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Cody entered Fox's office and raised an eyebrow. His brother had sent him a note that he was urgently needed to get Quinlan
Fox pointed to the couch. "Vos apparently got dosed with a truth serum and asked for you, repeatedly." He sounded mostly annoyed, but there was a hint of confusion.
Cody sighed. He and Quinlan had started dating, with some encouragement from Obi-Wan several months previous. They were keeping it quiet, as they knew that people would be very vocal about their relationship.
Quinlan spotted him. "Codes! You're here! For me!"
Cody sighed and walked over to him. "Yes, I am. So... this truth serum. Are you aware and can't lie, or are you a bit out of it?"
Quinlan squinted at him, tilting his head. "Both? I think? Everything is kind of whoo-" he waved his hands around "right now, but like I can think? It's just really really weird and I love you so much!" He threw himself on Cody and kissed him.
Cody couldn't help but smile. "Hey, Quin, I love you too, we were trying to keep that quiet though. I think that truth serum may have a bit of a drug effect."
"Probably! You were smiling, I could taste it!"
"What does that even mean?" Cody asked, chuckling.
"I don't know!" Quinlan beamed. "But you taste nice, and you were smiling so I was tasting your smile I think?"
Cody wrapped an arm around him. "And what do I taste like?"
"Sunshine! That's why I like you!"
"Oh, is it?"
Fox groaned. "Get him out of here. I won't tell anyone. Just... get out of my office."
"Bye Foxy!" Quinlan waved happily, leaning on Cody heavily.
"Goodbye, Vos." Fox sighed, turning to work. "Thanks for taking him off my hands, Cody."
"You're welcome, Fox. Goodbye."
Cody took Quinlan back to the Temple, listening to Quinlan's chatter the whole time. There was nothing he didn't know, at least.
That changed after they had checked with the healers and Quinlan was allowed to go home to his quarters as long as he wasn't alone until after the serum was after his system.
Cody got some snacks and sat down with Quinlan on the couch. "So... You doing okay?"
Quinlan sighed and leaned on Cody. "I'm freaking out. I don't want to talk about my deepest darkest secrets and if the Guard didn't have fantastic timing, I could have spilled way too much about my mission and the Jedi to the gang and Fox almost didn't contact you but he wasn't willing to contact any Jedi for me so it was that or letting me stay in his office. I'm glad he called you."
"Me too. You know I won't judge if you do talk, right?"
"I know... you're great like that. But... I don't want to talk about that stuff like this. I want it to be of my own choice."
"I know. I can wait. You can ramble about whatever you want, even tasting my smile, if it means you don't talk about stuff you're not ready to talk about."
"You're the best Codes. I love you."
"Love you too, Quin. You're fantastic, and I will never judge you, okay?"
"I know. And it's nice. Lots of people judge. They don't even know they're judging but they are. They always expect a lot out of me that I can't give them, or they think I should be different and not be me and it's so so hard. I bet if I died they wouldn't care about it."
"Quin..." Cody said worriedly, pulling Quinlan closer. "You don't have to go down this path."
"My thoughts went this way, and I guess I have to say everything I think but that's okay!" Quinlan laid down with his head on Cody's lap and grinned up at him.
"Alright." Cody smiled. "I would care. Obi-Wan would care. I'm sure others would care."
"Yeah, I know. But most won't. All the people who think I'm dumb or too much or just... expect me to be different, to be a better Jedi would just... they probably wouldn't even notice if I was gone and that sucks. because I'm always trying to be a good Jedi, to do a good job, and to protect everyone."
"I know. And you do a great job. I know the Council thinks to consult you before just about anyone. I know that your intel is always accurate and most of the useful intel comes from you, and you work far too hard for someone who acts carefree. Everyone else shouldn't matter."
"But they do... I can't explain it but I can't just... pretend they don't matter? I don't know, they're just... They're just a bit... I wanted them to like me as a kid. Especially those that thought I'd never make it as a Jedi. And I guess I never outgrew that. I wish I did. It would be so much easier if I didn't care what they think, because I do good. You're right about that."
Cody ran his hand through Quinlan's hair. "I'm sorry. I wish I could do more for you."
"You do plenty for me Cody! You agreed to date me even though I was kind of ridiculous and you really shouldn't have said yes."
"I said yes because you're intriguing. I decided to risk a date despite how crazy you appeared on our first meetings because I know Obi-Wan and despite his feigned exasperation, I can tell he trusts you, and I trust him. He wouldn't be so fond of you if you weren't actually a good person with good qualities in the end. Even if I could not see it. That told me I needed to give you a chance."
"I'm glad you did. Because then. we wouldn't be here right now, and I wouldn't have had such a great time on our dates."
"And neither would I. I always have a great time with you on our dates. You are amazing, Quin. Don't let anyone tell you anyways."
"Alright. Let me taste your smile again!"
Cody obliged.