Master Apprentice Archive Bruck Tales: Lessons on Coruscant Quick search:

Summary: Bruck manages to score some downtime with Obi-Wan at the Temple. Teenage hijinks ensue, Padawan-style. Master Jinn shows that torturing your charges is just one of the many wonderful fringe benefits of parenting. (Bruck/Obi-Wan)
Second in the 'Bruck Tales' series, sequel to Bruck Tales: The Shadowed Force.

Rated PG for teenage drinking.
Categories: Bruck Obi/Wan. Not even remotely Q/O, dashes of Hurt/Comfort, moments of Angst, Bruck's Point of View, Romance inasmuch as such a word applies to teenagers, Drama. This puppy's got it all.

Chocolate Jedi and first-borns and endless adventures on a certain ice-planet for Aunty Mary to whom I would be hopelessly indebted even if I did serve up all that.

Star Wars and everything in it is the property of Lucasfilm. Bruck Chun was introduced in 'The Rising Force', a libellous novel by Dave Wolverton. Not Dan. Thank you, Van.

Master Medith was renowned for her skill in dealing with the less savoury elements of the Republic. She had a manner and a wit that intimidated even Togorians and Hutts, and consequently she and her padawan kept a hectic schedule. Their stops on Coruscant were rare and brief, and so almost two years passed before Bruck had the chance to see Obi-Wan again.

He found himself pacing outside Master Jinn's quarters. In all the time he'd been planning to see Obi-Wan again, he hadn't really factored in that Obi-Wan hated him, and that they'd probably be too exhausted for visitors if he blundered in within hours of their arrival.

Bruck started down the corridor. It would be better to seek Obi-Wan out in the Temple. If he had a chance. Bruck paused. Jinn's and Obi-Wan's stops on Coruscant were as short and infrequent as his own, and they might be called away at any time. He wouldn't forgive himself if he missed this chance. He forced himself to walk back and reached to knock before he could start thinking again.

"Come in."

Bruck stopped, knuckles inches from the door, and then dropped his hand and stepped inside.

Qui-Gon looked up from the table where he was sorting through datapads. "You were going to wear through the floor out there." He stared blankly for a moment, and then nodded a greeting. "Padawan Chun. You are here to see Obi-Wan, I suppose?"

"Actually Master, I wanted to speak with you. I wanted to thank you for what you said to me before leaving for Bandomeer."

The blank look was back. "Oh?"

Bruck released his hurt. A moment that meant everything in one person's life could be insignificant to another. "I had given up, afraid that I wasn't good enough to become a padawan." He tugged on his braid. "If it hadn't been for your encouragement, I would be raising crops today."

He recieved a long, inscrutable look, and then at the sound of Obi-Wan's door opening they both turned.

"Bruck?" Obi-Wan asked in surprise, and a little warily.

Bruck's stomach flopped, and the old dismay rose. Over a year and a half had passed; he shouldn't feel this way anymore, but Obi-Wan was fresh out of the shower, his hair still damp and his skin looking soft and flushed. He'd grown, far more than Bruck, and he didn't look like a boy anymore. And he was looking at Bruck, waiting for some sort of response.

"I- I came to see Master Qui-Gon."

"Oh." He made a move to withdraw, and Bruck stepped forward.

"I wanted to see you too."

Obi-Wan tensed, but came out. "It has been a while."

Bruck flushed, feeling Qui-Gon's curiosity on him. He was uncomfortable revealing his faults in front of a Master, but he had to do this before he lost the nerve. He dropped his gaze to his twisting fingers. "I wanted to apologise for the way I acted when we were initiates. I let my fears guide me. Even children know better than to call names, and I provoked you into fighting. I'm sorry."

He looked up to see Obi-Wan staring at him, pleased. His mouth opened and closed a few times, and then he smiled. "I'll accept, if you'll forgive me. I said some cruel things, too."

Bruck grinned. "I'm glad you got your apprenticeship." He glanced back at Qui-Gon, just in time to catch the last of a crooked smile.

"I see you got rescued, too," Obi-Wan said.

"Master Medith took me on."

"She is here?" Qui-Gon asked.

"She's visiting her family on Alderaan."

He seemed faintly disappointed. "I don't often get a chance to catch up with her." The _expression faded, and he turned his attention back to Bruck. "I take it you are using the time on Coruscant to study?"

Bruck nodded. "It's actually been interesting to reread the texts, now that I have some field experience. Everything's far more complicated, but it all makes much more sense, now."

He could have sworn the Master's _expression was smug. "Perhaps you could tell Obi-Wan that? He's been dreading this sojourn on Coruscant."

"I have not been dreading it, Master. I simply haven't been looking forward to it. At all."

"We could study together, if you like." The invitation was out before Bruck could catch it. "I- I mean, if you want. It might be more interesting, if we're discussing it, instead of just reading."

"Would that be all right, Master?"

"Of course. If Padawan Chun can teach you some enthusiasm for your text studies, I may have to see about adopting him full time. Would you care to stay for dinner, Bruck? Perhaps you could tell us about the studies you have made already?"

After spending months worrying about how his apology would be accepted, Bruck ended up having dinner, a rich discussion of Jedi philosophies, and an appointment to meet Obi-Wan in the library in the morning. He could have levitated home.

Obi-Wan slid into the seat next to Bruck. "So were you serious about liking this stuff, or were you just trying to make my Master like you?

Bruck smiled up at him, but wilted slightly when he saw that there was an edge of genuine suspicion on Obi-Wan's face. "I like it. You didn't have to come if you didn't want to."

"When you asked in front of Qui-Gon?"

Bruck stared at him, and then slammed the book shut, oblivious to the sudden silence from the other Jedi in the library. "Fine," he hissed. "Then study on your own. I just thought it would be fun. I thought you wanted to."

He picked up the text and walked out, speeding his pace when he heard the library door open behind him and and the patter of feet following him up the corridor. "Wait!"

Bruck turned the corner, not caring where it took him, but Obi-Wan caught up and grabbed his arm. "I'm sorry. I did want to study with you." Bruck glared, and Obi-Wan shifted, embarrassed. "I just started wondering, last night... It's sort of a habit, not liking you."

"I said I was sorry."

"I know. Can we try again?"

Bruck started to nod, and then his mouth twisted. "They'll stare at us if we go back to the library."

"We could go somewhere else."

They ended up in the orchard. It was only a tiny orchard, of course, a gesture rather than a source of food, but the trees were good for climbing and that was enough for Bruck.

"Are you sure this is allowed?"

"It isn't. The Masters used to chase me out of here all the time. That fork there is really comfortable." Bruck pointed the way to Obi-Wan as he swung up into his favourite branch.

"Isn't this a bit childish?"

Bruck's face burned a little at the insult, but he forced his pride to stay in check. Who was Obi-Wan to tell him what was childish? "I'm never going to stop climbing trees. Even when I'm old." He saw the scepticism on Obi-Wan's face, and added wickedly, "Besides, Master Medith's not here to watch over me. I have to have fun while I can."

"But *my* master's here."

"Force, Obi-Wan, you haven't changed. We're climbing trees, not cutting down the Council spire. Relax, will you?" He sighed at Obi-Wan's glare. "What's the worst Qui-Gon would do?"

Obi-Wan relaxed slightly, and shrugged. "He'd be disappointed in me," he replied quietly.

"You care a lot what he thinks."

"Don't you care what your Master thinks?"

"Of course I do."

Bruck was indignant, and Obi-Wan seemed to realise, because he gently added. "Qui-Gon seems to respect her." A good word from your Master was the highest compliment a padawan could pay. "What's she like?"

Grudgingly releasing his irritation, Bruck took up his favourite topic. "She's pretty good. We go on lots of missions against pirates and things. She isn't scared of anyone. We got captured by Togorian pirates, once, and she wasn't even worried. She just bossed them around until they dropped us on a planet."

"She negotiated with Togorians?"

Bruck swelled a little at impressing Obi-Wan. "She never even drew her saber."

"Qui-Gon and I do a lot of diplomatic missions, but we always seem to end up fighting someone."

"Is he as good a fighter as they say?"

"Yeah. I want to be as good as him one day."

"I bet you will," Bruck declared. "I think that's why Yoda set you two up. You were the best fighter in the Temple."

Obi-Wan flushed, and shrugged off the compliment. "Only because I was there the longest. What about you and Master Medith?"

"Why are we together?"

Obi-Wan nodded.

"Probably because she specialises in criminals. I'm her sort of project." He smiled ruefully.

Obi-Wan just raised a brow. "Is it working?"

"Obviously not," came a voice from below.

Obi-Wan near fell off his branch in fright, but Bruck just put on his most innocent face for Master Eeth Koth.

"Bruck Chun, how is it that I still have to order you out of my trees? And now you're corrupting Padawan Kenobi?"

"We're communing with the life Force of the tree, Master."

"Well, you can just get down here and commune from the grass."

Obi-Wan was on the ground before Koth had finished the sentence, but Bruck took his time. He'd been playing this game with the Council member since he was a boy. He dropped, flowing straight into a respectful bow.

Master Koth eyed the text in his hands. "Essays on honour?"

Obi-Wan cleared his throat. "We were looking for a quiet place to study, Master Koth."

"Studying? Then I'm sure that by tomorrow, the pair of you will be able to present a verbal history of Jedi philosophies on honour over the last millenia as they came to shape our current thinking, and make a comparative argument for one of the philosophies held prior to today."

"Yes, Master."

"I will see you here at dawn. On the ground."

"Yes, Master." The boys hurried out of the orchard.

As soon as they stepped into the corridor, Obi-Wan turned an angry hiss on Bruck. "You got me in trouble."

"I didn't get you in anything. Besides, we were going to study anyway. Now we have a focus."

"Master Qui-Gon's going to kill me."

Bruck rolled his eyes, and started walking. "A Jedi only kills in self defence. Not for the honour of Master Koth's tango trees."

"You're not funny."

"I've heard that Master Qui-Gon is rebellious, but I hardly think he strays that far from the Code."

"I wouldn't be so sure."

Bruck rolled his eyes in contempt. "So are you going to go off and sulk?"

"I can't. We have to understand a thousand years of Jedi philosophy and have some sort of opinion on it before breakfast tomorrow." His glare was ruined by the exasperated smile. "Come on. We'll see if we can stay out of trouble in my quarters."

Master Koth accepted their presentation with a nod of approval and the offer to hear a an oral essay on the historical development of Alderaan's relations with the Senate the next time they were in the mood to climb trees. The boys politely refused.

Bruck wouldn't have minded a few more nights lying on the floor of Bruck's room, tearing through texts and occasioanlly throwing datachips at each other to keep awake, but Alderaan's exceptionally boring political history did not appeal. It didn't matter, anyway; after that night, Bruck and Obi-Wan became inseparable. They spent hours in the library or sprawled over Obi-Wan's bed, arguing over the texts they'd thought so incredibly dry when they were initiates, comparing stories of their adventures to illustrate their ideas.

Sometimes, when they were in Obi-Wan's room, Obi-Wan would poke his head out to ask Qui-Gon to explain something or to referee, and Qui-Gon would end up joining in on the discussion. 'Joining in' for Qui-Gon meant systematically destroying any conclusions they'd come to and undermining all the assumptions they'd started with. Bruck loved every minute.

Bruck and Obi-Wan took most of their meals together, and occasionally he was even welcomed in on their physical training sessions, since he had no one set to train with. Sparring with Obi-Wan was even better than he remembered.

Bruck was a little disappointed to find that Obi-Wan's saber skills were so far ahead of his own; he thought he'd got in a lot of practice. But the envy was gone. It didn't matter so much without the fear of banishment. There was plenty of time to hone his skills before the Trials, and even then he wouldn't have to compete with Obi-Wan, only himself. Besides: Bruck had his own advantage wth their studies, where he was quicker to grasp ideas.

Late one night, a week into their frendship, Bruck was lying on Obi-Wan's bed with his knees pulled up, Obi-Wan sitting sideways on the end. They were exhausted from a strenuous afternoon of training, and discussion had petered off into a pleasant quiet.

Bruck dared a look down at Obi-Wan, who was staring off into space, bottom lip rolling gently between his teeth. Force, he wanted to touch him. Bruck could smell him on his pillow, and it was too hard not to close his eyes and imagine Obi-Wan was beside him.

"You're not falling asleep on me, are you?"

Bruck smiled, but didn't open his eyes. "Nope."

Silence again, but not for long. The bed rocked as Obi-Wan shifted. "How come you hated me so much?"

Bruck's eyes shot open, but he didn't move.

"I never understood why you hated me so much."

Bruck had to force his tongue to respond. "I was scared nobody would pick me."

"But how come you hated *me*?"

Because Obi-Wan had scared him, more than anyone. As if that made sense. "I don't know."

"I didn't mean to knock you over, that day."

"I know. Did you..."

Obi-Wan frowned as Bruck trailed off. "Did I what?"

"Nothing."

Obi-Wan's brow creased a little further, but he went back to his silent thought.

Bruck watched him, the knot in his belly tightening. Awkwardly, he reached out with the Force to feel for anger, but he wasn't very good at that, yet, and Obi-Wan looked back, sensing him.

The knot jerked tighter. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to pry."

Obi-Wan shrugged and smiled his own apology. "It's okay. I'm not angry."

Bruck just nodded, realising how sure he'd been that Obi-Wan would tell him to get out.

There was a knock, and the door slid open to admit Qui-Gon. "Don't tell me you two have actually run out of things to say?"

"Never, Master Qui-Gon."

"You haven't stopped all week. I think a day off is in order."

"A whole day?" Obi-Wan asked in surprise. A full day off was unheard of.

"I don't want to see either of you tomorrow from breakfast to the sleeping hour, and if I hear you have so much as considered the deeper philosophies of the Code, I will have you locked out of the library for a week. Do you understand, Padawans?"

"Yes, Master Qui-Gon," Bruck replied in time with Obi-Wan's "Yes, Master."

He gave them a warning glare, and withdrew.

Bruck sat up and Obi-Wan grabbed his hands. "Coruscant. We have to explore Coruscant."

Bruck nodded excitedly. "Window shopping."

"The Republic Centre."

"Restaurants."

"Do you think we can do the entire planet in a day?"

"We'll have to try."

Obi-Wan was already waiting by the gates when Bruck arrived ten minutes early the next morning. They were dressed in plain tunics - hardly a disguise when their braids flopped at their shoulders, but they were heading out to have fun, not intimidate the locals. Not that Coruscant locals were particularly bothered by Jedi.

He shook his pocket. "Master Qui-Gon gave me credits. There's enough for lunch and dinner, a little extra for whatever we want."

Most of the morning was spent simply wandering the streets, window shopping and watching the people go about their business. Initiates were never allowed to leave the Temple without supervision, and neither Bruck nor Obi-Wan had ever had the opportunity to explore on their own since. Almost their entire lives had been spent on this planet, and they knew none of it.

They passed a toy supplies shop, and Obi-Wan grabbed Bruck's hand to pull him inside, not letting go until they were deep into the hobby section. "I used to build models when I was a kid." Bruck's hand was tingling. "I had three Verpine fighters that flew near my ceiling." Bruck's arm was tingling. "I always wondered what the ones in shops were like." The tingle was rushing around his whole body. "Are you all right?"

It took him a moment to realise Obi-Wan was watching him strangely, pouting slightly as he always did when he was concerned. "Wha? I'm fine."

A flash smile. "You looked a little distracted."

"Just... having a good time. So what are their Verpine fighters like?"

It was absolutely the best day of Bruck's life. They had lunch on the balcony of a small restaurant in the upscale part of town near the Senate Building, where they could watch the people go by, and then went to the Republic Centre. They spent hours exploring the exhibits from all the different Republic worlds, tugging each other around to see the exhibits for the worlds they'd visited. Bruck revelled in every touch.

"That was my second mission, except it wasn't official. We were on our way to Gala but the pilot abducted us. It was really spooky, all those people, just... not there."

Bruck hadn't even looked at the exhibit. He was watching the remembered fear on Obi-Wan's face. "It must have been awful."

"I really thought they would wipe my memory. Can you imagine?" His eyes were shining blue with the horror of it. "Not knowing who you are, or where you are? Just being nobody?"

Bruck sucked in his breath. "I can't imagine anything worse than being nobody."

When they finally headed outside, the afternoon was settling towards dusk, and some of the first lights were blinking on.

Obi-Wan looked around mournfully. "This day has gone so quick."

"It's not over, yet." Bruck stared over the gloomy street, wondering what to do next. "We have to do something memorable."

"Memorable?" Obi-Wan asked, cautiously.

"Something big. Or different. Something to mark the day."

"I think it's already pretty memorable." He grinned at Bruck's impatient look. "What do you suggest?"

Bruck tapped his toe on the ground as he thought. He'd always hung out with the older, more rebellious initiates, and the memories of Obi-Wan the Perfect weren't completely gone. He needed to know he was human, even if it was only a little. "Let's explore the South side."

Obi-Wan stared at him, but didn't outright refuse. "If Qui-Gon finds out, we'll never be allowed to leave the Temple again. Force, we wouldn't be allowed into the gardens unsupervised."

"Qui-Gon won't know." He risked a hand on Obi-Wan's chest, felt his pulse race. "We've been perfect padawans all week. We have to rebel. It's the rules."

A long pause, in which Bruck almost passed out from not breathing, and then a small smile. "Well, then. You know I don't like to break rules."

The Southern Hemisphere was the seedier side of Coruscant. It held the bars where freight Captains wasted their evenings, and meeting places for the darker elements that always seemed to congregate near government centres, and even, it was rumoured, brothels.

It didn't seem so bad to Bruck. It was a little older, and more cluttered than the rest of the planet, but hardly the scene of debauchery he'd been expecting. He'd been on missions to much worse places.

"There doesn't seem to be much going on," Obi-Wan observed.

"Maybe it's just early. It's barely evening. What do you want to do?"

Obi-Wan shrugged, looking around the gloomy street. "I don't know. This was your idea."

Bruck jiggled a little. He hadn't actually planned this. He couldn't remember the last time he'd broken Temple rules - even unspoken ones - so blatantly, and adrenalin was sparking through his nerves, making him lighthearted and stupid. The feeling was kind of fun. He looked over his shoulder at Obi-Wan, and saw the same tension on his face. They realised they were both holding their breath and burst into giggles, leaning against each other as they tried to suppress their laughter.

Obi-Wan gasped for breath. "We're supposed to be Jedi. Cool, calm and inscrutable."

"You don't think we've got Qui-Gon's intimidating reserve down, yet?" More laughter, washing away the nerves, and then Bruck grabbed Obi-Wan's hand again. "Come on. We're going to find a bar." This time, he didn't let go.

They finally found a strip with a bit more activity, including the bright lights of bars. Bruck reluctantly released the hand he'd been clutching, and felt his entire body burn when Obi-Wan squeezed before letting go. He looked over his shoulder to see Obi-Wan flushed as well, with the shine of nervousness back in his eyes.

The bartender took one look at them and pointed them back to the door.

Obi-Wan reached for his hand as soon as they stepped outside. His hand was warm and slightly sweaty and Bruck's tingle was back. The next bar refused them, and the next, and each time they moved outside they reached to hold hands. Finally, Obi-Wan sighed, turning to face Bruck so he stood a little too close. "Nobody's going to let us in. Maybe we should try something else." His voice was barely above a whisper.

"Just a couple more." Bruck squeezed his hand, knowing that would get a nod, and they wandered a few doors up. This place was darker, and almost devoid of patrons. Bruck let go of Obi-Wan's hand, and tried to look as grown up as possible as he led the way in. The bartender gave them the same look as all the others, but at least she didn't order them out before they'd even come in.

She wandered along behind the counter to greet them. "You boys don't seriously think anyone around here is going to serve a couple of Jedi children, do you?"

Bruck plastered on his most charming smile. "I thought this was the darker side of Coruscant?"

"You're not that far South, child. You boys are likely to bring me a few credits profit and a whole lot of trouble. No one around here would be stupid enough to make enemies of the Jedi." Bruck and Obi-Wan looked at each other and sighed, and she softened. "I'll tell you what. I'll serve you dinner and drinks, but nothing alcoholic, as long as you promise never to mention the name of my bar to your friends. I don't want others of your lot coming here, thinking I'm an easy target."

"Thank you," Obi-Wan replied. He looked at Bruck. "That's all right, isn't it?"

It wasn't quite what Bruck had been hoping, but he nodded. He would have gone back to the Temple to study, if Obi-Wan had asked. And when Obi-Wan slid into the booth beside him, instead of opposite, and scooted so close their thighs were touching, he decided it wasn't such a bad compromise, after all.

They sat in silence, Bruck's left hand in Obi-Wan's right, both of them watching their joined fingers. The bartender took their order with a raised brow and a maternal smile.

Their meal was back in minutes, and they reluctantly extricated their fingers to eat. Conversation started up again, slowly, ambitions brought out and turned over, occasionally punctuated by a theft from the other's plate.

"I want to work near Coruscant, or some other city-planet," Obi-Wan declared.

"I didn't think you were the social type."

"I'm not, exactly. I just like to have lots of people around. I like to know they're there. What about you?"

"I don't know. I never thought about it, really. I think, when I'm old and I can't fight anymore, I'd like to go where there are a lot of plants. Crops, or gardens or something." He snatched a vegetable from Obi-Wan's plate, and twirled it in his fingers, flicking Obi-Wan a crooked smile. "I kind of grew attached to the idea when I thought I was headed for Agri-Corp."

They fell silent again, both still nursing the memories of their fears. Bruck shook himself. This wasn't what he was here for. He gave Obi-Wan a nudge with his leg. "Come on. We're not going to waste the last of our night getting maudlin, especially when we didn't even get drunk to find the mood."

Obi-Wan slid out and headed to the bar to pay, while Bruck waited by the door. Obi-Wan liked him. Hold-hands and press-up-close-in-a-booth kind of liked him. Bruck bounced on his toes. Liked him.

Obi-Wan was grinning when he returned from the bar. "Come on." He caught Bruck's hand, and pulled him out into the night.

Bruck let himself be led. "What do you want to do now?"

Obi-Wan's grin turned Sithly. "I don't know, but the bartender gave me a few ideas." He stopped in the middle of the street and raised his arm to show the outline of a bottle in his sleeve. "She said we seemed like such nice boys and since we hadn't caused any trouble, but I had to swear on my Master's life that I would never reveal the name of her bar."

"Which bar?"

"Exactly."

"Where should we go?" Bruck craned his head to look for nearby skyscrapers, and then frowned. There would be nowhere private up there.

"How about around here somewhere?"

Bruck just nodded, not sure if was able to speak, after hearing the tone in Obi-Wan's voice. There was a tug on his arm, and he realised Obi-Wan was waiting for him to follow.

"Bruck?"

Bruck took a couple of steps to stand before Obi-Wan and quickly pressed his lips against the other boy's. It was awkward and sort of warm and he had the split second he needed to feel Obi-Wan pressing back. It was the most thrilling thing he'd ever felt, even after he pulled back so he could see Obi-Wan's face. For minutes they just stood there, glowing, and then Obi-Wan tugged on his hand again. "Let's find somewhere to drink this."

They found an alley that was poorly lit but clean, and settled on the ground against a wall. A couple of inches between them for their nerves.

Obi-Wan pulled off the lid and looked at Bruck. "Have you ever?"

"Only a few sips on missions, to be polite. You?"

"Same." He eyed the bottle, and then shoved it at Bruck. "You first."

Bruck accepted the bottle, grinning, took a swig and promptly spat it out all over their feet. "That is disgusting!"

His throat burned like he'd just swallowed his saber, and he couldn't stop coughing, though every cough seared his throat some more.

A hand rubbed his back. "Stop trying to gasp. Slow breaths."

Bruck squeezed his eyes shut and relaxed his throat for a slow breath, refusing to give in to the twitching in his chest. Three long, slow breaths, and then he opened his eyes - watering eyes - to look at his friend. "I think she gave us poison."

Obi-Wan was grinning as he took the bottle from Bruck, and skimmed over the label. "It's Hutt. Can't read a word." He sniffed it warily, and took a small sip, face contorting as he swallowed. "Eugh. It's not good. She's probably trying to teach us a lesson." He raised the bottle to his lips.

"You're going to drink it?"

"Bruck, we're Jedi. We eat or drink anything that's put in front of us, provided it's not toxic. Besides, what sort of rebellious padawan would refuse to sneak alcohol just because it tasted bad?" He took a sip and blanched again. "*Really* bad. You should see how red your face is."

Bruck snatched back the bottle, determined not to be out-rebelled by Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Bruck shifted, and pain screamed through his body. He took a moment to realise he hadn't actually *heard* the scream. He was cold, and hot, and his bones ached, and oh, Force, his head. There wasn't a word for that sort of pain.

He tried dropping back into sleep, but there wasn't a chance. It hurt. Qui-Gon was going to find out. There was no way they could hide this. He managed a whimper.

For a while, he just concentrated on breathing, grateful that eased the pain in his head. Then he turned his attention to cataloguing his body. His throat still burned with the alcohol, and the burn in his stomach, which had faded to a rather pleasant glow last night, was burning again. Almost his whole body was hot, except for a gentle warmth at- Oh, Sith. Obi-Wan was curled up behind him.

He tried to feel some sort of pleasure at that, but if Obi-Wan had fallen asleep in Bruck's bed, that meant Qui-Gon must already know that Obi-Wan hadn't come home. Oh, Sith. He was going to kill them both.

Another whimper escaped, and Bruck began to mull the wisdom of crying. His eyes were already prickling, and he really, really wanted to, but it would hurt. Too miserable even to cry.

His right arm and leg were freezing, numb from his weight, so he gathered his strength and shifted, wincing at the cold, hard ground under- The alley.

Bruck bolted upright. "Oh Sith!" And then his day got infinitely worse.

Master Jinn was sitting cross-legged on the ground in front of them, glowing in the bright sunlight, contemplating Bruck with the same look he would use after posing a particularly intriguing philosophical question. Waiting for an equally intriguing answer.

Bruck squinted in the sun glare from the silver walls, feeling a good, old-fashioned headache begin to pound on top of the pain he was already feeling. All the pains, which had disappeared for that moment of pure dread, came trickling back in, one by one.

Qui-Gon tipped his head slightly, looked down at his own padawan, and back to Bruck.

Bruck looked down at the sleeping form of his friend. His mouth was open, sucking in harsh breaths, and his face was splotchy, with the first faint hint of sunburn. Did he look this bad? He chanced a look at Qui-Gon, and decided he did. He reached over to shake Obi-Wan's shoulder, wincing in sympathy as Obi-Wan moaned at the pain, and then shook him again.

"Huh?" He frowned blearily at Bruck, taking a moment to put the pieces together, and then his eyes went round in horror. "He's going to kill us," he croaked.

Bruck just rolled his eyes to the side, and back.

Obi-Wan turned his head, and stopped, nausea washing over his features.

So that accounted for the faint amusement Bruck was feeling from Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan's horror would have been comical, if he hadn't shared it.

Qui-Gon flicked his tongue over his lips. "Shall we return to the Temple, Padawans? I believe we still have time for a late noonmeal."

Worse. Worse, and worse.

Qui-Gon flowed to his feet and started up the alley, allowing no time for them to struggle up behind him. Bruck pushed himself up the wall, and reached a hand to help up Obi-Wan. The hold lingered, and then dropped, and they began to limp the kinks out of their bodies.

They went quite a few blocks before they could do more than keep him in sight, and Obi-Wan gave a small snort. He smiled at Bruck's questioning gaze. "Memorable enough for you?"

Amazingly, Bruck managed a chuckle. "I don't remember much at all."

They grinned, laughing when the grins made them both wince, sobering instantly when they looked up to see that Qui-Gon had paused to wait for them and caught their laughter. Bruck had seen Master Medith quell bickering Togorian pirates with that look.

Force, she was going to learn of this. Perhaps he shouldn't have been so hasty to give up his ambitions for Agri-Corp.

Master Jinn was a Sith. There was no other explanation. He had marched them back to the Temple, and then given them each a disdainful look that travelled from their lowered heads to their curling toes and all the way back up. "I suggest you both get showered and changed. Meet me in the training rooms in ten minutes." No time for a healing meditation, but he didn't insist they eat lunch, for which Bruck was profoundly grateful.

Bruck had expected to be put to work on his hands and knees, cleaning the rooms while meditating on the consequences of his actions. He had not expected to be tossed a training saber as soon as he limped in. He caught it by reflex, and stared at it, uncomprehending. Obi-Wan was holding one aswell, looking distinctly green.

And then Bruck understood. "You can't be serious," he choked out.

"Oh, but I am, Padawan. *Yesterday* was your day off, and the morning is already wasted. We cannot neglect your training simply because you had too much of a good time." He moved to the side of the room, and turned his attention on both. "We'll stick with training sabers, since I'm not sure I could trust you not to sever limbs while in this state."

The two boys moved into position, wincing at the simple difficulty of crouching in the opening stance. Obi-Wan shot a sideways glare at his Master. "I could almost think you planned this."

"To find my padawan drunk senseless in a gutter? Hardly."

Obi-Wan's challenge turned to a burn of shame at the mildly-spoken rebuke, and Bruck felt no better.

"You boys should be glad that the bartender was kind enough to contact the Temple. If I had been left to wait for my charges' non-appearance at curfew, this would now be a disciplinary matter for the Council. You will warm up with the primary katas. Begin."

So began three of the worst hours of Bruck's life. The clumsiness of their attacks was exceeded only by the weakness of their defences, and every blow added to the chorus of pain. There wasn't a single place on Bruck's body, inside or out, that didn't hurt.

Qui-Gon gave no lenience for their poor form, chiding error after error until it seemed he was commentating rather than correcting. Bruck felt like an oaf, and then like a total Sith when he saw that Obi-Wan's face bore the slight crumple that Bruck's childhood taunts used to inflict.

Qui-Gon didn't notice, or didn't care, and the battle continued. Bruck slashed upwards, overextending, and his muscles stung, and then a blow cracked against his ribs.

"You're overextending, Bruck; keep your defence tight."

The crash and hum of sabers meeting, and then he swung again, wincing as Obi-Wan stumbled slightly on his backstep and Bruck's saber seared his forearm.

"Watch your balance, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan's brow darkened and he attacked again, Bruck almost falling over a block in his haste to move back.

"Release your emotions, Obi-Wan. Bruck, be mindful of the space around you. Use the Force."

Orders cracking; everything they did was wrong. The blue glow sailed close and Bruck spun out of the way but the room and the Force took a moment to catch up and Obi-Wan's saber fell against his back, sending him stumbling, barely able to get his saber up in time to block the next blow.

"Too slow, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan looked ready to cry.

Bruck went for a blow to his opponent's hip and Obi-Wan somersaulted over him, but the form wasn't quite right and Bruck saw the fall coming even before Obi-Wan hit the ground to go sprawling with a cry.

Qui-Gon was at his side in a moment, cradling the injured ankle. "Are you all right, Padawan?"

"I think it's just a sprain." Barely a whisper, as the fall pushed Obi-Wan's strained composure to its limits, and his chin began to shake. "I'm sorry, Master."

Qui-Gon ran his hands over the boot, noting what pressure caught Obi-Wan's breath. "You are correct. A night elevated and some meditation will take care of this." He pulled the foot into his lap, and waited for Obi-Wan to meet his gaze. "There is no fault, Obi-Wan. Training is dangerous; accidents happen."

Bruck stood off to the side, feeling useless. He wanted to help, but he couldn't, and Obi-Wan wouldn't lift his attention from his lap to meet Bruck's eyes.

"Come, Padawan." Qui Gon shifted out from under Obi-Wan's leg without lowering it, gathering Obi-Wan in his arms as he stood.

"Master!"

"You cannot put weight on that ankle until it's healed." Qui-Gon took a step towards the door, and seemed surprised to see Bruck still standing there. He thought a moment, and then with a concerned glance at the head nestled in his shoulder, he relented. "Your assistance would be appreciated, Bruck."

Bruck dipped his aching head and hurried to open the door. His assistance wasn't needed, but he was grateful that Qui-Gon wasn't sending him back to his room to meditate on their actions.

By the time Qui-Gon deposited his charge gently on his bed and left to fetch supplies, Obi-Wan was steadier. He managed a rueful smile for his friend. "That's a training session I wouldn't like to repeat. I should have thought of spraining my ankle earlier."

"Earlier, like last night?" Bruck walked closer until he could sit gently on the edge of the bed by Obi-Wan's hip. "I'm really sorry. It was a stupid idea."

"We forgot the second rule for rebelling padawans. You always get caught." He turned serious. "I had a really good day."

"Me too."

Bruck jerked to his feet when Qui-Gon returned, wincing as the sudden movement reawakened pains in his body and head, but Qui-Gon didn't seem to notice. He set cooling packets around the raised ankle. "This should aid your healing. Will you be able to manage on your own with the meditations?"

"I think so."

"You need only ask if you need assistance. It takes practice, and you are drained." He turned to Bruck. "Five minutes."

"Yes, Master Qui-Gon."

He withdrew, closing the door to leave the boys alone again. They waited in uncomfortable silence, until Obi-Wan patted the bed. "Sit here again."

Bruck didn't need to be asked twice.

"How do you think Master Medith will take it?"

"She'll give me a lecture, and she'll give me that disappointed look, but she'll let Qui-Gon's punishment stand. Is Qui-Gon going to stay angry?"

"No. We might get a lecture tomorrow, but he won't be angry anymore." Obi-Wan seemed better, but Bruck worried about the look he'd seen on his face while Qui-Gon badgered them in the fight.

"Qui-Gon's nice."

"I know."

"He really cares about you."

"I hate letting him down."

"We're padawans. We're supposed to make mistakes." Bruck raised an eyebrow. "We just happened to roll up all our errors into one, great, big, Hutt of a mistake, so now we can get on with being perfect."

"Sounds good to me."

The smile seemed a bit deeper this time, and Bruck smiled back in relief. "I'd better be going."

He searched Obi-Wan's face as he leaned forward. Watched the blue-green eyes close, felt his chin rise a little to meet the kiss. He was so soft. Bruck's lips lingered, and then he he pulled away, rubbing his arm where it had rested against the other boy's ribs. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Qui-Gon was sitting on the couch in the main room, nursing a tea. He didn't move until he heard the click of Obi-Wan's door closing. "Would you care for some tea, Padawan?"

Bruck felt a wash of nervous energy, and gave a moment to tame it. He hadn't spent much time alone with Qui-Gon. "Yes, please."

The master poured a second cup, and held it so that Bruck would have to sit beside him to accept it. "How are you faring?"

Bruck settled into the couch, shifting to find the position that hurt least. "I'm starting to think I might survive."

"This afternoon was not quite what you expected."

Bruck shrugged. "No, Master Jinn. I thought you would ask us to meditate on the consequences of our actions."

Qui-Gon nodded thoughtfully, and then sat back so that he could see Bruck properly. "Tell me, Padawan, what were the potential consequences of your escapade?"

Bruck lowered his head. "We put ourselves in danger; we might have been attacked."

"And?"

"The alcohol dimmed our restraint, and so we might have gotten into a fight. If the wrong people had seen us, the story would have embarrassed the Temple and damaged respect for the Jedi, making the important work we do far more difficult."

"It seems to me that you are well aware of the consequences of your actions." He watched Bruck over his cup as he sipped. "What you both needed was to be sure that the next time you are allowed out unsupervised, you will remember the lesson. Though I can assure you, it will be a long time before either of you have the opportunity to put the lesson to use. You are both on probation, restricted to initiate's priveleges for the next six months."

"I think I understand. Thank you, Master." Bruck drank slowly. The conversation soothed his shame, and instead he felt grown up to have tea with another master. "I want you to know... I realise we were both at fault, but I want you to know that going to the South side and finding a bar was my idea."

"You have been good company for Obi-Wan. Such events as last night's are to be expected," he paused for a stern glare, "but not repeated."

Bruck buried his smile in the tea. "You needn't worry about that, Master Jinn. I swore a solemn oath I'd never drink again before I even finished opening my eyes this morning."

"I would imagine so. Huttese Chiskey... the bartender had a Dark streak worthy of the Sith." There was no mistaking the smile buried under Qui-Gon's moustache.

Bruck stared at him indignantly. "You enjoyed our misery."

"As will you, when you have a padawan of your own."

"Did your M-" Bruck caught himself, and reconsidered. He didn't really have the standing to ask, and a quick look at Qui-Gon's warning glare confirmed it. He swallowed the last of his tea. "Thank you for the tea, Master Qui-Gon."

"You're welcome, Padawan."

A few steps from the door, he stopped, and turned back to face him again. "And thank you for last night. For looking after us."

Qui-Gon's gaze grew warm. "It was my pleasure, Bruck."

It was back to the texts the next day, while they gave Obi-Wan's ankle time to rest. They lay on the bed in their leggings and undertunics, so close their limbs brushed every time the bed moved, and sometimes one would interrupt the argument to chastely kiss the other. It was far, far more exciting than sneaking off to a bar.

Bruck fetched lunch, since Qui-Gon was tied up with other business, and they rearranged themselves on the bed so that they were sitting up, facing each other as they ate.

The meal was almost gone when Obi-Wan leaned back against the wall and eyed his friend speculatively. "Have you ever tongue-kissed?"

"Have I what?"

"Tongue-kissed. You know. Kissed, with your tongue."

Bruck couldn't entirely wrap his mind around how that worked. "You mean..."

"I mean you put your tongues in each other's mouths."

"No!" Bruck screwed up his nose, and then cracked up laughing. "That's disgusting! Nobody does that."

Obi-Wan laughed, too. "Yes, they do. That's how adults kiss."

"They do not."

"They do so!"

"How do you know?"

"I watched Qui-Gon once. Will you-"

"You sit around watching people kiss? You didn't tell me you're a pervert."

"I am not." Indignance turned to a smirk at Bruck's look. "I just... wondered."

Bruck ran his tongue around his mouth. "Do you want to?"

"Do you want to?"

"Only if you want to," he replied reluctantly.

Obi-Wan's hand came up to touch Bruck's hair, and then he pulled away to put their trays aside, one at a time. He wriggled forward and kissed him lightly, eyes sliding closed like they always did. There was something enchantingly innocent about it.

Another kiss, and this time his lips were slightly apart, and Bruck couldn't help following. He could feel the warm damp of Obi-Wan's breath, smelling sweetly of Barabel juice, and when their mouths opened more he could almost taste it.

Something brushed his teeth, and Bruck reared back, surprised. "What?"

Obi-Wan rolled his eyes, exasperated. "Don't you know anything about kissing?"

Bruck felt his face flame. "Just because *I* don't spy on other people-"

"I'm sorry." Obi-Wan's fingers touched Bruck's lips. "I didn't mean to laugh at you. Please?"

Bruck relaxed slightly, but he couldn't help feeling stupid. How was he supposed to know how people did these things? They didn't exactly do it in the Temple corridors.

Obi-Wan shifted forward again, and cupped Bruck's cheeks in his hands. "Just follow my lead."

More small kisses with parted lips, which Bruck was quickly growing fond of. Obi-Wan's lips were even softer this way, and the taste of Obi-Wan's breath tingled in his head.

He closed his own eyes and made himself stay still when the tongue touched his teeth again, let it push past to touch his own tongue. He waited, unmoving, while the other pressed deeper, sliding over his own, tickling the roof of his mouth.

It was alright, Bruck supposed. A bit like sucking on a warm fish. He kissed back, a little, licking Obi-Wan's tongue, and put his hands on Obi-Wan's shoulders to try to discourage him from thrusting quite so deep. He ran his hands over those shoulders, feeling the warmth of his body through the thin undertunic. That he liked.

When Obi-Wan finally pulled back, his eyes were shining. "Do you like it?"

He caught his breath, and nodded. "Yeah. Definitely." Anything that made Obi-Wan look like that, Bruck liked very much. He could grow used to the fish thing.

Qui-Gon answered the door on the first knock, despite the late hour. He stepped aside and waved the way to Obi-Wan's quarters, his sympathetic gaze telling Bruck he'd already heard.

Bruck flew past, shoving his way into Obi-Wan's room and shaking him awake.

"Bruck?" He sat up, at the same time pulling Bruck down to sit on the bed. "What's wrong?"

"I'm going," Bruck wailed, not caring that he sounded like a creche-child. "I got a message from Master Medith; we have a mission and she wants me to meet her. My ship leaves in an hour."

"But..." Obi-Wan trailed off.

They knew this was Jedi life. The Senate didn't care about two padawans when there was work to be done. They stared at each other, Bruck's chest heaving from the run and the panic, and then they grabbed each other in a hug.

"I'm going to miss you."

Bruck squeezed tighter. It could be years before they saw each other again, and he was old enough to know it wouldn't be the same. After a few minutes he drew back and pulled the yellow tie from the end of hs braid. "Will you... will you wear this?"

He held his breath as Obi-Wan hesitated. It was a stupid thing to offer, but it was the only thing Bruck could think of that Obi-Wan could take with him.

Obi-Wan reached for his own braid, pulling his red tie out. "Only if you wear mine." A shaky smile, and then he reached out to rebraid Bruck's loosened hair, slipping his tie over the end.

Bruck did the same, and then they sat back, clasping hands.

A throat was cleared by the door. "It's time, Bruck."

Bruck extricated himself from Obi-Wan's arms and tried to straighten his tunic, not looking at Obi-Wan's stricken face.

Qui-Gon spoke again. "You will have to be escorted to the transport pad because of your probation. I would be glad to do it, if you don't mind my padawan tagging along."

A laugh tumbled out. 'Thank you, Master Jinn. That would be kind of you."

Obi-Wan scrambled out of bed and yanked on his tunic in record time, and soon they were pacing through the streets of Coruscant, shrouded in their cloaks. There was no physical contact or even shared looks while they were in their formal robes, but Bruck could feel the familiar Force-presence of his friend beside him. Qui-Gon's powerful signature was at his back, and that was comforting, too. Bruck would miss both of them.

The pilot was waiting sprawled on the ship's ramp. He took one look at the arrivals and swung to his feet. "I'm guessing one of you is my guy."

Bruck lowered his hood. "I am Padawan Chun. May I have a moment?"

"Sure. Have all the moments you want. I'll be in the cockpit when you feel ready to go somewhere." He sauntered up into the ship.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan lowered their hoods, and for a moment Bruck just stared at them. Finally he gave a small bow to Qui-Gon. "Thank you, Master. You have been very kind to me."

"I look forward to seeing you again, Bruck. May the Force be with you."

Bruck bowed again, and as Qui-Gon faded back to give them privacy, he turned to his friend. He had no idea what to say.

Obi-Wan stepped forward and with an evil grin he pulled Bruck's shoulders close to kiss him, gentle and open-mouthed, just how Bruck liked it best.

When they separated, they both had small smiles. Nothing more needed to be said.

Bruck turned away and walked into the ship, though he lingered long enough to hear Qui-Gon's mild "I wouldn't make a habit of that, my Padawan." He didn't hear Obi-Wan's reply, if there was one.

Bruck would really like to know what you think. Messages c/o drsquidlove@virginqueen.com.

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The Lecherous Tentacles of Dr Squidlove
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