Rubbing
in the bacta slowly into the others hands, Mace let out a considering
hum. “Your hands have become even more calloused,” He
tisked lightly before smiling at Obi-Wan. “But then again, no Jedi
has soft hands really like
those of the Rotunda.” Mace
remarked with some amusement, a reference to Senators and their aids.

Snorting
a bit, Obi-Wan allowed the other to continue rubbing his hands in
with bacta. “I had callouses before I was eight, saber training
does that you know.” He huffed before smiling softly at the other
man.

There
was an acknowledging hum before Mace moved back and wiped his hands
on a cloth so he could cap the bacta tube. “How is Anakin?” He
questioned while moving away, uncaring of the gossip that wasn’t
all that quiet around them.

Sparing
a glance for the gossiping Jedi in the salle, Obi-Wan let out a
little hum of his own.
“Re-evaluating options honestly. He says he wants to leave with me
if I go on missions since he’s worried I’d apparently forget to
eat if there aren’t a ton of younglings around.” Obi-Wan
chuckled.

There
was a sharp snort as Mace sat down again on the bench, this time with
bandages in hand as he started wrapping Obi-Wan’s injured hands.
“You would, I remember that well enough even while we were dating,
you were prone to just eating whatever snacks you had stashed on
yourself once the kids were to bed,” He said dryly before smirking
at Obi-Wan’s half pout. “You know you did.”

Rolling
his eyes, Obi-Wan finally shrugged in a half admitting move. “At least the snacks were
healthy. They were the same ones I feed the kids you know, kids with
low blood sugar throw tantrums and get cranky.” He snorted before
willing his bandaged fingers and making testing fists.

Finally
he nodded and gave the other man a smile.

Smirking
faintly, Mace sat back. “Better?” He drawled.

“Much,
thank you Mace.” Obi-Wan chuckled and reached out, giving the
others hand a squeeze before standing. “Now excuse me, I have a
trial to prepare for.” He
smirked lightly before moving, his left hand coming up to gently
trace along Mace jaw with soft fingertips as he walked away but
before he made too much distance the council member’s hand came up
to catch his wrist, thumb pressing gently down on the pulse point.

Turning
his head to meet the others burning brown eyes, Obi-Wan tilted his
head a bit with a small smirk curling the corners of his lips as a
challenge.

The
thumb pressed down a bit more harshly as Mace smirked in return.
“Don’t start something you do not tend to end Obi-Wan, I am
master of the vapaad and you play with fire when you play with me.”
He murmured quietly, his breath washing over bared fingertips.

Hiding
a shiver, Obi-Wan let out a considering hum. “Tempting Mace, very
tempting but I have a trial of insight to prepare for and bringing
you with me into the chamber sounds like a bad idea if I ever heard
one.” He chuckled quietly before pulling away, feeling the others
eyes in his back as he walked away.

But oh
did he feel alive.

He
hadn’t felt this alive in a long time.

Everything
had become so ordinary and routine in the creche, even the pranks he
pulled on the council as a teaching tool had become routine.

But to
face the inner demons of his soul?

To
face the darkness of himself to find enlightenment?

Oh,
Obi-Wan was more then ready to see what was inside him so he could
wander out into the galaxy prepared for the darkness of those around
him for the bright lights he had wandered among for so many years.

Ready
to enter the chamber while wondering which master would be observing
in case everything went wrong.

He’d
find out.