Chapter 2
The three Jedi aboard the Naboo cruiser felt the presence of Coruscant before it was visible, which was why all three were present in the control room when the city planet came into view. Each stared at the planet as it grew larger on the view screen, each alone with his thoughts.
For Anakin Skywalker it was only his second time to the Republic's centre. The planet, to him, represented his dreams and this time his dreams were emerging as reality. He could feel the life of the planet buzzing though the Force, energizing him.
Qui-Gon felt his new student's excitement through the new bond and he smiled at the boy's exuberance. To him, the ugly, polluted planet was home, even if the living Force here was dampened, because still the Temple held so many memories and friends. With a new apprentice he would be spending more time there now than he had in the last five years.
Obi-Wan looked at the planet and saw the Dark and Light within, vying for dominance. Coruscant had not been home for a long time and the planet smelt of corruption to him now. The pollution clouded his senses and the dull, lifeless mettle seemed to sap his strength. He gazed upon the city and felt weary.
'This isn't right,' he thought. 'I'm coming home.'
Immersing himself in the Force, he found the feeling only grew worse. He glanced at Qui-Gon and Anakin, both of whom seemed unaware of the inky Darkness suffocating the planet.
Without a word to either of his companions, Obi-Wan slunk away, into the shadows of the control room. He left through one of the smaller side doors and headed to Qui-Gon's cabin. He picked up his pack and then returned to the maintenance corridors where he had spent most of the journey. He found a quiet corner and called the Council.
"Windu."
Despite the situation, Obi-Wan could not resist the opportunity to test the revered council member's patience.
"Mace, my main man. How's it hanging?"
There was a long silence on the other end of the com link. Obi-Wan grinned into the darkness. He remembered what it had felt like to be part of a team with a maverick as master. In many ways it had been fun, but being a rogue was even better.
"Did you need something, Knight Kenobi?" Mace was ignoring his behaviour.
'Spoil sport.'
"I want to know if anything is happening on planet."
"Such as?" the council member asked, confused.
"I don't know, but something's made all my senses go all… wiggy."
There was another pause.
"Wiggy?"
"I can't think of another way of describing it to you. Anakin and Qui-Gon seem oblivious to it and so are you, apparently. Things that only I can sense never bode well, Mace," Obi-Wan reminded his friend and contact on the Council.
A third pause, but this time Mace was taking Obi-Wan's question seriously. He would be a fool not to.
"I'll put a file together of events that happened in the last twenty four hours."
"Better make it the last week."
"Alright. What are you going to do?"
"I'll let you know." As an after thought, Obi-Wan added, "Don't tell Qui-Gon."
"Obi-Wan…"
"I know, I'm sorry." Obi-Wan took a moment to think of why he had said such a thing to Mace. He, of all people, knew the delicacy of Obi-Wan's position. "I'm just finding this double life confusing, and it hasn't even begun yet, not really."
"I bet."
"I need time to work out the boundaries."
"Do you have that time, Obi-Wan?"
"I have to go," Obi-Wan said, not answering Mace's question. "The ship's landing."
"I'll complete the data for you and send it to you the usual way."
The two Jedi signed off, neither of them happy with the conversation they had just had.
Obi-Wan felt the jolt as the ship landed and at the same moment he felt a query come through the bond from Qui-Gon. He ignored it, with no apology. He was doing his duty, he was doing what he must; Qui-Gon would understand.
'I'm not hiding from him,' his guilty mind reasoned as he made his way to the cargo bay doors. 'Nor am I running, I'm following the Force.'
He left the ship without being seen and followed his senses until he was buried in the swirling Darkness. He followed it through walkways of bustling crowds, over busy airways and finally he came to the Senate. Finding corruption here did not surprise Obi-Wan, but the presence of such Darkness amazed him.
When Qui-Gon turned to talk to Obi-Wan and found him gone, he was surprised. Obi-Wan's stealth, with which he had withdrawn both physically and mentally, was astonishing. The Jedi master had felt nothing. When the ship had finally landed and he had reached out to the younger man and received no answer, he understood Obi-Wan's sudden and complete withdrawal.
'I'd hoped for a little more time together,' Qui-Gon thought as he walked with his new apprentice into the Temple. He had known their life together would be difficult, had known it the moment that the full force of the Jedi protector was revealed to him when his old padawan had fought and defeated the Sith Warrior. He had also known that in all likelihood they would spend as much time apart as they did together. That is not to say, however, he enjoyed the time without Obi-Wan by his side, they had spent five years away from each other, surely one night was not too much to ask.
Qui-Gon guided Anakin through the many corridors of the Temple, nodding greetings to other Jedi as he passed them, all the time heading towards his… our… quarters, he corrected himself.
They were not far from their destination when Qui-Gon heard someone calling his name.
"Master Jinn!"
Qui-Gon and Anakin turned in the direction of the speaker. Walking, albeit very quickly, towards them was another Jedi knight.
"Bant, how are you?" Qui-Gon asked when she reached them.
"I am well, Master Jinn," the Calamarian woman answered. "Where is Obi-Wan?"
At Qui-Gon's amused, but surprised look, the knight took a long breath and apologised for her abruptness.
"I'm sorry, Master Jinn, but I've been waiting to see him since I heard the news, is he not with you?"
"Not currently," Qui-Gon said, but added when he saw her disappointment, "I'm sure he'll be back at the Temple soon."
"Will he be staying with you, Master?"
"Knight Bant!"
The young Jedi knight had the grace to blush with embarrassment and found herself apologising for the second time to one of the most respected masters in the Order.
"Apologises again," she said, flustered. "I just wanted to tell him…"
She trailed off and gazed forlornly at the floor. Qui-Gon took pity on her. He reached out and patted her gently on the shoulder. She looked up to find him smiling at her.
"I know the feeling exactly, Bant. I'll tell him you want to see him, as I'm sure he is just as eager to see you as well."
"Thank you, Master Jinn."
"And I'd also like you to meet my new apprentice, Anakin Skywalker. Anakin, this is Knight Bant, she is an old friend of Obi-Wan's."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Knight Bant." Anakin said, not quite hiding his grin at seeing the Jedi getting flustered in front of Master Jinn.
"Same here," Bant said, also smiling. "I look forward to getting to know you better."
"Now, if you will excuse us, Bant, we are heading back to our quarters."
"Forgive me again Master Jinn, for keeping you. It's a pleasure seeing you again Master, you too Anakin."
Bant bowed to the master before hurrying off before she embarrassed herself further.
Qui-Gon watched her go, amused and through the training bond he could sense his apprentice's own amusement and trepidation.
"Something wrong, Ani?"
"She's weird."
Qui-Gon laughed.
"Come Anakin, let's head on."
The Jedi carried on down the corridor and turned a corner and finally they arrived at their quarters.
"I hope you like it here, Anakin," Qui-Gon said as he led the boy through the front door. "There isn't much room, but it has been home to me since I took my first apprentice."
The quarters were clean and tidy, had been since Obi-Wan had vacated them five years earlier. Qui-Gon had never been able to stop the boy from accumulating clutter. He wondered if his quarters would once again turn into a cluttered oasis, although with Anakin's mechanics and Obi-Wan's return he guessed that they would. The Jedi master found he did not mind the idea.
'Maybe it'll feel more like a home again.'
Anakin grinned to see his new home and Qui-Gon left him happily exploring his new room. Qui-Gon checked his messages; amongst them was one from Mace telling him to get Anakin settled before going before the Council in the morning. There was no mention of Obi-Wan.
'Not that there should be.' Qui-Gon tried to quiet the irrational part of his mind. The Jedi's Shadow went where he pleased, following the Force's beacon, not the Council's and certainly not the Senate's.
'And not his old master, either.'
After a quick meditation exercise, Qui-Gon packed Anakin off to bed, knowing the boy was exhausted, even if he would not admit it. Qui-Gon tucked him in, smiling gently when his young apprentice all but fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Before slumber claimed him completely however, he managed to ask one question, a single question that was easy to ask, but had no simple answer.
"What happened to Obi-Wan?"
"He'll be back," Qui-Gon told him and perhaps luckily for the master, the boy fell asleep before he could ask when.
Qui-Gon returned to the main living space and sat facing the large, east facing picture window. The day had long fled and Coruscant was alight with a million tiny points of light. Qui-Gon closed his eyes, blocking out the beautiful view to turn his thoughts inwards; he meditated, centring himself within the Force.
A great deal had changed with the Naboo mission. He had a new apprentice, his lost apprentice had returned and he finally understood the song within the Force that surrounded himself and Obi-Wan. He chided himself for his foolishness and short-sightedness. The strength and presence of the bond was undeniable. Yet he had tried to, for many years. Now that he knew of its existence he wondered how he could have so easily ignored it.
A fait tingle across the soulbond made him open his eyes. Obi-Wan knelt opposite him, mirroring his position, eyes closed, seemingly in deep meditation. The continued tingle on the bond told Qui-Gon differently.
"I'm glad I amuse you, Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan immediately gave up the pretence; he opened his eyes and grinned.
"When did you get here?"
"Couple of hours."
Qui-Gon gave a start and for the first time noticed dawn had began to edge its way into the night's sky.
"Perhaps I should have woken you earlier," Obi-Wan suggested, not even attempting to hide the mischief in his eyes.
Part of Qui-Gon was delighted to hear that dry tone once again, as memories stirred of years past when that dry humour had kept them both amused on long missions, however the other part of him just stared at the other Jedi in mild annoyance.
"There is no point in you doing that, Qui-Gon, you can't intimidate me anymore," Obi-Wan informed him, his posture indeed showing his complete lack of dread.
The master gave a dramatic sigh, silently glad that they both now found each other as equals, before turning the conversation to other matters.
"I missed you," and after a moment's thought he added, "Again."
"I know," was all Obi-Wan said in reply.
"You're back now?"
"Yes."
"Do you know for how long?"
"No."
Silence followed Obi-Wan's direct, but honest answer.
"I saw Bant earlier, or rather she chased me down in the corridor," Qui-Gon told his bondmate. "She was looking for you."
Obi-Wan nodded and looked thoughtful.
"I will speak with her tomorrow."
"You don't look too thrilled at the prospect, Obi-Wan."
"I just don't know what to say to her, to any of them," Obi-Wan told his old master, knowing he could be honest with the other man, knowing he would never be judged too harshly for it.
"They're your friends and colleagues, Obi-Wan, they will understand and you will find that your time apart is not such a large barrier after all."
Obi-Wan nodded again, but did not speak further. He trusted in Qui-Gon's words, after all reconnecting with his old master had not been difficult, only a little awkward at times when they found themselves on previously unexplored territory.
"I suppose we should get what little sleep we can before the day is truly upon us." Qui-Gon rose and made towards his sleeping chamber. He turned back when he noticed that his companion was not following. "Are you coming?"
"I did not like to presume," Obi-Wan explained, realising that one of those awkward moments had sneaked up on him. "We haven't really talked about it, properly, and I was… unsure."
"There'll be time tomorrow, but for tonight I am tired and I would like it very much to have your company while I sleep."
Obi-Wan smiled as he stood.
"I'd like that, too."
Qui-Gon returned to his side to take his hand and led him into their bedroom.
They both took their turn in the fresher; stripping down to their under tunics and leggings. Qui-Gon exited the small room to find Obi-Wan standing in the centre of his bedroom, once more looking uncertain.
"Obi-Wan?"
"I'm sorry, Qui-Gon."
"For?" The Jedi master could not think of anything his old padawan should be sorry for.
"I… we… waited years for this and it's not exactly…"
"How you imagined?" Qui-Gon guessed.
"Yes."
"Things long sought after rarely are, Padawan."
"I know, but still I had hoped."
"Still feel awkward?"
"Yes." The lost look on Obi-Wan's face was more than enough to make Qui-Gon reach out to his soulmate.
"Then let me help."
Qui-Gon went to Obi-Wan and took him into his arms. Obi-Wan gratefully sunk into the long dreamt of embrace. The Jedi master knew that his padawan had matured greatly in the five years since their parting and he also had some understanding of the burden of responsibility that lay heavily upon his shoulders, but as the younger man stood in the safety of his embrace he realised that in other ways Obi-Wan was still the shy, unsure boy he had taken as his apprentice at thirteen. Five years living as a Shadow had not enabled Obi-Wan to come out of himself in any way except as an assassin and warrior.
"I love you, Qui-Gon." The voice was slightly muffled because Obi-Wan had buried his face in Qui-Gon's tunics.
"And I you," Qui-Gon replied and smiled into the tawny hair. As smoothly as he could he guided Obi-Wan to the bed. He sat first before pulling Obi-Wan down next to him. Before Obi-Wan could utter any kind of protest, Qui-Gon laid them down, facing the wall size window, which showed the approaching dawn. Obi-Wan lay snug in Qui-Gon's arms, their legs entwined.
"So," Obi-Wan began and Qui-Gon waited patiently for the young Jedi to gather his thoughts. "You prefer the right side of the bed."
That was not what the master had expected, but with Obi-Wan he should have guessed something odd would come out of his mouth.
"It's closer to the fresher," he answered, playing along.
"This is nice," Obi-Wan spoke drowsily, feeling safe in Qui-Gon's arms.
Qui-Gon squeezed Obi-Wan a little closer when he heard the loneliness in his partner's voice.
"How long has it been?"
"Since I felt safe?" Obi-Wan turned over so that he faced his old master. "Since I left you on the landing platform five years ago."
"You have been alone since then?"
"More or less. Alone no; I had Mace, Yoda and the rest of the Council, at least partly, but I was lonely. I had always had the bond, or at least the hope of it. It was my Light in the Darkness."
"It's what kept you going?" Qui-Gon asked, feeling awed and honoured by the depth of Obi-Wan's love.
"Yes and when I needed something tangible, I had a small token to cling to."
Qui-Gon looked puzzled.
"It was a gift to a boy who was angry; it was his centre. Later, it was a reminder of first commitments. Then it was hidden away in my pack to remind me of home and the love left behind there."
"You found it then?" Qui-Gon asked, realising what it was Obi-Wan had clung to in his loneliness.
"Yes."
Qui-Gon was glad that his gift had brought Obi-Wan some comfort both as a boy, when he had first become his apprentice, and then later when he had been knighted.
"And where is it now?"
"In my boot."
"What?" Qui-Gon could not believe his ears. "You kept a stone in your boot?"
"I can't always guarantee I'll have time to grab my pack, and some of the costumes I've worn over the years do not leave much room for pockets. I always had my boots and 'Sabre with me and I couldn't keep it in my 'Sabre," Obi-Wan told his old master his reasoning in keeping the treasured gift in his boot.
"Isn't it uncomfortable?" Qui-Gon sounded anything but convinced by Obi-Wan's explanation.
"It's comforting."
Qui-Gon did not argue further; he was secretly pleased. By this time Qui-Gon lay on his back with Obi-Wan lying half on him, his head pillowed on Qui-Gon's chest. The light from the sun had started to make its lazy way into the bedroom. In a few hours they would have to rise and start the day. Qui-Gon had no need to remind Obi-Wan of this, for when he looked down he found the young man fast asleep.
"I'm glad you are back, my Obi-Wan; and safe," he whispered, before he, too, fell asleep.