| Title: One Apprentice, One Pathway #1: Brewing Author: Ginger Ninja Time frame: Obi is 13 Spoilers: Some to earlier JA books Archive: You want it just send me a lil e-mail. Feedback: Yup Disclaimer: Characters are, of course, property of George Lucas ('cept Kyrana and Lena for which I take FULL credit for =P MINE MINE MINE!!!!) I'm making zilch �/$ out of this =( Order of series: Brewing (WIP) Hidden Twisted Changeover (WIP) Dedicated, forever, to Dara, Tessa, Jess and Laura: my close friends. And, of course, the wonderful people who read and feedback! :) ***Part One*** Obi-Wan sat in his class, his chin resting in his palm as he gazed out of a rain-splattered window. He was lost in thought. Although he wouldn't admit it to anyone, he was depressed. He felt down because his Master had been so down for the past few days. In fact, it had been building up over the past couple of weeks. Qui-Gon had been growing increasingly quiet and hadn't engaged his young apprentice in any kind of conversation. Sparring sessions that Obi-Wan usually loved had become dull and lifeless. Well, except when Qui-Gon pointed out each and every single one of Obi-Wan's faults, no matter how insignificant it may be. Qui-Gon became quite passionate then which deeply hurt Obi-Wan. It was as if Qui-Gon loved pointing out every single one of Obi-Wan's faults over and over. Obi-Wan had been as patient as he could with everything but he was starting to feel increasingly unsure around Qui-Gon. Why was he acting like this? Was something wrong? Had Obi-Wan done something wrong? Obi-Wan sighed heavily and rubbed at his eyes that were unusually damp. Someone tapped on his shoulder and someone nervously cleared her throat. Obi-Wan turned and came face to face with a small, red haired girl who was standing next to him. "Ummm, I don't have a lab partner and I noticed you don't either so would you mind working with me?" Obi-Wan knew he was alone and he had wanted to stay that way as he wasn't in a very sociable mood but he nodded to the girl anyway and she smiled shyly and sat next to him. "I'm Kyrana," the girl said. "Obi-Wan," he replied. The pair sat together and more or less worked in silence on their science work, only speaking when they had to figure out what thing went where or to take down measurements. Kyrana looked at Obi-Wan. She was adept at reading the emotions of people around her and she knew that this boy standing next to her was deeply upset about something. Working up her courage, she asked a question she knew was quite personal: "Obi-Wan is something wrong?" He visibly flinched and turned to Kyrana, an unreadable expression on his face. "No, I'm fine," he said tersely. "Why do you ask?" "Oh...I...um...it's just you seem...sad," she stuttered nervously. "And...I...well I thought maybe..." "Maybe I'd want to talk about it?" he snapped. "No I don't alright? So let's just get this stupid experiment done OK so we can both leave." Kyrana just nodded, completely stunned. Her cheeks flamed and she blinked rapidly to hold back her tears. She shouldn't have butted her nose in like that. Now she'd made a fool of herself and he probably hated her for it. "Sorry," she whispered but if Obi-Wan heard, he chose to ignore her. ***** The weather was miserable today, Qui-Gon noted as he opened his blinds and gazed out of the window. /Matches your mood just perfectly don't you think?/ a nagging voice asked in the back of his mind. Qui-Gon sighed and leaned his head on the window. This was not a good day for him. /How many years has it been? Ten? And you are *still* wallowing in self pity?/ Qui-Gon banged his head against the plexi-glass once as if such a move would quieten the little voice in his head. "Why?" he asked the emptiness around him. "Why did he hurt me so?" Qui-Gon blinked back the tears that had formed and pushed himself off the window. Focusing on the here and now, Qui-Gon hunted for the clothes he would need for the remainder of the day. He couldn't believe he hadn't gotten dressed already. When he was fully dressed, Qui-Gon went into the main room of his home and sat down on the sofa. His eyes caught sight of a picture mounted on the wall. It was a picture of a beautiful sunset. /Xani did that/ Qui-Gon thought, his eyes fixated on that. /He made it for me./ And with that, Qui-Gon was lost in a world of memories not noticing a young boy who watched him from the edge of the room. ***** Obi-Wan Kenobi gazed at his Master, Qui-Gon Jinn from his bedroom doorway. The boy had just returned from classes, a massive science project in tow yet his Master had yet to acknowledge him. The man seemed quiet today. Not that Qui-Gon was ever particularly loud but he was always warm and never failed to notice Obi-Wan's presence. Today though he seemed especially distant and cold. /I wish he'd tell me what was making him so upset!/ Obi-Wan thought. /Why won't he ever talk to me?/ Obi-Wan sighed and walked out of his room and into the main room of his and Qui-Gon's apartment. "Good afternoon Master," Obi-Wan said with fake enthusiasm. Qui-Gon remained silent, staring off into space. "Master?" Obi-Wan asked, suddenly concerned. Maybe Qui-Gon was ill? Qui-Gon didn't appear as if he had heard. Obi-Wan tested his Master through their bond but there were solid shields in place that Obi-Wan knew he would not be able to get through. "MASTER!" Obi-Wan all but yelled at the top of his voice. "What!?" Qui-Gon snapped, turning to face Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan backed away upon seeing Qui-Gon's blazing blue eyes. "I-I thought...I mean...I didn't..." "Exactly Obi-Wan. You didn't think. You just let your impatience rule you." /Impatience? Me? But you were the one who flew off the handle, not me!/ Obi-Wan was tempted to correct his Master but that would probably only earn him some kind of punishment. So Obi-Wan fixed his eyes to the ground. "I'm sorry Master but when you didn't answer I thought there was something wrong." Qui-Gon frowned as he stood up. "What do you mean when I didn't answer? You didn't call me." Obi-Wan couldn't stop his jaw from hanging open. "Master, I called to you three times! You didn't even notice," he replied incredulously. Qui-Gon's already fragile control over his emotions cracked a little more. "Are you calling me a liar?" his voice was quiet but Obi-Wan was fully aware of the dangerous undertone his Master's voice contained. "Well Obi-Wan? Are you?" "No," Obi-Wan muttered, not looking up. "Look at me when I'm speaking to you!" Qui-Gon barked. Obi-Wan's head snapped up, his blue/green eyes mirroring Qui-Gon's stormy dark blue eyes. "I said no Master." Qui-Gon frowned, he could easily read the anger that trickled through Obi-Wan. It unnerved him, made him fearful. He didn't want another Padawan to fall to the Darkside. Qui-Gon feared what such a thing would do to him. "Get to your room," Qui-Gon said dismissively. "I'm not in the mood for you today." Inwardly, Qui-Gon cringed. That sentence had not sounded as good out loud as it did in his head. Obi-Wan visibly flinched, clearly hurt by Qui-Gon's brusque manner. He too was fearful. Fearful that he wasn't really wanted by Qui-Gon...that he was just some kind of unwanted tag along. "When are you 'in the mood for me' exactly?" Obi-Wan demanded. Obi-Wan knew he had crossed the line then but he didn't back down. He could not live like this. He couldn't spend day after day worrying that his Master really didn't want him. He had to know, and the time had come for the answers. If he had to be disrespectful, he would do so. He couldn't stand living around someone who was slowly withdrawing from both himself and those around him. Qui-Gon looked at Obi-Wan, his shoulders tense with barely restrained anger. The boy was being more than trying today, he was being downright disrespectful. /Is he?/ a voice in Qui-Gon's head whispered. /Or is he wondering why his so-called 'Master' seems to never really notice him because good old �Master' is to wrapped up in distant memories?/ "Don't speak to me like that," Qui-Gon said tersely. "You don't understand-" "Yes! I don't understand!" Obi-Wan interrupted. "I don't understand why you don't like me! Why did you take me as your Padawan if you dislike me so much? Did you just feel sorry for me?" It was Qui-Gon's turn to flinch. Is that what the boy thought? Qui-Gon shook his head. He was at a loss. What could he say to show Obi-Wan that wasn't the case? Qui-Gon needed to meditate on this, or maybe even speak to Yoda. Qui-Gon felt very uneasy in this situation. "Obi-Wan just wait in your room please. We will speak of this later and decided on the best course of action." "No." Qui-Gon blinked. "Excuse me?" "I said no. I'm sorry Master but I will not be placed in my room at your convenience." Qui-Gon's emotional control cracked a little further and his temper flared a little more. "Are you challenging my authority?" Obi-Wan looked straight into his eyes, defiance written on his features yet a deep sadness in his blue/green eyes. "Yes, I am. I will *not* sit in that room and rot while you wallow in misery. I can't stand to watch him hurting you still. I wish...I wish you'd just stop beating yourself up about it! I can't live with someone who's lost in the past, who's..." The clout around his face came out of nowhere. The cuff around the back of his head left him dizzy. Obi-Wan didn't look up at Qui-Gon, he just slowly raised his hand to his cheek. It was burning hot, just like the fire of anger in Qui-Gon's eyes. Qui-Gon realised that was the first time he had ever used physical punishment on Obi-Wan. It was the first time he had ever lost control when Obi-Wan was in his presence. Qui-Gon realised, too late, that it was not a wise thing to do against the insecure boy. "Obi-Wan I..." he began. "No!" Obi-Wan backed away. "Stay away from me! I KNEW you hated me!" Before Qui-Gon could contradict the boy, reassure him and apologise, Obi-Wan bolted for the door and ran out of the apartment. He didn't even look back. ***End Part One*** |
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