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Everyone knew that the only way to know if you had a soulmate was to nearly die but miraculously heal from the injuries that were nearly fatal. That meant the soulmate was nearby.
Everyone knew that they might never find their soulmate. The average person did not experience injuries that severe in their lifetimes. It would be even harder to have that happen next to their soulmate, especially in a galaxy of trillions.
Although the prevailing theory was that there were two factors: Soulmates were not born such, they became such. The soulmate was someone with whom they were compatible with already. As well, the theory was that ones soulmate was not going to be someone they would never meet, or at least, there were multiple people that could be a soulmate in the galaxy at any given time. Overwhelmingly, reports of soulmates were always people that had already met. Many of them friends, lovers, or even married. They did know each other in some way.
Jedi had their way of dealing with soulmates. They didn't like revealing soulmates to the galaxy as they didn't like revealing any close relationships to the galaxy. If the soulmate was a fellow Jedi, they just arranged things so that they were mission partners. If not... well, it depended on the couple.
When the war started, and clones were brought into the mix, they just adjusted and kept to the same policies. Soulmates paired together whenever possible so that they were more likely to live and didn't lose each other without a chance for good bye. Quietly done so, with codes about how well they worked together or with others, so that the Jedi knew what was going on, but no one else had to know that the clones had soulmates.
When the clones found soulmates in civilians, they were given the help that they wanted. If they wanted out, the Jedi weren't going to stop them. If they wanted to have their soulmate on their record somewhere to be contacted, they found a way. If they just wanted to be stationed in such a way that allowed them the greatest interactions with their soulmate, the Jedi did their best to accommodate quietly, without drawing attention to it.
But not every Jedi had a soulmate. Mace and Plo were well known within the Order to be soulmates, Anakin had Rex and Padme (many wondered how he got so lucky but then watched him with Rex or him with Padme compared to three of them together and went... 'oh. That makes sense'), Aayla and Bly, Kit and Monnk... there were many soulmate pairs popping up.
Many expected that Obi-Wan and Cody would be soulmates, but they weren't. Obi-Wan and Cody had discussed their compatibility at one point after a bad mission, and came to the same conclusion. They would not be soulmates.
Eventually it was proven that they could not be soulmates when Obi-Wan was severely injured and Cody's presence did nothing. The reverse happened a few months later and the whole thing was finally put to rest.
Obi-Wan was relieved. He didn't like thinking about soulmates. He wasn't cut out for romance, not the way the galaxy did that. He wasn't cut out for any of the stuff that came of soulmates.
He was happy as he was. He didn't need a soulmate. He had no hole to fill, no connection he was missing. He got on well with Cody, and the rest of the 212th. The Council was a great support network. All his friends were fantastic, and he never felt alone, even when he wanted to be alone.
And no one matched Quinlan for being the best friend one could ask for. Others were confused as to how someone like Obi-Wan could even stand to be around Quinlan, but for all Obi-Wan's joking and griping about Quinlan, they were close. Always had been. Quinlan had secret deeply rooted insecurities, and Obi-Wan needed someone who helped him relax and let out his mischievous side sometimes, especially in more obvious ways than he might otherwise.
Sometimes, Obi-Wan thought that if he had to have a soulmate, he'd want them to be like Quinlan
When he went to negotiate with Separatists at the end of a battle, soulmates were the farthest thing from his mind. It had been a surprisingly easy battle, but then, it wasn't one of the leaders most known for strategic that was in charge.
Obi-Wan was going to negotiate for surrender. He was alone. All the droids were defeated, the leader was cowering away in his office. He didn't see the need to take Cody away from his job just for negotiations that should be easy to established.
He stepped into the office and froze when a blaster was put to his temple. He poked at the Force, wondering why it didn't give him a warning, but it just swirled around, unconcerned. This would work out somehow? That was... strange.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi... we found a Jedi." The leader smirked victoriously. "So I do think we will be negotiating your surrender today."
Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow and ignored the blaster pointed at his temple, just tucked his hands into his sleeves like he had intended to stand there anyways.
"Oh? A Jedi? You're trying to pull a hostage situation on me?" Obi-Wan asked, keeping his voice polite and interested, but not alarmed. He was mentally trying to figure out if there was any Jedi who was supposed to be anywhere near there. he couldn't think of any Jedi. Maybe a shadow, or a mission gone wrong?
"Bring him out."
Obi-Wan barely kept his horror off his face when Quinlan was dragged out. Quinlan was beat up, and he had been impaled on some sharp piece of equipment, which had not been removed. Probably a good thing; Quinlan might have bled out otherwise.
"Recognize him?"
Obi-Wan tore his gaze away from his friend. "Master Quinlan Vos."
"Ah, good, you do know this Jedi. Now, take a seat, we still have negotiations to do."
"Hi Obes," Quinlan said weakly. "I've been impaled."
He yelped when he was kicked.
"Shut up."
Obi-Wan sat down, keeping a pleasant expression on his face, hiding how much he wanted to rage. Not just at the leader in front of him, but at whatever intelligence had said that aside from the leader it was only droids here. It was clearly not the case.
"Today we are going to discuss your surrender."
"And what will happen if I refuse?"
"The Jedi will die, and then you will die."
Obi-Wan hummed. "I can live with that."
"You would not surrender to save your friend?"
"We both know that duty comes before friendship. Lives are at stake, and I cannot in good conscience surrender. So, no, nothing you can say will convince me."
The leader tried to convince him for ten minutes before giving up. He nodded to the others in the room.
"Say goodbye."
One of them yanked the makeshift weapon from Quinlan's body.
Quinlan yelled in pain and curled around the wound as it promptly started bleeding. Obi-Wan moved to stand but was shoved back into his seat. He was five feet away from Quinlan, and could not comfort him, could not do a thing but watch his friend die.
"Obi... it's... it's okay. We know this is the right thing," Quinlan coughed. "You're the best friend I could have asked for." Then, in Kiffi, knowing Obi-Wan would understand him, he said, "I love you."
Obi-Wan rubbed his eyes as tears started falling. "I love you too," he responded in Kiffi. It was the truth. He just hadn't known Quinlan felt the same way. Hadn't fully acknowledged his own feelings.
Quinlan smiled and closed his eyes.
Obi-Wan hung his head, trying to pull himself together. There had to be a way out of this. Four people in the room. One a total coward, smirking at him victoriously. Two holding blasters on him. One standing over Quinlan.
He could do this. He just needed to get the blaster away from this temple and turn it on the others. There was no time for a lightsaber, and it just wouldn't work as effectively.
Obi-Wan could feel Quinlan's life fading into the Force. He had to move, now.
His hand shot up and gripped the wrist. He twisted and caught the blaster as it fell. He jumped up, ignoring the blaster bolts slamming into him from way too close.
He could not let the pain get to him, not yet. He had to push through. He shot the coward in the face, then a few more times for good measure, then took out the other three.
When the final one fell to the ground, he dropped the blaster. The pain came rushing into his awareness. Obi-Wan staggered and put his hand to his shoulder, which ached the most.
He assessed his injuries. If he didn't get help soon, he was going to die.
Quinlan wasn't moving.
"Quin!" Obi-Wan cried, dropping to his knees next to his friend. He moved his friend to get a look at the wound, to try to slow the bleeding. He didn't notice when the pain from his own wounds disappeared.
But he certainly noticed when the wound stopped bleeding. He stared at it and wiped away the drying blood. Healed, as if Quinlan had never been injured at all... though the hole in his clothes gave it away.
Wait... Obi-Wan looked at his own wounds. Oh. Oh. OH. Despite his tears he let out a laugh and picked up Quinlan, hugging him close.
"Quin, Quin, wake up," he whispered.
Quinlan opened one eye, confused. "Huh?"
Obi-Wan kissed him. Tears were still drying on his face but he did not care. "We're soulmates, Quin, soulmates!"
Quinlan blinked at him, spotted the hole in his shoulder, or rather in his robes over the shoulder, then felt the wound. "No way... pain is gone..." he said, awed.
Obi-Wan nodded. "I know! You're alive!"
"Yeah... and I confessed right... oh my Force." Quinlan groaned covering his face.
Obi-Wan chuckled, still hugging him. "I don't care, Quin. You're alive, and we're soulmates and if I was ever gonna want a soulmate it was gonna be someone that was a lot like you. Never considered it would be you."
Quinlan hummed. "Me either. It's been so long though I never... I never considered it... have we never been severely injured near each other before?"
Obi-Wan chuckled. "Nope. So here we are, soulmates and in love. The Separatists here are dead. Let's go meet up with the 212th and discuss how we want to do this. I don't want you going off on your own so much, especially after getting caught."
Quinlan nodded. "Yeah, you're right. We have a lot to discuss. I love you."
"I love you too." Obi-Wan kissed him again.
This time Quinlan happily returned the kiss, wrapping his arms around Obi-Wan's neck. He hummed happily.
"This is nice... want more of that."
Obi-Wan grinned. "We have the rest of our lives for that."
Quinlan grinned back. "True. I love you."
"I love you too." Obi-Wan stood and started carrying Quinlan out of the office.
Quinlan yelped. "I can walk Obes!"
"I know you can Quin, but I did just watch you bleed out and thought for certain I had lost you... if I'd been just like two feet closer you would've started healing up but nooo. I was five feet away instead of three. I'm not putting you down."
Quinlan sighed. "Fine. Give everyone a heart attack why don't you."
"Please, I'm returning with holes in my clothes and armor. They were already going to have a heart attack. Might as well give them something to gossip about."
Quinlan snickered. "Okay, that's perfect." Quinlan leaned in. "I'm glad we get to have this."
"Me too. I never thought I'd get to have this with you. Of course, I was totally in denial of my feelings... I just didn't want a soulmate I was fine without one. but it was okay if it was you." Obi-Wan chuckled. "I love you, Quinlan."
"I love you too Obi-Wan." Quinlan kissed him. "You, always in denial. Oh well, now we can enjoy the rest of our lives together, no matter how long or short."
Obi-Wan smiled and pressed their foreheads together. "No matter what."
He resumed walking. "Now no more distractions. I do need to tell Cody that there's no longer anyone to arrest since regrettably, he had to die."
Quinlan laughed.
That noise attracted the nearest clones who turned and stared at them.
Obi-Wan didn't care. He had his soulmate, and they had things to work out once they filed reports.