The strands of false hair that made up Starkiller's padawan braid had been neatly bonded to his own hair; it hadn't hurt, but he didn't exactly know what it was in the first place. He flicked the braid off his neck. He was beginning to sweat in the heavy jedi robes he now wore. The braid fell back around his neck. Growling, Starkiller flicked the braid again. How could he be losing to his own hairstyle

Laughter broke him out of his focus. Master Ti, back from whatever gossip session/staff meeting thing she'd had to go to, stood in the doorway that led from Starkiller's own bedroom to the common area that joined his to his master's. Hot anger and embarrassment burned at his cheeks as he ducked his head.

"I didn't think you were still awake." She said softly, then frowned, "Is something the matter?" Starkiller looked up at her. Then he sighed and clasped his hands together, resting them on his lap. His head was next to be lowered, sitting precariously against his hands.

"Can't sleep is all." He heard the rustling of fabric as his master sat next to him on the bed.

"Something is troubling you." She observed.

"It's nothing. I'm fine. I just-" Master Ti put her hand on her padawan's back. Starkiller sat up, turning towards her slightly.

"I just-" he started again gesturing vaguely with his hands as if that could convey the words he couldn't find.

"I don't-... I-i can't... I don't-... I don't want... to be alone, right now." Master Ti smiled softly at her apprentice, drew him close in a half hug.

"Then I shall stay by your side until you fall asleep." Starkiller glanced at her in alarm.

"That's not what I- I mean you don't have to-" She cut off his protests with a tap of her finger to his nose. Starkiller stared, crosseyed, at his own nose with abject confusion.

"But I want to. I want to make sure that you are comfortable. So, I'll go get my datapad, and sit in that chair-" here she indicated the slightly wobbly desk chair- "and read until you fall asleep." He began sputtering, protesting about how unnecessary it was, but she had already retrieved her datapad, dimmed the lights, settled into the chair, and began reading aloud.

Starkiller fell asleep to the cadence of his master's voice.