Master Apprentice  Archive The Master's Musings - 2002-02-13 -
Puzzling |
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Archive: MA, any others just ask, I probably won't say no
My Home Page: http://www.jediphiles.com/~mali
Category: PWP
Rating: NC17
Spoilers: None
Pairing: Q/O
Summary: A series of short snippets, all from Qui-Gon's POV, focusing on his love for Obi-Wan, and their relationship.
Disclaimer: These beautiful boys aren't mine, they belong to George. I'm just playing with them for a bit. I promise to put them back when I'm done. Don't sue - I've got no money. I've spent it all on seeing TPM way too many times and buying SW toys and feeding my Liam obsession.
Feedback: Oh yes, please. Good, bad or indifferent.
This one hasn't been betad - you've been warned.
"What are you doing?" I ask as I enter the common room. Obi-Wan is sitting in the middle of the floor, surrounded by a pile of colorful pieces of cardboard, an open card-board box by his side.
"I'm puzzling," he responds, not even looking up.
"Yes, you are quite puzzling at times," I chuckle as I make my way to the couch behind him. I sit down and rest my hands on his shoulders, getting a better look at what he is doing. He is sorting through the little pieces, turning all of them face up and setting any of the pieces with a straight edge aside.
"Do you want to help?"
"I'd be in a better position to answer that question if I had any idea of what you are doing."
He leans back and looks up at me, a grin splitting his face. Without thinking I lean down and plant a soft kiss on his forehead and he leans back further, finding my lips with his own. It is awkward, and short, but sweet just the same.
"It's a jigsaw puzzle, Master. Have you never seen one?"
"I don't believe I have," I tell him, taking a closer look. "What exactly are you doing?"
"All of these little pieces fit together to form a picture," he tells me as he continues to sort the pile. "Right now I'm turning all of them over and pulling out the end pieces. Once I put the end pieces together, forming the frame, I can then begin filling it in."
"Do you know what it is supposed to look like when you've finished putting it together?"
"It's a picture of a waterfall."
"Is this something one of your instructors has given you to work on?" I ask, my confusion growing.
"My instructors? No. I'm doing this for fun."
"I fail to see the point, Obi-Wan."
He sighs loudly, not even bothering to hide his good-humored exasperation with me. "There IS no point, Qui-Gon. That's the point." He grins up at me again. "This is for relaxation. A hobby. It's like putting together a model, except this is flat." He pats the floor beside him. "Come on, sit with me and help me get all the pieces turned over."
Though I truly have no interest in this whole puzzling thing, I would never willingly pass up an opportunity to spend time with Obi-Wan. I slide off the couch to the floor, remaining behind him, my legs on either side of his. In this position I can reach around him, almost embracing him, while resting my chin on his shoulder, and can still help him turn the pieces over. The best of both worlds, as far as I'm concerned. I'm holding my Obi-Wan and sharing a hobby with him. My life is good.
We speak of inconsequential things. How his classes are going. What his friends are up to. How boring I continue to find the senate hearings I've been forced to attend. We make short work of the pile of puzzle pieces, quickly turning them all face up, while pulling out any with a straight edge. The end pieces he calls them. Having no clue what he is doing at first, I simply hold him and watch him as he begins fitting one piece into the next. After a minute or two, I understand the goal, but instead of helping him, I decide I'd rather just sit here and hold him.
I honestly cannot think of any place I'd rather be than right here.
Time passes. An hour goes by and then two, yet I have no desire to move. I am perfectly content in just holding him close to me, and I can sense through our bond he feels the same way.
Tomorrow will be another day of senate hearings for me, classes for Obi-Wan, saber practice and katas for both of us. We are Jedi, and for the most part, that means our lives are not our own. Both Obi-Wan and I have chosen this path, dedicated our lives to the Order, and we do not regret a moment of it. But we are human as well, and being the one does not cancel out being the other. Therefore, when the opportunity presents itself for us to take off the heavy mantle of responsibilities that come with being a Jedi, we take advantage of that time.
Tonight we are not Jedi. We are not Master and Padawan. We are two people spending a few quiet hours together, enjoying each other's company, and sharing our love for one another. We take neither our love nor our time together for granted, for we know that both of these things are gifts to be treasured.
He leans back against me, releasing a sigh of satisfaction, and I realize he's finished putting the picture together. It is beautiful, and I tell him so. We stare at it for a long moment, and it is so lifelike that I can almost hear the sound of the water rushing through the falls.
"This was a very pleasant evening," Obi-Wan says quietly. "Thanks for puzzling with me."
"It was my pleasure," I assure him.
"Are you ready for bed?" He asks as he stretches his legs.
"If you are."
What he does next catches me completely by surprise. He leans forward and begins to crumble the picture, tossing the pieces back into the box.
"What are you doing?" I ask, hearing the astonishment in my voice.
"I'm putting up the puzzle," he tells me, very matter-of-factly.
"But you just finished putting it together. Don't you want to be able to look at it later?"
He chuckles as he continues to put the crumbled pieces into the box. "My enjoyment was putting it together while you held me. I'm just getting it ready to do again the next time we have a quiet evening together."
I hug him tightly and press a kiss on his cheek. "I love you, Obi-Wan." I whisper softly.
He tosses the last handful of puzzle pieces into the box, and wraps his arms around mine, squeezing tightly. "Let's go to bed, Qui-Gon."
It takes just a few minutes to go through our nightly routine. He heads to the fresher while I go through our quarters, dimming the lights, and rinsing the few dishes in the sink. By the time I head into our bedroom, Obi-Wan is turning down the linens on our bed.
"Your turn," he says, nodding towards the fresher.
A few minutes later, I am sliding into bed next to Obi-Wan, his outstretched arms welcoming me. I roll us over, so that he is on top of me, and I hold him tightly, reveling in his love and warmth. And then he is kissing me, softly, sweetly, his hands moving up to tangle in my hair.
Though both of us are quickly aroused, he takes his time, kissing me, preparing me, loving me. When he finally enters me, it is incredible, made all the better because we are face to face and I can watch him as he pushes himself deeply inside of me. His soft moans and gasps of pleasure excite me almost as much as his lips sliding against the inside of my thigh. We make long, slow love, often pausing for long moments to kiss and cuddle and murmur endearments to one another. The bond we share is pulsating with life and love, growing deeper and stronger, as it does each time we make love.
When it is over, I hold him close, not wanting him to move away, and together we sleep.
Finis