synopsis: after a long, exhausting match, tsukishima finally says what he’s been avoiding for far too long. but what comes after the confession isn’t confidence—it’s uncertainty. because liking you was one thing… but actually having you hear it, stay, and mean it back is something he doesn’t know how to handle. and for someone who always has answers, not knowing what comes next might be the scariest part of all.
you can feel it now, but it didn’t start like this. It never does. it started in pieces you didn’t think mattered at the time. like him noticing when you were missing from practice before anyone else did. like the way he’d look at you first when something went wrong, not because he blamed you, but because he was trying to understand your reaction before anyone else could.
like the way tsukishima kei, of all people, started lingering. not in obvious ways. never obvious. just small things that built up over time until you couldn’t ignore them anymore. like standing closer than necessary during drills. like correcting your form twice even though once was enough. like the way his eyes would track you when you moved out of his line of sight, like it bothered him more than it should’ve.
and you—
you were always there.
waiting after matches.
waiting after practice.
waiting like it was the most natural thing in the world.
you never made it a question.
never made him feel like he had to earn it.
and maybe that’s what made it dangerous.
because tsukishima kei understands effort.
he understands distance. he understands keeping people exactly where he wants them. but he doesn’t understand someone who stays without asking for anything in return. tonight feels heavier than usual. maybe it’s the exhaustion. maybe it’s the way the gym finally emptied out completely and left only the two of you sitting in the leftover quiet. maybe it’s the fact that neither of you has moved in too long. he sits beside you like he always does, but something about him is off. less sharp. less contained like the edges he usually keeps perfectly in place are slipping just slightly. you notice it in the way his fingers keep tapping against his knee before stopping. in the way he exhales slower than normal.
in the way he looks at you and then immediately looks away like it costs him something to hold it too long.
“you’re quiet,” you say gently.
he scoffs softly. “you’re loud enough for both of us.”
that makes you smile faintly, but it doesn’t last. because there’s something sitting between you both that neither of you is naming. and it’s getting harder to pretend it isn’t there.
“…you always wait,” he says suddenly.
“why.”
it’s not sharp.
not dismissive.
just… genuinely asked.
and that alone makes your chest tighten slightly.
“because i want to,” you say after a second.
he doesn’t like that answer.
you can tell.
not because he says it—but because he looks at you like he’s trying to find the part of that sentence that makes sense in his head.
“…that’s stupid,” he mutters finally.
you laugh quietly. “you say that like you understand people.”
that earns a small huff from him, but it fades quickly.
silence returns.
but it’s not the same silence as before.
this one feels tighter.
closer.
like it’s pressing in on both of you.
you shift slightly, knees almost brushing his now without meaning to.
he notices immediately.
he always does.
but he doesn’t move away.
that’s the part that’s starting to feel like a problem.
“…you’re doing it again,” he says.
“doing what?”
“getting closer.”
you shrug lightly. “there’s space.”
“there doesn’t need to be.”
that makes you look at him properly.
and for a second, he doesn’t look away first.
which is new.
too new.
“…you’re weird today,” you say softly.
“i’m tired,” he replies, but it doesn’t land the way it usually does.
because now you know what he looks like when he’s just tired.
and this isn’t that.
this is something else.
something unraveling slowly.
you swallow slightly. “kei…”
his eyes flick to you immediately at that.
always at that.
your voice drops. “what are we doing?”
that question hangs there longer than anything else tonight.
he doesn’t answer right away.
because he can’t.
because whatever answer exists doesn’t fit neatly into anything he’s used to saying out loud.
his jaw tightens slightly, then relaxes.
“…you’re going to be the end of me,” he mutters finally.
you blink. “that sounds dramatic even for you.”
“don’t joke.”
your expression softens slightly at that tone. “…kei?”
that does it.
something in him shifts—clean, final, like a decision made too late to undo.
he exhales sharply through his nose, like he’s been holding it in for too long.
and then—
“i like you.”
not casually. not like a passing thought. not like something softened or shaped to be easier to hear. just blunt. direct. tsukishima kei in the most honest way he’s ever been—because there’s no angle to hide behind, no sarcasm to soften it, no way to make it less real. just him, looking at you like he’s already accepted whatever happens next.
“…i don’t know when it started,” he continues, voice lower now, “but it’s been there for a while.”
a pause.
he clicks his tongue once, like he hates how exposed that sounds.
“…and you make it worse by always staying.”
that’s it.
no perfect timing. no dramatic build. just truth, finally spoken out loud after too long of holding it in.
and then everything goes quiet.
not empty.
not comfortable.
just… suspended.
tsukishima looks away first.
which almost never happens.
his hand drops slightly, fingers flexing like he doesn’t know what to do with them now that he’s said it.
“…forget it,” he mutters immediately, like he can still take it back if he says it fast enough.
you don’t move.
you can’t.
because your brain is still catching up.
“…you can’t just say that and undo it,” you say quietly.
he scoffs. “watch me.”
“no.”
that makes him look at you again.
really look.
and there it is—
that rare thing where tsukishima kei doesn’t have control of the situation.
you step slightly closer.
he doesn’t stop you.
“…kei,” you say again, softer.
he exhales, longer this time.
“…this is exactly why i didn’t say anything,” he mutters.
“because i stay?”
“because you don’t leave,” he corrects, quieter. “and i can’t tell if that means something or if you just—”
he stops himself.
you tilt your head slightly. “just what?”
he hesitates.
then, barely audible:
“…kind.”
that word hits harder than anything else tonight.
because it’s not an insult.
it’s not sarcasm.
it’s confusion.
you realize then that this isn’t about whether he likes you.
it’s about whether he thinks he’s allowed to.
you step closer again.
he watches it happen.
“…you didn’t have to hold it in,” you say gently.
“yeah,” he replies immediately. “i did.”
you shake your head slightly. “you didn’t.”
that makes him look at you again—fully now.
like he’s finally stopped pretending he doesn’t see you.
“…what now,” he asks quietly.
and for once—
he sounds unsure.
you exhale softly.
“…i don’t know,” you admit.
a pause.
then, a little softer:
“…we figure it out?”
that earns the smallest shift in his expression.
not relief.
not rejection.
something in between.
“…that’s vague,” he says.
you smile faintly. “you’re vague.”
that gets the smallest exhale from him that almost, almost sounds like a laugh.
GAR Standard Operating Procedure 248(a): What to do with a Concussed Jedi
Relationship: Obi-Wan x Cody
Rating: General Audiences
Prompts: Crash landing, Cody, "You're so beautiful" | "And you're so concussed", Almost confessing
Tags: Non-detailed depiction of head injury, Fluff, Humour, Idiots in love, Mutual pining
Word Count: 1.3k
To read this fic on AO3, click here
@gar-romance-month
The gunship went down like a stone.
Cody had been in worse crashes, statistically speaking, but none of them had involved Obi-Wan Kenobi being thrown violently into the bulkhead with a noise that would haunt his nightmares.
The ship became a kaleidoscope of alarms, flashing red lights, and centrifugal force. Something exploded – possibly an engine, possibly Cody’s hopes for a calm reconnaissance mission – and the gunship clipped a rock and went into a spin, skidding along the ochre cliffs of Ryloth before finally, mercifully, slamming into the ground in a cloud of dust and twisted metal.
Cody groaned, helmet knocking against the seat restraints that had kept him in place.
“General?” he croaked.
Obi-Wan was slumped against the console, his auburn hair coated in dust, blood trickling down his temple. Cody unstrapped so fast his harness snapped back and bruised his shoulder. He stumbled forward, boots slipping in spilled coolant.
“General. Obi-Wan. Sir?”
A soft groan. Blue eyes fluttered open, unfocused.
“I’m here,” Obi-Wan said, cheerfully unhelpful. “Wherever here is.”
“That’s not reassuring, sir,” Cody muttered, scrambling over. He braced one hand on the wall and gently tilted Obi-Wan’s chin up, scanning his pupils.
“Oh good,” Obi-Wan murmured. “There seems to be two of you, Commander. That’s… promising.”
Cody swore and exhaled sharply through his nose. “You’ve hit your head pretty hard, sir.”
“I gathered,” Obi-Wan said. “The ship appears to have attempted to murder us.”
The smell of smoke grew stronger, and Cody’s HUD finally caught up, lighting up with imminent explosion warnings. He didn’t hesitate.
“Okay. We’re leaving. Can you stand?”
Obi-Wan considered this with the seriousness of a man asked to solve a philosophical riddle. “I believe… the floor is moving.”
“That’s the concussion talking.”
“I don’t have a concussion,” Obi-Wan said primly, and then tried to stand, missed the concept of gravity entirely, and collapsed into Cody’s arms. Cody caught him automatically, arms wrapping around familiar robes and warm, solid weight. He ignored the way his heart did something stupid and focused.
“…of course, General,” Cody said. “No concussion at all.”
The gunship groaned ominously, and Cody didn’t wait for it to make up its mind. He hauled Obi-Wan’s arm over his shoulders and dragged them both toward the rear hatch.
Each step was a battle. Obi-Wan was dead weight except for the occasional unhelpful attempt to walk in any direction except forwards.
“You’re stepping on my foot,” Obi-Wan informed him.
“I believe that’s your foot, sir.” Cody replied.
“I thought so. Just checking.”
Cody slung Obi-Wan’s arm over his shoulder and half-dragged, half-carried him out of the smoking wreck just as something inside exploded with a final, offended roar.
They only got a few hundred meters away before Obi-Wan’s legs gave out entirely. Cody swore, scanned the area, and hauled him behind a rocky outcrop that provided minimal cover and slightly more shade. Ryloth’s sun was brutal even this late in the day, baking the sand until the heat radiated up into Cody’s boots.
Obi-Wan immediately lay back and stared up at the sky like it had personally offended him.
“Well,” he said. “That could have gone better.”
Cody pressed a hand to Obi-Wan’s shoulder, grounding himself as much as the general. He tapped his comm. Static. Nothing but static.
“Great,” he muttered. “We’re stranded. The men should come looking for us when we don't make the RV point, but it looks like we're stuck here for the foreseeable, sir.”
Obi-Wan turned his head slowly. His gaze tracked Cody with intense concentration, like a cat following a particularly interesting string.
“You’re very orange,” he said.
“That’s the armour.”
“No,” Obi-Wan said seriously. “You’re… glowing. Like a sunset. Very poetic.”
Cody stared at him. “You hit your head harder than I thought.”
Obi-Wan smiled beatifically. “Probably.”
They settled in to wait. Cody pulled off his helmet in an attempt to feel even the slightest breeze on his face, and checked Obi-Wan’s pupils and pulse every few minutes, which Obi-Wan endured with exaggerated patience.
“You’re very bossy,” Obi-Wan observed at one point.
Something in Cody’s chest tightened. Obi-Wan propped himself up on his elbows, watching him with that soft, unfocused intensity.
“You’re so beautiful,” Obi-Wan said suddenly.
“And you’re so concussed,” Cody shot back, because that was safer than thinking about what Obi-Wan – what his General – had just said.
Obi-Wan laughed, bright and delighted, then winced and pressed his fingers to his temple. “Worth it.”
Cody absolutely did not think about that smile. He absolutely did not catalogue the way Obi-Wan’s eyes crinkled at the corners or how close they were, knees almost touching. He focused on practical things, like bandages and water and definitely not the way his heart was trying to escape his ribcage.
He cleaned the cut on Obi-Wan’s forehead with careful hands. Obi-Wan watched him the entire time, chin propped on his palm.
“You know,” Obi-Wan said conversationally, “if you keep touching me like that, people will talk.”
“General,” Cody deadpanned, “we are alone on a hostile planet.”
“Yes, but spiritually.”
Cody snorted despite himself. “I think that’s the head injury talking,” he said.
“Mm,” Obi-Wan hummed. He rolled onto his side, closer than necessary. Cody could feel the warmth of him through plastoid and fabric.
“You have very nice eyes,” Obi-Wan continued. “I’ve been meaning to mention that for… oh. A while. Months? Years? Time is a construct.”
Cody made a strangled noise. “You should rest.”
“I am resting,” Obi-Wan said. “I’m resting and appreciating you. Multitasking.”
This was torture. Cody stared resolutely at the still-smoking wreck of the shuttle in the distance.
“I think about you,” Obi-Wan said quietly. “When you’re not there. Which is… inconvenient. For a Jedi.”
Cody clenched his fist so tightly his glove creaked.
“That’s just the head injury talking,” he said again, but the words felt flimsy.
Obi-Wan hummed, unconvinced. “Shame. I was hoping it was my devastating charm.”
“You’re not charming,” Cody said, lying through his teeth.
He reached out, fingers brushing Cody’s vambrace. The touch was light, absentminded, but it sent a jolt straight through Cody.
“You take care of me,” Obi-Wan murmured. “You always do. Even when I don’t deserve it.”
“You always deserve it,” Cody replied before he could stop himself.
Silence fell.
Obi-Wan’s eyes sharpened for just a second, clarity cutting through the haze. He searched Cody’s face like he was trying to memorise it.
“There you are,” he whispered.
Cody panicked.
He gently pushed Obi-Wan back down. “Sleep, General. That’s an order.”
Obi-Wan smiled, small and tired. “Yes, Commander.”
He closed his eyes. Within minutes, his breathing evened out.
Cody sat there, heart hammering, and watched over him.
The sun began to dip lower towards the horizon. Obi-Wan dozed peacefully, occasionally mumbling things that made Cody’s heart twist – half-formed confessions, fond complaints about the lack of tea in the mess hall, and one very earnest declaration that Cody had “excellent shoulders.”
It’s the concussion, Cody told himself fiercely. It doesn’t count.
He repeated it until it almost sounded true.
.
Hours later, the distant whine of a LAAT/i engine echoed through the canyon, and Cody felt relief crash into him so hard it hurt. He leaned back against the rock and let out a shaky breath.
Obi-Wan stirred, blinking awake as the shadow of the gunship passed overhead.
“Ah,” he said. “Saved. Excellent.”
He looked at Cody, expression clearer. “Did I say anything embarrassing?” he asked lightly.
Cody’s mouth went dry.
“No, sir,” he lied. “You mostly complained about the floor moving.”
Obi-Wan studied him for a moment. Something unreadable flickered in his eyes.
Then he smiled.
“Well,” he said. “I’m glad you were there.”
“Always,” Cody said, and meant it with everything he was.
The word hung between them, heavy with all the things neither of them would say.
Above them, the gunship descended.
Cody offered his hand. Obi-Wan took it. They stood a little too close, a little too long, before stepping apart.
It’s just the concussion, Cody told himself one last time. It doesn’t mean anything.
Obi-Wan’s thumb brushed his wrist before letting go.
And Cody wondered if maybe – just maybe – it meant more than either of them was ready to admit.
It was Valentine's day, and guess what? A brand new amusement park opened up a week before! Games, food, rides, a dream come true heard through the boring building of the Cleaners HQ. Enjin had suggested that everyone would go for a small break from tough fights, to which about everyone agreed.
"I don't know, I'm not a fan of crowded places. Plus people are such slow walkers." Rudo mentioned in a disinterested tone, looking off to the side. He hadn't been to an amusement park before, all he knew was that they were for the rich side of the Sphere, and he hated it. He hated how they got to have everything good, how the rich flaunted it in everyone's face.
"You sure, Rudo? They've got candy and food, I was sure you'd love it." Zanka mentioned. Rudo couldn't tell if that was supposed to be sarcastic or not.
"You should go, Rudo!" Riyo added, an excited smile on her face. "Valentine's Day is meant to be spent with the people you love! Platonic or not!"
Enjin ruffled Rudo's hair with a playful smirk. "Yeah, Rudo. Don't you wanna hang out with Y/N, too? Everyone's coming, this could be a way to shoot your shot." Enjin teased, Rudo shoved him away.
"No way! I can't,that would ruin our friendship!" Rudo protested, a worried frown on his face.
"But you don't want to be friends, you wanna their boyfriend. It's so obvious." Riyo added, an eyebrow raised.
"Is it really that obvious...?" Rudo asked, the worry eating away at his brain.
"Nah, not enough to where they've noticed too." Zanka added.
"There's a big ferris wheel, if ya wanna go for it then." Enjin suggested casually. Rudo snapped his head towards him, his face going red. "What? All you gotta do is get alone with them, ask them out, and boom! Dating."
"SHUT UP, ENJIN, YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!" Rudo snapped, shooting up from his seat and marching to the door. "But I will ask them! So they won't be alone at this boring building, it'd be rude to not invite them!"
Team Akuta watched Rudo leave the room, everyone turning to each other with whispers.
"It's so obvious it pains me to see them be so stupid." Riyo giggled.
"They could hang out the whole day. It's good development." Zanka shrugged, not too focused on Rudo's crush situation.
"Don't worry, team, I've got a plan." Enjin grinned, gesturing Riyo and Zanka huddle closer. "When we run out of games to do and we're all tired, I'll say we should all go to the ferris wheel! I'll get in a little cart with you two, and the lovebirds get their own. Foolproof plan, I know."
"Aren't you horrible with dating?" Riyo asked.
"Don't worry about that. I know it'll work, I feel it in my scalp." Enjin nodded.
"People usually say that they feel it in their gut, but okay." Zanka muttered.
(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧
It was early in the evening. You had originally said you weren't going so you could work on your gift basket, but you caved in when Rudo asked if you were doing anything today. The stress of what to put in that dumb gift was eating you alive, you needed a way to relax, anyway. So you hid the basket again and went to your room and brainstormed an outfit to wear.
You remember that weatherman that has hair that looked like a hammer said it'd be relatively cool with a small breeze, and it was definitely going to be a bit warm from all the crowds, but you can't wear something that makes parents nearby look at you with disgust.
You ended up deciding on something you'd usually wear when you're out and about, along with one or two heart accessories just to match with the whole Valentine's Day vibe. You also kept some stuff in your pockets just in case you needed something. It was basically just your wallet, chapstick, and gum, though.
So now you sit in the crammed car next to Rudo, Too Lily blasting on the radio. Since Enjin had suggested EVERYONE should go, it was a little crowded, but you didn't mind much since they just combined the supporters and Team Akuta into one car. Bro said he could drive Team Child and Team Eager with eachother to save space, August said he and Eisha drive there on his motorcycle.
You all stepped out of your vehicles and looked from the outside of the amusement park. You could see the bright lights and hear the sound of laughter echoing throughout the place, a sweet scent flowing from the inside. You paid for your own wristband while everyone paid for themselves, walking through the colourful archway with awe at the sight of everything around you. Friends, families, so many people all in one place enjoying themselves!
The adults had all discussed they'd split up by teams, just incase there was a surprise attack from the Raiders or something.
"Woooooaaaahhh!! Look at that! And that! And that bald guy!!!" you watched Guita exclaim, Bro clamping a hand down on her mouth before the bald guy she pointed out turned around.
Bro scolded Guita in a hushed voice. Enjin watched but turned to the rest of Team Akuta. "Alright, guys, don't stray too far. And tell me and the other adults here if you want to go somewhere." Enjin warned. "Even if you do get lost, you can always use the communication chokers. All clear?"
You looked around at everything around you with stars in your eyes. It felt like you died and went to heaven! "Oh man, this is so cool! There isn't many amusement parks around here, or anywhere for that matter!! They're all usually old and made WAYYYY long ago!" you beamed, scanning through the different attractions.
Rudo looked over with surprised eyes. "Really?"
"Mhm! What, you live in a circus tent up on the Sphere or something?"
"No?" Rudo shook his head, looking around with a neutral expression. "The cool parks and stuff was always on the better side of the Sphere, I only really heard of 'em and seen flyers."
"OHMYGOSHOHMYGOSH, RUDO! Let's do that one!!" you exclaimed, dragging Rudo along with you to a balloon dart stand. "Enjin, we're gonna be over here, 'kay?" Enjin gave you a thumbs-up and nodded. Riyo and Zanka seemed to exchange a knowing look with each other before you turned. Huh. Probably nothing.
"What're the prizes?" Rudo asked, looking up at the giant toys and plushies hung at the top and sides of the stand. He was about to ask you if you had any prizes you had in mind, but you suddenly pointed to a small toy at the middle of the table in the back.
"LOOK AT THAT THING!" you beamed, pointing at it like it was your long lost child. "IT LOOKS LIKE IF AN ALIEN, OCTOPUS, AND SLUG HAD A BABY AND BARFED IT UP IN GREEN, I LOVE IT SO MUCH, I NEED IT!!!" if you spoke any faster Rudo would've thought you had a secret rapping career that you didn't tell him about.
An employee noticed you screeching about that toy and walking over, gesturing to the balloons behind her. "If you hit five balloons, you get to take him home with you."
"I can do that!" You hit missed three in a row. You looked over to Rudo for help. "Oof, I wish someone would help meeee..." you dramatically put a hand over your heart and leaned towards Rudo.
"I can try, I guess." Rudo mumbled, a faint shade of pink taking over his face when you leaned against him. He managed to pop three balloons. If only you could do another, just one more point...
"Couples get a free throw, since it's Valentine's Day." the employee mentioned. You looked over at Rudo, who seemed to freeze up when the employee mentioned couples.
"We're... Uh... I mean, free is free, y'know...?" you laughed awkwardly, taking the dart and hitting one last balloon. You took the plushie and realized it came with a little keyring, clipping it onto one of the belt loops of your pants.
“Win anything cool?” Riyo asked, being one of the first in the group to notice you both come back.
"Uh-huh!" you nodded, showing off your keychain. You didn't even know what it was, to be honest. "And we got a free throw! It was awesome!" you almost brought up how it was because you and Rudo were seen as a couple, but you kept that to yourself.
You wandered with the group through the theme park in awe. So many things to do, you had no clue where to start. You suddenly felt someone tap your shoulder.
"Hey, five bucks you can't make that guy go into the water." Enjin grinned, pointing to a stall with a big sign that said 'DUNKING STATION'. It was basically just throwing tennis balls at a target to drop someone into an ice-cold pool.
"Easy-peasy! You're gonna lose five dollars, old man! Actually, make it ten! So I can split it with Rudo, double the prize!" you announced boldly, walking over to the stall with Rudo and asking for three balls to throw.
You missed the first, which definitely peeved you. Not to mention the guy that sat up on that dumb stool was tossing insults at you. You knew that was his job to sit there and piss people off, but it felt REALLY annoying.
You let Rudo have the next throw, which he barely missed! By probably an inch! Damn it, that could've been your ten dollars! Now you were down to the last tennis ball, and you really wanted to get that money.
"Wow, your little boyfriend can throw WAY better than you can, pipsqueak!" the employee mocked from his stool. You gripped the ball tighter. You could feel your face heat up, you couldn't tell if it was from the thought of you and Rudo being together or that minimum wage worker's teasing words.
You threw the tennis ball as hard as you could at the target, the ball slamming onto the red circle with a thud, the employee falling into the water below him. You proudly strut back to the group and held out your hand.
"I'd like my money now, please." you grinned from ear to ear as Enjin begrudgedly handed you two five-dollar bills. You handed the second to Rudo.
Zanka looked over at a food stand that had fries and drinks and all sorts of snacks. "Man, I'm starvin', can we stop for a sec?"
"Sure, I'll pay again." Enjin agreed and the group went to the stand. Enjin bought a burger, Zanka asked for a small tray of fries, Riyo wanted a HUUUUGE turkey leg(which you thought about getting), and Rudo bought doughnuts. You decided on a mozzarella sticks, they were pretty good.
"Woah, look at that." Rudo pointed out through a mouthful, his eyes on a tall rollercoaster.
"Aw, cool, rollercoaster!" you shoved the last mozzarella stick in your mouth and pointed at the rollercoaster. "Enjin! We should all go on that when we're done eating!"
Enjin raised an eyebrow, halfway finished with his hamburger. "Huh? Won't we throw up or something?"
"Hah! As if I'd let that happen, that'd be a waste of food."
( ꩜ ᯅ ꩜;)
You definitely jinxed it. You already started feeling lightheaded when the cart rose higher and higher. It felt like you where about to choke on your own lungs, gripping the bars that held you into your seat tightly.
"I'M SO FUCKING SCARED!" you could see the drop coming, and you were practically a puddle of your own sweat. You looked over beside you at Rudo, and he looked just as terrified as you. You moved your hand into his, squeezing each others hands tightly.
"I LIED ABOUT THAT TIME I SAID I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR LEFTOVERS! I ATE IT!" Rudo suddenly confessed, gripping your hand tighter.
"I DID, TOO!! I ATE YOUR BROWNIES, SORRY, Y/N!!!" Riyo added from behind you. Zanka didn't say anything, but you're sure he felt at least a bit nervous.
"Ooh, drama." Enjin said, squinting as if he'd get a better look at your cart. He said he'd watch everyone's bags and prizes while the rest of the team went on the rollercoaster.
You couldn't bring yourself to be mad at them. A stifled laugh left your lips. Before you could come up with something to confess, the cart dropped and the ride went on. As soon as you got off, you threw up onto the ground. The group stepped away to give you space.
You wiped your mouth and sat down on a bench. "Now my stomach hurts... That was a waste of money getting all of that food..." you complained, looking down at your feet. You look up at the sky with an exasperated sigh. The sun was setting, yet the day didn't feel like it was spent. You didn't feel satisfied, plus vomiting soured your mood.
"Where to now, people?" Riyo piped up, looking around at the different attractions.
"Somewhere calm, I'm tired from all this walkin' and noise." Zanka sighed, fixing his bangs.
"We meet up in the parking lot and wait until everyone else comes back." Rudo suggested, though, the idea didn't seem to appeal to anyone.
Enjin rubbed his chin with a thoughtful expression, an idea crossing his mind for once. "Got it! The ferris wheel!" Enjin recommended with a proud smile. "Everyone sits with whoever they want, great view, quiet chats, perfect for everyone!"
"Sounds good to me!" you beamed, a happy smile on your face.
Enjin, Riyo, and Zanka said they'd all take their own little cart(I completely forgot what they're called) while you and Rudo got your own together. Something about their knowing looks as you two stepped in made you wonder if this was planned all along.
The ferris wheel spun slowly, going higher and higher into the air. The view was gorgeous, the sky now a dark pool of black. There weren't many stars, since there were a lot of lights around you, but you didn't mind much. You and Rudo sat next to each other in a comfortable silence, both of you admiring the scenery. Though, Rudo seemed to be looking at you. That's weird.
"Do I have something on my face?" you giggled, unconsciously dusting off your face with your hands.
"No, no!" Rudo shook his head, his eyes darting around everywhere but your face. "Your face is fine. No, uh, your face is great! You look really pretty!" Rudo sputtered, sweat beading on his forehead.
You froze for a moment. Pretty. Your stomach felt like you were about to throw up again. "Thanks! Uhm... You look really cool..." you responded bashfully, looking back out the window.
Another silence fell between you both, the comfort replaced with something you couldn't put your finger on. Now it felt suffocating to be sitting so close. Were your palms always this clammy? Was your hair messy? Did you put on deodorant?
"Hey, Y/N?" Rudo suddenly spoke up, a nervous grimace spread across his face.
"Yeah?"
"Can I tell you something?"
"Sure."
It felt like the bustling amusement park that surrounded the ferris wheel suddenly went quiet, just the space between you and Rudo being what mattered.
"I..." Rudo started, the words seemed to stick to his throat. Spit it out, Rudo! he thought. What would Regto say if he saw Rudo acting so shy? "Y/N, I think... I think I-"
He was suddenly cut off by the sound of shooting fireworks, his head snapping to the explosions of color filling the sky like a canvas. It was the second time Rudo had seen fireworks ever since Canvas Town, and yet he still felt so intrigued by such beauty.
Rudo's eyes looked back at you. The way you beamed at the sight, the way you leaned more towards the window to get a better look at the sky, the way the bright colors illuminated your face.
"You were saying, Rudo?" you looked back at him, leaning back in your seat.
"Uh... Nothing, I'll tell you some other time." Rudo muttered. No way he'd ruin this moment for a dumb crush. He can't just spoil it all by saying something stupid like 'I like you.'
Maybe another day.
You raised an eyebrow but shrugged, slowly scooting closer to him. "The Moon's gorgeous tonight, don'tcha think?" you relaxed against him, shoulders touching as you looked up at the now empty sky, the fireworks ending with a final pop.
You could feel Rudo flinch before slowly relax into your touch, his head pressed against the top of yours. "It is."
A small smile spread across your face. Something about his calm tone made your pulse speed up. Maybe it was the proximity, but it felt nice to be so close.
"I wish I could stay like this forever." you murmured quietly, more to yourself than Rudo. You hadn't meant to say it aloud, but of course, Rudo heard.
"You do?" he sounded surprised.
It didn't click to you how that sounded until Rudo responded, your face heating up. No point in lying now, since he already heard you.
"Yeah! I dunno, it's just really relaxing being up here with you, maybe it's just my exhaustion kicking in or something." you said quickly, ignoring the voice screaming in your head to tell him how you feel.
"... Me too." Rudo mumbled under his breath. You barely heard it, but you just smiled and inched your hand towards his.
You really wish you could stay like this now. Your hand wrapped around his, giving him a small squeeze. "I also think you're really cool. I'm glad you talk to me."
"I think you're cool, too." Rudo added, squeezing your hand back. "I don't know how you didn't hate me when we first met. It felt like everyone had some kind of... resentment towards me when I met everyone."
He wasn't wrong. You didn't have any reason to hate him besides him being a Sphereite, and you still didn't care much about that. Maybe it was because you didn't think you'd end up being this close with him.
"I like giving chances." you answered. "Well, I'm trying to. I didn't trust people much before you came along, so it felt nice to have someone listen and watch me bake. I didn't know if you were gonna leave, so I tested you a few times. You haven't left yet, so I'm gonna assume we're doing okay."
The ride eventually came to an end, your cart reaching the ground while you both stepped out.
"Ready to head back? I think everyone else is done, too." Enjin asked, glancing between you and Rudo's interlocked hands with a knowing look.
"Yup!"
"Yeah."
When you said goodbye and headed to your room, you took a long, warm shower. You held hands again! You thought you were about to vomit from joy when he didn't pull away, PLUS he thinks you're cool?! It felt like you died and went to heaven!
You slipped into some comfortable pajamas and laid down in bed, staring at the ceiling. Did that count as a date? Was it fun? Were you pulling him around too much? You brushed those thoughts away and drifted off to sleep, letting your exhaustion take over.
Kicking off @gar-romance-month with CodyWan, because of course!
Relationship: Cody/Obi Wan Kenobi
Rating: Mature
Prompt Use: Only One Bed, Rain, Thunder, Almost Confessing
Content Warnings: Mutual pining, flirting
Word Count: 3,254
Summary: After negotiations are finished for the day on a far-flung planet, Obi Wan and Cody struggle with the native customs that leave them in an awkward position.
Read the full story on AO3
Excerpt:
Obi Wan heard raised voices from the far end of the hall and sighed. He’d just finished a rather exhausting negotiation on behalf of the republic. The last thing he needed or wanted was to settle friction between the brothers of the 501st and the 212th. But when he got to the end of the hallway, he was irritated to learn that the source of the anguish was…
“Anakin.” Obi Wan sighed in the same way he had been doing for years now.
“Did you hear?” Anakin asked, his sharp eyes scrunched up in irritation. Obi Wan looked to his Marshal Commander for clarification and got an amused shrug in return.
“It really is customary, Sir. We’ve all been doubled up. The People of this world…”
“…I don’t need a history lesson, Commander…” Anakin snapped.
Obi Wan felt a ruffle of irritation radiate off of Cody through the force and stepped between the two men and subtly as possible.
“Now, now, Anakin. What’s the matter? I’m sure there’s a…”
“We’re rooming together.” Anakin replied, letting the door to the room swing open to reveal highly elaborate architecture and one bed.
Obi Wan had to stifle a laugh. When Anakin was a boy he had spent most of his younger years sleeping on the floor of Obi Wan’s quarters, afraid he might disappear. He supposed it was good that he no longer felt the need, but it was hardly worth such a fuss.
“Cody is right, Anakin. The Sheblon people hold their familial relationships in high reverence. Hence why the clones are also bunking together. It’s custom more than…”
“I don’t care. I’m going to ask for my own room.” Anakin sulked, sounding like a petulant teenager.
“Anakin, I’m afraid I can’t let you do that. It would be highly insulting to our hosts and something that would make negotiations tomorrow almost impossible.”
Anakin sighed and rolled his eyes. “Why would they think we were family anyway? Just because we’re Jedi?”
Obi Wan took a deep breath, knowing what he said next would send Anakin into a mood. “It is because you were my Padawan. They look at the relationship as that of…well, a parent and child. And while we know that’s not the case, all that really matters is the optics, in this case at least.”
Obi Wan shared a fleeting glace at Cody who was struggling to hold back a chuckle. He rested his gloved hand over his mouth but Obi Wan could see the smirk emerging beneath it.
“What?” Anakin exclaimed, his voice echoing through the hallway again.
“Hush, Anakin.” Obi Wan said while steering him into the room. “We can sleep in shifts. You take the room first. I’ll have a wander about and then we can switch. Alright?”
Anakin mumbled something under his breath that Obi Wan didn’t catch but took his head nod as agreement and huffed out a sigh.
“Wonderful. Well then, enjoy your rest. I will see you later.”
Obi Wan walked out of the room, his hands tucked into the sleeves of his robes as he turned to Cody. He heard static coming from the room and the faint whirr of a holovid.
“He wanted to talk to the Senator, Sir?” Cody asked, his grin wide as he followed Obi Wan down the hall.
“Presumably. Honestly, he’s not even trying to hide it anymore.” He mused.
Cody nodded. “What will you do, Sir?”
Obi Wan smiled warmly at his Commander. Is was just like Cody to ask. He was so considerate. “I thought I’d take a wander around the grounds.”
“It’s supposed to rain, Sir.”
Obi Wan chuckled. “I would expect nothing less.”
“You could bunk with us, Sir. Rex is already snoring…”
Obi Wan shuffled his feet and tried to hide the blush he felt on his cheeks. “That’s kind of you, Cody. But I’ll be alright.”
“Do you need me to come with you? For protection?”
Obi Wan laughed. “You make me sound like a helpless maiden, Cody.”
Cody chuckled, “I was just remembering the time on Ord Mantell and the…”
“Yes, yes, I know. I promise, no more surprises this time. I really am just going for a walk this time.”
Cody nodded, “Yes, Sir. Comm if you need me.”
“Of course, Commander. Now, get some rest. Excellent work today.”
Cody smiled, his beautiful dark skin coloring slightly. Obi Wan couldn’t be sure if it was his words or the humid heat of the planet that did it, but he liked it all the same.
“Thank you, Sir.” He said as he stopped by an ornately designed white and gold door. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Cody.” Obi Wan said as he turned and walked to the end of the corridor.
“BEING ON THE BRINK OF ADMITTING THEIR FEELINGS FOR EACH OTHER BUT THEN GETTING INTERRUPTED” :)) for the gustho fic requests please!
From this list of prompts/tropes :) I’m having so much fun with these
Confessions
Gus tapped his pencil against the piece of paper that he had been writing on.
“Okay. It looks like you’ll live in a mansion with Skara and have 10 kids and be a lawyer.”
“Eww, Skara?” Matt made a face.
“What’s wrong with Skara? I thought you liked her.”
“I mean, I do but not…like that. She’s not exactly my type. What’s a lawyer anyway?”
Gus shrugged. “Beats me. Luz put it on here.”
Matt sighed. “I’m bored of this game. What else can we do?”
Gus took out his list of Super Official Human Slumber Party Activities. Most of them had already been crossed out: they’d had a pillow fight that ended with Matt’s room covered in griffin feathers, prank called Principal Bump, watched a scary movie and painted their nails. Gus had a few other plans that were not written on the paper but those would have to wait until Matt fell asleep.
“Well…there is one more game we could play. Truth or dare.”
“Alright, how do you play?”
“It’s easy. We just take turns asking each other truth or dare and based on which one you pick, you either have to do whatever the other person dares you to do or answer a question completely truthfully.”
Matt smirked. “Okay. Dare.”
“No, you can’t just—you have to ask me first and I get to pick. Like this: truth or dare?”
“Fine,” he rolled his eyes, “dare I guess.”
“Okay. Hmmm….I dare you to…say something nice about Boscha on Pensta.”
“That’s a stupid dare, Augustus.”
“That’s how the game works, but if you’re too griffin to do it…”
“—I’ll do it!” Matt grumbled, taking out his scroll with a huff. He scrolled to Boscha’s most recent post and commented ‘wow, you don’t look as terrible as usual’ before showing Gus his scroll as proof.
Gus frowned. “I don’t know if that counts…”
“Stop trying to stall. My turn. Truth or dare?”
The younger boy considered for a moment before he decided. “Truth.”
Matt seemed pleased with this answer and a sly grin spread across his face.
“Who do you have a crush on?”
“W-what?”
“You heard me, squirt.”
Gus crossed his arms. “I’m not telling you.”
“You can’t do that!”
The illusionist glared at him. “Says who? You don’t even know the rules!”
“Look, I just don’t think it’s fair that I did the dare and now you won’t answer my question! What’s the big deal anyway?”
Gus remained silent, pointedly looking away.
“I’m sure whoever she is, she likes you back so there’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” Matt continued, speaking a bit softer now.
“She?”
“Well, yeah, I just assumed…because of Bria…”
Gus exhaled. “Bria isn’t a good person, why would you think I would want to be with somebody like her?”
“Well—I just—I thought—
“Maybe the person I like isn’t like Bria at all. Maybe they wanted to be but they’re actually much nicer and more considerate and they actually care about their friends and about helping other people.”
Matt bit his lip. “Do you…do you think they feel the same way?”
“I don’t know. I hope so.”
“I bet they do,” Matt said, speaking barely above a whisper.
“Matt?”
“Yeah?”
“I—
Before Gus could get any further, the door burst open and Steve entered carrying several boxes.
