Illicit Affairs | Obi-Wan Kenobi

Ten

 He's here.

My throat is tight and my heart is pounding in my chest, and yet I feel a smile come to my face I never expected, clearly by the surprise in his eyes he didn't either, and yet it is one he returns.

Once my heart recovers from the initial shock of seeing him I find myself utterly stunned by the physical sight of him after all these years. While I've changed little in comparison he's grown from a padawan into a man, long haired and bearded and handsome to the point it isn't fair, rivalling any man I've ever seen. Age has truly made him a sight I could have never prepared myself for.

And I know I am cursed.

"It is- it is a relief to see you," he says and no one else may as well exist as we look upon one another but they do and so I clear my throat, trying to snap myself out of this awestruck daze.

"A master now I trust?"

"Yes," he answers, the colour in his cheeks and familiar look in his eyes revealing more than they should, as flustered by the sight of me as I am by him, but it's the fondness in his voice that causes my heart to ache. "I hear they call you General on Naboo."

"Yes," I say and the very space between us is suffocating. "I am."

It's him who dares move forward and when he extends his hand I expect him to shake it as courtesy permits but I don't expect his hand to be so gentle, I don't expect him to bring it to his lips and it's all I can do to keep my eyes from falling shut at the feeling of his beard brushing my skin, at the feeling of his lips that I know far too well.

If I thought I could ever forget them, I know now that I never will.

"It has been a long time," he says unevenly and I know standing here with parted lips he can read me so clearly for I cannot hide the emotion his simple touch brings but he does not drop my hand, instead running his thumb along the side of it as we stand there unable to feel the eyes on us, consumed by the feelings rising from the never sealed grave that is our love. "Ten years."

"Ten years," I repeat, trying but unable to find the words, my throat tight and heart pounding so violently I'm sure he can feel my pulse as I finally manage to say "You look older."

"And after all these years you're even more beautiful than ever," he says with a charm that stuns me and a boldness that has not changed a bit. Padme and Anakin along with Typho look on with wide eyes as I draw a sharp breath and mercifully he lets go of my hand and I find myself struggling for breath.

Thankfully Padme breaks the tension by taking the attention away from us.

"It seems there are reunions all around today," she smiles as she looks upon Anakin. "Ani, my goodness you've grown."

"So have you," he says, taller than Obi-Wan now and tries to follow his masters example. "Grown more beautiful I mean." Obi-Wan looks at me in embarrassment before lowering his eyes as his padawan stammers. "Well, for a senator I mean."

Well, that's something else that hasn't changed and I find myself thankful for this awkward teenager taking the unbearable attention off of us, all while Typho and Jar Jar stand there awkwardly watching on. From the way Typho can't meet my eye I'm sure he heard at least part of the exchange between Padme and I, and he is hardly blind.

Padme smiles off Anakin's flirtation as I do the math, he'd have to be nineteen and certainly a handful, but Padme finds it more amusing than strange but nonetheless puts him in his place with grace. "Ani, you'll always be that little boy I knew on Tatooine."

I'm still stunned by the sight of Obi-Wan, physically the most beautiful man I've ever laid eyes on, he was handsome then but now... maker I swear any sort of self control over myself has gone out the window. But it's the connection between us as strong as it was all those years ago, if not stronger, that leaves me in this state as we head to the couches and his own voice stammers slightly as he tries to remain professional. "Our presence here will be invisible here my lady, I can assure you."