Title: U-Turn
Author: Ticklesivory
Rating: T
Summary: Experiences and training have shaped Obi-Wan into the man he has become, but his Master sees a problem with that, and is going to try and fix it. FYI: This is a QUI-GON ISN'T DEAD story! Yay!
Main Characters: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Padme Amidala, Anakin Skywalker, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Mace Windu
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Sarcasm - don't think that's an actual genre, but it should be!
Warnings: Well...that depends how you feel about Anakin. I'm going to mess with him, and if you're a big fan, you might be offended. Hope not. This is just for fun after all!
Note: Gonna try something new and title the chapters. A challenge for me, since I usually have difficulty coming up with a name for a entire fic!
Chapter One
"Bad News from a Bottle"
"Come on in Mace, I was just about to brew some tea."
The Senior Master and Jedi Council member entered the familiar quarters, ducking his head out of the way of an overgrown plant, which was hanging down from the ceiling. The man's home was a regular arboretum. He half expected to see a tree growing through the middle of the floor one of these days.
"Got anything stronger than tea?" he hollered toward the kitchen while taking a seat once he was sure nothing was growing in it.
"I have some Bendbelly Dark, or if you'd like something stronger, a bottle of Dornean brandy."
He couldn't afford things like brandy, especially Dornean, and he often wondered how Qui-Gon Jinn acquired such extravagances, although he had never asked. As a member of the Council, he wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer to that question.
"The Bendbelly's fine," he replied, receiving a chilled glass of the dark ale in short order.
Qui-Gon gently eased himself down on a sofa across from him. Next to sofa was a table, which displayed a strange-looking plant specimen he could swear had fangs.
"Tell me what brings you by, Mace."
The liquor was malted and smooth. It had been a while since he'd allowed himself the pleasure of an alcoholic drink, but he felt he needed some liquid courage if he was going to be able to get out what he'd come here to say.
"Can a man never visit an old friend without all this suspicion?" His words hadn't fooled the other Jedi for a second. A single eyebrow shot up as Qui-Gon silently sipped his steaming mug of tea.
Mace leaned back to gain a more comfortable position and enjoyed another swig from his own glass, observing the variety of colorful, flowering plants displayed on a shelf on the far wall he hadn't noticed before. "Are those new?" he asked, nodding his head in the wall's general direction, and noticing Qui-Gon didn't fall for that either.
"You and I both know you have no interest in intergalactic botany. Why don't you save us both some time and tell me what brings you here today."
"You're looking good, Qui-Gon," Mace stalled some more, "the physical therapy worked out for you after all?"
When Qui-Gon set his mug upon the table, carefully avoiding the fanged plant, and made a deliberate show of crossing his arms to show his defiance, Mace knew his bluff had been called.
"Fine," he said before finishing his drink. "I've come to talk to you about Anakin."
"What's wrong with him? Is he all right?"
Mace smiled knowingly and set his own empty glass upon the floor. There was no way he getting anywhere near a plant that had teeth.
He knew Qui-Gon had always had a soft spot for young Skywalker, which was one of the reasons why he was here. "He's perfectly fine, I assure you," Mace noted quickly, erasing the line of worry which had etched itself between the other Jedi's brows. "However, we are concerned, Master Yoda and I, that perhaps he's not being..."
Damn! What was wrong with him? He'd practiced this speech several times on the way over. It must be the ale. He shouldn't have drank the ale...
"Go ahead," Qui-Gon prompted.
"We're concerned that Obi-Wan may be raising him with too strong a hand. As you are fully aware of, Anakin's situation is unique, not only because he's considered to be the Chosen One, but because you discovered him so late in life. He had aleady bonded with his mother, had already developed certain beliefs and philosophies that we had no control of..."
"I understand all of this, Mace," Qui-Gon said, cutting him short. Thankfully.
"It's just that...well...we believe Master Kenobi may not be handling him properly, and we were wondering if there was some way you could talk to him about that. Perhaps, mentor him just a little? I know it's a lot for us to ask, considering your history and the circumstances..."
"Mace."
By all the Force, he had never said so much at one time in his life! How he had let Yoda talk him into this, he couldn't fathom. "Yeah?"
"Stop, before you have a conniption. I'll figure something out."
"Thanks. Thanks, Qui-Gon. You're a good man."
"And Mace?"
"Yeah?"
"Next time, don't down a whole glass of Bendbelly like that. It's more potent than you think."
"Oh." Mace replied. That would explain why the plant on the table was now smiling at him.