A/N: Yay, I wrote something, finally. Anyway, this idea just came to me when I was reading a forum post about how Jedi (namely Obi-Wan) mention 'blah blah is against the Code.' I wondered if the Code really did have such specific rules, and so, this silly little fic was born. I hope you enjoy!


TFTT #8 - Of Jedi and Discretion
by: Amrita Glittersong

"Master, I said I was sorry about the hoi broth incident."

Obi-Wan Kenobi sighed and turned slightly to look down at his Padawan. Eleven-year-old Anakin was giving him the saddest, most pathetic look he'd seen from the boy since, oh, the day before. And somehow, it was working again, making the Knight want to give his Padawan whatever he wanted. But he resisted, though he was convinced this was Anakin's special form of mind trick.

"Anakin, this isn't about that. Even if you did nearly kill me."

"I didn't mean to!" Anakin protested, sticking out his lower lip even farther than it already was and quivering it for good measure.

Obi-Wan shook his head, making certain not to look amused. It took considerable effort. "I know. But as I said, this isn't about that. Every Padawan is required to read the Code."

"But... It's so boring and strict." Anakin said, wrinkling his nose and switching instantly from pouting to disgusted.

"Anakin." Obi-Wan admonished gently. "The Code is central to a Jedi."

"But, but..." Anakin trailed off, apparently realizing there really wasn't some way to argue against that. "Fine." He finally said, sighing theatrically.

"Good." Obi-Wan replied, keying up the particular file on his datapad. The Code was actually written down physically, and there were copies of it in the Archives, but Obi-Wan didn't have any desire to bring his Padawan around the antique relics. He had a feeling it might cause Madam Nu to have a stroke.

They began to read and everything went well for about half an hour, aside from Anakin's occasional proclamations of, "I'm bored." or, "That's a stupid rule." Then they started getting into the more convoluted parts of the Code; parts Obi-Wan didn't remember and was just as baffled by as Anakin was.

"'Jedi are not to use the Force for matchmaking.'" Obi-Wan read outloud, blinking slowly. "We need a specific rule for that?"

Anakin snickered, then caught site of another line a paragraph down. "'Jedi are not to negotiate while intoxicated'. Oh, you're in trouble on that one, Master."

"And you're in trouble for that comment." Obi-Wan responded, tugging on Anakin's braid until the Padawan said he took it back.

"'Jedi are not to use the Force to feed fruit to their girlfriends.' ...Why would we need a rule about this? When is it going to come up?" Obi-Wan asked, having moved on to the next entry.

"I imagine that would be a really good way to impress someone." Anakin considered, and his seriously pondering tone caused Obi-Wan to cast him a stern glance. "Theoretically, of course."

"Of course." Obi-Wan said, not convinced but turning his attention back to the Code. "'Jedi are not to drop chandeliers on anyone, even if they deserve it.'"

"These are really specific." Anakin commented, an eyebrow raised.

"And obscure." Obi-Wan agreed, shrugging and turning off the datapad. "Obviously, some parts of the Code are more important than others. I suppose it's up to your good discretion to figure out which is which." He stood up and looked at his Padawan. "Now, I believe we are late for sabre practice."

"Yay!" Anakin cheered, jumping up and running out of the Archives before his master could even blink. With a sigh, Obi-Wan set the datapad on a nearby table, gave it a look as though it had offended him, and left the room in search of his Padawan.

Years later, as Obi-Wan would look back on his life and wonder, 'What went wrong?' he would suddenly remember that day in the Archive, and he would wonder what in the name of the Force possessed him to, of all things, tell Anakin to trust his own discretion.