As soon as the ship was on the ground, Obi-Wan was gone. Qui-Gon, in an attempt to calm himself after the bad mission and cramped, three-day flight, took his single bag and headed for their shared quarters. As usual, he didn’t quite make it. Just as he reached the lift and thought he was safe, the doors whooshed open and out stepped Mace Windu, who looked like he was up to something. And where Mace was involved, that something was usually no good.
Qui-Gon groaned. He needed rest before he could deal with the Council properly, but he wasn’t going to get it. Reluctantly, he followed his friend back down the corridor and into the Council Chamber.
Four hours later (and not without some resistance from Mace and Yoda), Qui-Gon emerged from the Chamber tired, disgruntled, and ready to strangle his Padawan. Throughout his grueling stint with the Council, Obi-Wan had kept his thoughts shielded carefully, though more than once the boy’s extreme pleasure leaked through their bond.
Qui-Gon stormed back to their quarters, fists clenched, telling himself over and over I will not kill my Padawan. I will not kill my Padawan. Obi-Wan was no longer a child, he knew. He was eighteen years old, and capable of doing whatever he pleased...and with whomever he pleased. Qui-Gon was just not ready to accept the fact that the boy he had grown to love so dearly was out doing things like that.
He shook his head hard and palmed the lock on their door, shocked to find Obi-Wan staring at him from the kitchen, a deer-in-headlights look on his face.
“M-Master!” he shrieked, suddenly trying to hide whatever it was in his hands.
“Obi-Wan,” Qui-Gon said sternly, “I know what you have been doing since we landed, and I do not appreciate the hiding.” Obi-Wan hung his head, looking completely deflated.
“I-I apologize, Master.” He looked almost as if he would cry. Qui-Gon, seeing what he had done, hurried to cover the sharp tone in his voice.
“Why didn’t you tell me, Padawan?”
“I wanted it to be a surprise, Master,” he whispered, turning away and setting the item on the counter.
“I can assure you, Obi-Wan, it is.”
“No, it isn’t.”
“What?” Now, Qui-Gon was confused.
“Its not a surprise anymore. Now its just a party.”
“A party, Obi-Wan?” It just didn’t make any sense.
“Yes, Master. A surprise party. For your birthday. I thought you would enjoy that.” His voice fell on the last few words, and Obi-Wan looked very near tears. “But since you’re back early and you know about it, then it isn’t a surprise anymore.” It was then that the ever-attentive Jedi Master realized that the thing in his apprentice’s hand was, in fact, a small gift-wrapped box
He could do nothing but stare at his pouting Padawan. He had been so sidetracked by the mission, the Council, and the thought process of his apprentice that he had completely forgotten his own birthday. The Council had simply been a diversion while Obi-Wan schemed. Then he did something completely absurd. He laughed.
“Obi-Wan, I had no idea…”
“But Master, you just said… what did you think it was?” Now it was Obi-Wan’s turn to be confused. Qui-Gon’s laughter only intensified. He doubled over, one arm across his stomach, the other on the counter for support. Obi-Wan simply stared in horror.
After several minutes of hysteria, Qui-Gon got himself under control, wiped the tears from his eyes, and looked up at his dumbfounded apprentice. The sight of the young man’s puzzled countenance was nearly enough to send him laughing again, and it took every bit of the Force he could muster not to giggle. That was very unbecoming of a Jedi Master.
“What was that, Master?” the younger Jedi ventured after quite some time. Qui-Gon smiled, remembering the past shock of the thought that had made him stop and physically shake himself to clear his head. He should have known better than to think Obi-Wan would be with a woman without at least warning him first… well, he should have…that didn’t necessarily mean he believed it. But at the moment, at least, the boy was telling the truth.
“It appears, my Obi-Wan, that you are busted.”
~fin~
© Draickin und Phoenix
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