Disclaimer: Mr.Lucas owns everything Star Wars. I am not
making any money.
Notes: To Alex
"Master, will you join me at the dance tonight?"
"I'd be honored, Qui-Gon," Obi-Wan replied. A smile lit his
apprentice's features. He'd been looking forward to this
opportunity for weeks, ever since his eighteenth birthday.
Qui-Gon had loved his Master for years, but knew that Obi-Wan
would never agree to bond with him until he reached adulthood,
if then. Tonight Qui-Gon wanted to find out if his feelings
were returned.
Master and apprentice were well-suited for one another in many
ways. There were only ten years between them. Obi-Wan had been
Knighted at twenty two, and had taken Qui-Gon on within the
year, making Master Yoda extremely happy. They had been
together six years, one third of Qui-Gon's life. They were both
reserved except around a small circle of friends.
Qui-Gon had politely declined all offers of romance, knowing
his heart at such a young age. He'd never seen his Master with
a potential lover. His Jedi calm would have been put to the
test indeed if he had. The two got along splendidly. They
shared the same tastes in girondi music and old Republic art.
Their favorite conversations were philosophical, but they loved
the intricacies of their mission work. In short, they were
perfect companions. Qui-Gon saw the potential for more, and
hoped he might share with his Master in a more intimate way.
At eighth hour Master Obi-Wan's door opened, and Qui-Gon
gunned from his seat on the couch. The older man was wearing
royal blue tunics and leggings, bringing out the sea in his
changeable eyes. Qui-Gon himself wore emerald green.
Obi-Wan walked up to Qui-Gon and straightened a fold of his
tunic. "All set for an entertaining evening, Padawan?" He
grinned mischievously at Qui-Gon as he clasped his
shoulder.
"Yes, Master."
"You'll have to show me the new dances. I haven't been to one
of these things in years."
"My pleasure," said Qui-Gon as they left their rooms. The
dance was held in Training Room 4, where they practiced aerial
katas. It was a cavernous room with high vaulted ceilings, airy
and cool. Masters Yoda and Yaddle were already there, seated
immovably by the refreshments. Indeed, the Jedi Council was out
in force: Mace Windu and Adi Gallia were on the dance floor,
and Depa Billaba was chatting with Ki-Adi Mundi by the hostrena
flowers. Not that Qui-Gon noticed them. He was trying his best
not to stare at Obi-Wan, and was somewhat successful. His
friends waved at him, and he managed to wave back.
The band struck up a brisk kimsavi reel, and Obi-Wan asked
Qui-Gon to dance. Much to Qui-Gon's dismay, it was a folk dance
that left the partners a handsbreadth away from one another,
not exactly conducive to romantic nuzzling. He enjoyed the
stomping anyway. They danced with others, then somehow Qui-Gon
worked up the courage to ask Obi-Wan to dance during a slow
number. The Master's arms went around him, right hand on
shoulder, left on his hip, and Qui-Gon was in paradise. Hot
tingles of excitement sparked the places where Obi-Wan touched.
Qui-Gon had never been in this position before. He normally
didn't think very much about the growth spurts he'd had
recently, making him several inches taller than his Master, but
now found that he liked the difference in their heights. It
brought out protective feelings for Obi-Wan in himself that
were new and welcome. Qui-Gon became more conscious than ever
of his new adult status. He held Obi-Wan almost imperceptibly
closer, his big hands almost able to span his Master's waist,
then flushed to see Obi-Wan looking at him with a speculative
eye that said he'd noticed the firming of his palms around
him.
Obi-Wan looked up and saw an adult gaze back at him. On a
rational level, he'd known this day was coming. He'd registered
the changes, large and small, in his apprentice. Indeed, he had
to notice them to train him properly. But now, held here in
strong arms, Obi-Wan had to believe it. Qui-Gon had become a
man.
He'd known of Qui-Gon's crush for some time, and kept thinking
it would pass when he chose a lover among his fellow padawans.
He'd be disappointed, it's true, but his concern for the young
man's well-being overrode any selfish considerations. Qui-Gon
was still so young. How could he want to commit to a Master one
decade his senior? All of his theorizing on the lad's emotions
came to an abrupt halt as Obi-Wan looked up.
Gazing into his student's fathomless blue eyes, he knew this
was no passing fancy. The young man was deeply in love with
him. The Master rejoiced; he felt like the luckiest man alive.
He tightened his own arms around Qui-Gon and brought his face
nearer, close enough to feel Qui-Gon's quick exhalations.
"Enjoying yourself?" he asked with a quirked eyebrow, unable
to completely keep the joy of his discovery off of his
face.
"Oh yes," Qui-Gon breathed. He was barely able to talk as he
concentrated on the feel of Obi-Wan moving against him. Qui-Gon
made a deliberate effort to tamp down his body's responses to
having his Master so close, and prayed that Obi-Wan didn't
notice his sudden tension.
"I'm glad."
Later on, when they were safely in their common room, Qui-Gon
said, "I'd like to talk with you, Master."
"Of course, Qui-Gon." They sat down on the couch together
after Qui-Gon made them tea.
Qui-Gon put down his cup, and said steadily, "I'm in love with
you, Obi-Wan." He felt a burst of pure radiant joy along the
bond and knew Obi-Wan's answer before the words were
spoken.
"As I am with you, my Qui-Gon." He brushed their foreheads
together. "I could feel your love pouring into me as we danced
tonight."
"I've practiced enough on my shielding to last a lifetime,
Obi. Now that I'm eighteen, I hope that we'll never need
shields between us again."
"We won't, my love. Now we'll need them between us and the
rest of the Temple." He smiled at Qui-Gon's rich chuckle. "Come
with me to the Tranquility Garden. Let's share our first
Lovers' Meditation there." He pulled Qui-Gon up and into his
arms, kissing him firmly on the forehead, where their brows had
touched. Qui-Gon pressed his lips to Obi-Wan's cheek, revelling
in the slow pace set. He'd imagined this - first hugs and
kisses, first deep kiss, first desire -- -- the list of firsts
awaiting them made him smile in pleasure.
He thought he'd light up the Temple with his happiness on the
way to the gardens. Once there, Obi-Wan chose an isolated grove
and they knelt opposite each other in the deep grass. Clearing
his mind, Qui-Gon reached out to Obi-Wan, and felt a rush of
love and respect flooding him. He saw the exhilaration on his
startled Master's face as he sent his adoration along their
link. Basking in the glow, time retreated, and neither man ever
knew how long they were out there. At last, Qui-Gon reached out
his hands to Obi-Wan and drew him to him as his Master had done
earlier that evening. This time, however, he just had to try
those lips. Obi-Wan's lips were soft and sweet, and Qui-Gon was
content to press them chastely for this, their first kiss.
Qui-Gon felt Obi-Wan's approval of the leisurely pace, and
after a moment of savoring his taste, pulled Obi-Wan to his
feet.
"I could get used to that," Obi-Wan chuckled.
"You'd better, Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan was glad to see that Qui-Gon had seamlessly switched
to his given name ever since his declaration of love. They
walked back to their rooms, arms brushing. "Would you like to
go to the terrace, love?" Obi-Wan asked, reluctant to part for
the night, and saw Qui-Gon's eyes light with pleasure.
"Yes, let's," Qui-Gon said, as he took his Master's arm and
went to the balcony. Resting his arms on the rail, he breathed
deeply. The scent of night on Coruscant: jasmine and evening
tefars laced the air. Obi-Wan's arm went around his waist, and
he put his own on his Master's shoulders, enjoying the feel of
clean red-gold hair against his skin. They stood there
relishing their new closeness. Obi-Wan pressed his mouth to
Qui-Gon's cheek, and they turned toward the common room.
Taking his Master's hands, Qui-Gon said, "Sleep well, my
love," knowing how important it was not to rush things. He
would show Obi-Wan how mature he was, that he was willing to
wait, to strengthen their bond in stages. Qui-Gon didn't want
Obi-Wan to think he was a callous youth.
Understanding completely, Obi-Wan smiled his approval, and
squeezed the hands in his. "Good night, Qui-Gon. Pleasant
dreams."
"Then I'll dream of you if I'm lucky," his apprentice thought
with a smile. As he entered his room, Qui-Gon sighed. It felt
right to go slowly, but he had an ache within him that would
not respond to reason.
A few yards away, Obi-Wan could feel an answering ache of his
own.
The next morning, the sun didn't beam as brightly as Qui-Gon,
now that he had revealed his secret and found his love
returned. Seeing the look on his face Obi-Wan swept him up in a
crushing bear hug, and felt Qui-Gon's enthusiastic
response.
"Good morning, my love. I can see today's the day to practice
the Rushing Water kata. You look like you have the patience for
it."
"I have the patience for anything now," he said, lips
upturned, as he stroked Obi-Wan's arms. "How about celanti eggs
for breakfast?"
He started cooking while his Master set the table. Qui-Gon
unconsciously hummed one of the songs from the dance the
previous night. Obi-Wan took up the melody and they started
singing the lyrics together. Their closeness was what Qui-Gon
had dreamed about for years: a life completely shared --
mentally, emotionally, physically -- with his beloved Master.
Qui-Gon grabbed Obi-Wan and danced him across the tiny kitchen
out into the common room. Expertly bypassing all hurdles --
desks, tables, couches -- Qui-Gon led them in a sultry rhythm.
Just eighteen, but a man indeed. He rested his chin lightly on
his Master's head, and felt those protective feelings he'd
first had at the formal dance come rushing back, as he held him
in his arms. Obi-Wan had always been the kind of Master who'd
do anything for him and kept him as safe as a Jedi diplomat
could be. Qui-Gon put a hand to Obi-Wan's cheek. He'd have to
start repaying some of that consideration, and was looking
forward to it.
Smelling carbon, Qui-Gon ran back to the kitchen in dismay. He
turned off the heating unit. "Maybe some parshmeal?" he asked
hopefully, seeing the state of the eggs.
Obi-Wan's arms went around him and met at the small of his
back. "I'll eat parsh every morning if I get to dance with you
first." His chuckle ruffled the hairs on the back of Qui-Gon's
neck.
"Me too," Qui-Gon happily agreed. Obi-Wan took the packet out
of Qui-Gon's hand and made the meal himself. As they ate, they
talked over their plans for the day. Obi-Wan taught the first
two sessions in the morning, while Qui-Gon took classes. Third
was their training time to work on the Running Water kata. Then
they'd go to lunch at the dining hall together. A bit more
coursework for each of them, then dinner. Relaxation, then
shared meditation before bed. A perfect, balanced day.
When next they met for practice, Master and apprentice had the
best workout yet. They were completely in tune with one
another, moves anticipated and answered smoothly. They
attracted an audience, an increasingly common occurrence, but
didn't notice until the stomping began as they powered down the
sabers. They grinned at each other and at their friends, and
headed for the showers.
Clean and dressed, the men were all business in public, as
they headed for afternoon classes, Obi-Wan giving Qui-Gon's
forearm a squeeze as they parted.
At home that night, the scents of palaire spice mingled with
those of anticipation. Qui-Gon unexpectedly asked Obi-Wan on a
date at a good restaurant in Coruscant's Bellini shopping
district, and they were off. Qui-Gon practically took over the
servodroid's job, raining attention on his Master. Obi-Wan
relaxed into his student's indulgences, knowing them to be an
essential outlet for Qui-Gon's emotions. Their fingers brushed
as Qui-Gon filled his glass, as he placed a warm roll in his
Master's hand, as he pointed out particular favorites on the
menu.
"It's good to get away from the Temple like this," Obi-Wan
said.
"The sunset actually looks redder from here, with the city
lights."
"Thanks for inviting me, Qui-Gon."
"My pleasure."
They walked home in the twilight, hearing acute, vision in
sharp relief. Everything seemed more immediate somehow: the
rustle of their robes, the heavy tread of boots on the
plasticrete. As the door closed behind them, Qui-Gon swung
Obi-Wan into his arms. "I've wanted to do this all day, my
love."
Strong arms went around him in turn, as the Master said, "So
have I."
Qui-Gon's kiss fell on Obi-Wan's mouth and held him still to
that fixed point of contact. Neither ventured further than
lips, knowing the intensity was already overwhelming. They
exchanged lingering kisses. Obi-Wan loved to touch Qui-Gon's
cheeks and chin. Qui-Gon paid particular attention to Obi-Wan's
nose. They kissed themselves breathless. The Master finally
held Qui-Gon at arm's length, and said, "Let's go to bed now. I
know it's not easy to stop, but it's still a good idea."
Breathing raggedly, Qui-Gon pressed his forehead down to
Obi-Wan's. "Can't we just live in the moment for once?"
Obi-Wan patted him on the hand, deliberately echoing the
reassuring touch he'd used with his student for years in
training. "There are consequences to our actions, Qui-Gon, and
we must accept them, even as we start on this new path
together."
"You're right, Master." It was the first time Qui-Gon had used
the title in private since declaring his love. Evidently,
Obi-Wan's suggestion had carried the weight of a command. "It's
easier this way," Obi-Wan thought ruefully, and sighed.
"Try to get some sleep, my wild one," the Master said as he
closed his bedroom door. Both men released their desire into
the Force and hoped that the perfect moment to express their
love physically would come soon. Jedi philosophers had long
held that at least a fortnight should pass between the first
kiss and consummation, each day building the attraction and
tension. Less than this was considered frivolity, scorned, for
the weak of will. If anything, the will of this Master and
apprentice was stronger than the norm.
It would have to be, for waiting was worthwhile to build their
forever bond. The dance had just begun.
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