Swimming

"No, no, nooooo!" A seven-year-old Obi-Wan Kenobi screamed, kicking and squirming away as Qui tried to wrestle him into his swim trunks, since Obi-Wan refused to do it himself. "I don't want to, Qui! No!"

"Obi-Wan Kenobi, you are learning to swim and that is final!" Qui-Gon said, lifting the child by the armpits and setting him on the bed. He divested him of his tunic, discarding it on the floor. He handed him his swim trunks. "Now, are you going to put these on or am I going to have to do it for you?" he asked, placing his hands on his hips. Obi-Wan said nothing, just leapt up and made a dash for the door. Qui caught him before he could make his escape.

"Qui, I don't want to!" Obi-Wan's eyes held fear. Qui picked him up again and sat down on the bed, holding the boy on his lap.

"Hush, now, little one," Qui-Gon soothed. "Take a deep breath." Obi obeyed. "Why don't you want to learn to swim?"

"I-I don' wanna drown," Obi stuttered, his bottom lip quivering. Qui took Obi's chin in his hand.

"Obi-Wan, look at me. You. Are. Not. Going. To. Drown. Got that?" No reply. "I'll be right beside you. I won't let you drown, okay?" Obi-Wan nodded. "Good. Now put your swim trunks on."

...

Finally, after many protests from the Initiate and many threats from the Master, Obi grudgingly got into his swim trunks. Qui, already wearing his, took his charge by the hand and led him to the door of the creche. Palming the release pad, Qui stepped out, but Obi-Wan planted his feet. The older Jedi sighed.

"Obi-wan, you are trying my patience."

Obi's lower lip quivered. "I'm scared."

Qui knelt and looked the boy in the eye. "What did I tell you earlier?"

"That you wouldn't let me drown."

"Right. And I mean it. Now let's go."

...

Finally, they arrived at the pool, pleased to see it was empty.

"Right, then, little one. In you go." Qui tugged his shirt off, then pulled Obi's off.

"Garen says you can drown in as little as six inches of water," he stated matter of factly. Qui knew this was true, but countered it anyway.

"Pay no mind to what he says," Qui said. He grasped the boy by the armpits and lowered him into the shallow end.

"No, no, no!" The boy shouted, hitting the water with his fists. He leaped out of the pool, the Master hot on his heels.

"That is not happening," Qui said, picking up his apprentice. Obi managed to kick put and hit the Master's leg, dangerously close to his groin. Qui grunted and set his charge down and spun him around, landing two healthy smacks to Obi-Wan's wriggling bottom.

"There will be none of that," Qui said in a no nonsense tone, placing the sullen boy back in the water. Obi poured. "Are you going to behave, or are we going back to your quarters so you can gain a sore backside?" No answer. "Alright then. C'mon, we're going."

"No Qui, I'll behave!"

"Okay then, let's get started.

...

20 minutes later, Obi was swimming back and forth with ease while Qui watched.

"Alright, little one, time to go," he said, grabbing a towel for the seven-year-old. Obi didn't want to, but he had been taught to respect and obey his elders, so the boy obeyed. Quickly, he dried off.

"Qui?"

"Hmm?"

"Can we come back tomorrow?"

Qui-Gon laughed.