Obi-Wan Kenobi woke beside his Master on the small transport that carried them. He was nuzzled up against the older man's chest, enveloped in his thick, strong arms. He felt happy and warm and safe, three things he knew were foolish to feel while off on a mission.
Half-asleep and tangled in the limbs of his beloved, however, there was nothing that could go wrong. Life was good. Soon they would meet with the representatives from the Trade Federation. Once this trade dispute was sorted, they would have almost a week to spend on Naboo before their ride back to Coruscant would be ready.
He snuggled in closer to his Master, planting a sleepy kiss on his smooth, broad pectoral. It was only then that Qui-Gon Jinn stirred, blinking hard before yawning and tightening his grip on his Padawan.
"It's still early," he murmured.
"We'll be arriving soon," his Padawan replied. Both men sighed. Qui-Gon pressed a lazy kiss into the younger man's hair before releasing him so at least one of them could begin to get ready for the day.
Their mission was important, after all. The people of Naboo were starving and dying because of the Trade Federation's blockade. The Jedi Council, indeed even Supreme Chancellor Valorum himself believed Jinn and Kenobi to be the wisest choice in who to send.
Obi-Wan had been flattered. Qui-Gon, on the other hand, was less than convinced.
As his Padawan slipped into the fresher, Qui-Gon sat up and inched his way to the edge of the bed. Stretching and yawning, he looked around the room. Their clothing was scattered across just about every surface in their tiny cabin. A small smile found its way to Qui-Gon's face as he remembered all that had led up to the mess they now had to clean up.
Always so eager, Obi-Wan is, he thought as he slowly pushed himself to his feet. Every joint between his ankles and his hips snapped, crackled, or popped as he stood. He was thankful his Padawan was in the midst of cleaning himself and had not heard that.
He collected every piece of clothing they had discarded in their haste to get to the bed the night before and folded it neatly. It wouldn't reflect well on the Order if they left the cabin looking like a war zone. He pretended not to hear the fresher door hiss open, instead focusing on the memories that each article of clothing he picked up roused in him.
"Shouldn't you be getting dressed, Master?" Obi-Wan asked, tapping his boot against the floor. Qui-Gon didn't need to turn around to see the way the boy was posed. Arms folded across his chest, one hip jutted out, opposite foot tap-tap-tapping away. It was a pose he'd found himself in quite a few times while waiting for the boy to finish doing something foolish.
"Someone's got to clean this place up. Besides, I can't rightly go into these negotiations caked in yesterday's sweat," Qui-Gon replied as he turned to face him. Obi-Wan's cheeks were flushed and he was clearly trying to avert his gaze. Qui-Gon couldn't help but grin.
"Come now, Obi-Wan. How many times have you seen me this way and still you blush."
"Give me time, Master," Obi-Wan said. Qui-Gon closed the gap between them and kissed him chastely before sauntering into the fresher.
"All the time you need," he said as he closed the door. Obi-Wan's blush deepened as he went and sat at the edge of the bunk they'd shared the night before. Qui-Gon was broadcasting hazy memories through their training bond, memories that made Obi-Wan's breath catch in his throat and his pants tighten.
He loved how deliberate his Master was. From the moment that they had confessed their love for one another, he had made it incredibly clear that he desired Obi-Wan and only Obi-Wan. The love his Master had for him radiated off of him in delicious waves.
What a devious man Qui-Gon Jinn was. Obi-Wan found himself viewing the world through his Master's eyes quite suddenly, feeling the sensations his master felt as well. Obi-Wan shivered and cried out as Qui-Gon came, sharing the sensation with the younger man through their Force bond.
As Obi-Wan settled back into his own head, he realized he would have to change his pants. It took him a few minutes to catch his breath. Qui-Gon always knew how to show him something more intense than he could imagine. It almost seemed like it was a game to him.
If it was a game, Obi-Wan was content to let his Master win.
He composed himself and quickly changed his pants before Qui-Gon exited the fresher. He made brief eye contact with the younger man as he finished dressing himself. The tiny flash of a grin was all Obi-Wan needed to see to know that his Master was pleased with what he'd managed while cleaning himself.
"I thought you would scold me for wasting a clean pair of trousers," Obi-Wan said, only half teasing his Master.
Qui-Gon opened his mouth to reply, but it was at that exact moment that the captain of the ship came across the loudspeaker. "Master Jinn, sir. We are approaching the Federation blockade."
Obi-Wan Kenobi fell into stride a few steps behind his Master as they headed for the cockpit. As they entered the tiny cockpit, both Jedi put up their hoods to obscure their faces from any possible outgoing transmissions.
"Captain," Qui-Gon said as he looked out the viewport at the blockade ships. "Tell them we wish to board at once."
"Yes sir." The captain, a young human obviously rather eager to work with the Jedi, flipped a couple of switches on the control panel in front of them to turn on the holoscreen. "With all due respect, the ambassadors for the Supreme Chancellor wish to board at once."
"Yes, of course. As you know, our blockade is perfectly legal. And we'd be happy to receive the ambassadors."
The Captain and their co-pilot maneuvered the ship into a small docking bay on the nearest Trade Federation ship.
"Thank you for your assistance, Captain. We should not be too long," Qui-Gon said as they turned to debark. The sooner they got on with these negotiations, the sooner they could leave.
"Of course, Master Jinn. We are always happy to help the Jedi."
If he had known that would be the last time he would address their brave captain, Qui-Gon might've been more appreciative.
They were pointed in the direction of a set of blast doors as they exited their ship, and once on the other side of the blast doors they found themselves face-to-face with a protocol droid.
"I am TC-14 at your service. This way, please," said the protocol droid. The Jedi followed as the droid led them to a conference room not far from the hangar where their ship waited. As they entered, the droid continued. "We are greatly honored by your visit, ambassadors. Make yourselves comfortable. My master will be with you shortly."
With that, the droid turned and left. As the door hissed shut behind it, both Jedi removed their hoods with one swift flick of their wrists.
"I have a bad feeling about this," Obi-Wan said immediately. Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow.
"I don't sense anything," he replied.
"It's not about the mission, Master. It's something elsewhere… Elusive."
"Don't center on your anxieties, Obi-Wan. Keep your concentration here and now, where it belongs," Qui-Gon said as he made his way toward the long table at the center of the room. Obi-Wan followed close behind.
"But Master Yoda said I should be mindful of the future," Obi-Wan said.
"But not at the expense of the moment. Be mindful of the Living Force, my young Padawan," Qui-Gon corrected him as he looked out the large viewport on the far end of the room. Naboo was a positively stunning planet with its vibrant mixture of greens and blues.
"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan said, feeling thoroughly chastised. After a short pause, he asked, "How do you think this Trade Viceroy will deal with the Chancellor's demands?"
"These Federation types are cowards," Qui-Gon said. "The negotiations will be short."
For a long moment, the two Jedi stood in silence and admired the beautiful planet they were orbiting. Soon, Qui-Gon thought, soon we will be down there without a care in the galaxy. He couldn't wait to spend some quality time with his Padawan. From the excitement he could feel radiating off of Obi-Wan, he guessed that he wasn't the only eager one.
They turned and made their way back to the end of the table closest to the door and sat down. No sense in standing around waiting.
"Is it in their nature to make us wait this long?" Obi-Wan asked just before the door hissed open, revealing the protocol droid. It was carrying a tray with drinks on it now.
"No. I sense an unusual amount of fear over something as trivial as this trade dispute," replied Qui-Gon as they each took a glass from the tray the droid held. Obi-Wan sniffed the drink before lifting it to his lips. It seemed to be water, but it had a strange, not entirely pleasant aftertaste.
"You don't think they're afraid of us, do you Master?" Obi-Wan asked. Qui-Gon shook his head.
"I wouldn't doubt it," he said.
"They won't try anything—" Obi-Wan didn't have a chance to get the entire sentence out before an explosion rocked the ship. Both Jedi were on their feet at once, their lightsabers ignited and at the ready.
For a long moment all was silent, before the sudden, telltale hiss hit Qui-Gon's ears. "Dioxis!" he exclaimed before taking a deep breath of clean air. His Padawan did the same as they both powered down their lightsabers. Through meditation and self-discipline, they would be able to hold their breath for far longer than the average human might be able to. With the aid of the Force, all things were possible.
All they needed to do now was wait.