Title: Something To Talk About

Summary: A magazine article inspires Anakin, King of Bright Ideas. He thinks. Enough said.

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. Wish I did. Also, I didn't write the song "Something To Talk About," which will appear in this fic. That song is Bonnie Raitt's. So I pretty much own nothing in this fic.

Pairings: Anakin and Obi-Wan of course, who else is there?

Warnings: Slash, definitely (you were warned) Also language, and some implied mature content, especially later on. Nothing graphic.

A/N: Apparently this is what happens when I get bored. It was inspired by a fic I read by torinosu called "Truth" on livejournal. Parts two through four of this are going through the editing process, and should be up shortly. Hope you enjoy, and please let me know what you think. :D

Part One

It had to be the most ridiculous thing he had ever read.

Really, where did they come up with this kind of thing? It was so…well, ridiculous.

Obi-Wan glanced back down at the magazine he'd been reading, still unable to believe the utter absurdity of the article he'd found such a conflict with.

Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi…The Hero-With-No-Fear and The Negotiator… Heroes of the Clone Wars, Friends, Partners, and…Lovers?

At first Obi-Wan thought he'd misread the headline. But it still hadn't changed the second time he'd read it. Or the third. Or the fourth…

After the eighth time Obi-Wan was fairly certain that it said what he thought it had said. It was just such a ludicrous idea. Lovers?

It wasn't as though Obi-Wan had never thought about it before. Quite the opposite, actually. He had thought about it quite a lot. But he also knew that there was a less-than-zero percent chance of he and Anakin becoming lovers. He didn't waste time deluding himself. Okay, so maybe he did. But it wasn't his fault. Anakin was just so…Anakin. Anyone who'd ever met him knew what he was talking about. He was charming and sweet and sexy and kind and passionate and witty and brave and caring and smart and funny and, did he already mention sexy? Now, what was it that he'd been ridiculing? Ah, yes. The magazine. The one that had printed, in big bold letters, his deepest desire. Still, as much as he longed for it to be true, he was sensible enough to know that it was impossible. Therefore, this headline was utterly ridiculous.

Obi-Wan looked up when he heard the door slide open and Anakin walk in.

"What are you so happy about?" he asked. He hadn't seen Anakin grinning so widely since someone had told him (mistakenly) that Mace Windu was leaving the Jedi Order.

"I just read the funniest thing…" began Anakin.

"…in a magazine?"

"About us…"

"…being lovers?"

Anakin laughed and flopped down on the couch beside Obi-Wan. "You saw it too, huh?"

"It's right here." Obi-Wan tossed the magazine at him.

"Where do they come up with this stuff?" Anakin asked, still grinning as he read over the headline again.

"I have no idea. But at least they didn't get some misleading picture like they did with those two senators a couple of weeks ago."

"Amigana? I still can't believe Amidala and Organa are together," said Anakin, shaking his head.

"They aren't, Anakin," said Obi-Wan, trying not to let his exasperation at his partner show.

"How do you know?" Anakin countered.

"Well, don't you think that if Amidala and Organa were kissing in the middle of the street for everyone to see, the photographer could have at least gotten a better picture? You couldn't even see her face, it was so blurry," Obi-Wan pointed out.

Anakin shrugged. "Well, it could have been her. Anyway, what are you doing this afternoon?"

Obi-Wan waved a hand to sweep in all of his surroundings. A discarded datapad, a half-empty glass of Correlian wine, and several bags full of his favorite snacks were scattered across the table in front of him. A holonet program, one that Anakin could tell at first glance was one of those mind numbingly boring "classics" that Obi-Wan liked to watched, was playing, with the volume turned all the way down. It seemed that Obi-Wan's favorite things had ceased to entertain him. Well, Anakin knew just what to do about that.

"Oh, come on, Master. You can't stay here all day," said the younger Jedi.

"And…why not?" asked Obi-Wan. It seemed perfectly logical to him for one to relax during one's first respite in over a year. Of course, Anakin's idea of relaxation differed greatly from his.

Anakin frowned. "Well, because…it's not good for you. You should get outside more," he said, as though Obi-Wan were a lazy Padawan that needed encouragement to be more active.

Obi-Wan snorted. "Anakin, I've been out in the wind and rain and snow and heat nearly every day of my life for the past three years in this war. The Council has finally given us a break, don't you think we should enjoy the chance to relax?"

"Well, I was thinking that we could do something more…fun." Anakin's voice was all innocence, but Obi-Wan knew better than to let this fool him.

"What kind of fun?" he inquired suspiciously.

"Oh, I don't know…just…fun." Anakin idly twirled a strand of his curly blonde hair around his finger. Damn. Obi-Wan wondered if Anakin knew just how irresistable he was when he did that. When coupled with his trademark Skywalker Pout…the one he was using right now, full force… it was simply impossible to say no to him. With those big blue eyes and those full, luscious lips, twisted into that delectable Pouty frown…how could Obi-Wan possibly resist?

He sighed heavily. "Fine. What did you have in mind?"

Anakin stopped Pouting and grinned at him. "Come on." He grabbed his Master by the hand and began pulling him toward the door.

"But where are we going?" asked Obi-Wan. Why did Anakin have to touch him? Didn't he know what them touching did to him? Of course he didn't, and Obi-Wan intended to keep it that way. It definitely shouldn't feel this absolutely right, though. He really wished he could pull away, but he wasn't sure how he could do that without either hurting Anakin's feelings or tipping the young man off to the Jedi Master's own.

Anakin's grin just widened. "You'll see."

"Anakin, why are we here? This is a bar. Both our pictures are going to end up on the front page of another one of those tabloids if we're not careful," groaned Obi-Wan. The last thing he needed was more coverage in the media. He had enough of that as it was.

"Exactly." Anakin hissed. "That's the point."

"Just what exactly are you planning, anyway?" demanded Obi-Wan.

Anakin looked sheepish, a sure sign that Obi-Wan wasn't going to like whatever it was that he had to say. "Well, I thought…since they wrote about it… I mean, they already think it…"

"Think what?" Obi-Wan's eyes narrowed.

"Well, that we're lovers." Anakin looked embarrassed. He was actively avoiding Obi-Wan's gaze, and his cheeks were flushed. It was a look that older Jedi found oddly appealing.

"I was just thinking that…well, they came up with that without any evidence at all…What if we actually gave them some evidence?" Anakin continued.

"If you don't mind my asking, why exactly would we want to intentionally give them evidence to support the claim that we're lovers? They're making things up just fine without our help," Obi-Wan pointed out.

Anakin shrugged. "It would be funny."

The older Jedi raised an eyebrow at him. "I'm not laughing. This is the most…it's just stupid. They don't have any evidence now… most sensible people will probably ignore it. Can you imagine what a scandal it would create if they actually did have evidence?"

"That's exactly what I'm trying to tell you. Can you imagine the look on Mace Windu's face? That itself would make it worthwhile," Anakin snickered at the thought. And Obi-Wan had to admit Mace Windu's shocked reaction would be rather amusing to witness. Then again, it would be made less enjoyable by the fact that he and the other Council Members, not to mention the rest of the galaxy, would have all sorts of thoughts and images featuring him and Anakin running through their heads. Thoughts and images that Obi-Wan had probably entertained himself with at one time or another.

"Please, Master?" begged Anakin. The young Knight's eyes grew wide, and he pursed his lips in that all too familiar sulk.

Don't look at The Pout…don't look at The Pout… Sithspit. He had looked at The Pout.

Obi-Wan sighed. "Fine," he said bitterly. Why did he let Anakin talk him in to these things?

Anakin grinned, and Obi-Wan felt his heart melt at the sight. Oh. Right. That was why. Anakin began dragging him off toward the counter. It wasn't long before a gruff, beefy bartender came to take their order.

"Hi, me and my…" Anakin paused to shoot Obi-Wan a lascivious smile, "partner… would like two of whatever the special is today." Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. As soon as the bartender disappeared, Anakin turned back to his friend, his eyebrows raised.

"So, how was that?" he demanded eagerly.

"Overdone," replied Obi-Wan shortly.

Anakin's face fell. "You think?"

"And what was with that smile?" asked Obi-Wan, unable to keep a smirk off his face.

"What?" asked Anakin.

"It was so…lustful." Obi-Wan had to work to keep from shivering at the memory of it. He couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to see Anakin look at him like that in a different situation. A situation that his mind had no trouble creating images for. Mind out of the gutter, Kenobi. What will you say when Anakin asks you why you're sitting there grinning at nothing because you're lost in some daydream about you and him in the shower, and he's licking a drop of water from your chest and his hair's all wet and sticking to his head the way it does and that one curl falls into his eyes…those beautiful blue eyes…and the water is pouring down his arms and chest and dripping down…EXCUSE ME! Just what do you think you're grinning about?

Anakin shot Obi-Wan a look that the older man couldn't quite identify. "I'm a good actor," he shrugged.

Obi-Wan couldn't resist. He just loved watching Anakin squirm. Particularly enjoyable were the instances when he blushed and refused to look at anyone. It was so adorable to watch. He decided to treat himself. "Is that so? Because it seemed a bit…real to me." The little voice in the back of his head, the one he always tried his best to keep under control, but which was never completely silenced, whispered something that sounded suspiciously like, 'wishful thinking.'

Anakin flushed and dropped his gaze to the floor. Obi-Wan grinned. Sometimes, his former apprentice was so predictable. "Of course it wasn't real."

"Hmm, okay," the older Jedi said noncommittally.

"It wasn't!" Anakin insisted fervently.

"All right! Whatever you say!" said Obi-Wan, still looking rather smug.

Anakin scowled and turned back to the counter as the bartender set their drinks down in front of them, his cheeks still a bright red.

Just then, a flash of bright light and the familiar click of a camera caused Obi-Wan to whirl around on his stool to face whoever had taken the picture, and was met with a blinding white light that caused him to see spots. When he finally regained his sight, he turned to Anakin, who, much to his annoyance, was grinning. Obi-Wan glared at him. This had to be the stupidest idea Anakin had ever had. And that was saying something. Things were made worse when his former Padawan happily swung an arm over his shoulders as the photographer snapped another picture. Funny, the bar had been cold when they'd come in, and yet, the moment Anakin had touched him, his skin was set ablaze. That definitely wasn't supposed to happen. He hastily gulped down the rest of his drink. Breathe, Kenobi. Breathe. You have to breathe.

Obi-Wan was so preoccupied in controlling his body's reactions that he didn't even register that Anakin had stood up and was dragging him off his stool.

"What?" he asked, slightly disoriented.

"Come on, Obi! I want you to see something," Anakin winked at him, and Obi-Wan felt his heart accelerate at the not-so-innocent gleam in his eye. The elder Jedi followed helplessly as his younger partner pulled him through the crowded bar and into the equally crowded street outside.

"What are you doing?" he hissed. He allowed Anakin to pull him across the street, around a corner, and down a deserted alley. A deserted alley. Nothing good ever came from disappearing down deserted alleys. Didn't Anakin ever watch holodramas? But uncertain as he was about this, he just couldn't quite summon the desire to simply say "no." It was those eyes. Those big, azure eyes that rendered him helpless.

The sound of metal on concrete alerted him to another presence, back down the alley, the way they had come.

"Anakin, I think we're being followed," he whispered.

"Of course we are. It's that photographer," Anakin muttered back.

"What? Anakin, if they get a picture of this…" began Obi-Wan, he shuddered, though it wasn't because the thought of what would happen had caused him any panic. It was just the thought of what this looked like― what he wished it was― that gave him chills.

"Oh, trust me, they don't need a picture of me dragging you down an alley." Anakin said confidently.

"What do you mean?" asked Obi-Wan as they came to a halt near a brick wall.

"Why would they need that when they already have a picture of me doing this?"

Obi-Wan got his answer before he could ask the question, when Anakin turned and shoved him roughly against a wall. Before he could register what was happening, Anakin's lips were pressed against his, his human hand cupping the side of his face, his durasteel hand fisted in his hair.

Obi-Wan's senses were on overload. A shiver ran through his spine that had nothing to do with the gust of wind that stirred the shreds of metal and old garbage that littered the pavement and caused their cloaks to whip around their ankles. He wasn't really aware of the wind. In fact, he wasn't aware of much of anything other than Anakin's tongue caressing his and his hands on his skin and in his hair. Without even realizing what he was doing, he responded to the kiss. He wanted this so badly. Needed it so much. He didn't care who was watching or what they thought or whether or not they told the entire galaxy. All he cared about was the man in front of him. About the incredible need he felt to touch him and taste him and kiss him and―

Suddenly his lungs were full of air, the warmth on his face was gone, and his lips and tongue were left craving more. He blinked in confusion.

"Looks like they got their picture," said Anakin quietly, staring back up at the entrance of the alley.

Picture. Yes, the picture. The oh-so-important picture…what picture was that again? It sounded familiar… Think, Kenobi. It was one kiss! Focus, man! Focus!

Oh, right. The picture the photographer had taken. Now he remembered. The picture that was undoubtedly going to end up on the front page of a tabloid next week. Only then did he remember where they were, what they were doing and why they were doing it, and, most heartbreakingly of all, the fact that it wasn't real. None of it had meant anything. Not to Anakin, at least. Obi-Wan suddenly found himself wishing that he had never agreed to this. It was one thing to want something that you knew you could never have, but to actually get it, and then have it brutally ripped from your grasp was far worse, in his opinion. He had known that this was a bad idea.

"G-good. That's― that's good," stammered Obi-Wan, still struggling to gather his wits enough to form a coherent thought.

"Are you all right?" asked Anakin, looking concerned.

"Fine." It was all Obi-Wan could manage. Anything else far surpassed his ability to verbalize at the moment. One little kiss and you turn into a stuttering mass of numb brain cells and jelly-limbs. Get a grip on yourself! You're a Jedi Master, for Force's sake! Quit acting like some lovesick Padawan!

"I think the photographer's gone. You don't look so good. You want to head back to your quarters?" asked Anakin, resting a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. It was all Obi-Wan could do just to nod. Anakin was touching him again.