Trust Me

by Stacy

Title: Trust Me
Characters: Qui, Obi
Category: I'd say pre-slash
Rating: PG-13, perhaps.
Summary: Obi-Wan contemplates clothes.
Archive: yes.
Disclaimer: George Lucas.
Notes: Thanks to Merry Amelie for beta reading! Her story Ceremonial Kiss was an inspiration for this story. :)

Another mission, another launch pad.

The pilot had requested more time to prepare the ship for departure and asked Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan to wait beside the boarding ramp. The Jedi stood calmly nearby, in a corner of the launch pad, wrapped in shadows. Obi-Wan wore the same serene mask as his Master, but his mind was wandering. His hands were inside the sleeves of his robe, fingers touching the cloth. The rough fabric seemed soft against his calluses. His eyes swept over his uniform.

Durable clothing of a traveller, he thought. An image of Qui-Gon's high, sturdy boots came into his mind, the brown leather hugging the calves and ankles. He looked at his own boots and remembered putting his clothes on several hours back.

Plain clothing of a servant, he mused. We're servants of the Force. His eyes shifted towards his Master standing half a step ahead of him. Qui-Gon didn't resemble a servant. A mythical warrior, perhaps, wearing his robe like a king's cloak, with practiced ease. Every single movement he made, like taking his hands from the sleeves, was full of grace. Obi-Wan's gaze swept along the length of the other man's robed body, imagining the tunic, the pants, the belt, and then skin underneath.

Concealing clothes of a ... Obi-Wan paused thoughtfully. Of a Jedi, he decided at last, after discarding a few other options, a bit surprised at his own choice of words. His eyes narrowed, his features tensing almost imperceptibly.

"You think it's time to bring it out in the open?" Obi-Wan heard suddenly.

He should have known Qui-Gon had been eavesdropping. He didn't comment on it, acknowledging his own fault for letting his thoughts wander during a mission. Qui-Gon shifted and turned to his Padawan. Obi-Wan looked into his eyes and caught a spark of amusement there. He lowered his head, unwilling to be coaxed into Qui-Gon's good mood just now. A few half-formed questions were nagging at him, something about seclusion and mistrust, but now was not the time to discuss them. The comlink in Qui-Gon's hand beeped.

Obi-Wan raised his eyes to his Master's face again. Qui-Gon's expression softened, as the Force encompassing them brightened vibrantly. "I promise you we will talk about it as soon as possible," the older man said, and raised his hood. The dark brown cloth concealed the warmth in his eyes from everyone except Obi-Wan, the multicolored threads still glowing around him. Qui-Gon moved to the ship, but the young man paused for a moment. His Master knew the answers to those questions, he thought. For now, it was enough for him. The Padawan hid his smile under his own hood as they boarded the transport.

end.