Chapter 3
"There are an awful many beds in this room." Qui-Gon noted, as one of the staff led them upstairs.
"Yes sir, this is one room of two where the children sleep."
"Do you mean to say that my son will no be bunking with me?"
"Well no. The children like it, it's like a sleep away for them, and it gives the fathers a chance for privacy."
Obi-wan tried to think of onions and smoke and sad things to fill his eyes with tears. He grabbed Qui-gon's tunic and clutched it for all he was worth. "Papa, I..." was all he got out before his throat closed. /I have a bad feeling about this Master. They are trying to separate us on purpose/
/As do I Padawan. But it may be the only way to find out what they're doing./ In front of the staff member he frowned and looked down at his charge. Thank the force Obi-wan was acting, because if he was forced to look upon that sad face often...
"I would really prefer my son to stay with me." Qui-gon stated powerfully, but refrained from using a force suggestion.
"I'm sorry, sir" their guide Shasue responded, "but it's resort policy. If we make one exception..."
"Yes, of course. I understand." Obi-wan pressed closer into his side, trembling slightly.
"I want to go home, papa." Qui-Gon sighed and looked down at the boy wishing he was as good an actor as his apprentice. Prying smaller hands from his tunics and stepping back a bit from the boy.
"My Ben. It will be fine, I promise. Do you really want to go home? We've been looking forward to this trip for quite some time haven't we?"
"Yes, Da" came the quiet response.
Qui-gon lifted Obi-wan's chin to look the boy closer in the eye. "Nothing is going to happen to you here Ben." Obi-wan did not look him in the eye, but sent across their bond /Remember our background, Master. Even scaredy-bantha Ben is not worried about himself./
/Yes, thank you, my diligent Padawan. 'Scaredy-bantha'/ the amused thought was sent back. To shasue neither changed outwardly at all.
"My boy," the older man bent down further, "nothing is going to happen to me here either."
"I'm gonna go put my stuff away, Da." Obi-wan replied stiffly. /I shall meet you in your quarters, Master. I need a break from being so depressed./
As Obi-wan turned into the children's dorm, Qui-gon turned to Shasue in explanation. "We lost his mother just over a standard year ago while we were away from home. He tends to be . . . cautious with me now." he gave their guide a self-deprecating smile.
"I understand, sir. I am sorry for your loss."
"Thank you."
"Shall I show you to your room, sir?"
"Kylo, please."
"Kylo, right this way."
Several minutes later while Qui-Gon was unpacking his things, he sensed Obi-wan appraching his door, and soon enough the boy was poking his head in through the door.
/Remain in role, please Padawan. We don't know if we're being watched./
/Yes, Master. It's very tiring being so sad all the time, though./ With that thought he threw himself with great verve right onto the middle of his Master's bed. After a few minutes of sighing dramatically and staring at the ceiling, Obi-wan felt himself being lifted and set on his feet on the floor. Responding to the genuine astonished look on his apprentice's face, Qui-Gon said aloud,
"Come now youngling, help your old Da unpack his things so we won't be late for last meal. It's to be served in less than an hour in the central dining lounge."
/I'm touched, Obi-wan, that you've chosen the language of your homeland to name me your Da/ Qui-Gon sent mentally across their bond, and then quieter//and your Papa./
/It's nice to name you out loud how I think of you in private/ he heard in response, and felt the boy's mental blush. Indeed, Qui-gon had to take a moment to collect himself at the confession, able only to say outloud,
"Thank you, little one."
Unexpectedly he heard a giggle behind him, and Obi-wan calling out "Papa what do you think?"
Turning, he couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of the boy wearing one of his tunics. It practically flowed to his knees, and his hands were quite lost within the sleeves.
"Oh I think it fits just properly and that you should wear it down to last meal." he responded with a false seriousness, and headed for the door.
He didn't make it even to the stairs before he heard the wild cry and running feet behind him, "Papa! Wait for me!"
Qui-Gon doubted he had ever had a longer meal in his life. Obi-wan seemed to be taking his role to heart, and whined about every second aspect of the food. It was either 'gross', still alive, 'too spicey' or 'cold'. Until of course, dessert, which was apparently perfect and coincidentally sugar and cocoa covered. The Master feared his apprentice would be climbing the walls well into the night. Eventually he sent the boy off to play a game of stick ball with the others with a playful swat and a silent reminder through their bond not to be too good at the game or he would arouse suspicion. Obi-wan was good enough to remember his Ben and gave a quick serious look to his Da before running off. And Qui-gon couldn't help but be somewhat relieved. He was so used to dealing with Obi-wan, a disciplined, serious child, and not this boy suddenly so full of need and attention and, well, parenting.
And it made him wonder what he had been blind to in his Apprentice. While Obi-wan was doing an admirable job at being Ben, the training bond gave his Master an inside look at just how much of Obi-wan's 'acting' was based on something genuine within the boy. He was both thankful for this new look at his Padawan, and worried at what he might have been neglecting. He was drawn out of his thoughts however, and into conversation with several of the other fathers around the table, and fell into relaxation over a glass of ale.
Before he knew it, twenty first chime was ringing and many of the other men were ushering their children off to bed. He raised his eyes to search for Obi-wan, and saw the boy moving behind the other children, dragging his feet.
/Obi-wan/
/It's nothing, Master, just play along./
Before he couldn't even open his mouth to speak, Obi-wan beat him too it.
"I don't want to go to bed. Do I have to?" Obi-wan had to suppress a smile when he saw his Master's eyebrows raise in surprise at his tone.
"It is getting late, child."
"But I am not tired!" He was enjoying this very much. He almost stomped his foot for emphasis, but thought that might be too much.
"Bendo di Kylo, I suggest you watch how you speak to me."
Undercover or not, Qui-gon could pull that Masterly tone out at the drop of a hat, Obi-wan thought. He remembered the first time his Master had used that tone on him. He had missed his curfew for silly reasons, not paying attention to the time, and ignoring it when he was. The remembrance of that brought colour to his cheeks and made his chin tremble. That reaction had been all too real – he remembered almost biting through his bottom lip at the time in an effort to ensure that Qui-Gon didn't notice his emotional reaction.
His Master broke into his thoughts.
/I'm sorry, Padawan. Not for the lecture, but for not realizing it upset you so./ Obi-wan blushed even further, he had not realized he was projecting so loudly.
"I'm sorry my Da, but please, I'm not sleepy."
"I think you might be more tired than you think, youngling." Obi-wan was startled to hear this both outloud and along their bond at the same time. He could feel his Master's small use of the force to check on him.
/Ben is too frightened to go to sleep alone, Master./
"All right, a while longer. But do not go far, Bendo child." The boy was off running before the words out of his mouth.
"Indulging him, no?" he heard one of the men across the table say.
"Yes, I'm afraid he has me wrapped around his finger, although he does not know it." The truth of the statement startled Qui-gon as he said it. "Besides, this way he will fall asleep here and will not fight me on the way to bed!" The other man laughed and touched his glass of ale to Qui-gon's.
"Well thought out, friend."
Sure enough, he felt Obi-wan's presence as he sat himself at his Master's side. The boy was wavering in his alertness, that was sure.
/Are you sure you want to remain here, Padawan/
/Must, Master. Ben needs to be near his Da./ Even the boy's mental voice was wavering, but he knew what he was trying to do, so he carried on. Soon enough Obi-wan was curled up with his head in his lap.
"Well, it looks like my young one is finally given up the fight, I should put him to bed. Thank you for the conversation, miread."
Obi-wan didn't even wake slightly as the bigger man lifted him into his arms or as he changed the boy into his sleep clothes, or as he put him into bed.
The only time Obi-wan woke was when he felt himself pulled up, with liquid pouring down his throat. The hands holding his head were not familiar, and he jerked as the lukewarm liquid hit the back of his throat.
/Master/ he tried to call out through the bond, only to find he could not reach the force, as more of the liquid dripped down his throat.