Author's Note:
Greetings!
Obviously, this story is not enough good, so, perhaps, it's the last update here. As we've seen, nobody wants to write us some feedback, just add it in story alerts. It's really a big honor, but we'd like to know your opinion on this story.
R&R, please.
Obi-Wan was aimlessly staring at the night city, full of life, through the thick lay of glass. Somehow it was like his usual daily meditations, but without that strong connection with the Force—just a perfect state to keep his mind clear and to think about something. Two speeders, as they were competing in speed, rushed through the night air. One thousand and twenty fourth and one thousand and twenty fifth per… per… Obi-Wan turned around to see the wallchrono, but the low voice said:
"One hour, ten minutes, and five seconds. Is this statistic of yours useful?"
Dooku came into the common room, slowly approached the coach, covered with dark blue, and sat himself rather comfortably.
Obi-Wan frowned. He was sitting on the chair, facing the window, but finally decided that it would be more polite to face his new Master rather than to show him his rear.
Besides, if Dooku had guessed about his 'meditation', one of his mental shields slipped and bared his thoughts. Padawan looked at Dooku and waited for some negative reaction.
To be honest, an older Jedi had said nothing bad to him during those last days, but the problem was that he had said nothing pleasant, either. He just looked at his new Apprentice rather condescendingly, hemmed sometimes, but hadn't spared many words. Thus, Obi-Wan decided that Dooku was not satisfied with his behavior. Perhaps, it was paranoia, perhaps not.
"No, no, no. It was… predictable." Dooku shrugged. "You're… " He sighed. "You're too miserable. Do you think about your previous life again and again? Particularly, I suppose, about being Padawan to my former Apprentice?"
Obi-Wan nodded; there was no point to deceive this from his new Master.
Indeed, he had been reflecting about the past few months.
He remembered, how they had been spending some evenings together, sitting in the common room and discussing different missions, some of them were boring, others were quite dangerous. Obi-Wan usually sat in the armchair and did his homework (he had missed much at the missions), Qui-Gon liked to read something or to write reports to the Council . Often they were meditating together. Obi-Wan felt coziness and comfort; he considered that place as his home. Here, it was completely different. The common room was quite plain, but somehow Dooku managed to make it as cold and cheerless as possible. Maybe, it just was because of dark colors, geometric forms. Obi-Wan unconsciously remembered a motley blanket lying on the worn coat, cloaks jauntily hanging near the door, a favorite cactus of Qui-Gon staying in the shattered pot on the floor, after all! Here, everything was perfectly lying on their places, no spare detail or a thing.
And Obi-Wan considered himself not fitting this décor. Maybe, that's why he stared at the window and reflected about the past. It helped to forget the reality and imagine that everything was still the same.
Yesterday, Dooku went to Qui-Gon's apartment and returned with Obi-Wan's lightsaber, which a Jedi handed to his rightful owner. But he said absolutely nothing! He just rather dryly notified his Padawan that sparring session would be prolonged. In fact, Qui-Gon told Dooku about everything and an older Jedi decided to give the boy some free days to adapt (besides, he himself had some problems to be solved with the Council and not much spare time). But Obi-Wan's fevered mind decided that Dooku was mad with him.
So, he imagined what could Qui-Gon do. Would he, after all, talk with his ne'er-do-well Padawan, explained everything once again, comforted him and forgive? On the other hand, considering their last meeting…
Dooku cocked his head and looked around to find Mari, who was running nearby.
"I'm sorry, Master." Obi-Wan finally answered.
"And what do you think you've done wrong?" Dooku asked.
A strange question. Just everything! His mistakes were discussed by the Council and Qui-Gon for many times.
"I shouldn't let my emotions lead me. I shouldn't leave my Master and the Jedi Order… I should fly with him… to leave them…" Obi-Wan couldn't continue. The pictures of the war-torn planet and his dead friends appeared in front of his eyes again and again.
"Do not mumble, please." Dooku said rather strictly. "Will you pity yourself for eternity, Padawan?" he asked archly. "I don't think that the problem lies here. I think that you've done everything right. Maybe, in particular with your help, there's something like peace now. Or an armistice at last. What will be the next lies on the Senate and is not your problem anymore. I just can hope that they won't prolong their case."
Obi-Wan stared at his Master with distrust. "Everything right"? Well, it was the longest speech at a time, besides, Dooku had never told his opinion about Obi-Wan's actions before and had never shown many emotions.
"Your problem is in this," Dooku continued, ignoring the look at Padawan's face "that you expect too much from the people. Do you really think that Qui-Gon will return, ask for your forgiveness and take you back, persuading the Council?"
"No." Obi-Wan whispered, suddenly find the floor very interesting. Well, it really sounded very optimistic. But Dooku was right in something, Obi-Wan hoped that Qui-Gon would scold him, even punish, but take back…
Dooku grinned.
"You trusted him. Much more than it was necessary."
"But Qui-Gon was my Master!" suddenly Obi-Wan burst.
"And do you really know him very well? He chose his injured fellow Jedi instead of his Apprentice. Think about it, Obi-Wan."
Dooku shook his head, indicating that their conversation was over and disappeared in his room.
Obi-Wan stared at the closed door for some minutes.
Mari reached his hand and poked into the palm. Kenobi instinctively stroked her.
Maybe, Dooku was right?