Warning: the following story contains male/male contents.
Please stop reading IF you are below the legal age (that is, 18
years old). IF you are above 18, you can read on. Furthermore,
if you are easily offended by male/male relationships, STOP
reading NOW.
Disclaimer: Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi belong to the
mighty LucasWorld. This story is ONLY a PRODUCT of my
imagination. It is not used for profit, only the satisfaction
of my readers.
Summary: The sequel to "The Eyes of The Predator" and "The Soul
of The Hunter" => Consequences: Is Qui-Gon on the path to
recovery or he isn't? Is he going to continue frightening
Obi-Wan with his shapeshifting?
The meditation took the whole morning. Obi-Wan knelt on the
mat, next to Qui-Gon Jinn. The young man could feel the Force
pulsating around them in live streamers of light, surging in a
cleansing river. It was at once peaceful and uplifting.
He opened his eyes and saw Qui-Gon doing the same.
"How do you feel, Master?" Obi-Wan asked quietly, noting how
damp Qui-Gon's long hair was. Strands clung to his neck,
sticking to the skin. The sight was deeply affecting. Normally
Qui-Gon would appear relaxed, unperturbed, the epitome of the
Jedi: the picture of serenity. Now he obviously fought an inner
battle. A hard one which he struggled, could not win.
"I am feeling normal." Qui-Gon smiled slightly. He felt as
though he had wrested a Ton-ton with bared hands. He schooled
his expression to one of neutrality. "Thank you." He said
softly as Obi-Wan handed him a folded towel.
There was a brief moment of silence as Obi-Wan chose his words
carefully. Qui-Gon watched his apprentice. Obi-Wan was a
serious young man. Was so even when he was a boy of thirteen.
Spontaneity wasn't Obi-Wan. Instead, he chose to be deliberate,
contemplative. When he smiled, his face was radically changed.
It was as if the sun rose behind a curtain of clouds.
"Master," Obi-Wan stood in his 'obedient Padawan' stance. "How
do you feel about the lycanthropy?"
Ah, the lycanthropy again. Qui-Gon drew a hand through his
hair, shaking his head. He had managed to keep that Urge under
iron control. But even then he could feel it like a dark
current beneath the rigid discipline. It was like some caged
demon dying to get out of its prison. Demon it was, possessing
him when he least expected it, inching its way into his life.
He could change at will, taming the lycanthropy. Yet,
sometimes, the Urge had its mind of its own.
It was this darkness in him he wished to destroy.
"I have managed to control it this time, Padawan." Qui-Gon got
to his feet, stretching languidly like a feline.
Obi-Wan kept quiet.
The Jedi Master pursed his lips. He knew that Obi-Wan was
deeply concerned. Worried. Sometimes frightened. He remembered
how he had broken down and Obi-Wan had held him in his arms. It
was an immensely comforting moment. And the impulsive kiss on
his mouth. Now he chuckled at the memory, almost rumbling in
his chest.
"Master?" Obi-Wan's eyebrow lifted.
((Nothing is wrong, Obi-Wan. Nothing.))
The apprentice directed a questioning look at his Master.
((Nothing, Master?))
Qui-Gon chuckled again. "Impertinent lad." He took his
dark-brown Jedi robes and flung it about his shoulders. "I am
going to see Master Windu now. Go and take a breather."
Obi-Wan bowed. He gazed at Qui-Gon's retreating figure,
striding in fluid steps and moving with a grace which was pure
beauty.
The walk to the main Jedi grounds allowed Obi-Wan time to
think. He gazed around, feeling the Force ebb and flow about
him. Groups of initiates walked, talking and laughing. There
were Padawans, in their familiar light brown robes.
"Hey, Obi-Wan Kenobi!" A shrill voice startled him and he
turned around, only to see a child of six. A little boy who had
strayed from the group of children taking their morning
exercises.
"What is it?" Obi-Wan used the tone of 'infinite' patience. He
never liked children. Not even when he was a child.
"So when are you bringing your Master for a walk?" The boy had
an mischevious look on his chubby face and he grinned.
For a moment, Obi-Wan didn't get the taunt. Then realization
came like a thunderclap and a rush of chilled water down his
back. He opened his mouth to speak, to say something ultimately
angry and hurtful back to the child.
My Master is not an animal !
But the child was already bounding back to his group.
Obi-Wan stood rooted. Frozen. He willed his anger to cease,
letting the Force seep through into his body and lighten the
hurt in his heart.
Mace Windu regarded the tall man standing before him. An aura
of quiet confidence seemed to drift about him. His hands were
folded.
"Qui-Gon, I really hope that the lycanthropy is rigidly
monitored." Mace said, pouring light tea into two cups. "It is
not really Jedi, you know."
"I know, " the low voice was soft.
Mace observed the face of his friend. Qui-Gon had aged. The
lycanthropy was putting him under severe strain. The blue eyes
watched him unwaveringly. Mace suppressed an involuntary
shiver. These blue eyes could narrow, pin you down so much so
you couldn't move. He had seen those eyes before, when they
were only apprentices and dueling with their lightsabers.
Qui-Gon could be ruthless, even hard. He could fight like a man
possessed. He could be reckless, impatient. That was his youth
and Qui-Gon had mellowed a fair bit. Yet in his maturity, he
still favored action. Still reckless.
How did Obi-Wan feel about this? How did he feel when those
blue eyes turned suddenly chilly, impersonal as the Urge
finally took over?
Master Windu sighed inwardly. Qui-Gon had the heart of a
warrior, impulsive at moments but brave in other times. He
recalled how his friend had saved him from tricky situations.
Qui-Gon Jinn could be a brilliant diplomat, skillful with
negotiations but he could be equally as good as a warrior,
using his lightsaber as if it was a natural extension from his
own body.
The darkness assumed form and pursued him. He ran until his
breath became ragged and daggers stabbed pain in his chest. He
could hear the darkness growl as it drew nearer nearer
Obi-Wan Kenobi sat up in his bed, his heart pounding. He rubbed
his eyes. He had that dream again.
He listened intently and could hear his Master's slow
breathing.
With a shudder, he went back to sleep once more.
But blissful sleep was slow in coming.
The smell of earth, the whistle of wind, the cold sparkle of
faraway stars in the night sky surrounded him with immediate
urgency, pulling him in with their songs of freedom,
independence.
He let his senses soak in all the intoxication, lifting his
nose to sniff the air. He tasted the tang of moist loam in his
mouth. Sweetness invaded his nostrils: the presence of prey.
The promise of sweet tender flesh.
Sweet meat made his mouth water. He licked his lips and bent
down his head to follow the scent. It was a fragrance he
thought he knew. A familiar fragrance. Light, delicious. It
made his head swim, so strong was its lure.
He broke into a swift run.
A soft huffing woke Obi-Wan up from a fitful sleep and he
opened his eyes to slits. He realized that something heavy was
lying on his lap.
He was instantly awake.
It was the beautiful snow-wolf. The huge beast had positioned
his triangular head on Obi-Wan's stomach, breathing slowly. His
eyes were close. Obi-Wan could feel the puffs of air as the
beast exhaled.
Fear warred with recognition in Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon
Even as he stiffened instinctively, watching the snow-wolf
sleeping so peacefully ( head on his belly, like some family
pet canine ) the shape of the beast started to waver, shift
like ripples in a still pond. The sharp snout disappeared,
replaced by a human face framed with long hair.
Sleep was a healer. It had smoothed out the lines of worry and
tension, granting the face a brief moment of youth. Qui-Gon
slept on, unawares.
Obi-Wan shifted his body carefully, quietly so that he ended up
cradling Qui-Gon's head on his lap. He drew a blanket over the
naked body.
He could feel the warmth on his lap, the slight rise-and-fall
of Qui-Gon's breathing. He reached out a hand and stroked the
cheek once. Drew back quickly, afraid Qui-Gon would wake.
He sat through the whole night, protecting Qui-Gon from the
darkness.
"I transformed last night," Qui-Gon said in a matter-of-fact
tone.
"You did, Master."
Obi-Wan looked as if he didn't have a good night's rest.
"Padawan, you look as if you have run a race." Qui-Gon remarked
in his low voice.
"I was meditating last night."
((Lying isn't your expertise, Obi-Wan.))
The Jedi apprentice bowed his head.
((You weren't meditating last night, Obi-Wan. You were guarding
me as I slept.))
((Yes, I did.))
Silence. Then, ((You are not afraid of me?))
Obi-Wan eyed his Master. The blue eyes had grown solemn, sad.
((You are my Master, Qui-Gon. I am not afraid of you.))
((I sense a certain sense of wariness in you still Are you
hiding something from me?))
"Master, I " Obi-Wan found himself speechless. He turned away,
only to have his chin lifted by a firm hand. The intense gaze
was back. "Master, I was hurt by a childish taunt."
"Hurt by a childish taunt?" Qui-Gon's blue eyes flared and
Obi-Wan was immediately touched by the sense of protectiveness
he felt from his Master. "Who did it?" The tone was stern.
"A child," Obi-Wan replied, feeling the frustration rise from
Qui-Gon.
"What did he say?"
"He asked me if I was bringing my Master for a walk " Obi-Wan
closed his eyes.
Qui-Gon became suddenly silent and his apprentice could sense
the barely-restrained anger emanating like a heated wave. With
a rustle of his robes, Qui-Gon got up and went straight to the
window where he stood without speaking.
"Master?" Obi-Wan whispered, seeing Qui-Gon's head bow and a
shudder run down the tall frame of his teacher.
Slowly, Qui-Gon turned his head and regarded Obi-Wan. For a few
heartbeats, the blue eyes were cold ice, without feeling. The
predator's eyes were back.
Then the familiar warmth returned, something Obi-Wan had grown
to admire and love. The blue eyes of an accomplished Jedi
Knight: calm, serene.
But the serenity had fissures in it, a smooth mirror with
cracks.
The sunset bathed the Jedi Temple in a glorious cast of gold.
It was evening meal at the Hall of the Initiates. About this
time, most of the Padawans would be preparing dinner for their
Masters.
Obi-Wan sighed softly as he stepped back into the darkened
room. It took him only a while to get used to the darkness.
Master Qui-Gon was not in the room.
Surprised, Obi-Wan tried to locate him mentally. Not there. He
was simply gone. With growing shock, Obi-Wan realized that the
link had been ...disconnected. There was a deep void in his
mind and for a moment, the young man stood chilled to the
bones. The reassuring link was not there anymore ...
Numbed, Obi-Wan sank down to his knees.
It was then he saw the piece of parchment on the table.
Trembling, he retrieved it and read. The script was purely
Qui-Gon. Neat but brash strokes. He had used his favorite
pressed bark paper.
The message on the parchment hit Obi-Wan like a blast of
freezing wind.
He is gone.
The deep voice of Master Mace Windu rumbled in the stillness of
the room.
Obi-Wan nodded, still trying very hard to absorb the news. He
didn't know whether to start screaming or crying hysterically.
He ...warned me not to find him ... He croaked, staring hard at
the parchment. He said that ...the only way I could be ...safe
...is for him to go away ...
Mace Windu shook his head. Stubborn and reckless to the last.
He's still alive! Obi-Wan fixed the Jedi Master with an intense
glare. Somewhere on this ...damned planet, he is alive and
breathing. You speak as if he has ... killed himself. The last
words were spat out as if Obi-Wan loathed to say them.
Control yourself, Padawan Kenobi.
Obi-Wan blinked his eyes which stung with unshed tears. Why
should I control myself when my own Master is gone? Why should
I?
Master Windus eyes flashed, a sign of caution which his own
Padawans took as a tacit warning.
Peace over hostility, he murmured. Padawan Kenobi, you still
have a lot to learn about your emotions.
Don't talk about my emotions. The issue here is my Master
Qui-Gon Jinn!
You are letting your love cloud your judgement, young man.
Obi-Wan opened his mouth and closed it in shock.
Jedi have eyes too, Mace permitted himself a slight smile.
Come, Obi-Wan. You need to calm down. Now breathe slowly ...let
go.
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