Thank you for reading! I hope you're enjoying it! Don't worry, I'm still working on 'Dark Destiny Pt 3!'
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Poking at the partially eaten food on his plate, Anakin glanced up at his introspective master across the table. "Master?"
"Yes, Anakin?"
"Why don't we ever eat in the main hall with the others?"
Obi-Wan had hoped that his padawan would not notice his avoidance of public places. "Well, padawan, it's a little…difficult for me right now to be…out there…amongst the other Jedi." Did that sound as pathetic as I think it did?
Anakin nodded his head. "Because of all the attention?"
Obi-Wan glanced up in surprise. "Yes." Silly of me to think he wouldn't know.
"I understand, Master." Anakin had heard of nothing but his new master since arriving at the Temple. He also got the distinct impression that many of the initiates didn't like him. He assumed it was because they were jealous that Obi-Wan was HIS master. All the attention being shown to his master was starting to get a bit annoying, but he was trying really hard not to blame Obi-Wan. After all, he certainly wasn't enjoying all the hoopla.
Obi-Wan sighed. "Is it that important to you?"
His master had seen right through him. It did mean a lot to him. He wanted all of the initiates at the Temple to know that his master, the great Obi-Wan Kenobi, was proud to have Anakin Skywalker as his padawan. "Yes, Master."
"Alright, Padawan. Let's go." Obi-Wan got up from the table.
Anakin hopped out of his chair, grabbed his cloak and ran out the door with a "Yippee!"
Obi-Wan grumbled under his breath. "I have a feeling that I'm going to regret this." He walked out into the hallway where Anakin was impatiently waiting. Obi-Wan stopped and arched an eyebrow. "Anakin?"
"Oh, sorry, Master." Anakin calmed himself down and got into his proper place, a step behind and beside his master. They calmly waked into the dining hall together. On the outside, Obi-Wan exuded calm grace. Inside, behind tight shields, he was dreading what he knew was going to happen next.
All conversation, all noise stopped as everyone took notice of who had come in. All eyes were on them as they got into the food line. Obi-Wan was trying desperately to keep his calm center. I am a Jedi. I am calm. I can handle this.
Anakin was glad of the attention. He knew the initiates were jealous - jealous of him. He was kind of enjoying being the padawan of the most famous Jedi at the Temple. He looked up at his master. He appeared to be completely calm. See, no problem. I'm glad we did this. As they walked through the hall with their trays, Anakin couldn't help but notice the way the young females in the room looked at his master. He glanced around the room. They're ALL looking at him that way! Anakin shook his head in disgust. Girls!
Obi-Wan let out a sigh of relief as he saw Mace Windu and Adi Gallia waving him over. He and Anakin set down their trays. Obi-Wan deliberately placed his back to the rest of the diners in the hall. He sincerely hoped that his traitorous skin was not turning its infamous shade of pink. He wanted to at least APPEAR like he could handle this.
Adi felt compassion for Obi-Wan. She knew that he was hating all of the attention being showered on him. Though, she admired the calm front he was putting up for his padawan. "Hello, Obi-Wan, Anakin. Are you settling in well?"
Obi-Wan wasn't much in the mood for talking. "Yes, thank you, Master Gallia."
Anakin had no such problems. He talked excitedly to the two Council members throughout the meal, who listened politely.
When they were through with their meal, Obi-Wan could not get out of the hall fast enough. Again, outwardly he appeared calm and unhurried. Inwardly, he wanted to run to the nearest exit.
Adi and Mace watched as all eyes followed the pair out into the hallway. Adi let out a breath. "Poor Obi-Wan! You know that he has to be hating all of this attention!"
Mace chuckled softly. "Oh, is he ever!"
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When Obi-Wan and Anakin got back to their apartment, Anakin was practically bouncing with excitement. "Thank you for being willing to go, Master!"
Obi-Wan forced a smile. "You're welcome, Padawan." The door chimed and he went over to answer it.
A huge smile hit Obi-Wan's face as he sensed who was on the other side. The door slid open. "Bant!"
"Obi!" Bant engulfed her friend in an enthusiastic hug. He hugged her back, laughing.
"It's so good to see you, Bant!"
"My master and I just got back from a mission maybe five minutes ago. You were the first person I wanted to see." Bant put her hand on Obi-Wan's arm. Her silver eyes were suddenly sad. "I'm so sorry about Qui-Gon."
Obi-Wan covered her hand with his. "Thank you." The sound of someone clearing his throat got his attention. "Oh, Bant, I'd like you to meet my new padawan, Anakin Skywalker. Anakin, this is my best friend, Bant."
Bant stepped forward and shook Anakin's hand. "It's nice to meet you, Anakin."
"It's nice to meet you, too. You're best friends?"
Obi-Wan laughed. "Yes. We've known each other since our days in the creche. That's along with the other two members of the Fearsome Foursome."
Bant laughed as Anakin spoke in disbelief, "The Fearsome Foursome?"
"That's a nickname that was bestowed upon our group by our fellow initiates. We were inseparable and caused a bit of mischief. Isn't that right, Obi-Wan?"
"That's right. You, me, Garen and Reeft. Always."
Bant smiled at her friend. "Always."
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Obi-Wan was heading towards Master Yoda's apartment. He'd been called to meet again with him and Master Windu. He put on his mask of calm politeness as he braved the hallways of the Temple. The reaction from others was still the same. When are they going to get over this already?
Obi-Wan hit the chime by Yoda's door. The door opened to reveal the tiny master. Obi-Wan bowed to him. "Ah, come in, Obi-Wan."
"Thank you, Master." Mace was coming from the kitchen with a tray. Obi-Wan bowed to him. "Master Windu."
"Have a seat, Obi-Wan. Yes. Have tea and cookies we will." Yoda laughed softly. Everyone in the Temple knew of Yoda's soft spot for sweets.
Mace sat back on the sofa, cup in hand. "How is the class going, Obi-Wan?" He studied the young man as he obviously tried to decide how to answer.
"Tell us everything, you will." Yoda had sensed Obi-Wan's hesitation.
Obi-Wan let out a frustrated sigh. "They look at me like I'm some sort of action hero out of one of those cheesy holoflics! Well, the boys do, anyway."
Mace tried very hard to school his features and not smile. "And the girls?"
"No matter what I do, I can't get them to focus! They often act as though their minds are off in some other galaxy!"
"Ah." Yoda's eyes twinkled in amusement. "That's because they are."
"Huh?"
Mace leaned forward, unable to hide his smile. "Obi-Wan, you've been a distraction to the young female population of the Temple since your mid-teens." He watched as Obi-Wan's skin quickly turned pink. "Now, your celebrity status has magnified that by about a hundred times!"
"Master!" Obi-Wan was absolutely mortified. "That can't be true!"
Yoda was amazed at the young man's ignorance of his effect on the opposite sex. "True it is. Pass with time, your celebrity will. But distraction to females across the galaxy, you will always be." Yoda's amusement grew as Obi-Wan's skin went from pink to red. "Learn to deal with this you must."
Obi-Wan wished he could cool his burning skin. "If I do have that effect on some females, it is…unsolicited."
Mace had to hold in a laugh. "We know that, Obi-Wan. Never before have we seen anyone as unaware of his effect on women as you!"
"Be a test for you, this will, throughout your life. Test your resolve, test your will, test your loyalty to the Code this will. But most of all, test your heart this will."
"But, Masters, I don't want this attention. And I'm certainly not enjoying it!"
"Know this we do, Obi-Wan. Faith in you we have."
Obi-Wan sat back on the sofa, silent for a moment. "Do I HAVE to keep teaching that class?" He hoped he didn't sound too much like an 8th year initiate.
Mace rolled his eyes. "You can face down a Sith, but you can't face a few hormonally charged girls?"
Obi-Wan looked him in the eye and spoke without hesitation. "Exactly."
