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There were few things in life that Cody would rather not be doing than what he was currently doing.
Wrestling a Mama Nexu naked in the mud.
Singing a lullaby to a raging rancor.
Giving a Hutt a deep tissue massage.
So yes, this was far down the list of things he wanted to do. And yes, there were a few things he wanted to do even less. But that didn’t mean he had to like it or enjoy it.
You see, one of the Crown Princes of Stewjon, someone named Obi-Wan Kenobi, was an unmated omega. Nearly twenty-five years old. According to the empire to which Stewjon belonged, this was practically ancient. Most omegas got married off when they turned eighteen. Some as young as sixteen. A wholly disgusting practice in Cody’s opinion, but hey. That’s why he liked Mandalore’s empire the best.
Somehow, Kenobi had managed to avoid marriage until he was twenty-four, almost twenty-five years old.
From what Fox had been able to gather, Emporer Palpatine had had enough. Kenobi was from a well-respected and high-ranking family, the patriarch of which was Palpatine’s right-hand man. It was unbecoming of an omega of his stature to be running around like some savage, unmarried, and unpupped. It reflected poorly on the empire. So, a good, old-fashioned wedding tournament was called and Kenobi was dragged back to Coursant kicking and screaming so he could be married off.
Make no mistake, Cody felt for the poor bastard. He did. Mandalore didn’t have such limiting opinions on where an omega’s place was. Several of Mandalore’s leaders had been unmated omegas after all. If Kenobi didn’t want to be married, then he shouldn't be forced to because Palpatine thought it was scandalous otherwise.
But just because he felt for the poor bastard didn’t mean he wanted to be fighting in a wedding tournament so he could be chained to him. When Cody thought about his future mate, the last thing he wanted was some spoiled Stewjoni prince who probably spent the better part of his youth partying and spending more money in a day than some people would ever see in their lifetime. But, he didn’t have a choice.
As one of Jango Fett’s only unmated alphas of marrying age, he received the invitation personally. To refuse would be tantamount to declaring war on the Empire. So, he strapped on his armor, ignored the teasing of his brothers, cousins, and uncles, and headed to Serreno where the tournament would be held.
He planned it all out with Rex. He’d win every battle up until the mid-rounds and then be defeated by a hair’s margin. That way, it looked like he put in the effort, but he also wouldn’t be forced to marry someone who probably made all sorts of demands of the palace staff without ever even learning their names. Jango wouldn’t be happy that he would only make it halfway. He was more interested in showing off Mandalore’s might than marriage. But Cody didn’t care. He was not going to risk getting tied down all so that he could show off how good of a fighter he was.
Of course, no plan ever survives first contact with the enemy.
He had been ushered into a common area with the other alphas where they would hang out in between fights. Of course, the talk turned to sex and omegas and whatnot. That was to be expected.
But, by the Force these people were awful. The way they spoke about omegas was horrifying. They didn’t see them as people. At best, they saw them as unruly children that needed to be punished for the most minor of ‘indiscretions’. And he used that term loosely because not having dinner on the table the second one came home was not, in his opinion, an indiscretion. At worst, and this seemed to be the prevailing attitude amongst those in attendance at this tournament, they saw omegas as slaves. There to be fucked, bred, and worked in whatever way the alpha in question wanted them.
If Cody hadn’t been here precisely to stop the other lands from thinking Mandalore was gearing up to declare war, he would have shot all these cowardly bastards. There was no way Kenobi would be well-treated by any of these alphas. They weren’t there for a husband, they were there for a sex slave.
Cody made it about halfway through Bruck Chun talking about how he’d make sure Kenobi wouldn’t be able to walk after tonight before claiming he needed some air and storming off.
Only one thought followed him. “ Goddammit. I’m going to have to marry the bastard, aren’t I?”
Because no matter how spoiled Kenobi was, no one deserved to be treated so inhumanely. No one deserved to be treated like an object.
At least he was pretty. Cody had seen pictures of him in preparation for the tournament. Auburn hair, blue eyes, freckles across his cheeks. He looked… how to put this nicely? Delicate. Like an omega who had never had to lift a finger. Cody didn’t like delicate. He liked people who could keep up with him and his brothers. But damn, just because he didn’t like delicate didn’t mean Kenobi needed to be broken by an alpha who didn’t understand that no meant no.
His feet carried him to the armory.
He kicked the door open, not knowing what he planned on doing.
What he hadn’t planned on was another person was in there.
The person yelped and quickly shoved some sort of helmet over his head.
“Shit, sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you,” Cody said.
“No…” the man cleared his throat. “No problem. I didn’t expect anyone.”
Cody went to sniff the air, only to remember that everyone was on pheromone blockers to keep their scents from riling each other up. He hated that. Hated not being able to smell other alphas, betas, or omegas. It was like cutting off one of his senses. That’s probably why the man was startled in the first place. He hadn’t been able to smell Cody.
“Yeah, well, the other alphas are assholes and I needed to leave before I started the fight early.” Cody leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. He practiced the breathing techniques Koon had taught him when his anger started to get the best of him.
“That bad?” the man’s voice came out a little shaky.
Cody looked at him. He was completely covered, head to toe in some sort of traditional-looking armor. He couldn’t see a stitch of the man’s skin. It was eerily similar to how Death Watch presented themselves. Only, this wasn’t Mandalorian armor, which made him relax a bit. There were plenty of cultures around the world that covered themselves.
The man himself looked to be about Cody’s height, though he was slimmer. The muscles on his body seemed to be more compact. Perhaps he, like Cody, had been forced here for some bullshit political reason and he was afraid the other alphas would tear him to shreds.
“I’m sure the refs will step in if it starts getting too bloody. That’s what they’re there for, after all.”
“No, I,” the man cleared his throat again. It almost sounded as if he was trying to change his voice. “The way they’re thinking about treating the omega. That bad?”
“The worst. I didn’t even know people thought like that. I mean, I knew it happened, but to see it in person. It’s just… It’s horrifying. How people can think that way. I mean, this is a person they’re talking about but they don’t seem to get it. Or they don’t want to get it.”
The man’s shoulders slumped a bit. “I see.” His voice was tight. “And you don’t see the omega the same way?”
Cody shook his head. “Mandalore treats all equally. There are distinctions, of course, since there are differences between alphas, betas, and omegas. But we’re not going to keep one from office or school just because they can give birth, you know.”
“Must be nice,” the man sighed. “Terribly sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”
Cody snorted. “I didn’t give it to you.”
He ducked his head. “Ah, yes. You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
“Nah, it’s fine. Cody Fett. Jango Fett’s third oldest son.” He stuck out his hand.
The man shook it hesitantly. “A Fett. That’s impressive.”
“You’d think so, huh? What’s your name.”
“Hmm? Ah, um, Quinlan,” he cleared his throat again. “Quinlan Vos?”
Cody couldn’t help but laugh.
“What’s so funny?” The man crossed his arms to glare at him.
“You sound so uncertain. Do you not know your own name.”
“I do! It’s just… I’m nervous. Alright. A lot is riding on this day and if I fuck up—" He stopped abruptly and shook his head. “Sorry, you don’t want to know about all that.”
“Well, you don’t have to worry about competition from me.”
“Oh, I highly doubt that. I’ve seen Fett’s sons in action—”
This piqued his interest. He was trying to think of when the last time he and his brothers had been ‘in action’ so to speak. Unless the man saw one of their fights or training regimes that had been posted to the holonet.
“You will probably win the day.”
“Nope,” Cody said.
“No?”
He couldn’t explain why, but there was something about this man that made him want to trust him. It made him want to spill his secret plan. It was probably stupid and Rex would absolutely kill him for it, but he spoke anyway.
“I don’t want to marry him. So I’m planning on ‘losing’ halfway through. If I get to fight you, I’ll lose to you though.”
Again, he couldn’t explain it, but he trusted that this man would not be cruel to Kenobi. It may not be what Kenobi wanted, but it was certainly better than whatever Hemlock had planned for him.
“Really? Then why are you here?”
Cody shrugged. “Political reasons. Why else? Are you planning on winning?”
Vos nodded. “I have to.”
“I’m sure your people won’t be mad if you lose. Someone’s got to lose,” Cody said, hoping to ease the man’s worries.
“No, you don’t understand. I…” he sighed. “I shouldn’t be telling you this, but I trust you. I can’t explain it, but I trust you. Obi-Wan—”
It was the first time anyone had referred to Kenobi by his first name. That alone was enough to shock Cody into silence.
“Obi-Wan does not want to get married.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“No, you—you don’t understand. This is a punishment from Palpatine.”
Okay, more news that Cody wasn’t aware of. He wondered where this was going.
Vos slumped against the wall. “Obi-Wan was able to put off marriage because Dooku, his grandfather, was slightly more liberal in allowing continued education. It would be beneficial for a high-ranking omega married to a high-ranking alpha to know about cultures and languages and politics and negotiations and such. And that worked, but Obi-Wan got involved with Bail Organa.”
The name was familiar to Cody. “Bail Organa. He’s the king of Alderaan, right?”
“The queen is the technical ruler, Organa takes care of the on-the-ground work, so to speak. Anyway, Obi-Wan got involved with his relief work. Particularly his relief work involving Christophsis.”
Cody’s gut clenched. Christophsis was an independent system outside of the Empire’s control. However, Palpatine had ‘found’ some evidence to suspect they were colluding with the Empire’s enemies and harboring terrorists. So, he ordered a military invasion. Some people suspected that no evidence existed and Palpatine simply wanted control of a resource-rich system. The war was brutal. Cities were leveled. Hundreds of millions of civilians were left without food, water, or shelter. Millions of people died. Palpatine was condemned by nearly every system there was and eventually pulled back the military, but still left Christophsis bloody, battered, and destroyed.
That’s why Bail Organa’s name was so familiar. Alderaan was one of the systems under Empire control but he and Queen Breha had been very vocal from the beginning about their lack of support for the war, and later condemned Palpatine for how he had left the system in ruins.
“He couldn’t punish Bail or Breha,” Vos continued. “They’re too powerful and Alderaan can stand up against the empire if he tries anything. Not only that, but they’re well-liked and would have no problem raising an army from other systems if need be.”
Cody nodded. “So he went after someone else. Someone he could punish without looking like a tyrant.”
“Precisely.”
Cody rubbed a hand on the back of his neck. Now he felt like an ass for thinking of Kenobi as some spoiled prince wasting his days away at lavish parties. It sounded like he was trying to help rebuild Christophsis. Whether that be on the ground or in meetings with politicians trying to raise support or funds. It was admirable work. And further proof that the alphas back in the common area did not deserve him.
“So where do you come into play?”
Vos flinched. “Well, we came up with a plan. I would win the tournament and then give him his freedom.”
“You don’t want to actually marry him?”
He laughed. “Goodness, no. But we don’t have any other choice. If I don’t win, he’ll be forced from his relief work and bred within a fortnight.” He glanced at Cody. “Though, I suppose you wouldn’t be the worst outcome either. You seem kind.”
That was true. If Kenobi had asked to continue his relief work, Cody would have allowed it. But that was the problem, he would never be truly free with Cody. He’d likely always ask for permission, trying to find where his new husband stood on issues regarding his freedom. He was sure that in time, Kenobi might feel free, but there was also a possibility that he would never be fully comfortable around Cody.
It sounded like he and Vos knew each other much better and had already come up with a plan and an agreement as to how their relationship was going to work.
“Tell you what,” Cody said, slapping Vos on the back. “I’ll make it to the final round. You make it to the final round. Then, when we fight each other, I’ll let you win by just a hair so it looks legit.”
Vos was stunned into silence for a beat. Then he laughed. “What makes you think you need to ‘let’ me win?”
Cody rolled his eyes. “Fine. I won’t let you win unless I have to. But that’s the deal. I’ll help you win this tournament. Then you, me, Kenobi, and Rex, my little brother, we’ll all go out to drinks afterward. Kenobi will celebrate his freedom. You’ll celebrate your win. I’ll celebrate getting to smash some assholes’ faces in, and Rex will be our designated driver.”
Vos looked at him and then stuck out his hand. “Alright. I’ll take your terms and agree to them.”
Cody shook his hand. “I look forward to fighting you one on one.”
----
He didn’t get much of a chance to talk to Vos after that as the tournament had started.
Way up in the stands, he could see Palpatine sitting next to who he presumed was Obi-Wan Kenobi. At least, he assumed it was given that the omega in question was decked out in traditional Stewjoni omega garb, which of course meant he was covered completely with ornately beaded scarves. What caught his attention, though, was the fact that the scarves themselves were the orange-gold color that Cody painted his armor with. He didn’t know if Stewjon put as much emphasis on the colors as Mandalore did, but a part of himself wondered if it was fate.
Maybe after he had been properly introduced to Kenobi, he’d offer up some of his younger brothers to help with his relief work. He had been trying to steer Mandalore away from their past as warmongers and violence lovers. What better way than to help war-torn systems rebuild themselves?
Cody’s first fight was against an alpha named Rush Clovis.
He took one look at the man’s shiny, ornate armor and decided this guy had never fought a day in his life. It was all for show. For ceremony. There was nothing he hated more than people wearing armor and weapons they hadn’t earned and didn’t know how to use.
His assumption proved correct. Cody didn’t even have to pull out a weapon. He simply punched Clovis in the face and the man went down like a ton of bricks. Pathetic.
He managed to catch Vos’ first fight as well. He was going up against Bruck Chun.
He worried, that Vos wouldn’t have the training necessary to defeat Chun. He seemed so nervous in the armory and the added pressure of knowing his friend was counting on him to win could be overwhelming. He needed to win, though. Their whole plan hinged on him getting to the finals.
Just as Cody was about to send a message to Rex asking if there was any way he could cheat his way to the finals, Vos attacked Chun.
There was such a fury behind it that he had to assume something personal had happened between these two.
The fight was breathtaking to watch, though.
Vos knew how to move his body around his opponent, almost dancing in a way. His slight form allowed him greater agility and speed than the bulk most alphas had. Cody couldn’t help but watch, transfixed as Vos played Chun like a fiddle. Effortlessly gliding and spinning around him with moves that even Cody wasn’t sure he’d be able to replicate.
“I have got to fight that man one one-on-one,” he breathed, leaning forward against the barrier to get a closer look.
In the end, Vos managed to win. Cody got the feeling that he could have finished the fight a lot sooner but was purposefully dragging it out. Maybe to humiliate Chun. Maybe to make his opponents see exactly what they were getting with him.
Cody wanted to catch up to him and congratulate him on the win, but Vos disappeared quickly after the fight was called and Chun was carted off to medical.
Cody’s next opponent was Hemlock. Unlike Clovis, Hemlock had some training that made him a bit more of a challenge. But not enough for Cody. He made sure to make Hemlock hurt for the things he had said about Kenobi. He doubted the man would put two and two together, but it made him feel better knowing that someone else was looking out for Kenobi, and every Omega that had the displeasure of coming across this man.
Vos’s next fight was against Asajj Ventress. This fight seemed to be more evenly matched than the one against Chun had been. Both were flexible, fluid, and agile in their movements. Cody was on the edge of his seat the entire fight; holding his breath as he tracked every hit to Vos’s body. Biting his lip as he worried the man had met his match and would lose.
He didn’t.
He barely eeked out a win, but he did win.
Cody breathed a sigh of relief.
Cody’s next fight was against Pre Vizsla.
“What are you doing here?” he growled.
Vizsla smirked and put on his helmet. “I got an invitation, same as you. I know you don’t want to marry the boy. How about you surrender now and I’ll let you off easy?”
“Funny, I could tell you the same thing,” Cody said.
The bell rang. He charged at Vizsla. The man and his clan had been a thorn in their sides since Jaster’s reign as Mandalore. He had incited violence. Spread propaganda that split their people. And had tried to kill Cody’s brothers on more than one occasion, often using his Death Watch goons to carry out the assassinations. Wolffe lost his eye because of this bastard.
So, yeah, he may have got a bit overboard on the violence for this round. But it was personal. He wanted to make Vizsla pay for everything he had put their family and their people through. He was a tough opponent, but Cody won in the end. Standing victorious over his broken, beaten, bloody body.
As he looked to the stands of cheering spectators who were more interested in the blood than they were in who was going to marry Kenobi, he spotted Vos, standing where Cody had stood while he was fighting. He tilted his head to the side, a silent acknowledgment of his work.
Cody couldn’t help the heat that crept up over his neck. The thought that Vos was watching him made his stomach and heart flutter.
He wasn’t sure why he felt the need to impress Vos so much, but it was there. Maybe it was the kindness he spoke about Kenobi. Maybe it was his conviction. Maybe it was because he, like Cody, was willing to forgo any future chances of mating just to keep an omega in need safe. It was hard to tell. But he hoped after this tournament was over, they’d have more of a chance to talk.
The rest of the tournament went the same way. Vos would beat an opponent. Cody would beat an opponent. Sometimes he had to work a little harder. Sometimes it was so easy he wondered how on earth his opponent had made it past the first round.
He caught Vos’s fights whenever possible. And he saw Vos in the crowd watching his fight as well.
Still, they didn’t have much of a chance to talk as the day wore on.
Then, just like that, it was the final fight of the day. Cody versus Vos.
“I thought you were going to lose mid-way,” Rex hissed as he helped Cody get ready for the final fight.
“Change of plans,” Cody said.
“Change of… What do you mean by change of plans?” Rex said.
“Don’t worry, Rex’ika. I’m not going to win. I just had to make sure I was in the final so Vos would.”
“Vos? Who the hell is Vos?”
He pulled his brother into a Keldabe. “I’ll tell you all about it tonight after the fight. Okay?”
“Promise?” Rex grumbled.
“Promise.”
Cody was called to the ring one final time.
He looked up at where Kenobi and Palpatine were sitting.
Palpatine did not look particularly happy at who made it to the final round. Kenobi, though, looked intrigued. Well, about as intrigued as one could look with their entire face covered in beaded scarves.
“Don’t be distracted by them. We do want to put on a good show, darling,” Vos said, dragging Cody’s attention back to the ring.
Cody grinned and put on his helmet. The one thing he noticed was that as the fights went on, Vos became more self-assured. More confident. He even started flirting with his opponents. Which, of course, sent them into a rage because Alphas didn’t flirt with other alphas.
Cody had no such qualms about flirting. He had been attracted to all genders over the years. Alphas could be just as fun as omegas in bed.
“Oh don’t worry, you’re going to want me a little distracted if you have any hope to win, meshla.”
Vos laughed. “How do you know I’m beautiful if you’ve never seen my face.”
“Just a guess.”
“If you’re trying to distract me through flattery, it won’t work.”
“That remains to be seen.” Cody grinned and dropped into his fighting stance.
All day he had watched Vos fight. All day he had seen his body twist and move with such fluidity and grace, that it was like he wasn’t even trying. He had wanted to get his hands on him since that very first fight and now he was going to get his chance.
“Loser buys drinks?” Vos suggested.
“Now that’s just cruel since you know the outcome.”
“I don’t hear you denying, my dear.”
“Give me a good fight and I’ll buy you drinks, cyare.”
“Laying it on a bit thick, aren’t we?”
“Only as thick as you are.”
Vos didn’t get a chance to respond. The bell rang. It was time to fight.
The fight itself was exhilarating. More exhilarating than Cody thought possible. He knew it would be good. He had been studying Vos since the beginning. The man had power behind his moves. But getting to experience it up close was on a whole other level.
Vos moved so fast that sometimes Cody lost track of him. What’s more, he seemed to know how Cody was planning on moving before Cody himself knew. One thing was certain, he may not have to throw the fight. Vos was skilled, the most skilled Alpha he had gone up against all day. His lungs burned. His heart pounded. The roar of the crowd faded as his vision focused on Vos and only on Vos.
It was like a dance between them.
A beautiful dance that made his soul burn with the passion he hadn’t felt in a long time.
Vos landed a kick to his sternum and sent Cody flying across the ring.
Before Cody had even hit the ground, Vos wrapped his legs around his neck, twisted, and slammed him into the dirt. The force rattled Cody’s brain and teeth.
He tried to stand up and buck Vos off, but it was no use. He was not letting go. And the way he had wrapped himself around Cody’s neck made it impossible for Cody to stand up.
The ref counted ten seconds.
And it was over.
Vos had won.
“See I told you that you didn’t have to throw the fight,” Vos panted into his ear before standing up.
The crowd was going wild. The ref held up Vos’ hand and declared him the winner of the tournament.
Cody pushed himself back up to his feet and faced Palpatine.
The man’s smile was tight. He clearly did not want Vos to win. Beside him, Kenobi seemed to vibrate with excitement.
“Gentlemen, what a good fight,” he said. His voice boomed over the crowds as they quieted down. “Suitor Number 23, you fought admirably.”
The alphas were given numbers and not names for some reason. Cody was Suitor Number 23. He never asked what Vos’ number was.
Palpatine turned to Vos, smile still tight and hands gripping the banister so hard, he wondered if it would crack.
“Suitor Number 100,” Palpatine practically spat. Shit, Suitor Number 100 meant that Vos hadn’t been invited. Any number higher than 50 was a write-in candidate. And most of those guys had been eliminated in the first round. Sometimes, money buys power. No wonder Palpatine was so pissed. He hadn’t invited Vos at all, likely knowing about his friendship with Kenobi and the fact that it wouldn’t be as big of a punishment if he won. Cody hated Palpatine, so this was getting better and better.
“Suitor Number 100, you have officially won the tournament. Obi-Wan Kenobi is yours to do with as you wish.”
Vos reached up and ripped his helmet off. Cody’s breath caught in his lungs. He’d finally get to see what Vos looked like. He’d finally get to see if he looked as beautiful as his fighting.
The helmet came off.
Palpatine looked like he was having a stroke.
The crowd went completely silent.
Except for Cody.
He managed to get out one hushed, “Holy shit.”
Because standing next to him in the ring was not Quinlan Vos.
It was Obi-Wan Kenobi.
His first thought was “He looks way better in real life than he did in his pictures.” His second thought was “ That must have been an old picture because this man is not delicate in any way shape or form.”
The fake Kenobi next to Palpatine leaped to his feet and ripped off his scarves. “Fuck yeah! I knew you could do it, Obi!” The man was dark-skinned, with a tattoo across his nose that marked him as a kiffar.
Palpatine looked torn between anger and humiliation.
Dooku, who had joined the viewing about halfway through the tournament looked mildly impressed at his grandson’s antics.
“Thank you, Chancellor, for granting me my freedom,” Kenobi said in a strong clear voice.
“That’s… the results of the tournament are invalid!” Palpatine said. Seriously, someone gets medical up there because that old man’s heart wasn’t going to last much longer.
“You just validated the results. You cannot invalidate them after you have announced the winner,” Kenobi said.
“It’s against the rules for you to fight!” Palpatine screeched.
“Actually, it’s not,” Dooku said, sipping his tea. “There are no rules stating an omega cannot enter the tournament.”
“He didn’t just enter the tournament though, he entered it for his own hand in marriage. He cannot marry himself.”
Dooku sipped his tea again.
“Actually, the tournament is just who gets the omega. Yeah, it’s called a marriage tournament, but there’s no clause saying you have to marry the omega. That’s just what everyone does,” the fake-Kenobi said, draping his arm around Palpatine’s shoulders.
“He’s correct. The contract for this tournament merely stated that the winner would get Obi-Wan. It never said they had to be married,” Dooku said.
Palpatine turned even redder. “I… you…”
“Thank you, grandfather,” Kenobi said, his eyes burning with such intensity Cody was surprised Palpatine didn’t catch on fire. “Now then, chancellor, since I have won my freedom I will be returning to my duties as Alderaan’s relief coordinator and returning to Christophsis to continue my efforts. I have won my freedom. I belong to no one but myself. You will never drag me back here to be auctioned off like livestock again or so help me I will destroy everything you’ve built.” He growled the last part.
Cody shivered. Kenobi would make good on his threats, that much he knew. And Palpatine must have known it too as he went white, swallowed, and then sat back down.
“Get out of here,” he snarled.
Kenobi seemed to accept this, turned on his heels, and marched out of the ring as the audience stayed deathly silent.
Cody looked back at Palpatine, and then to Obi-Wan’s retreating back.
He bowed to the chancellor and then ran off after him.
“Kenobi, wait.”
Kenobi stopped and turned to glare at Cody. “I’m not interested.”
“No, I know that. But I did promise you and Vos a drink. I think you’ve more than earned it.”
Obi-Wan looked at him, suspicious clearly written across his face.
Cody took a knee in front of him, causing a soft gasp to be pulled from Kenobi’s lips.
“You have my word, I am not using this as a come-on. You impressed me, out there. I want to celebrate with you. As a fellow warrior.”
“Obi, you good?” the fake-Kenobi came around the corner, pulling off more scarves and dumping them unceremoniously on the floor.
“Yes, Quinlan.”
Ah, so this was Quinlan Vos. The real Quinlan Vos. Not at all Cody’s type. But… he might just be Fox’s type. No matter what his brother said, he liked them a little obnoxious.
“Cody here was just inviting us to drinks. He’s paying.”
Cody smiled and stood up. “And my younger brother is driving.”
Quinlan’s face broke into a smile. “Sounds like a plan. Let’s get out of here.” He draped an arm around Kenobi’s shoulders and led him towards the exit. “So that’s the hot alpha you’ve been trying to impress all day.”
“Quin!”
Cody’s face heated up once more. He called Rex to tell him where they were headed and then ran to catch up with them. If Kenobi thought he was hot and had been trying to impress him all day, maybe all hope wasn’t lost.
---
One Year Later
Cody stepped off the transport on Ryloth’s dusty surface. The planet had been hit with a famine that hadn’t shown any signs of letting up. Alderaan had sent Obi-Wan to help coordinate relief efforts until a more sustainable water source could be found.
“You didn’t have to come to greet me yourself,” Cody said as he spotted Obi-Wan stepping towards him.
He looked good. Better than good. He had grown a beard that complimented his features nicely. His skin and eyes seemed to glow with a sort of freedom that had been missing in all of his pictures. He seemed… happy.
They had kept in near constant contact since the tournament, messaging each other almost every day, unless Obi-Wan was out of range. They had even managed to meet up a few times as Cody worked to get Mandalore’s relief program off the ground. Obi-Wan was an immense help in directing him to resources and people to make it happen. They had developed a deep friendship over the past year, but there was always something else there. Something else simmering just beneath the surface. A heat that drove Cody wild sometimes with just how close Obi-Wan was, but also how far away. Neither of them acted on it. They both had duties to their people and the people they helped. Besides, with Obi-Wan running all over the galaxy trying to keep it from falling apart and Cody trying to keep Mandalore from falling apart, when would they have the time to develop the friendship into something more? Cody was content with friendship. Even if he never got to taste Obi-Wan’s lips or hear what sounds he made as he was overtaken by pleasure. He’d rather have Obi-Wan in his life as a friend than not at all.
“You didn’t have to come all this way to drop off some rations.”
He and Obi-Wan started walking towards the main camp. Cody trusted Rex to direct the people to where they needed to be.
“I want to make sure Mandalore’s efforts are actually helping, instead of hindering. We’ve never had such a robust relief program before.”
“Your efforts are helping, Cody. I don’t suffer fools, you know this.” His eyes softened and he laid a hand on his arm.
“Don’t I know it? If I was fucking everything up I’d get an itemized list of everything I did wrong. Still, it’s nice to see it in person.”
“Yes. And how’s Quin doing?”
“Oh, Fox hates him.”
“So I can expect a wedding shall be in our future then?”
Cody grinned at him. “Of course. I’m thinking three months from.”
“Goodness, so soon?”
“Well not everyone drags it the fuck out like you do!” Rex called from the ship.
Cody’s face flushed.
Obi-Wan’s cheeks turned pink.
“Ignore him,” Cody said, rubbing the back of his neck. “The problem with having brothers is that they like to embarrass you.”
He realized Obi-Wan’s hand hadn’t left his arm. His face got even hotter.
“You know, I’m about to finish up my post on Alderaan. I’ve been talking with Bail and Breha about possibly taking up that new position on Mandalore.”
“Really?”
Obi-Wan’s hand tightened just a fraction. “It would be nice to have someone to show me around.”
“Quinlan can show you around. I mean, he’s been there working with Fox on anti-corruption stuff for the better part of six months. He probably knows where all the best places are. And you two have known each other longer. You don’t need me to show you around”
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. “Cody Fett.”
“Yeah?”
“Kiss me and then say you’re going to show me around Mandalore.”
“I… um…”
“Kiss him, loser!” Rex shouted.
“Rex shut up! You’re ruining this.”
“You’re ruining it for yourself!”
Obi-Wan laughed and wrapped his arms around Cody’s neck. “Do you want to kiss me?” He seemed nervous, like when they had first met.
Cody’s hands came to wrap around his waist. “More than anything.”
He didn’t give Obi-Wan a chance to respond. He leaned forward and kissed him deeply. He tasted of dust, herbal tea, and crumbly ration bars that were often the primary food source on these sorts of missions. His scent, no longer blocked to keep alphas from going crazy during a fight, was warm and spicy. Cinnamon and cloves, mixed with fresh, sun-warmed soil just after a rain storm. He smelled divine. He felt divine, pressed up against Cody’s body until it was impossible to tell where one ended and the other began.
They pulled back, desperate for air.
“So is the post a guaranteed thing?” Cody asked.
Obi-Wan laughed breathlessly. “My dear, Bail’s been trying to get me there for ages.”
“Why now, then?”
“I wanted to make sure Palpatine wouldn’t try anything. But, it’s been a year. And I’m well-liked enough that if he does, it won’t go well.”
Cody kissed him again. This time much more chaste. Just a quick press of the lips.
“If he tried anything, I have faith that you’ll ruin him.”
Obi-Wan laughed. “Thank you. Now, come along, we have a job to do. We’ll have plenty of time for fun on Mandalore.”
He took Cody’s hand and led him through the camp, pointing out various things that needed to be done.
Cody squeezed his hand and had never been so happy to have lost a tournament in his life.