Master Apprentice Archive Fates - Batball Quick search:

Fates - Batball

by Leandra and Raina

Rating: R (which is really astounding, given the number of sex- scenes...)

Category: Q/O, AU, Humour, PWP, all fun, no work!

Pairing: Qui/Obi, m/m, f/f (which stands for both female/female and fish/fish), and *gasp!!! * m/f!

Disclaimer: The Fiend in Flannel owns Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn. Ben and Quiggs, Seda and Dun, Master Titulus, Lieth and of course Squicky belong to Raina and me. As do almost the entire 'Batball League of Coruscant'.

Summary: The first Padawan Batball League is in session, with interesting side effects.

Archive: yes please, m_a, nutters inc. (nowhere else)

Feedback: nuttersincorporated@hotmail.com, raina_at@yahoo.de

Warnings: Ahem... silly? No angst, no schmaltz, no issues, just good old plain fun. Don't know if that merits a warning. Oh, and het. Not explicit, but het. And bestiality. Up for fish jokes???

Note: This is a "special episode" of the Fates-series. Takes place a few weeks after "Fates-Come What May".

The timeline can be found here: http://www.angelfire.com/theforce/nuttersinc/fates_timeline.html

Batball is loosely based on Quidditch, so any similarities are intentional.

Thanks to:
Lea likes to thank Raina for her encouragement and stamina and the fact that she was allowed to indulge in her Oliver Wood obsession. Raina likes to thank Lea for the plot bunny and the Star Wars Name Generator for reasons she doesn't want to elaborate on. We both would like to thank Claude for providing us with a very thorough beta in the absence of Tem-ve, who is currently on the other side of the globe. Thank you very much, Claude. Have a wonderful rest of your holiday, Tem-ve.

"So this is a batball" Qui-Gon held up a red ball about the size of a small melon. "Your job as a Batter is it to get the ball as far into the field as possible, thus making it possible for the Scorers to score."

"And I use this stick." Obi-Wan held up a rounded club.

Qui-Gon winced, "Ben, it's called a bat. That's why the game is called Batball, not Stickball."

Obi-Wan flashed him a glittering grin, "Stickball. I like it."

Qui-Gon was very glad that they were alone on the pitch, making it possible for him to walk over to his lover and claim that adorable mouth in a kiss. Which was exactly what he did. Obi-Wan dropped the bat and latched onto his lover, appreciatively moaning into the kiss.

"Oh no, you don't." Qui-Gon managed to say as he pulled away from Obi- Wan's tantalising body. He picked up the bat and handed it to his pouting lover.

"First we practice, then we play," he said with a wink.

He got an indecent smile as his only answer and Obi-Wan dutifully brought his attention back to the game.

"And after I hit the ball, what do I do then?" he inquired, gesturing with his bat.

"You join the players on the field and try to get the ball to the Scorers, so they can score."

"They're the only ones who get to score? What's in all this for me, then?" Obi-Wan asked, his voice dropping to that mixture between a growl and a purr that drove Qui-Gon crazy, giving him one of his smoky 'Come hither' looks.

Qui-Gon knew he was in for it tonight. Merciless teasing until he finally gave up and gave in to his lover's seduction attempts.

Qui-Gon smiled, not about to lose without a fight. "Well, you don't get to score any goals, but you do get to score me."

Obi-Wan's grin broadened. "In that case, the Scorers can have the goals."

With difficulty, Qui-Gon looked away from his practically-leering lover. He cleared his throat and said, "Now let's see how good you are with that bat."

Obi-Wan mock-frowned. "I thought you wanted to practice Batball. Besides, if you've forgotten just how talented I am with a bat, I just might want to remind you of the rather vocal appreciation you showed last night."

Qui-Gon groaned. They were never going to get anywhere like this. "Just shut up and hit the ball, Ben."

"If I had a credit for every time you said that to me..." Obi-Wan teased, but turned in the direction of the machine, which dispatched the balls for training, giving Qui-Gon ample time to enjoy the view. He loved the way Obi-Wan looked in these Batball uniforms. And later, he intended to find out just how nice Obi-Wan looked out of it. But training first.

Qui-Gon said, "Ball," as a command to the machine and it dispatched a batball that flew directly at Obi-Wan, who raised his bat and hit the ball square centre so that it flew straight towards one of the goalposts.

"Excellent," Qui-Gon said appreciatively.

Obi-Wan turned around. "Good. Can we make out now?"

Qui-Gon chuckled. Tempting, but he didn't think so. "Patience, Padawan."

"Yes, Master." Obi-Wan sighed dramatically.

Qui-Gon rolled his eyes. "If I had a Padawan like you, I'd go mad within a week."

Obi-Wan grinned. "Well, you could always discipline me with sex- withdrawal."

Qui-Gon made a face. "A Master doing his Padawan? How sick is that?"

Obi-Wan locked eyes with his lover, dropped the bat carelessly to the floor and took two steps towards Qui-Gon, his hips swaying suggestively, his hands travelling up his body. "Are you saying you wouldn't sleep with me if I was your Padawan?"

Qui-Gon eyed his walking temptation of a lover appreciatively. He looked simply too devourable in the clingy blue Batball outfit. He couldn't resist grabbing Obi-Wan's slender yet powerful hips and pulled him close. "Well, I think I'd make an exception for you."

He kissed away Obi-Wan's sparkling laugh, swallowing the sound from his lover's lips, thinking that he would probably sleep with him even if the two of them were crustaceans living on the bottom of Correlia's ocean, as incapable of resisting the bastard as he was.

He broke the kiss when Obi-Wan tried to insinuate his leg between Qui- Gon's thighs. "Oh, no. Get back there and hit the ball. Don't try to take advantage of me."

Pouting, Obi-Wan sauntered back, giving Qui-Gon ample opportunity to stare at his ass. Which he did, especially when Obi-Wan leaned down ever so slowly to pick up his bat again. Qui-Gon growled. Obi-Wan grinned. Smugly.

"One day, Kenobi..." Qui-Gon murmured, menacingly."Always these empty promises." Obi-Wan grinned.

Qui-Gon swatted Obi-Wan's ass and stepped out of reach just to be on the safe side. Summoning his professionalism, he started to quiz Obi- Wan about the rules of Batball. "Tell me the basic rules again."

With a long-suffering sigh, Obi-Wan started to talk. "There are ten players in each team. One Batter, one Repeller, four Scorers and four Defenders. The Batter's job is to hit the ball to his own team members, and he's the only one who's allowed to transport the ball over a distance of ten steps. The Batter gets the ball to the Scorers, who score the goals. The Defenders keep the opposing team's scorers away from the goal, and the Repeller defends the goals directly. Every game takes an hour, in three periods of twenty minutes. Each goal is worth five points, whoever scores the most goals, wins. How was that?"

Qui-Gon smiled. "Good, but you forgot about the Knockers and the Force-power rules."

Obi-Wan nodded, serious now. "The Knockers are three balls that fly around the pitch randomly. One can Force-shove the Knockers in the direction of the other team's players. One is allowed to use the Force to enhance one's own skill, but it's not allowed to use it to hurt or incapacitate other players, or to manipulate the batball."

"And?"

"Oh. Mind tricking is forbidden as well," Obi-Wan pouted. "Stupid rule."

Qui-Gon chuckled. "You should be glad. Lieth is a natural mind- whammier, or so I've heard."

"Must be something about his charisma," Obi-Wan mused, absently.

"Charisma?" Qui-Gon raised his eyebrows. "Don't say you find him attractive."

A spark in eyes that were almost green now. Qui-Gon loved it when Obi- Wan's eyes turned green.

Obi-Wan met and held his challenging gaze. "Devastating." A low mix between a purr and a growl.

Qui-Gon growled. He loved that voice. He knew he had already lost this game, a game Obi-Wan was so much better at playing. The game of driving him to distraction and getting him to all but pounce Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan really excelled in that area. If he was half as good at Batball, his team would win by a stretch.

A slow grin spread on Obi-Wan's face and Qui-Gon was lost. He almost dragged his lover into the locker room, not heeding Obi-Wan's anticipatory grin.

"Dun? Are you in here?" Seda opened the door to the locker room and peered inside.

No sign of Dun. She rolled her eyes. Typical of the Padawan. He'd left his Batball notes in the Padawan Lounge and now Seda wanted to return them - and maybe get five minutes of attention in the process.

Sighing, she was about to leave again when she heard a noise from the back of the room. "Hello?" she asked, but nobody answered.

She cast out with the Force and felt something. A life form, definitely.

Following the feeling, and another of these clanking sounds, she found herself in front of the door to the janitor's closet. Scratching her head, she wondered briefly what it could be. Womp rats? The Temple had been infested with them some years back. Well, there was only one way to find out. She opened the door.

Seda blushed. Then she cursed. "Sithspawn! Can't you two leave your hands off each other for more than two minutes at a time?"

"Ahem. No, but..." Qui-Gon's voice sounded a bit strained.

Obi-Wan's did too when he interrupted his lover, "Seda, don't take this the wrong way, but SOD OFF!"

"All right, all right." She made a dismissive gesture and shut the door again.

Then she stood in front of it and listened.

"We can still sense you! Get lost, you pervert eavesdropper!"

Growling, Seda stalked out. One day she'd strangle Kenobi.

A nasty voice in the back of her head remarked that if she wanted to strangle anyone who had sex when she didn't get any, she'd be very busy indeed. Seda growled again. Shut up, brain.

"So..." Lieth said, rubbing his hands and gazing at the assembled Padawans with bright shiny eyes, "... Here we are. Eighteen players, two teams. Two players are still missing. We have eight Scorers, who are Teira, Anu, Garen, Tri'sh, Sari, Barro, Dun, Clacu and," he pointed at each of them, receiving smiles in return, "Eight Defenders, who are Tibacka, Reeft, Akoa, Marfi, Jampo, Doofort, Bihal, and Ronwe."

Lieth rubbed his hands once again, then started to pace in front of the players, looking at them both seriously and enthusiastically, "Now... We have one Batter so far, Obi-Wan...", he stopped his pacing for a moment and pointed at him, "and one Repeller, me. Which means ... we're missing one Repeller and one Batter". None of you have played Batball before..."

The assembled Padawans stared at each other, then looked back at Lieth and nodded, murmuring their agreement. Tibacka growled loudly and was patted on the back by Anu, a Viegan female, who looked extremely gorgeous in her tight training dress and made every attempt to show off her attractive curves.

"I will split us into two teams and then we will start with simple warm up exercises until you have worked up a good sweat. Afterwards, the two teams will play one round of Batball, to see how you are managing."

Some more nods.

If he didn't stop pacing soon, Obi-Wan thoughthe would wear a path into the newly-mowed lawn. Their training ground was situated at the far end of the T]mple garden where nobody would disturb them. They had convinced several of the garden droids to mow the unkempt garden area for their purpose.

"Since no one else even has a rudimentary knowledge of the game, I have to train the two teams alone. Which is a task I'm really looking forward to as I see high potential in each and every one of you, right?" Lieth continued and resumed pacing once more.

"I'm rudimentarily familiar with Batball...", a voice suddenly said and they all turned their heads. A huge smile crossed Obi-Wan's features when he saw who had spoken.

"Qui-Gon... decided to join us?" Lieth asked, a mischievous grin spreading over his face.

Qui-Gon stepped closer and nodded. "I can't leave you alone, otherwise there will be some of you dead afterwards. You can't train them alone, that's insane."

"Well... considering your not-inconsiderable height, you'd make a good Repeller," Lieth suggested, eying Qui-Gon all over with squinted eyes.

Qui-Gon nodded and shot a look at Obi-Wan, who was still grinning smugly.

"So how will you divide the two teams?" Akoa, a Calamarian male, asked. "We still lack a second Batter..."

Lieth turned to him and looked at him thoughtfully. "Akoa, a very good question. One Defender will have to take over the position of a Batter until we have found another one. It's a slight disadvantage, but it's training anyway. We will manage."

He looked them over once more, taking his time with each and every one of them. Anu gave him her best flirty smile, but his face showed no reaction, so she pouted cutely and leaned closer to Jampo Retford, who seemed much more attracted to her anyway. The boy was giving her a hot stare and she winked at him, absently brushing her arm against his in the process.

Suddenly, Lieth stopped in front of Ronwe and addressed the lanky redhead. "Ronwe, I guess you will have to be a batter for today. You're a bit too tall to be a batter, but you have quick reflexes and quite a good build. You'll manage."

Ronwe blushed a bit and nodded eagerly. His blushing went unnoticed by Lieth who was starting to break the team up into groups, rearranging and changing his choices several times in the process until he was content with the outcome.

In the end, he chose to lead one team as a captain, putting the other team into Qui-Gon's hands. Grinning from ear to ear, he led them out onto the pitch and broke into a light run, the other Padawans trailing after him.

While they were running around the pitch several times, Jambo couldn't take his eyes off Ana's swaying backside. Marfi shot Bihal a lingering look over her shoulder several times, obviously communicating with her through her swinging head tails, eluding tripping only by a hair's breadth. Qui-Gon decided it was best to encourage Obi-Wan's run with swats to his backside whenever nobody looked and Ronwe's gaze was fixed on the shifting muscles of Lieth's back in front of him.

Oblivious to the lack of focus from his fellow team members, Lieth jogged in front of them happily.

Three hours later, both the enthusiasm for Batball and the focus on attractive team members were reduced to almost non-existent.

"Never... mention this insane game again... ", Tri'sh murmured, rubbing the back of her head, where a Knocker had hit with full force. Next to her, Doofort was nodding, wincing at the same time, when another sharp pain shot through his sprained ankle.

She shot him a glance and grimaced. "Poor you. I could tend to your ankle in the locker room.. " she suggested and gave him a shy smile, still rubbing her head. Behind them Marfi helped Bihal hop over the pitch towards the exit of the garden. Marfi was sporting a black eye and Bihal couldn't set her foot onto the ground without cursing up a storm. She was clinging heavily to Marfi, who didn't seem to mind the additional body contact.

"Good job, Ronwe," Lieth said to the redhead and patted him on the shoulder, causing the other to suppress a painful groan. Ronwe was not only limping, but he could swear that every muscle in his abused body screamed in agony. The Defenders on the other team had made a sport out of sending Knocker after Knocker his way and he decided he would count his bruises in private later. Force, he wouldn't mind if Lieth counted his bruises in private. While he was at it, he could count other parts of his anatomy as well, if he wished... Force, as if that would happen...

Seda hadn't talked to Dun in quite some time for he had been occupied with talking about Batball all day long, and she just couldn't stomach that stupid game. In Seda's opinion, Dun spent way too much time with Lieth and she was worried that the admiration he held for the other Padawan might turn into attraction before she could interfere. Interfere? When had she ever thought about interfering in Dun's love affairs? As far as she was concerned Dun could screw whoever and whatever he wanted, right?

She knew from all the gossip running through the temple, efficiently spreading through the gossip mill of the Padawan's common rooms ( a very reliable source to get the newest information), that Lieth had indeed a liking for cute boys, and Dun was a cute boy. Wait, she said to herself, when did Dun, the heartless Sithly arsehole turn into something cute? She really should have her brain checked when she had her next assignment at the mind healers.

At the moment Seda was on her way to the locker rooms, having heard that the Batball players had just returned from their first training. Garen had been spotted looking like he had been involved in a star fighter crash, and Barro, the chatty Malastarian who never stopped prowling with his achievements, was proudly telling all who would listen that he had taken a Knocker to his groin.

Seda just wanted to make sure that Dun was all right. She had heard, the training had been kind of bloody. And there was still Dun's possible involvement with a certain nutter to consider. As she stepped into the locker room, the first thing she noticed were low moans, coming from somewhere around the corner. Poor Dun, Seda thought and started to round the corner, approaching the source of pitiful sounds. What she found was not quite what she had expected.

Tri'sh was kneeling on the tiled floor between Doofort's legs, obviously occupied. The one producing mewling sounds was Doofort, but it was quite obvious that he wasn't in any pain. Quite the contrary. At Seda's astonished gasp, Tri'sh spun around, covering Doofort with her body, blushing tremendously.

"I was only tending to his ankle..." Tri'sh tried to defend herself, the lie deepening her blush even more.

"Sure. Ankle," Seda said, then turned around with a look of humiliation on her face and bolted out of the room.

"Erics! If you don't put that pad down in two nanoseconds and pay attention, you'll serve detention until the sun goes nova! And that goes for you too, Jinn!" Master Titulus' exclamation made the two Padawans in question start so that the data pads they had been exchanging clattered to the floor.

Master Titulus stalked through the classroom towards the two culprits. "Neither of you can afford to do anything but pay the closest and most rapt attention to my lectures. Jinn, your last exam results were so appalling I seriously considered having your brainwaves tested."

He whirled around when he heard a snicker. "If I were you, Retford, I'd watch my own grades."

Titulus began to pace in front of them. "I am used to substandard performance from you lot, but lately you are outdoing yourselves. Your homework assignments are sloppy at best, you never pay attention in class, in fact most of the time you seem to be half asleep. And Doofort here looks like he's been involved in a Bantha stampede. ...I don't know what you Padawans have been up to, and I don't want to know, so Erics, keep your mouth shut! Your attitude towards this class better change soon... or else!" He stopped mid-sentence as a rather loud snore rang out in the classroom.

Narrowing his eyes, Master Titulus reached out, grabbed the offender's Padawan braid and yanked. "Good morning, Solo!"

Seda jerked awake with a loud "Ouch!" Titulus glared at her, disgusted. "Sleeping in my class is not tolerable. I'm disappointed in you, Solo. You might as well stop giggling, Kenobi, for I will speak to all your Masters about this."

The whole class sobered up considerably after that announcement.

Leith paled visibly and turned to Qui-Gon. "Do you think they'll cancel the match?"

Qui-Gon looked at him, incredulous, and wondered for the umpteenth time if the crèche master had dropped Leith as a child. Repeatedly.

"Ahhhh... here you are..." Seda exclaimed, relieved, as she spotted Dun in one of the Padawan common rooms lazily lounging on top of one of the grey sofas. "I've been looking for you for ages. Nobody seems to know where you are..."

The Twi'lek raised his hands with much effort and waved weakly.

"Exhausted?" she asked and practically pounced on him, settling on the armrest of the sofa. She stared down at his tired face.

"Lieth is a butch-herder," Dun said sleepily, winking at her.

She giggled and started playing absently with her braid. "I always knew it. Time you found out for yourself. Poor baby," she said mock- grinning and leaned forward to examine him closer. When she patted his arm, Dun winced at her touch and shot her a wounded look.

"No chance that you'll join us? We still need a Batter in our team, and as you are so petite and light and dexterous..." he said, a mischievous grin spreading over his face.

"Hah! You wish! Not even if you paid me!" Seda retorted and shoved him again.

"Take care, damn it!"

Rubbing his upper arm, he tried a charming smile, spoiled a bit by his wincing.

"Which kind of payment would make you consider joining the Batball team?"

Dumbly, Seda stared at him.. Had Dun just made a weak attempt at hitting on her? She studied him more intently and he quirked an eyebrow, flashing her another of his famous smiles.

Short of an answer, she shoved him again. "Stupid..." she said affectionately. "Nothing could convince me to change my mind... not even if you invited me on the most expensive and unusual, fantastic date in the history of this temple!" She blushed furiously once the words where out of her mouth and bit her lip to stop herself from revealing anything else. " Stupid, Solo," she chided herself.

He was smiling at her, his eyes twinkling in mischief. "What if I did?"

"You wouldn't dare!"

"So sure, Solo?"

Instead of an answer, she shoved him again, more forcefully now.

"You know, I would, Solo," he said softly and raised his hand to touch her cheek.

For one moment Seda considered giving into the temptation. Just for one moment. Then the rational part of her brain supplied her with possible motives for Dun's behaviour. Her thudding heart was screaming in protest, but nonetheless, she knew that she should get out of this, as long as the possibility existed.

"You wouldn't dare, Dun," she said coldly and stood up. "You are much too scared of me."

He watched her cross the room towards the door, but couldn't bring up the courage to call her back. When the door slid shut with an audible "swish", he raised a hand to rub his eyes and sighed.

"You're damn right, Solo. Damn right."

Obi-Wan walked, or rather limped, into the mess hall. On his way to the food distributor, he saw several of his fellow Batball players, all nursing small Bacta-covered wounds or bruises. He noticed that some of them seemed to have bruises on their necks, and upon closer inspection of Marfi who was standing in line in front of him, actually discovered that at least in her case, the bruise was a rather sizeable love bite. He grinned. Who knew Bihal had it in her?

Batball seemed to have an effect on more love lives than his own, Obi- Wan mused, rubbing the hickey Qui-Gon had left just above his collarbone last night. Grinning despite his hurt ankle, Obi-Wan made his way over to a table and started to shovel down his lunch.

Halfway through his meal, he was joined by Bant, who took a long look at the black eye he was sporting and then asked, "Batball?"

He nodded.

Bant shook her head in wonder. "Why are you playing this stupid game, Obi-Wan? I think half the Padawans in my Anthropology II class were in the Healer's Ward today when I went down there to pick up my Master's medication."

Obi-Wan shrugged. "Well, it's a lot of fun, we get to work off excess energy and I never had so much sex in my life."

Bant stared at him, speechless. After a few seconds of gaping, she found her voice again. "I can't believe you just said that."

Obi-Wan grinned indecently. "Well, you wanted to know why I'm playing this game. That's why."

She shook her head again. "This is crazy. Twenty hormonally-charged idiots chasing after a little red ball, while being chased themselves by heavy objects that threaten to break their bones if they're not fast enough, on top of the risk of crashing into each other and another fifty ways of injuring oneself and who the Sith is he?"

Obi-Wan chuckled by the sudden change of direction in Bant's speech and craned his neck to see who she was pointing out to him. "Oh, that's Akoa. Don't you know him? I thought as the only other Calamarian Padawan you'd have met him already."

Bant shook her head, her eyes not leaving Akoa.

Obi-Wan grinned. "Allow me to introduce you. Akoa, come over here!"

He waved his teammate over and introduced him to Bant, then took up his tray and made himself scarce. The last words he heard of their conversation made him grin.

Bant's voice had lost all disgust when she said, in breathless excitement, "So tell me more about Batball...."

I can't believe I'm really doing this, Seda thought as she followed Lieth onto the pitch, carrying a bat in her left hand.

"I'm glad you joined, Seda. It's great to have you in my team. I always knew you were the right woman for that job," Lieth praised her while they walked.

"What made you change your mind, anyway? I thought you hated Batball with a passion," he continued and turned around to glance at her face.

Seda tried desperately not to blush. "Well, if that stupid dumbass Dun can play it, I can as well. I'm better at it anyway."

Lieth snorted in amusement. "I bet! Now let's practice some shots, so that you can get used to holding a bat in your hand before the others come outside for training. We don't want you to humiliate yourself in front of them..."

She aimed a kick to his butt, but missed. He grinned at her widely. "Just kidding, Solo."

Suddenly, a pained expression crossed Seda's face and she stopped dead in her tracks.

"What's the matter? Remembered you actually like Dun?" Lieth asked, smirking. When Seda didn't react, he turned around to face what she was staring at with wide eyes.

All the colour first left his face, then rushed back in with double speed. Seda gasped next to him, trying desperately to avert her eyes.

On the pitch in front of them, in the middle of the lawn, Marfi and Bihal were involved in a tickling fight that had progressed to another stage. They rolled on the ground laughing, fingers tearing at each other's training outfits, a heap of tangled limbs and swaying head tails.

Just when they leaned in for another kiss, Lieth came upon them like a storm.

"You two! What the Sith is happening with you all? Can't anybody concentrate on training anymore?"

The two girls jumped apart immediately, scrambling to their feet, trying to regain a semblance of dignity while removing blades of grass from their muddy leggings. Marfi and Bihal, not daring to look at Lieth, stared at the ground, their head tails hanging in an almost comical interpretation of shame.

Seda slowly took several steps backward, then turned around and ran from the pitch, not wishing to add fuel to one of Leith's infamous fit of anger.

Qui-Gon tried desperately to keep his attention on the game and his eyes on the ball. No easy task when Obi-Wan looked all sweaty and dishevelled and devourable with his Batball outfit rumpled and askew from one too many rolls in the grass, as his nimble lover evaded yet another Knocker attack. Obi-Wan was by far the best player of the lot, his fast reflexes and sheer Force capabilities surpassing them all, and so it was logical that attacks tended to concentrate on him.

Given the fact that Obi-Wan spent half his day avoiding Knockers and Defenders, it was a wonder that he had the energy to be the insatiable sex-hungry lover Qui-Gon had enjoyed over the last week.

Initially, he'd joined the team because he didn't like to let people down and he really didn't like the way Garen, Obi-Wan's friend and ex- lover, was ogling his boyfriend, but he admitted that the small sacrifice of time and the occasional bruise here and there were a small price to pay for the supreme pleasure of being driven insane by his eager lover two or three times a day. The janitor's closet in the locker room had almost become a special place for them. He'd even considered equipping it with a pillow, a candle and a lube-dispenser. From the way their teammates were ogling and groping each other, they weren't the only ones who'd profit from that.

When practice ended, he waited long enough for Lieth to assemble all the players for his usual pep talk before dragging Obi-Wan off for yet another exploration of the janitor's closet's many hidden facilities.

"Listen up, people! I've noticed that some of you have been... well, lacking in focus lately."

Members of both teams exchanged half-amused, half-guilty looks.

Lieth paced up and down in front of the assembled Batball league, accompanying his words with emphatic gesturing. "Now I know Batball can be... exciting, but please try to keep your focus on the game and not on socialising with other team members."

He glanced at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering on Ronwe a moment longer than necessary.

"Our big game is in three days, and you've made fantastic progress. Please don't let small things like Doofort's broken nose or other team members, however attractive they may be," again his gaze rested on Ronwe a fraction of a second too long, "distract your focus from the game. Now thanks for your attention and have a good night."

Lieth glanced at Bihal, who moved towards the other team's area in the locker room He frowned. "Bihal, I'm a bit worried about your focus. Marfi plays for the other team, you know."

Bihal stared at him in shock. "You mean she likes men?"

Lieth shook his head. "No, she plays for the other team!"

She sighed in relief. "Oh, thank the Force. Never scare me like that again, Lieth."

He stared after the other Padawan and wondered where exactly this conversation had gone wrong.

A hand touched his shoulder and he jumped.

"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you."

"It's ok, Seda. Say, did you by any chance see Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan? They weren't there when I made my speech."

Seda shrugged. "No idea where they went."

A sound of something heavy hitting the floor came from the janitor's closet.

Lieth frowned. "What was that?"

Seda shrugged again, though this time it seemed more forced than usual and her cheeks seemed uncommonly red. "Womp-rats, probably."

"Oh." Lieth shrugged and accepted her explanation.

"That was a very inspiring speech, by the way," Seda smiled at him.

He nodded absently as his eyes followed Ronwe, who was just walking by wearing nothing but a towel around his hips.

Seda smiled at Lieth's suddenly blank expression and glazed over eyes. She put a hand on his shoulder. "Like I said, really inspiring."

Lieth swallowed and nodded again. He couldn't possibly agree more.

Seda strolled into the locker room, her bat trailing after her, her face a mask of pain as she pressed the Bacta pack to her aching shoulder. She was the last one to leave tonight, having practiced her swing with Qui-Gon for a while after regular training. All she wanted now was a nice, long, hot shower.

She opened the door to the showers and froze. She dropped her bat and Bacta pack, covered her eyes and ran out of the room.

When the door had shut behind her, she sank down to the floor and wailed, "Not you too, Bant!"

That moment, Qui-Gon walked into the locker room and cast Seda a worried look. "Forgot my utility belt. Is everything all right?"

Seda shook her head. "No, it's not. I want to stab my eyes out!"

Qui-Gon gave her a bewildered frown. "Why?"

She just pointed at the door behind her and said, disgust colouring her tone, "Fish-sex!"

"Concluded, our business seems for today. Master Mundi, something to add, you have?"

Mundi cleared his throat and asked, "Has anyone seen their Padawan for more than a few minutes in the past few weeks?"

Adi Gallia, Depa Billaba, Mace Windu and Master Yoda exchanged glances.

Adi spoke up first, "Well, no, to be honest. Seda has been very busy lately."

Mace nodded. "Qui-Gon hasn't been home before nightfall in a week, and he neglects his chores."

Depa sighed. "It's gotten even to Bant. Only yesterday she told me that all the other Padawans were idiots, but today during sparring she informed me what a wonderful new game Batball was."

Mundi winced. "I think if I hear the word Batball one more time out of Dun's mouth, I will strangle him myself."

Several of the other Masters chuckled, namely those without Padawans.

Yoda's gimer stick hit the floor with a crack. "Funny, it is not. Complaints by the teachers, there have been. Healer's Ward staff, exhausted they are. Stop this nonessential game, we must."

Windu cleared his throat. "With all due respect, Master, I don't think that's the solution. I think that this craze about Batball is a symptom for a deeper problem. Jedi Padawans are forced to grow up rather quickly and so they never experienced the freedom other youths their age have."

Adi nodded. "I see your point, Mace."

"So what do you suggest we do? Ignore how they're neglecting their duties and let them romp about in a pointless game?" Plo Koon asked, his tone icy.

"I suggest that for once in their lives, we let them be what they are: young. Let them have their fun, at least until the game next week. It's only one week, for Force's sake."

Adi and Depa nodded.

"I agree with Mace. I think they deserve a little holiday for once," Master Mundi said.

Yoda sighed. "Then let it be so. Exempted from all duties they are until the game. Now, if no further business we have, the Council is adjourned."

The Masters bowed and filed out of the room.

Mace, as the last to leave, was the only one who heard Yoda murmur, "Bad feeling about this, I have."

"Ohhhhh, not AGAIN," Seda half-moaned, half-screamed in disgust and stared at the tableau in front of her with wide eyes. In a dimly lit corner of a hastily-erected hut that stored the Batball equipment, two figures disentangled their limbs in shock. Jampo tried desperately to look away, while stuffing his erection back into his trousers, while Anu grinned smugly and straightened her shirt.

"This is DISGUSTING!" Seda shouted and turned on her heel, leaving the two of them alone to their sordid entertainment.

"I can't believe it, " Seda muttered to herself. "There I was, innocently looking for a new bat after mine was splintered in two by a Knocker..."

Somebody slammed into her on her way back to the pitch and she cursed loudly, looking up in the startled eyes of Lieth.

"Hey Seda, you look somewhat flushed," he observed and gave her a friendly smile.

"SOD OFF, you disgusting Twi'lek molester!"

He watched her storm off with a puzzled expression on his face.

"I was not molesting anyone! What are you talking about?" he shouted after her, but never received a reply.

A chime at the door made Ronwe start. Groaning, he heaved himself off the couch in the common room and padded towards the door, pressing a bag full of frozen meat against his forehead. He had no idea who could be visiting, for his Master was in a meeting on Borleias and he had rescheduled all his social duties to some time after the big game. To his surprise he found Lieth standing outside the door.

"Hi!"

"Hey Ronwe." Lieth said, smiling a bit nervously.

"Please. Come in," Ronwe answered and stepped aside to let Lieth enter, carelessly tossing the bag on the floor. He didn't want to appear like a wimp in Lieth's eyes. Especially not a wimp with frozen meat pressed to his forehead.

Lieth took a look around, then strolled towards the bookshelf, letting his gaze skim over the titles approvingly. When he heard the door click shut, he turned around, smiling.

"How is your head?" he asked, pointing to the bruise that spread on Ronwe's face, just above the eyebrows.

"Fine!" he chirped, his voice hitching a bit. Calm down, he chided himself.

Slowly approaching him, Lieth said, "Are you sure? You know, it really looked painful, that Knocker hitting you across the eyes."

"It's fine! Really!" Ronwe said a little too loudly and backed away a bit. Lieth grinned and took another step forward, until he was standing in front of Ronwe, close enough to invade his personal space. Ronwe swallowed audibly.

"It's fine," he protested weakly, but was frozen in shock, when Lieth lifted his hands and touched the bruised area with his fingers.

"That doesn't look too good," Lieth observed, his voice dimmed to a hushed whisper.

"You think so?" Ronwe squealed, the proximity of Lieth's warm body, the musky scent emanating from the other Padawan, the soft touches to his skin definitely too much excitement.

"Mhm. Someone should kiss it better. That would help for sure," Lieth whispered softly, his breath ghosting over Ronwe's face seductively. The Padawan suppressed a shiver of anticipation, daring not to step away.

Lieth looked at him, his eyes sparkling. "What do you think, Ronwe?"

He couldn't think of anything at the moment, so he kept silent. Then Lieth leaned in and soft lips were pressed to his forehead, then descended onto his eyebrows, kissed down his temples, brushed over his cheeks until they found his own lips. He tumbled into the kiss with a helpless groan, his arms rising of their own accord, pulling the other Padawan closer. A tongue slipped past his lips, licking softly at his own, teeth nibbling at the corner of his mouth.

Breathless, he managed to break free. Lieth was staring at him with a goofy grin, licking his lips absently, as if he could not get enough of the taste still lingering on them. Blinking, he asked, "What about 'not socialising with team members' ?", his breath coming in short gasps, his treacherous body already betraying him, responding eagerly to Lieth's proximity. A mischievous grin crossed Lieth's features. "Well, I for once feel a very strong desire to socialise with team..." he ground his hips into Ronwe's, his erection brushing the answering hardness, "...members. Especially with yours."

Ronwe moaned softly, his hips undulating against Lieth's in a slow rhythm. "It's hard to not want you, Ronwe, especially when you are dressed in this tight uniform accentuating the shape of your beautif..."

Before Lieth could finish his sentence, Ronwe leaned in and kissed him again. "Mhmm..," Lieth murmured appreciably and started to tug on Ronwe's tunics, walking them back towards the sofa.

Seda and Dun were sitting in the empty Padawan Lounge, both nursing their bruises and talking about the upcoming game.

"Are you nervous? Tomorrow is the big day," Dun asked Seda, who scratched on a patch of dried blood on her knuckles.

She shook her head, and then looked up. "No. Not really. Just a bit... nervous, I guess. Being a Batter is a huge responsibility."

"Ahh... you will manage. You're really the best person for that job." Smiling warmly, he added, " Lieth told me so."

"Don't think I did it for you, Dun. I joined the team because I wanted to, not because you tried to trick me into joining," she answered a bit sharply and leaned back, resting her aching head on a pillow.

With affection in his tone, he said, "I never tried to trick you into anything, stupid." "Ohhh yes, you did. You would have invited me out, just so I would join your team..." she said, sounding a bit hurt.

"Seda..." Dun said softly, realisation dawning on him, "I ... it wasn't about tricking you into playing Batball, I... I would really have gone out with you."

Surprised, Seda lifted her head and stared at him. "You... would... go... out... with me," she said slowly, accentuating every word. Blushing, he looked at the ground and started to scratch the skin behind one of his head tails. "Well, yes. I guess I was just too afraid to ever ask you, because I was sure you would have said 'no'."

For a minute, Seda stared at him searchingly. Then she struck him hard in the stomach. Dun doubled over.

"Ouch!" he winced at the unpredicted attack and tried to catch his breath again. "What was that for?"

"You stupid Son of a Sith. Of course I would have gone out with you!" Seda cried and launched herself at him again.

"You would...?"

"Ask me again, you fool."

He answered her smile with one of his own, but instead of speaking he pulled her in for a kiss.

Qui-Gon put down the data pad with the varied strategies they meant to use tomorrow and stared at his pacing boyfriend.

"Obi-Wan, I'd be grateful if you didn't wear out the carpet. Master Windu wouldn't be pleased."

Obi-Wan stopped and glared at him. "How can you be so calm? The game's in less than sixteen hours."

Qui-Gon shrugged. "So what? We'll play and we'll win."

"I wish I had your confidence," Obi-Wan grumbled and ran his hand through his hair.

Qui-Gon grabbed him around the waist and drew him into his arms. "You should have, love. You'll do fine."

"Thanks."

Their lips met in a gentle kiss, and Qui-Gon slowly guided his lover down to the pillow. He started to work on the fastenings of Obi-Wan's tunics while he kissed his way down his lover's neck.

A soft noise of appreciation came from Obi-Wan's lips, but otherwise the Padawan was surprisingly unresponsive. "Will you relax already and forget about the game?"

"But what if we lose?"

The slight quiver in Obi-Wan's voice made Qui-Gon draw back. "Are you kidding me? That's what you're worried about?"

A short nod was all the answer he got.

Qui-Gon sighed. It was hard to remember sometimes how unaccustomed Obi-Wan was to losing. "Listen to me. Don't focus on winning or losing. Please just focus on not breaking anything important. I don't want you risking your neck." He accompanied his words with a small nibble and bite at Obi-Wan's neck.

Breathless now, Obi-Wan asked, "What else don't you want me to risk?"

He circled Qui-Gon's neck with his arms and wound his fingers in the other Padawan's hair. Qui-Gon kissed his way down Obi-Wan's throat, who started to relax visibly.

Suddenly, Obi-Wan tensed again.

"Oh, come on, don't tell me you're still nervous."

Obi-Wan shook his head, then asked in an annoyed tone, "Doesn't that thing have a cage?"

Qui-Gon sat up and followed his lover's gaze. "He's not a thing, Ben, he's a rat. And yes, he does have a cage, but I usually let him run free in my room."

He turned his attention back to Obi-Wan's collarbone, but found his lover's attention fixed somewhere else.

"He's watching us. I can't concentrate on foreplay when an ugly swamp rat is watching me like he's thinking about having one of my nipples for lunch."

Qui-Gon grinned. "What a delightful idea!"

He lowered his mouth on one of Obi-Wan's nipples and bit down, drawing a low moan from him. The hands in his hair tightened and a leg slipped in between his thighs.

A loud clank was followed by a high squeak, and Squicky landed on Qui- Gon's bedside table.

Qui-Gon groaned in frustration as Obi-Wan sat up. "That's it, I'm leaving. No more sex tonight. At least not near this!" he said, pointing a finger at Squicky, who looked like he contemplated biting the offending digit.

Qui-Gon sighed, but then had an idea. "Well, we could always go down to the pitch and work a bit on your swing."

Obi-Wan's eyes lit up. "You have the best ideas, Quiggs."

Qui-Gon licked his lips as he followed his practically-running lover out the door, already contemplating a way to get the grass stains out of Obi-Wan's tunics.

Lieth paced in front of his team as he always did, but seemed even more excited than usual.

"My fellow team members..." he addressed them, and they all straightened, looking both serious and prideful, "today is the big day. Today we will not play a game of comradeship and friendship, we will not play a game of friendly competition. Today we play to win!"

The assembled Padawans applauded and cheered at that, smiling at each other.

"When you go out there on the field, I want you to play as well as you can," he continued, looking at each of them with a contemplative expression on his face. Ronwe blushed when their eyes met and a small smile played on Lieth's lips, but he immediately got himself back under control.

"All right people, listen up. Here's the game plan: Play fair, play well, but show no mercy. Got it? Now get out there and put the fear of the Force in these guys!"

"No mercy!" they chorused.

Lieth grinned and stopped his pacing. "Now, we go out there on the pitch, and win this game!"

Qui-Gon walked down the line of his team members, looking at every one of them intently. "This is no children's game anymore, team. We are here to win the game and prove to the assembled Temple that we can do better than the other team." Appreciative murmuring. "Marfi," he stopped in front of the Twi'lek girl, "what do you do if somebody – if Bihal..." he corrected himself, "stands in your way?"

Marfi swallowed soundly and her voice was shaking a bit, but she answered, "Knock them out of the way."

"Right," Qui-Gon answered. "These..." he pointed in the vague direction of the other team, "are not your friends today. Not your lovers or classmates. We are going to beat them, and we are going to beat them fairly. But everything that lies in-between the rules of Batball is allowed and we will use that to our advantage. Do you understand?"

They all nodded, some more hesitantly than others.

"We'll show no mercy. We'll play hard, but fair. No mercy, do you understand me?"

"Welcome, Masters, Knights, Padawans and guests. It's a beautiful day for the first game of the Padawan Batball League, don't you agree, Leejo?"

"Yes, Bant. A beautiful day indeed and isn't it exciting to see so many Padawans and Knights out there to witness the game... and I can even spot some Masters in the cheering crowd!"

"Yes, I can even see Master Yoda, who's here to cheer on his own Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Team Blue's Batter. Now to the game itself. It will be an exciting match, no doubt. Today the teams meet for the first time not as comrades in training, but as adversaries. Who is your favourite, Leejo?"

"I count on Team Red. Lieth Erics has a reputation for playing hard and fast and with Seda Solo, he has an excellent Batter on his side. And now the two teams come onto the pitch. Dressed in blue the team led by Padawan Qui-Gon Jinn on the left side and on the right side dressed in red the team led by Padawan Lieth Erics."

"Here's a short interview our flying reporter Anji did with the team captains."

"Padawan Jinn, what will be your strategy?"

"We'll play, and we'll win."

"Padawan Erics, what will be your team's strategy today?"

"We'll flatten them!"

"Back to you, Bant, Leejo."

"Thank you, Anji."

"Our referee today will be Master Titulus, more famous so far for his merciless Astrophysics exams than for being involved in a Batball game, but we will see..."

"Master Titulus has just entered the pitch, carrying the Knockers and the Batball. The game will start any minute now. I'm so excited, Leejo!"

"Yes, me too, Bant. Never before has Coruscant seen a game like this! The teams prepare... Master Titulus throws the ball and will release the Knockers any moment now.."

"The game will start with Team Blue in possession. Team Blue's Batter Obi-Wan Kenobi will open the game. Observers have called him the most promising player ... and they're off, and what a strike! The ball is in scoring distance! Go Garen!"

"The Knockers are released and zip around, threatening to knock out an ..ohh.. Garen from Team Blue has passed the ball to Sari, now Clacu... but Dun from Team Red has managed to snatch the ball from him and..."

"Ouch! Clacu received a shove from Dun and stumbled! Looks like he sprained his ankle... so early in the game... Team Red heads for one of the goals..."

"And what a move that was! Dun throws the ball for Solo to bat, and she's hit it with incredible speed and precision! The ball is zooming over the pitch towards Anu. Anu in possession, but Marfi Ligla stops her short. Ouch, that must have hurt!"

"Watch those Knockers, people!"

"Oh... and there the first Knocker hit. Marfi stumbles back, loses the ball and it's picked up by Barro! The Knockers are being Force-pushed around like mad. Watch out!"

"He's heading towards the nearby goal, he gets ready to shoot, he shoots.... wow, an impressive save by Qui-Gon Jinn! And he's evaded a Knocker with that last somersault!"

"Ball goes back to Team Blue. Batter Obi-Wan Kenobi hits it over to Sari... Ohhh.. what's the matter with those Knockers?! One hit Doofort... Team Blue loses one point.That doesn't look good... he lies on the ground, clutching his groin..."

"Sari to Garen, Garen in possession, oh...veeery elegant evasion! He passes it to Tri'sh, Tri'sh back to Sari, no wait, they've feinted that move! Garen in possession and he SCORES!!!!"

"A goal for Team Blue! What a score! Ball goes to Team Red. Seda hits... Dun has the ball now. Passes it on to Anu, who heads for the goal... she aims... but Jampo Retford crosses her way-and she -oohhhh! No!"

"Did you see that Bant? A Knocker hit Anu across the head, just when she was about to throw... Ball in Jampo's hands now."

"Oh, dear. That looked exceedingly painful! But she's on her feet again, and so is Doofort, thank the Force! Wonderful manoeuvre, Team Red! Dun has snatched the ball from his fallen team member and is now almost alone at that goal, and he SCORES! It's three points for each team now!"

"I have to correct you Bant: Team Blue collected a negative point earlier by knocking Doofort... It's three-two for for Team Red..."

"Obi-Wan hits the ball to Garen.. Ball goes to Tri'sh... back to Garen... Team Red's Defenders prepare for an assault... Ball to Tri'sh- she throws and... what a wonderful block from Lieth Erics!"

Ten minutes later....

"Titulus calls for a time-out! It's only minutes in the game and five players are already injured. We stand currently at seven to five for Team Red. The Healers have their hands full. Sari has been taken out of the game after getting hit on the head by a Knocker; Doofort and Teira are both sitting on the sidelines, waiting for their transport to the Healers Ward and Marfi is being treated for a broken collarbone. Reeft, who after a really spectacular leap for the ball hit one of the goal posts is currently on a stretcher. That doesn't look good... That doesn't look good at all... Looks like he's unconscious."

Five minutes later...

"Oh, Force, will you look at the bruise on Anu's head! She appears to be unconscious."

"That's not her head you're looking at, Leejo!"

Two minutes later

"Ouch! I didn't see this coming, it happened too fast, but it looks nasty. Dun and Ronwe crashed into each other... Bant, did you see what caused this?"

"They both went in for the ball, but it slipped away and they collided. Look at the replay on the monitor... Ouch! Did you hear that bone crunching-"

Eight minutes later...

"And now Master Titulus signals the end of the first period. The players walk from the pitch, or in most cases, limp or crawl from it. Team Blue leads with fifteen points to twelve, but at what price! Garen Muln is limping badly, the Batter looks battered and the Defenders are practically knocked out. The only one who seems to be uninjured this far is Qui-Gon Jinn. Team Red looks only slightly better with Batter Seda Solo still in good form, but lead Scorer Dun already rather beaten. Lieth Erics looks good, even if he has a black eye the size of a Bantha foot."

"The number of players has been reduced down to seven on each team. Left on the pitch are Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Garen, Tri'sh, Clacu, Akoa and Jampo for Team Blue and Lieth, Seda, Barro, Dun, Tibacka and Bihal for Team Red. What a mess..."

"Indeed, Bant. Here we have Master Titulus in discussion with Lieth Erics, and it seems that they're arguing about whether to keep playing or not."

"Looks like Lieth Erics managed to get his point across. Master Titulus sends the players onto the pitch again..."

"And they're off with a spectacular hit from Seda!"

Seven minutes later...

"I can't watch this... tell me what's happening to Dun, Leejo.."

"Oh noooo! He had a run in with Tri'sh from Team Blue, the second one in this game. Tri'sh seems to be alright, she is limping a bit, but Dun can't get up. He is clutching his right leg... Healers are filing out onto the pitch with a stretcher... Titulus calls a halt to the game."

"What a horrible second round! Team Blue looks heavily beaten. Tri'sh sports a sprained ankle and is limping, Garen Muln is bleeding, looks like his nose is broken. Team Red lost their best scorer Dun, Bihal is limping and Obi-Wan has a nasty bruise on his forehead."

"I'm beginning to agree with Master Titulus, maybe they should have.... Oh! What a goal! Go Garen!"

Two minutes later...

"Obi-Wan! Oh Force! Obi-Wan!"

Five minutes later...

"The terrible accidents that have resulted in both batters being carried from the pitch on stretchers have finally persuaded Master Titulus to stop the game. Akoa is being treated for a broken arm. Bant! Bant! Where are you? Come back! Hmmmm... Anyway...What an end to this game! Several players critically injured and a missing co-host. I hope you enjoyed yourself nevertheless and I wish you a good day visiting your friends and Padawans in the Healer's Ward. May the Force be with you."

"Padawan Erics," Mace Windu's voice was cool, detached, but had a definite edge to it.

Leith hid his somewhat trembling hands in the sleeves of his robe and bowed to the Council. "Masters."

Windu sat back in his chair and regarded the Padawan with an air of contemplation. Lieth knew that look and only a lifetime of Jedi training helped him to keep from fidgeting.

"We were given to understand that you were the one to initiate the 'Padawan Batball League of Coruscant'. Is this correct?" Ki-Adi Mundi addressed him.

Lieth nodded. "Yes, Master. I thought it would be good training for aspiring Jedi Knights. The game is a test of skill as much as of stamina; it requires dexterity and a quick mind."

"Enough, Padawan. You are not being asked to sell us this game," Windu interrupted. "We only want to know if it is true that you instigated this entire mess."

"Well, Master, I wouldn't necessary call it a mess..."

Adi Gallia interrupted, her stare icy. "Sixteen of your twenty players need to stay in the Healer's Ward overnight, five of them require a Bacta tank. The lawn in the Central Gardens is ruined and almost an entire class of senior Padawans will be off the mission roster for the better part of a month. What terminology would you use, Padawan Erics?" Lieth recalled that Master Gallia's own Padawan had narrowly escaped surgery.

"Master, with all due respect, these things happen in sports..."

"Sports? You call this pointless slaughter a sport?"

"It's a beautiful game, energetic and full of drama!" Lieth said, with all the enthusiasm he could muster.

"Drama of this type is hardly to be sought after by Jedi Padawans!"

The sound of a gimer stick hitting the side of a chair interrupted the argument between Master Gallia and the Padawan. "Enough! Calm down, both of you will. Here to discuss the merit of Batball, we are not."

Lieth took a deep breath and bowed slightly to the Council. "Masters, I apologise for losing my temper. I assure you, in the future we will take precautions to..."

Windu held up a hand. "Padawan Erics, Master Yoda is right. We are not here to discuss the merit of Batball. Let me tell you why we, or more precisely, why you are here."

He leaned forward and fixed the Padawan with a forbidding stare. "If you ever even mention the word 'Batball' again, if you even so much as think about playing this game or talking about playing it ever again, if so much as a Batball or a uniform are ever seen again in your possession or in a vicinity of twenty meters around you or any other member of your Batball League, you will be censured and thrown out of the Jedi Order for good. Is that clear?"

Lieth swallowed and opened his mouth to argue. After one look at Master Windu's expression he closed it again. The Jedi Master's raised eyebrow convinced him of the wisdom of that decision. He opened his mouth again, this time to say a very respectful, "Yes, Master."

"Very good. May the Force be with you, Padawan Erics."

Lieth bowed to the Council and left.

Windu stared after him, then turned to Adi Gallia. "You know, this boy may be an above-average Jedi Padawan, but I think the galaxy lost a great salesman to the Jedi."

Adi grinned. "I'll be sure to tell that to his Master."

Depa gave Windu a long look. "Mace, wasn't that a bit harsh?"

Mace only leaned back in his seat, folded his arms across his chest and smirked.

Yoda's gimer stick once again called them to order. "More important issues wehave to discuss than Padawan Erics' career choices, I think."

Adi and Mace exchanged a look before chorusing, "Yes, Master."

"Ow, ow, ow, ow.."

"How a Jedi Padawan can be such a baby..." Qui-Gon grinned, but helped his cursing boyfriend to sit up in his bed.

"You're the one to talk! You don't even have a bruise! I'm lucky to be out of the Bacta tank. Still hurts like Sith, though."

Qui-Gon nodded in sympathy. "Broken collar bones can take a while to heal, and so can broken ribs."

"Don't worry, love. I'm as good as new." Obi-Wan grinned at him, mischief sparkling in his eyes. "I'll be back on my feet in no time, and even sooner on my back."

"Five minutes ago you were near death and now you're coming on to me. Decide, Kenobi. Do you want pity or foreplay?" Qui-Gon teased, running a hand through Obi-Wan's hair.

Obi-Wan practically leered at him, but checked his answer when Leith came into the room, looking depressed.

"Well, I just spoke to the Council and they forbid me to ever mention Batball again."

Qui-Gon laid a sympathetic hand on Leith's shoulder. "I'm sorry."

Lieth nodded. "I'd better go and tell the others."

He sighed once again and left. As soon as the door was closed behind him, Qui-Gon turned back to his lover, who had collapsed on the bed with relief.

"Thank the Force," Qui-Gon sighed.

Obi-Wan nodded heartily. "I was afraid I'd have to beg Master Yoda for intervention. I will never ever listen to anything Lieth says again."

Qui-Gon smiled. "We will see about that. Meanwhile, where were we? Oh, yes, you were coming on to me."

Qui-Gon stalked to the bed and even Obi-Wan's still aching collarbones couldn't prevent him from uttering an anticipatory squeal.

Seda sighed. "Come in."

Lieth stuck his head in. "Is your Master here?"

She shook her head.

Lieth sighed in relief and entered, closing the door behind him. "I've got bad news, I'm afraid."

"Oh, Force, did something happen to Dun while he was in the Bacta tank?" Seda sat up anxiously, ignoring her own protesting muscles and bones.

Her former team captain shook his head. "No, Dun's fine as far as I know. But they closed down the Batball League."

Seda sagged back to the bed in relief. "Thank the Force, it was about time!"

Lieth stared at her. "How can you say that? We had so much fun!"

Seda pinched the bridge of her nose. "Lieth, Dun needed surgery. Obi- Wan broke three ribs and both his collarbones. I broke my left leg and my shoulder. Except for you and Qui-Gon, the whole damned league needed Bacta treatment! And look what happened to Ronwe! He almost broke his right hip! If that's your definition of fun, I know a couple of buildings you can throw yourself off of and one or two reactors you can jump into, but please for the love of the Force, leave us out of your path to self-destruction!"

Lieth continued to stare at her, completely speechless.

"Now go and visit Ronwe, the boy really needs some cheering up." Seda's voice was much more gentle now, but still firm.

Wordlessly, Lieth nodded and went to do as he was told.

"Ronwe, I'm really sorry about your injury." Lieth addressed the sentence to Ronwe's knees, unable to meet the other Padawan's eyes.

Ronwe, amused at Lieth's uncharacteristic shyness, shrugged with his left shoulder, his right one hurt too much. "Well, that's sports."

Lieth's countenance brightened considerably. "That's what I told the Council, they weren't very thrilled by my argument." He stopped himself and smiled at Ronwe. "And how are you feeling?"

The other Padawan smiled back. "Much better. My hip still hurts and my shoulder has been better, but otherwise I'm fine."

Shyly, Lieth took Ronwe's hand and entwined their fingers. Encouraged when Ronwe squeezed his hand, he said softly, "Want me to kiss it better?"

Ronwe raised an eyebrow quizzically. "Padawan Erics, when did I hear this particular phrase before? Are you hitting on me again?"

Blushing furiously, Lieth started to stutter, "Well, no, actually, I was just... ahem... well, I was trying to..."

"Lieth?"

"Yes?"

"Shut up and lock the door."

"All right."

A week later, most Padawans were out of the Healer's Ward and the Padawan Lounge was once again filled with people.

The Council Five sat around their usual table, joined by Garen, Lieth, Ronwe and Bant's friend Akoa. They were busy looking at the holoimages Bant had taken at the one and only Padawan League of Coruscant Batball game.

"That was a brilliant move, Seda." Obi-Wan congratulated.

Dun snuck an arm around her shoulder. "Damn right, Kenobi."

Seda blushed and snuggled closer to her boyfriend. "Thanks, boys."

Bant took the next image from Akoa. "Look, here's the goal you prevented, Qui-Gon."

Obi-Wan grabbed the image from her. "Nice move, Quiggs."

Lieth sighed. "It was a good game."

The assembled Padawans all nodded.

"And speaking of games, I found this new one on the holonet. It comes from Tideria, and it sounds absolutely exciting." Leith pulled out a data pad.

The sound of several chairs being pushed back interrupted him as almost everyone at the table remembered important appointments or heard their Masters calling over training bonds. In record time, Lieth and Ronwe were alone at the table.

Ronwe grabbed the pad from Lieth's hands. "Tiderian mud wrestling, hmmm?"

"Yes," Lieth answered, still staring after the other Padawans, feeling a bit abandoned.

Surreptitiously reaching for Lieth's hand with his own, Ronwe mused, "Tiderian mud wrestling. I'm not entirely sure I understand the concept of that sport."

Lieth looked at him and started to grin. "In that case you might benefit from a private demonstration."

Ronwe grinned back. "I thought you'd never ask."

Epilogue

"Ben, why are you wearing your Batball uniform?"

"Because tomorrow the pitch will be remodelled and all the Batball equipment will be removed from the locker rooms, so I thought we might say goodbye to Batball in our own way."

A grin and a leer accompanied Obi-Wan's words, and Qui-Gon once again found his lover's logic sound. "Well then, let's go."

They sneaked through the Temple, through the Gardens to the pitch, and from there to the locker room.

As soon as they entered the large room, Qui-Gon pressed his lover against the door and kissed him passionately. Obi-Wan responded enthusiastically, twining his arms around Qui-Gon's neck and hooking one leg around his lover's hips.

A loud clang from the back of the room made them jump apart.

"Did you hear that?" Obi-Wan whispered.

Qui-Gon nodded. "Sounds like it came from back there." He pointed at the janitor's closet.

"There's only one way to find out."

Together they moved silently to the door. Obi-Wan opened it, and for a moment they both just stared. After a moment, Obi-Wan found his voice. "SEDA!"

"What? I'm entitled to some fun too!"

"Could you two save this debate for another time? Kenobi, Jinn, will you just sod off!" Dun almost yelled.

Obi-Wan froze in shock but Qui-Gon dragged his stunned lover away, shutting the door with his foot.

"Seda and Dun! How gross is that!" Obi-Wan said as soon as they had cleared the room, voice dripping with distaste. "I mean, she's a girl for Force's sake!"

Qui-Gon frowned. "I thought you slept with her too."

"I was very young and very drunk, and besides... What are you doing?"

Qui-Gon had drawn Obi-Wan into the tent holding the extra equipment and had started to nibble on Obi-Wan's neck. It's called foreplay, Ben. he sent over their still-fragile lover's bond.

"I can't have sex now, not after seeing that!" Obi-Wan sounded mildly outraged. Nevertheless, his body responded to his lover's ministrations, despite his protest.

"I promise to put them out of your mind," Qui-Gon said, a twinkle in his eye as he began to undress Obi-Wan and make his way down his lover's body with kisses and slight nips.

Obi-Wan grinned and assisted his lover with the buttons of his uniform, not caring that some of them got torn off in Qui-Gon's haste to get to his skin.

After all, it was the perfect way to say goodbye to Batball.

The End