Work Text:
Your hand hovered where the door used to be before the visiting Jedi opened it. You had been about to knock, but he sensed in the Force that there was someone there and beat you to it.
His brows furrowed ever-so-slightly in concern as he recognised you, matching your appearance to the image of the polite handmaiden who had been at his side for most of the duration of his mission. The golden headpiece that adorned the crown of your head indicated your status as a trusted assistant to the queen of this planet, and despite the late hour, your hair was still fixed in place and your makeup still accented your features.
“Is everything alright?” He asked in that warm, calm tone of his, seeing the slight falter in your own expression.
“Uhm…” You began, trying to find the right words to explain your arrival without making you sound strange or desperate. The ornate window behind you captured the moonlight and cast a faint glow around you. “I… I know it’s late, and I apologise, but… I am in need of some guidance.”
His gaze softened slightly, though the concern in his blue eyes didn’t fully disappear. “Of course.” He murmured, like he was afraid speaking too loudly would scare you away. “Please, come in.”
Obi-Wan was rather relieved when he was asked by the Council to mediate a conflict on this planet. While the atmosphere within the palace was tense, there was no immediate danger to his life from what he could tell, which was always appreciated. Plus, he has been allowed to sleep in one of the lavish guest rooms for the duration of his stay. In another gesture of appreciation from the queen, you had been ordered to help him by offering your assistance to him whenever possible. You were immediately and inexplicably drawn to the man from the moment you were introduced, spending half the time in that first encounter watching the way his hands rested in his lap and his eyes fixed intently on whoever was speaking. Both from your knowledge of the Jedi Order and since you felt like you had no one you'd rather turn to for advice, you decided he may be able to help you.
Initially, you were worried that he might have fallen asleep already, but before he retired to the guest quarters he had been overseeing a court meeting that dragged on for longer than expected, so he was meditating in an attempt to clear his mind when you arrived.
“I’ll prepare you some tea.” You said as soon as you stepped into the room, making a beeline towards a cupboard that you knew contained a teapot and a small burner to heat the water with. Treating this encounter as if it was part of your job made you feel less vulnerable, even though you had already been dismissed from your duties for the night.
Obi-Wan didn’t refuse the tea, knowing you were trained to be hospitable to guests. “Very well.” He said before watching you with silent contemplation as you set up the tea pot with practiced movements. “Would you like me to help?”
You refused the assistance and he sat at the table while you prepared the tea. He didn’t yet ask what you required guidance about, knowing that you would tell him when you were ready. Once you were both situated at the table with your hands wrapped around steaming cups, he spoke again.
“So, what has been bothering you, Miss?” He asked, having taken note of the respectful titles used on this planet, or at least amongst its nobility and their staff.
Knowing you couldn’t postpone the meat of the conversation much longer, you took a breath before explaining yourself. “Well, with the unrest that’s been happening, all the talks of possible civil war…” You are careful with your words so as to exclude anything that might sound like a criticism of the woman you attend to. “I’ve been working under higher stakes conditions. And I’ve been finding it harder to relax in my down time. Especially tonight.” Of course there’s more to it than that, but you went with a simplified description that would be easier for him to advise you on.
Obi-Wan smiled in understanding, a slight quirk of his lips visible beneath his beard and a further softening of his eyes. “Ah, a restless mind. A common ailment, especially in times like these.” He took a moment to observe you again as he sipped his own tea, his eyes sweeping over the expression on your face and the movement of your hands around your cup. “I know something that might help.”
He watched you in silence for a beat, seeing the way you perked up ever-so-slightly at that offer, before speaking again.
“Close your eyes.”
After another beat of silence, you did exactly that, automatically taking a deep breath to calm the tightness in your chest that built up throughout the day.
“You’re breathing. That’s good.” Even with the knowledge that he was sitting in the same place he was when you closed your eyes, the words seemed to wrap around your senses as if they were murmured directly into your ear. “Now, I want you to keep breathing like that. Slowly, in and out. Can you do that for me?”
Upon seeing you nod your head, he let out a hum of approval, seeing the rise and fall of your chest. “I can hear you breathing, you’re doing very well.” Somehow, the words didn’t feel condescending coming from him. Once your breaths started to grow steadier, you heard a soft rustling of robes and the sound of a chair being carefully pulled out, then slid back underneath the table. Footsteps, carefully placed so that you could hear them without them being too loud, approached you until you felt his presence behind your back. He felt a twinge of guilt at his lack of attention towards you throughout the day, what with all the delicate negotiating he was doing that left him just as stressed as you were when you showed up at his door, but he decided that this moment would make up for it.
“These shoulders….” He first placed his hands on the back of your chair, then slid them over the fabric of your clothing. “Should be relaxed.” A firm but not uncomfortable pressure pushed down onto your shoulders, and your next breath was just a little more audible.
“A bit more, for me.” He murmured. “Imagine all the tension leaving your body. Like it’s floating away in the wind.” When he was satisfied with the way your shoulders slowly lowered beneath his palms, he encouraged you with another “Good.”
The pressure on one of your shoulders disappeared as he moved one of his hands up to your head, lightly tracing the pattern of your braided hairstyle with a single fingertip. “I don’t know how you expect to relax your mind for the night with your hair still in place like this.” A hint of amusement laced his tone. “May I…?”
You nodded, knowing that he was watching you close enough not to need verbal confirmation, but deciding to give it to him anyway. “You may.” You murmured back at the same volume as him, as if you were both sharing a private conversation in a room full of people.
You felt your hair pins be carefully slid out of place, then your headpiece was gently placed on the table. “Much better.” He hummed, loosening your hair from the braids with his fingers, being careful not to let the light brushes against your scalp linger.
“You know, you’ve been very helpful to me today.” He added, not demanding a proper response from you like the people you usually serve would. But, of course, you gave him one.
“It’s my pleasure, sir.” You said softly, the phrase almost a reflex at this point.
“Oh, it’s your pleasure, is it?” He responded with a warm chuckle, having heard those words from you multiple times already. “Well, pleasure or not, you have my gratitude.” His hands continued to run through your hair, starting to brush against your scalp more deliberately in a soothing gesture that made your head tip forwards a little. “And any help you give me from now on will be equally appreciated.”
With your hair thoroughly loosened and framing your face, he leaned down to speak his next words right next to your ear, close enough that you could almost feel the vibration of his throat. “You can open your eyes again.” Again, his words invaded your senses, leaving you resisting the urge to shift in your seat or just lean back against his chest.
Suddenly feeling the absence of his touch entirely, you turned around so you were sitting sideways on your chair, allowing you to face him more. In turn, he stepped in front of you so you could both see each other properly. Your eyes were then level with the tie of his robes, and once you mentally processed that fact, you forced your gaze upwards. “Anything you need.” You breathed out as you tilted your chin to allow you to meet his eyes, the words both a promise and a confession. “Just ask.”
“Anything you’re willing to give me.” He muttered almost absent-mindedly, taking in the sight of you with your body and hair loosened.
In a moment of impulsiveness, seeing the way his eyes followed the shapes of your hair and body, you felt your knees hitting the ground without even thinking. The new angle heightened the unassuming confidence of his stance and the heat of your body that was getting too overwhelming to ignore. His eyes widened as they followed the movement of your body downwards, but after a moment his hand cupped the side of your face, tilting your face up as he searched for something in your eyes.
You both stayed in that position for a few long, intense moments.
“...Go to bed.” His voice rumbled softly, breaking the silence as his thumb traced your cheek. He didn’t seem bothered by the gesture. In fact his expression was warm and understanding, maybe even with a hint of longing beneath it. But there was no uncertainty in his voice.
You stared up at him for a moment as your brain processed his words before your expression shifted and you got back onto your feet. “Yes, I probably should.” You responded, averting your gaze downwards. You began walking to the door as he rubbed one hand (the one that was just resting against the soft skin of your cheek) against his beard and clenched and unclenched the other one at his side. He said your name to get your attention before you could disappear. You turned around to look at him.
“My apologies.” He said with a bow of his head before watching you slip away.