Title: The Secret Lives of Jedi
Author: The Musical Jedi
Timeframe: Right after TPM
Characters: Qui-Gon Jinn, Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi
Genre: Humor
Author's Notes: AU. Written for the Holiday Gift Exchange at TF.N for Quigonjecca. Her requests: 1. Qui-Gon still being alive 2. Qui-Gon and Ani playing a prank on Obi-Wan that Qui-Gon and Ani find extremely funny 3. Anakin's first lifeday at the Temple.
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A quiet evening, Qui-Gon thought with relish, is something that I don't indulge in often enough. With an uncharacteristic sigh of contentment, the Jedi Master settled onto the worn couch in his sitting room, a cup of Dejavaric tea balanced on a saucer in one hand, and a reader with the latest story from the Rogue Jedi Knights! series in the other.
It was then a chime sounded throughout his quarters, announcing a visitor.
Grumbling quietly to himself a few choice Corellian phrases, Qui-Gon deposited his tea and reader on the end table, stalked across the room, and angrily palmed open the door, reflecting not for the first time how much more effective flinging open an old fashioned door would be.
Anakin stood in the doorway looking uncertain as Qui-Gon's expression suddenly shifted from thunderous to something more inviting. "M-master Qui-Gon?" he asked, blue eyes wide with concern.
"Anakin! Come in! I was just wishing I had someone to spend the evening with," Qui-Gon replied, ushering the young Padawan. "Would you like some tea?"
Anakin shook his head slowly, moving into Qui-Gon's sitting room. The boy looked concern, a shadown crossing his normally exuberant face. The older Jedi herded Anakin over to the couch, where he stashed his reader in a drawer in the end table. Anakin sat himself on the couch and curled up, peering over his knees at the Rogue.
Qui-Gon studied him for a moment as he reached for his tea before Anakin, biting his lip, asked, "Qui-Gon, has Obi-Wan ever had any fun?"
Sputtering on his tea, Qui-Gon broke into coughing, and it took him a few minutes before he managed to completely clear his trachea of the offending liquid. "While I admit Obi-Wan tends to be rather serious, he does subscribe to his own unique brand of amusement."
"But not like a normal person?
Qui-Gon smiled kindly. "It depends on what you mean, Anakin. What's troubling you?"
Anakin began to clean his nails, hesitating to meet the older man's gaze. "Well, my first Life Day here at the Temple is coming up, and Master Obi-Wan mentioned doing something special because I've been having problems adjusting to my new life." He paused, biting his lip again. "I know I'm not supposed to want to, but I was hoping maybe I could see Mom," he finished in a small voice, peeking up at Qui-Gon.
Qui-Gon took a long draught from his tea then set the cup on its saucer. He then turned to regard Anakin. "I think you already have your answer, Ani," he replied gently. "If you know you're not supposed to, then why are you asking?"
Anakin placed his head on his knees, his eyes dropping to his feet. "I – I guess I didn't realize it would be so hard, going from being a slave to being a Padawan. I haven't made many friends, and I was just thinking – well, hoping – that…" His shoulders lifted briefly, finishing his sentence for him.
Reaching over to place a hand on Anakin's shoulder, Qui-Gon waiting until the Padawan looked up at him. "I know that this is difficult for you. Becoming a Jedi is a long, painful road with many sacrifices. But you must learn to shoulder your responsibilities and let go of the things that you want – that you think you need – to reach your full potential." Wordlessly, Anakin nodded, his eyes shifting away again, and Qui-Gon saw the sheen of tears in them. "What does this have to do with Obi-Wan having fun?"
"Well, I asked him about Mom, and he lectured me about duty and putting aside emotion. I just wondered," a small smile twitched at the corner of Anakin's mouth, "if Obi-Wan experienced any emotions besides duty and commitment to the Jedi."
Qui-Gon buried his face in his teacup to hide his own smile. "Your Master is very devoted to your training," was the only diplomatic response that came to mind.
"I know."
At that, Qui-Gon gave Anakin a true smile. "Why don't you let me think on it, and perhaps I can give Obi-Wan some ideas as to what to do for your first Life Day."
The chime rang again in the apartment. Qui-Gon excused himself to answer, this time to find his former Padawan standing in the door looking somewhat flustered. "Master, I was just looking – Ah, Anakin!" Obi-Wan walked into the apartment to stand before his Padawan.
"I was thinking maybe you wanted to get some balance practice in before dinner," Obi-Wan said. Qui-Gon could hear the coax in the Jedi Knight's voice; in his own way, Obi-Wan was trying to make up for his earlier lecture. On the other hand, judging from the look on Anakin's face, he could tell what it sounded like to Anakin: if you're a good little Padawan and do your katas, you can have dessert tonight. Did I ever sound like that? the older man wondered.
Anakin glanced at Qui-Gon, and the Jedi Master could see the shift in his face as he thought about reaching his full potential versus what he really wanted to do. "Could we work with the practice lightsabers afterwards?" Anakin asked, looking hopeful at what he considered a compromise.
"Perhaps," Obi-Wan replied, favoring Anakin with a smile. Anakin, however, clearly thought the odds were as good as an intergalactic ice-carving contest being held on Tatooine.
"Obi-Wan, would you mind if Anakin and I had dinner tomorrow?" Qui-Gon felt a surge of pity for the Padawan. Anything to help Anakin adjust to life in the Jedi Temple would make life easier for him in the long run. Growing up in the crèche was hard enough – growing up somewhere else and then coming to the Temple was unheard of.
"Of course, Master." Obi-Wan collected a somewhat sullen Anakin for their katas.
Qui-Gon resumed his place on his couch. Of course, there are worse things, he mused as he pulled out his reader. I'll take Obi-Wan's katas over Yoda's biker bars any day.