Warnings: no sex, just a little angst, a few bubbles
Spoilers: none
Summary: The excesses of one Jedi
Feedback: yes, please, but email only. I might go on if I'm
encouraged even a little bit!
Thanks to Dark~Angel for the beta (many moons ago)
Bubbles
Master Qui-Gon Jinn almost sighed as he ran his fingers through
his long hair. When the Jedi Council wants something, they
get it. Even if it was something as trivial as the
recruitment rates from Talas IV. Something that certainly could
have waited till the morning. No, the Council called, and
Qui-Gon still came as bid.
It was very late at night, and the Temple was mostly deserted.
All sensible beings were safely ensconced in their quarters,
deep in the arms of slumber. Here and there a night owl sat in
an alcove reading or deep in mediation. Most of them were
wearing the padawan braid; it made Qui-Gon briefly envious of
the stamina of youth.
As he made his way to the quarters he shared with his padawan,
he reflected on the vagaries of the youth he knew best.
Obi-Wan is doing well, he thought. If he progresses
in his studies at this rate, he will be ready for the trials
very soon. That idea of his cherished student gaining his
Knighthood brought made his purposeful stride falter ever so
slightly.
What use will he have for such an aged companion as you once
he has achieved Knighthood? He did sigh out loud this time.
The Jedi Master had been trying to resolve this particular set
of insecurities through meditation and logical reasoning for
the past several months. He has no reason to choose you as
his intimate now, other than the truths that lie in his heart.
Obi-Wan is not a man to discard someone he loves in that
fashion. Qui-Gon Jinn tried hard not to be worried that his
strong, achingly beautiful student had never actually said that
particular word.
Their shared quarters were a study in Jedi efficiency. There
were two rooms, if one did not count the bathing facility.
Qui-Gon's room was by far the larger of the two, containing as
it did a reception area with seating for visitors, a dining
table and catering slot, as well as his sleeping area. His
student's small room was off to the side of the dining area.
He felt along their shared bond and deduced his padawan had
been sleeping for several hours, to judge by the deeply relaxed
pattern of his presence. Qui-Gon considered sighing a second
time. Instead, he stripped off his robes, deposited them neatly
in the laundry hamper and headed off for a well-deserved bath.
Lazily, the Jedi Master lounged in the steaming water, bubbles
up to his chin. This was a luxury he only indulged in when is
padawan could not see. After all, it was his duty to uphold
high standards to the boy; no use in showing him too-human
weaknesses and frailties. There were too many times when they
had to make do with far less. Still, hot water buoying him up
and soothing his sore muscles did relax him at the end of a
long day.
Obi-Wan woke slowly, not understanding why he was so cold. The
temperature inside the Temple was carefully moderated, as it
was everywhere on Coruscant. He usually slept comfortably naked
under a thin vegetable fiber blanket. He reached up to rub his
exposed arm and noted goose bumps. The chill he felt was too
strong to be ignored. Cursing softly, he got up to get an extra
blanket from the linen closet near the bathroom.
The first thing that surprised him was the light on in his
Master's room. Light, but no Master. Then he noticed light
seeping out from under the door of the bathroom itself. Hmmm.
No, he could sense no disturbances in the Force behind the
closed door. He opened it and stared in disbelief at the
incongruous sight of Master Qui-Gon Jinn afloat in a tub-full
of suds.
That's why I'm so cold! Obi-Wan crept forward to kneel
by the edge of the tub and test the water with his index
finger. It was all but icy. Qui-Gon's discomfort had not been
enough to wake the exhausted Master, but had summoned his
student through their link.
//Master... Master?// Obi-Wan tried to rouse his guardian
gently and slowly through their link. Waking a Jedi in a sudden
manner could have deleterious consequences. //Master, you have
to wake up. You're cold; you need to be in bed.//
Qui-Gon finally stirred. "Wha... Oh. How did I..."
"I think you fell asleep in the bath, Master." Obi-Wan's mind
touch relayed gentle amusement. Reaching for the toggle at the
foot of the tub, he set it to drain. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine. I'm sorry, I must have been more tired than I
thought. Thank you for coming to me, or I probably would have
slept here till morning." With a wry smile, Qui-Gon hauled
himself up and gracefully accepted the bath sheet his
apprentice handed him. He rubbed vigorously at his cold limbs
till he felt circulation might be restored.
When he was dry once more, he handed the towel back to the
waiting padawan. Stifling a yawn, he bid Obi-Wan good night and
all but fell into his own bed.
He pried his eyelids open one last time to register that his
apprentice was still standing over him, regarding him with a
raised eyebrow.
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