Chapter Text
Thud
Anakin Skywalker looks up to the source of the disruptive noise. It is no one other than his junior teammate, who, without fail, manages to give him a mocking look and glancing up towards a massive clock on the wall that is ticking at a quarter to nine o'clock. Ahsoka places her morning coffee on her desk while unpacking her laptop and all the cables that seem to tangle up during her commute. The girl looks irritated by what she found but it does not stop her from making fun of her supervisor first thing in the morning.
“Right on time, 5 days in a row. Are you trying to acclimate ‘Greenwich Mean Time’ to our daily life already? That is cute, Anakin, for someone like you.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
Anakin snorts. It started off as an impulsive act, to wake up super early in the morning so that once he finished his run, his coffee and a little bit of a me-time, Obi-Wan’s working hours would start quite right at the same time;
10 AM for Obi-Wan, and goddamn 5 AM for Anakin.
“It means, it is cute that you wake up at the crack of dawn just to send him a lovesick gif and update him on the project constantly when there’s no progress to be updated anymore.” She talks through her desktop setup, which usually takes quite a while. Ahsoka is the hoarder when it comes to stationeries. “It is also cute that you tried to live at the same pace as he does. Are you going to sleep at 5 in the evening now? When will that be in England? 10 o’clock?” It is actually true that with this routine, he gets tired and sleepy much earlier, which is probably just natural.
Anakin snorts. “No.” It is a pretty weak no. Because he genuinely has no idea how his stupid anatomy will do in response to this intense feeling he has for the most beautiful soul ever lived.
“Are we going to start using the metric system anytime soon? Please note that not only I suck at conversion, I also hate it.” Anakin laughs it off, gives her a smirk and shakes his head lightly.
“Don’t worry, Snips. I’ve still got boundaries.” Although he will not lie and say he never does some automatic recalculation in his head with it comes to dollars to pound, metres to feet, and peanut butter jelly to marmite.
But –
In his defence, his stupid lovesick mind takes control of the whole deal. Ever since the first month of working on the same project as Obi-Wan, he realises how frustrated he is at the time difference between London and New York. When he starts his working hours, Obi-Wan has already finished his lunch break, and when he has his lunch break, Obi-Wan is wrapping up for the day already. How cruel is the universe to let him taste the sweetest honeycomb of a person, but limit the explosion to only about 5 hours a day? (What is he going to do to get through the remaining 4 hours, including break?) He knew it right in the third week of working with Obi-Wan – he wanted more, and no way in hell he would ask Obi-Wan to stay late for his sake. So he bent the rules of nature, forcing himself to be up at four in the morning just so he could spend an extra 4 hours (working) with Obi-Wan.
And oh, how his morning greeting makes everything so damn worth the effort. The recent practice of remote work and Working from home also helps his body adjust to this new routine.
Ahsoka was not on board, not at first - not with his approach. Despite her always being the morning person, and everyone knows she is up at the same time Anakin does (without the need to have a random beautiful man as a motif) to do her fitness and wellness stuff. She is probably the most healthy and mindful young person Anakin ever knows. Yet, she is troubled with his ‘false drives’ (her words, not his). She is being sweet and concerned for him, wondering how his mentality, his body might have to readjust once the whole project with Obi-Wan is finished, or once ‘their might-be-might-not-be-business’ is done. She did not say the latter part out loud but she really doesn’t have to. Deep down Anakin is afraid, too.
“Did you get the invite for this – ad hoc stuff?” Ahsoka leans forwards to his side of the long, shared table, courtesy of YDA-dious co., Ltd. He used to hate the absence of cubicles, because god knows how annoying corporate people can be, so busy talking and not doing the actual work (Rush Clovis from finance, for example) But ever since Ahsoka came in, being assigned the international projects and spending most of his time talking to overseas offices, life has been far better and sharing a long table with Ahsoka and Aayla and sometimes Rex is not bad at all.
He looks up to see what she is talking about, Ahsoka lifts her laptop over and the screen says ‘[Ad Hoc] - Site Visit Schedule: Project Stewjon’.
“That’s the codename of our project. Who else is invited?” He isn’t surprised that Ahsoka seems puzzled by the project name. He rarely remembers the name himself as between the two of them and Aayla, they just refer to it as ‘Anakin’s English Wet Dream’ when they are alone or ‘Anakin’s Mr. Darcy’ if their manager, Mr. Koon is within the hearing range. Although his boss is very well-aware of the Wet Dream alternative, they just want to try to give him some peace of mind. He has been through enough being Anakin’s superior throughout the years.
“You sound so panicked and so repressed at the same time. I am scared.” Her sarcasm does nothing to lighten the mood. Ahsoka swallowed hard at Anakin’s intense look before answering the question. “You, Me, Padmé, Windu, Obi-Wan, mr. Yoda and Cody.”
They brought Cody in, which means it is also involved HR stuff.
He tries to recite their company nonsense-mantra, something about serenity or peace or whatever, who knows what this mr.Yoda has in his puzzling mind. Good, some distraction . He thinks of times and times he spoke to the CEO, and ten times out of ten, gets nothing back but a riddle. He cogitates back to the first riddle Yoda ever gave him - all of this, as confusing and annoying as it is, just to ground himself from the actual keyword.
Site Visit. But — Obi-Wan has never said anything about visiting.
“Do you think this means – he’ll fly over? Or, even better, are we going over there?” He sees ‘free vacation’ written all over her hopeful little face.
Anakin has been rejected and denied a lot of things in life, a prom (also known as Padmé freaking Amidala, the same ‘corporate queen’ who is also his childhood friend), a first class honour (kind of his own fault not paying enough attention), paid internship program in France (he forgot to submit some document, said document being his visa), school of engineering (he sucks at algebra, who could blame him?) and other things. He rarely sulks about any of them as he discovers the secret of pretending not to care so you are not getting hurt.
His therapist strongly disagrees but when has she not? Anakin takes mental note to schedule a follow-up session with poor Dr.Ti, who, as of lately, has ethically obliged to be an outlet of Anakin’s recent love interest.
Theoretically the approach should work the same magic it has been throughout the years. But Anakin can still feel a pang in his heart. Too late, hope is already up there, a full blown hope. A sheer possibility of getting to meet Obi-Wan fucking Kenobi in person , is too much for him to take. But again, Anakin Skywalker is a grown man, he should not be feeling the same way as the kids being promised a trip to Disneyland and then got their hearts broken, because it turned out their parents could not afford to go. (That actually happened to him when he was 7, so.) He can do better.
“Don’t get your hopes up, Snips. It might just be Windu flying over here. You don’t want to get too excited about that.” Ahsoka pouts and sips her coffee before she shifts to looking at him with a contemplative glare. It is obvious she is in the analysing mode.
Anakin hates it – especially when it is not about work. When it is about work, he is grateful. He could not have gotten so much done on his own and he made it known how much Ahsoka’s brightness and contribution has been a major part in all this. She will be promoted in no time. But when it comes to non-work, or worse, his personal life, this brat is just too smart. The last thing he wants is to get into an interrogation session when he is already not in the right mindset.
Fuck . What could be the solution to all this? What could magically make everything better? Or who. Anakin knows the answer too well. It almost hurts that also knows how impossible it is to have all that he wants next to him, right now .
“You never tell me what happened after that call.”
Shit.
“Has he broken your heart? Giving you the cold shoulder?! Anakin, are you alright?” With the speed of light she rises up and glides her chair to sit right next to Anakin, looking sincerely concerned. She might have associated his rather repressive behaviour with her theory of ‘Anakin’s false drive to be an early bird’ and making the assumption that he is not thrilled is due to his heart getting broken. “You know, I tried not to be annoying because I hope you’ll tell me when you’re ready but why haven’t you told me anything yet?” Her face falls. “Was it that bad?”
When the truth is quite the opposite.
“Because I am an adult and I can take care of myself?” Anakin's sardonic response seems to piss her off to some extent. She exhales angrily and looms over, taking Anakin’s mouse and keyboard and scrolling through his chat feed on Teams. “What the hell are you doing?” She does not stop to answer. Contrary, she goes on to his and Obi-Wan chatroom and the last thing on the screen was Anakin sharing credentials for asset download to Obi-Wan. And that was yesterday.
O.Kenobi
‘Yes. I think it's’ GTG 'but let me check with Mace anyway. You got Sabé's email? Let’s add her too. She’s Padmé second in command.’
Anakin S.
‘Done.’
Anakin S.
‘We changed the traffic channel btw. Has IT set up your account? It will require credentials anyway, I’ll share with you in a bit.’
O. Kenobi
‘Oh right so that’s the thing Waxer and Boil were boring my ears about. I think I saw it in my inbox but yes pls send me credentials. Boil will get my account set up today I suppose.’
O. Kenobi
‘Oh almost forgot. Count has signed all the bundles of docs you sent me the other day. The signed version should already be sent to your inbox I guess.’
Anakin S.
‘Got it.’
‘Here’s the credentials
Users: ydaidous_stj
Password: 56#ytbhi@’
Ahsoka scrolls up and down, like she’s looking for something but it isn’t there. Anakin might be pissed with this act of intrusion if only it isn’t also something of a routine. Since Ahsoka knows first and probably the most about his crush on Obi-Wan, sometimes Anakin has her help him choose dog memes or gifs to send to Obi-Wan as a good-morning message or let her proofread his (very) subtle pick-up line and innuendo. Without her generosity he might have done something even more weird and embarrassing to his crush. So, having her going through his inbox is nothing, she used to help him match a guy from Grindr for fuck’s sake.
As a matter of fact, this – whatever this is for now , would not have happened if Ahsoka did not force him to call Obi-Wan that day. Maybe she deserves to know.
But this is more entertaining.
“Why are these all work? Where are the shameless flirting sessions? You guys used to flirt the whole day while I got the ERP done! Alone! Where the hell is that?! – You haven’t said anything remotely embarrassing to him in, like, what, 2 weeks?! That makes it–” Her resumé does not do Ahsoka justice for her actual intelligence. She clocked in 7 minutes ago and now about to crack the facade they have been trying to keep with precision and speed. “--right after the call…”
“Where do the dog memes go, Anakin! Where are they!” Ahsoka practically screams now.
Anakin looks around the room. It is still early so thank god no one is here to witness this. He runs his hand through his hair, a small train of his thoughts wanders back to something Obi-Wan said this morning, something along the lines of he wants to touch his hair and– tug it.
Ah-ah. No. Not now, libido.
“I am not heart broken.”
“But–But you liked him a lot . You wake up at 4.30 to say fucking good morning to the dude! You sent him dog memes, Anakin! Fucking dog memes!”
Since when does exchanging dog memes become a parameter of true feeling? She is right, though.
“And I still do say that every morning. Thank you for your concern, Ahsoka. But I am fine” Too fine, maybe. Anakin raises his brows, looking right back to his teammate, waiting for her to come into terms of the subtle clue. The 23-year-old looks troubled, confused, maybe with his use of her first name, and there is a hint of anger in those eyes, too. It is almost adorable that she cares about him as if he is her actual brother. “But, the log – you guys are all about work stuff. He did not even say ‘Hello’.” She mumbles, and to that Anakin isn’t so sure anymore if she’s talking to him or to herself.
“I never say I ‘good morning’ him via this stupid Teams chatroom.”
“...” Her eyes have gone incredibly wide, he secretly itches to poke them.
“Snips, you good?” He smirks as Ahsoka comes to a realisation. Something she said gives him an idea. He grabs his phone and types something.
“Anakin Skywalker, you son of a bitch!” She growls, stepping back to her seat. Arms crossing and looking really hostile. “You have been calling him?”
“Hey! You know my mother. She cooked you dinner last thanksgiving! And it’s facetime, not really a call. Don’t get snappy.”
“I love Shmi very much but you’re the worst! I was worried sick, Skyguy. Fuck you!” She filps him off which is nothing out of the ordinary. Anakin wiggles his brows as a response. “I would very much like to walk out on you now but we have a meeting in 2 minutes. So deal with it!” He chuckles and nudges her arm teasingly. Anakin shudders a little as his phone chimes. The pop-up of the sender’s name makes him smile and with that his teammate already gave him a knowing look.
O. Kenobi
‘Hmm. I havent seen one of these in a while.’
Anakin S.
‘You missed it?’
O. Kenobi
‘Oh don’t get me wrong, darling. I do adore puppies but I wouldn't trade a morning facetime with you for the world.’
Anakin S.
‘Not even the world full of puppies? 😊’
O. Kenobi
‘Not even the world full of puppies 😁’
Ahsoka looks over at his screen and yelps. “Ugh. Now that he flirts back, it’s gross.” The meeting has already started, Ahsoka makes a few clicks to join them in the virtual meeting. She mumbles with a mocking kissy face and high-pitched voice “Darling – Ew.”
4 hours earlier (GMT)
“Alright, alright, dear. I really need to go. My weekly meeting will start soon.” He moves slightly to check his watch again, as if there could magically be some spare time, but it isn’t. On his phone screen appears the younger man with a charming smile, his golden curl reflecting the light of the dawn so beautifully he wants to purr. If the image can cause such magic, wait until the man speaks.
“ Will you be flashing your bed hair again? Like you did in that monthly leadership meeting. ” Obi-Wan is basically floating at Anakin’s low, silky voice yet he snaps back to look Anakin Skywalker right in the eye to let him know the tease must end soon. “I told you it was an accident and apparently only you saw it.” Obi-Wan muses. He places his phone on his kitchen counter while he wanders close by to set his tea kettle in place. Anakin mumbles something he can’t quite hear but the man’s gaze still fixes at his every movement, or his backside, in particular.
“Enjoying what you see? Should I pretend to drop something and bend over? Are you that sexually desperate.” Obi-Wan speaks loud and clear to make sure Anakin hears every word. The younger man's face has gone brightly pink. Anakin might be a tease but he has no idea who he’s dealing with. “No comeback? I haven’t choked you yet and you’re already out of words, My, my.”
“Obi-Wan!” Anakin interrupts his muses with a loud scowl of his name. Obi-Wan is amused at the sight. The man looks shy, rubbing his face and saying something under his breath that sounds like the word ‘ unbelievable ’ but he can also see that Anakin’s interested.
He is desperate, then.
Well, not for long. But he should not ruin a surprise. And a desperate, worked-up and shy Anakin is rather lovely.
“Yes, Hun?” Anakin whines again at the endearment and to that Obi-Wan gives himself another 10 hypothetical points.
“I can’t believe it. You’re a pandora box of flirts and teases. I can’t believe I once thought you’re the modest one between the two of us.”
“Well, too late to back out now. But I have to go, Anakin. Talk later tonight? I’ll text you once I’m done with dinner.” He would very much want to ditch dinner and spend an extra hour video calling Anakin but he feels bad about leaving Qui-Gon all alone in their country house. He knows his father would not mind it, actually he loves solitude with an exception for Obi-Wan’s presence. But spending almost a week in the hospital has made him a bit weighed down. He did not say anything, being a proud, old man he is, but Obi-Wan knows he needs something to lift his spirit. A father-son dinner it is. Also a good chance for him to share a certain story about recent development in his life, romantically .
Qui-Gon is a sucker for a good love story. That should be quite enough for him to feel less guilty to leave the country, and leave his family in the process for 3 business weeks.
Anakin has no idea what’s about to hit him.
“Ugh, alright. Talk soon. Have fun with your dad.” Anakin looks like he wants to protest. The younger man winks at him before ending the call (because Obi-Wan is a ridiculous human being who is incapable of ending a conversation, especially when he consciously does not want to).
Obi-Wan sits upright before his laptop, clicking the meeting link to launch the call. Right before opening his camera, he combs it once – and twice and thrice. Fuck. He growls mutely – screw Anakin, now he becomes too conscious about the stage of his hair. Working remotely may grant some certain freedom to dress and look more casual, especially for the suit and tie person as he used to be. But he's still the nifty man. Appearance may not mean everything but it sure does compliment - things.
“Good morning, Kenobi! Great hair as always.” He is welcomed with the sight of the early joiners, himself, Satine, Cody and Kit. The three seem to be involved in some conversation before he joins in. Might be just between Satine and Kit, Cody is being quiet and observant as he is.
“Thank you, Satine. You’re too kind.” Obi-Wan grits his teeth at her snarky praise. She is mocking him. Of course, he must be telling half-truth when he said Anakin is the only one who saw his bed hair, actually Satine, Kit and Luminara see it all the time. They’re close to each other after all.
“If she really is, she would have upgraded your seat to business class.” Kit says while playing with his tie, the scene looks like he is in the office. Which is not a total surprise, the other manager is overseeing the office expansion and hence his presence is sometimes required.
“Aw, you punished me with an economy seat?” The auburn-hair manager tries to look hurt and small. Like a kitten that got kicked and Satine rolls her eyes. Obi-Wan giggles right after the act. He does not mind the economy class, not that he ever does.
And come now, who cares about fucking airplane seats, he's getting to see Anakin. In person.
“Just to keep you somewhat grounded, being sent over, and fully funded to loom around your boy Skywalker for 19 days is too much of a reward in itself. As a General Manager it is my job not to spoil you rotten.” She says fiercely and might have stressed her voice at Anakin’s last name. “I almost felt bad Cody has to go there and witness you drooling over the handsome face but someone has to be there to keep you in check and make sure the merger does not only happen in bed.” It gets a small laughter out of Cody’s usual well-kept manner. Obi-Wan feels the urge to snap at him but Mace Windu and Count have already joined the call. Back to business, it is.
“Morning guys. Kenobi, Mr. Fett, excited for your trip to New York?” The most senior member of the call sends his greeting with a soft hum. Although the count may look the same he does, his rather relaxed posture and a tea cup in his hand gives out the impression of him having a relatively good day. Obi-Wan is almost scared of ruining it.
“Quite a bit, Count.” Obi-Wan answers with a small smile. Cody does not say yes as he does not say outright that he hates it, which he would have done if it is the case.
“Obviously.” Windu says quietly and changes the subject right after. Obi-Wan makes another mental note to check with Anakin again if something happened with Mace the day he was on leave. “All right, the trip is settled. We will continue this weekly when you’re there. I think you have some idea about the time zone difference. Just reschedule to the time you see fit. Me, you and Cody, and people from Plo’s team from New York will have another weekly focus on the Stewjon project as well. So, it’s 2 weeklys, you understand?” Obi-Wan nods and jots it down to his small notebook.
“Oh, he’s the expert on New York and London time difference.” Kit chimes in and Satine almost chokes on her tea. Mace looks rather too amused for a man who has been interrupted in the middle of the meeting. Count Dooku, the freakin VP, looks weirdly skeptical, but he will brush it off like he does to other stuff. The man is all work and no play. Good thing is, he never minds when his subordinates are being playful, as long as they get the job done. Especially for them, the upper management of all departments, who time and time again, have proved their worth to the company. Yet again, Obi-Wan glares up to the tiny screen of Kit's face. He did not like the idea of being embarrassed in front of the future board member and future COO who just, smirks?
“I’d have to agree.” Windu muses - wait a minute, is that really a fucking smirk?
He is so fucked right now.