My website url: http://homes.arealcity.com/HiddenRealm/
Archive: By Master & Apprentice, my site, WWOMB and
SithChicks
Pairing: O/Other, Q/Other, O/Q
Category: Alternate Universe
Rating: NC-17 for the series; this episode rated NC-17
Disclaimer: Whereas the party of the first part is not George
Lucas and furthermore the party of the first part has no money
to speak of, the party of the second part will ignore this
inflammatory piece of work and carry on as usual.
Warning: None.
Summary: Obi-Wan, in his quest to be with his Master (or just
to find himself again, after having endured much abuse), meets
up with Xanatos again.
Notes: Does anyone NOT know of the great SF author, L. Sprague
DeCamp by now? Thanks (as always) to Beta Readers Par
Excellence Fox, HiperBunny and Emrin Alexander. A special thank
you to Bunny who allowed me to steal a very nice paragraph from
her. Okay, it was a gift. Whatever.
The room in which Obi-Wan arrived was dimly lit. Staggering, he
managed to sit instead of fall to the floor, panting a little
in reaction. He hadn't grounded himself well before making the
transfer and the nausea -- which hadn't troubled him for a long
time now -- was suppressed only with effort. That had been
close -- too close. But he still would have given a pound of
diamonds to see the look on Mace's face.
"What the. by the Force.?" The voice was soft and incredulous
and came from behind him.
// Oh shit. I'm inside. I completely forgot.// Struggling to
his feet, he turned, still gripping his 'saber tightly, ready
to flee or fight. Standing near a sofa that was bathed in the
light of a lamp, holding an old-fashioned book in one hand, was
Xanatos.
"Obi-Wan?" he breathed, his eyes huge. "It. it can't.you're
dead." Reaching behind himself, Xanatos grabbed hold of the arm
of the sofa, and held on. It appeared his knees wanted to give
out.
A sleepy child's voice came from off to the side, just out of
sight of where Obi-Wan stood. "Master?" With a start, Obi-Wan
realized it was Anakin. "Master, what was that noise? Is
everything all right?"
"Go back to bed, Anakin," Xanatos said firmly, not taking his
eyes from Obi-Wan. Carefully he put the book down on the sofa
and reached for his 'saber, which was on the table behind it.
"But."
"Now, Padawan. Everything's all right."
Obi-Wan heard the door close and he let out the breath he
hadn't realized he was holding. Xanatos had his 'saber in his
hand by then. "Who are you?" the dark-haired man asked softly.
"I am Obi-Wan Kenobi. I must be dead in this reality.
I'm sorry to have frightened you. I usually make the transfer
outside but there were. extenuating circumstances." Obi-Wan
kept his voice soft and neutral, and carefully clipped his
'saber to his back, making sure to move slowly and keep his
hands in sight. Equally slowly, he set his backpack on the
floor.
Xanatos swallowed heavily. His hand was trembling. "Obi-Wan
Kenobi is dead. Along with Qui-Gon Jinn. If I hadn't heard you.
and known there's no other way to enter this apartment."
"Xanatos," Obi-Wan said gently, "I am Obi-Wan Kenobi. From a
different. a different dimension. Reality. If. I am not the
Obi-Wan who died here, but I am Obi-Wan Kenobi. Let me sit down
with you. I can sit here, you can sit there. and I'll try to
explain."
"All. right." Xanatos seemed to be taking this very hard,
Obi-Wan thought.
Taking a deep breath, Obi-Wan launched into the story that had
become his life. Xanatos' eyes grew larger, then he frowned.
Eventually, he came to sit at the table with Obi-Wan. He stayed
quiet throughout, smiling slightly at some of the funny parts,
but never taking his eyes from Obi-Wan's face.
It had been late when Obi-Wan started; it was very late when he
finished. Xanatos' head rested on his hands; his lightsaber lay
forgotten, back on the table. Obi-Wan could not see his eyes --
they were hidden behind his hands -- but his posture radiated
sadness and pain. "I -- I don't usually just pop in like this,"
Obi-Wan finished softly. "Normally, I'd seek out Master Yoda
first; he's always the most receptive and can give me the
lowdown on the Temple. if I'm al. if I exist, for example. In
some, I do, some I don't. Some, Qui-Gon is there, others." he
shrugged.
After a few moments' silence, Xanatos finally spoke, his voice
raw with emotion. "You say your Qui-Gon died on Naboo."
"Yes," Obi-Wan said sadly. "He died in my arms, after asking me
to train Anakin."
"Here." voice choking, Xanatos looked up finally and met
Obi-Wan's eyes. "Here, you both died. Qui. he lived just long
enough to tell us it was some kind of a Sith monster. but you.
It sliced you in half." There were tears in the dark eyes that
looked at him across the table. "I lit the pyre that held you
both. Then I took Anakin as my Padawan learner. That was less
than two months ago."
"It's happened like that before," Obi-Wan confirmed softly.
"And sometimes both of us lived." Feeling the anguish rolling
off the other man in waves, Obi-Wan looked at him
sympathetically. "You. you must have been close to them. Were
you and Qui-Gon.?"
"Close? Yes. I guess we were." Slowly, Xanatos began to speak
of their relationship. "Qui-Gon and I were friends. Friendly
rivals. He became a Knight at about the time I became a Padawan
but he was Knighted young. there weren't many years between us.
Less than ten. My Master and he were friends, and we. we hung
out together. He used to tease me that he should have been my
Master instead of Master Apath'na, but we were too much alike.
It would have never worked.
"I was a Knight when Obi-Wan -- when you -- became eligible as
a Padawan. We both wanted you. so bright, so strong in the
Force, so beautiful." Obi-Wan found himself blushing at this
assessment, but the other man didn't notice. "Qui-Gon won you,
by dint of his age and experience, but I could hardly blame him
for that. The three of us were close, very close, but Obi.. but
you loved Qui. I just loved you."
Obi-Wan didn't know what to say to that gentle admission, so he
kept quiet. After a moment, Xanatos continued. "When you died,
when Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan died, a piece of me died too. I never
told you. Qui knew. We were too close for him not to know. But
he loved you so much, and." He faded off, wrenching his eyes
from Obi-Wan's to look around the room blindly. "Why are you
here? Are you some Force ghost sent to torment me? Because I
never told you how much you meant to me?" Burying his head in
his hands once more, Xanatos wept. It was obvious that his pain
was still new and harsh, still intense.
Bowing his head, Obi-Wan's shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry. The
Force sends me where it will. I'm just along for the ride. I--I
didn't mean to hurt you." After a few moments, Xanatos got
himself under control and stood to get a tissue. Obi-Wan
murmured, "I'll go down to the Knight's hall, find myself a
bed. I can always talk to Master Yoda in the morning, give him
the warnings I have."
"No. No, that's all right," Xanatos said, blowing his nose.
"It's late, there might not even be a bed available in the
hall, and anyway, you'd likely scare someone out of their wits.
Let me pull the sofa out; you can sleep here. It's all right."
"Are. are you sure?" Obi-Wan was hesitant to cause any more
pain than he already had, but Xanatos, his serenity firmly back
in place, was certain.
"Yes. I--I need tonight to sort out my feelings, and you can
see Master Yoda here tomorrow morning." He looked down at his
hands. "I can't believe. seeing you here, it's so."
"I know. I'm sorry." Standing, Obi-Wan stretched and yawned,
just realizing how tired he really was. And he was still
wearing the ridiculous silky tunics the last reality's Mace had
given him. Well, they might make good pajamas. Snorting with
sleepy amusement he glanced up to see Xanatos' sad, hungry eyes
on him.
"I'll get you a pillow and some covers," he said, leaving the
room to do just that. Obi-Wan watched him go, a thoughtful
frown on his face.
Obi-Wan slept fairly well, but woke early when Xanatos' door
opened. The dark-haired man stood in the doorway, clad in a
pair of loose sleep pants, and stared at the Knight who lay on
his sofa bed. It didn't look as if he had slept at all. "So it
wasn't a dream," Obi-Wan heard him mutter.
"No," Obi-Wan said softly, pushing the blanket down and sitting
up. "No, it wasn't. But I don't want to scare Anakin. Perhaps."
"I'll go talk to him," Xanatos said, crossing the apartment.
"Feel free to use the 'fresher."
Rising, Obi-Wan did so, emerging refreshed and dressed to find
Anakin sitting at the table with Xanatos. The boy's face was
stricken as he saw the young Knight. Obi-Wan knelt at his side,
touching his knee gently. "Are you all right, Ani?" he asked.
"Are you really Knight Kenobi?" Anakin asked, very near tears.
"I--I was there, I saw your body."
Gently, Obi-Wan hugged the boy, who burst into tears. "Yes,
Ani, I'm really Obi-Wan. I'm just not the Obi-Wan who died. Do
you understand?"
"Kinda," Anakin sniffed. "I-it means that Master Qui-Gon and
Obi-Wan won't really be coming back. And I can stay with Master
Xanatos." He smiled tremulously across at his Master, who
looked thoroughly abashed.
"Oh, Ani," Xanatos said, taking the boy's hand across the
table, "nothing could take you from me. I'm sorry if I gave you
that impression."
"That's okay, Master," Anakin said, wiping his eyes on his
sleeve and sitting back in his chair. Obi-Wan took the chair
across from Xanatos. "It's just. when I saw him."
"You got worried I was going to take you away, is that it?"
Obi-Wan asked, and Anakin nodded, looking down and turning red.
"I'm not. Don't worry about that. I'm only here for a little
while, Anakin; the Force is directing me, telling me where to
go."
"You can stay for a few days, can't you?" Surprisingly, this
wistful question came from Xanatos, and Obi-Wan looked at him
in surprise.
"I--I don't know, Xanatos. It all depends, I guess."
Xanatos took a shaky breath and looked again at his Padawan.
"As the Force wills, then," he whispered. Then, louder, he
said, "Let's break our fast. I'm sure Knight Kenobi is hungry
too, and luckily Ani and I brought home some fruit cakes
yesterday."
The day was filled for Obi-Wan after that. Yoda came to
Xanatos' apartment to meet with him, and between the three of
them they decided it would be best if Obi-Wan were not to go
out into the Temple. The story of the Sith and Palpatine was
met with amazement and anger, and Yoda immediately called for a
Council session, asking Obi-Wan to stay over a night to give
his testimony the next day. The aged Master was certain that
there would be a lot of debate over the revelation, and in fact
alluded to the possibility of a member of the Council working
for Palpatine.
Both Xanatos and Obi-Wan were taken aback at that. "Are you
certain, Master?" Xanatos asked incredulously.
"Certain I am not," Yoda nearly snarled, thumping his stick on
the carpet. "Suspicions only I have. But if proven suspicions
are--" here the little green Master's eyes narrowed-- "then
action will I take." He looked at the two Knights, his
gaze settling on Obi-Wan fondly. "Good it is to see you again,"
he said in his harsh voice. "Great loss to the Jedi it was,
death of my Padawan and his Padawan."
"You are lucky to have Xanatos, actually, Master," Obi-Wan
said, and when the other Knight gave him a sharp look, Obi-Wan
chuckled. "Remind me to tell you why," he finished.
Anakin came into the common room at that point. It was long
past lunchtime and they had already eaten; now Anakin was
carrying datapads and looking at the three Jedi diffidently.
"Master. I have classes.." he began.
Xanatos slapped his forehead. "And we've completely missed our
sparring session this morning, haven't we. I'm sorry Padawan,"
he said, holding one arm out. Anakin moved quickly to his side,
and Xanatos hugged the boy tightly. Obi-Wan smiled to see the
affection between the two of them.
"It's all right, Master," Anakin said, grinning. "You were
kinda busy. But I really do have to go to class now. Master
Chowin said there'll be a quiz today." Turning to Obi-Wan, he
gave the young Knight a tentative smile. "You'll still be here
when I come back, won't you?" he asked.
"Wild banthas couldn't drag me away, Ani," Obi-Wan said
sincerely. "I'll be here through tomorrow, at least, I can
guarantee you that."
"Good," Anakin said, a brilliant smile lighting his face.
Pulling away from his Master's embrace, he sketched a bow at
the three of them. "Excuse me now, Masters," he said, then was
off. Obi-Wan watched him go wistfully.
"Go too I must," Yoda said then, hopping from his chair at the
table. "Meet with Master Billaba and Master Poof I will, then
Council meeting I will attend." Turning his shrewd eyes on
Obi-Wan, he said, "Stay here you will? If need you I do, call
on you I will."
"Yes Master," Obi-Wan agreed, checking with Xanatos, who
nodded.
"Good. Call you I will, later." And then Obi-Wan and Xanatos
were alone.
"Well, I guess it's no good going to the gym," Xanatos said
wryly, standing and carrying dishes to the kitchenette.
Helping the other Knight, Obi-Wan chuckled. "No, and it's too
bad. I could use a work-out."
"Well.. we can't spar, but let's move the furniture aside and
do some katas." Setting the dirty dishes in the cleaner,
Xanatos carefully did not look directly at Obi-Wan. "That is,
if you want."
"That sounds fine, Xanatos," Obi-Wan said, handing him a plate.
"And I would like to hear more about where you've been. and
that remark you made.."
Obi-Wan laughed. "You're not going to like it. but sure. As we
work out."
The furniture was swiftly moved aside and both men stripped
down to leggings. As they warmed up, then moved into controlled
isometrics and slow katas, Obi-Wan began to talk. And talk. And
talk. For more than two hours, he told Xanatos of his travels.
By turns, Xanatos laughed and commiserated, gasped and froze in
shock. His questions were pointed and made Obi-Wan think about
things he hadn't noticed before.
Walking around in slow circles as they cooled off, Obi-Wan
wiped his face on a towel while Xanatos digested the
information. Finally flopping on the floor, Xanatos looked up
at the other man. "I. that's incredible. I turned? And
it sounds like I did because. because of."
"Because Qui-Gon was your Master," Obi-Wan finished for him,
quietly dropping into lotus at his side. "Yes. When Qui isn't
your Master, you're fine. In fact. in one universe, you were
his bondmate."
"That's the one where you were imprisoned," Xanatos said, and
Obi-Wan looked away.
"One of them," he muttered, flushing.
Xanatos started. When Obi-Wan colored, a network of lines
appeared on his face and chest; faint, but still discernable. A
vivid one ran over his left breast, and unthinking, Xanatos
reached a finger out to trace it. "What the hell.?" he said
softly.
Suppressing his first inclination, which was to jerk away,
Obi-Wan looked down at the hand that touched him and swallowed.
"That. that's the other time. When I was imprisoned."
Rolling to his side, Xanatos sat up, wrapping one arm around
his knee. "Tell me. What happened to you?"
"What's to tell?" Obi-Wan shrugged, but he wouldn't meet
Xanatos' eyes. "I was captured by. by the Sith. I was tortured.
I escaped. End of story."
Eyes narrowing, Xanatos said, "No, it's not. There's something
else. I sensed it from the start. You. you've been."
"It was Qui-Gon," Obi-Wan said softly. After a second, Xanatos'
eyes widened and he gasped.
"The Sith was Qui-Gon?"
"Yes."
"Gods." Releasing his knee, Xanatos flopped back to the floor
and studied the ceiling over his head. "How. Gods."
After a long moment, Obi-Wan stretched out beside Xanatos, his
hands behind his head, and slowly began speaking soft, clearly
well-thought-out words. Xanatos had to strain to hear him.
"Abuse is so much worse when it comes from someone you love, or
want to love, or want to love you, you know. It's the most
absolute betrayal, because. well, because it's aimed at your
soul, not at your body."
He took a breath. "It's relatively easy to distance yourself
from your body, from the flesh and bone being broken or torn or
cut. But when the very heart of you. when the thing you most
cherish is so treated, the damage is so. infinitely worse. It
takes a very strong person to truly heal from such a wound, and
even then. he needs. help."
Rolling to his side and propping his head up on his hand,
Xanatos regarded the other man. "Are you strong enough? Have
you had help?"
"Some," Obi-Wan answered, still staring at the ceiling. "It's
been a couple of months now, and things are going back to
normal." He snorted with amusement. "As normal as my life has
been lately, anyway. But I--I'm afraid, Xanatos. The Force has
promised me a home. what if I'm too damaged.not--not good
enough."
Reaching out his hand, Xanatos grabbed Obi-Wan's chin, firmly
turning the man's head towards him, forcing him to meet
Xanatos' eyes. "Stop that. I don't know what you've endured.
gods, I can't even imagine how you stayed sane. But the Obi-Wan
Kenobi I knew. the Obi-Wan Kenobi who lies before me. IS
worthy. IS good enough. Do NOT say that, Obi-Wan." As mild
emphasis, he gave the head he held a little shake. Obi-Wan saw
sympathy written all over the Knight's face, and realized
Xanatos was heartsick at the pain he saw in gray-green eyes.
Pain... and something else. Fear. Inhaling sharply, Xanatos
leaned closer, slowly, giving Obi-Wan every chance to back
away, to say no. Soft lips met, brushed against one another.
Pulling back a little, Xanatos looked back into Obi-Wan's eyes.
Yes, definitely fear. Fear and resolution.
"I've wanted you for so long." Xanatos whispered. "Share my bed
tonight, please. We won't do anything you don't want." Leaning
back down, he captured Obi-Wan's lips again, this time in a
stronger kiss that was so sweet. Obi-Wan didn't respond to it,
but didn't pull away either. Xanatos gently caressed the other
man's lips with his tongue, then pulled back slightly to kiss
his cheek and nuzzle further down -- his neck, his earlobe, any
place he could reach. The hand that had held his chin caressed
it and moved slowly south, stroking gently, reverently over
sweaty skin. Obi-Wan didn't move; indeed, he felt frozen into
place under the soft, gentle touches.
When Xanatos came back up to look into Obi-Wan's face again, he
saw the Knight's eyes staring at him, still filled with
conflicting emotions. "Xani," he whispered hoarsely, "I--I
don't know if I can."
Two fingers pressed to his lips. "Shhh," Xanatos murmured. "Let
me help you. Let me do this for you. for him. I never had the
chance. Let's just try. let me try to help you."
Swallowing, Obi-Wan nodded hesitantly. "All right. I."
Xanatos' head jerked up; he appeared to be listening to
something only he could hear. "Anakin's coming back," he said,
smiling slightly. "And I think he's bringing dinner." He smiled
again back down at Obi-Wan, a sweet, loving smile that tore at
the young Knight's heart. "Tonight. No fears, no worries."
Hesitantly, Obi-Wan nodded B then they both rose as the door
swished open, revealing a grinning Anakin. He bore a large box,
on top of which his dataslates balanced precariously. "I
brought your favorite, Master," he said. "I remember Master
Yoda saying Knight Kenobi shouldn't go out into the Temple, so
I brought home dinner."
"Anakin, you are a treasure," Xanatos laughed, relieving his
Padawan of the box and sniffing appreciatively. "Smells like
you got Obi-Wan's favorite too."
As they set the table, Anakin smiled and ducked his head. "Is
it? I--I don't really remember. I was with you for such a short
time."
"It's all right, Ani," Obi-Wan soothed. "I'll eat anything.
That's one of the first lessons you learn when you're a
Padawan. eat whatever is put before you."
"Even if it tries to escape your plate." Xanatos laughed in
agreement. At Anakin's shocked expression, both Knights
laughed.
"Um, Master." Anakin started, his eyes practically bugging out.
"Don't worry about it Ani," Xanatos said, ruffling his brush
cut. "You won't be out in the field for a few years yet. Plenty
of time to get used to the idea."
Examining the food on his plate suspiciously, Anakin merely
grimaced.
During dinner, Obi-Wan amused Anakin with tales from some of
the odder realities he had visited, then helped the boy with
his homework while Xanatos did some of his own work at the
dataset and listened, smiling. Soon enough, it was time for
Anakin to retire, and he hugged both Xanatos and Obi-Wan good
night as he went in to sleep.
Standing from the desk, Xanatos stretched, then walked over to
where Obi-Wan sat on the sofa. The younger Knight was very
still, watching Xanatos approach through lowered lashes.
Swallowing, Xanatos held out his hand, proud of the fact that
it didn't tremble. "Come with me?" he asked softly, holding his
breath for the answer.
After a moment, Obi-Wan's hand, which was definitely trembling,
came up to take it, and he stood. Slowly, Xanatos led him to
the bedroom, walking backwards and never taking his eyes from
Obi-Wan's. Then they were alone in the privacy of the room,
standing together near the bed. Xanatos indicated Obi-Wan's
backpack and said, "You can have first dibs on the 'fresher, if
you want. I'm just going to change for bed."
Nodding jerkily, Obi-Wan picked up his pack and disappeared
into the 'fresher to change. He regarded his face in the mirror
sadly, wondering if this was a good idea. // Am I ready for
this? // he wondered, then decided to let the Force decide.
Closing his eyes, he centered himself to the best of his
ability and attempted to merely live in the moment.
When he emerged from the 'fresher, Xanatos flashed him a quick
smile and took his place. Gingerly, Obi-Wan perched on the edge
of the bed, the cool air of the room giving the skin of his
chest goosebumps. Shortly, Xanatos came back, like Obi-Wan
dressed in a pair of sleep pants. He paused, sensing the
nervousness in the other man, then moved to sit near him. "Why
don't you lie down. I'll give you a massage."
Nodding without words, Obi-Wan scooted up on the bed and
stretched out on his belly, his arms folded under his forehead.
From the 'fresher, Xanatos retrieved a bottle of unscented oil
and coated his hands before starting on the muscular shoulders
before him.
Ruthlessly suppressing his need and attraction, Xanatos
concentrated on giving the best massage he could. As he worked,
augmenting his strength here and there with the Force, he
gradually felt Obi-Wan relax. As a particularly hard knot under
his left shoulder blade finally eased, he groaned softly in
relief, and Xanatos smiled.
Working his way down the lovely body before him, Xanatos kept
rubbing as impersonally as he could. When he reached the swell
of Obi-Wan's buttocks, the other man barely hesitated before
lifting his hips enough for Xanatos to remove his sleep pants.
First on the left, then on the right, Xanatos rubbed his way
down the strong legs to the feet and back up again. He could
feel the nervousness and tension ease bit by bit, and smiled
again.
Leaning forward, he whispered into Obi-Wan's ear. "I need you
to roll over so I can do your shoulders." His eyes closed, his
body nearly boneless, Obi-Wan merely nodded and turned over. As
Xanatos worked on his shoulders, chest and neck, he glanced
down at the man's genitals. Obi-Wan was half-erect, and as
Xanatos moved down his shoulders to fondle each arm and hand --
even to the individual fingers -- he watched the organ fill
slowly to full hardness.
Eyes. Xanatos looked up and saw Obi-Wan's eyes on him. There
was no anxiety present any more; the massage appeared to have
helped the young Knight center. Glancing down, Xanatos
whispered, "Do you want me to?"
"Yes," was the soft reply.
Xanatos took his time, massaging his way down Obi-Wan's chest
and hips, finally stroking his upper thighs, gently urging them
apart. With slow movements, he settled between the other man's
legs, delicately fondling his testicles and running one finger
up the hard length. Obi-Wan gasped and slightly arched, which
relieved and encouraged Xanatos. Leaning forward, he delicately
lapped at the head of the lovely phallus, then slowly, slowly
swallowed him whole.
Obi-Wan's breathing grew harsher as the warm suction started.
Oh gods. it felt so good. better than he could ever remember it
being. Perhaps it had been so long, perhaps it was the sheer
gentleness and sweetness with which Xanatos was loving him. His
fists wrapped themselves in the bedclothes in an effort to
avoid thrusting in that warm mouth.
Reveling in the unconscious noises Obi-Wan was making, Xanatos
let his hand drift down to pump his own shaft, which was hard
and leaking over the joy of finally doing this to the man he
had wanted for so long. Maintaining slow, gentle suction,
Xanatos kept it up until he felt the tension build in Obi-Wan.
Then he pressed his thumb against the other man's perineum and
deep-throated him. With a strangled scream, Obi-Wan came,
pulsing into Xanatos' mouth and down his throat in streams of
bitter fluid. The ecstasy flowing off the man pushed Xanatos
over the edge and he came as well, whimpering and spasming,
into the bed clothes. But his mouth never left Obi-Wan's cock,
milking it dry tenderly.
Gradually, both men came back to full consciousness. Xanatos
stretched out beside Obi-Wan, gently draping one arm across his
chest. The other man turned to him, amazed joy in his eyes
replacing the pain and fear. "Thank you," he murmured.
Smiling gently, Xanatos leaned over to kiss him. To the
surprise of both of them, Obi-Wan deepened the kiss, hesitantly
touching his tongue to Xanatos' lips, then caressing his mouth.
Xanatos moaned, just barely able to refrain from diving in and
ravishing the sweet mouth under his. Obi-Wan seemed to sense
this, for he smiled as he turned his head and body and
increased the intensity of the kiss and their body contact.
They kissed and fondled each other for a little while, with
increasing heat, until Xanatos broke with a gasp and moaned,
"Oh... I want you inside me so badly..."
To his surprise, Obi-Wan's cock leapt at that idea. Shakily, he
murmured, "Roll over."
His head snapping up, Xanatos looked at Obi-Wan, hope and
trepidation warring on his aristocratic features. "Are. are you
sure? I don't want to do anything."
"I'm sure." Obi-Wan took a deep breath, then kissed Xanatos
tenderly. "I want to. Let me try, at least."
"Oh, yes," Xanatos breathed, then quickly rolled over, lifting
and spreading his legs, wrapping his arms around a pillow.
Obi-Wan gasped at the beautiful sight before him, caressing the
soft skin tenderly.
He took his time preparing and opening Xanatos, relishing the
noises the other man made and enjoying the sheer pleasure of
being aroused and with a lover. By the time he knelt behind
Xanatos and began pressing his penis into the other man's body,
Xanatos was a wreck, trembling and gasping in arousal, his cock
leaking.
With each thrust, Obi-Wan found himself purging a memory. He
pushed deeply into Xanatos, making the other man cry out at the
intensity, and he remembered the golden-eyed monster pushing a
stun-rod up inside him and igniting it. Pulling out, he slammed
back in, remembering how he had been made to orgasm in pain as
the monster tore into his rectum. Another thrust, this time
softer, nudging Xanatos' prostate, and he remembered Kyratos --
a female version of the man beneath him -- lying in a bloody
heap while he was powerless to help her.
Tears were rolling down his face and he was oblivious to them.
All he could feel was the sensation of being tightly clasped by
the loving body he was thrusting into. With a low wail, Xanatos
came, and the spasming muscles around Obi-Wan's cock took him
over the edge as well, replacing the evil memories with the
warmth of a gentle, loving coupling.
He collapsed, weeping, and Xanatos struggled to put aside his
own boneless satiation to hold him tightly, turning them so
that Obi-Wan was nestled against him. He patted the other man
softly, making soothing noises as Obi-Wan wept out his anguish,
trembling.
Gradually, Obi-Wan stopped shaking and weeping and clasped the
other man to himself. Wrapped together, each holding tightly to
dreams of better times, they slept.
It was Master Apath'na, Xanatos' old Master.
Obi-Wan knew the moment he stepped into the Council chamber,
Xanatos close beside him. The two men had awakened together,
still tightly holding on, and had made love again, slowly.
Obi-Wan was astonished to find himself falling in love with
Xanatos, and felt pain over the fact that they would have to
part.
But when he stepped into the Council chamber, a wave of
darkness swept over him so that he staggered. Xanatos took his
hand, unobtrusively shoring him up, and shot him a puzzled
look, but Obi-Wan merely shook his head slightly.
It didn't take long for Obi-Wan to determine the nexus of the
darkness. He remembered Master Apath'na only slightly from his
own Temple, remembering him as someone easily forgotten. In
this Temple, he sat on the Council, and everything Obi-Wan said
he disagreed with, fought over. Yoda kept shooting Obi-Wan
glances, which the young Knight intercepted with equanimity.
After much debate, for Master Apath'na had his own supporters,
Yoda banged his stick on the floor, calling for silence.
"Pointless, is more debate on this. Proof stands before us." he
said, then was rudely interrupted by Apath'na.
"Don't be an idiot, Yoda," the man said, and Xanatos' hand --
still clasping Obi-Wan's -- tightened. "There's any number of
reasons for this -- this man -- to be here. He could be a
clone, he could be."
"My Master," Xanatos said diffidently, bowing to the man that
had raised him. "I can assure you. I've spent time with
Obi-Wan, and he is."
"Bah. You've always held a soft spot for the man, Xanatos,"
Apath'na sneered. "Look at you. You wouldn't know your own nose
at this point. You've probably already bedded him. I always
said you thought with your cock."
The chamber went silent in shock at those words, and Apath'na
seemed to realize he had overstepped his bounds finally and
flushed. The darkness flowing off the man was palpable and
Obi-Wan couldn't understand why no one else in the room sensed
it.
Finally he spoke up on his own behalf. "Masters. I assure you,
I am Obi-Wan Kenobi, from a different reality. I know Master
Yoda has spoken to you a bit of my travels, but there are
things he doesn't know. I -- I have intimate experience with
darkness. I was taken by it and was nearly subverted by it. But
the Force is my anchor, as is love, and I was able to resist."
He shot a look at Xanatos and both smiled.
"But because of my experience, I can feel it so well. and I
can't imagine why none of you can feel the darkness swirling
around here, in this very chamber." A babble of voices then,
and Yoda had to thump his stick again for silence.
"Hard to see, the dark side is," Yoda said softly, his eyes
fastened on Obi-Wan's. "But once seen, once tasted, forever
will it dominate your destiny. Lucky we are, that hurt by it
you were. Recognize it in us, you can now."
"Not in you, Master," Obi-Wan said softly, then turned,
deliberately, to Master Apath'na.
After a moment in which the man's mouth opened and closed
soundlessly, he managed to speak. "Wh--what are you. how dare
you. I don't know what."
"Master Apath'na, what did he promise you?" Obi-Wan asked
gently. "I'm sure he made threats as well, didn't he? Don't you
know that all he says is lies?"
The man had gone absolutely white, furiously trembling,
incapable of speech. Hastily trying to slam shields around the
room, Obi-Wan found them already in place. and looked at Master
Yoda gratefully.
"Master Apath'na," Yoda intoned. "Relieved of duty, you are.
Investigate this we."
"NO!" The man surged from his seat, igniting his 'saber and
charging at Obi-Wan. Before the Knight could even blink,
though, Xanatos was there, his own dark violet blade clashing
with his Master's yellow one inches from Obi-Wan.
"Master. please, don't do this." Xanatos begged, pushing the
other man back. "We can help, please."
But Apath'na was beyond reason. Frothing, he broke the hold and
began slashing at his former apprentice. Hoping to prevent the
inevitable, Obi-Wan ignited his own 'saber and moved behind
Apath'na, trying to take him down without Xanatos having to
kill him.
But Yoda was already there. Hopping down from his chair, he
limped over to the combatants and with a look, froze Apath'na
in place. The Council Guards broke in at that moment, and
disarmed the man. Xanatos fell into Obi-Wan's arms, his face
stricken.
It was just after dawn, two days later. Obi-Wan and Xanatos lay
entwined together on Xanatos' bed; both knew that this would be
the day that Obi-Wan would leave, and neither wanted to
officially start the day.
They had made love many times in the two days, and Obi-Wan felt
sometimes as though he could lose himself in Xanatos' body.
Although he still could not bring himself to allow the other
man into his own body, he felt almost normal again.
"Anakin's up," Xanatos finally murmured into Obi-Wan's ear. He
was stroking the long tawny hair, memorizing the feel of the
man in his arms. "We. I guess we should too."
Nuzzling Xanatos' neck and dark hair, Obi-Wan made a
noncommittal noise. It had been a busy couple of days for other
reasons too. Apath'na had been interrogated and the long,
painful process of turning him back to the light had begun.
Xanatos had needed the intimacy and presence from the other man
to help offset the horror at what his old Master had become.
"We both need a shower," Obi-Wan finally murmured, and Xanatos
chuckled. "Xani. let me just go this morning. I -- I don't want
to."
"No. I'm going with you to the garden and that's final,"
Xanatos said. "I know you don't want to say goodbye, but. I
need it, Obi. Just let me do that."
Sighing, Obi-Wan nodded. "All right. But there's something I
need to say to you first."
"What?" Leaning back, Xanatos made eye contact and found
himself drowning in the gray-green regard.
"If I could, if I thought for one second the Force would let
me, I would stay here," Obi-Wan said slowly. "I love you, Xani.
And I wish I didn't have to leave."
Eyes filling with tears, Xanatos kissed him gently. "I love you
too, Obi. But you have a Qui-Gon to find. You've let me say
good-bye and I can't thank you enough for that. You'll find
your home, Obi. You will."
Smiling wryly through his tears, Obi-Wan said, "I know. And
now, I know I'll be able to face that home. Thanks to you. Be
happy, Xani."
"I -- I'll try. I'll do my best. You too, Obi," Xanatos said,
kissing Obi-Wan and swiping at his tears. "Let's go get that
shower. You'll need a good breakfast to go gallivanting among
the realities."
"All right." He knew the other man was trying for a light
hearted approach and smiled. Soon, he would gather his
backpack, move to his favored sheltered spot and disappear. But
until then, he would bask in the love here, in this reality,
with this man, the man he was not destined to be with but whom
he nonetheless loved with all his heart.
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