Master Apprentice
Archive
Black Times
|
|
|||
Obi-Wan crept on silent feet, not wanting to wake his Master. Even in the dark of the quiet quarters he kept his hood raised, appearing to be a thief scouting for booty, or a Padawan that doesn't want his master to know what he has been doing on a free night. There is a slight waver to his steps, indicating that all the alcohol hasn't been purged from his system.
Oh, Kenobi, you screwed up this time. The apprentice chastises himself. He is going to kill you.
"Who is going to kill you?" Qui-Gon's deep voice splits the silence of the dark room like a cannon, causing Obi-Wan to jump.
"I was projecting, forgive me Master." Words slightly slurred with drink. Obi still doesn't turn around to face his master, keeping the hood of his cloak as a barrier between he and the older man. "I guess I am more tired then I thought." A ploy, and a bad one at that, to try and get his Master to just let him go to bed.
"Hmmmm, I see. Just how much have you had to drink tonight Obi-Wan?"
The younger man sighs, bowing his head. Entirely too much obviously. "Only a little Master. We were celebrating Bant's naming day. She insisted we have a few drinks with her at the club. I will be fine in the morning, I just haven't taken the time to purge it from my system yet." More like you can't Kenobi.
With a flick of the force, Qui-Gon turns up the lights in the room, much to his Padawan's disapproval. "Here let me help." He reaches out to lie his hands on Obi-Wan's shoulders, but meets only empty air.
"That isn't necessary Master." Obi-Wan says as he tries to escape into his room. "As I said, I should be fine in the morning."
"Obi-Wan!"
He stops short, a direct command from his master cannot be disobeyed, no matter how much it may want to be. He ducks his head lower. "Yes Master." He begrudgingly moves to the couch, setting himself lightly upon it, ready to flee the moment he is excused.
Qui moves up behind him, placing his hands on the tight shoulders. "Obi-wan, you are so tense. What happened while you were out? You didn't get into another scuffle did you?"
"No Master! I learned my lesson last time."
"Well then what is going on?" He starts to pull the hood of Obi's cloak back off of his head. Obi-wan shoots off the couch like a rocket, grabbing the hood as he does.
"Master, I am very tired, I would just rather go to bed."
"Obi-wan! What in all the little gods has gotten into you? Lower your hood."
"Master, please."
"Obi!"
"Master, PLEASE!"
"Padawan, now!"
With a sigh, Obi-wan lowers his head, then pushes the hood back and away, revealing his now BLACK Padawan haircut. Qui has to bite his lip to stop the laughter that threatens to bubble forth. "Yes, well, a new look."
Obi-wan rolls his eyes as he looks up. His Master's mirth is unmistakable. "I'm glad I could be of amusement to you Master." He scratches at his dark spikes. "This isn't the worst part." He pulls something from behind his ear. The braid that marks him as a Jedi apprentice comes into view, it is the natural color of Obi-Wan's hair.
The laughter held in check now bursts forth from Qui-Gon's lips. "Oh Obi!" Reaching out he captures the weaved lock in his fingertips. With a gentle tug, he pulls his Padawan closer. "Tell me it isn't permanent die."
Obi-Wan sighs. "I wish I could. Bant thought it would be an interesting change, she didn't realize it wasn't a temporary die. I'm stuck with black hair and a rust braid."
"You could always die the braid too Obi-wan, it isn't that big of deal."
"NO!" Obi's eyes go wide at the mere suggestion. "Then what happens when my hair grows out and has to be cut, I am left with a black braid, and rust hair." He moans softly as he sits down on the couch again. "I'm doomed to be two toned."
Qui-Gon sits beside is overly distressed Padawan. "Obi-wan, this isn't that big of deal, as short as you have to keep your hair for the Padawan cut, the black will outgrow in no time." He reaches out and runs his hands through the short spikes. "Besides, I kind of like it."
Obi-Wan's head snaps up and he glares at the older man. "Master! I look like a Tribillian nor jumper."
Qui chuckles. "Only in the hair my one, you don't have a flat enough nose to pull off the part." His thumb grazes the younger man's cheek as he lets it drop back into his lap. "A month, perhaps two, and you will be back to yourself again."
Obi-Wan groans and leans against Qui's shoulder. "Two months? It may as well be a lifetime. I will be the laughing stock of the temple."
"Such melodrama from one so young." Qui gently chides. "Trust in the Force my one, in ALL things. This too will be a lesson"
"As always my Master." They spend a quiet moment, just being together, listening to the Force swirl around and through them. "Can we go to bed now Master?"
Qui-Gon nods. "Yes, but do you insist on sleeping in your room, or are you going to take your rightful place in my bed?"
"As always, preferably with you, but I didn't want to assume you would want to sleep with a stranger." He smiles up at the older man.
Qui chuckles and kisses the top of Obi's head. "Different perhaps, but never a stranger my heart." He stands up and offers his hand to Obi. "Come to bed love."
Obi takes the proffered hand and rises to his feet, arms going around the big man's neck. "I think you have some sort of stranger fetish and just don't want to tell me."
Qui rolls his eyes. "Yes that is quite it, I want to bed strangers when I have a willing Padawan at home." He clucks his tongue and gently shoves Obi toward the sleep chamber. "Get in there you imp, before I call one of my strangers."
Obi bows deeply as he backs away from the master Jedi. "Yes my Master, always willing Padawan at your service." He straightens and turns toward the bedroom door. Then as an after though he tosses over his shoulder, "Bant also thought is would be neat to get pierced. Wanna find mine?" He then dashes through the sleep chamber door, leaving Qui standing, open-mouthed, in the common room.
After a moment, Qui recovers and makes his way into the sleeping chamber. "I'll find it. But Obi, my heart, can you tell me why I have the sudden urge to call you Christian?"