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Anakin had a problem. Well, Anakin always had problems. But this problem went fairly unnoticed. His problem resulted in teeth marks in almost every small hard plastic thing near him, it left the sides of his fingers picked and bitten at, and just about every pen chewed beyond belief. Anakin would bite, chew, and suck just about every surface that was readily available.
Obi-Wan was getting a little sick of it.
Ever since Anakin was a padawan he’d had this habit. Obi-Wan assumed he would just grow out of it. When he had caught glimpses of his young padawan sleeping in his room, he’d noticed his thumb was stuck between his lips. He made sure not to mention to the boy, it must have been out of comfort and there were so few comforts Anakin could have. So Obi-Wan let it be. For the first few years Obi-Wan ignored the random chew marks and occasional wet spot from where Anakin had been suckling or biting his tunic while they cuddled. But as the years went on the problem only worsened. The more anxious or stressed he got, the more prone he was to chewing or sucking on something. When he bit at his fingers all he could until they were bleeding, or there wasn’t anything readily available to chew on he became restless.
Since their relationship had developed, they started to sleep in the same bed. On nights where Anakin tosses and turns there’s only one thing that calms his restless mind. Each time, he would look at Obi-Wan to make sure he was sleeping. Once Anakin thought the coast was clear he would pop his thumb in his mouth, and finally settle. Truth be told, Obi-Wan couldn’t help to look at how sweet Anakin looked once his breathing had finally settled. But, Anakin’s oral fixation had gotten a little out of control. So, Obi-Wan had set out to find a solution.
After a bit of browsing on the holonet, Obi-Wan had believed he had found the solution. Now all he had to do was wait for the right time to present it to Anakin. He knew it would only be a matter of time.
A night or so later, Anakin was pacing in their living room. Obi-Wan sighed, “Ani, sit down.”
Anakin groaned, and muttered something, and he continued to pace. He lifted his fingers to his mouth to bite. That’s when Obi-Wan got up from the couch, and sprung up to go to their bedroom. He dug around in his nightstand to find what he was looking for. A small plastic container with the answer to Anakin’s oral fixation inside.
“Obi-Wan what are you up to?” Anakin pouted, sitting criss cross on the couch, with his arms crossed.
Obi-Wan only smiled, “Just trust me.” He said simply. “Here, this will help you love.” He opened his hands and presented the object. In a small container was a simple red pacifier.
Anakin’s whole face turned bright red, matching the color of the pacifier. “Master!” He shrieked, “What? Why? I-“ Before Anakin could continue, Obi-Wan slipped the pacifier into his mouth to shut him up.
“Easy love. Hush.” He soothed. “Close your eyes, relax. Just focus on the sensation. Let it calm you.” Obi-Wan guided, watching as Anakin squirmed, and fidgeted about. “Come here.” He called, guiding Anakin to lie on top of him, with his head resting on Obi-Wan’s chest. “Relax.”
As the minutes passed, Anakin became much less fidgety. His breathing evened out, and he even appeared to be dozing. Obi-Wan counted it as a victory, as he pressed a kiss to the crown of Anakin’s head, as he allowed himself to doze off too.
When they awoke, Anakin went right back to being red faced, and huffing about. “Put that away!” He groaned, refusing to look Obi-Wan in the eye. He knew it was because Anakin was embarrassed. “I don’t wanna see it.” Anakin huffed out.
“Darling there’s nothing to be ashamed of. You have a genuine problem and this is a way to help fix and correct it.” Obi-Wan tried to reason. But Anakin wasn’t having it. He stomped his foot, and hid away in his old room, which he now used as a workroom.
Obi-Wan sighed. Well it was nice while it lasted. He placed the small container in the side table drawer, and went about the day. For the next few days, Obi-Wan didn’t bring it up, nor did he bring up the even more excessive biting and chewing of everyday objects.
Then, the strangest thing happened. Obi-Wan was reading on the couch, when Anakin stormed in, biting on his thumb and grumbling. He sat himself next to Obi-Wan in a huff.
“Give it to me,” He murmured behind his thumb, biting the skin around it harshly. His eyes were glued to the floor, and the ever so familiar flush of his face was back.
Confused, Obi-Wan tried to clarify. “Do you want your pa-“
“Don’t say it!” It was less of a yell and more of a plea if anything. There was no real bite to it. His voice wobbled, as if he was about to cry, which didn’t sound good. Obi-Wan reached into the drawer, and grabbed the small container. He took out the pacifier and handed it to Anakin. To his surprise, he just opened his mouth weakly. Obi-Wan then understood. Anakin couldn’t do it himself. But if he was being forced, it helped him deal with it better. Obi-Wan gently stuck the pacifier in his mouth, and Anakin instantly relaxed. Soon, Anakin’s head was in his lap, as Anakin fiddled with the couch blanket.
They did this often. Anakin started to become agitated, and his chewing would progress, and Obi-Wan would quietly, and calmly put the pacifier into his mouth, and he’d go quiet in Obi-Wan’s embrace. Anakin wouldn’t talk, he’d barely move even which was surprising for someone so hyperactive.
One night in particular, the usual cycle broke. Obi-Wan was woken up in the middle of the night by soft crying. Immediately he shot up, searching for what he knew was the source of the quiet sobbing. Anakin quivered beside him, as Obi-Wan collected him in his embrace.
“Shh, it’s alright Anakin. I’m here.” He shushed. Anakin pulled away from him, and pointed to his mouth. “What’s the matter darling? Tell me.” He encouraged, trying to get Anakin to talk. But clearly it wasn’t working. All Anakin kept doing was pointing to his mouth. Obi-Wan was starting to panic and get frustrated, which was never a good combination. “I don’t know what you’re asking for.” He said simply. Trying to navigate this new behavior from his partner.
Anakin only cried harder, as he slipped his thumb into his mouth and began to suck it.
Obi-Wan immediately knew what Anakin wanted then. He headed to the living room to grab his pacifier and returned as quickly as he could to pop it into Anakin’s mouth. Obi-Wan wrapped him back up in his embrace, and tried his best to soothe him. “Easy darling. I’m here. I’m here. I’ve got you.”
Obi-Wan had him. He always would. This territory was new, and frightening. This was a side to Anakin that he’d never seen before. But he didn’t mind. Not one bit. After all, it had gotten Anakin to chew on his pens far less.