An: Hello all my lovely readers! I had this idea that just wouldn't go away, so I decided to strike while the iron was hot. I really wanted to jump on with the Obi-Wan finds romance on Tatooine because he really really deserves to have a bit of happiness, doesn't he? I just love trying to find new ways to give it to him. This will be a shorter story, around 5 chapters and I'll post once a week. If you are following Cimmerian, don't worry, I will update that again soon as well! Please let me know if you are liking this!

~ Ash

As the second sun finally dipped below the dusty, sandy horizon of Tatooine, offering the planet the fleeting respite of nighttime, Ben Kenobi reached the door of the dingy cantina at the edge of town. A waft of smoky air hit him as he stepped inside, but it was blessedly cooler, even if not by much, therefore welcome.

The dimly lit tavern was packed with beings tonight; staticky music played from a machine in the corner, just barely audible over the din of the crowd. The corners and edges of the cantina were difficult to see through the dark haze, but perhaps that would be an advantage on a night like this one. Ben felt restless and agitated, half wanting something, anything to ease this soul deep ache. This was not an establishment he usually frequented but tonight seemed one to stray. The other half of him thought of turning to leave again, preferring the solitude he'd earned over what could happen in a place like this. Though whether he'd earned his solitude as punishment or as reward he had never decided. Maybe both.

But no. He was here already, wasn't he? And a cool drink did sound most welcome. The past few weeks had been...not easy. There had been two Tusken Raider attacks on families in the area, their farms devastated, and a violent sandstorm. Sometimes it seemed as though unlucky events would never desist in popping up all around him. Obi-Wan had tried to help those who needed it as much as he could, but not without the suspicious stares and whispers from many of those he tried to assist. He thought he would get used to it. Though he brushed it off, he didn't think now he ever would. Their disdain for him weighed heavy on his shoulders when all he wanted was to help. One young family had all their vaporators destroyed for parts the Tuskens had taken. Obi-Wan - Ben - had helped fixed the first one, the young father never leaving his side, his rifle slung over his shoulder... Then he bid him farewell with half a loaf of bread unwilling to let him help with anything else, despite the extensive work still to be done.

Stung, Ben left, vowing to himself to patrol the area regularly to scare off the Tuskens in lieu of helping directly. If that was all he could do for now, he'd do it. With those thoughts setting a pall of melancholy over him he took a seat at the bar, nodding at the bar tender for his usual drink. He tried to battle those feelings but at times it was difficult.

While he waited he glanced around, not recognizing anyone there. Two drinks, he told himself. The buzz from the alcohol would help soothe the jagged edge of stress and discontent from the past weeks, then he'd go home and force himself to sleep for as long as he could. Force knew he needed the rest.

The bartend brought his drink and Ben took a slow sip, imagining a feeling of peace flowing through his veins, settling deep in his core as the alcohol did the same. It would be very difficult for him to get drunk, he'd have to consume a barrel, but he appreciated the therapeutic benefits of the ritual.

For not the first time, he questioned his purpose out here in this Force-forsaken place. Could he stand it? Living out here for years? Only two had passed. Owen wouldn't even let him see Luke now. He had cultivated this persona to keep people at a distance then he mourned their suspicion of him, unable to help even a few locals, unable to do anything. Useless.

He shook the thought, taking another longer drink, and sat in silence, letting the sounds of the music and conversation blend and wash over him, his surroundings unnoticed for some time until he was broken from his semi-meditation.

The feeling that someone was watching him prickled at the nape of his neck; he lifted his eyes subtly to glance around the room. It was most certainly a gaze of avid interest he was sensing... He had not been expecting this tonight...but he couldn't help searching it out, wondering if it was potential friend or foe.

The room was so full of people, for a long moment he couldn't find the source of the feeling and he wondered if he actually was going crazy. The pervasive loneliness that simmered in his chest kept him looking. Then he saw her.

The woman didn't look away when he caught her staring. A hint of a smile touched her lips, curving them almost imperceptibly. Her hair was the color of freshly brewed caf, a little tousled, ending just past her shoulders. She was wearing a dark shirt, cut in a low v at the front and a black form-fitting jacket. Nothing about her look made her stand out at first, probably why it had taken a moment to locate her. But her eyes...her eyes were something else.

For a moment Ben was frozen. A dusky blue gaze met his own from across the bar, ripe with interest, keeping him rooted to his spot. Then she glanced down. The spell was broken but he couldn't deny his interest was peaked.

Ben was sure she had just arrived - she may blend in but he was certain she had not been there when he'd scanned the crowd earlier. She nodded at the bartender as he set a drink on the bar in front of her. She smiled her thanks to him...a beautiful smile...then took a sip from the glass, her expression turning neutral again.

This time she caught him staring as she glanced in his direction unexpectedly. A group that had been seated next to him at the bar stood and left, and he shifted giving them room to pass by. When he looked across the bar again, she was gone.

"May I join you?" a soft voice asked from behind him.

He turned to find her standing behind him, her eyes even more beautiful from this close. The way she had asked, so straightforward, made him smile inwardly.

"Oh...well yes, I suppose. If you'd like."

"I don't want to disturb you," she amended. "That is, if you enjoy looking so sad and alone..." Her eyes glittered. He gave an exaggerated sigh but he could feel his heart lift, just a bit.

"How could you tell? I thought I was hiding it so well. Please, take a seat."

She stepped to the other side of him gracefully perching on the stool next to his own, very close. He swore he could feel warmth radiating from her, she was so close. Or maybe it was just him.

"So what brings someone like you to a place like this?" She turned toward him, taking a sip. The line was awfully cliche, but her eyes were glittering again so he gladly played along.

"Besides the alcohol?" He tipped his glass.

She smiled.

"Sometimes," he paused, "it's easiest to get lost in a crowd. But I'm not sure I'm not exactly the kind of someone that would normally be found here. You?"

Her lips quirked. "I'm a...traveller. You might say. I just arrived on Tatooine." She lifted her glass to her mouth, draining it, then nodded for another. "I needed a break. From everything. And a stiff drink."

Ben nodded, his gaze falling to the sweet curve of her lips when the tip of her tongue darted out to wet them. He wondered if her mouth would taste of the gin and tonic she was drinking...then his gaze slid down. He wanted to feel the skin at the base of her throat to see if it felt as soft as it looked right now...but he was getting ahead of himself.

Lifting his hand, he gestured for his second drink as well. "May I ask what had you so interested in me you risked me catching you staring and disturbing your break?"

The woman looked up at him, pursing her lips for a moment and brushing a strand of her midnight hair behind her ear. "There aren't many humans here tonight," she shrugged. "And your eyes," she answered. "I could tell something about them...I wanted to see them straight on."

"And?" he teased, eyebrow raised.

She smiled slowly. "They're even more gorgeous up close." Her voice was sweet and a little smoky.

"I would say the same to you."

"My eyes?" she asked.

"Mesmerizing. And beautiful." This wasn't like him, but he found he couldn't resist. He could sense her authenticity like a light bursting through the fog. What he said was true after all, and the distraction from his pitiful melancholy was divine.

"Thank you." Her eyes sparkled like a sun-kissed sea. "That was also how I could tell, by the way."

"Tell?"

"How I knew. That you were sad." She tapped at the corner of her eye.

"Ah," he said remembering his question when she had approached. "It's been a hard week - month - is all. I needed a stiff drink as well, it seems."

She pressed her hand to his forearm in empathy but her simple caress sent a surge of electricity through him. Oh it had been so long. Questions of the tenets that had been flitted through his head as they often did now. Was comfort such a terrible thing to seek?

"Maybe things will start to look up soon," she offered. Her leg shifted under the counter to brush against his knee.

"Perhaps they might," he murmured back.

For awhile they sat quietly, speaking only here and there, making observations about others in the bar. As they were both near to finishing their second drink, he noticed her thigh was more pressing against his own leg now rather than brushing, and she was leaning on the bar toward him. She turned her head to murmur something to him and he felt his whole body flush from the heat of her proximity. He reveled in the sound of her voice even as he forgot to listen to her words. Perhaps if this lovely woman was offering a little bit of comfort for a night, whatever kind she liked, it would not be so awful to accept a gift such as that.

After a few more minutes he cleared his throat. "Do you have somewhere to stay? Er - that is, I mean - somewhere safe?"

She shrugged, giving him a half grin. "Safe enough I guess. An escort home wouldn't be unwelcome. Or..." she caught her lower lip between her teeth for one second and his heart kicked up a notch. "You could hang out for awhile? With me. I've been on the space lanes for a long time, and you don't have to be alone, you know. At least not right now. If you wouldn't mind the company." Her voice went low and soft and her flirting set his blood aflame. "I could distract you from your melancholy; we could talk or play." She paused. "Sabacc. Or whatever."

He chuckled. "Well, I can't ever refuse a good offer of sabacc."

Both Ben and her left some credits on the bar for the drinks and he gestured for her to lead the way through the ruckus of the cantina, his hand on her shoulder.

As soon as they were outside, in the dark and quiet, she stopped him though, grasping his hand. He turned toward her, searching out her eyes in the dim light in the narrow, empty street. Looking up at him, she seemed to study him for a moment, then smiled, desire clear. The space between them disappeared as she leaned closer, tilting her chin. She kissed the corner of his mouth then nipped his lower lip lightly.

She hummed, sultry. "You know...I'm going to beat you. I'm really good at sabacc."

Ben gave a quiet laugh. "We shall see, my dear. What's your name?" he murmured, lifting his hand to brush a strand of soft dark hair behind her ear.

"Namana. Like the the fruit." Then she leaned even closer, brushing her mouth against the shell of his ear, whispering. "And I've been told I taste just as sweet."

Damn it all if that didn't send his blood rushing south. "I think I'd like to decide that for myself..." He managed not to groan.

A slow smile lit her features. "Be my guest." Before he could say anything else she took his hand again, turning down the dark street, leading him back to her room.

An: Thank you for reading! Please leave a comment!