WARNINGS: Two: One for casual use of soft drugs, two for "Happy
Mace Windu".
SPOILERS: None. Pre TPM.
ARCHIVE: M-A only.
DISCLAIMER: All characters used belong to George Lucas. However
I have no guilt at using them because we treat them better.
FEEDBACK: For this piece of nonsense? Okay then :o)
NOTES: Please don't read if you are offended by talk of casual
drug use in a positive manner. This was written for Mace Windu
who seemed to be getting a bashing in everything I read today
and I thought he could do with a break. This was written in an
hour and is not beta'd so please accept my apologies for all
the stupid mistakes I know I've made!
Qui-Gon stood, hands on hips, looking around his apprentice's
room. He gave a short dismayed shake of his head and then
stepped across the threshold. As he surveyed the battlefield
before him he felt any last hopes he had of his student ever
learning to clear up behind himself fading. He'd been trying to
break Obi-Wan of his untidy habits for 10 years now, it was
becoming all too clear that Qui-Gon was fighting a loosing
battle.
With a heavy sigh he set about clearing the room. Clothes were
sorted into piles for the laundry, data pads were retrieved and
set aside in a neat stack on the already crammed desk and
various dishes, plates and cups were hunted down and killed
before being deposited in the kitchenette. Pulling the sheets
from the bed Qui-Gon bagged the various piles of garments and
then collected fresh linen. When Qui-Gon knelt to tuck the
corners into a tight uniform crease his hand brushed something
under the mattress. With a slightly wary frown he lifted the
end and peered underneath. Concealed under the mattress was a
tiny wooden box no bigger than Qui-Gon's palm. A part of
Qui-Gon told him to leave well enough alone. This was obviously
Obi-Wan's private property and he had no right to look at it;
another part urged him to quench his curiosity and just open it
already.
His curiosity won.
Pulling the little box free he flipped open the clasp and
lifted the lid. What he found inside made his mouth drop open
in surprise. Since when did Obi-Wan smoke sysah leaf?
It was a troubled Qui-Gon that greeted Obi-Wan when he returned
from his days lessons. One look at his master's face told
Obi-Wan that he'd done something wrong the second he walked
through the door. Swallowing past the sudden lump in his throat
he asked, "Master?"
Qui-Gon sighed slightly before answering. "Padawan, please sit
down."
Now the young apprentice knew he was in serious trouble.
Not knowing quite how to begin or what exactly to say Qui-Gon
opted for reaching into his cloak for the box and handing it to
Obi-Wan once the young man had seated himself.
A look of guilt washed across his Padawan's features and
Qui-Gon knew in that instance that his worst fears were
confirmed. It did belong to Obi-Wan.
"I found this under your bed this afternoon." Qui-Gon spoke
finally, his voice calm and level. Even so Obi-Wan flinched.
The younger man didn't need to hear the disappointment in his
master's voice; he could feel it in every fibre of his body.
"I always thought you had more sense than to dabble in drugs,
however recreational Obi-Wan. How serious is this? Is it just
the sysah leaf or are you taking anything stronger?"
Obi-Wan looked up to meet his eyes finally and instead of
regret all he saw was confusion in the grey eyes. "Master?"
"Please don't disrespect me enough to lie to me Padawan. I want
the truth. Have you ever taken anything stronger than sysah
leaf?"
Obi-Wan flinched again under the harsh words even if the tone
was still calm. This was all such a huge mistake and now not
only was his Master disappointed in him he thought he was lying
as well.
Obi-Wan wavered for a moment before finally dipping his head
and uttering a mute "No, Master, never."
Qui-Gon knew the young man wasn't lying, he could feel the
sorrow and regret but also truthfulness of his words across
their training bond.
"What is my punishment, Master?"
Qui-Gon hung his head and sighed again. He should by rights
inform the council but that seemed a harsh punishment. Yet he
couldn't let his student think that his behaviour was
acceptable either.
"I do not know yet. Go to your room and complete your evening
studies. You may not leave your room unless I tell you to. We
will talk about this again later." Qui-Gon straightened his
back even further and pointedly did not look as the dejected
form of his beloved student rose to his feet without another
word.
When the door had shut to Obi-Wan's room Qui-Gon wiped a hand
across his face and then rubbed at his temples forcefully. He
really didn't know how to handle this one. How could he punish
Obi-Wan for something he had done himself as a younger man? In
his view sysah leaf was no more of an inhibitor than liqueur,
less so since it didn't usually come with a head-pounding
hangover the next day. However, liqueur was legal whilst sysah
leaf was not. The Jedi Order tolerated the use of alcohol,
within limits, it would never in a million years approve of its
members participating in the use of soft drugs.
Head spinning Qui-Gon pocketed the box once more and left their
quarters. A quick stride through the corridors later he was
glad to find Mace Windu at home and alone.
"Something troubles you my friend?" Mace asked with a small
smile as he ushered the taller man into his quarters.
"Deeply," Qui-Gon answered. "I find myself needing your wisdom
Mace, not as a Council member but as a friend. Can you offer me
that?"
Mace frowned slightly at the seriousness of his friend's voice
but nodded. "As a friend."
"I find that Obi-Wan has done something that I cannot condone
but neither can I condemn. I know I need to punish the boy but
cannot think of anything that is not either to harsh or too
lenient."
The frown on the dark man deepened as he felt Qui-Gon's
unhappiness seep into him. What could Obi-Wan have done to
unbalance his Master so?
"What has he done?" Mace asked the question in a sure calm
voice but inside he was flinching. Did he really want to know?
He was fond of Obi-Wan; the Padawan was a credit to the Jedi
Order and would soon become one of their finest members. Mace
was pleased to have the young man as a prospective friend, if
he were not one already.
"I found this under his bed whilst I was clearing up," Qui-Gon
hissed out as he thumped the wooden object into Mace's hand.
Mace shot him a wary look before steeling himself and opening
the lid. When he saw what was in the small container only his
vaulted Jedi self-control stopped him from laughing out loud.
"It's sysah leaf." He identified.
Qui-Gon raised his eyes skyward. "I know what it is." He
sighed. "What do I do about it?"
"Has he tried anything beyond this?"
Qui-Gon shook his head forcefully. "No. He tells me he has not
and I believe him."
Mace stood staring at the dried leaves for along moment and
then silently shut the lid again, turning the box over in his
fingers and examining it closely. When he finally looked up at
his friend Qui-Gon could see definite amusement in those dark
eyes.
"This is no laughing matter Mace," he snapped.
The smile in the mans eyes widened as he shook his head. "Of
course it's not."
"Mace. What do I do?" Qui-Gon was getting impatient with his
friend's mirth. "How can I punish Obi-Wan for something that I
willing took part in in the past?"
"Did he actually say that it belonged to him?" Mace questioned
still smirking without moving a muscle.
"He didn't need to. His guilt was evident when he laid his eyes
upon the box. He knew exactly what it was and what was in it.
He didn't even try to deny his involvement."
"I didn't say he wasn't involved," Mace retorted. "It was found
under his bed only two people could have put it there. You or
him. From your reaction I'm guessing it wasn't you."
Qui-Gon shot him a tight smile, why was this so funny? He
didn't think it was funny. In fact he thought it was about as
removed from funny as unfunny could get.
"But that doesn't mean the box and its contents actually belong
to your apprentice." Mace was continuing.
"Wait," Qui-Gon held up a large hand. "Are you suggesting that
he was hiding it for someone else?"
Mace cocked his head to one side and shrugged slightly. "It's
possible that he was trying to protect someone, yes."
Qui-Gon flopped into the nearest chair and leaned his head back
against the high back. "Then why wouldn't he tell me that was
the case? Why take the blame for something he didn't do?"
Mace never moved, he just kept watching his oldest friend with
amused eyes. "Perhaps he was more concerned with protecting the
person this box belongs to. Maybe they mean more to him than
the humiliation of a punishment."
"Punishment!" Qui-Gon exploded. "If he is reported to the
Council it would mean more than just punishment, it would
likely mean his expulsion from the Jedi. You should know that
even better than me."
"I don't think he is likely to be reported to the Council."
Mace assured him in as soothing a tone as he could manage.
"You don't know that for sure Mace. What if the boxes owner is
caught and implicates Obi-Wan in some way? What would the boys
punishment be then?"
Mace breathed deeply as he considered the possibilities. "It
would depend on his level of involvement. If he were just
storing the box to protect someone he would likely escape with
a severe reprimand."
Qui-Gon did not look appeased.
"Please do not fret my friend. It will never happen. The
knowledge of this will never go beyond the 3 of us."
"We don't know that for sure, didn't I just get through
explaining that?" Qui-Gon ground out tightly.
"But we do know for sure because one of us is the boxes owner."
Qui-Gon fixed an exasperated frown on his friend. "I thought
you were arguing that the box didn't belong to Obi-Wan?"
"I was, I am and it doesn't." Mace allowed his grin to finally
curl the very corners of his mouth.
Qui-Gon watched him silently for several long moments and he
could almost see him working through the thought process.
"It belongs to us two?" Realisation was beginning to creep into
the man's voice.
Mace nodded. "Or more specifically, it belongs to you."
Qui-Gon sat bolt upright in his chair, a look of haunted
disbelief crossed his face. "Mine?" he whispered.
"I'm surprised you don't recall it. I do. I used to refer to it
as your party tin, don't you remember? It was a regular at most
of our get together when we were young Knights." The grin had
broken free completely now.
"Nooooooooooooo, please tell me its not true," Qui-Gon moaned
quietly.
Mace raised his eyebrows. "I'm afraid to say my friend that it
is. This is your box and your sysah leaf. I would hazard a
guess that Obi-Wan has found it at some point in some dim
distant corner of your quarters. He obviously knows what it is
and he thought he was protecting you by hiding it. He is far
from a child Qui-Gon. He was quite capable of figuring out it
hadn't been touched in sometime, he probably thought it was
better to hide it than try to get rid of it."
Another groan of protest and Qui-Gon was hiding his face in his
hands. "Oh Force why didn't he just say so?"
"Admit he'd found his masters stash? Not likely. Would you have
told Master Yoda if you'd have found his?"
Qui-Gon looked up then a quirked a smile in his friend's
direction. "I didn't need to find it, he carries it around with
him. That cane isn't just to help him walk you know."
"I think you need to have a serious talk with your apprentice
Qui-Gon. Maybe he needs to know that you are not as perfect as
he thinks."
"Thank you so much for that advice Mace," Qui-Gon replied
sarcastically. "I should have known you'd be a big help."
"The question is how are we going to dispose of this? We can't
just throw it in the rubbish in case someone finds it."
"We could flush it?" Qui-Gon offered.
"Ah but then it might pollute the water," Mace retaliated
quickly and when Qui-Gon looked across at him in disbelief he
could see the amusement had turned to mischief.
"Highly unlikely," Qui-Gon countered. "But..." A definite look
passed between the two Jedi Masters.
"...I suppose we shouldn't really take the chance should we?"
"Wouldn't be very responsible of us would it?" Mace continued.
"Only other way is to burn it." Qui-Gon nodded thoughtfully.
"I suppose so." Mace agreed.
Silence reigned for several long moments in which case neither
man said or moved.
"Seems a shame to waste the smoke," Mace finally muttered
quietly.
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