Master Apprentice
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Good Intentions on the Road to Hell #1: Attempting the Impossible
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Archive: master-apprentice.
Category: O/Bruck, a touch of angst but pretty lighthearted. (Humorous rather than humour)
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: none
Summary: Bruck and Bant get Obi-Wan to go to a fair; Qui-Gon reflects on the injustices of life and Bruck finds a way to enjoy a lecture.
Feedback: Yes please, any comments (good, bad or indifferent) are very welcome.
Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me
Series: Good Intentions on the road to Hell -- Chronological order:
Attempting the Impossible
Attempting the Impossible - Epilogue
Re-affirming the Bond
Anniversaries and Beginnings
Not so Unobtainable After All
Paving Stones
Building a Brave New World (coming eventually)
A Change of Heart
A Present from the Past (in beta and due to be finished very soon)
Author's Notes: This was partially inspired by a conversation between Fi, Smitty and myself about how serious the Padawans (and Obi-Wan in particular) probably were because they were so driven to become Knights.
Thanks to Smitty and Lexin for the beta, although blame me for any mistakes.
"Bant, Why are we here?"
Bant stopped, briefly considered Obi-Wan's question, and then looked appealingly up at Bruck. But there was no salvation there - Bruck just grinned as he tossed his white braid over his shoulder. Having thus been so cruelly abandoned, Bant sighed deeply and turned to face Obi-Wan.
"This, Obi-Wan, is a fair," the Mon Calimari girl said as she indicated the ten square miles of lights, music, theatres, circuses, rides and booths ahead of them. "It is famous throughout the Republic. It is only on Coruscant for three months every five years. We are three Padawans, who have been given the day off by our Masters. Our mission is to go to the fair and have fun."
Bant managed to finished her explanation with a straight face only by steadfastly ignoring Bruck's giggles behind her. Obi-Wan listened intently then turned his attention to the fair itself. He didn't look happy.
"All day?" he asked plaintively.
Bant was valiantly struggling for a reply when Bruck, finally taking pity on her plight, intervened.
"Yes, all day," Bruck said and he roughly grabbed Obi-Wan's arm and dragged him off the shuttle platform towards the fair entrance.
Firmly escorted by Bruck, Obi-Wan went quietly - he even queued up at a ticket booth without comment. Bant, waiting in a separate queue, was amazed to see that he'd even found a flyer that interested him and wasn't even trying to make a run for it. Thus reassured, she felt safe to concentrate on the fair programme. Like the others, she had to choose three items that she really wanted to see and then get three tickets for each. Even committed to nine events they would still have plenty of time left to just wander around.
Bant's queue turned out to be the slowest so she was the last to return to the others. Bruck hadn't wasted the time, though, and was merrily entertaining himself by leering suggestively at Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan, intent on studying his datapad, hadn't noticed the attention.
"I have tickets for the Wheel of Death, Heartbreak Hotel and The Wookie's Fancy," she said as she walked up and waved her tickets.
"I got The Mystery Plays, Defying the Gods and Livin' La Vida Loca," Bruck replied, dragging himself away from his favourite contemplation.
"I found a series of lectures on the administration, role and function of the Jedi and Agricorps as arms of the Senate over the last 1000 years." Obi-Wan added.
"You found that here?" Bruck sounded incredulous.
"Well no," Obi-Wan said. "But someone had dropped a flyer and I found details when I searched on my datapad. I didn't know the Coruscant University did this course. It would give great insight on how the Jedi are viewed by outsiders. If we hurry we could get there for the first lecture. They continue until tomorrow, but I don't know if we can get another day off." Obi-Wan's eyes were bright and he looked excitedly over to the shuttle platform.
Bant was speechless. Obi-Wan had outdone himself this time.
"Why did you bring him?" Bruck said suddenly.
"Don't blame me, he's your lover," Bant said turning to face Bruck.
"He was your friend first," Bruck shot back.
"You're the one who said he needed a day off."
"Only because you were going on about how badly injured he was during his last mission."
"Oh, and I suppose you didn't spend all night pacing frantically outside the healers then?"
A loud, but nervous, cough interrupted the argument. Bant and Bruck stopped for a moment and looked at the object of their discussion. Bant decided that Obi-Wan with a completely bemused expression had to be one of the cutest sights in the Republic.
"You know," Bruck said, looking right at Obi-Wan. "There are times when, apart from him being gorgeous, brave, intelligent, loyal and great in bed, I don't know what we see in him."
Bant nodded. Not that she knew personally about the great in bed part - but she had it on very good authority. Clearly this was a time to negotiate a compromise.
"Obi-Wan," she said taking his arm. "If you come with us to the fair today I promise I will get us tomorrow off as well and we will go to your lectures."
Obi-Wan appeared to think about this for a moment, nodded and then looked at Bruck. Bruck sighed noisily and raised his hands in surrender.
"Okay, okay," Bruck said. "Right now I'm prepared to agree to anything. I suppose I should be grateful it isn't Padawan braids throughout the ages. However, I do have one condition," he said as he pointed at Obi-Wan.
"Both Bant and I have to see you have fun at some point today. Otherwise all deals are off."
Obi-Wan looked slightly taken aback by the condition.
"Alright, I agree. I'll try."
Bant laughed and they set off to have a good time.
"Let me check that I understand you correctly, Padawan Bant. You wish me to give my Padawan another day off so that you, he and Bruck can go to a set of lectures on the role of the Jedi and Agricorps given by Dr. Farrow; a man considered to be the driest historian in Coruscant?"
"Yes, Master Jinn."
Qui-Gon Jinn looked at the Mon Calimari girl as she stood respectfully next to his desk. She had appeared earlier, after Obi-Wan had gone off to a late night solitary practise session, and had asked to speak with him. She had made her request while apparently suffering from terminal embarrassment and was now examining her shoes with great interest. Qui-Gon put down the datapad he had been holding.
"This was Obi-Wan's idea wasn't it?"
"Not really, Master Jinn," she replied quickly. "He saw the flyer for the lectures while we were at the fair. And he expressed a desire to go, but we didn't have enough time to do both in one day."
"So you used it as a bribe to get him to go to the fair, didn't you."
Bant looked up at him with horror in her eyes.
"Uhhmm. Ah, er..." she said eloquently.
Qui-Gon Jinn smiled. "It's nothing to be ashamed about Padawan. I was wondering how you got him to stay there all day. I expected him home about midday. In fact, it was very good thinking. He is still recovering from our last mission and was in need of some relaxation. Did he actually enjoy himself?"
"Yes, Master Jinn. Bruck refused to go to the lectures unless he did."
"Then you have my blessing. I hope you survive Dr. Farrow as well as Obi-Wan did the fair."
"Thank you, Master Jinn."
Qui-Gon smiled at Bant's retreating back. Poor Bant, he wouldn't wish those lectures on a Sith but Obi-Wan would love them. Bruck, however, would hate them. Qui-Gon leant back in his chair, his grin widening at the thought. He knew he shouldn't take pleasure from Bruck's discomfort but he couldn't help himself. After all Bruck had something that he was forbidden.
That thought caused Qui-Gon's grin to instantly vanish, and he reminded himself not to dwell on such things. Obi-Wan was his Padawan and the Code forbade such a relationship. Obi-Wan, serious Obi-Wan, followed the rules, liked to follow the rules. But, with every passing year, his Padawan attracted him more and more. What was worse, there were moments, rare and brief, when he was sure Obi-Wan reciprocated his feelings.
Qui-Gon stood and walked to the window and stared out at the ever present lines of air traffic. It didn't matter how Obi-Wan felt, he would never defy the Code. Obi-Wan was young and there were many years left in his apprenticeship. Years in which his appeal would only increase. Qui- Gon saw a future with a Padawan who would be increasingly harder and harder to resist.
He was walking into heartbreak and he knew it, but he was powerless to do anything about it. His only comfort lay in the far future; after Obi- Wan's trials when there would be hope. But in between there would be missions, like the last one, where Obi-Wan would be in terrible danger. The possibility that they wouldn't live to get their chance together was terrifying.
Qui-Gon supposed he should be grateful to Bruck as, strangely enough, he made the situation easier. Because, as long as Bruck and Obi-Wan were lovers, he could pretend that Bruck was the only obstacle standing between his Padawan and himself.
Qui-Gon snorted. He had a great deal of work to do and here he was wasting time wishing on the impossible. He moved back to his desk and picked up his datapad. Maybe he should have a long chat with Bruck. See if they could work out what it was about Obi-Wan that had captured them both. Qui-Gon laughed, it certainly wasn't his sense of fun.
"As you can see, these changes to the Agricorp's supply structure were wide-sweeping and so effective that they were kept for two hundred and five years without significant change. The Jedi took a little more convincing but also adopted the system five years later. Let us look in detail."
Bruck rested his head on his hands and looked forlornly at the lecturer. Dr. Farrow was living up to his reputation. Yes, this was as bad as he had feared. Bruck suppressed a sour expression. This was only the third lecture of the day. He was sure he would succumb to the Dark Side if he had to sit through the other four.
Bruck looked past Obi-Wan to check on Bant. Her eyes were a little glazed but otherwise she seemed okay. But then, she had permission to leave and bathe at any time to prevent the lecture theatre's industrial- strength, water-sucking air conditioning drying out her skin.
Obi-Wan was going to pay for this. Bruck wasn't sure when, how or where but Obi-Wan was definitely paying for it. Bruck sighed and examined the cause of his misery. Obi-Wan was completely absorbed in the lecture. This must be Kenobi heaven, Bruck mused and shook his head. There were times when he wondered why they were together. Then, as if sensing Bruck's thoughts, Obi-Wan looked round and gave Bruck one of his rare, dazzling smiles before turning his attention back to Dr. Farrow. Bruck smiled back automatically - while those times of doubt did exist, this wasn't one of them. A happy Obi-Wan was irresistible.
Suddenly Bruck was inspired. He sidled a little closer to Obi-Wan and looked around the lecture theatre. It was a classic large amphitheater design and about half full. Checking that nobody was directly overlooking them, Bruck put his hand on Obi-Wan's knee; Obi-Wan smiled briefly back at him.
Poor trusting fool, Bruck thought as his hand moved slowly higher. Obi-Wan gave Bruck a more concerned look, though, when Bruck reached the top of his thigh. But Bruck smiled innocently back and that seemed to reassure Obi-Wan as he went quietly back to his notes. Delighted, Bruck caught Bant's eye, gave her a mischievous grin and firmly fixed his eyes on Doctor Farrow.
Dr. Farrow droned on and Bruck slowly slid his hand down the inside of Obi-Wan's thigh.
"Bruck?" said Obi-Wan quietly but he didn't alter his wide legged sitting position.
Bruck ignored him and, eyes fixed on the lecturer, quickly manoeuvred his hand along Obi-Wan's inner thigh to arrive, firmly, at Obi-Wan's groin.
"Bruck!" Obi-Wan squeaked, slammed his legs together and grabbed Bruck's hand. But Bruck had been ready for this and held his arm firm. He couldn't stop Obi-Wan from pulling his hand away but it would be quite a struggle.
Bruck could feel Obi-Wan's indecision. The options were simple; Obi- Wan could either disturb the lecture, which he would hate, or trust that Bruck wasn't going to take this further. Slowly Bruck felt Obi-Wan remove his restraining hand.
"Bruck, I'm trusting you," Obi-Wan whispered and reluctantly picked up his datapad.
Bruck had to fight to keep the grin off his face as he stared at Dr. Farrow. Obi-Wan had, quite definitely, made the wrong choice. Bruck waited for a moment, then lunged quickly and expertly, past the barriers of belt, sash and leggings to acquire his target.
Obi-Wan started violently and made another grab for Bruck's hand. But he was far too late. If removing Bruck earlier would have caused a scene it was nothing to what would happen now.
"Bruck, what on Coruscant do you think you are doing?" Obi-Wan whispered desperately. "You are going to get us thrown out of here. How would we explain that to our Masters?"
"Don't cause a scene, Obi-Wan. There are people here who are trying to pay attention to the lecturer," Bruck replied casually and indicated a couple of nearby people who were glancing at them.
Obi-Wan stifled a yelp as Bruck began, oh so slowly, to move his hand in a way he knew Obi-Wan loved. Obi-Wan quickly gathered up his robe to cover his lap and hide Bruck's activities.
"Bruck, please."
Bruck decided to take that, and Obi-Wan's heavier breathing, as assent to continue. Obi-Wan was an adventurous lover. He would look back on this incident with fondness - eventually.
Bruck drew it out for as long as he could, enjoying Obi-Wan's slow, increasingly laboured breathing and false climaxes. Finally, when a grinning Bant indicated that the lecture was drawing to a close, he took pity on his friend and finished it. The note stand creaked under Obi- Wan's white-knuckled grip but aside from a glassy stare his expression remained unchanged. Bruck was impressed, Obi-Wan was normally such a screamer. Smiling brightly in response to Obi-Wan's scowl, Bruck gently withdrew his hand. Obi-Wan gave Bruck a disgusted look for his lack of remorse and quickly tucked his robe tightly about himself to prevent a second attack. Bruck, however, remained unconcerned and absently licked his fingers clean as he turned his attention back to the lecture.
All in all, Bruck thought, these lectures weren't so bad after all.