A huge thanks to everyone who has read this! Next chapter up! ENJOY!!!!
It was exactly a week since Obi-Wan was apprenticed to Xanatos and they were getting along quite well. Their bond was almost as strong as jedi teams who've been together for years! The two of the came down the halls of the temple barking with laughter and cracking jokes. They were definitely not the average jedi, the two were a strange pair, but they worked out very well.
Almost everyone in the temple wanted to watch them spar, almost everyone loved seeing the two 'brothers' help around the temple. The crèche masters enjoyed having the two around. Xanatos and Obi-Wan kept the children busy by coming up with exciting force games that taught the children how to trust in the force. For example, they had the hand walk race where they children had to rely on the force for balance, they had the three legged race where the children had to trust each other, and they had hide and seek so that the children could learn to find others through their force signatures.
Xanatos and Obi-Wan decided to help the crèche masters host a game for the younglings of all ages and so they were putting up signs around the temple so that knights and jedi teams could come and watch. Perhaps a youngling would be chosen at a very young age, after all, some of the children were only two years old. They didn't have to win, as long as they trusted the force then they would win.
"It's crooked!" Obi-Wan exclaimed.
"No it isn't."
"Yes, it is." Obi-Wan insisted. "Look, the right's lower than the left, higher it."
Xanatos used the force to balance it out. "Wrong," Obi-Wan muttered and tried to balance it out himself.
"Please, Padawan, I insist, allow me."
"It's OK, Master, I'll make it straight."
"I appreciate it, Padawan, but you obviously need your eyes checked."
"No, Master, trust me, after all, trust is the most important thing in our relationship."
"What, relationship? You've obviously gone out of your mind." Xanatos rolled his eyes. "It's STRAIGHT!"
"No-it-isn't! Look at it, you obviously need your eyes checked! It's s-o-o-o-o-o crooked!" Obi-Wan groaned. "What's wrong with you!?"
"Happy?" Xanatos muttered as he tilted the right side up.
"Still crooked, but better." Obi-Wan mused happily.
"Well, that's the best it'll be." Xanatos said finally and began hammering it up on the wall.
"Having fun, there?" Mace asked.
The two of them shared a glance and nodded. "It looks kind of crooked." Mace said as he pointed at the sign. He lifted the right corner a little higher and then reinserted the nail using the force. "Much better."
Obi-Wan gave his master a winning smirk. "I agree."
Xanatos rolled his eyes. "Whatever, we have many more signs to put up."
"That won't be necessary, the whole temple knows of it. You two are getting very popular with the younglings, they're always excited whenever they hear of you two." Mace said.
"Yah, well we're hard to resist." Xanatos laughed. "I'm just kidding, Master, we've been helping out a lot, that's all. Plus, who knew Obi-Wan here was so good with children?"
"Well, we're going to keep you two here for a few more weeks at the temple, then off to missions." Mace said. "Enjoy the time and keep that bond of yours building."
"Aye, aye." Xanatos smirked.
"And don't let all of these compliments rush to your heads." Mace warned.
"Yes, Master." The two of them said in unison.
"Oh, do you mind teaching a swimming class in five minutes? In the room of a thousand fountains, please hurry." Mace said and scurried away before either of them could deny him.
Obi-Wan sighed, "Do I have to come?"
"Yes, if I have to go, you do too, now, let's get changed and head on over there." Xanatos said.
Soon, the two were dressed and they headed over to the room of a thousand fountains. There was a small group of five year olds in the room ready for their swim lesson. "Hey, kids!" Xanatos called out with a jaunty smile.
"Hello, Knight Du Crion, Padawan Kenobi." They all said in unison.
"OK, for today, no formalities, all right?" Xanatos said. "Call me Xanatos and him Obi-Wan."
The children looked horrified at Xanatos's suggestion. "Let me explain why. If you're drowning and you scream 'help knight Du Crion!' You'd drown before you'd even finish calling for help, but if you shouted 'help Xanatos or help Obi-Wan!' Then we'd be by you in a flash."
The children giggled at what Xanatos said. "All right, Obi-Wan will get in first and demonstrate how you swim. Padawan, get in."
"Yes, Master." Obi-Wan said obediently and stripped down to his swim trunks. He stepped into the cool water and held onto the wall.
"He will push off the wall and begin his first lap. Look at how his legs kick and how his arms move, that is how you have to swim. It is very effective." Xanatos said. "Now, everyone in, and there will be no jumping allowed. Step in and hold onto the wall."
"Are you coming in, Master?" Obi-Wan asked.
"No, of course not, I have to have a clear view of all the children. Plus, I'm going to be instructing on land." Xanatos sent his apprentice a winning smirk.
"All right, guys, begin kicking."
"Knight Du—"
"What'd I say about formalities Kana?" Xanatos said.
"Oh, sorry, am I doing this right Xanatos?"
"Perfect, kiddo." Xanatos grinned. "Everyone, you're all doing an amazing job, kick, kick, kick."
Soon, the first group of children was ushered away by their crèche master. Obi-Wan sent a force wave splashing onto the first group before they were swept away by their masters. They squealed and darted after their crèche master.
Obi-Wan laughed as Xanatos rolled his eyes at what Obi-Wan had done to the younglings. "OK, next group!" Xanatos called. Another group immediately came and one boy stood out amongst them all…Anakin. Xanatos gave the children the same information as the last group. There were to be no formalities.
Anakin gave his master a miserable glance. Qui-Gon motioned for Anakin to follow the other children. "Master, I'm so much older."
"Age doesn't matter, Ani."
"OK, OK." Anakin grumbled and followed behind.
"Ah…hello there." Xanatos smiled at Anakin. "Could you step in the water please and hold onto the wall?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good." Xanatos folded his arms across his chest and rocked on his heels as he saw the children ready.
"Obi-Wan, demonstrate." Xanatos ordered.
"Sure, Master, anything for you." Obi-Wan said sarcastically. The man had Obi-Wan swimming more than twenty laps already because one child couldn't remember how his legs were supposed to go.
"Watch him, children." Xanatos said as Obi-Wan took off the wall. His movements were graceful; it was probably from all of his time spent here with his Mon Calamari friend.
By the end of the lesson, the crèche children were once again whisked away by their masters. "Hey, Anakin!" Obi-Wan called as the boy stood by a rock drying off.
Anakin spun around with embarrassment. "Yes?"
"I was wondering, wanna just get all of the lessons over with? Swimming isn't that hard if it's a one on one lesson." Obi-Wan said. "It really is simple, Xanatos and I could teach you. Xanatos is actually a wonderful swimmer, right Master?"
Obi-Wan glanced at his master and Xanatos was forced to smile encouragingly at the boy. "In fact, it's super easy, I know you don't like hanging out with the little ones and you're a quick learner, so come on!"
"I've never seen so much water." Anakin admitted. "I'm kind of scared."
"Release your fears into the force, everyone's afraid, just don't let it take over your every action." Xanatos lectured. "Hop in."
"Hey, Master?" Obi-Wan said.
Xanatos rolled his eyes, "Yes, Padawan?"
"Look out." Obi-Wan murmured and sent a giant wave in Xanatos's direction.
The water sent Xanatos tumbling to the ground. The surprised knight lied sprawled on the ground, absolutely soaked in water. "Why…you…have you no respect for your master?" Xanatos demanded.
"Now, now, control your anger, there's a child present." Obi-Wan smirked and glanced at Anakin.
The boy was trying hard to stifle his giggles. "It's OK to laugh, I'm not really mad." Xanatos said. "Come on, oh, don't tell the little ones I did this." He said and cannon balled into the water.
"Come on in." Obi-Wan said.
Qui-Gon watched in the shadows, he did not approve Anakin around the two older boys. There was no doubt that Xanatos was still corrupted, but he decided to watch what was going to happen. After all, Anakin still needed to learn how to swim. Xanatos first taught Anakin how to float on his back, on his stomach, and then how to move his arms. They did everything step by step and soon Anakin could move through the water as perfectly as any swimmer.
"Thanks Xanatos! Thanks Obi-Wan!" Anakin exclaimed happily.
"No problem, kid." Xanatos grinned.
Obi-Wan nodded, "It was our pleasure, soon you'll be swimming faster than me."
"Is there anything I can do in return?" Anakin asked.
Qui-Gon held his breath, he knew that the men would demand Anakin to use some dark power. They were going to corrupt his padawan!
"Actually, yes, you owe us a race and you have to promise that you'll practice." Xanatos said. "Go swim with some friends or something."
"Oh, OK!" Anakin literally glowed as he clambered out of the water. "I love water now, thanks so much!"
Xanatos and Obi-Wan chuckled. As Xanatos began climbing out, Obi-Wan called, "Hey, Anakin, here's a demonstration of what you can do with the force."
"Ooh."
"Don't you dare!" Xanatos growled as he tried to scramble out.
Obi-Wan used the force to pull Xanatos back into the water and pulled off his swim trunks. Anakin giggled as Xanatos shot Obi-Wan a death glare. "Sorry, Master, I couldn't resist." Obi-Wan shrugged as he began climbing out.
Xanatos then used the force to do the exact same thing to Obi-Wan. When Obi-Wan glared at Xanatos, the older man shrugged, "Sorry, Padawan, couldn't resist."
"You know, revenge is not the jedi way." Obi-Wan said sarcastically.
Anakin, amused with the two men, waited for them both to get out of the water. "Hey, Anakin, where's Qui-Gon? Is he going to pick you up or are you going back to your quarters alone?"
Anakin shrugged, "I'll just walk back myself, I'm nine, you know."
"We'll walk you back." Xanatos volunteered. The three jedi made their way through the temple's halls, walking past countless jedis. Immediately, whispers and furtive glances erupted all around them. When had jedi begun gossiping so much?
"All right, Anakin, send your master our regards." Xanatos said. "Or don't, I'm not so sure he'd be happy with you hanging around us. He thinks we're…" Xanatos rolled his eyes. "Should we taint his innocent mind by using this word?"
Obi-Wan laughed, "He thinks we're dark because of Xanatos's past, but really…we're just like any other jedi and if you ever need help. Well, you know who to come to."
"Thanks…" Anakin then glanced sheepishly at the ground. "I haven't told Qui-Gon yet, but I don't have any friends and when he asked me, I said yes…I lied… but now I don't have to!" He grinned.
"No, no you don't." Xanatos ruffled the younger boy's hair. "Maybe you'll open the old man's mind a bit, he's a bit closed minded you know. Later, Anakin."
"Bye, Anakin." Obi-Wan echoed.
"Bye…" Anakin then shut his door and headed into the living space where he ran into a very upset master.