Chapter Text
The frantic sounds of knocking at his front door snapped Obi-Wan out of the mundanity of spreadsheets and finance reports that littered his computer screen. Anyone else would hear the insistent and assured pounding growing louder and think something was amiss, but Obi-Wan knew better. No one really visited him since he moved into the neighborhood a little over a year and a half ago, save for one alpha in particular, who always made it a point to nearly knock down his door any time he needed something from Obi-Wan.
It all started when his job, which he had dedicated all his time and energy to, allowed him to work from home almost exclusively, with one or two in-person meetings every couple of months. Obi-Wan had been ecstatic, eager to escape the impersonal feel of the bustling city his office was located in. He was tired of the rude atmosphere, where people pretended to not see each other as they commuted to their jobs each morning, not acknowledging the waves or occasional smile Obi-Wan would offer them.
Obi-Wan loved his job, he had set aside everything to climb the corporate ladder after all, but the mechanical feel of the city was finally starting to weigh heavy on his soul. He had once loved the independence that it offered him, loved how no one seemed to care that he was an omega who chose a prosperous career in place of having a mate and kids. Obi-Wan was just another cog in the machine, whether or not he bore children mattered little to the other denizens as long as he didn’t inconvenience them on their way to work.
As Obi-Wan got older, however, he slowly began to feel like he was missing something. Not children or a mate, as much as society would beg to differ, but rather, he felt like he was missing a sense of community. His subordinates at work respected him, but they kept him at arm's length, afraid that they would incur his wrath over improperly filed documents or suboptimal efficiency in managing their workload. Obi-Wan had a bit of a reputation for being a shrew at work. He knew he needed to be firm and resolute if he wanted to make it in the corporate world, and many people didn’t like to see that from an omega, even if they didn’t outright say it.
Obi-Wan had vague memories of his grandparents regaling him with stories about their life in their hometown and how it differed greatly from city living. Everyone knew each other by name, there were always people milling about outside having fun, frequent community gatherings, and many other things he didn’t quite care about at the time. That’s how he found himself purchasing a modest two-story house in a small town on the outskirts of the city, yearning for something similar to what they had described in his youth. It was close enough that he could still get to the office for the occasional mandatory in-person meeting, but far enough that he could enjoy being away from all the lights and noise of the city.
Obi-Wan had successfully moved in at the beginning of winter and he quickly came to realize that perhaps things weren’t quite the same as they were in his grandparents' day. Nobody came over with a housewarming gift to greet their new neighbor, not a single person even came over to introduce themselves to him. The most interaction he got out of any of his neighbors was seeing them watch him move in through their blinds as if they thought he wouldn’t be able to see them snooping.
The reality of his mistake had truly begun to set in several weeks after that, when it had snowed heavily and the streets leading up to the neighborhood were full, including his driveway. In the city, clean-up was fast because people always had places to be. They couldn’t afford to wait to act, and the snow was often cleared away by city workers before daylight broke the next day. However, it seemed like it wasn’t the case in this small town.
Almost a full day after the initial snowfall, the streets were just barely able to be driven on but his driveway was still blocked by the snow. Obi-Wan had not anticipated needing to clear it out manually and he found himself without the necessary tools to do so. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place, needing to drive to buy the supplies to clear his car and driveway but was unable to do so because they were covered in snow. Just as Obi-Wan was at his wit's end, he heard a soft, tentative knock at his door. Someone had come to visit him for the first time since he had moved in.
Obi-Wan opened the door without looking through the peephole and was met with the sight of a teenage alpha, no older than fourteen years old, bundled from head to toe in thick winter clothing. The boy was almost as tall as Obi-Wan, and his cheeks and nose were bright red from the sheer cold of the outside winds. His blue eyes were downcast as he introduced himself, the air filled with condensation as he spoke.
“H-Hi, my name is Anakin. I’m your next-door neighbor.” Anakin spoke with chattering teeth.
“Hello, Anakin. I’m Obi-Wan, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Is there anything I can help you with?” Obi-Wan replied, curious as to why this child was knocking at his door in this weather.
Anakin sighed before responding. “I was wondering if you needed some help clearing out your driveway. I want some extra spending money and my mom said it wouldn’t hurt to ask around.”
It was almost too good to be true. Obi-Wan wondered if, in his desperation, he hallucinated an angel visiting to help him in his time of need. Anakin certainly looked the part with his rosy red cheeks, big blue eyes, and soft curls that just barely peeked out from under his knitted cap.
“Has anyone else taken you up on your offer?”
“No, not a single person. Most of them didn’t bother answering the door and those that did just told me they could do it themselves for free, why would they bother paying me to do it?” Anakin responded dejectedly, clearly expecting Obi-Wan to follow suit.
Obi-Wan felt sorry for the boy who had gone out of his way in inclement weather just to make a few extra bucks. Even if Obi-Wan didn’t need his help, and he desperately did need it, he would’ve accepted Anakin’s offer just for his efforts.
“Then consider me your first customer, Anakin.” Obi-Wan declared.
Anakin let out a small gasp as his eyes shot from the ground to Obi-Wan’s face, not quite believing what he was hearing. He took a moment to process Obi-Wan’s words before he bounded from the front steps to the supplies he had lugged around the neighborhood. Obi-Wan’s heart clenched as he watched the young alpha struggle to carry the supplies and get to work.
It had taken Anakin close to two hours to properly clear out the snow from the driveway. Obi-Wan requested that he come inside halfway through so he could drink some hot chocolate and take a break from the frigid winter weather. During this time, Obi-Wan came to find out that Anakin was almost fifteen years old and was working to earn money after his mom cut him off to teach him the value of a dollar. He had apparently racked up a credit card bill of a couple hundred dollars from online microtransactions, and his mom, apparently named Shmi, had been livid. Obi-Wan couldn’t help but laugh as Anakin pouted at his mother’s ‘unfair’ decision.
When the time came for Anakin to go back home after finishing the job, Obi-Wan paid him a generous amount more than he had initially asked for. Anakin’s face had once again taken on an awestruck expression, and he asked if Obi-Wan hadn’t misheard or miscounted. Obi-Wan insisted he keep the money because he was grateful for the hard work Anakin had put in that afternoon. Truthfully, the amount Obi-Wan gave was a bit excessive, but it was less for the cleaning and more for allowing Obi-Wan to feel the joys of human interaction for the first time in ages. Thus began one of the most interesting friendships Obi-Wan has ever had the pleasure of experiencing.
Obi-Wan looked down at the clothes he currently had on as he moved to answer the door. He was dressed in a crisp button-down shirt for the sole purpose of being presentable during virtual meetings, but below that, he was dressed in only a pair of comfortable boxers. Since nobody was going to be seeing him from the waist down, he thought nothing of forgoing pants for the sake of comfort. Obi-Wan debated putting on some pants before answering the door but the increasing intensity of the knocking had him worried Anakin might actually knock down his door.
Obi-Wan opened the door a sliver to tell Anakin he would be just a minute, but before he could say anything, Anakin was already shoving his way into Obi-Wan’s house as if he had been invited in. Despite the precarious situation he found himself in, or perhaps because of it, he was able to take in Anakin’s appearance in his entirety.
Anakin’s current look was a far cry from the shy boy he had met a year and a half ago. He had on a graphic tee from a band Obi-Wan had never heard of and a pair of threadbare gray sweatpants. Instead of short golden curls, his head was a mop of brown waves, not quite styled or particularly taken care of despite the alpha insisting on growing his hair out. He was now a full head taller than Obi-Wan following a growth spurt after presenting. Furthermore, his body had also filled out from his alpha hormones alongside going to the gym regularly. Anakin’s perpetually intense gaze landed on his bare thighs and suddenly Obi-Wan felt out of place in his own living room.
“Am I interrupting something?” Anakin asked with a smirk as he took in Obi-Wan’s half-dressed form.
“If you had bothered to wait for me to speak before barging in, you’d have known that I was on my way to get dressed.”
There were a few things Obi-Wan had learned about Anakin Skywalker since getting to know him. He had a near-constant smirk on his face, his views on omegas were surprisingly regressive for his age, and he had little to no concern for Obi-Wan’s boundaries. All in all, Anakin was the epitome of everything he hated in an alpha, but for some reason, Obi-Wan still found him strangely endearing. Perhaps it was because Anakin was still young enough that Obi-Wan thought he could be a good influence on him and show him that omegas could be more than just stay-at-home moms.
Anakin put his hands up and shrugged nonchalantly. “Hey, what you do in your own house is none of my busine- are you wearing boxers ?” Anakin asked with his eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets. Obi-Wan sighed at his over-the-top reaction.
“Is there a problem with that?”
“Shouldn’t you be wearing, like, panties or something?” Anakin replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
“I happen to find boxers quite comfortable, unlike most underwear made for omegas.”
“But if they’re made for omegas, shouldn’t they be comfortable?” He asked. Obi-Wan smiled at Anakin’s naïveté. He might’ve been a tad closed minded but he still meant well.
“More often than not, omega clothing is made more for the pleasure of alphas than for the comfort of the omegas who wear them,” Obi-Wan explained.
Not to mention that they hardly made clothing for omegas that fit Obi-Wan’s body type, which differed greatly from that of most omegas. Unlike the smooth and lean omegas that companies tended to cater to, Obi-Wan was built sturdier and was covered in hair all over his body, especially on his face, chest, and legs.
His body had naturally gotten soft with age and was noticeably softer since he moved into the neighborhood and no longer got the almost daily workout from his commute to work. Not that Obi-Wan minded. He was well aware that he was past his prime and lacked the submissive qualities that alphas wanted in an omega mate, but that was no problem for an omega who didn’t want an alpha to begin with.
Anakin’s brows furrowed in confusion as he processed Obi-Wan’s words, prompting Obi-Wan to continue the conversation.
“Anakin, did you need something or did you just drop by to critique my fashion choices?”
Anakin remained a couple more seconds with a skeptical look on his face before shaking his head to presumably clear his thoughts. His wild strands of hair fell to his face and Obi-Wan got the sudden urge to gently push them to the side so he could properly see his eyes again. He would look much more his age if he took the proper time to brush and style his hair. Obi-Wan suppressed the urge to do so, recognizing it was out of line despite only having innocent intentions. Obi-Wan had hated when old people told him how to groom himself when he was younger and he was well aware that the disheveled look was ‘in’ with the younger generation.
“Mom was wondering if you had a mixer we could borrow. She wants to make some desserts but ours isn’t working for some reason.”
As luck would have it, Obi-Wan did have a mixer from when he first moved in. He’d had the embarrassing thought of baking cookies for his neighbors to introduce himself to them but ended up burning all of his attempts. Looking back, it ended up being a stroke of luck that he was unable to make them since he would’ve had to deal with the mortifying experience of dealing with his standoffish neighbors.
Obi-Wan once again debated quickly putting on some pants but decided against it. It wouldn’t take longer than a minute to grab the mixer and he would just end up taking his pants off once Anakin left. As he made his way into the kitchen, Obi-Wan remembered he had put the mixer away on a high shelf so that it would be out of the way of the things he actually used on a daily basis. He futilely tried to reach for it on his tiptoes, the pads of his fingers just almost grazed the bottom of the box but didn’t quite reach far enough.
Before he could admit defeat on his own and grab a stepping stool for the mixer, Obi-Wan felt the press of a solid body across his back. A firm grip made its way onto his soft hip and he felt the conspicuous press of a bulge against his rear, separated only by the thin layer of his boxers. The complete disregard for his personal space paired with the thick, woodsy scent of cedar that invaded his senses told him it was Anakin, as if it could’ve possibly been anyone else.
Obi-Wan was frozen in place as he saw Anakin’s toned arm reach above him with ease to grab the mixer he had been struggling to reach himself. He felt his knees buckle slightly from the touch and he cursed his traitorous body for reaching in such a way. Obi-Wan was in no way attracted to the young alpha, but his body didn’t seem to get the message. Anakin placed the mixer down in front of him but didn’t move away and instead placed his other hand on the counter, effectively caging Obi-Wan in on either side.
“This wouldn’t be a problem if you had an alpha around.” Obi-Wan felt more than heard Anakin whisper into his ear. It took all he had to suppress the shiver that threatened to shudder through his body.
Obi-Wan steeled himself and turned to face Anakin, who moved back just enough to allow him to turn, but stayed with one hand on the counter as the other found its way back onto Obi-Wan’s hip. He realized his mistake too late as he craned his neck to look up at Anakin’s cocky grin, whose eyes were dancing with amusement. In this position, his backside no longer acted as a barrier between him and Anakin’s bulge, as now it was pressed right up against his aching cunt with just a flimsy layer of fabric between them.
Obi-Wan could feel the faint beginnings of arousal filling his lower stomach and knew if he didn’t act soon, Anakin would have an embarrassing wet spot on the front of his sweatpants. He would never be able to live that down and he gently pushed Anakin away, vaguely registering the hardness of his chest.
Obi-Wan stayed calm despite the way his heart was hammering against his ribcage. Anakin may have been completely tactless while helping him, but his heart was still in the right place. It wasn’t his fault Obi-Wan’s body reacted so inappropriately to his innocent touches. Sure, he could’ve asked Obi-Wan to move over to grab the mixer but he was young, he didn’t think that far ahead before acting. It wouldn’t be fair of Obi-Wan to hold him to the same standards as he would a fully grown alpha.
“Of course, Anakin. I’ll go right ahead and get an alpha just so I can avoid using a stepping stool.” Obi-Wan replied with a small roll of his eyes.
Anakin gave him a small nod with the most serious expression on his face, completely missing the sarcasm in Obi-Wan’s response. Obi-Wan couldn’t help the small chuckle that escaped him. Anakin’s big blue eyes and round cheeks reminded him so much of the innocent boy he met that one winter. It was moments like this that he was reminded of how young Anakin was, despite how he may act or what he may say.
“How about you worry less about me getting an alpha, and focus more on finding yourself a nice omega, hm?”
Anakin’s face morphed from satisfied to betrayed in an instant, his mouth fell open and his cheeks burned bright red. “H-hey! That’s uncalled for!” He whined, also missing the irony of his statement. Apparently, he could comment on Obi-Wan’s lack of a partner as often as he wanted, but Obi-Wan couldn’t do the same to him. Anakin’s emotions could be so intense and volatile that Obi-Wan would be scared to be around him if he didn’t know how much of a gentle soul he truly was.
“‘M working on it.” Anakin elaborated with a mumble, his eyes focused on the floor while he nervously shuffled his feet. Obi-Wan smiled at the rare sight of a shy Anakin, a contrast to his usual cocky and self-assured demeanor. Being with an omega, even if it was just an innocent relationship, would be good for him. Maybe it would help him see that omegas are people first and foremost, not just baby incubators or trophy wives.
“Whoever it is, they would be lucky to have you as a boyfriend.” Obi-Wan encouraged him. Anakin froze in place and slowly raised his head up to look at Obi-Wan. His eyes were wide and shining with hope and his face, while less red than before, was still noticeably blushing.
“Do you really think so?”
“Of course I do, Anakin. You’re a good kid, I’m sure you’d make a great boyfriend to some pretty omega in your grade.” Obi-Wan threw caution to the wind and leaned over to ruffle Anakin’s hair. Anakin might think he was too old for such displays of affection, but to Obi-Wan, he will always be the sweet little alpha next door. Despite how his mutinous body may react to him.
To Obi-Wan’s surprise, Anakin leaned into the touch and nuzzled against his hand, inadvertently rubbing his scent onto it. He looked so much like a puppy asking to be pet. As Obi-Wan went to remove his hand, Anakin stopped him midway and engulfed it in his large grasp. Obi-Wan’s breath hitched in his throat as he took in the difference in their size. When did Anakin get so large? It seemed like only yesterday he was just the same height as Obi-Wan, now he was several inches taller and sure to keep growing. Obi-Wan pointedly ignored the tingly sensation in his groin.
“Thank you. For the mixer and for your vote of confidence. It really means a lot.” Anakin stared at him with that intense gaze of his, the one that made Obi-Wan feel transparent. It was really no trouble for Obi-Wan, but Anakin had a habit of making things more serious than they had any business being.
“Yes, well, if you need anything else you know where to find me.” Obi-Wan wrangled his hand back from Anakin and cradled it against his chest. Anakin left without further fanfare, holding the mixer in one arm. Obi-Wan spent the rest of the night meticulously fixing spreadsheets, ignoring the slick that had accumulated in his folds and pretending like the lingering scent of cedar on his hand wasn’t the cause of it.
A monotonous week passed in a blur before the next time Anakin made his way over to Obi-Wan. He was located in the living room, once again running through his company’s reports but this time fully clothed, when he heard familiar banging on his front door. It went on for a bit before the doorknob turned and in came tumbling one Anakin Skywalker. He cursed under his breath as he tripped forward from the momentum of the door opening, clearly not expecting it to be unlocked.
“Sup, Obi-Wan. Are you busy?” Anakin asked as he regained his composure. He paused for a moment before adding, “You should probably lock your door. It's dangerous for a single omega to leave it unlocked.”
“Right, we wouldn’t want a rogue alpha walking into my house uninvited, would we?”
“Exactly!” Anakin responded earnestly, not picking up on Obi-Wan’s implications.
Truth be told, Obi-Wan had started to leave the door unlocked for a little while around the time Anakin got off from school, just in case he decided to come over. Since the last time he came to borrow the mixer, Obi-Wan truly feared the boy would damage the door somehow if he took too long to answer the door, and decided it would be easier to leave it unlocked. Anakin almost always came over directly after school, and if he didn’t come within the hour, then Obi-Wan would lock the door again.
“To answer your question, no, I’m not busy. Did you need something?”
“So, you know how my mom cut me off that one year, right?” Anakin paused, waiting for him to respond. Obi-Wan nodded and gestured for him to continue.
“Okay, so, I’ve been wanting a car for a while so I can go where I want, whenever I want, to chill with some friends. Of course, I’d never be able to afford it on my own but my mom saw my grades and she agreed to pay for my car if I can secure the down payment first!” Anakin rambled excitedly in one breath. “Anyway, I was wondering if you needed any extra help around the house?”
Ever since receiving his generous payment for shoveling his driveway, Anakin had been eager to help Obi-Wan around with menial tasks. Obi-Wan was more than happy to oblige, finding small things for Anakin to do for the same pay. The jobs were not worth nearly as much as Obi-Wan paid him, but with his salary, he could afford to do so without breaking a sweat. It gave Anakin pocket money and it gave Obi-Wan a sense of belonging. A mutually beneficial exchange of sorts.
However, there was currently nothing Obi-Wan really needed help with. Anakin had just recently helped him rearrange some furniture a week and a half ago, for which Obi-Wan paid him handsomely. Outside of that, everything was in order.
Of course, Obi-Wan could just give him the money, but Anakin would never take it. He was too hung up on the idea of Alphas working for their earnings and proving to be breadwinners. It didn’t matter that he was getting paid a ridiculous amount for simple tasks, all that mattered to him was that he was doing something .
“Unfortunately not right now, Anakin. I’ll let you know if I can think of anything though.” Obi-Wan said with a placating smile.
Anakin visibly deflated at the words, Obi-Wan would laugh at the sight if he didn’t feel incredibly guilty.
“Thanks anyway.” He said with hunched shoulders. As he turned to leave, Obi-Wan caught himself stopping Anakin in his tracks.
“Wait!” He exclaimed. What was he doing? “I-I've thought of something you could do for me.”
Anakin turned around faster than he’d ever seen him move before, perking up instantly.
“My birth control pills are due for a refill soon. I was going to grab them myself, but perhaps you could do it for me while I finish this mountain of work?” Obi-Wan bit the bullet. It was a tad personal, he could admit, but he trusted Anakin and couldn’t bear to see him disappointed. Plus, Anakin could use some exposure to the idea of omega reproductive autonomy.
“Birth control? Don’t you mean heat suppressants?” Anakin asked with a tilt of his head.
Obi-Wan didn’t blame him for asking, it was a common assumption people made. While heat suppressants worked to completely stop conception and the onset of heats, birth control only stopped the former. Meaning omegas who were on birth control would still experience heats without the risk of getting pregnant. It wasn’t common, especially not for unmated omegas like Obi-Wan, so it was natural to assume that Obi-Wan would opt for heat suppressants. The idea of omegas prioritizing their sexual satisfaction without committing to having children was still somewhat taboo.
“No, Anakin. I meant birth control.”
“But then wouldn’t you be miserable? I mean, by experiencing heats without an alpha to help you through them? Are you not able to get heat suppressants for some reason?”
Obi-Wan didn’t know how to explain the fact that he did in fact have several alphas (Jango, Quinlan, and formerly Cody, to be specific) whom he trusted enough to share heats with when the time came. They were the select few alphas that respected his decision to not start a family and kept the experience completely no strings attached, none of the possessive alpha bullshit involved. While at the same time treating him like an omega in a complementary sense, not as an inferior being.
Just because Obi-Wan didn’t want kids or a mate, didn’t mean he didn’t absolutely adore the feeling of sharing a heat with an alpha, of being knotted and filled. The pleasure was incomparable and he would be doing himself a great disservice to deny such an experience that his body was gracious enough to gift him. Granted, despite not stopping heats altogether, his birth control did reduce them to around once a year or so, but that’s all he really needed to feel sated.
Obi-Wan cleared his throat. “You see, heats aren’t just for conception, Anakin. And when you have people you can trust…” He trailed off. He wasn’t sure why he felt embarrassed to talk about it. He wasn’t ashamed of his decision, he embraced it and was proud of it. But there was something about the way Anakin’s eyes narrowed and darkened as he processed Obi-Wan’s words that set him off kilter.
“So alphas aren’t good enough for you to mate with but you have no problem hanging off their knots like a slut?” Anakin growled.
Obi-Wan was stunned momentarily but quickly recovered. He wasn’t used to Anakin talking to him like that but he’s had his fair share of comments from people who’ve said the same thing as he just did. Anakin had a problem with Obi-Wan being unmated when he thought he was celibate, it must’ve been more jarring finding out that Obi-Wan was in fact sexually active despite being unmated. It wasn’t so easy for a young and impressionable alpha to have their worldview challenged so directly. Regardless, he wouldn’t allow Anakin to talk to him in such a way without pushback.
“Anakin, I understand you have your own beliefs, and I respect that,” Obi-Wan started with a firm voice. “But you have to understand not everybody is going to abide by them. If you’re not comfortable picking up my birth control, then I shall do it myself. I do not need your help if you are unwilling to give it.”
This seemed to sober Anakin up a bit, who flinched back slightly at the tone of Obi-Wan’s voice. He had never spoken to Anakin the way he did to his subordinates, and for good reason. Anakin was his... friend, for lack of a better term. He didn’t want to speak to Anakin in the manner that had interns and seasoned employees alike trembling with fear. Not even when he made passive remarks about his unmated status and what omegas should or shouldn’t be doing. Being called a slut, however, was crossing the line of mutual respect he didn’t want to be crossed.
Anakin took a moment to recover, shaking his head in the way he did to clear his thoughts. His hair fell into his face the same way it always did and Obi-Wan got the urge to brush it to the side. He must’ve known Obi-Wan meant business, in addition to remembering why he was there in the first place: money. He might've had firm (outdated) beliefs but he still wanted money and Obi-Wan was a generous benefactor.
“No! I’ll do it, I’m sorry.” Anakin apologized frantically. Obi-Wan wasn’t upset, but if he had been, he was certain he no longer would’ve been at the sight of Anakin. What can he say? He had a soft spot for the boy.
Obi-Wan let out an exasperated sigh and rubbed at his temples. “Alright, just head to the pharmacy and tell them you’re picking up for Obi-Wan Kenobi. I’ll call ahead and let them know.”
Anakin headed out with an affirmative ‘got it’ before grabbing Obi-Wan’s keys without asking, accustomed to Obi-Wan letting him borrow his car when running errands for him. It just sat there most times, since Obi-Wan hardly went out, might as well have someone get some use out of it.
Obi-Wan continued to work for another hour before he began to vaguely wonder about Anakin’s whereabouts. The pharmacy wasn’t located that far from their neighborhood, it shouldn’t take him so long to pick up a prescription and come right back. Did something happen to him? Did he get into an accident on the way there? Were they giving him a hard time at the counter? Another half an hour passed and Obi-Wan was sick with worry when Anakin came waltzing through the door as if nothing was amiss, with Obi-Wan’s tote bag in hand.
“Hey,” Anakin said with an upturned nod of the head. He reached into the tote bag and pulled out the familiar package of Obi-Wan’s birth control, pointing it in Obi-Wan’s direction. Before he could grab it, Anakin snatched it back and held it tauntingly out of his reach.
“What is the meaning of this?” Obi-Wan sputtered.
Anakin simply gave him his trademark cocky smirk, holding the pills above his head with the other hand in his pocket.
“Tell me I did a good job and they’re yours.”
“Anakin, cease this at once!” Obi-Wan demanded indignantly.
“C’mon Obi-Wan, don’t be such a spoilsport,” Anakin whined. “I did a good job, didn’t I?” Anakin said with a flutter of his long lashes.
Obi-Wan couldn’t believe the gall, asking to be praised so directly like a child after running his first errand. He shouldn’t find it so charming, he really shouldn’t. If only Obi-Wan could reach out and grab it from his grasp, but he most likely wouldn’t even manage to reach it with a stepping stool if Anakin tried hard enough. And one thing Obi-Wan knew about Anakin, is that he would try hard enough. He wouldn’t relent until Obi-Wan admitted defeat.
“Thank you for your hard work. You did a good job, Anakin.” Obi-Wan said with complete sincerity. Despite Anakin’s actions, he did truly appreciate the help.
Anakin’s cocky grin gave way to a wide smile, his entire face radiated happiness. He let out a full-bellied laugh, not the kind Obi-Wan heard time and time again, but one of pure, unbridled joy. Perhaps it was worth it to indulge him just for the chance to hear his melodic laughter. He eventually brought his hand down and handed the packet of pills to Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan grabbed the packet and upon further inspection realized they looked ever so slightly different than his usual pills, which he took so religiously that the image of them was burned into his retinas. The size and shape were uncannily similar, but the markings were vaguely different and the color was slightly off-hue. His confusion must’ve been apparent on his face because Anakin immediately offered an explanation.
“The local pharmacy had your pills out of stock and they sent me across town to pick up a generic brand instead since they also didn’t have that one in stock. Apparently, there’s some sort of, uh, manufacturing issue… or something? I don’t know, I didn’t really catch what they were saying.” Anakin finished in an exasperated tone with a wave of his hand.
“I see, I’m sorry you had to deal with that. Thank you again for your efforts.” Obi-Wan said as he handed Anakin a wad of bills, readily accepting his explanation. It sounded reasonable enough and truthfully he was just relieved that Anakin was safe after all. It was convenient that Anakin had been the one to pick them up for him, freeing Obi-Wan from such an irritating experience. Anakin proceeded to stare at him with an indecipherable expression, causing Obi-Wan to squirm in place.
“Is something the matter? Did you want more money for the trouble?” Obi-Wan asked as he reached for his wallet once more, mostly to keep his hands busy.
“N-No, I just wanted to thank you for being patient with me, and for trusting me with this. I’m really sorry for earlier.”
Obi-Wan brushed it off and told him it was nothing as long as he didn’t say it again. He could tell Anakin still had something on his mind as he hesitated to leave despite being finished.
“I was wondering if you could tell me more about… it. So I can better understand it and stuff.” Anakin said, scratching the back of his neck in embarrassment. Before Obi-Wan could respond, Anakin continued without restraint.
“Do you only get together for your heats or is it like a booty call? How often do you get heats? When is your next one so I can, uh, avoid disturbing you?” He spouted off inquisitively, with no regard for propriety.
Obi-Wan blinked slowly at him. You can’t just ask someone these things, but he was showing effort in trying to understand Obi-Wan, which was a step in the right direction. If Obi-Wan shut him out now, when he was making an active effort to learn, he might never grow past his regressive mentality. Obi-Wan’s momentarily bruised dignity was just a small price to pay for progress.
“Let’s avoid asking omegas questions like that in the future, shall we?” Obi-Wan insisted but continued nevertheless. “If you must know, it only happens once a year. This applies to both my heats and my… trysts. My next heat isn’t due for three months, but I can give you a warning beforehand if you’d like.” There, that wasn’t so bad. Open and honest communication was healthy!
Anakin’s nostrils flared and his face had that same indecipherable expression from before. He took several small steps forward until his hulking frame was crowded into Obi-Wan’s personal space. Obi-Wan’s breath hitched, involuntarily taking in a lungful of Anakin’s rich scent.
Obi-Wan didn’t react, he had no reason to. This was just the way Anakin was: overly tactile and pushy, he didn’t mean anything by it. At times it felt as though he saw Obi-Wan’s body as an extension of his own, giving no regard for the lack of space between them.
Anakin gently wrapped him up in a hug, pressing Obi-Wan’s face into his chest. He could smell Anakin’s cedar scent more than before in this position, mixed with the smell of fading deodorant and sweat after a long day. Obi-Wan felt his traitorous body begin to react once more, but allowed himself to be enveloped in a rare display of outright affection from Anakin. He allowed himself to indulge in the sweetness before pulling away, a reluctant Anakin following suit.
“Thank you again, Obi-Wan. I know I can be abrasive at times but I just worry that you’ll get lonely without an alpha.”
“You mustn't worry about such things, Anakin. I promise I’m not lonely.” Obi-Wan assured him. “How could I be lonely when I have you?”
Anakin straightened at his response, looking straight into Obi-Wan's eyes with his patented intense gaze. “You’re right. I promise, you will never be without me.”
Obi-Wan gave him a tired smile. Anakin may not have the best way with words, but Obi-Wan understood his sentiment. If only it were true, though, but he knew better. One day Anakin would find a lovely omega to start a family with, and he would be too busy to pay any mind to his old friend like he did then.
Obi-Wan didn’t mind though, he wanted Anakin to have the sort of life he idealized. Perhaps he could even bring his wife and kids over when he came to visit his mom. That was all Obi-Wan needed, for Anakin to remember him. He snapped himself out of thought before he got too sidetracked, which had become somewhat of a habit, and walked Anakin to the door.
They said their goodbyes and Obi-Wan watched as Anakin jogged back to his own house, his figure barely discernible against the fading sunset. Obi-Wan was satisfied with how things went that day, happy that he was able to make a positive impact on the young alpha next door, despite what the ache in his chest might have to say.