“Yes.”

It
wasn’t Obi-Wan who responded but Captain Rex, all Jedi eyes
shifting to him as the clone stepped forward until he was standing
right beside the man, Rex amber eyes focused on Depa.

“Captain
Rex?” She nodded to him, giving her attention to him and
thereby also the floor.

Raising
his hand and settling it on Obi-Wan’s shoulder, everyone noted how
the redhead relaxed minutely despite
still blushing and
how
Rex
himself let his shoulders sink with
his own relief.
“Sirs, I don’t know much about Jedi os-Jedi powers or bonds or
Force stuff,” The captain stated slowly, clearly
cautious.
“But I’m intuitive enough to know and feel that separation will
not do me or Obi-Wan well but instead be outright harmful to our
psyches, sirs.” He stated calmly, holding tightly onto the Jedi.

Everyone
took notice of how the normally tactful and respectful captain was
quite clearly using Obi-Wan’s first name and letting rank slide, most likely without given
permission but due to the bond they shared, it demanded closeness and
intimacy.

It
was clear that the bond was in effect, deep effect.

Finally,
Obi-Wan lifted his head, licking his lips nervous. “With Duchess
Satine, the damage was limited because we were teens,
I was a teen… the dept of bonds created at that age isn’t as…
demanding as when one becomes an adult. Emotions change more easily
as teens even if they can be consuming, they aren’t always as
deep.” He murmured, adding his own two cent.

Leaning
forward, Yaddle let out a low hum. “Then the bond you have to
Captain Rex, the closest of bonds outside of family it is?” She
raised both ears and a brow.

Clearly
swallowing heavily under the multitude of eyes, Rex still facing
forward but tightening his grasp on Obi-Wan’s shoulder, the redhead
gave a small nod. “Yes. If I was to put it in the words of Stewjon,
I made a Mullaka bond to Rex. A Loverssoul bond.” He whispered.

There
was a long pause, mostly from confusion before Mace let out a deep
breath, leaning forward and Yoda rubbed his face with one clawed
hand. “Obi-Wan… those can’t
be broken in life… at all. Only death breaks a Mullaka bond you
told me.” He murmured, his tone even but his eyes wide in the holo.

Anakin
let out a choked noise at the news, Obi-Wan flinching before he
nodded. “I’m
aware of that, I’m the one who told you that.” He stated tersely.

“Don’t
take that tone with me Obi-Wan,” Mace responded back, a furrow
between his brows as he seemed to grow contemplative and even more
worried. “I was the one who had to aid you overcome your broken
Muellaka bond, I know exactly the kind of havoc that brought on your
mind and
how hard it was for you to recover afterward.”
He stated sternly.

There
was a long quiet that no one else seemed to dare to break, slightly
nervous looks being exchanged by Depa and Kit.

“…Apologies
Obi-Wan, that was… uncalled for.” Mace finally murmured, sighing
deeply as he sat back in his chair while rubbing the back of his
head.

“…No,
no it wasn’t. I’m not happy you revealed this knowledge to the
council at full and others, but it’s not untrue. You were the one
who helped me and my bond was broken years
ago.”
Obi-Wan breathed heavily, rubbing his face with one hand.

A
long breath escaped Yoda. “Suspect I did, that deeper your
relationship to Qui-Gon was but limit it I thought you did.” He
murmured disapprovingly.

Obi-Wan
let out a humorless laugh that had almost everyone flinching. “I
was twenty and in desperate love with my own master and my own people
had an ingrained weakness that I couldn’t control fully because no
one knew how to train me for it, of course the bond formed and grew as I grew with genuine emotions. And Qui-Gon?” Obi-Wan laugh cut
off before resuming in a much sadder tone. “And Qui-Gon was the
maverick, the one who went against the council, who reminded you that
we were sentient
beings of flesh and bone and want and desires and hate and love all
in the same filthy
yet wonderful package.
How was I to do anything but love him? And I was lucky enough for him to love me in return.”

They
all stared at Obi-Wan, who had been so ashamedly staring at his feet
until now.

Now
he was fire and words and the Negotiator all the more.

“And
resist Qui-Gon did not? Your master he was.” Yoda pointed out,
voice croaky and
clearly judging.

Obi-Wan
let out a low sigh. “…You placed us together, you
pulled and you pushed even when Qui-Gon tried to push me away and
not have me as his padawan…
and then you’re shocked by the dept of the bond you meddled
to make sure existed became?” He noted with narrowed eyes. “Qui-Gon
is dead, he can do nothing to defend himself and his actions. You
will not besmirch what is left of him to us and best of all, you can
do nothing to
darken my
memories. And the past will remain the past,
if Mace could avoid judging me, so will you also refrain from it.”
He finally settled with.

A
long silence echoed once more before Yoda gave a quiet grunt, clearly
letting go.

For
now at least.

“My
only note is this,” Ka-Adi murmured, leaning in to make sure the
others saw him. “Who will take over for Captain Rex at Knight
Skywalker’s side?” He questioned, a small frown on his face.

“Might
I make a recommendation, sirs?” Rex spoke up once more.

“Of
course,” Mace shifted his attention squarely on Rex. “You know
your men and your brothers best, please, make a recommendation.” He
gestured one large hand in an approving motion.

Obi-Wan
in the meantime tuned out that and instead slowly looked at the still
shell shocked Anakin.

He
knew he would have to have a long conversation with his former
padawan.

To
explain.

Himself,
the bonding nature, Qui-Gon, Rex… hopefully Anakin would listen.