Chapter: Fifteen: The Friends' Attachment
Ch. Summary: Obi-Wan and Quinlan reconnect. Jaster and Yoda have a philosophical debate.
Quinlan Vos thought he was going crazy when he first heard the Mandalorian's voice. They sounded so much like Obi-Wan, but it had been almost exactly three years since the younger boy had disappeared. Surely it was impossible. He'd felt almost as much grief when Obi-Wan went missing as he had when his birth family died. When Master Dooku came back with news that he was alive, Quinlan had been so relieved.
That Obi-Wan hadn't returned to the Jedi didn't matter so much. Just knowing that his friend was out there somewhere alive and well was enough, but it had been kinda lonely. And definitely more boring around the temple without Obi-Wan there to get into trouble with.
So he'd been fully prepared to accept that he was just missing his friend a little too much when the Mandalorian's voice sounded so familiar. But then the Mando had cursed and Quinlan would know that righteously indignant tone anywhere. He'd only ever heard it from Obi-Wan when that little shit Bruck Chun had picked on any of their friends.
So he waited with anxious hope for the Mando to respond to his hopeful question.
"Quinlan Vos, what the kriff are you doing here?"
"Hah!" Quinlan shouted in glee, a bright smile breaking out over his face. "Obes! I knew it was you!"
"No, you didn't!" the Mandalorian – Obi-Wan – protested and slowly straightened from his guard stance. He didn't turn off his lightsaber. "You literally just asked if my name was Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"Pfft," waving a dismissive hand at his long lost friend, Quinlan couldn't stop grinning. "It's great to see you, buddy. Well," Quinlan shrugged, "sorta, since you have the armor and the-"
"Padawan!" Jerking his attention back to his really miffed and slightly confused master, Quinlan smiled sheepishly.
"Yes, Master?"
"Care to explain what exactly is going on, Quinlan?" Jedi Shadow Master Tholme drawled pointedly, unimpressed by his padawan's nonchalant demeanor.
"Right, yeah, of course." Clearing his throat, Quinlan gestured to the lightsaber wielding Mandalorian, "This is my best bud, Obi-Wan Kenobi, we were in the same initiate clan back at the temple growing up. Obi-Wan this is my Jedi Master, Master Tholme."
It was only then that the Mandalorian shut his saber off and clipped it to his belt. Just opposite the curved sword and the blaster.
"Master Tholme," the Mandalorian, Obi-Wan, pressed a fist to his chest respectfully in greeting.
Tholme shut off and put away his lightsaber as well then returned the greeting with a bow and took the new calm to search out his previous opponent in the Force. He was ashamed to admit that had he not been so distracted by the perceived danger of a Mandalorian near a Force-sensitive youngling he would have noticed the solid, thorough shielding in the armored warrior's mind as well as his surprisingly strong Force presence.
"I have to ask, Mister Kenobi," Tholme started seriously, "why are you here and what is your business with the youngling?"
"Master!" Quinlan scolded in embarrassment.
Obi-Wan for his part respected Master Tholme's caution, but that didn't stop him from grinning behind his mask at his friend's dramatics. The older man's question did remind him, though.
Before answering Obi-Wan turned and crouched by the bed peeking underneath. "It's alright, Aayla. You can come out now. They're friendly."
Slower than before, the little girl poked her head out, eyeing the two other beings suspiciously, but eventually she crawled free again. Obi-Wan held out a hand for her and she grabbed it, but hid behind his leg once he stood up and turned back to the two Jedi.
"I'm on a bounty hunt, Master Tholme," Obi-Wan finally explained. "This," kicked the still unconscious criminal in demonstration, "was my bounty, but when I got here I found little Aayla locked in a cage in the closet. The bounty came back and I subdued him just before you showed up."
Some of the tension eased out of the room and Tholme let out a silent breath of relief. There had been no lie, no subterfuge in Kenobi's words.
"Padawan Vos and I are on a mission, we're conducting an investigation into the kidnapping and trafficking of Force-sensitives," the master offered in bare bones.
Nodding, "I figured," Obi-Wan frowned as a realization came to him. "You were following my bounty to get information out of him."
"Yes, we believe he's a middle man, maybe even a broker." Tholme didn't want to give too many details of their mission away, even to a former Jedi as he felt safe to believe Kenobi was. "We need to interrogate him. He might have valuable information about the operation and the other players."
Biting his lip, Obi-Wan debated silently with himself. If he didn't return with the bounty payout would his verd'goten still be considered successful? Getting intel to stop a sentient trafficking ring that dealt in children was more important than getting his money, he was sure every Mando'ad would agree.
But was there a way to do both?
"Master Tholme, this bounty is my coming of age hunt in Mandalorian tradition," Obi-Wan confessed. "Is there a way I can collect the bounty and you can still take custody of him afterward?"
A little surprised the young Mandalorian was so forthcoming, especially considering the ancient warriors were known for being slightly secretive, Tholme considered his question.
"What constitutes a successful coming of age hunt?" he asked.
"For a bounty hunt I would need a receipt from the Guild outpost and the sum of the bounty reward in credits or other currency."
"Could you turn in the bounty then we could just take custody from the Guild?" Quinlan suggested, intrigued by this coming of age revelation and a little worried about his friend becoming a Jedi hating warrior.
"Once he's in Guild custody I would have to petition Judicial to get access to him," Tholme said with a shake of his head. "It could take weeks or even months and by then every lead would be cold."
The older man eyed the young Mandalorian as he held the tiny Twi'lek's hand and let her hide behind his armored leg.
Tholme hummed in thought. "How about this: We both take him to the Guild, but I claim responsibility for the actual capture. If I'm the one that apprehended him I don't have to wait on chain of custody procedure from Judicial. I'll give you the reward and the Guild receipt. Even though it'll have my name on it you can take that back as proof of the bounty being fulfilled."
There was a long moment where Obi-Wan thought that through. He decided that sounded like the best scenario. Master Tholme and Quinlan got to interrogate the slaver and he got the reward and the proof of capture receipt to take back to Jaster and the Goran. If that turned out not to be enough then, well, Obi-Wan shrugged mentally, he'll just have to go on another hunt.
"That's acceptable," he agreed and the Jedi Master gave a restrained though genuine smile.
"Now, we need to discuss what to do about little Aayla here," Tholme said and Obi-Wan tensed up.
"She wasn't taken from the temple," Obi-Wan stated more than asked.
"No," Tholme shook his head. "but she is Force-sensitive and she was kidnapped, the Jedi have jurisdiction. We need to find her family and return her or take her back the temple if that's not an option."
Contrary to popular humor, Mandalorians do not actually adopt every abandoned child they come across. Part of their creed and the Supercommando Codex that the Haat Mando'ade – that all Mando'ade should - live by is to care for all children. Whether that means taking them into your family to be raised as a Mandalorian, returning them to their own people, or giving them to someone else better equipped to care for them, it was all part of the same belief and action.
Obi-Wan knew that Master Tholme was right. Aayla was far from home and the Jedi were the best able to help her either return to her family or raise her safely and happily. He certainly wasn't ready to take on the full responsibility of caring for a child, so his decision seemed clear.
"I'd like to stay until you know if she can be returned home or if she will go to the temple," Obi-Wan said. "But you're right, the Jedi are the best ones to care for her, now."
As he agreed to the young man's request, Tholme silently contemplated Kenobi's cautious acquiescence. Any normal teenager would be eager to unload the responsibility of a child, but the young Mandalorian was almost reluctant. Perhaps the caution had something to do with the rumors that Mandalorians value children just as much as Jedi.
"I think we should leave this place now that our next course of action has been decided on," Tholme said.
"I'll levitate the slaver scum," Quinlan offered flashing Obi-Wan a teasing smile and earning himself a huff and a shoulder twitch that could be the equivalent of an eye roll. "Obes, you can take care of your little shadow."
Not arguing, Obi-Wan looked down at Aayla, who was staring at Quinlan with an intrigued look on her face. "Aayla, we're going to go with our new friends," he explained in Ryl, not noticing the Jedi Master watching the interaction with interest. "We should be very safe with them."
Nodding, the little girl mumbled a garbled agreement then raised her arms in a universal request.
Chuckling quietly, Obi-Wan muttered, "Well, my armor won't be very comfortable, but okay," then he bent down and lifted her up with ease. She weighed less than a feather, he thought in fleeting worry as he settled her on his left side. He kept his arm under her butt to hold her above and away from his ibeskad/i and blaster.
Not seeming to mind his cool, hard outer shell, Aayla wrapped her arms around his neck and watched the action around her silently.
"Awww! Obi! I didn't know you were so good with kids," Quinlan squealed in exaggerated glee earning himself a surprisingly hard backhand to the shoulder from his friend.
"Shut up, Quin," Obi-Wan grumbled embarrassed making the other teen chuckle at him and give him a light push back.
"Alright, that's enough," Tholme decided he needed to step in before the teasing and light hitting turned into teenager boy roughhousing. That tiny Twi'lek didn't looked sturdy enough to withstand the clashing of a Mandalorian and a Jedi no matter how good-natured it might be. "We've got a job to do."
"Yes, Master," the two boys replied in reflex and Tholme raised an eyebrow at that. It was interesting to him that though Kenobi had presumably not been with the Jedi for a number of years, some ingrained habits died hard.
Quinlan exited the motel room first levitating the unconscious criminal behind him with Obi-Wan and his little companion next and Tholme bringing up the rear.
Obi-Wan was almost to the door when he felt the Force give him a little poke. Pausing on the threshold, he ignored Master Tholme's questioning sound and looked around. The Force wanted him to grab something, but he couldn't see what-
Ah. Stooping down, Obi-Wan snatched his bounty's bag off the floor where it had been dropped during their fight. It was surprisingly weighty for being an unstructured satchel. Slinging it over his childless shoulder, Obi-Wan figured he could wait to investigate until later.
They needed to get the criminal to the Guild before he woke up and tried to make an escape.
Jaster had thought maybe the Jedi Grand Master would leave once Obi-Wan went off on his verd'goten, but no. Yoda had decided to stay until the boy returned. At least that's what the ancient being said when politely asked about it.
"See all my students to their Knighting, I do. No different for Obi-Wan, will it be."
Jaster could respect that. Still without the buffer of their fiery redheaded teen many of the Mando'ade were stumped on how to treat the little creature that meditated in the palace gardens for hours or took tea and shig in seemingly random sitting rooms. Several Mand'ade even swore up and down that they spotted the venerable master catching and eating frogs from the pond in the gardens.
Though he was skeptical and scolded them for spreading rumors about their guest, Jaster would occasionally catch a suspicious glint of Yoda's sharp pointed teeth. Then he'd shake his head for being ridiculous and get back to his paperwork.
This afternoon, Jaster felt restless, worry for Obi-Wan and the stress of various political issues chasing him from his office and out for a walk in the gardens. He hadn't been out there for ten minutes when he turned a corner and came upon Yoda sitting serenely on the bench next to the pond.
About to turn around so he didn't disturb the Jedi, Jaster was stopped by a pleasant greeting.
"Clear the mind, a good stroll does, hmm." Master Yoda's throaty voice was light and welcoming.
Moving closer at the implied invitation, Jaster took a seat next to the old Jedi.
"I'm not quite as restless as I used to be, but sometimes I can only take so much sitting and reading."
"Grew tired of paperwork, I did also," Yoda said and Jaster would swear there was a mischievous gleam in those large eyes. "The reason I appointed a Master of the Order, it was. Teach younglings and boss the young masters around, I do now. The politics and bureaucracy, Master Windu handles. Receive the respect, I do, with none of the headache."
Jaster couldn't help the surprised and amused laughter that burst out of him. "That's an idea," he said. "Unfortunately, I haven't been Mand'alor long enough to quite justify a semi-retirement."
Yoda eyed the younger man next to him and hummed. "Many years, you have yet. Need you the Mando'ade, still do."
He didn't know whether to be comforted by the thought of having those years or concerned that Mandalore's situation might take that long to stabilize.
"Boredom, not the only reason for your wandering, I think."
Frowning at the Jedi's astute observation, Jaster sighed. "I worry about Obi-Wan."
"Faith in his abilities, you do not have?" Yoda asked neutrally.
"Of course I have faith in him," Jaster protested with a scowl then grimaced. "I was like this when Jango went on his verd'goten as well," he admitted.
"Ah," the tiny master nodded knowingly. "To worry needlessly," he said, "it is a parent's right."
Turning to regard the Jedi curiously, Jaster commented, "I did not think Jedi would understand things like this, since you claim none of you are parents."
A frown creased at that already wrinkled brow. "Parents, we are not," he reiterated. "But raise children, we do. From adolescence to adulthood, we have our padawans. Feed and clothe and care for them, our privilege it is. The ways of the Force, we teach them. To choose their path in life, we help guide them."
The old master's large ears drooped a little. Jaster had noticed that if nothing else, Yoda's ears were a fairly consistent indicator of his mood.
"Worry, we do, endlessly, that if struggle they do, that fail them we have."
Jaster let the silence sit for a moment before responding. "It sounds to me like," he said slowly keeping an eye on Yoda to gauge his reaction, "you just described exactly what it means to be a parent."
He received a sharp look for that. "Attached, we must not become. Risk losing control and Falling, we do."
Snorting at that, Jaster gave the ancient being an unimpressed look. "You're already attached. You said it yourself. Jedi worry and care for their students. It's impossible to invest so much time and energy into raising another sentient being without becoming attached. And if it was possible, if you could show me a being that spent years in the company of a child raising them to adulthood and still maintained complete emotional detachment I would shoot them dead because they would be a creature that had no soul, no heart to speak of."
It was a dark, forbidding statement, but Yoda could feel the Force rising up at the truth in the Mand'alor's words. Whether it was a truth of Mand'alor Mereel's violent proclamation or a truth of the nature of a truly unattached sentient, Yoda would have to meditate on later.
"Attachment, we avoid, because fear it induces," Yoda said, not so much to argue or defend, but curious as to how the Mando'ad will counter. "Fear of loss, fear of failure, dangerous to a Jedi fear can be. If fear for an attachment, a Jedi does, compromise their mission it can. Compromise their judgment, their ethics, it could."
"The Jedi aren't special in that regard," Jaster retorted dismissively. "By that logic politicians, doctors, military leaders, law enforcement, monarchs, even religious leaders should all be forbidden attachments. The risk that fear for a loved one might compromise their duty is a concern in all of those professions. A healthy, smart sentient works past the temptation with logic and rational reasoning and does their damn job."
The younger man paused then turned a pointed look on Yoda. "Are you saying that the Jedi are unable to manage their own emotions and impulses? Is that why the philosophy of non-attachment was created, because the Jedi are incapable of rational, logical thought?"
Yoda's grimace and scowl was a sight to behold, but Jaster quickly smothered all amusement. This wasn't an amusing conversation by any means.
"Your implication, unappreciated it is," Yoda finally responded. And Jaster figured that was valid, since he had implied that the Jedi mindset was both unhealthy and stupid.
"To care for another sentient being is to become attached, at least to a degree," Jaster said in a much less confrontational tone. "Or would you say that you don't care for Obi-Wan at all?"
Huffing, Yoda waved a clawed hand at the Mand'alor. "Yes, yes. Aware of my own frowned-upon attachments, I am. Care a great deal for Obi-Wan, I do."
Lips twitching at the almost childish gesture from the venerable Jedi, Jaster conceded with a nod. "Then that's all that matters really. That Obi-Wan is cared for and happy."
Expression lightening at that, Yoda's ears straightened out and there was a calming in his agitated demeanor. "Of care and happiness, no shortage do I see for Obi-Wan."
Though smiling at the sentiment, Jaster confessed, "I'm still going to worry for him, though. As you said, it's my right as his parent."
Yoda's eyes had returned to their gleaming serene nature. "Worry, you should not. A great Mando'ad, Obi-Wan will be."
They sat in companionable quiet for a moment when Jaster's thoughts were interrupted by a pointed hum.
Looking back down at the small, green Jedi, Jaster saw a deliberately nonchalant look on Yoda's face.
"Out of curiosity, would you say, a verd'goten, take how long does it usually?"
It took Jaster a moment to parse that out, but then all he could do was chuckle.
It was a little more than an hour before Obi-Wan was walking out of the Guild outpost with a substantial amount of credits in reward, a bounty receipt, a tiny blue companion, and an anxiously bouncing friend. Master Tholme stayed behind to begin the interrogation and search into Aayla's family.
"Come on," Quinlan stepped ahead and began leading the way. "We parked in the public space port."
It had been decided after a short discussion that it was be better to take Aayla to the Jedi's ship instead of Obi-Wan's. Since the Jedi would eventually be taking her either home or to the temple, she should get familiar with the environment of their ship.
The walk was short and after a quick scan by a medi-droid, the two teenagers and one toddler were settling in the small eating area on the Jedi shuttle.
"So," Quinlan hedged slightly nervously, "Are you not allowed to take the helmet off then or…?"
"Oh!" Obi-Wan set down the ration bar he'd been trying to feed Aayla and quickly released the seals on his chain mail pulling the mask and cowl over his head. "Sorry. It's discouraged to take the helmet off before the hunt is completely finished."
Seeing the familiar, if aged, visage of his childhood friend made any lingering tension in Quinlan's stomach relax. "Hey! Your hair's all grown out."
Huffing, Obi-Wan ran his fingers through his messy hair and frowned teasingly at his friend. "So's yours, Quin."
Growing abruptly serious, Quinlan ran his eyes over his friend's face intently. "We miss you at the temple, Obi-Wan," he said.
Feeling guilt in his belly, Obi-Wan gave a sad smile. "I miss you guys too."
"I get wanting to leave the Order, it's just not some people's bag, but we thought you were kriffing dead, Obi-Wan. For a whole year," Quinlan told him a scowl creasing at his dark brow. "Bant cried for days, Obi."
Hissing out a sharp breath, Obi-Wan avoided eye contact for a long moment. Then Aayla placed a tiny hand over his in a clumsy attempt to comfort. Looking down at her concerned little face, Obi-Wan gave her a slight smile and handed her the ration bar as a distraction.
"I'm sorry, Quinlan," he said, "I should have found a way to contact you all, but I just..." he sighed deeply. "What happened on Bandomeer was bad, Quin. I couldn't stay in the AgriCorps and I couldn't convince Master Jinn to take me as a padawan. It seemed like my only option to leave altogether."
"But where did you even go? The Council sent out a search part when Jinn came back to the temple. You'd just disappeared."
A glint of a slight humor crept into Obi-Wan's blue-green eyes and Quinlan raised an eyebrow at that. He didn't think anything about this conversation was funny.
"I joined a pirate crew," the younger, redheaded boy said.
Quinlan stared at him for a long second then, "You're shitting me."
"I shit you not," Obi-Wan retorted with a quickly growing grin. "I bumped into a Weequay pirate stealing mining equipment in the chaos after Xanatos. His pet tried to steal my lightsaber and I convinced him to let me on his crew."
"You're really not shitting me," Quinlan realized in gleeful disbelief. "Holy shit! Obes, tell me everything!"
Chuckling, Obi-Wan grinned brightly at his friend and started off on a long and winding tale of the last three years of his life. Quinlan and Aayla listened intently, though only one of them understood what was actually being said. It seemed the little girl just liked to listen to pleasant happy voices. Halfway through his retelling of his time with the pirates though, Aayla got restless and it was decided that a break was in order.
They'd scrounged up some flimsy and colored styluses from Quinlan's collection and got down on the floor to color as Obi-Wan continued his tale.
"When did you start drawing, Quin?" he asked.
"Master Tholme helped me discover that when I couldn't describe what I was seeing in my visions that drawing what I saw in them allowed me to get my thoughts straight. It's helped a lot."
Smiling softly at his friend, Obi-Wan said, "I'm glad you found a good master, Quinlan."
The other boy grinned at that and nodded. "Yeah. He's a hard-ass, but he's a really good master for me."
Obi-Wan picked up his story again. Though when he got to meeting the True Mandalorians he left out just how involved the conspiracy was, simply saying that Death Watch and the Governor tricked the Jedi in an attempt to murder the Haat Mando'ade.
As he talked, Quinlan drew little scenes from his descriptions for Aayla. The little girl was fascinated and giggled smiling brightly every time she recognized Obi-Wan in one of the pictures.
Obi-Wan was just telling about his fight with Padawan Vosa, when a sudden flash of a vision streaked across his eyes and his words faltered.
He saw Aayla, tall and curvy, her lekku long and elegant. She had a determined expression on her face as she deflected blaster fire with a blue lightsaber. Quinlan appeared at her side broader, stronger, taller, and older, his green saber flashing. He grinned roguishly at her, the stripe of yellow across his nose and cheeks creased with the expression.
From a long distance Obi-Wan heard his friend's voice, deep and mature.
"If you wanted your old master to visit, Aayla, all you had to do was ask!"
"Hey, Obi!"
Jolting from the vision, Obi-Wan blinked spots from his vision. He realized Quinlan was eyeing him with concern. "You okay? You spaced out there for a second, buddy."
"Yeah." Obi-Wan cleared his throat when the word came out raspy. "Yeah, sorry. I'm just a little tired I guess." He flashed him a reassuring smile. "Where was I?"
There was a pause before Quinlan decided to let the subject drop. "You were going to describe how you kicked Dooku's bitchy padawan's ass."
Huffing, Obi-Wan halfheartedly scolded, "Don't be so rude," then continued on with his story.
The only hitch came when he explained the offer Master Dooku made.
Quinlan frowned down at the half finished drawing in front of him. "You didn't want to come back to the temple?"
Biting his lip, Obi-Wan hesitated. "I did," he said honestly. "All I'd ever wanted was to be a Jedi Knight, but…" he shrugged. "I also really wanted to continue on the path I'd started already. When I meditated on it, the Force showed me visions. I don't really remember what was in them, but I know that going with the Mandalorians was the right decision for me."
He didn't tell his friend that he was pretty sure the visions actually showed him that if he'd gone with the Jedi something horrible and devastating would have happened. Something so awful, the Force itself cried out in horror.
Now wasn't the time to dwell on what never would be though, so he shook his head and continued.
"I missed you and Bant and everyone like crazy, but becoming a Mandalorian is the path I am meant for, now."
Nodding solemnly, Quinlan released his hurt, jealousy, longing into the Force. He was happy that his friend was happy, after all. His own feelings of abandonment had no place inside him anymore.
"So," he said once he could be happy and supportive once again, "tell me about the Mandos. Did anyone try to murder you in your sleep?"
Scoffing, Obi-Wan shook his head. "No, Quin. No one tried to murder me." Then he talked about his life on Mandalore.
He even explained the complication that was Melida/Daan.
"You used a Sith ritual!" Quinlan hissed in hushed shock, as if they could be overheard.
"It was the only way to get a Jedi there that I could think of," Obi-Wan defended, his voice just as low and hushed as his friend's. "Interplanetary communications were still out and Master Tahl was badly injured. We needed a fully functioning Jedi Master."
"And it worked?" Quinlan repeated incredulously.
Obi-Wan shrugged. "I didn't think it would at first," he admitted. "I had to use a corrupted kyber crystal as a focus because I didn't want to touch the Dark side and get sucked in."
"Where did you even get a corrupted kyber?"
"Hondo let me claim it as my take on one of our raids," Obi-Wan said. "I started carrying it around after Melida/Daan."
Eyes wide, Quinlan looked his friend up and down searchingly. "Do you have it on you right now?"
A slight smirk curled at Obi-Wan's mouth and Quinlan was immediately wary of that gleam in his eye. "In a manner of speaking," Obi-Wan replied, then unhooked his lightsaber from his belt and ignited the blade.
Mouth dropped open, Quinlan eyed the dark blue-violet blade in awe and incredulity. The unique, changed color of the blade hadn't registered to him with all the other things happening the first time he'd seen it in the slaver's motel room.
"You put it in your kriffing lightsaber?!"
Teeth flashing with pride, Obi-Wan shut off the blade and began explaining how Yoda had shown up one day and announced that he was going to teach Obi-Wan how to use the Force. Quinlan went back to drawing little scenes this time with the addition of a little green troll like figure hopping around the page.
"So that's where Master Yoda ran off too," he said when Obi-Wan finished explaining that the Grand Master had been on Mandalore for the past few months. "You wouldn't believe some of the rumors floating around about his abrupt departure. Some of the initiates even claimed he'd eaten all the frogs in the Room of a Thousand Fountains and had to go off planet to find more."
Obi-Wan snorted at that and burst into giggles. "Some of the Mandalorians have actually caught him hunting in the gardens, but no one ever believes them. It's hilarious."
The two boys burst into laughter at that then took a break from story telling to draw humorous comics of their respected, venerable Grand Master stalking frogs around ponds and mud puddles.
Eventually they got back on track and Obi-Wan worked his way back through explaining his new lightsaber.
"That's insane! The pommel is an actual morning star and the blade emitter is pretty much a four bladed knife. I'm so envious," Quinlan claimed with good honor making Obi-Wan roll his eyes.
He told his friend about his training in dual wielding.
"You're seriously inventing a completely new saber form, you realize that don't you?" Quinlan demanded with exasperation, much to Obi-Wan's bashfulness.
Then he finally ended his long tale by explaining the meaning and importance behind this specific bounty hunt.
"So, you're like a real Mandalorian, now," Quinlan said when he was finished. "You've got the armor and everything."
"Yeah," Obi-Wan nodded. "Or well, once I get home and present the reward and the Guild receipt to Jaster and the Armorer. Then it will be completely official."
"Home," his friend repeated, his dark eyes fastened on a now lightly napping Aayla curled up on the floor so he wouldn't have to look at the other teen.
Good mood lessening slightly, Obi-Wan nodded again. "Yeah, Quin. Mandalore is my home now. Jaster and Jango are my family. I wouldn't trade them or anything." Then he smiled slightly and gave his friend a light shove in the shoulder. When Quinlan's eyes turned back on him he said, "But the temple was my home for most of my life. You and the rest of our clan were my family first. That will always be true."
It wasn't very Jedi of them, to admit to such an attachment as considering each other and their friends family, but neither boy particularly cared. They just grabbed each other up in tight hugs, relishing in being close for the first time in years.
"You better not ghost us again, Obi-Wan," Quinlan murmured in his friend's shoulder as he squeezed him tight. "Bant will hunt you down and kick your ass after I tell her about this, if you still don't call us every once and a while."
Huffing out a chuckle, Obi-Wan nodded into his friend's dreadlocks. "Bant is pretty scary. I better keep in contact then."
It wasn't long after that, that Quinlan and Obi-Wan woke little Aayla up, convinced her to take a quick sonic shower and change into one of Quinlan's spare tunics. They gave her more to eat then put her down to sleep in Quinlan's bunk.
They spent the rest of the time waiting for Master Tholme to return discussing gossip from the temple, Quinlan's missions with his master, and Obi-Wan's adventures with the pirates and the Mandalorians.
When Master Tholme finally stepped onto the ship, it was past dark and both boys were quietly occupying themselves.
"You're still here," Tholme commented a little bit surprised when he came into the eating area to find the two boys.
"You said I could wait until you know what would happen to Aayla," Obi-Wan reminded him with a frown.
Tholme nodded absently studying the teen's bare face. It was both what he would expect from the sound of his voice and not. The Mandalorian that had once been a Jedi Initiate was young. Just as young as Quinlan if not a little younger. He was also bright eyed and healthy and mature in a way not a lot of padawans would be at the same age.
"So I did," the master nodded then moved to get himself a cup of caff. "I contacted Ryloth and talked to their law enforcement. Apparently they've had problems with the poorer criminal elements on planet actually selling their own kids to slavers, for spice or credits, either or it seems."
A dark look swept over the redheaded teen's face and Tholme felt the Force become shadowed for a moment before the emotion was gone again.
"Is that what happened to Aayla?" Obi-Wan asked, his tone low and tense.
Nodded solemnly, Tholme took a seat at the table next to his strangely quiet padawan. "They already had her parents in custody. Apparently a neighbor in their apartment building turned them in when Aayla disappeared for over a month."
"We're taking her back to the temple, aren't we," Quinlan demanded more than asked.
Curious at his padawan's sharp anger, Tholme nodded. "I already called the Order. She'll go straight to the Halls of Healing then to the Creche. She'll be well taking care of, I promise, Padawan."
"Good," Quinlan felt an odd tension his chest release and he breathed out a heavy sigh. "I just want her to be okay. She's a pretty great little kid."
Obi-Wan watched his friend and thought back to the flash of a vision he'd had earlier that afternoon. He wondered if it was a possible future or was it the Will of the Force that Quinlan would eventually take little Aayla as his padawan.
"We're leaving the planet in the morning," Tholme turned to the armored teen. "Are you staying here for the night?"
"No," Obi-Wan shook his head with a polite smile. "I need to get back to my ship. But can I come by before you leave? I'd like to say goodbye to Aayla."
Tholme agreed and allowed Quinlan to walk his friend off the ship. He watched the redhead pull his strange mask and cowl over his head before he made his way out. Sipping at his caff, waiting for Quinlan to return he wondered if the boy realized that the paint design on his armor resembled Jedi robes. Or could it be entirely subconscious, him bringing a reminder of the life he'd left behind into the life he now lead.
TBC...