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[neverjedi]

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Time skip to Friday after the concert

[darkforcerising]

it was midnight and Anakin was far from tired. They'd just listened to two and a half hours of EDM music and he was pumped to stay up the rest of the night.

"Thank you for not arresting anyone," he said to Obi-Wan, casting glances at him - he'd been doing that all night, assessing how he was handling the experience.

[neverjedi]

He was wearing jeans, as promised, and they absolutely weren't provocatively tight, they didn't leave much doubt that he was an athlete - the amount of muscling on his thighs and ass in particular was pretty impressive.

How he was handling the experience was by being over-stimulated and out of his comfort zone, but not... drowning in it. Also not wired.

"I'm insulted that you seem to believe that was asking a lot." He smiled slightly though to make sure there was no sting in his words.

[darkforcerising]

"You are a federal agent," Anakin pointed out. "And I am pretty sure we were the only sober people in there tonight."

[neverjedi]

He could use an awful lot of words to explain something that it didn't really need to be explained right now, or he could slip his hands into his pockets, breathe deeply and enjoy walking with Anakin in the cool night air.

"Given the 'music', I can see why people prefer inebriated."

He can also tease Anakin, instead. (Sort of tease, sort of not - really not his style.)

[darkforcerising]

Anakin shot Obi-Wan a look. "And what are you trying to say about me by that?" He dared with a raised eyebrow.

[neverjedi]

He returned the look with a smirk. "I'm saying that your taste in music is awful." Not that - "I had fun, anyway. I'm glad you invited me."

[darkforcerising]

"Well that was rude," Anakin snorted, but he was trying to focus on the silver lining there.

"What music do you prefer?"

[neverjedi]

"You opened the door and invited that remark in." Which wasn't the same as - Okay it probably was the same as being rude, actually, but he'd go with Anakin again. "I hadn't really given thought to what sort of music I gravitate toward in a long time. Classic rock, I think."

[darkforcerising]

Anakin wondered again how Obi-Wan really was.

"If Steely Dan starts touring again, we'll go," Anakin said. He knew a fair amount of classic rock. He remembers his mother's favorites well.

[neverjedi]

Thirty-two. Do you need to see his ID? Maybe he's just an old soul....

He laughs, softly. "More AC/DC and Led Zeppelin. Right era, though and I didn't actually mind tonight. The beat's just so sharp that even sober I was nearly seeing it explode behind my yes."

[darkforcerising]

Anakin might need to see this alleged ID.

"Obi-Wan," Anakin looked at him and shook his head. "That's the point. Feeling and seeing the music is part of the experience." At least that was for Anakin, the more of his senses that were engaged the more he was able to stay focused.

These concerts were also a place he could go and almost no one blinked twice at his arm. Partly because most people were drunk or high, partly because these crowds held fewer prejudices for body modifications.

[neverjedi]

He's just a hipster, Anakin, geeze.

He flashed a slight smile, quick but really warm and sincere - earnest, even. "And I enjoyed the experience and would repeat it. Without hesitation."

It's just most of the experience he enjoyed was being with Anakin and seeing Anakin in a place where he was enjoying himself - or at least more relaxed. He was more prone to overload than being better able to focus with a lot of stimulation.

[darkforcerising]

Something about the music being awful stung and made it feel like this wasn't a 'hit' like he'd hoped it would be. Which Anakin was okay with, they'd just have to find something different to share that was his primary interest.

"I know it's late." He didn't have work the next day, but maybe Obi-Wan did. He figured agents sometimes had to work weekends. "Did you want to find some place to get something to eat, or-" He left that hanging 'or', he was starving, but could just as easily eat at home.

[neverjedi]

"I don't live far from here. There's rootbeer in my refrigerator and we can pick up take out," he offered. "No ulterior motive, just a desire not to end the night being a jackass."

[darkforcerising]

Anakin cocked his head and smiled. “Is the rootbeer coincidental, or did you buy it on purpose?”

[neverjedi]

"I bought it on purpose." He apparently had no issue admitting that, even if it made it possible that he had been plotting something. He really hadn't been. "I'll bring it to you next time we play chess if you're more comfortable with that."

[darkforcerising]

By way of answer, Anakin said, “Rootbeer sounds great. Where to you want to grab take out? I’m not picky.”

[neverjedi]

"There's a Chinese place on the corner before my place that caters to late shift workers. We can grab the food there." He pulled his phone out, swiped through to an app, called up the appropriate place and then handed the phone over. "Why don't you go ahead and order so we don't have to wait."

[darkforcerising]

“What do you want?” Anakin asked as he scrolled through the menu.

As he scrolled, he realized he probably should have been more picky. Chopsticks were right out for him, so he took his time finding something he could eat with a fork. He settled on beef and broccoli. Bonus: the broccoli made it healthy.

[neverjedi]

" Szechuan shrimp and lemon chicken, add extra vegetables."

...Was he going to eat more 2,000 calories worth of take-out after midnight? Yes, yes he was.

Well, maybe. He'd probably also have lunch tomorrow.

[darkforcerising]

“Extra vegetables makes it healthy.”

He placed the order and handed the phone back to Obi-Wan.

“Have we reached the point where I get to start asking more personal questions?”

[neverjedi]

He snorts, because there is nothing healthy about this and he... kind of relishes that, actually.

"We reached that point when you agreed to come skating with me." He was still being careful with Anakin, because there was just something... guarded and fragile about him, that made him . It meant Anakin set the pace, at least. "Ask me anything you want."

[darkforcerising]

“Oh?” Anakin raised his eyebrows. “Is that when it happened?”

And then he considered exactly what question to ask.

He decided to go simple first. “Where did you grow up?”

[neverjedi]

He thought Anakin had a specific question. This was clearly going to be twenty-questions and...

He didn't really mind.

"In a series of ice-skating rinks?" he wasn't being evasive though and shook his head. "I was born and in San Jose, California and that's technically still home for my parents, but once I started competing there was a lot of movement with coach changes, partner changes once I started in pairs, and competitions." A pause, slightly cautiously, but: "You?"

[darkforcerising]

“Ha.” He knew there was more to come in the answer than just ‘in an ice rink.’ The answer was satisfactory. He now also knew Obi-Wan’d parents were still alive.

“In a junk yard.” He could be just as facetious. But he added, “Middle of nowhere, Arizona. And I do mean middle of nowhere.”