Later that day, after yet another futile attempt at full meditation in one of the Temple gardens, he bumped into his elusive apprentice… literally.
It is a well-known law in physics that energy is always conserved. In this case, most of the energy that had come from a young body at full speed was returned to said body, causing it to bounce back and tumble to the floor.
"Oof…"
"Padawan?" Qui-Gon's voice was serene as ever, but Obi-Wan could glimpse a little annoyance in those stern blue eyes.
"Master." Obi-Wan replied neutrally after scrambling stiffly back to his feet, wincing a little as he did so. "I'm very sorry for running in to you."
"Which part of the Temple is on fire?" Qui-Gon inquired deadpan.
"Master?" The Padawan looked nonplussed.
"Why are you running as if a herd of bantha's is chasing you?" Qui-Gon said, perhaps a bit too sharp. He was already on edge because of the bad feeling and acquiring some bruises did nothing to calm him down.
Slightly impatient, the Master reached over their training bond to better gauge the air of jitteriness around his apprentice.
It was like slamming headlong into a brick wall. Well make that durasteel. Triply reinforced.
"That's quite some heavy-duty shielding you have put up there, Padawan…" He peered intently into his Padawan's green-blue eyes.
No matter how hard Obi-Wan blocked his mind, no matter how talented he was in keeping an expressionless face and impassive voice, those expressive eyes always betrayed him to his master. And what they told of now startled Qui-Gon. Guilt. The boy felt guilty and uneasy, although he was hiding it admirably.
"Very well…" Qui-Gon sighed. "What did you do this time?"
The brief flash of hurt in green-blue eyes should have alerted the Master, but at that time Qui-Gon only felt increasingly grouchy.
"Come on, speak up, boy!" He stood up straight, his arms akimbo, inadvertently and unknowingly creating a very imposing stance.
Obi-Wan gulped audibly. "I… I can't tell you, Master…"
One of Qui-Gon's eyebrows quirked.
In a mere whisper, Obi-Wan said: "I'm sorry, Master, but please don't order me to tell you…"
Qui-Gon's other eyebrow joined the first. Obi-Wan would tell him if he ordered him to; the boy could not disobey a direct command from his Master. But the heavy shielding and the reluctance to speak up convinced Qui-Gon that this matter should preferably be discussed within the privacy of their quarters.
Suddenly a voice spoke up from behind Qui-Gon.
" I know what Oafy… Obi-Wan did!"
It was another Padawan, Bruck Chun if Qui-Gon's memory served him right, and he looked decidedly smug.
Obi-Wan tried to give the other boy a death-glare without his Master noticing. Unfortunately, it was intercepted by Qui-Gon, who send back a silent frown of his own that plainly told his apprentice he would be in so much trouble for this.
"Well, please enlighten me, Padawan Chun." Qui-Gon answered politely.
"Well, Master Jinn,…" Bruck drawled, very pleased with himself "He provoked a fight with a fellow Padawan, and then –after hurting the other- he just ran off, leaving the other lying there…"
Qui-Gon was extremely irritated now, though he was not entirely sure if it was because of his bad feeling, his padawan's alleged actions or Bruck's far too smug face. He favoured his Padawan with one of his sternest stares, causing the boy to cower slightly in anticipation of his punishment.
Yet Qui-Gon did not realise that having disappointed his Master by itself was a far more severe punishment for his insecure Padawan than any amount of dull chores, meditation exercises or ground arrest could ever be. Obi-Wan saw the disappointment clearly written in his master's tired blue eyes, and he felt less than 1 inch tall. His heart constricted painfully.
"Is that true, Padawan?" Qui-Gon said softly.
Obi-Wan seemed to hesitate a bit at first, and this only made Qui-Gon more certain he had to be severely punished. One does not purposefully injure a fellow padawan, never mind even considering to lie to their master… At least, if Bruck's story was true. He was still willing to give Obi-Wan the advantage of the doubt.
His padawan's eyes peered up at him from under his lashes, usually of vibrant green and blue hues, now a murky grey, hurt and sadness swirling within their depths.
Qui-Gon suddenly felt as if he had kicked a puppy and his heart mellowed somewhat.
"It's true. I am sorry, Master…" Obi-Wan whispered and lowered his eyes to stare intently at the tips of his boots.
The icy wall around Qui-Gon's heart slammed back full force.
"Go back to our quarters and clean them thoroughly… And no cleaning droids! Then you will meditate on this. I don't want to see you again before tomorrow morning."
Obi-Wan winced, but not because of the physical punishment. He would gladly have cleaned the entire temple if it would have avoidede Master Qui-Gon being disappointed with him.
"Yes, Master." Obi-Wan bowed formally to his master and Bruck, the latter watching ever so gleefully, and quickly left for their quarters, feeling as he though was dragging along a great heavy stone in his stomach.
"Well, good evening, Master Jinn…" Bruck also took his leave.
"Good evening…" Qui-Gon mumbled distractedly as he tried to catch another glimpse of his apprentice.
Had the boy just limped away?
But his padawan had already disappeared around a corner and the stray thought soon fled with him.