Work Text:
General Obi-Wan Kenobi was a model Jedi, perfect in all visible ways, he followed the code strictly and passionately. But no one is perfect, and Obi-Wan was no exception.
His faith in the code had faltered only twice thus far; upon falling in love with duchess Satine Kryze, and the first time he met Marshall Commander CC-2224, Cody.
The most recent falter in his faith was the most troubling to him, for many reasons, primarily as Cody was his subordinate. He answered to him, and Obi-Wan would never attempt to 'make a move' as Anakin would say, even if he did not live by the code, he feared that Cody would feel pressured to say yes, feared he would lose the man closest to him in doing so.
The other leading reasons included; his loyalty to the code he lived by, the idea of Anakin finding out, the idea of Quinlan finding out, and the thought of Satine back on Mandalore.
The Code was deeply concerning to think about, though he supposed a relationship wasn't exactly going against it, as long as there was no attachment, Obi-Wan shook himself of that thought, he would never, ever be in a relationship with his Commander, just as he was never officially in a relationship with Satine Kryze.
Now, in his office aboard the Negotiator, he rested his head on his hand heavily, allowing his generally perfect posture to slump as he stared blankly at the datapad laying on his desk, it was a simple mission report, but today the simplest tasks seemed impossible, he had nearly cried when he dropped his cup of tea, but thankfully wrangled his emotions back under control before doing something embarrassing in front of his troops.
He straightened his spine in an instant when he felt the force register of one Marshall Commander drawing nearer, and soon enough his door buzzed, he used the force to swipe it open, something he would generally not do, but he figured that a minor misuse of the force here and there couldn't hurt too much.
"General Kenobi, sir." Cody stepped into his office, fully dressed in his kit, and, much to Obi-Wans dismay, did not remove his helmet.
"Commander, so lovely to see you, my dear," Obi-Wan pushed his datapad aside, eager to stop thinking about the work he had yet to start, "How may I be of service?" he asked, perhaps a bit too enthusiastic as he felt Codys amusement through the Force.
"Well, General," the clone was clearly smiling in his voice, "I just came to check on that mission report," he glanced at the discarded datapad, "But I think I'll have to check in again later, right, sir?" Obi-Wans cheeks burned, "Ah-yes, perhaps give me a bit more time on that one, Cody, I am terribly sorry for the delay," Cody did laugh at that one, "It's fine, General. Been a long few days, eh?" he finally-finally-removed his helmet, letting Obi-Wan take in his familiar face, riddled with exhaustion, but still smiling.
"Quiet," Obi-Wan agreed, "It'll be good for the men to take a break," he attempted at small talk, but Cody raised an eyebrow, "Not you?" his Commander pressed, and Obi-Wan frowned, "I have much work to attend to, a break is not really on my schedule for a while," he gestured to the datapad, nose crinkled with distaste, Cody looked unimpressed, "The work you're too burnt out to even start?" he raised an eyebrow, and Obi-Wan shrunk back in his chair, cheeks pinking, "I am not burnt out-I am simply...tired," his argument was weak, and Cody shook his head, "Come to the Mess with me, eat, then you can come back." his tone was final, and Obi-Wan knew better than to argue.
Cody replaced his helmet as the two exited together, walking down the long hallways to the Mess, troopers saluting as they passed, and Obi-Wan thought about how wrong this all was, he was never meant to be in a war, he was meant to carry out his days protecting peace and guiding his Padawan down the same path, now he spent his time killing, and Anakin spent his teaching Ahsoka to be a General, not a Jedi.
The Mess was nearly empty, and Obi-Wan noted that they must've come during a shift, which meant work would be piling up for Cody the longer they sat together, but Cody brushed off the concern when he brought it up, "General, protecting you is my job. That means that making sure you're taking care of yourself is part of my job."
They sat together, the poor excuse for food staring blankly at Obi-Wan, military rations were bland, flavourless, usually an odd mushy-bouncy texture, but occasionally crunchy, long story short, everyone hated them.
"Yum," Obi-Wan said dryly, a spoonful of the ration hovering at mouth-level, and Cody huffed a laugh, "It's not all bad, sir," he shrugged, "It's all most of us clones have ever really eaten, you just gotta get used to it." they returned to normal conversation after that, discussing the events of the war, about the similarities between Cadets and Padawans, and how Rex and Anakin were a perfect pair.
They had just moved on to military gossip; Aayla Secura and Commander Bly being a secret item, Commander Wolffe and his troops calling Master Plo 'Buir', Commander Fox overworking himself and accidentally punching Quinlan Vos, and other silly topics, when Crys, bless him, sprinted into the hall, panting as he came to a stop in front of his commanding officers.
"General Kenobi, sir!" he saluted as best he could, still catching his breath, "An urgent transmission for you, we couldn't get ahold of you via your commlink-" Obi-Wan cursed under his breath, he had left his comm back in his office, "Terribly sorry for the trouble, Crys, I'll get moving now."
The urgent transmission was more bad news, instead of taking a short break the 212th was being reassigned to help with a war that had broken out on a nearby planet between locals and separatist droids, the locals had been winning at first, but now the immediate assistance of the GAR was necessary, thousands of droids now overrun the planet.
Landing in an active war zone was one of Obi-Wans least favourite activities, watching and feeling his troops get cut down the second they touched the soil never got easier, grief filling the force the moment the doors of their ships opened.
"Stay by me," General Kenobi commanded Marshal Commander Cody, the two moving as a unit through the debris and blaster shots, they had spent enough time together on the battlefield that this dance was one they knew by heart.
"Sir," Commander Cody braced his back on the half-destroyed tank, three troopers next to him, all looking expectantly at their General for orders, they didn't come, Obi-Wan clearly struggling to find a way through the droids to the village they were meant to protect, Cody softened as he watched his friend try to formulate the plan, "Okay, boys, we're gonna flank around left, that brush cover should be enough to cover us. Then we blow 'em up from behind," the Commander relayed the plan through his commlink, troopers moving to execute the plan, General Kenobi flashing a grateful smile.
The plan worked-at first. Then the droids, damn them, caught on to the attack, turning fire on the brush where the 212th hid, troopers crying out, and Obi-Wan grimaced at the onslaught of pain in the Force.
"We need to move," Kenobi said, an obvious statement, "Faster, men. Move further back into the brush, I'll cover you," he stepped into full view of the droids before Cody could protest, his troops scurrying to obey the order as their Commander watched in fear while Obi-Wan took an entire battalion on, alone.
Kenobi was an excellent swordsman, however, a single sword, no matter how cool, was no match for a hundred blasters, and it wasn't long before their General was overwhelmed.
Cody sprang from the brush, uncaring at the cry from Obi-Wan to return to cover, he rushed to his Generals side, "Sir, go." he begged, shooting every droid he could, clankers falling with a satisfying crunch, "Not without you, Commander," Obi-Wan grimaced as a blaster bolt grazed his side, stumbling, he could feel his troops through the Force, fear, pain, grief, but also happiness, and he realized they must have made it to the village, he let himself relax slightly when he could hear the droids beginning to fall from behind, Cody's plan had worked, of course it had, it was Codys.
The victory seemed so close, and after only a few hours of fighting, too. General Kenobi had been sure this would be a several-day-long war, but now the droids numbers were dwindling, his troopers beginning to relax, knowing they would live to fight another day.
Then, the explosive rolled to the ground at Obi-Wans feet, Cody barely having time to say "Sir, don't even think about-" before his General Force-pushed him, and any troopers close enough, up and away from the explosion, his body flying upwards and backwards until it finally crashed, limp, on the ground a few feet away from his Commander.
"Obi-Wan!" Cody cried, dragging his body out of the way as the surviving droids put up their last fight, his troopers moving to shut them down.
Obi-Wan had been knocked out cold, no real damage done, besides some minor burns, but it was enough to leave Cody pacing in the Med Bay for the several hours he was unconscious, causing his medic-Needle- to curse and shoo him out after he knocked over a table of equipment.
"I'll call you in when he wakes up, little gods, Cody, go away," the frustration evident in Needles voice as he all but pushed Cody out the door, "But-" the protest died in his throat when the medic gave him a stare that would have General Grievous running.
The wait was brutal, and Cody didn't understand it, he cared for all his brothers, but he had never been so choked up while one of them was in the Med Bay, it felt like his heart was squishing itself into mush, a feeling that resolved when Needle ushered him back in after a lifetime of waiting.
"Commander Cody," Obi-Wan smiled in greeting, a smile that faded when he felt the wave of worry and fear that accompanied his Commander into the room, "General," Cody started, hesitating, "Why the-" he swallowed heavily, "Why would you put yourself in danger like that? for us?" his hands shook slightly, "We're just clones, sir, just numbers, I don't-" "Cody!" Obi-Wan cut him off, "You are not, and you have never been, just a number. Especially not to me," he reached a hand to take Codys, Needle huffing in distaste at the movement from behind his desk, "Careful of your burns, General." he reminded helpfully, sounding like caf was the only thing still keeping him alive.
Needle left soon after, his feet dragging tiredly as he announced that he was going to find his counterpart to cover next shift, "If Stab is sleeping I am going to wring his goddamn neck," the medic had said as he left, "Do not get up, sir. You'll disturb the bandages and those burns will sting," he pointed a finger at Cody, "If he gets up, I'm holding you responsible, Commander." and Cody had raised his hands in mock surrender as the door slid shut, leaving the two alone.
"Do you really believe you are nothing more than a number to me, Cody?" Obi-Wan sounded so distraught, "I-sir, I am a number," Cody winced when Obi-Wan looked crestfallen at his response, "You are so much more-my dear, I have never thought of you as a number, nor any of your brothers," Obi-Wan squeezed the hand he still held, and Cody gave him a tight smile, "Whatever you say, sir."
Obi-Wan had fought his way out of the Med Bay quickly, Needle and Stab were too exhausted to give him too much of a fight, so they let him go with the promise he would not partake in physical activity until the worst of his burns had healed, and they had made Cody swear to keep an eye on him, which lead them to where they were now, sitting together in Obi-Wans office, desperately trying to finish their datawork.
Finally the silence was too much for both of them, "Cody-" "General-" they said together, laughing and breaking the icy quiet in the room, "Please, Cody, you go first. And it's just Obi-Wan, not General," the Jedi urged him to talk, "I can't stop thinking about the way you were ready to give your life for ours, I know you said-but its our job to take hits for you," he put his datapad on the desk between them, hands resting on the table, "Had you died, sir, I don't think any of us would have recovered. I wouldn't want to serve under another General," Obi-Wans heart melted a little, "Oh, Cody," he paused, formulating his words, "I will always put myself in between you and danger, it is my nature, I couldn't bare to see you hurt," he reached to place his hand over Codys, the two falling back into silence.
Cody wished he wore his helmet in this moment, his cheeks felt hot as his General, his superior officer, put their hands together, he avoided eye-contact, trying to return to his work, but couldn't, mind too torn up about the way he felt for the man sitting across from him.
The second their hands connected Obi-Wan could feel Codys emotions, heightened in the Force by, he supposed, the bare skin contact. Usually both he and his Commander wore gloves, but today Cody wore only the waist down of his kit, the rest of his armour stacked neatly in the corner, Obi-Wan had spent several moments furiously trying not to stare at the way Codys blacks stretched tightly across his chest, and now, the things Obi-Wan could feel radiating from the other man were so intense, and he knew that Cody returned the unprofessional feelings he felt.
"Gen-ah, Obi-Wan, may I speak freely?" Cody finally worked up the courage, "Of course, my dear." Obi-Wan took back his hand, folding both of his together on the desk, leaning in intently.
"I think...you should put in for a new Commander," Cody said, chest tight, "What?" Obi-Wan sounded so betrayed, "I thought you said you wouldn't want to serve under another General? Have I done something wrong?" his eyebrows crinkled together, "I don't, you have been-you are-the best General I could've asked for, and no, but-I have, sir, I-ah," Cody dropped his eye level, staring at how Obi-Wans hands fidgeted on the desk, "Please, continue," the Jedi cocked his head at the other, "I don't think I separate my feelings from the fight anymore, sir," Cody confessed, face burning, "I'm not sure I follow, Cody," Obi-Wan said, "Sir," Cody finally returned his eye contact, "I think I might be in love with you. I'm sorry, this is against the regs, I shouldn't have said anything-" "Cody. I highly doubt this will be the issue you think it is," "Sir?" "While highly unusual-and not to mention banned, I have felt the same way for quite some time."
Silence.
"So..." Cody was the most embarrassed he had ever been, "What does that mean?" he asked, feeling dumb, "Whatever it is that you'd like, dear one. I am your commanding officer and I will not pressure you to do anything-" Obi-Wan started, "But what if I want to do anything?" Cody blurted, cheeks a terrific shade of red, rivalling Fox's Coruscant Guard paint, "Then I suppose that is a separate conversation." Obi-Wans heart pounded in his throat, he lived by the code, but the code now seemed...insignificant, as the gorgeous man across from him confessed.
"I think we should have that separate conversation," Codys confidence startled even him, "Very well then," Obi-Wan leaned back slightly, "What is it that you'd like to be?" Cody paused, considering, "We can't be anything, not officially, I mean. Not with your code-or my regs-but, I think-" he was rambling, and he was definitely aware of that, thankfully Obi-Wan cut him off, "So then...we remain-friends, but with...feelings," Cody cracked a smile, "Friends with feelings sounds great to me, sir," he swallowed his nerves, "Oh, Cody, if this-ah, friendship, is to work, you cannot think of me as a superior. Please, it's just Obi-Wan."
They managed to get most of their datawork done after that, it felt odd to return to their duties after such an important conversation, but it must be done, as Obi-Wan had put it, and they were both getting bleary-eyed by the time they called it a night, "Ah-Cody?" Obi-Wan said as Cody turned to pick up his armour and leave back to the barracks, "Yes?" he turned back to face him, seeing the pink lighting up his cheeks, "I was thinking, it would be rather...inconvenient for you to have to walk back to the barracks now," Obi-Wan crossed the room, a slight limp from his previous incident, "And...I have more than enough space here, if you'd like to stay," he offered, extending a hand to Cody, who took it, "I would love to stay, the walk back to the barracks is so long, after all." he smiled, then, on instinct, a hand reached to wrap around Obi-Wans waist, pulling him in until their chests bumped.
"Cody?" Obi-Wan had whispered his name so softly he almost didn't catch it, "Hi." he responded, one of the Jedi's hands had dragged up to rest against the soft fabric of his blacks, right over where his heart thudded loudly in his chest, he pulled his Jedi in as close as he could, their lips met, Codys hand softly landing on the back of Obi-Wans head as the other twisted slightly to deepen the kiss, softly biting his way in to Codys mouth, who allowed him to take control as their tongues clashed gently.
They broke apart, slightly out of breath, "Sorry-I just-" Cody immediately apologized, Obi-Wan cutting him off with a laugh, "My dear, sorry for what?" Cody lacked a response, letting the other shake his head softly, "I think it may be time to sleep, Cody," he suggested, gesturing to the bed, and Cody nodded, going to remove the rest of his armour as Obi-Wan sat.
This was the part Obi-Wan hadn't considered, Cody was a very, very attractive man, and as he watched the other remove the lower half of his armour he realized just how tight the clones blacks were, leaving very little to the imagination as Cody carefully stacked his armour, cheeks infuriatingly hot again.
Cody joined him on the bed, a curious glance at how hot his friends cheeks were before disregarding it, "I don't want to hurt you," he said, taking Obi-Wan by surprise, "Wh-what?" he stammered it out, "Your burns. I don't want to disturb them," Cody clarified, and Obi-Wan cursed his own mind for thinking Cody meant-well never mind what he thought, "You won't. Needle is just hell-bent on me resting, they are not as bad as he wants you to believe, although I wouldn't mind a hand removing my tunic, as not to jostle the bandages."
Cody nodded wordlessly, moving to help him shed his many layers, untying the obi around his waist and allowing the fabrics to be removed, exposing the scar-riddled skin of Obi-Wan, who shuddered slightly when he traced a long scar down his shoulder blade, "Sorry," Cody said, withdrawing his hand, to which Obi-Wan seemed almost disappointed, "That's...quite alright."
Cody lay back after leaving Obi-Wan in only his leggings, the burns on his upper body looked scary, but Cody knew they would heal in a matter of days with bacta, and he was able to breath a sigh of relief upon the discovery.
"Sleep, Cody." Obi-Wan lay next to him, the size of the bed forcing the two of them close together, though neither one complained, it was the best night of rest either had received since the war began.