*Takes place at the beginning of Season 2, Episode 12 of The Clone Wars, "The Mandalore Plot", with reference to Season 2, Episode 13 "The Voyage of Temptation."

The day Satine Kryze met Obi-wan Kenobi, she'd known her life had changed forever. Just not entirely in the way she'd expected it to.

Obi-wan, the walking contradiction he was, had wormed his way into her world at simultaneously the worst and best time. A time when her beloved Mandalore had been in the midst of wretched war, when the life of her and her family had been in jeopardy; a time in which she had been desperate for the security of compassion and trust within a companionship, to find a glimpse of light in so much dark.

This befuddling complexity would go onto define her entire relationship with Obi-wan, whether he sported that dreadful Padawan braid or not. She both admired and couldn't stand him for that unwavering loyalty, charisma, and geniality—while he seemed to take every opportunity to challenge each breath she took but also treated her with gentle reverence, from a single glance or the touch of a hand.

And to only make matters worse, he was infuriatingly and wonderfully handsome. With those intelligent blue eyes full of that stubbornly quiet strength; his feathery hair that seemed to change from red to blond to brown by a simple flicker of the light; his straight, perfectly-shaped nose that wrinkled when he grinned; the full lips that could smile so sweetly and roguishly, so gently and confidently.

Satine had been thrown into two wars the moment she met that charming young Padawan—one that threatened to rip apart her planet, and one that sought to break her heart. Because even then, she had known falling in love with Obi-wan Kenobi could only end in disaster. But it was a war inevitably lost. She fell for that insufferable and resplendent young man.

And then, just as she had predicted, he and all his horrible and beautiful contradictions were gone.

That was more than a decade ago. They were no longer a Padawan and Mandalorian Lady relying on each other to survive, no longer a young man and woman teasing their infatuation, but a reputable Jedi Master and respectable Duchess. Nothing more, nothing less.

She reminded herself of that fact every time her heart raced at the thought of him, every time the hollow chasm in her belly yawned open when she remembered his absence. She reminded herself of it now as she stared at her formal and pristine reflection, with her golden hair perfectly curled into her headdress of silk and foxgloves, her delicate features enhanced by makeup. But Satine instead saw the naive young girl that she had once been, wearing the torn and stained dress that bore her through the perils of war and nature, her blue eyes, fierce and weathered, innocent and frightened.

Perhaps she herself was the true contradiction.

"Duchess?"

The soft voice of her handmaiden pulled her from the sea of memory and introspection.

"Yes Coreia?" asked Satine, her tone formal and steady. Her Duchess voice, as Korkie liked to refer it.

"The Prime Minister wishes to inform you that your Jedi guest has arrived," said Coreia. "He awaits you in the throne room as we speak, My Lady."

Obi-wan. Here. Satine ignored her treacherous heart at the mention of the Jedi, instead rising from her vanity chair and smoothing out any minuscule crease in her modish blue dress. "Very well. I am on my way now."

_________

Satine wasn't sure how or what had changed on the walk from her private chambers, but the moment she stepped into the throne room and saw him standing there, she felt her temper shift from the ache and excitement of seeing him again to wild, burning, irrational disdain.

Because there he was, handsome as ever, if not more so in his maturity. The image of a collected and wise Jedi Master, his posture straight and expression stoic but kind. He was clothed in an a mix of white armor and robes that were atrocious in their intent, but (begrudgingly) fetching in their visual appeal. His hair, slightly longer than it had been during his Padawan years, and new beard were redder in the light seeping through the grand column of windows.

That beautiful face was unreadable, only revealing polite formality and nothing more. For some reason, it only made her burn hotter. This man claimed to be a Jedi—a protector of peace. The Obi-wan Kenobi she remembered was loyal and true to those principles, to kindness and compassion. Now, he was a general in servitude to a flawed Republic, choosing to fight in an intergalactic war and contribute to the devastation rather than uphold peace.

"Well, Master Kenobi," she said, unable to let some of her annoyance shine through her tone, "my shining Jedi Knight to the rescue again."

Obi-wan's brow furrowed ever-so-slightly at the dangerous words before his features schooled back into that Jedi blankness. "After all these years, you're more beautiful than ever."

Satine couldn't decide if she wanted to punch him or kiss him. Obi-wan Kenobi: the walking contradiction.

And oh, how she had missed him. Even as she kept up her mask as steadily as he did his, the thrill of being near him again was still there. She would at least allow herself that, to some degree.

Satine steeled herself. Down to business. "Kind words from a man who accuses me of treachery."

To his credit, Obi-wan's eyes grew remorseful at the jab. "I would never accuse you of personal wrongdoing, Duchess. However, a separatist saboteur attacked one of our public cruisers—a Mandalorian sabateur."

"You must be mistaken," said Satine. "No Mandalorian would engage in such violence. Not anymore. Where is this prisoner now?"

"He took his own life rather than submit to questioning. I know these commandos fought in many wars, often against the Jedi."

Satine bit the inside of her cheek. She had full faith in her people and the progress they'd made these past several years. For Obi-wan, of all people, to even question that, not to mention the laws keeping the Mandalorians and Jedi out of one another's affairs ... "Every one of my people are as trustworthy as I am." Are you going to challenge my dependability, Obi-wan?

There was a beat of silence in which the remorse in those beautiful blue eyes of his deepened. She softened. Changed, perhaps, but still sweet, stubborn Obi-wan Kenobi.

That she could not fall back in love with.

She took a deep breath and continued with more mercy than before. "I know we sound defensive, but-- clearly your investigation was ordered because the senate is eager to intervene in our affairs."

"My investigation was ordered by the Jedi Council."

Satine blinked. "I stand corrected." The Jedi Council? Either the Jedi are actually thinking for themselves again, or they've become so brainwashed by corrupt politicians that they are acting in their stead. Both had a chance, but it seemed that the former was more likely in this instance.

Or perhaps a part of her just wanted to believe in the Jedi again.

Satine considered Obi-wan for a moment, at the new lines on his face and the gentleness in his eyes, and felt herself soften. "General Kenobi, perhaps you would like to join me on a walk through the city."