much.” He leaned in slightly and whispered loudly. “Did you know that when I was little, I would drag Wolffe to the aquarium all the time? He’s my younger brother!”

“Woah!” Tiny green eyes went wide. “Mr. Wolffe was little once!”

Cody nodded seriously. “He was even smaller than you!”

The child looked up to Wolffe, who made an imposing figure with his broad shoulders. “No way!”

Cody laughed and stood, joining Ben who had already done so. “Yes way, kiddo.”

Wolffe rolled his eyes emphatically in Cody’s direction, and Cody simply smiled at him tauntingly. There were some privileges to being the oldest, after all.

Cal, who was now fidgeting profusely, grabbed onto Wolffe’s hand. “Can we go see the penguins now, Mr. Wolffe? Please?”

Wolffe reached a careful hand down and ruffled the red hair. “Can do, kiddo.”

“We’re headed to the shark exhibit next, so I’ll see you later, Plo,” Ben said.

The other man inclined his head. “Until the next time, Obi-wan. Enjoy your date.”

Cody watched Plo Koon walk away, the tiny redhead at his side clutching his severe younger brother’s hand and practically bouncing up and down with excitement at getting to go see penguins. He considered what situation said tiny redhead had more than likely almost ended up in, and precisely how legal Plo and his brother’s involvement was, if not if this case then in both previous and future ones.

“You have some interesting friends, Ben,” he murmured.

The grin that spread across Ben’s face was equal parts fond and dangerous. “Why thank you, my dear. I do indeed.”

Chapter Text

Cody was in Ben’s car again, sitting in the passenger seat watching him drive. They’d been out and around, doing errands together, and were just heading back to the coffee shop. He’d enjoyed hanging out with Ben, just doing mundane things.

Was it a date? Cody considered it for several minutes, traffic passing by smoothly, before deciding he didn’t care. It didn’t really matter, regardless.

The fact that it would confuse his siblings and may mess up their betting pool was just a bonus, really.

Ben’s phone rang, and Cody vaguely recognized the ringtone as the same one that had rung the night they’d picked up Ahsoka.

Ben looked over to Cody. “Would you be able to answer that, my dear? There’s not really a good place to pull off here.”

Cody was hit with the warmth of Ben calling him ‘my dear’ before realizing that he was supposed to do something in response to that statement.

He nodded and picked up the phone from the cupholder.

“Hello, Ben’s phone.”

A man’s voice sounded over the other end. “Who is this?”

Cody tapped his fingers on a thigh. “This is Cody. Ben’s driving right now, can I help you with something?”

The voice sounded cheerier. “Oh! Cody. Yes. Could you tell Ben that it’s Feemor? And that I need a pickup if he’s in town?”

Cody felt anticipation building in his chest. “A pickup from where?”

“The police station.”

Cody choked, trying to not break out into hysterical laughter. Of course it was. “Just a sec.”

He turned an amused gaze to the redhead in the driver’s seat. “It’s a Feemor, he says he needs a pickup from the police station?”

Blue eyes went wide before Ben snorted, then nodded. “We can be there shortly, if you don’t mind a little detour?”

In lieu of answering, Cody went back to the phone call. “We’ll be there to pick you up in a little while.”

“Thanks Cody!”

The line went dead and Cody placed the phone back in the cupholder before slowly turning to Ben.

The redhead smiled. “Feemor’s my first cousin once removed. Dooku finished raising him after his mother, Dooku’s sister, died. We’ve always been fairly close, and Feemor doesn’t have a car.”

Cody just raised an eyebrow. “The police station?”

Ben laughed. “Believe it or not, Feemor wouldn’t have been arrested or anything. He’s a professor of forensic science with a minor in linguistics, and he works there on a consultant basis. Normally he teaches at the university.”

Cody put a hand to his face. “This is ridiculous, Ben.” He started snickering. “This is statistically impossible, and I cannot believe how many of your friends and family I have been introduced to this way!”

The redhead laughed along with him.

When they arrived at the police station, there was a tall blond man standing on the sidewalk outside.

Ben pulled up beside him, and he folded his lanky body into the backseat.

“Hello again, Feemor,” Ben said. “How was today?”

“Satisfying, thank you.”

Cody quite liked the look of the man sitting in the backseat. He looked neatly put together and calm. It was a refreshing change.

Ben spoke up again. “Feemor, this is Cody.”

Feemor reached into the front seat to shake Cody’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Cody. I’ve heard several stories about Ben’s boyfriend.”

“From whom?” Ben raised an eyebrow and glanced over his shoulder at the backseat.

Cody could still feel the impact from that eyebrow in the pit of his stomach, despite repeated exposure. In fact, his attraction to it may be getting stronger.

The blond shrugged. “Plo, Mace, Kit, and Ahsoka all had stories and opinions about Obi-wan’s Cody.”

Ben mumbled something that Cody was fairly certain was in a different language and also not a compliment.

“Okay, sorry.” Cody gestured between the two of them with a hand. “Can I ask? Please? The name thing? It’s been driving me moderately insane and it may be possible that there’s a betting pool going on at my house and I desperately want to crush Rex’s dreams of winning.”

He got a neat pair of confused looks. Ben tipped his head to one side. “What name thing, Cody?”

Cody rolled his eyes and explained. “Your name, Ben. Is it Ben or Obi-wan? Is one a nickname? Since I met you and your group of chaos people, six have called you Ben, two Obi-wan, two Obi, and one Kenobi. Feemor has called you both Ben and Obi-wan. Ben is the most frequent, and also the one you introduced yourself by, but your family members called you either Obi or Obi-wan. Is Kenobi your last name? Ponds thinks it is, because Maul seemed the type, but both your father and brother have a different last name and honestly I have no idea!”

Feemor had collapsed over himself in the backseat by this point and was laughing so hard that Cody was mildly concerned about his ability to breathe.

Ben looked shocked, his mouth actually hanging open for a second before it snapped shut and he grinned broadly. When the car stopped at a red light a moment later, the redhead held out his hand.

“Nice to meet you, Cody Fett. My name is Obi-wan Kenobi. Most of my friends call me Ben, except Maul, who likes to pretend he’s tough. Anakin and I had different mothers and both took our mother’s maiden names as our last names for different reasons.”

The laughter from the backseat had tapered off as Cody reached over and took Ben’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Ben. Now that I finally know the truth after several weeks of dating, I can close that betting pool.”

Feemor started cackling again.

“Okay. Okay.” Feemor wiped at his eyes, getting his breath back. “Thank you for that Cody, I am now never letting it go. It’s totally getting added to my collection.”

Cody tipped his head. “Collection?”

Ben rolled his eyes. “Feemor likes to collect stories about everybody and then use them to embarrass people or blackmail them.”

The blond snorted. “Like you don’t, Ben.”

The redhead smiled innocently, and Cody’s heart skipped a beat.

“Like you can prove anything.”

“I don’t have to.”

Cody could see Feemor’s wicked smile in the rear-view mirror.

“I can just start telling Cody many of those stories, and you can’t do a single thing about it,” Feemor said, settling comfortably into his seat in the car, a wicked smile still on his face. “So, Cody, Ben here looks as though he has all his nonsense together, right? And it looks good, but this story happened only about two years ago, and proves that he’s just like the rest of us.”

Ben groaned from the driver’s seat, and Cody twisted so he could see both men at the same time.

“It was the annual family barbeque, where we all get together and try to get along.”

“Or just get drunk enough to handle it,” Ben interjected.

Feemor grinned broadly. “Or that. Anyways, this asshole arrives almost late, which is ridiculously unlike him, as I’m sure you’re aware.”

Cody nodded agreeably, and Ben gasped from the driver’s seat.

“How dare you! Treachery! Betrayal!”

Cody chuckled.

Feemor rolled his eyes. “You know it’s true, cousin. So that was shocking enough on its own, but then he looks like absolute hell. And we couldn’t get a single answer out of him. He just did his whole polite ‘I’m fine’ and danced around the questions. Until!” The blond snorted at the thought. “Until he collapsed about an hour later and we had to rush him to the hospital.”

Cody slowly turned in his seat to stare at the redhead, who was determinately not looking at either of them.

Feemor continued. “Turns out he’d been walking around with four cracked ribs and more blood loss than was healthy from a very nice gash to one thigh. He healed up fine, but we’ve never let that one go.”

Cody continued staring at Ben, who had a steadily growing flush climbing up his neck and ears.

“I have more stories, of course,” the man in the backseat continued, “but I’m very fond of that one. Ben here’s just as much of a chaos gremlin as the rest of us, even if he’s better at getting away with it.”

Cody, who had very patiently waited until Ben had stopped at a red light, threw an old jellybean he’d found in the door pocket at Ben’s head.

The redhead yelped, arms raising to cover his head.

It did not help protect him from the several other small candies that Cody continued to throw at him.

“Gar mirsh solus, di’kut. Ratiin jatne tuur ash'ad kyr'amur! Utreekov vaar’ika!”¹ 

Feemor was doubled over laughing in the back seat.

Cody ceased throwing things at Ben when the light turned green, but he continued staring at the redhead judgementally. 

“Okay,” Feemor said, wiping the tears off his face. “Thank you for that, Cody. I don’t know what you said, but it’s blatantly obvious you were calling him an idiot.”

Cody shrugged one shoulder. “More or less.”

Ben grinned, looking over at Cody before looking back to the road. “Yeah, I picked up on that as well. Thanks a lot, Feemor. Though I do have to know, Cody, where it is you got all that candy you were pelting me with?”

Cody smirked. “It was tucked in the bottom of the door pocket. I don’t know who you had in here last, but they made a mess.”

Both Ben and Feemor sighed in unison. “Anakin.”

This time it was Cody’s turn to laugh.

When they arrived at 212^th Street Coffee, Cody was the first one out of the car, with the other two trailing along behind him. Once he reached the shop, he turned around.

“Please, come into my family’s coffee shop, Feemor.” Cody gestured towards the open door he was holding. “You can meet whichever of my brothers is working today, I’ll pay for whatever you want to drink, and you can tell me more stories to hold over Ben’s head.”

The tall blond nodded, eyes crinkling with mischief. “Deal.” He swept into the shop. Cody wondered if that distinctive motion was how Dooku moved. Mace had described it in excruciating, whiny detail the other night. It certainly seemed overdramatic, but he had to admit it was an excellent punctuative movement.

Ben groaned behind him, clapping a hand to his face. “This cannot end well for me. No way.”

“Retribution, Obi-wan,” Feemor called from inside the shop. “Sweet, sweet retribution.”

Cody cackled, loud and long.

Chapter Text

Cody was really looking forwards to meeting with Ben for dinner again once he finished his shift today. Enough that both Bly and Denal had been teasing him for the ‘sappy look on your face, you romantic di’kut’.

He’d thrown a wet tea towel at Bly’s face for that particular comment, and felt quite a lot of satisfaction at the resultant shriek and spluttering.

Getting back at Denal would require a bit more careful planning, as his cousin wasn’t one to shriek and flail about. A glitter bomb sent to his apartment, on the other hand….

Smirking to himself as he planned the prank as well as his response to the inevitable fallout, Cody went back to putting away the dishes from the most recent load of the dishwasher. The Fetts hadn’t had a good prank war in a while. If he could pin the glitter bomb on Rex, even if Denal knew it was him, it would be an excellent start to several weeks of fun.

Most people would probably call it chaos, Cody mused, but it would be fun. Even more so since he still somehow had the reputation of being somewhat strait-laced. Not sure how that happened.

Oh wait. Cody rolled his eyes, ignoring the chatter from where Bly was dealing with the most recent customer. He was the one who often had to prevent his siblings and cousins from doing actual harm to themselves and each other. And to remind (or force) them to do things like eat when they got into playing or a focused streak. That would be why, then, despite all the evidence to the contrary.

Being the eldest had to have some perks, he supposed.

Cody put together the customer’s drink when Bly handed him the cup with the order written on it, paying only the minimum amount of attention needed to the task.

It would be nice to meet Ben for dinner. He hadn’t seen the redhead in over a week, since apparently his job had taken him out of town. They’d texted, definitely, but it wasn’t the same as getting to watch him smile, or hearing him laugh.

Ka’ra, he had it bad.

Not that he cared, but still.

No wonder his family was teasing him about it.

Cody looked up when the bell over the door rang, still internally shaking his head at himself.

A wizened old man came in through the door, short and hunched over slightly. He was using a cane, but Cody had a sneaking feeling that it was mostly for show.

Bly called out the normal greeting, and the man waved at them in response, but didn’t come over to the counter. Bly looked at Cody questioningly, who just shrugged. Who knew what the man was up to? As long as he wasn't disturbing anyone, they'd leave him be.

He was standing just inside the shop door, though off enough to one side that people wouldn’t walk into him, just observing the shop and the people inside of it. Cody shook off the chill that went down his back at the thought that the old man was watching him and Bly specifically. No way that was true.

It took a few minutes, and several other customers coming and going, before the old man approached the counter.

Bly greeted him again while Cody watched with blatant interest.

“Hello, welcome to 212^th Street Coffee Shop. What can I get for you?”

“Hmmm. A medium chai with espresso, I will get. My thanks I give.”

That was the weirdest accent Cody had heard in a very long time. He was so distracted by it that he almost missed the mischievous look on the old man’s face.

What were the chances that the old man was tied to Ben in some way? He wanted to say that there was no chance, but given how things had gone so far…

Bly shared a weirded-out look with Cody when he went to make the man’s drink, carefully turned away so the customer couldn’t see. This one could definitely win the ‘weird customer of the month’ board they had going in the back room.

When Bly handed the man his drink, he nodded at them, grinning. “Very appreciative, I am. Smells very good, this does.”

Both Fetts watched the strange old man bustle over to one of the tables and set his drink down before unwrapping his scarf and taking off his coat. The man was even smaller underneath than he had initially appeared. He sat at the table, drinking his tea and occasionally chortling to himself.

Bly and Cody kept looking over at the old man as they served the customers coming through in a steady stream despite the cold.

When a particular redhead appeared in the shop, a large smile spread across Cody’s face.

Trying to not disturb the customers still in the shop, he waited until Ben came up to the counter to greet him.

“Hey Ben.” He could feel his cheeks stretching at the size of his smile.

“Hi Cody.” Ben was smiling as well. “It’s good to see you.” He leaned across the counter and kissed Cody’s cheek. Cody squeezed the hand he’d grabbed in return.

Cody could hear sputtering from behind him as Bly processed the fact that Ben had kissed him and then went flying into the kitchen to tell Denal.

He chuckled at his brother’s reaction and the mischievous smile it brought to his boyfriend’s face.

“What can I get you, Ben? I’d better not come join you quite yet; need to give Bly a chance to get over himself.” Cody paused, then added, “and probably update the group chat so they can close some of their bets.”

Ben laughed, and Cody warmed at the sound. “Hot chocolate with peppermint then, if you please.”

Cody winked at him, moving to get the drink. “It pleases me very much.”

A light blush painted Ben’s ears and neck pink, and Cody was very satisfied with himself for getting that reaction out of the self-contained redhead.

Cody handed him his drink. “I’ll come over as soon as I can. Regardless of when Bly comes back out, I’m almost done my shift either way.”

Ben nodded. “Sounds good.” He turned around to go sit down and went perfectly still, gaze fixed on one of the tables.

Cody peered around the redhead’s shoulder to see what he was staring at. It was the weird old man who’s come in earlier. Who was now waving at Ben.

Of course he was.

“So,” Cody asked. “Which of your people is that?”

Ben groaned, posture relaxing until he slumped back against the counter, spare hand coming up to cover his face. “That’s my great-grandfather.” The words came out muffled. “Yoda.”

“Huh.” Cody considered the old man in a new way now that he knew he was part of Ben’s family. “Yoda, of the whole Ahsoka Incident?”

“Yes.” Ben still hadn’t moved from his position of seeming despair.

“He has a weird accent.”

Ben laughed at that, just as Cody had hoped that he would. The redhead lowered his hand from his face and stood up again. “He does, at that. I’d say you get used to it, but…” He shrugged. “It becomes familiar, at least.”

Cody smiled at his boyfriend, gesturing at the man now watching the pair expectantly. “I guess you’d better go see what he wants, since it appears like he’s here for you.”

The redhead blew out a breath. “It would appear so, wouldn’t it?” He studied Cody for a moment, before asking, “Come with me?”

“Of course,” Cody said immediately. He pulled his apron off. “I’ll just go drag Bly back out here to man the counter. His nonsense can wait.”

Ben’s smile was thanks enough.

Cody ducked into the kitchen where Bly was frantically typing away on his phone. He marched over where his brother was standing and grabbed him and began dragging him back out to the front.

“Ben’s great-grandfather is here and I’m going over with him so you’re coming back to the front to run the shop. Okay? Okay.”

Bly’s spluttering faded out as he processed the information, suddenly interested in at least seeing another one of Ben’s chaos people in person.

Cody deposited him at the front desk and rounded the counter to stand beside Ben.

“Ready?”

Ben sent him a smile, the corner of his mouth tipped up. “As I’ll ever be. Yoda always bring a particular type of insanity with him.”

Cody scoffed. “Insanity is your specialty.”

The redhead laughed and moved over to the table where Yoda was still waiting. Cody dragged over another chair and sat down right beside Ben.

“Cody, this is my great-grandfather, Yoda. Yoda, this is my boyfriend, Cody.” Ben gestured between the two of them.

Cody held out a hand, the old man taking it in a considerably firmer grip than he was expecting. “Nice to meet you, sir.”

Yoda cackled. “Yoda, my name is only. Sir, required it is not.”

Cody nodded in agreement as soon as he finished deciphering the statement.

Ben spoke up, cradling his hot chocolate in both hands and studying his great-grandfather. “So, Yoda, what brings you here?” He raised an eyebrow. “I’d ask what you’ve been doing, but I don’t want to know as I refuse to get involved.

The older man cackled again. Cody was beginning to think it was a standard response for him.

“Here to see your Cody, I am.” Bright eyes peered up at Cody, who was beginning to feel mildly terrified of the seemingly harmless old man. “Wanted to see if a good man, he was.”

Ben sighed. “Did you see what you came for?”

Yoda grinned. “Saw what I needed to, I did. Saw much else, as well.” He reached across the table and patted Cody’s hand. “A good man, he is. Good for you, my Ben, he is too.” He winked at the redhead. “Good catch, this was. Nice ass, he has. Paid off, my fishing lessons must have.”

Cody just about choked on his spit and Ben flushed bright red.

A tall figure swept up to their table and stopped. “Yoda, are you embarrassing my grandson again?”

Cody looked up at the unexpected visitor. He was a stern-looking man, with impeccable clothes and salt-and-pepper hair.

Yoda cackled. “My prerogative, it is. Here to pick me up, you are?”

“Indeed.” The man looked towards Ben, who had managed to compose himself and lose his blush.

Cody missed that blush.

“Obi-wan. Good to see you again.” The man inclined his head politely, ignoring Cody completely.

Ben returned the gesture in kind. “Dooku. You are looking well.”

So this was the Dooku Cody had heard about several times. Ben’s family was certainly composed of several disparate and unique individuals. Cody couldn’t imagine this man being raised by Yoda or raising Qui-gon. Feemor, maybe, but not Qui-gon.

“Time to go, it is then.” Yoda picked up his cane. “See you later, I will Ben. Enjoy your date, you should.” He winked, and Cody felt a blush rising before he forced it down.

Yoda stopped next to Dooku. “Interrupted my tea time, you have. Shame on you, it is. But since insistent you are, go we shall.”

Dooku took a neat step sideways just in time to miss the swipe of Yoda’s cane. The old man cackled and started moving towards the door.

Dooku looked down his nose at Ben, though Cody didn’t think it was condescending. “See you soon, grandson.”

Ben nodded at him. “Be well, Dooku.”

Dooku turned and swept out of the shop after Yoda with the same movement Feemor had used and that Mace had complained about. It was a very signature move, and certainly a dramatic one.

The door swung shut behind them and Ben groaned and thumped his head into the table. “Kark.”

Cody turned to look at his boyfriend, slightly concerned. “What’s wrong?”

“If Dooku’s involved in whatever is going on with Yoda, that mean’s I’ll get dragged into the chaos eventually. Dooku normally refuses to participate in other people’s chaos, so that means this is a big one. That ‘see you soon’, was basically a threat.” Ben tipped his head slightly to look up at Cody, blue eyes forlorn. “Why is this my life?”

Cody just laughed.

Chapter Text

Cody waved at Rex as he headed to the staff area to grab his bag since his shift was over.

Cody was comforted by the rage brewing in Ben's eyes. He was surprised by that, but only momentarily. Having someone who would stand up and step in for him meant more to him than he had previously realized.

Chapter Text

Cody’s phone rang just as he finished loading the last of his groceries into his car.

He glanced at the screen as he pulled it out of his pocket. The caller identification read “Pointy-eared bastard.”

Ah.

He answered the call. “Hey Fox.”

“Cody.”

Fox’s voice was stern and disapproving. Not like that was a new thing with Cody’s cousin, though. Fox was the second-oldest of their family’s gaggle of kids. His defence against the chaos that the Fett clan tended to create had leant more towards strict rule-creation and the enforcement of said rules instead of Cody’s more go-with-the-flow-and-attempt-to-redirect-the-chaos style.

Not that either style had ever been particularly effective against the sheer amount of crazy the Fetts attracted. But they'd had to try something.

“What can I do for you, cousin?” Cody held his phone with one hand and attempted to push the shopping cart back to the corral with the other.

“I have found myself in recent possession of something of yours, and I require that you come and get it immediately.”

Cody checked the time. “I can be there in twelve minutes. Is everything okay?” He wasn’t really worried. Fox would have opened the call with a very different sit-rep if there was something wrong. He always had Cody’s back, and Cody made sure to return the loyalty. Of their entire family, Fox was the person Cody always knew would do everything in his power to help Cody if he needed it.

Not that the others wouldn’t, but Fox would always be the person Cody would go to first.

“Situation stable.” Fox paused, and Cody could almost see the exasperated look on his face. “For now.”

The call ended and Cody shook his head, bemused. Fox could be just as dramatic as the rest of the Fetts, his sense of humour was just a lot drier.

Cody parked the car and walked into the police station, nodding to the sergeant manning the front desk. Before he could even enter the hall leading to Fox’s office, said police chief appeared at his shoulder and grabbed his arm.

“He’s in meeting room three.”

Cody laughed as Fox dragged him down a different hallway. “Hello to you too, Police Chief Fett.”

Fox grunted in response. “Just come and take your boyfriend away before any more chaos erupts in my station. I cannot believe how many of these people I’ve had to deal with lately.”

Cody chuckled, trying to not burst into hysterical laughter. He knew exactly how many people Fox had been dealing with, since he’d been dealing with them all as well, just on the opposite end of the situation.

That’s what he got for not dragging Fox to the family dinners for a while, he supposed. He missed out on all the hilarious stories from the police station.

Cody got a glimpse into another room as he was tugged past. He did a double take.

Was that Dooku?!?! In handcuffs?!?!

Apparently it was.

To Cody’s non-existent surprise, it appeared the older man was completely ignoring the policeman that was attempting to talk to him. Feeling above the situation did seem to fit with what Cody knew of Dooku.

Or, at least, acting above it in order to get what he wanted.

Evidently, Ben had gotten dragged into the situation that he had been forewarned about. Cody wondered what had happened.

Fox halted in front of a closed door, pulled the door open, and shoved Cody in without another word.

As soon as he took in the room, Cody understood why.

Yoda was sitting there, in the conference room, having tea with Ben.

Cody would have wanted to avoid him as much as possible as well.

Too late for that now.

“Yoda.” He nodded at the old man politely, then raised an eyebrow at Ben.

“Really, Ben, you too?”

That startled a snorting laugh out of the redhead as Ben placed his empty cup on the table and stood. He shook his head. “I suppose I deserved that, didn’t I?”

Yoda cackled, mischievous eyes staring at Ben over the rim of his cup. “Deserve that, you did indeed.”

Ben turned to him and raised an eyebrow.

Cody still loved that eyebrow.

Even when it was directed at him. (Which had happened once or twice so far…)

“Innocent old man, am I, great-grandson mine.” Yoda put the cup down and spread his hands.

The innocent act was ruined the next second by a devious cackle from the aforementioned old man.

Cody snorted and Ben rolled his eyes.

“You are rarely innocent, Grandfather, and you know it.”

Yoda cackled again. Cody was beginning to wonder if it was a subconscious noise or a deliberate affectation.

“Yes, but charged, I never am! Therefore, innocent I must be!”

Ben heaved a long sigh and Cody actually broke into laughter. He had heard enough stories about Yoda to know that that statement was a crock of lies. Sure, the man never got in trouble for what he did, but his particular brand of chaos was wide-reaching and devious and he did get called out for it occasionally.

The redhead tipped his head towards his great-grandfather before spinning on his heel, grabbing Cody by the arm and tugging him out of the room.

Yoda called after them: “Nice to meet you it was, Obi-wan’s boyfriend! Come to dinner soon you must!”

Cody had a new fear.

Once outside in the hallway, Ben paused before sticking his head back into the room. “Are you coming, Yoda? We could give you a lift.”

Yoda hummed, tapping a finger against the table. “Think not, I do. Wait for that nice police chief, I think I will. Very polite, he was.”

Fox was going to hate Cody for this one.

But no way was he staying for it!

Ben shook his head, slipped his hand down Cody’s arm to intertwine their fingers, making Cody’s heart skip a beat, and began walking towards the exit.

They caught a glimpse of Dooku, free of both cuffs and escort to exactly no one’s surprise, sweeping down a different hallway. Cody was vaguely glad that he wasn’t close enough to stop to talk to.

He’d had his fill of this particular brand of insanity for the day.

They passed Fox’s office, with the door propped open, and Cody stopped dead in his tracks.

“Is… is that Quinlan Vos sitting on my cousin’s desk?!”

Ben hummed, leaning against Cody’s shoulder. “I dare say it is.”

Fox had literally stabbed Ponds for daring to lean against his desk the one visit. And now one of Ben’s crazy people was not only sitting on it, but leaning in towards Fox to…

To….

Nope. Nope! Cody was not seeing this.

He started walking pulling Obi-wan behind him by their clasped hands.

The redhead was chuckling, the traitor. “That promises to be an interesting relationship. I wonder how long they’ve been together?”

Fox was getting dragged to all the family dinners every single time in perpetuity, if this was what happened when Cody let him skip a few.

All of them.

Cody stared straight away, firmly ignoring anyone and everyone in the police station. He would like to leave now, before they ran into anybody else.

He wanted a chance to escape the chaos before the amount of it in his life grew exponentially.

Cody had to let go of Ben’s hand so they could get into his car, and Cody watched the redhead climb in with his usual grace.

He couldn’t regret it though, regardless of the oncoming insanity, since it had brought him and Ben together.

He never would.

Cody slid into the driver’s seat and basked in the warm smile Ben sent him.

“Home?”

“Please.”