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Cody had a plan. Not a really good one, but a plan nonetheless.
So here's the deal. General Kenobi was perfect. He treated them with respect, and empathy, not like a cannon fodder and as if they were only made to die. Cody knew they were, that the clone army wasn't supposed to live through the war, and most of the Natborns understood that and treated them accordingly.
The Jedi Generals didn't. And Kenobi was one of the best. So no one could blame Cody for falling for him just a bit.
All right, maybe a bit more than a little bit. The point was, he wasn't exactly planning to act on these newly-found feelings. He really didn't! He was fine with admiring his general from afar. But when the general in question almost died in an explosion saving some of his troopers, including two shinies that hadn't even chosen their names yet, Cody realized how easily Obi-Wan could die. So he decided to act on whatever he was feeling. Thus the plan.
The talks among the troopers about the Natborn's holiday called Valentine's Day seemed like a perfect opportunity. He worked hard both on the gift he wanted to give to the general as well as the believable story he was going to tell him.
When the day came, Cody appeared in front of Obi-Wan's quarters, knocking on the door. He wasn't wearing his armor, only blacks, and the gift box was held tight in his hand.
"Come in!" he heard the general's answer so he entered the door opening code and came inside.
"Cody!" Obi-Wan smiled as he saw him. "Please, come in. What can I do for you?"
"So, general..." Cody suddenly lost all of his courage. He felt naked without the armor but he wanted to come to his general's quarters as a person, not a soldier.
"We, I mean the men, the Ghost company, recently learned about the Natborn celebration called Valentine's Day. And... We wanted to give you this. As a gift. For Valentine's Day."
Obi-Wan raised from his seat slowly, observing him for a moment.
"You are aware of the meaning of this holiday, right, Cody?"
"Yes, general."
"And you didn't have any objections to come here and give me the gift."
"No. I- I did so gladly. I wanted to be the one to give you this. I might have volunteered?"
"Well then." Obi-Wan came closer and leaned in, kissing him on the cheek and quickly moving back. Cody touched his cheek, the place where a moment ago were his general's lips, and looked at him slightly confused. He was almost sure he saw a faint blush on Obi-Wan's face.
"It's a way to show gratitude," Obi-Wan explained lightly. "And care. Because I care about you, Cody. I mean the men. Which includes you." Obi-Wan was rambling and Cody really wanted to just laugh at him. He couldn't though, he was still his commanding officer and it wouldn't be right to laugh at him, no matter what. And maybe he just thought that it was cute. A little bit.
"What I've been meaning to say," Obi-Wan tried again, his voice more steady. "Thank you, Cody, I really appreciate it. Would you like to stay for a cup of tea?"
"I think I should get back to my duties." Cody straightened up.
"A shame, really. But remember, my dear, my doors are always open should you want to drink with me."
"Thank you, sir." Cody smiled a bit stiffly, suppressing the urge to salute before he left the room.
In the safety of his own quarters, Cody almost regretted lying about how the gift was a collective idea while it was only his. But still, the idea was appreciated and it was all that mattered.
He touched his cheek once again and smiled, almost feeling the warmth of Obi-Wan's lips again.
***
So here's the thing. Obi-Wan knew Cody was lying, he felt it and he knew that all of his Ghosts would just come to his quarters with a gift if it was their collective idea. Which meant it was only Cody's idea. And he could have confronted him, tell him that he knew, but he didn't. Probably because he didn’t know what else he should say. He decided to turn his attention to the little gift box he was given by his commander. Inside there were two things.
The first one made him snort, as it was a "bracelet to keep his lightsaber from losing itself" (as the little note attached to it stated) which consisted of a leather bracelet and something that looked like a leash.
The second actually made him tear up. Cody must have made it himself because it was too imperfect to be bought, but it only made the gift more perfect. It was a little tooka cat figurine, made of wood. Obi-Wan moved his shaking hands over all of the curves of the little figurine and he suddenly felt he really needed to see Cody. He didn't need Quinlan's psychometry to feel the love with which the figurine was made.
He left unfinished paperwork, lying to himself that he would get back to it later, and almost ran to Cody’s quarters. He knocked impatiently a few times.
“A moment! Come on, what is so important…” he heard Cody’s grumbling which was cut off when he saw Obi-Wan. "General."
"Obi-Wan."
"What?"
"Call me Obi-Wan if I'm going to kiss you. I really want to kiss you, but I need to be sure you want it too."
"Obi-Wan," Cody breathed in answer and it was enough. Obi-Wan pushed him slightly so he could close the door and kissed him, putting his hands on Cody's cheeks.
The kiss itself was surprising. Cody was expecting something different, almost desperate considering the circumstances but the kiss was... Soft. Obi-Wan's lips moved against his so gently, not really trying to deepen the kiss. Cody was trying to effectively kiss back, but he felt overwhelmed and he was just so focused on feeling. On remembering everything he could from that first kiss, afraid that it may be the only one he will be ever allowed.
When they parted, Cody's head was empty and then he said the first thing he thought about.
"It was only my idea with the gift," he said quickly. Obi-Wan huffed a laugh and Cody felt his breath against his face.
"I know, Cody."
"You know?"
"I knew as soon as you said you volunteered. I know for sure if it was an idea of more than one of you, there would be a crowd in my quarters while delivering the gift."
Cody smiled so widely that his cheeks started to hurt.
"I made it myself," he said.
"It was beautiful."
"It was imperfect, I don't have any experience and I didn't have much time but..."
"It was perfect for me. You are perfect, Cody."
"Happy Valentine's Day, Obi-Wan."
"Happy Valentine's Day, my dear Cody," Obi-Wan answered, kissing him again. "I don't have anything for you," he added as he moved back, this time the kiss was much shorter.
"It doesn't matter. I have you, that's everything I need, cyar'ika." Cody smiled.
"But it's not fair!"
"What is not fair." Cody put his hand on Obi-Wan's cheek, moving his thumb slowly over his cheekbone. "Is that you are not kissing me right now."
"Oh, my dear. Let me make it up to you." Obi-Wan grinned, pulling him into another kiss.
And Cody... Cody felt happy. In that one moment, in Obi-Wan's embrace, with Obi-Wan's lips against his, he really thought there was a future for the two of them, after the war.
And in that one moment, he really looked forward to seeing it.