Spoilers: None - Obi-Wan is just short of his twentieth
birthday.
Summary: Obi-Wan loses his virginity.
Notes: It's probably best if you read the first story in this
series, entitled 'The Lie', otherwise some references in this
story may not make any sense. You don't have to, though.
Similarly, you don't have to send feedback, although I'd
certainly appreciate it if you did.
BTW, for those of you who didn't read The Lie, picture Daen as
a cross between Methos and Alex Krycek. Tall, short dark hair,
green eyes. Gorgeous.
This story would not be what it is without some excellent beta.
So my deep and heartfelt thanks go to SithDragon, who always
thinks about the series, Malissa who has a in-built 'cliche
radar', and isn't afraid to use it, and Fern, who always amazes
me by picking up a zillion spelling and gramatical errors that
I was sure I'd found.
"Who will you ask, Obi-Wan?" Pro-Hon sounded worried when he
asked the question, but Obi-Wan Kenobi knew the worry had
nothing to do with his choice and everything to do with
Pro-Hon's.
"I think the important question is, who will you ask,
Pro-Hon?" Obi-Wan teased. Pro-Hon had been agonizing over just
this question for years. Well before any of his friends had
even spared the matter a thought, Pro-Hon was already
speculating and fretting over his eventual decision, and his
nervousness had grown over time.
"This is a terrible way to do this, you know."
Pro-Hon sounded distracted. He had made that same comment any
number of ways over the past four years.
"It's not mandatory, Pro-Hon."
All of Pro-Hon's friends had made the same response any number
of times in the past years. It was more custom than anything
else, and a good third of the Padawans would decide against
following the custom. It didn't make Pro-Hon's worried frown
decrease any, and Obi-Wan shrugged slightly as he turned his
attention back to the Salle, where a number of Jedi were
practicing.
The custom they were speaking of was one that had been
practiced for over a thousand years in the Jedi Temple. Any
Jedi reaching the age of maturity could ask another Jedi to be
their first lover. There were a number of reasons why this was
a popular practice. While many Jedi spent the majority of their
time outside the Temple, close friendships with outsiders were
rare. And, contrary to popular belief, the Council laid down no
laws regarding the sex lives of Padawans, Knights or Masters.
They did, however, see the benefits of having a system in place
where a Padawan could ask a more senior Jedi to introduce him
or her to sexual pleasure. It could be a confusing time for the
Temple apprentices, and this was one way of ensuring their
safety, both physically and emotionally.
Some Padawans made the choice from amongst their peers. Some
waited, for reasons of cultural belief or personal choice.
Pro-Hon came from a race of people who placed a great deal of
importance on the act of losing one's virginity. For others,
like Obi-Wan Kenobi, it would be a significant event in their
lives, but there was no ritual or deeper cultural belief
attached to the process.
Obi-Wan shifted slightly against the wall. He and Pro-Hon were
waiting for the current pair of sparring partners to finish so
that they could get in some lightsaber practice. As the sabers
swirled and clashed in front of him, Obi-Wan found himself
thinking, once again, about the subject Pro-Hon had raised.
For a time, Obi-Wan had considered asking Valerin to be his
first. They were good friends, after all, and the flirting that
began a couple of years ago had become more serious over the
passage of time. They had kissed several times, their make-out
sessions each time going a little further. Valerin was older
than Obi-Wan, and had become sexually active a couple of years
ago. Obi-Wan knew Valerin wanted to be his first.
But then Xera had asked Valerin to be her first. The Padawan
was the same age as Obi-Wan, and she had suffered a crush on
Valerin for years. Valerin had discussed the matter with
Obi-Wan, and the two had argued about it.
"I'm going to turn her down, Obi-Wan!" Valerin's voice showed
his frustration and incomprehension.
"It's your choice to make, Val. All I'm saying is that I can't
ask you now, no matter what you decide to do with Xera. Either
way it would hurt her too much if we became lovers as well."
Obi-Wan was firm.
Valerin threw up his hands in disgust.
"Wonderful. You're punishing me because of something someone
else wants! How fair is that, Obi-Wan?"
"It's not a question of fairness, Valerin. In any case, I'd
been having doubts about us going all the way."
Val raised an eyebrow sardonically.
"Oh, really? I don't recall hearing about any doubts two nights
ago, Obi-Wan. As I remember it, you seemed pretty enthusiastic
about the whole thing, then."
Obi-Wan flushed.
"I like kissing you. And I'm not saying we can never be lovers.
You just can't be my first, that's all. It would hurt Xera
terribly and I'm not prepared to do that."
Valerin had pushed harder, but Obi-Wan remained firm.
Eventually his friend had stalked out, angry, and Obi-Wan had
known exactly what Val was going to do. In a fit of pique, he
had accepted Xera's request, and the two had virtually
disappeared for the next two days. The stars in Xera's eyes
when they reappeared gave Obi-Wan some serious misgivings, but
he kept them to himself. Xera was already in love with Valerin.
There was nothing Obi-Wan could do but keep a low profile. He
had taken to hanging out with Pro-Hon, which was what brought
them here today, to do some lightsaber training.
"They're finished - let's go."
Obi-Wan glanced over to find that the sparring pair had
completed their session. He followed Pro-Hon onto the mat and
took a deep breath to clear his mind before they began. Within
seconds thoughts of Valerin and Xera faded into the background
as he leapt to the attack.
The room was quiet as Obi-Wan finished keying in the message he
had been mentally composing for the better part of a month, and
sent it. Qui-Gon Jinn was reading on one of the armchairs in
the main room, and Obi-Wan found his calm presence very
soothing. He was nervous. Reasonably, he couldn't expect an
immediate answer to his request, but he hated waiting. He rose
from the chair and went into his bedroom to meditate. The
answer would come. And even if it was a refusal, at least he
would know then.
His lightsaber practice with Pro-Hon had been interrupted when
his Master had entered the Salle. They had been ordered to
Minoro to attend the Trade talks, and within an hour had been
aboard the shuttle that had bought them to this most beautiful
of planets.
The Talks were scheduled to last a month, and there was really
little for the Jedi to do but show a presence. This was one of
the rare, easy assignments. No doubt Master Yoda had his own
reasons for sending one of the most experienced Jedi
negotiators on an assignment a first year Knight could have
completed without breaking a sweat. Whatever the ancient Jedi
Master's reasoning, though, Obi-Wan certainly appreciated the
break.
The planet was beautiful. Minoro retained close ties with the
Jedi Council, and treated the Jedi extremely well whenever they
had cause to be on the planet. The Talks were rather tedious,
that was true, but his Master had not insisted they attend all
of them, or even all the social events. That left quite a bit
of 'down time' for Obi-Wan to catch up on his studies, and
Qui-Gon to catch up on his own research and correspondence. It
was a peaceful time indeed, and Obi-Wan knew it was a perfect
opportunity to take care of some personal business.
Like taking his first lover.
More than an hour later, a calmer Obi-Wan emerged from his
room, feeling much improved for his meditation. Qui-Gon Jinn
was sitting where he had left him, still engrossed in a text on
inter-species treatises. There was a message waiting for
Obi-Wan on his reader, and the Padawan could feel his
heart-rate spike when he saw the blinking light. He sat down at
the desk, keyed in his personal password, and quickly read the
message that appeared.
__Obi-Wan -
__Council have granted me leave to visit Minoro.
__I will be there in two days, and I would be truly
__honored to grant your request.
__Daen.
Obi-Wan Kenobi smiled.
After making two cups of tea, he told his Master.
Qui-Gon frowned when he heard the news.
"A holiday? It will be quite dull for him here, I would think.
You and I will be attending the talks, after all."
"But only during the days, Master. You said yourself we needn't
attend all the social events." The eagerness in Obi-Wan's reply
was enough to make Qui-Gon feel uneasy.
"Hm," he said, noncommittal. Giving every appearance of having
returned his attention back to his data pad, Qui-Gon pondered
the news he'd been given. Daen had been his lover many years
ago, when they were both far younger, and they had been good
friends ever since. But there was no mistaking the close
friendship that seemed to have grown between his Padawan and
his former lover. The two swapped letters frequently, and
Qui-Gon remembered, with growing apprehension, the week they
had spent entirely alone on Telamarin.
Surely Daen wouldn't be planning on taking his relationship
with Obi-Wan any further? Obi-Wan was preparing for bed, and
Qui-Gon nodded with a preoccupied grunt as he was bid
goodnight. Daen was probably just looking for some relaxing
downtime with some friends. Maybe there would be some mild
flirting; as Daen found flirting as natural as breathing. There
would be nothing more, though. After all, Obi-Wan was just a
boy.
Much of Obi-Wan's nervousness disappeared when Daen finally
arrived. The good-looking Jedi swept him off his feet in a hug
and it was clear that he was pleased to see Obi-Wan again.
Daen's stunning good looks attracted several glances from
around the busy loading bay. Obi-Wan noted the obvious interest
Daen's arrival had garnered. From the glint in Daen's laughing
green eyes it was clear that he had noticed too.
Obi-Wan grabbed Daen's bags and took him to the rooms they had
been allocated. It was a suite with three bedrooms. Spacious,
airy, equipped with a sitting room, private bathrooms for each
bedroom, and a kitchenette, the rooms were beautifully
furnished and boasted a quite spectacular view.
"Wow."
Daen shrugged off his robe and tossed it untidily on a chair,
not even noticing when Obi-Wan picked it up and folded it
neatly with a rueful smile. The older Jedi explored the suite
with the enthusiasm of someone much younger than his thirty-six
years.
Obi-Wan took off his own robe, draped it neatly on top of
Daen's and sat down on one of the other chairs. Daen's gleeful
shout from the bathroom upon discovering the hospitality
toiletries brought a chuckle to the Padawan.
"You know, Daen, anyone could be forgiven for thinking you'd
never stayed anywhere nice before."
Daen emerged from the bathroom and threw himself on the sofa
opposite Obi-Wan.
"Anyone would be right, Obi-Wan. It's only Jedi like Qui-Gon
who get the easy assignments, you know. The rest of us poor
bastards have to make do with a bed-roll and a tin of dried
kalfa if we're lucky."
Obi-Wan laughed.
"You're right, Daen. Let's see, a civil war on Uven, pirates on
Corellia, mining disputes on Hoth - yeah, we get all the easy
assignments!"
"Just where is His Quig-ness, anyway?"
Obi-Wan chucked a cushion at him.
"He's still with the Minister - and don't let him hear you
calling him that. You know he hates it."
Daen snorted disrespectfully and rested his head back on the
cushioned couch with a loud sigh of relief.
"Get me a drink would you, Obi-Wan?"
The lazy command had Obi-Wan on his feet automatically, before
the Padawan turned to glare at him.
"I'm not your Padawan, Daen."
"And thank the Force for that." Daen's tone was mild but there
was a wealth of meaning in the green eyes.
Obi-Wan fought a blush at the intimacy in Daen's gaze, and
headed for the kitchen. He could hear Daen's chuckle behind him
and realized the older Jedi had seen straight through his show
of nonchalance. Obi-Wan removed the lids from two bottles and
returned to the main room, determined to gain back some
of his dignity. He handed one of the bottles to Daen before
taking a seat opposite him. Daen gave him a long, considering
look.
"You know, I had a moment of doubt when I first read your
message, Obi-Wan. The boy I remembered was very young and quite
shy. I could tell from your letters that you've grown up quite
a bit over the past two years, and I can see some fairly major
differences in you now, too."
The young man raised an eyebrow in query.
"Like what?"
"You move differently. The first time I met you, you were
completely oblivious of the effect that gorgeous body of yours
was having on most of the people around you. Something's
changed."
That Obi-Wan didn't blush when Daen made his outrageous comment
told the older Jedi more than words could. Someone had given
Obi-Wan this confidence.
Obi-Wan shrugged.
"I guess things might have changed a little."
There was a glimmer of smugness in the mild tone, but Obi-Wan
couldn't disguise the cheeky grin that was threatening to form.
Daen matched it, with an eyebrow raised thoughtfully.
"Really? So who's the lucky Padawan?"
The grin was a full-blown smirk now.
"What makes you think it's a Padawan? I could be having it off
with Master Yoda for all you know."
They both sniggered at the thought, and Daen's eyes traversed
Obi-Wan's body very, very slowly as he pondered the cheeky
comment.
"If it were a Knight or a Master, then Qui-Gon would definitely
have said something in his letters to me. As it was, he's only
commented on the fact that you've been too busy over the past
few years to make new friends. So let's see, there was Valerin,
and Pro-Hon, and that shy little redhead - Xera? I can't
imagine you would have stooped as low as that blonde bitch, but
we can add her to the list too, if you like."
Obi-Wan grinned.
"Pro-Hon and his Master just got ordered to somewhere in the
Outer Rim. It's killing him because he's been stressing about
his own first time for years. They've been given two weeks to
prepare, so suddenly there's a time limit to making his choice.
It's probably a good thing - all that agonizing can't have been
good for him. Xera's spent most of the past three years in
D'Pesh, training to be a healer. She and her Master only spend
a few months a year at the Temple. Arista is still around,
somewhere."
Daen noted the obvious exclusion.
"Valerin, then? Well, you've got good taste, at least. Dark
hair, blue eyes, great ass, right?"
Daen took another sip from his bottle and noted the very faint
flush from Obi-Wan when he had mentioned Valerin's ass. Obi-Wan
took a long swallow of his own before replying.
"Valerin and I are pretty good friends."
"But you turned him down when he offered to be your first."
Obi-Wan looked surprised.
"How did you--?"
"Your body language tells me you've done some experimenting,
but not as much as he wanted you to. Am I right?"
"Yes. And I'd like to point out that smugness is definitely not
considered a becoming trait in a Jedi Master, Daen." There was
a familiar devilish glint in Obi-Wan's eyes that Daen enjoyed
immensely.
"So how far have you gone, Obi-Wan?"
Obi-Wan gave him an innocent look.
"Why do you want to know?"
"Because if I'm to continue your education, I need to know
exactly what stage you're up to," he replied smoothly.
Obi-Wan shifted in his chair, clearly aroused but just as
clearly trying for some degree of composure.
"Well, we've kissed."
Daen simply raised an eyebrow.
"And, there's been some ... ah, heavy petting?"
In other circumstances this conversation would have been
intensely amusing, but Obi-Wan's distinctive accent and the
cheeky glint in his eyes were doing quite amazing things to
Daen's body.
"Heavy petting could mean any number of things, Obi-Wan. Tell
me exactly."
Absently, Daen noted for future reference the positive effect
his 'command voice' had on Obi-Wan. The Padawan's pupils had
dilated to the point where they were almost entirely black.
"Well, we've kissed .... everywhere. Almost."
The afterthought had Daen laughing outright.
"Almost everywhere?"
"Yeah. The bedroom, the lounge-room. Not the kitchen, though."
Daen threw a cushion at him.
Obi-Wan caught it easily and chucked it back. Daen's laughter
died down as he leaned forward again, very much on the attack.
"So you've been naked together?"
Obi-Wan was blushing now, and it was beautiful to see.
"Not exactly. Ah, we've ... well, we've kissed with just our
leggings on. You know ... um, naked on top? And he's ... I
mean, I've ..." Obi-Wan took a deep breath then, obviously
battling natural shyness and intense desire.
"He's touched me; skin to skin, I mean. I didn't want to get
naked, so he put his hand down the front of my ...um, leggings.
I never actually touched him ... you know, directly, but he ...
ah, rubbed against me. It was kind of nice, actually."
Obi-Wan was leaning forward in his seat now, and the two of
them were mere inches from each other. Daen was almost
uncomfortably turned on by Obi-Wan's shy recitation of his
sexual experience to date, and he leaned in closer to kiss
Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan clearly had the same thought, because his gaze
dropped to Daen's mouth and his own parted slightly in
anticipation.
"Daen, I see you arrived safely."
At the sound of Qui-Gon's voice, Obi-Wan's head snapped up
reflexively and his chin hit Daen under the nose with an
audible thunk. Daen yelped in pain and one hand went to his
aching nose as he looked up to see Qui-Gon watching them both
with barely concealed amusement.
"Ow."
Obi-Wan rubbed his chin and looked embarrassed. Daen was
annoyed.
"Nice timing, Qui-Gon. Do you always find it necessary to sneak
up on your Padawan like some peeping Tom?" The question was
asked in the sweetest of tones, and Qui-Gon did nothing more
than raise an eyebrow and ignore it.
"Well, Padawan - it looks like there'll be three for dinner
this evening."
Obi-Wan stood, very obviously recalled to his duties.
"Yes, Master."
Daen watched with ill-concealed interest at the way Obi-Wan
seemed to forget his very existence in the presence of his
Master. Qui-Gon took his robe off and Obi-Wan was there to
collect it, and hang it up. The Padawan scooped up his own robe
and Daen's and hung them up also as Qui-Gon sat in the seat
they had been on.
Daen watched as Obi-Wan glanced at his Master's tired features,
frowned slightly, and then went into the kitchen. Short minutes
later he returned with a cup of something hot and steaming,
which he put on the table beside Qui-Gon. The Jedi Master's
eyes were still closed from sheer weariness, but he smiled at
the scent of the cup on the table beside him.
"Thank you, Padawan."
Obi-Wan smiled, then knelt on the floor and began to remove
Qui-Gon's boots. Daen gazed open-mouthed at the unconsciously
erotic picture before him. Obi-Wan quickly removed the boots
and put them just inside the doorway to his Master's bedroom.
He went into the kitchen, and moments later was preparing the
evening meal. The very domesticity of the scene touched a nerve
in Daen and he frowned.
"It's easier to let him fuss over me. Arguing about it has
little effect, other than to make him all the more insistent on
coddling me in other ways. My Padawan is nothing if not
determined." There was wry amusement in Qui-Gon's expression as
Daen's gaze met the calm blue eyes.
Daen sighed. "The Council have been at me again to take a
Padawan. It seems a millennia since I was one myself, and
Master Horlath was hardly active on missions. She loathed
having anyone in her space, and most of my training was done by
the Masters in the Temple. I find it difficult to comprehend
how any apprentice would benefit from serving me."
If Qui-Gon noticed the change of subject he didn't give any
indication.
"You had to break tradition and take your trials as a Master
before you took a Padawan, didn't you?" There was humour in
Qui-Gon's tone.
Daen sighed.
"Master Yoda made it clear that I would have to pay the price
eventually, but it seemed I'd have plenty of time. And after
all, the assignments I've had of late have hardly been the type
one can take an apprentice on, Qui-Gon. I don't know if I'm
ready to take on the responsibility of a young Jedi. I knew
nothing at age 13, little more at 36. I don't know why the
Council is pushing so hard."
Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow enquiringly.
"Perhaps you should ask them. And as I recall, I was absolutely
terrified the first few months I had my first Padawan. I would
happily have wrapped her in cotton wool if I could have. You'll
learn to cope."
Daen's eyes followed Obi-Wan's form as the Padawan efficiently
set the table in the dining area.
"You've certainly done well out of Obi-Wan."
The corner of Qui-Gon's mouth quirked ruefully.
"My Padawan is far from perfect, Daen - but I would not trade
one moment of his time with me. You should do as the Council
says, take an apprentice of your own. You'll see what I'm
talking about."
Daen rolled his eyes.
"This has to be some kind of record - Qui-Gon Jinn recommending
someone actually follow the Council's edicts? What is
the universe coming to?"
Qui-Gon rose from his chair, the enticing smells from the
kitchenette letting him know that dinner was almost ready.
"Very amusing, Daen. Now, I read your report on the Yavin
situation. What do you think of the measures the Senate has put
into place?"
The meal was extremely pleasant. Qui-Gon and Daen did most of
the talking - mainly catching up on news since they had last
met. Obi-Wan interjected with the occasional dry comment, and
had them laughing a couple of times. As usual, a rather heated
debate sprang up between Daen and Qui-Gon which they both
enjoyed immensely.
Daen found himself thinking about when they had been lovers.
Even then, they had been so different, but it was more obvious
now. Qui-Gon, with his measured, logical arguments - Daen with
his outrageous comments and rank innuendo. Anyone could be
forgiven for thinking it was Daen who was considered the rebel
of the Jedi Order, and not Qui-Gon.
They lingered over the meal, Obi-Wan joining in the
conversation more now as it turned to more personal things. The
Jedi Council, the Temple, which Padawans had made Knight, which
Knights had made Master.
It was several hours before Daen gave a yawn, and decided it
was time to get some sleep. Obi-Wan had cleared the table a
while ago, and the two Jedi rose from it now to walk with Daen
to his bedroom door.
"I need some sleep. That transport may have brought me here in
two days, but it was three days without a bed. And after that
last mission, I need to crash for about a week."
The doorway to the bedroom was already open and Daen stopped
just in front of it. He glanced at Qui-Gon, and then at Obi-Wan
who was standing politely at his Master's side.
"Thanks for dinner, Qui-Gon. I'll talk to you tomorrow, no
doubt."
"No doubt. And don't thank me for dinner, Daen - it was Obi-Wan
who prepared it."
Daen grinned at the trap Qui-Gon had so neatly fallen into. He
reached out, snagged Obi-Wan by the tunic, and hauled the
Padawan into the bedroom with him.
"Then I'll have to thank him personally. Goodnight, Qui-Gon!" A
swipe with one booted foot and the door closed on Qui-Gon's
surprised frown.
Obi-Wan winced.
"That was rude."
Daen took the younger man in his arms without further delay.
"I don't care."
He leaned down then and kissed Obi-Wan. There was nothing
tentative or gentle about this kiss - it was pure possession.
Obi-Wan leaned into Daen's arms naturally, his own going around
the broad shoulders to pull Daen closer as his mouth opened and
accepted Daen's tongue. They kissed for a long time, Obi-Wan's
hands carding through his hair as he was kissed back with all
the passion that had been building since that morning.
They broke for breath after a while, but remained twinned
together.
"Stay with me, Obi-Wan."
"I can't ..."
Daen kissed him again, then, and Obi-Wan responded
enthusiastically. The taste of Padawan was fast becoming
addictive, and Daen didn't want to let him go.
On the other side of the door, Qui-Gon Jinn paced the main
room, stopping occasionally to glare at the door that separated
him from his Padawan. He tried sitting down at the desk to
work, only to thrust aside the pad unread as the sheer silence
got to him. What the hell was Daen thinking, leading Obi-Wan on
like that? Obi-Wan was just a boy, and Daen ... well,
Daen was practically a satyr, preying on innocent Padawans.
So it was only a few kisses. There was nothing wrong with that,
except Obi-Wan was too young. Qui-Gon ignored his own arousal,
ignored the mental images of Obi-Wan in his - no, Daen's
arms. Not his arms. He was practically ... well, he was
Obi-Wan's Master, and Obi-Wan was just a child and there was
something very wrong about a man of his years thinking about
his Padawan in that fashion. At least he never gave any
indication of his occasional lapse to Obi-Wan. Not like Daen -
practically pawing the boy whenever he walked past.
There was a soft murmur of voices on the other side of the door
and Qui-Gon went cold inside. What if Daen convinced Obi-Wan to
go further than a couple of kisses? It wasn't to be borne. He
strode to the bedroom door and yanked it open to reveal a sight
he instantly loathed. Obi-Wan in Daen's embrace - looking as
though he'd been born there, the two of them kissing
like there was no tomorrow.
Obi-Wan broke off the kiss and pushed Daen away slightly. He
was flushed and slightly breathless, and his mouth was
kiss-swollen. He was the most desirable sight Qui-Gon Jinn had
ever laid eyes on. The Jedi Master banked that thought down
instantly, though, and anger took it's place immediately. He
was inwardly impressed by his own even tones as he spoke.
"I gave you a respite from the talks today so that you could
meet Daen's transport, Obi-Wan, but you are expected to attend
tomorrow. I think perhaps you should get some sleep, Padawan."
Obi-Wan immediately looked guilty.
"Yes, Master." He glanced briefly at Daen, then again at his
Master, and then back at Daen. The Padawan clearly had no idea
how to extricate himself from this strange situation, so he
simply muttered a quick 'see you later, Daen', before ducking
under his Master's arm and disappearing into his own bedroom.
Daen crossed his arms and looked at Qui-Gon with one eyebrow
raised. Qui-Gon ignored the implied challenge, and gave a brief
and deliberately insincere smile.
"Goodnight, Daen."
He stepped back from the door and watched it close with
satisfaction. He and Obi-Wan on one side, Daen on the other.
The way it should be.
Obi-Wan was bored. He shifted restlessly in his seat, trying
hard to maintain an air of concentrated attention. From the
frown his Master shot in his direction, it wasn't working. The
Trade Minister had been talking for the past hour and showed no
signs of stopping anytime soon. The Minister spoke in a loud,
steady drone, and did little more than repeat the points he'd
already made several times during the talks. Obi-Wan glanced up
at his Master and wondered for the hundredth time how Qui-Gon
managed to always look so interested, despite the stupefying
dullness of the speeches.
His mind wandered again, as it had done many times that day.
The Minister's speech faded into the background, and instead
Obi-Wan was back in Daen's arms, being kissed again. The fact
that Daen was gorgeous, intelligent and funny was a major
bonus, but deep down Obi-Wan knew that it was Daen's position
that was the biggest turn-on.
Face it. If he couldn't have his Master, then he would have the
next best thing. Let Qui-Gon see that another Jedi Master found
him desirable. Many of the Jedi chose a life of celibacy, but
what irked Obi-Wan was that his Master had made the choice so
late in life. Obi-Wan knew that Qui-Gon and Daen had been
lovers more than a decade ago. Why couldn't he have waited just
a little longer to espouse celibacy - until Obi-Wan was old
enough to seduce him, at least?
His feelings for Qui-Gon were nothing new. His love for his
Master had remained constant throughout the years, simply
changing form as the years passed. Daen's arrival reminded
Obi-Wan of a time when he'd suffered a rather painful crush on
his Master. It was Daen who had helped him through that crisis.
After that time, Qui-Gon had changed the nature of their
relationship. Obi-Wan now felt far more like an equal partner
on their missions, with Qui-Gon sharing the details of their
brief with him before departing. Qui-Gon invited Obi-Wan's
opinion, and they would frequently spend time discussing the
Padawan's observations and feelings about the mission.
Gradually, Obi-Wan began to know the man behind the Jedi title.
He came to appreciate that at his very core, Qui-Gon Jinn was
an honourable and just man. That despite his outward
stubbornness, his unwillingness to blindly follow the code, and
his frequent clashes of opinion with the Council, Qui-Gon Jinn
never lost sight of the fact that he was here to serve.
Obi-Wan learned other things about his Master, too. Like the
fact that Qui-Gon loved cold bamin brew and hated getting his
hair wet. That his fondness for watching the sun rise stemmed
from the fact that he came from a planet whose triple
satellites meant that the sun shone constantly. That he could
wear a tunic until it was virtually dropping from his body, but
was surprisingly self-indulgent when it came to purchasing
comfortable and attractive boots. That he was possessed of the
most beautiful pair of cool blue eyes Obi-Wan had ever seen.
The Padawan shifted uncomfortably again, missing the quick
glance from his Master. He wondered, with a stab of disgust,
why it was that with the time and opportunity to allow his
thoughts to wander, he was thinking not of the man who would
become his first lover, but of his Master.
The break for lunch came at long last, and there were varied
expressions of relief throughout the room. The Minster in
charge of the talks had wisely announced a full hour-long
break, and the delegates were now flooding out of the main room
and into the giant anteroom where lunch would be served.
Obi-Wan walked at his Master's side obediently.
"I must talk with the Minister, Obi-Wan. You may have your
lunch in the gardens if you wish."
"Yes, Master."
"Don't be late, Padawan."
Obi-Wan grinned up at his Master briefly before departing the
hall. The thought of some fresh air after the morning's talks
was irresistible.
"Mmmmmm."
Obi-Wan's hedonistic pleasure at the simple fare he'd been fed
from Daen's hand went a long way towards Daen's own enjoyment
of the meal. Daen had waylaid Obi-Wan as soon as the Padawan
had left the main building for the luncheon break. He'd
arranged a picnic basket and the two had eaten their way
through the fresh bread and cold meats before Daen began
feeding Obi-Wan from the tray of fruit.
"Like it?"
Obi-Wan's eyes were closed but the lazy smile on his face said
more than words could.
"Mmm hmmm."
The hazel eyes opened then, and Obi-Wan turned his head to look
up at Daen. His smile was an invitation and one Daen had no
problem accepting. The Jedi Master leaned in and traced
Obi-Wan's lips with his tongue, pulling back when Obi-Wan's
mouth opened and he tried to deepen the kiss. He continued with
teasing kisses until Obi-Wan got too frustrated to wait. With a
Force assisted shove, the Padawan rolled Daen over onto his
back, with Obi-Wan on top. This time Obi-Wan controlled the
kiss, and his assault on Daen's mouth left no doubt of his
enthusiasm. Their tongues entwined and Daen's hands came up to
massage Obi-Wan's backside as the younger man began to thrust
against him.
Eventually Obi-Wan had to pull back, dragging air into deprived
lungs. Daen smiled fondly at his enthusiasm and thought briefly
that he would have to be careful when they did finally make
love. Obi-Wan was liable to break something in his eagerness.
Obi-Wan traced Daen's mouth with one finger before leaning in
for another quick kiss.
"Nice lunch."
Daen laughed at the implied compliment and reached up to pull
Obi-Wan back down. Their mouths met again, and they kissed for
a long time.
The chiming of the session bell startled them both out of their
haze of pleasure. The bell meant that the delegates were taking
their seats for the next session. Obi-Wan was late.
"Oh, Sith!" he moaned, pushing himself off Daen's body and
reaching over for his robe which had been discarded earlier.
"Qui-Gon will kill me."
Daen remained where he was, watching Obi-Wan's frantic attempts
to brush stray leaves and dirt from his robe with mild
amusement.
"No he won't. Not in public, anyway. Just make sure you look
calm and presentable when you go inside. It doesn't look good
to have a Jedi breathless and flushed."
It was good advice. Obi-Wan dropped a brief kiss on Daen's
mouth before rising.
"Thanks for lunch!"
Qui-Gon took his seat in the hall with a serene facade that
gave no indication of his annoyance. Obi-Wan was late. His
Padawan entered the hall at that moment and took his seat by
his Master calmly. Outwardly, Obi-Wan gave no indication of
being at all rushed, and few of the delegates even noticed his
tardy arrival.
Qui-Gon spared him only the briefest cold glance before turning
his attention back to the talks. The Minister for Trade had
begun to speak, and Qui-Gon knew from experience that he was
unlikely to yield the floor in anything less than two hours.
The Jedi sat through the session in silence, having nothing to
contribute at this stage of the talks. Nearly three hours later
the delegates were invited to stretch their legs, and partake
of brief refreshments. As they all moved towards the outer
rooms, Qui-Gon also rose. With the attention of the delegates
elsewhere, Qui-Gon reached over and plucked a small twig which
was caught in Obi-Wan's Padawan braid. The guilty flush on
Obi-Wan's face was evidence enough that he'd felt his Master's
severe displeasure. Qui-Gon gave him a long, cold look.
"You may remain here, Obi-Wan. Perhaps you should read the
transcript of Minister Strlln's talk since you seemed to have
so much trouble attending to it when it was presented."
Qui-Gon stalked off to the outer rooms, leaving Obi-Wan looking
after him with dismay.
Qui-Gon Jinn's eyes hardened just fractionally when he and his
Padawan returned to their suite. Daen Koran was comfortably
ensconced on one of the armchairs. Obi-Wan saw the look on his
Master's face, and wisely refrained from greeting Daen.
Instead, he simply nodded politely, and went to his room to get
a start on the work his Master had detailed for him on their
way back from the session.
Qui-Gon sat down in the other armchair and crossed his arms.
"I would appreciate if it you'd leave Obi-Wan alone, Daen. The
boy's concentration has been virtually non-existent since you
arrived."
Daen put his legs up on the table, crossing them at the ankles.
"Leave him alone? I came halfway across the Galaxy to spend
some time with him, Qui-Gon. If Obi-Wan isn't concentrating,
perhaps it's your teaching that's at fault."
Qui-Gon could almost feel his hackles rising.
"What are you talking about? You haven't seen Obi-Wan for three
years, Daen. I find it hard to believe you'd travel three days
for a few kisses from a teenager."
Daen frowned at Qui-Gon's comment. It was obvious that Obi-Wan
hadn't told his Master why he'd invited Daen to Minoro. This
could get difficult.
"Obi-Wan and I have kept in contact since our time on
Telamarin, Qui-Gon - you know that. And while it's really none
of your business, our relationship is going to go a lot further
than a few kisses. He's not a boy anymore, Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan
will be twenty very soon. It's time you stopped seeing him as
the thirteen year old Padawan you took as an Apprentice."
Qui-Gon's mouth thinned dangerously, and there was a flash of
anger in the blue eyes.
"I don't need you to tell me how old Obi-Wan is, Daen. The
point is, you're hardly a suitable companion for him, and as
his Master, I am concerned that his attention is not on the
mission."
Daen removed his feet from the table, and stood. There was no
doubting his own anger, as he made no attempt to hide it.
"You and I aren't lovers anymore, Qui-Gon. We haven't been
lovers for a very long time. There's no law forbidding me to
sleep with both the Master and the Apprentice. And Obi-Wan's
attention span is your concern, not mine."
Qui-Gon looked furious as he too stood.
"Our past relationship has nothing to do with this."
"Then why am I not a suitable lover for Obi-Wan?"
His use of the term lover had Qui-Gon seeing red, but the Jedi
Master was unable to come up with an answer. The very thought
of Obi-Wan in Daen's arms was enough to make him lose all
reason, but there was no logical argument against Daen pursuing
a relationship with Obi-Wan. The silence stretched for a moment
as Qui-Gon glared at Daen, fury emanating from every pore of
his body.
"Master?"
Both Masters spun around at the sound of Obi-Wan's voice. The
Padawan was frowning slightly, but it was clear from his
expression that he hadn't heard enough of the argument to
understand what was going on.
"What is it, Padawan?" Qui-Gon's question was brusque.
Obi-Wan looked surprised.
"You wanted to go over the talks today so that I could
transcribe the important parts for your report to the Council,
Master."
Qui-Gon gave a short nod, his gaze back on Daen.
"Of course, Padawan. We'll have to ask Master Koran to excuse
us this evening - we have a lot of work to do."
Daen gave a short, silent laugh at Qui-Gon's formality, and his
very obvious attempt to keep him away from Obi-Wan. He bowed
his head mockingly at the Jedi Master, before moving past him
to where Obi-Wan stood. When he reached the Padawan, he leaned
in and gave Obi-Wan a brief but thorough kiss.
"Perhaps we can have breakfast together, Obi-Wan?"
Obi-Wan smiled.
"Only if you're not cooking."
Daen grinned back.
"I'll take you out - there's a nice looking place just a few
streets from here that does breakfast. First thing tomorrow,
all right?"
Obi-Wan glanced over at his Master for permission. Qui-Gon was
watching them both and his expression was cold. The pleased
smile on Obi-Wan's face turned into a worried frown. Clearly he
was wondering what he had done to offend his Master.
Qui-Gon watched the smile disappear and hated himself for
destroying Obi-Wan's pleasure. With an effort, he gave a small
smile and a nod of permission.
Obi-Wan still looked confused, but there was relief as well as
pleasure in his eyes as he glanced back at Daen.
"Tomorrow, then."
Daen dropped a final kiss on the bridge of Obi-Wan's nose, and
disappeared into his bedroom.
"Why didn't you tell Qui-Gon?" Daen asked his question after
their breakfast had been served and eaten.
Obi-Wan wouldn't meet Daen's eyes. The busy café around
them made it impossible for anyone to overhear their
conversation, and Obi-Wan kept his gaze firmly on the table in
front of him.
"Obi-Wan." There was warning in the firm tone.
Obi-Wan grimaced, glanced up and immediately looked away.
"I couldn't."
"Why not?" Outwardly they gave the picture of serenity and calm
- two Jedi lingering over coffee. No one would have known that
Obi-Wan had tensed up upon hearing his Master's name.
"I don't know." Obi-Wan met Daen's eyes then, and there was a
stubborn set to his mouth. Daen ignored it.
"Well then perhaps you're not quite as mature as I thought you
were. Perhaps we should put this whole thing off until you're
grown up enough to have an adult conversation with your
Master."
The cool green eyes were hard as Obi-Wan finally met Daen's
gaze.
"It's not about me - it's about him. I don't want to hurt him."
Daen sighed, and crossed his arms.
"I see." The flat statement implied a whole lot more and
Obi-Wan bristled defensively.
"No you don't. I don't mean it would hurt him because he wants
me himself - I know he doesn't. What I mean is it would hurt
him that I did this without discussing it with him. That you've
been here two days and I never said anything."
Daen's expression softened fractionally.
"And why didn't you tell him?"
It was Obi-Wan's turn to sigh as he shook his head and looked
away.
"You know why. He may not want me but that doesn't stop
me wanting him. I'll be twenty years old in a couple of
months, Daen. Do me a favor and don't tell me this is just a
crush, okay?"
Daen raised an eyebrow.
"I think you're mistaking me for Qui-Gon. I don't have any
experience with teenage angst." The tone was insulting.
Obi-Wan's mouth thinned in anger and he rose from his seat.
"I'm going back to the suite. This was obviously a mistake - I
should have asked Valerin. Goodbye Daen." He turned to leave.
"Sit down, Obi-Wan." Daen's voice was even.
Obi-Wan glanced back just the once.
"Fuck you, Daen." He walked out of the café.
The next four days were interesting. Qui-Gon had looked annoyed
when Daen presented Obi-Wan with a single, long-stemmed rose in
silent apology for their argument. The Jedi Master clearly
disliked the undercurrents he could sense between Obi-Wan and
Daen, and the pleased smile on Obi-Wan's face only served to
feed his ire.
Daen had spent much of the day following the breakfast
meditating. He had been tempted just to leave the planet, but
his friendship with both Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon was too important
to lose.
He wanted Obi-Wan, and he knew Obi-Wan was attracted to him as
well. He also knew that Qui-Gon Jinn wouldn't make a move on
his virginal Padawan if his life depended on it. But he
silently disagreed with Obi-Wan as to the reason. Qui-Gon
appeared to Daen to be in a constant state of denial. From the
very occasional, extremely brief glances Daen had caught, it
was clear that Qui-Gon was sexually attracted to his Padawan.
And who could blame him? Obi-Wan was a beautiful young man. But
Qui-Gon's words and actions convinced Daen that the Jedi Master
still thought of his Padawan as a boy. Even if Qui-Gon were
aware of Obi-Wan's feelings for him, he would probably write
them off as a crush.
Over the past four days Qui-Gon had made his disapproval of
Daen's relationship with Obi-Wan clear, and the Padawan had
been caught between his desire for Daen, and his duty towards
his Master.
Daen certainly did not envy Qui-Gon's position. Qui-Gon was
unable to admit to himself just how much he cared for his
Padawan, and his ex-lover could see him struggling to justify
his actions to himself.
Daen had watched from the sidelines as Obi-Wan became steadily
more annoyed with his Master's actions. Obi-Wan was clearly
angered at Qui-Gon's transparent attempts to separate he and
Daen, particularly when his Master seemed to have absolutely no
reason for doing so. Qui-Gon heaped work on Obi-Wan, ordered
his presence at every single social function, and invented a
number of unimportant errands that kept Obi-Wan out of Daen's
way. Obi-Wan obeyed his Master's orders to the letter, but each
day his lips thinned and his eyes flashed just a little more.
As Obi-Wan's Master, Qui-Gon Jinn had every right simply to
give Obi-Wan a direct order not to see Daen. He was certainly
under no obligation to explain himself to his Padawan, and he
could even have had the Council order Daen's removal from
Minoro if he so chose. Daen was almost amused at Qui-Gon's
dilemma. To do any of those things, Qui-Gon would have to
provide some explanation - to himself at least, if not to the
Council. And he could not.
More problematic too, was Qui-Gon's relationship with Obi-Wan.
Over the past couple of years Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan had become
far closer partners, and Obi-Wan was of an age and a level
where he could expect Qui-Gon to communicate with him.
Qui-Gon's sudden return to the uncommunicative Master Obi-Wan
had served in years past had at first confused, and then
angered Obi-Wan.
Matters came to a head in a quite unexpected way. Daen was
helping Obi-Wan clear up after the evening meal. He was in the
kitchen, washing dishes, when he overheard the conversation
between Padawan and Master.
Qui-Gon had just finished detailing the completely unnecessary
work Obi-Wan would have to complete before retiring for the
night. His intention was clearly to keep Obi-Wan so busy he
wouldn't have time to spend with Daen. Only this night, instead
of the polite, "Yes Master," Obi-Wan spoke up.
"Master, I asked Daen to Minoro."
Daen paused in the washing up, wanting to hear Qui-Gon's reply.
There was none - just a long silence. Daen could almost see
Qui-Gon's right eyebrow rising in query.
"In accordance with Temple custom I ... I asked him to be my
first lover."
The silence was much longer then, and Daen wished he could see
what was going on. Finally Qui-Gon spoke.
"I see. I will not be requiring you to attend any more of the
sessions or the social events, Obi-Wan. You are temporarily
relieved of duty until we leave Minoro. I will be ...
discussing Trade negotiations with the Minister. I doubt I will
be back this evening."
Daen heard Qui-Gon rise from his chair and head for the door.
He could almost feel the blanket of guilt that was no doubt
currently enveloping Obi-Wan.
"Master?"
There did not exist a Jedi Master who could ignore that word
from their Padawan.
"Yes, Obi-Wan?"
The silence stretched and Daen moved to the kitchen doorway to
see what was happening.
Obi-Wan was looking at his Master and there was a plea in his
eyes. Qui-Gon made an effort at a smile and motioned Obi-Wan to
come to him. The Padawan stood in front of his Master, and Daen
could no longer see Obi-Wan's expression.
Qui-Gon looked down at his Padawan.
"I'm sorry, Obi-Wan. I never thought we'd have such a distance
between us that you couldn't discuss this with me." He was
genuine in his regret.
Obi-Wan bowed his head. His voice was filled with
self-loathing.
"It's my own fault, Master. I wanted to tell you, but ..." His
voice trailed off.
Qui-Gon raised one large hand and cupped Obi-Wan's cheek to
raise his Padawan's head so that their eyes met.
"Obi-Wan, you could never do anything that would make me love
you any less. I'm proud of you for making this decision. This
is a difficult time for you, I know. I remember my own first
time - I dreaded it more than ten Kwi routines!"
The gentle smile on Qui-Gon's face matched his teasing tone,
and Daen could see from his expression that Obi-Wan had an
answering smile. The Jedi Master leaned in and kissed Obi-Wan
lightly on the forehead.
"Enjoy yourself, my Obi-Wan. There will be time enough for work
when we leave here."
Another brief caress to Obi-Wan's cheek, and he was gone. Daen
smiled to himself. Many years ago a much younger version of
himself had been the recipient of Qui-Gon's gentleness, his
innate sense of honor. Qui-Gon had been his first lover,
and the intervening years had made Daen forget that at his
core, Qui-Gon Jinn was a good man.
Obi-Wan turned around then, and Daen could see the difference
in his demeanor. Gone was the guilt, the ever-present worry of
what his Master might think of him. There was a cheeky glint in
Obi-Wan's eyes that Daen hadn't seen for quite a while and it
sparked a thread of arousal in his body as Obi-Wan approached
him.
The dishes stayed soaking in the sink that evening.
Obi-Wan's first time was as sweet and gentle as his first kiss,
but only because Daen held an incredible control over his own
body. It was no surprise to discover that Obi-Wan Kenobi was a
natural sensualist, and his enthusiasm almost proved Daen's
undoing. He held Obi-Wan's body against his own as Obi-Wan
gasped his climax exultantly, and kissed him gently as he came
down from the post-orgasmic high. It was Obi-Wan's turn then to
explore and to touch and kiss and stroke Daen into his own
shuddering climax. They napped for short periods, returning to
the fray several times that night. And before too long Daen
ceased to hold back, secure in the knowledge that Obi-Wan was
becoming experienced enough to meet and exceed the demands of
his lover. He was both dominant and submissive, exploring each
new experience with both humour and eagerness. It was early the
following morning before they slept.
It had been many years since Qui-Gon Jinn had spent an entire
night meditating. His excuse to Obi-Wan had been just that - an
excuse. There was nothing to discuss with the Minister. Qui-Gon
found a quiet ante-chamber and sank to his knees with his head
bowed. It was a long time before he could quiet his mind enough
to meditate properly.
It was hard to look upon Obi-Wan as a man now - harder than he
could have thought possible. Qui-Gon Jinn could remember to the
second the first time he had looked upon Obi-Wan as a sexual
being. Obi-Wan was seventeen and was getting kissed for the
first time. The Jedi Master had spent several hours in
meditation following the revelation that he desired his
Padawan. Objectively, he could allow to himself that Obi-Wan
was maturing both physically and emotionally, and that on many
planets he would be considered an adult. But that didn't help
the feeling of self-disgust that pervaded him every time he
slipped.
Many hours later Qui-Gon Jinn came to the disturbing
realization that the disgust was easier to bear than the truth.
That now he had no cause to consider Obi-Wan a boy, no
comforting image to hide behind. Obi-Wan was an adult now. A
man who could make his own choices as to lovers. And
bond-mates. And after Daen there would be others, and perhaps
one of them would be the one who would take Obi-Wan from him
permanently.
It was tempting to consider approaching Obi-Wan himself, but it
was a thought quickly dismissed. His feelings for Obi-Wan were
completely inappropriate, not to mention dangerous. He was well
aware that Obi-Wan desired him, and had done so for some time,
but it wasn't enough. Obi-Wan was far too young for any serious
relationship. And certainly not one that would last for the
rest of his life.
There were few things as certain as this; if he were ever to
possess Obi-Wan Kenobi, he would never be able to let him go.
Their lovemaking had been a smooth, unhurried affair this time
around, and all the more satisfying for its eventual, explosive
climax. They lay in each other's arms for a time until Obi-Wan
rose from the bed. He sat on the window seat that looked out
into the burgeoning dawn. Daen remained where he was, enjoying
the view. Obi-Wan lost none of his natural grace even when
curled up, naked, on a window seat.
"Quite a talent you have there, Padawan Kenobi."
The lazy comment drew a smile from Obi-Wan.
"Which talent in particular, Master Koran?"
Daen stretched.
"That extremely pleasant thing you did with your tongue when my
cock was in your mouth, Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan shook his head ruefully, glancing back to where Daen
was lying on the bed.
"Is there nothing that embarrasses you, Daen?"
"Very little. And I always give credit where it's due. You have
a very talented mouth, Obi-Wan. And I've had enough lovers to
know the difference."
"I'm glad to hear I'm without equal in that department."
"Well, come to think of it, Qui-Gon ..."
"Don't." Obi-Wan's voice was harsh, and Daen looked surprised.
"Don't what?"
There was silence for a long moment before Obi-Wan spoke again.
"Don't talk about him like that. I don't want to know what he
was like in bed, or ... anything."
It was Daen's turn to be silent as he pondered the words
Obi-Wan hadn't spoken.
"Did you sleep with me to hurt him, Obi-Wan?" The question had
to be asked, but Daen wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer.
Obi-Wan glanced back at him briefly, then returned to his study
of the view.
"No. I suppose I wanted to prove to him that I was desirable,
that there was a Jedi Master who did want me, but ... I
wanted you. I'm glad you were my first."
"Instead of him?"
Obi-Wan remained obstinately silent.
Daen turned and lay back on the bed, crossing his hands behind
his head as he considered their conversation. He appreciated
Obi-Wan's honesty, but now he began to wonder if he had, in
fact, damaged the relationship between Master and Padawan.
Qui-Gon was certainly jealous of their relationship, and Daen
knew the older Jedi harboured some seriously lustful thoughts
towards his Padawan. But there was no way in a million years
Qui-Gon would ever consider making a move on Obi-Wan if he
thought Obi-Wan was too young, or not sure of his feelings.
So where did that leave Obi-Wan? He was a young man now,
maturing, and wanting - as most young men did - to explore his
own sexuality. Was it fair that he should wait months or even
years until Qui-Gon was ready to see him as an adult? Daen was
fairly certain that Obi-Wan wasn't in love with Qui-Gon.
Not yet, anyway. Obi-Wan's feelings had certainly matured since
the crush he'd suffered years ago. Daen knew Obi-Wan well
enough to know that the Padawan felt a strong sexual desire for
his Master, and there was a definite feeling of pique that
Qui-Gon gave his feelings no encouragement whatsoever.
And then there were his own feelings. With no great deal of
persuasion he could have fallen in love with Obi-Wan Kenobi and
had his heart handed back to him in pieces for his trouble.
Fortunately, he was too sensible for all of that. Pretty eyes,
a cute dimple and a walk that would put a streetwalker to shame
were all very nice, but there was a package that would only
bring him grief. He sighed, briefly, and released the
possibilities of what might have been to the Force.
He turned his head to meet Obi-Wan's considering look, and
laughed. These two would be the death of him yet.
"Don't look so concerned, little Padawan. I am thinking about
nothing more than your next lesson plan. I believe we have yet
to explore the concept of you inside me. Pay
attention now, Obi-Wan."
The alacrity with which Obi-Wan left his seat and returned to
the bed for his next lesson went a long way towards improving
his mood. And before too long Daen was moaning with pleasure as
Obi-Wan fucked him, and that was very good, too.
Daen went through the preflight checks smoothly, and requested
a departure window from the landing bay tower. As he waited for
his instructions, he watched the two Jedi who were standing
outside the shuttle, having come to see him off. The Council
had a mission for him, and had sent a flyer to Minoro for him
to use. His farewell from Obi-Wan had been as sweetly
satisfying as the rest of their lovemaking, and once again,
Daen considered the possibility of pursuing a more permanent
relationship with Obi-Wan.
The Padawan was intelligent and amusing and beautiful, and
being in his company filled a void inside Daen that he hadn't
known existed until he became intimate with Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Qui-Gon had pretty much left them both alone after that first
night, and Daen and Obi-Wan had had three wonderful days and
nights together before Daen's orders came through from the
Council. Qui-Gon had tactfully looked away when Daen had kissed
Obi-Wan farewell, and had hugged Daen warmly when it came his
turn to say goodbye. They hadn't spoken about Obi-Wan.
Finally the mechanical tower control voice gave Daen his
departure window, and he began to maneuver the flyer towards
the exit doors. He had to wait until a giant transport departed
before taking his place in the line, and as he did so, he
glanced over again to where Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were standing.
They were perhaps fifty feet away, and while he could see them
both facing him, they were too distant to see closely. On
impulse, Daen keyed in a command to the visual relay unit on
the console, and the faces of the two Jedi immediately
appeared, seen far more clearly onscreen than with the naked
eye.
Qui-Gon was watching the departure of the flyer and his
expression appeared calm and untroubled. Obi-Wan had just a
hint of a smile on his face, and there was a soft light in his
eyes. His expression was far easier to read. Content, at peace.
In love. He was facing the flyer, but he was looking at his
Master.
Daen watched the closer image for a second longer, then
switched it off. His flyer was cleared for departure and he
keyed in the commands for takeoff. There was no expression at
all on his face, and only someone who knew him well might have
wondered at the hardness in the usually warm green eyes. The
flyer cleared the docking bay doors and soared into spaced.
The End.
Any and all feedback greeted with cries of joy.............
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