*3*
Cadi didn't know what woke her up, but from what she could tell it was still dark. Not that it mattered; her bioluminescent eyes lit the way for her as she wandered around the room. The two little purple lights cascaded over her surroundings, and soon enough they found him. He was still beyond cute, even with his mouth hanging open, snoring lightly, and curled up in a ball with his sheets in a knot. He had them twisted around his legs and waist, clutching a corner in a relaxed fist that rested on his bare tummy. Cadi took a moment to admire his body, acquired from constant Jedi training and practices. She wanted to touch him, but denied herself the pleasure for fear of waking him up. With a sigh she crept quietly out of the room and made her way out of the apartment. Curious, Cadi decided to take a walk…
***
The sense of something missing stirred Obi from his sleep. He sat up and looked around him, his eyes making out the vague yet familiar figures of his darkened room. Then he figured out what was amiss: Cadi. He shuffled over to her cot and ran his hands over the empty mattress for confirmation; she was gone. He reached out with the Force to locate her, within moments he found she was wandering around the sparring rooms. As quietly as he could manage, he snuck out of the apartment, making sure to shield himself with the Force so as not to alert his Master. Still in his boxers, Obi made his way down the halls in the direction of the sparring rooms.
Sure enough there she was, toying with one of the sparring sticks and singing quietly to herself. In the same shorts and under tunic he had put her to bed in, she'd managed to throw her hair into a sloppy bun; she hid behind it no longer. Obi watched her quietly, eyes taking in the disheveled loveliness she possessed. He sank down to the floor silently to watch her, the floor hard and cold through the thin fabric of his boxers, as she did a few spins and twirls with the stick and continued singing.
"You- you will be mean," she arched her wrist and pointed the stick at an imaginary opponent, "and I- I'll drink all the time," she dropped her arm to the side, faking defeat. Then she took a new stance and spun gracefully, swinging the stick over her head, "We should be lovers- we can't do that," she brought her other arm around for balance as she did a half turn. "We should be lovers-" suddenly she saw him, Obi froze, but she just smiled and finished the lyric, "and that's a fact." She stepped toward him carefully and sat down in front of him.
"What are you singing?" he asked shyly.
"Just a song," she said, "from one of my favorite holovids back home- with my favorite actor," Obi eyed her; that unbreakable barrier she'd had before was nowhere to be found now. It confused him, but he decided to appreciate it.
"Oh? Why is he your favorite?" Obi thought the information would help him figure out what her type was.
"I just love him," she said distantly, "he's talented, versatile, humble, not to mention gorgeous…"
"Tell me, what does he look like?" he prompted gently. He saw her look at him with a peculiar gleam in her eye.
"Well, first of all, he's got these beautiful eyes. They're crystal clear, and they flash from blue to green to gray all at the same time. His hair is auburn, I like it best when it's short and fuzzy. He's a few inches taller than me, with a very nice build," Obi smiled uncontrollably as he listened; this was good news for him.
"And his smile," she went on upon seeing his reaction, "Mm! His smile alone! It's just so…so-" impulsively Obi leaned forward and locked lips with her. Cadi's hands flew up as if to stop him, but in mid-motion she paused, and instead they came up to touch his face. Obi pulled away to search her eyes for her feelings, finding a mixture of relief and surprise.
"Exactly," she said breathlessly. He just smiled bashfully and looked away.
"So, ahm, why'd you come down here, anyway?" he tried to change the subject.
"Oh, I don't know, I just found it and started playing around," she said absently, her eyes never leaving his face.
"Well, I'm sure you've heard I'm the sparring champion of my class," he said proudly as he stood up and began to walk around.
"I've heard it, believing it is a different story," she taunted as she followed him. Obi took out a sparring stick and started showing off.
***
"Are you trying to impress me?" Cadi said with a small laugh.
"Yes," came the answer as he landed from a double back flip.
"Well, it's not working," she teased.
"Really now? What *would* work then?" he came back, blatantly flirting. Cadi picked up her own stick from the floor and raised it to him.
"Beat me," she said challengingly.
"Are you mad? You haven't had any training yet, it would be all too easy," he gave her a confused look.
"I think you'll find I'm full of surprises," she egged him on. Cadi watched his crystalline eyes meld between blue and green as he considered her challenge. She knew he was right, she hadn't had any training; but there was a reason why the Council had recruited her at such a late stage.
"If you say so," Obi said, carefully raising his sparring stick to hers.
They started slowly, Cadi taking the offensive. She was confident in her abilities, but her nervousness around him rose up inside her. That kiss had been- simply indescribable. Neither of them had expected it to happen, especially her, but she was happy that it did. That wasn't what made her nervous though; what made her nervous was she didn't know what would happen next. Both of them were aware of the attraction-
A sharp pain pulsating through her arm interrupted her thoughts. She yelped and glared at him. He smiled triumphantly at her.
"You lost your focus," he chided.
"You got lucky," she shot back and resumed the match, "I was thinking about- never mind."
"Tell me," he asked as he went into a downward right half twist.
"No," she returned with an upward left double twist. Within seconds she felt her mind being prodded for information. She took a quick swipe at him with her stick to interrupt him. "No fair," she said, "I don't know how to block yet."
"You want to know what happens next?" he said with a devilish grin. Cadi cursed mentally and aimed a swipe at his neck. He ducked and grinned again, "I'll tell you what happens," he offered. Annoyed and intrigued at the same time, Cadi flipped high into the air, landing conveniently on top of a suspended rafter. She watched him look up and sigh, "You have the most peculiar fighting style," he yelled up to her.
"That happens when you're self taught," she yelled back.
"Are you going to come down?"
"Not until you tell me what happens," she bribed.
"Don't make me come up there," he threatened, only half-serious. Cadi just laughed, realizing how silly he looked, down there barefoot in his boxers. But she wasn't exactly in appropriate attire herself…
"Tell me what happens," she repeated.
"I'll tell you when you come down," he turned the bribe around on her. Fine, she thought to herself, if he wants me to come down, I'll come down. Without warning she dove, arms out in front of her, aimed straight for him.
"Wait!" he yelled in shock; too late. Her hands hit him square in the chest, and he hit the floor hard. Before he could react she straddled him and pointed her sparring stick at his neck.
"Now," she said, "tell me what happens." Slowly she watched him open his eyes, he was a little dazed. She felt guilty for hurting someone as cute as he was- but not too guilty.
***
"Now *this* is not fair," Obi said as he lay there, pinned and helpless- or perhaps not. She was laughing at him, her guard was down. Quickly he smacked her stick away from him and began to get up. Her hands went to stop him, but he grabbed them by the wrists and pushed her backwards. The tables had turned, now *he* had *her* pinned to the floor. She stared at him intensely, and he saw her calculating her next move, chest rising and falling rapidly beneath him.
"Tell me," she demanded with difficulty, obviously having trouble breathing. He lifted some of his weight off for a moment, just to give her some leeway. Before he knew it her feet were brought up against him, kicking him into a roll. He held fast to her wrists, but it didn't make a difference, they kept rolling until he was flat on his back with her sitting on top of him. She wrenched her hands free and called the two sparring sticks to them. In one swift motion she caught them, stood up, and pointed them straight at his face. Obviously defeated, Obi shrugged and dropped his hands.
"You win," he said, receiving a victorious smile from her. She let the sticks hit the floor as she dropped to her knees beside him, delivering a kiss much sweeter than their first.
A pair of loudly clapping hands made them both look up- to find Qui leaning against the doorjamb.
"Good show, kids," the Master approached the two teenagers as Obi felt his heartbeat soar. How much had his Master seen? He already knew he had witnessed the kiss, that alone was bad news, but what made him fret the most was wondering if he had seen Cadi beat him. "It's a rare occasion when my Padawan is beaten," Qui was saying to Cadi, answering Obi's unasked question, "but to be beaten by someone who's not been trained- well! That's something really extraordinary!" Obi rested his face in his hands, he was never going to hear the end of it now. "I wonder," his Master went on, turning his eyes to him, "if my Padawan let his feelings for you get the best of him? What do you think, Cadi?"
"Well…I…" Cadi was equally embarrassed, stammering to answer him.
"I'm afraid that may be the case, Master," Obi interjected, a little louder than necessary, "but how can one tell at such a late hour?" he said quickly, feigning a yawn.
"You are right, Obi-Wan, we should all be in bed, and I suggest we go there now," Obi took a sigh of relief as his Master led the way back to quarters. He was surprised and pleased to feel Cadi's hand slip into his as they walked, and he decided to worry about its significance in the morning. Obi allowed himself a yawn, a real one, as they shuffled through the door and headed to his room. This time, his Master followed them in to make sure they go into their designated beds.
"And stay there," Qui said, somewhat jokingly, "Goodnight, young Padawans," he killed the light and paced to his own room.
Master? Obi sent through their special connection.
No, Obi-Wan, you're not in trouble
Thank you, Master- thank you for everything
Anytime, Padawan. Just one question
Yes Master?
Did you let her win?
No Master! I swear! I would never let her beat me just because- Obi didn't complete the thought.
Come on, you can say it, she can't hear you
-just because I like her
You are wise to admit it his Master commended.
Can I ask you something now Master?
Yes, Obi-Wan
How long were you standing there?
Oh, let's just say- 'he kissed her once, he kissed her twice, and said 'now that's addition'' Qui recited the old children's ditty, just to tease him.
"Obi?" Cadi whispered from her cot. His imagination had been right, her eyes really did glow in the dark.
I've got to go Master, she wants to talk with me he sent.
I bet that's not all she wants to do with you
Master! he could feel Qui laughing.
Relax Obi-Wan, sleep well
'Night, Master Obi closed off the connection and turned to face Cadi, "Yeah?" he whispered back.
"You never told me what happens next," she kept her voice low.
"I was too busy cowering in defeat," he joked, smiling a little. Her eyes illuminated his face, and he wished he could see her like this more often.
"So? What happens next?" she pushed. Obi was silent for a long while as he debated over his answer. Should he give her an answer? Or should he turn some of the games she played earlier around on her? Always the mischievous one, he chose the latter.
"We shall see," he whispered back at last, a devilish smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He heard her sigh and suddenly a pillow came flying his way.
"You're impossible," she said and rolled over to face the wall.
"I know," he echoed her own words back at her.
Cadi didn't know what woke her up, but from what she could tell it was still dark. Not that it mattered; her bioluminescent eyes lit the way for her as she wandered around the room. The two little purple lights cascaded over her surroundings, and soon enough they found him. He was still beyond cute, even with his mouth hanging open, snoring lightly, and curled up in a ball with his sheets in a knot. He had them twisted around his legs and waist, clutching a corner in a relaxed fist that rested on his bare tummy. Cadi took a moment to admire his body, acquired from constant Jedi training and practices. She wanted to touch him, but denied herself the pleasure for fear of waking him up. With a sigh she crept quietly out of the room and made her way out of the apartment. Curious, Cadi decided to take a walk…
***
The sense of something missing stirred Obi from his sleep. He sat up and looked around him, his eyes making out the vague yet familiar figures of his darkened room. Then he figured out what was amiss: Cadi. He shuffled over to her cot and ran his hands over the empty mattress for confirmation; she was gone. He reached out with the Force to locate her, within moments he found she was wandering around the sparring rooms. As quietly as he could manage, he snuck out of the apartment, making sure to shield himself with the Force so as not to alert his Master. Still in his boxers, Obi made his way down the halls in the direction of the sparring rooms.
Sure enough there she was, toying with one of the sparring sticks and singing quietly to herself. In the same shorts and under tunic he had put her to bed in, she'd managed to throw her hair into a sloppy bun; she hid behind it no longer. Obi watched her quietly, eyes taking in the disheveled loveliness she possessed. He sank down to the floor silently to watch her, the floor hard and cold through the thin fabric of his boxers, as she did a few spins and twirls with the stick and continued singing.
"You- you will be mean," she arched her wrist and pointed the stick at an imaginary opponent, "and I- I'll drink all the time," she dropped her arm to the side, faking defeat. Then she took a new stance and spun gracefully, swinging the stick over her head, "We should be lovers- we can't do that," she brought her other arm around for balance as she did a half turn. "We should be lovers-" suddenly she saw him, Obi froze, but she just smiled and finished the lyric, "and that's a fact." She stepped toward him carefully and sat down in front of him.
"What are you singing?" he asked shyly.
"Just a song," she said, "from one of my favorite holovids back home- with my favorite actor," Obi eyed her; that unbreakable barrier she'd had before was nowhere to be found now. It confused him, but he decided to appreciate it.
"Oh? Why is he your favorite?" Obi thought the information would help him figure out what her type was.
"I just love him," she said distantly, "he's talented, versatile, humble, not to mention gorgeous…"
"Tell me, what does he look like?" he prompted gently. He saw her look at him with a peculiar gleam in her eye.
"Well, first of all, he's got these beautiful eyes. They're crystal clear, and they flash from blue to green to gray all at the same time. His hair is auburn, I like it best when it's short and fuzzy. He's a few inches taller than me, with a very nice build," Obi smiled uncontrollably as he listened; this was good news for him.
"And his smile," she went on upon seeing his reaction, "Mm! His smile alone! It's just so…so-" impulsively Obi leaned forward and locked lips with her. Cadi's hands flew up as if to stop him, but in mid-motion she paused, and instead they came up to touch his face. Obi pulled away to search her eyes for her feelings, finding a mixture of relief and surprise.
"Exactly," she said breathlessly. He just smiled bashfully and looked away.
"So, ahm, why'd you come down here, anyway?" he tried to change the subject.
"Oh, I don't know, I just found it and started playing around," she said absently, her eyes never leaving his face.
"Well, I'm sure you've heard I'm the sparring champion of my class," he said proudly as he stood up and began to walk around.
"I've heard it, believing it is a different story," she taunted as she followed him. Obi took out a sparring stick and started showing off.
***
"Are you trying to impress me?" Cadi said with a small laugh.
"Yes," came the answer as he landed from a double back flip.
"Well, it's not working," she teased.
"Really now? What *would* work then?" he came back, blatantly flirting. Cadi picked up her own stick from the floor and raised it to him.
"Beat me," she said challengingly.
"Are you mad? You haven't had any training yet, it would be all too easy," he gave her a confused look.
"I think you'll find I'm full of surprises," she egged him on. Cadi watched his crystalline eyes meld between blue and green as he considered her challenge. She knew he was right, she hadn't had any training; but there was a reason why the Council had recruited her at such a late stage.
"If you say so," Obi said, carefully raising his sparring stick to hers.
They started slowly, Cadi taking the offensive. She was confident in her abilities, but her nervousness around him rose up inside her. That kiss had been- simply indescribable. Neither of them had expected it to happen, especially her, but she was happy that it did. That wasn't what made her nervous though; what made her nervous was she didn't know what would happen next. Both of them were aware of the attraction-
A sharp pain pulsating through her arm interrupted her thoughts. She yelped and glared at him. He smiled triumphantly at her.
"You lost your focus," he chided.
"You got lucky," she shot back and resumed the match, "I was thinking about- never mind."
"Tell me," he asked as he went into a downward right half twist.
"No," she returned with an upward left double twist. Within seconds she felt her mind being prodded for information. She took a quick swipe at him with her stick to interrupt him. "No fair," she said, "I don't know how to block yet."
"You want to know what happens next?" he said with a devilish grin. Cadi cursed mentally and aimed a swipe at his neck. He ducked and grinned again, "I'll tell you what happens," he offered. Annoyed and intrigued at the same time, Cadi flipped high into the air, landing conveniently on top of a suspended rafter. She watched him look up and sigh, "You have the most peculiar fighting style," he yelled up to her.
"That happens when you're self taught," she yelled back.
"Are you going to come down?"
"Not until you tell me what happens," she bribed.
"Don't make me come up there," he threatened, only half-serious. Cadi just laughed, realizing how silly he looked, down there barefoot in his boxers. But she wasn't exactly in appropriate attire herself…
"Tell me what happens," she repeated.
"I'll tell you when you come down," he turned the bribe around on her. Fine, she thought to herself, if he wants me to come down, I'll come down. Without warning she dove, arms out in front of her, aimed straight for him.
"Wait!" he yelled in shock; too late. Her hands hit him square in the chest, and he hit the floor hard. Before he could react she straddled him and pointed her sparring stick at his neck.
"Now," she said, "tell me what happens." Slowly she watched him open his eyes, he was a little dazed. She felt guilty for hurting someone as cute as he was- but not too guilty.
***
"Now *this* is not fair," Obi said as he lay there, pinned and helpless- or perhaps not. She was laughing at him, her guard was down. Quickly he smacked her stick away from him and began to get up. Her hands went to stop him, but he grabbed them by the wrists and pushed her backwards. The tables had turned, now *he* had *her* pinned to the floor. She stared at him intensely, and he saw her calculating her next move, chest rising and falling rapidly beneath him.
"Tell me," she demanded with difficulty, obviously having trouble breathing. He lifted some of his weight off for a moment, just to give her some leeway. Before he knew it her feet were brought up against him, kicking him into a roll. He held fast to her wrists, but it didn't make a difference, they kept rolling until he was flat on his back with her sitting on top of him. She wrenched her hands free and called the two sparring sticks to them. In one swift motion she caught them, stood up, and pointed them straight at his face. Obviously defeated, Obi shrugged and dropped his hands.
"You win," he said, receiving a victorious smile from her. She let the sticks hit the floor as she dropped to her knees beside him, delivering a kiss much sweeter than their first.
A pair of loudly clapping hands made them both look up- to find Qui leaning against the doorjamb.
"Good show, kids," the Master approached the two teenagers as Obi felt his heartbeat soar. How much had his Master seen? He already knew he had witnessed the kiss, that alone was bad news, but what made him fret the most was wondering if he had seen Cadi beat him. "It's a rare occasion when my Padawan is beaten," Qui was saying to Cadi, answering Obi's unasked question, "but to be beaten by someone who's not been trained- well! That's something really extraordinary!" Obi rested his face in his hands, he was never going to hear the end of it now. "I wonder," his Master went on, turning his eyes to him, "if my Padawan let his feelings for you get the best of him? What do you think, Cadi?"
"Well…I…" Cadi was equally embarrassed, stammering to answer him.
"I'm afraid that may be the case, Master," Obi interjected, a little louder than necessary, "but how can one tell at such a late hour?" he said quickly, feigning a yawn.
"You are right, Obi-Wan, we should all be in bed, and I suggest we go there now," Obi took a sigh of relief as his Master led the way back to quarters. He was surprised and pleased to feel Cadi's hand slip into his as they walked, and he decided to worry about its significance in the morning. Obi allowed himself a yawn, a real one, as they shuffled through the door and headed to his room. This time, his Master followed them in to make sure they go into their designated beds.
"And stay there," Qui said, somewhat jokingly, "Goodnight, young Padawans," he killed the light and paced to his own room.
Master? Obi sent through their special connection.
No, Obi-Wan, you're not in trouble
Thank you, Master- thank you for everything
Anytime, Padawan. Just one question
Yes Master?
Did you let her win?
No Master! I swear! I would never let her beat me just because- Obi didn't complete the thought.
Come on, you can say it, she can't hear you
-just because I like her
You are wise to admit it his Master commended.
Can I ask you something now Master?
Yes, Obi-Wan
How long were you standing there?
Oh, let's just say- 'he kissed her once, he kissed her twice, and said 'now that's addition'' Qui recited the old children's ditty, just to tease him.
"Obi?" Cadi whispered from her cot. His imagination had been right, her eyes really did glow in the dark.
I've got to go Master, she wants to talk with me he sent.
I bet that's not all she wants to do with you
Master! he could feel Qui laughing.
Relax Obi-Wan, sleep well
'Night, Master Obi closed off the connection and turned to face Cadi, "Yeah?" he whispered back.
"You never told me what happens next," she kept her voice low.
"I was too busy cowering in defeat," he joked, smiling a little. Her eyes illuminated his face, and he wished he could see her like this more often.
"So? What happens next?" she pushed. Obi was silent for a long while as he debated over his answer. Should he give her an answer? Or should he turn some of the games she played earlier around on her? Always the mischievous one, he chose the latter.
"We shall see," he whispered back at last, a devilish smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He heard her sigh and suddenly a pillow came flying his way.
"You're impossible," she said and rolled over to face the wall.
"I know," he echoed her own words back at her.