Reblogged

Proposal - Chapter 5 - The Final Time

Summary: Obi Wan requests an answer to his question.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/64187434/chapters/164723305

Cody rolled over and felt for Obi Wan, expecting his arm to find his lover’s waist, only to come up short. Light was streaming into the room through the large arched window. He opened his eyes trepidatiously and lifted his head, peaking around. The faint hum of the traffic outside was the only noise.

Cody sat up and looked at the chrono. It was way later than he had expected. Obi Wan was likely at the Jedi Council meeting by now. Cody was lucky enough to be on leave for the next few days and had found refuge in Obi Wan’s quarters for a few of them at least.

His brothers had tried calling him, asking why he wasn’t at 79s with the rest of the battalion. Cody had smirked as he curled into Obi Wan’s arm, enjoying the quiet seclusion they rarely got to share.

“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather join your brothers?” Obi Wan had asked over a modest dinner at the small table next to his kitchenette.

“I can’t think of anywhere I would rather be,” Cody had said.

He felt himself blush at the memory and buried his face in the pillow remembering Obi Wan’s response and the subsequent romantic interlude that left their food to get cold.

He spent most of the day lounging in bed, cleaning things up from the night before and genuinely reveling in the experience of staying at his boyfriend’s place, even if he wasn’t here. He made the bed and smiled as he realized the sheets smelled like Obi Wan.

“Cody?” a voice called into his quiet thoughts, “Cody?”

He groaned as he slowly got out of bed, tracking to his comm which was buried under his discarded armor.

“This is Cody,” he said into the comm, hoping against hope he wasn’t getting called back for some kind of emergency.

“Codes? Where are you?” Rex’s voice asked.

Cody took a breath, trying to figure out how to answer without lying, “I’m around. What do you need, Rex?”

He heard Rex laugh on the end of the line, “You’re with your Jedi, aren’t you?”

Cody huffed, hating that Rex knew him so well. He was the only one of his brothers who knew about his relationship with Obi Wan, had figured it out before Cody was even aware of his feelings for the Jedi.

“Like I said, I’m around. Did you need something?” Cody asked, sitting on the bed and pulling one of Obi Wan’s discarded robes around his shoulders as he shivered.

“Yeah, I need your help. I’ve got a…problem with one of my boys. I need your advice.”

Cody’s brow furrowed in concern, “what is it? Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, I just…I need a second opinion. Can you meet us on base?”

Cody sighed again, this time into the line. “it’s kind of difficult for me to leave without being spotted. Are you sure you can’t…”

“Come on Codes, you owe me for keeping this massive secret. It’ll take an hour or two, max.”

Cody huffed and traced the floor to make sure all his armor was accounted for. “I’ll be there in an hour.

***

Cody was still irritated when he arrived back at the base. He had endured an excruciating conversation with a newly minted Jedi Knight who had accosted him just as he was about to escape the temple. He had then been pinned down, learning about the knight’s favorite battalion and excitement at joining the war effort. He hadn’t caught his name but hoped he didn’t run into him on his return trip.

He walked to the barracks as directed by Rex and slammed his hand too heavily on the door release, taking his helmet as it whooshed back to reveal several members of the 501st in various stages of undress.

The buzz of a tattoo gun could be heard in the back of the room. It certainly didn’t look like there was an emergency to Cody.

“Rex?” he called into the room.

“Yeah? Cody?”

Rex’s head popped up from one of the upper bunks, “thanks for coming. This way.” He climbed down easily and walked with Cody to the back of the room.

“You’ve met Jesse, right?”

Cody gave a curt nod, still not understanding what was so urgent.

“Well, Jesse wants the republic symbol tattooed on his head.”

Cody could feel his patience fray as Rex was talking, “So?”

“So. I wasn’t sure if that was against some kind of regulation. I know we’re not supposed to…”

Cody grabbed Rex by the arm and steered him out of the barracks at such speed the rest of the battalions' eyes widened.

“Are you out of your kriffin’ mind? You called me all the way here to ask about a tattoo?”

“You know the manual better than I do.” Rex said, a smile curving on the edge of his lips.

Cody narrowed his eyes at his brother, “Seriously, why did you ask me here?”

Rex looked away to hide his smile and just shrugged, “Jesse’s pretty keen to get this done today. I had to check. Can’t have one of my men wandering around like a walking violation.”

Cody sighed deeply and pinched the bridge of his nose, contemplating how he would sneak back into the Jedi temple before Obi Wan got back.

“He’s fine to get the tattoo if he wants. Let’s just hope we win the war…”

Rex clapped him on the back and smiled. “Thanks brother. Want to come and watch? He’s a squealer. We have a bet on how far he’ll go before passing out.”

Cody laughed despite himself. “As tempting as that sounds. I’ve got someone waiting for me.”

“Go get ‘im,” Rex said with a wink before disappearing behind the door.

Cody sighed again and made his way out of the base. He stood in the entryway confused as he watched rain fall. He wasn’t sure he’d ever seen rain on Coruscant before, didn’t even know it was possible with the planet’s artificial climate.

He pulled his helmet on and started to make the trek back to the temple, hoping to hail a cab but knowing it was unlikely given the weather.

By the time the temple came into view Cody was soaked through to his blacks. A tension headache had started to form behind his eyes and as he climbed the slick steps a clap of thunder and flash of lightning brought a fresh wave of rain that left him dripping when he reached the top and sanctuary.

“Commander Cody, how can we help you?” Master Kloon asked as he crossed the threshold.

“I…ah… I’m meeting Master Kenobi, Sir,” he replied, too exhausted to come up with a more plausible excuse for his presence.

“Aren’t you on leave?” the Jedi asked, his brow furrowed behind his mask.

“Ah…yes, Sir but…you know. Some things can’t wait.”

“Indeed. Master Kenobi seems to work you quite hard, Commander. Be sure to take your well-earned rest as well.”

“Yes, Sir. Will do, Sir.” Cody said with a halfhearted salute. He kept his head down the rest of the way to Obi Wan’s quarters, luckily not encountering any additional interruptions.

Cody wasn’t sure he’d ever been happier to see the sight of Obi Wan’s door. He punched in the code and almost fell across the threshold. He looked around, taking his helmet off and wondering why the small space was cast in darkness.

“Obi Wan?” he called quietly.

There was no answer. Faint flickering light was coming from the other room. He longed to peel off his armor and get into some dry clothes but went to investigate before doing so.

As he rounded the corner he paused. The main room of Obi Wan’s quarters was littered with hundreds of flickering lights. They were placed on the floor, tables, bookshelves and even floating above him. It looked like he had walked into his own, personal galaxy.

“I wondered when you’d be home,” Obi Wan said, stepping out in the light. He wore an outfit Cody had never seen before, dark trousers and a simple shirt, more akin to civilian clothes than anything a Jedi would wear.

“Obi Wan, what’s going on?” Cody asked, stepping into the room, keenly aware of the sound his wet, squelching boot made on the floor and the uncomfortable feeling of his armor rubbing against his wet blacks.

“I’ve been waiting for you, my love. Please,” The Jedi said, indicating for him to come closer into the room. Cody did as he was instructed, unable to stop looking around the room as though trying to put together the pieces of a puzzle when he didn’t possess all the parts.

“Please, sit,” Obi Wan said, indicating a chair in the middle of the room.

Cody giggled nervously but again did what he was told. “Obi Wan, I…”

Obi Wan dropped to one knee in front of him and Cody eyes grew wide. He could feel his heart hammering in his chest, the blood pounding in his ears. Obi Wan was speaking but he was struggling to hear what he was saying.

“…My darling, Cody. I have asked you to marry me one hundred and thirty-four times since we started this dance of ours.” He reached into his pocket, pulled out a gold ring and held it aloft in front of his Commander, “I’m afraid this time, I must request an answer. Cody, will you do me the greatest honor and marry me?”

Cody felt his heart explode. Obi Wan meant it. Cody knew that, could tell from the resolute look on his face, the way his eyes sparkled in the low light and the way his brown was furrowed in anticipation of his answer.

He opened his mouth to speak, only for it to completely and utterly fail him. Yes. Of course. I was waiting for you to ask. When? Now? Today? All these thoughts flickered through his head at lightning speed. He wanted to throw himself into Obi Wan’s arms, to tattoo the ring on his finger so it would never come off.

But it simply couldn’t be.

“Obi Wan,” Cody slid off the chair and sank to his knees, his hand cupping the Jedi’s and the ring and bringing it to rest at his heart. “I would love nothing more than to marry you. I…I can’t think of anything I could possibly want more. But…we can’t…you can’t…You know that.”

Obi Wan sighed deeply and hung his head. Cody’s right hand went to the side of his face, wanting to hold him, touch him, and make him know how much he wanted what they simply couldn’t have.

The Jedi’s face once again became resolute, his lips pressed into a determined line as he held the ring aloft again. “I have confided in Master Yoda. He is aware of my feelings and our relationship.” Cody recoiled despite himself, “I do not know what will happen if we marry. I may be forced out of the order. But even if that is the case, I will never stop being a jedi and carrying their message in the galaxy. And more importantly, I will have you by my side as I do. I have thought about it deeply, Cody, and I have never been more sure of anything in my entire existence. I want to marry you. Even if it means leaving the order. If you will have me, I want to be yours until the end of our days and forever after when we become one with the force. As for the other challenges, well, we can figure them out as we go.”

Cody took a shuddering breath, suddenly aware of the tears falling down his face. Obi Wan gently reached up, wiping them away with his left hand.

“I understand if you need time to…”

“Yes.” Cody said, the words forming and falling out of his mouth before his brain could catch up. But once it did, he was resolute and one hundred percent sure, “Yes. I want to marry you. I need to marry you. I…I…yes.” He said again for good measure, a grin spreading over his lips. One he was sure would stay there forever.

Obi Wan’s lunged at him, his mouth connecting with his hungrily. He felt a sense of elation he had never known before. Wet tears covered his face, and he couldn’t tell if they were his or Obi Wan’s, and it didn’t matter, would never matter. For what was ones would soon be the others. Forever and always.

“You’re going to marry me.” Obi Wan said as he pulled away, his hand holding Cody’s face, his thumb tracing calming circles on his cheek.

“I am.” Cody said gleefully.

“Well then, I believe this is yours.”

The Jedi raised the gold ring again. For the first time Cody could see a Mando’a phrase inscribed on the inside. Ni’kar’tal gar darasuum. I love you.

He felt himself flush as he raised his hand and let Obi Wan slide the ring onto his finger.

“I love you, too.” He said.

The rest of the evening was spent in a level of bliss Cody wasn’t sure he knew possible. He lay in bed his hand held up to the glow of the flickering lights, watching his ring gleam as he moved it this way and that.

Obi Wan was tucked into his arm, his glistening blue eyes gleaming as he watched Cody become hypnotized by the symbol of his love.

“If you don’t like it, we could get something else,” he said practically.

“Don’t you dare.” Cody said in faux threat, “It’s perfect. And so are you.” He leaned over and sank into a deep kiss, reveling in the fact that he would be doing the same for the rest of his days. “I do have a question though…”

“Of course, ask me anything, my love.”

“Did Rex know?”

Obi Wan chuckled, looking sheepish, “He may have been my man on the inside, so to speak. I needed you out of my quarters to ready the surprise.”

Cody laughed, “remind me to have him run drills next time I see him.”

“I’m afraid I’m going to have to overrule you on this one, Commander. I was thinking of promoting him.” Obi Wan said with a grin.

They collapsed into a fit of giggles and held each other closer, falling asleep to the sound of traffic beyond the window and the slow, contented breathing of the other.