See prologue for usual info: AN, disclaimers and such.
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Not your Sycophant
Laughter echoed through the room, sardonic hideous sounds. The ginger haired youth remained on the ground kneeling, his hand held his charred arm, biting his lip to hold back the tears of pain. Tears that also could expose his shame at the ridicule he dealt with daily. Often he debated if this agony was better than the satisfaction of beating his unforgiving opponents, but alas he recalled the last and only time he showed his skill. His back still bore the scar for such insolence, and so resigned himself to bare this mockery.
The three that surrounded him insultingly included his two stepbrothers and their equally nasty friend. It was this friend who broke from their hilarity to speak in gulping breaths, "Again, Oafy-Wan is the Loser!" And the trio broke out once again into hysterics. Toying with the inflicted, the pale-haired boy rounded the object of their contempt and nudged him in the back. "Want another lesson, Oafy? I'm sure another session can be arranged."
Turbulent seas could barely been seen through sully ginger bangs. In contrast, the piercing azure gazes of his tormentors burrowed into him. "I have chores to do, masters." He hoped this valid excuse would relieve him from another bout of sparring. Honestly, he could have defeated all of them individually, or as a group since that was what they often preferred to do, but he feared the punishment more than the desire for victory. So he resolved to repeatedly 'let them win' and dealt with the minor injuries and hurt pride instead. "You wouldn't want to anger your father, would you?"
"We, would never do such a thing," the eldest of the brothers responded. His crisp ebony hair hung down to his shoulders. "However, you do serve us as well. And if we wish it, you will remain here to play with us."
The younger brother hopped around and added, "That's right. You'll just have to do your chores later."
"But sirs, I need to finish them so that I can begin dinner," Obi-Wan argued. He tried to rise but was swiftly knocked back down. Instinctively, he used his hands to cushion his fall, but yelped suddenly at the fires erupting from his wound. The condoning laughter re-commenced at his suffering. Pleadingly, he turned to the older boy and requested, "Xanatos, please."
"But we still want to fight, don't we Anakin?" Xanatos barked back. The mousy-brown haired youth came up to stand behind his brother.
"I know I do," announced the young boy. Then turning he looked at the remaining participant. "Bruck, what do you think?"
"Come on, Oafy, don't be such a wimp." Mocked the boy as he came up to prod Obi-Wan in the leg with his boot.
"Get up and fight us." Demanded Xanatos. He stepped forward and gave Obi- Wan a quick kick to his side. Obi-Wan rolled away to avoid anymore contact, hissing between his teeth as his wound was aggravated. Backing away, he managed to gain his footing. Now he stared into the cobalt glares eyeing him up to make their move.
Anakin lunged first, activating his practice saber and attacked. Obi-Wan dodged and almost collided with Bruck's humming blade. Ducking and rolling past the boys, Obi-wan frantically searched for his own lightsaber. Spying it at the edge of the training mat, he dashed for it. Suddenly, he felt a swipe come at him from behind and quickly maneuvered to avoid the cowardly slash.
In an instant the menacing form of Xanatos blocked his path. Obi-Wan skidded to a halt as the humming sapphire blade hovered closer to him. Frustration had been lingering at the edge of his mind, but he could finally no longer contain it. Indiscreetly, Obi-Wan held out a hand and called the dormant saber from the floor. Activating it upon contact, Obi- Wan now stood ready to face his opponents.
The trio glanced at each other at this turn of events. Xanatos questioned, "Who do you think you are?" Obi-Wan said nothing while maintaining his defensive posture.
Anakin scoffed, "Just because you're loser father was a Jedi doesn't mean you are."
"Don't talk about my father." Obi-Wan warned, his grip tightening around the metallic cylinder. Anakin and Bruck gave each other wicked glares.
"Guess he wasn't that good of a Jedi since he died." Bruck came to stand behind Obi-Wan's right shoulder. Anakin fell into place on the target's left shoulder and Xanatos held his position in front. Obi-Wan was effectively surrounded by the boys and he did his best to stay alert through his growing anger.
Xanatos admonished, "Now that's not nice Bruck." The dark haired youth shot them a harsh glare. And for a moment Obi-Wan was taken completely off guard, no one had ever defended him before. That thought was about to be shattered as Xanatos continued, "If you are going to talk about failures, then there's none worse than his mother."
Hurt by the crude remark, Obi-Wan blinked back tears and charged at his older stepbrother. The quartet moved constantly as they lunged and parried in turn. The blur of cerulean light pulsated as they swing and clashed. For some time the fight continued, none gaining or losing ground. Eventually, they tired and slowly they stood, with Obi-Wan opposite the three boys. "I have to get to my chores." Obi-Wan declared, shutting off his saber. The others huffing from the exhaustion said nothing and powered down their weapons.
Relieved that they were finally finished with him, Obi-Wan turned to exit the training room. His tired mind registered the Force warning a moment too late. He found himself on the ground covered by his rivals. The tangled mass of bodies fought for a moment before Obi-Wan's head hit the ground with a loud thud. Dazed for a moment, Xanatos, Anakin and Bruck dragged the subdued youth to a metal loop on the wall. One of the boys brought out a length of rope and began wrapping Obi-Wan's wrist. They pulled the rope through the loop and secured his other wrist.
The vicious trio laughed, and Anakin could be heard over the din, "Ok, Oafy, you can do your chores now, that is, once you manage to get out." The echoing cackles faded as they made their way out, and Obi-Wan was left alone.
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Don't forget to review!!! Please!!! Thank you!!
Oh, and as a side note, this is being written in response to a plot bunny posted by Arldetta on Shanobi's Plot Bunny thread on TF.N. Thank you for reading!! : D
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Not your Sycophant
Laughter echoed through the room, sardonic hideous sounds. The ginger haired youth remained on the ground kneeling, his hand held his charred arm, biting his lip to hold back the tears of pain. Tears that also could expose his shame at the ridicule he dealt with daily. Often he debated if this agony was better than the satisfaction of beating his unforgiving opponents, but alas he recalled the last and only time he showed his skill. His back still bore the scar for such insolence, and so resigned himself to bare this mockery.
The three that surrounded him insultingly included his two stepbrothers and their equally nasty friend. It was this friend who broke from their hilarity to speak in gulping breaths, "Again, Oafy-Wan is the Loser!" And the trio broke out once again into hysterics. Toying with the inflicted, the pale-haired boy rounded the object of their contempt and nudged him in the back. "Want another lesson, Oafy? I'm sure another session can be arranged."
Turbulent seas could barely been seen through sully ginger bangs. In contrast, the piercing azure gazes of his tormentors burrowed into him. "I have chores to do, masters." He hoped this valid excuse would relieve him from another bout of sparring. Honestly, he could have defeated all of them individually, or as a group since that was what they often preferred to do, but he feared the punishment more than the desire for victory. So he resolved to repeatedly 'let them win' and dealt with the minor injuries and hurt pride instead. "You wouldn't want to anger your father, would you?"
"We, would never do such a thing," the eldest of the brothers responded. His crisp ebony hair hung down to his shoulders. "However, you do serve us as well. And if we wish it, you will remain here to play with us."
The younger brother hopped around and added, "That's right. You'll just have to do your chores later."
"But sirs, I need to finish them so that I can begin dinner," Obi-Wan argued. He tried to rise but was swiftly knocked back down. Instinctively, he used his hands to cushion his fall, but yelped suddenly at the fires erupting from his wound. The condoning laughter re-commenced at his suffering. Pleadingly, he turned to the older boy and requested, "Xanatos, please."
"But we still want to fight, don't we Anakin?" Xanatos barked back. The mousy-brown haired youth came up to stand behind his brother.
"I know I do," announced the young boy. Then turning he looked at the remaining participant. "Bruck, what do you think?"
"Come on, Oafy, don't be such a wimp." Mocked the boy as he came up to prod Obi-Wan in the leg with his boot.
"Get up and fight us." Demanded Xanatos. He stepped forward and gave Obi- Wan a quick kick to his side. Obi-Wan rolled away to avoid anymore contact, hissing between his teeth as his wound was aggravated. Backing away, he managed to gain his footing. Now he stared into the cobalt glares eyeing him up to make their move.
Anakin lunged first, activating his practice saber and attacked. Obi-Wan dodged and almost collided with Bruck's humming blade. Ducking and rolling past the boys, Obi-wan frantically searched for his own lightsaber. Spying it at the edge of the training mat, he dashed for it. Suddenly, he felt a swipe come at him from behind and quickly maneuvered to avoid the cowardly slash.
In an instant the menacing form of Xanatos blocked his path. Obi-Wan skidded to a halt as the humming sapphire blade hovered closer to him. Frustration had been lingering at the edge of his mind, but he could finally no longer contain it. Indiscreetly, Obi-Wan held out a hand and called the dormant saber from the floor. Activating it upon contact, Obi- Wan now stood ready to face his opponents.
The trio glanced at each other at this turn of events. Xanatos questioned, "Who do you think you are?" Obi-Wan said nothing while maintaining his defensive posture.
Anakin scoffed, "Just because you're loser father was a Jedi doesn't mean you are."
"Don't talk about my father." Obi-Wan warned, his grip tightening around the metallic cylinder. Anakin and Bruck gave each other wicked glares.
"Guess he wasn't that good of a Jedi since he died." Bruck came to stand behind Obi-Wan's right shoulder. Anakin fell into place on the target's left shoulder and Xanatos held his position in front. Obi-Wan was effectively surrounded by the boys and he did his best to stay alert through his growing anger.
Xanatos admonished, "Now that's not nice Bruck." The dark haired youth shot them a harsh glare. And for a moment Obi-Wan was taken completely off guard, no one had ever defended him before. That thought was about to be shattered as Xanatos continued, "If you are going to talk about failures, then there's none worse than his mother."
Hurt by the crude remark, Obi-Wan blinked back tears and charged at his older stepbrother. The quartet moved constantly as they lunged and parried in turn. The blur of cerulean light pulsated as they swing and clashed. For some time the fight continued, none gaining or losing ground. Eventually, they tired and slowly they stood, with Obi-Wan opposite the three boys. "I have to get to my chores." Obi-Wan declared, shutting off his saber. The others huffing from the exhaustion said nothing and powered down their weapons.
Relieved that they were finally finished with him, Obi-Wan turned to exit the training room. His tired mind registered the Force warning a moment too late. He found himself on the ground covered by his rivals. The tangled mass of bodies fought for a moment before Obi-Wan's head hit the ground with a loud thud. Dazed for a moment, Xanatos, Anakin and Bruck dragged the subdued youth to a metal loop on the wall. One of the boys brought out a length of rope and began wrapping Obi-Wan's wrist. They pulled the rope through the loop and secured his other wrist.
The vicious trio laughed, and Anakin could be heard over the din, "Ok, Oafy, you can do your chores now, that is, once you manage to get out." The echoing cackles faded as they made their way out, and Obi-Wan was left alone.
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Don't forget to review!!! Please!!! Thank you!!
Oh, and as a side note, this is being written in response to a plot bunny posted by Arldetta on Shanobi's Plot Bunny thread on TF.N. Thank you for reading!! : D