Official Disclaimer: All characters, places, and things mentioned in this fic belong to Lucasfilm (not me) and are being used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author's Note: SPOILER ALERT! This takes place just after Episode II so it contains spoilers. You have been warned. My friend Spazoid and I noticed the hints that Obi-Wan and Luminara were attracted to each other in The Approaching Storm, so we decided to do our own takes on it. Reviews would be great, this is the first romance fic I've attempted and constructive criticism is welcome. I'm probably going to continue it, but not very often because I'm working on another Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan fic at the same time. Enjoy and don't forget to tell me what you think!
A.N. #2: Oh, I'm sorry about the formatting with the no tabs thing, but my Mac can't format things in html right for some reason, hence the spaces between paragraphs. Anyone who has experienced this before and figured out how to fix it should drop me a line. (It's about as annoying for me as it is for you) Thanks!
Forbidden
By Ender
It's all getting out of hand, Obi-Wan Kenobi thought to himself as he sat on the sleep couch in his apartment. He sighed and brought a hand up to smooth down his beard. The Jedi Master had just returned from Geonosis and was still reeling from the loss of over sixty Jedi at the hands of the newly discovered Sith. Many of the Council members had not returned, a great blow to the Jedi Order.
Because of that battle, an all-out war was quickly encompassing the galaxy and the resurrected Sith were now controlling the Senate. And on top of that, Obi-Wan's Padawan, Anakin Skywalker, was escorting Senator Amidala back to Naboo. Obi-Wan could not stop himself from becoming more and more suspicious of their feelings for one another. Feelings that were entirely inappropriate for a Jedi, even dangerous. The situation could hardly get any worse.
Running a calloused hand through his thick hair, Obi-Wan stood and made his way out of the room. He knew he needed to meditate to release his frustration with the entire situation. The lake level would be the perfect spot to calm himself.
After taking a nearby turbolift to the 43rd level, Obi-Wan made his way around the main lake on a path weaving through the lush vegetation. He spotted an alcove near an outcropping of rock and decided to stop there. The Jedi Master dropped to his knees on the soft green grass, assuming the typical Jedi meditation pose.
Now comfortable, Obi-Wan cleared his mind of all his worries and doubts. It was harder than he realized; the effects of the last few weeks had piled up. He had begun to question the safety of the galaxy, the fate of the Jedi, and even his own capabilities as a teacher for Anakin. The Padawan had become even more unruly at late, making Obi-Wan wonder if he was the right Jedi to be instructing the Chosen One. Surely a more experienced Jedi could do it better, but Obi-Wan's promise to Qui-Gon stood and he would honor it.
The sheer thought of his former Master made Obi-Wan's heart clench for a bare second. The Jedi knew he had never really recovered from Qui-Gon's death, as much as he tried to let his old friend go. Obi-Wan pulled his thoughts back to the present, something Qui-Gon had adamantly taught him, and focused again on clearing his mind. Thirty long minutes later, it finally was, but his frustration still remained.
Before Obi-Wan could release the frustration, he sensed a presence near him in the alcove. Bringing himself out of the meditative trance, Obi-Wan opened his sapphire eyes and searched out who was approaching. He saw it was Luminara Unduli, a female Jedi he had worked with before on Ansion and Geonosis.
Luminara's honey-colored skin was highlighted by the lighting far above them, appearing radiant to the casual observer. Blue diamond tattoos adorned her lower lip, the color matching that of her robes and headdress. By far the most striking thing about her was her deep blue eyes, the cobalt pupils always seeming to look straight through people. Luminara was a respected Jedi Master, skilled in many areas, and definitely one of the most exotically stunning in the Order.
Her beautiful eyes met Obi-Wan's as he turned slightly to acknowledge her. Seeing that he had noticed her presence, Luminara came closer.
"Do you mind if I join you?" she asked him.
"Of course not," Obi-Wan replied. He had always enjoyed her company and after working with her on Ansion considered her to be one of his good friends. Luminara's presence even seemed to melt away some of the tension that had been building inside him since the war had begun. He wondered why for a short moment, then shook his head, concluding that it was just because of their friendship, nothing more.
The attractive Jedi walked up next to him and sat down to his left, her cloak billowing around her. She let her long legs dangle over a nearby ledge that hung out over a portion of the lake, her perfectly sculpted hands gripping the ledge itself. Obi-Wan followed her lead and sat over the ledge as well, his legs possessing the barest hint of a cramp from sitting in the meditative position so long. A comfortable silence fell over the two companions as they gazed out over the peaceful water, listening to the calls of various wildlife.
After a pause, Luminara turned to Obi-Wan.
"I'm sorry if you didn't want to be disturbed. I was just passing by and saw you meditating," Obi-Wan smiled at her, waving his hand slightly.
"Really, I don't mind. I was just finding my center." His smile lessened, the corners of his mouth turning down. "Which has been harder to do lately." Luminara mirrored his look.
"I know what you mean. The past few weeks have been a disaster." The female Jedi's gaze fell on Obi-Wan's shoulder, then moved on to his leg. "How are those burns?"
"They're fine," Obi-Wan answered, flexing his injured arm in a circle. "I'm still a little stiff, but the bacta did wonders. How about you?"
"The blaster burn went away after a bacta bath," Luminara grimaced. "I can still taste that awful stuff in the back of my throat."
Obi-Wan laughed, familiar with the feeling. Luminara shared the laugh, then grew more serious.
"Barriss is still recovering from the battle. A blaster bolt hit her in the stomach, but thank the Force it missed most of the important organs."
"I'm sorry," Obi-Wan replied sorrowfully, even though he had no part in the event. "I hope she has a fast recovery." The Jedi Master was usually very reserved in public, but still laid a comforting hand on Luminara's shoulder.
"Thank you," she told him, "They say she will be back to herself with time."
"I'm sure Anakin will want to visit her when he gets back." Luminara's solemn expression turned to one of curiosity.
"Where is Anakin?" Obi-Wan looked troubled at the question.
"He's escorting Senator Amidala back to Naboo." His tone spoke volumes of what he thought of that idea.
"And that would be a bad thing?" Luminara asked. She saw a mask go over the bearded Jedi's face, something that disturbed her. Obi-Wan had never looked this troubled in the past. He paused, then answered her question.
"I sense a bond is forming between them. He refuses to listen to me about it, about everything. He even questioned my judgment in front of the Senator herself. I try to keep him on the path of a Jedi, but he continues to pull away. It makes me wonder." Obi-Wan trailed off, not finishing his sentence. Luminara, though she had known Obi-Wan for a few years, knew him well enough to realize what he was thinking.
"You wonder if you're being a good enough Master," she finished for him. His look was enough to show her she was right. Obi-Wan glanced up, his light blue eyes making contact with her darker ones.
"Every time I look at it I realize that Qui-Gon would have been such a better Master to Anakin than I will ever be. If I had only done enough to save him...maybe Qui-Gon could've tamed Anakin's free spirit."
The female Jedi could feel his despair and pain that had been released at the mention of Obi-Wan's beloved Master. He looked away, unable to say any more.
Luminara reached an arm around his shoulder, careful not to touch his bandaged wound, and pulled him to her lightly. Obi-Wan hadn't been held like this in over ten years, the embrace making him feel a bit embarrassed. It was comforting though, and the normally stoic Jedi Master felt himself lean into her side, his head laying on her shoulder.
This was extremely intimate for the two Jedi, but Obi-Wan and Luminara knew they needed the comfort. They both had been through a lot in the past few weeks, receiving wounds only healed by the compassion of another. Obi-Wan let himself relax as he closed his eyes, his thoughts drifting back to Qui-Gon.
The tall Jedi Master's face appeared unbidden in Obi-Wan's mind, his compassionate smile seeming to look at his former Padawan. Tears sprung to Obi-Wan's closed eyes as he let long-forgotten memories of his former Master flash through his mind.
Luminara noticed his change in mood and pulled him closer, slowly rubbing her hand over his back. She understood what he was going through completely, his carefully erected walls coming down after ten years. She had experienced the same thing when her Master had died years before. She felt a strong wave of pity run through her as the saltwater tears dropped from Obi-Wan's eyes, blazing shining trails down his cheeks before soaking into his light brown beard.
Raising her honey-colored hand, Luminara cradled his head and brushed her thumb over his cheek, wiping the moisture from his face. The tears started to subside as Obi-Wan slowly opened his eyes and pulled back slightly. Luminara realized her heart had begun to beat faster and was surprised to feel a wave of disappointment run through her as Obi-Wan moved away, her hand still on his cheek.
Obi-Wan was also amazed at the electrifying shock that ran through his body at her touch. He pondered what it meant, purposely ignoring the warning bells going off in the back of his head. He couldn't think straight, lost in the glorious feeling he had never felt for an other person. His gaze locked with Luminara's as he stared into her lovely eyes. She really was a beautiful woman, he thought to himself, and yet a powerful Jedi with both wit and cunning.
The Jedi lost all coherent thought as he looked at her, his pounding heart the only thing registering in the frozen mind. His breath quickening, Obi-Wan leaned closer to Luminara, stopping his face right in front of hers. He paused, searching her expression and expecting her to pull away. Luminara was as still as stone, not even moving as Obi-Wan brought his hand up and placed it over hers, still resting on his cheek.
Tracing a slow circle on her silky skin with his thumb, Obi-Wan leaned forward and closed the distance between them, his lips meeting hers. He was lost in the sensation immediately, his senses overwhelmed by her touch, her scent, her taste. A hot wave rushed through him as her hand pulled him in even closer, moving to rest on the nape of his neck to play with is hair. Never before had Obi-Wan felt like this, so attuned, attracted to a woman like Luminara.
His arm snaked around her waist and they moved even closer. As their bodies touched, Obi-Wan felt another wave move through him, overloading his senses beyond belief. Before he could register it, though, the nagging voice in the back of his voice returned, bringing with it a realization of what her was doing. Luminara clearly experienced the same, both of them rapidly pulling back and gasping in alarm at what they were doing.
Forcing themselves apart, they went back to their previous positions and silent, trying to come to terms with what had just occurred. Luminara gripped the ledge so tight her fingers turned a bleach white, staring over the still tranquil water with a dazed expression. Obi-Wan was doing the same; he couldn't believe he had done the very thing he had rebuked his Padawan for.
Attachment is forbidden. Possession is forbidden. Obi-Wan repeated part of the Jedi code as a mantra, forcing himself to calm down. He pulled in a deep breath and held it, letting it out slowly after a count of three. Horrified shame took over his mind, clouding his words as he spoke.
"I'm sorry," Obi-Wan's voice trembled, "I-I don't know what came over me." Part of him was remorseful, wanting to take back what he had done. Another part he didn't want to think about the part that screamed at him to take her in his arms again, code be damned. Luminara's voice was just as shaky as his when she spoke in a dead voice.
"It wasn't just you. I didn't stop it when I could."
They both fell silent, the absence of sound now making them more and more uncomfortable. Obi-Wan spared a glance at her, taking note of her alarmed features. There was something in her eyes that her saw, the realized it was a faint longing, mirroring what he was feeling. I love her, he thought to himself. And although it was obvious, those words brought everything into line, the words that he had been denying adamantly in his subconscious for weeks. Luminara sensed his change in mood and looked at him, recognizing his emotions.
"What are we going to do?" Her question didn't need to be clarified, Obi-Wan knew exactly what she was talking about.
"I don't know," Obi-Wan replied in a resigned voice. "We're two of the most disciplined Jedi in the entire Order; breaking the code would be unthinkable. But I've never...felt like this before, loved a person this much."
She cautiously took his hand in hers, sending her emotions to the Force so he could feel how much she loved him back. Luminara tried numerous situations in her head, but could not come up with a way for them to be together. Her stubborn streak kicked in, almost as strong as Obi-Wan's unyielding personality when he wanted to be. They would find a way. She leaned a little closer, her voice becoming rock hard.
"We'll figure something out. We have to."
Author's Note: SPOILER ALERT! This takes place just after Episode II so it contains spoilers. You have been warned. My friend Spazoid and I noticed the hints that Obi-Wan and Luminara were attracted to each other in The Approaching Storm, so we decided to do our own takes on it. Reviews would be great, this is the first romance fic I've attempted and constructive criticism is welcome. I'm probably going to continue it, but not very often because I'm working on another Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan fic at the same time. Enjoy and don't forget to tell me what you think!
A.N. #2: Oh, I'm sorry about the formatting with the no tabs thing, but my Mac can't format things in html right for some reason, hence the spaces between paragraphs. Anyone who has experienced this before and figured out how to fix it should drop me a line. (It's about as annoying for me as it is for you) Thanks!
Forbidden
By Ender
It's all getting out of hand, Obi-Wan Kenobi thought to himself as he sat on the sleep couch in his apartment. He sighed and brought a hand up to smooth down his beard. The Jedi Master had just returned from Geonosis and was still reeling from the loss of over sixty Jedi at the hands of the newly discovered Sith. Many of the Council members had not returned, a great blow to the Jedi Order.
Because of that battle, an all-out war was quickly encompassing the galaxy and the resurrected Sith were now controlling the Senate. And on top of that, Obi-Wan's Padawan, Anakin Skywalker, was escorting Senator Amidala back to Naboo. Obi-Wan could not stop himself from becoming more and more suspicious of their feelings for one another. Feelings that were entirely inappropriate for a Jedi, even dangerous. The situation could hardly get any worse.
Running a calloused hand through his thick hair, Obi-Wan stood and made his way out of the room. He knew he needed to meditate to release his frustration with the entire situation. The lake level would be the perfect spot to calm himself.
After taking a nearby turbolift to the 43rd level, Obi-Wan made his way around the main lake on a path weaving through the lush vegetation. He spotted an alcove near an outcropping of rock and decided to stop there. The Jedi Master dropped to his knees on the soft green grass, assuming the typical Jedi meditation pose.
Now comfortable, Obi-Wan cleared his mind of all his worries and doubts. It was harder than he realized; the effects of the last few weeks had piled up. He had begun to question the safety of the galaxy, the fate of the Jedi, and even his own capabilities as a teacher for Anakin. The Padawan had become even more unruly at late, making Obi-Wan wonder if he was the right Jedi to be instructing the Chosen One. Surely a more experienced Jedi could do it better, but Obi-Wan's promise to Qui-Gon stood and he would honor it.
The sheer thought of his former Master made Obi-Wan's heart clench for a bare second. The Jedi knew he had never really recovered from Qui-Gon's death, as much as he tried to let his old friend go. Obi-Wan pulled his thoughts back to the present, something Qui-Gon had adamantly taught him, and focused again on clearing his mind. Thirty long minutes later, it finally was, but his frustration still remained.
Before Obi-Wan could release the frustration, he sensed a presence near him in the alcove. Bringing himself out of the meditative trance, Obi-Wan opened his sapphire eyes and searched out who was approaching. He saw it was Luminara Unduli, a female Jedi he had worked with before on Ansion and Geonosis.
Luminara's honey-colored skin was highlighted by the lighting far above them, appearing radiant to the casual observer. Blue diamond tattoos adorned her lower lip, the color matching that of her robes and headdress. By far the most striking thing about her was her deep blue eyes, the cobalt pupils always seeming to look straight through people. Luminara was a respected Jedi Master, skilled in many areas, and definitely one of the most exotically stunning in the Order.
Her beautiful eyes met Obi-Wan's as he turned slightly to acknowledge her. Seeing that he had noticed her presence, Luminara came closer.
"Do you mind if I join you?" she asked him.
"Of course not," Obi-Wan replied. He had always enjoyed her company and after working with her on Ansion considered her to be one of his good friends. Luminara's presence even seemed to melt away some of the tension that had been building inside him since the war had begun. He wondered why for a short moment, then shook his head, concluding that it was just because of their friendship, nothing more.
The attractive Jedi walked up next to him and sat down to his left, her cloak billowing around her. She let her long legs dangle over a nearby ledge that hung out over a portion of the lake, her perfectly sculpted hands gripping the ledge itself. Obi-Wan followed her lead and sat over the ledge as well, his legs possessing the barest hint of a cramp from sitting in the meditative position so long. A comfortable silence fell over the two companions as they gazed out over the peaceful water, listening to the calls of various wildlife.
After a pause, Luminara turned to Obi-Wan.
"I'm sorry if you didn't want to be disturbed. I was just passing by and saw you meditating," Obi-Wan smiled at her, waving his hand slightly.
"Really, I don't mind. I was just finding my center." His smile lessened, the corners of his mouth turning down. "Which has been harder to do lately." Luminara mirrored his look.
"I know what you mean. The past few weeks have been a disaster." The female Jedi's gaze fell on Obi-Wan's shoulder, then moved on to his leg. "How are those burns?"
"They're fine," Obi-Wan answered, flexing his injured arm in a circle. "I'm still a little stiff, but the bacta did wonders. How about you?"
"The blaster burn went away after a bacta bath," Luminara grimaced. "I can still taste that awful stuff in the back of my throat."
Obi-Wan laughed, familiar with the feeling. Luminara shared the laugh, then grew more serious.
"Barriss is still recovering from the battle. A blaster bolt hit her in the stomach, but thank the Force it missed most of the important organs."
"I'm sorry," Obi-Wan replied sorrowfully, even though he had no part in the event. "I hope she has a fast recovery." The Jedi Master was usually very reserved in public, but still laid a comforting hand on Luminara's shoulder.
"Thank you," she told him, "They say she will be back to herself with time."
"I'm sure Anakin will want to visit her when he gets back." Luminara's solemn expression turned to one of curiosity.
"Where is Anakin?" Obi-Wan looked troubled at the question.
"He's escorting Senator Amidala back to Naboo." His tone spoke volumes of what he thought of that idea.
"And that would be a bad thing?" Luminara asked. She saw a mask go over the bearded Jedi's face, something that disturbed her. Obi-Wan had never looked this troubled in the past. He paused, then answered her question.
"I sense a bond is forming between them. He refuses to listen to me about it, about everything. He even questioned my judgment in front of the Senator herself. I try to keep him on the path of a Jedi, but he continues to pull away. It makes me wonder." Obi-Wan trailed off, not finishing his sentence. Luminara, though she had known Obi-Wan for a few years, knew him well enough to realize what he was thinking.
"You wonder if you're being a good enough Master," she finished for him. His look was enough to show her she was right. Obi-Wan glanced up, his light blue eyes making contact with her darker ones.
"Every time I look at it I realize that Qui-Gon would have been such a better Master to Anakin than I will ever be. If I had only done enough to save him...maybe Qui-Gon could've tamed Anakin's free spirit."
The female Jedi could feel his despair and pain that had been released at the mention of Obi-Wan's beloved Master. He looked away, unable to say any more.
Luminara reached an arm around his shoulder, careful not to touch his bandaged wound, and pulled him to her lightly. Obi-Wan hadn't been held like this in over ten years, the embrace making him feel a bit embarrassed. It was comforting though, and the normally stoic Jedi Master felt himself lean into her side, his head laying on her shoulder.
This was extremely intimate for the two Jedi, but Obi-Wan and Luminara knew they needed the comfort. They both had been through a lot in the past few weeks, receiving wounds only healed by the compassion of another. Obi-Wan let himself relax as he closed his eyes, his thoughts drifting back to Qui-Gon.
The tall Jedi Master's face appeared unbidden in Obi-Wan's mind, his compassionate smile seeming to look at his former Padawan. Tears sprung to Obi-Wan's closed eyes as he let long-forgotten memories of his former Master flash through his mind.
Luminara noticed his change in mood and pulled him closer, slowly rubbing her hand over his back. She understood what he was going through completely, his carefully erected walls coming down after ten years. She had experienced the same thing when her Master had died years before. She felt a strong wave of pity run through her as the saltwater tears dropped from Obi-Wan's eyes, blazing shining trails down his cheeks before soaking into his light brown beard.
Raising her honey-colored hand, Luminara cradled his head and brushed her thumb over his cheek, wiping the moisture from his face. The tears started to subside as Obi-Wan slowly opened his eyes and pulled back slightly. Luminara realized her heart had begun to beat faster and was surprised to feel a wave of disappointment run through her as Obi-Wan moved away, her hand still on his cheek.
Obi-Wan was also amazed at the electrifying shock that ran through his body at her touch. He pondered what it meant, purposely ignoring the warning bells going off in the back of his head. He couldn't think straight, lost in the glorious feeling he had never felt for an other person. His gaze locked with Luminara's as he stared into her lovely eyes. She really was a beautiful woman, he thought to himself, and yet a powerful Jedi with both wit and cunning.
The Jedi lost all coherent thought as he looked at her, his pounding heart the only thing registering in the frozen mind. His breath quickening, Obi-Wan leaned closer to Luminara, stopping his face right in front of hers. He paused, searching her expression and expecting her to pull away. Luminara was as still as stone, not even moving as Obi-Wan brought his hand up and placed it over hers, still resting on his cheek.
Tracing a slow circle on her silky skin with his thumb, Obi-Wan leaned forward and closed the distance between them, his lips meeting hers. He was lost in the sensation immediately, his senses overwhelmed by her touch, her scent, her taste. A hot wave rushed through him as her hand pulled him in even closer, moving to rest on the nape of his neck to play with is hair. Never before had Obi-Wan felt like this, so attuned, attracted to a woman like Luminara.
His arm snaked around her waist and they moved even closer. As their bodies touched, Obi-Wan felt another wave move through him, overloading his senses beyond belief. Before he could register it, though, the nagging voice in the back of his voice returned, bringing with it a realization of what her was doing. Luminara clearly experienced the same, both of them rapidly pulling back and gasping in alarm at what they were doing.
Forcing themselves apart, they went back to their previous positions and silent, trying to come to terms with what had just occurred. Luminara gripped the ledge so tight her fingers turned a bleach white, staring over the still tranquil water with a dazed expression. Obi-Wan was doing the same; he couldn't believe he had done the very thing he had rebuked his Padawan for.
Attachment is forbidden. Possession is forbidden. Obi-Wan repeated part of the Jedi code as a mantra, forcing himself to calm down. He pulled in a deep breath and held it, letting it out slowly after a count of three. Horrified shame took over his mind, clouding his words as he spoke.
"I'm sorry," Obi-Wan's voice trembled, "I-I don't know what came over me." Part of him was remorseful, wanting to take back what he had done. Another part he didn't want to think about the part that screamed at him to take her in his arms again, code be damned. Luminara's voice was just as shaky as his when she spoke in a dead voice.
"It wasn't just you. I didn't stop it when I could."
They both fell silent, the absence of sound now making them more and more uncomfortable. Obi-Wan spared a glance at her, taking note of her alarmed features. There was something in her eyes that her saw, the realized it was a faint longing, mirroring what he was feeling. I love her, he thought to himself. And although it was obvious, those words brought everything into line, the words that he had been denying adamantly in his subconscious for weeks. Luminara sensed his change in mood and looked at him, recognizing his emotions.
"What are we going to do?" Her question didn't need to be clarified, Obi-Wan knew exactly what she was talking about.
"I don't know," Obi-Wan replied in a resigned voice. "We're two of the most disciplined Jedi in the entire Order; breaking the code would be unthinkable. But I've never...felt like this before, loved a person this much."
She cautiously took his hand in hers, sending her emotions to the Force so he could feel how much she loved him back. Luminara tried numerous situations in her head, but could not come up with a way for them to be together. Her stubborn streak kicked in, almost as strong as Obi-Wan's unyielding personality when he wanted to be. They would find a way. She leaned a little closer, her voice becoming rock hard.
"We'll figure something out. We have to."