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If he had thought Council meetings were exhausting before, Qui-Gon had been wrong. Back when he only watched it from the outside, it already seemed exaggerated. Now that he was kind of involved himself, he felt the true extent of it. He was asked for his opinion regarding the spreading influence of the Hutts into the Outer Rim and the discussion went off limits. It was sad to see how little some of the other members seemed to know about the true extent of the problem as they had only kept it away from them for the longest time. His nerves were more on edge than normally. In true Jedi fashion, none of them had raised their voice but he had the urge to do so many times. Plo had looked over to him more often than he had liked, making him feel even more observed than usually. It felt like he went back to his trials again but worse.
After the doors of the Council chambers had closed behind him, he had felt the hours in his bones. Being back in his quarters, he allowed himself to rest on the bed in the master's bedroom, going through the arguments of the others while his eyes remained closed. It was rather easy to concentrate as the rooms laid silent. Obi-Wan had been out for a mission alongside a young Padawan called Tohno. Though he would wish for his former Padawan to feel the great satisfaction to raise a Knight on his own, Qui-Gon could not feel anything but heavy hearted. A Padawan would pull him away for a long time as sitting in the temple was not nearly enough to raise a proper Jedi. They had to experience the true extent of the Galaxy which meant long years away from home.
They had been gone for only a week. Their destination, Plexus, was a Core region planet that had a problem with spice dealers that supplied even Coruscant's nightclubs. They’d try to prevent further deals with the Core region for a beginning before following the threads to their origin.
Qui-Gon had full trust in Obi-Wan and his abilities. What truly made him feel uneasy was the silence of Feemors room. Bant had picked him up in the morning to go swimming. Worry had swirled around him when she proposed the offer to him. The Mon Calamari soothed his fear and reminded him how many Jedi were unable to swim until they had to, which posed an enormous threat in the future. Feemor was still young and in good hands, she would never allow any harm done to the boy. Still, Qui-Gon could not let go of the worry that rose as soon as he laid down. He couldn't wait for Obi-Wan to come home even if that was probably still some days away.
After some time, the Master decided that lounging in his thoughts would not help with any of it. Instead of sulking, he should get to work on whatever the Council had sent to him. The datapad laid on the desk in the same room, flashing up whenever new information arrived. Instead, he went to the kitchen and set everything up for tea. The Sapir that Obi-Wan had bought was almost empty, only highlighting how long he had been gone or how much he drank in his freetime, depending on the point of view. While he put the hot pot aside, Qui-Gon heard the door swoosh open.
“Thank you for bringing him back, Bant!” he yelled into the living room. As no one answered, he turned to the door to find a tired Obi-Wan with his clothes ripped in some places but smiling tiredly.
“I’m gone for a week and you send our baby boy with any random Mon Calamari that asks for him?”
It was only two long steps before Qui-Gon wrapped his arms around the tired frame of his beloved, pressing him to his chest. His clothes smelled burned and his shoulder long, auburn hair was messy. Carefully, he kissed the forehead that seemed to have its first wrinkles.
“My Love, I’m happy you’re back. You look exhausted. What happened on the mission?”
Obi-Wan rubbed his cheek into the fabric of his Masters tunic, reaching his face upwards to the kiss before he sighed. His fingers found their way under the upper tunic, the coolness of his skin slowly seeping through it.
“Oh, just the usual. Drug lords and mercenaries, blaster fights and lots of screaming. It's so nice and quiet here in comparison. Regarding the silence, where is Feemor?”
“Bant took him for his first swimming lesson. I tend to forget how many of us don't learn how to swim before they realise they have to.”
“That is true, I only learned it at fifteen and that was way too late.”
Qui-Gon remembered. They had to escape through a sea that separated a factory from the village whose pollution tainted their fields. He had to swim on his back in the middle of the night, Obi-Wan clinging to his body like his life depended on it. Basically, that was what it was.
“Master Dooku taught me at seventeen, I have no idea how I had survived to that point.”
The master rubbed his cheek over the messy hair that still smelled of his partner. More kisses found their way all over the head before he caught the lips that waited for him so patiently. They took their time just standing in the doorway, exchanging tender kisses before Obi-Wan separated them.
“I smell you made tea? Any chance there is enough for me, too?”
“Any time, love.”
While Obi-Wan dropped onto the couch in the living room, Qui-Gon brough two cups and sat down next to him. Slowly, the young Jedi stripped himself of the ruined upper tunic and kicked off his boots. He pulled up his legs to lounge on the couch, resting his head on his master's shoulder who wrapped an arm around him. Together they sat in silence, Qui-Gon gladly sharing his warmth with his Padawan who sighed happily after inhaling the calming scent of their favourite tea.
The soothing silence remained for quite a while before Obi-Wan moved, looking around the room. Qui-Gon had not bothered to clean up all too much, the occasional blanket and toy still resting on the floor. Even though their boy was not home, they both saw him drag himself over the floor, his tiny hands hitting the ground in joy whenever he felt the joy of his fathers.
“Tohno has shown to be surprisingly good at diplomacy. The lightsaber kind, but still.”
Qui-Gon chuckled. The young girl had proven herself to be very skillful even during her time as a youngling. Other Masters had been impressed but sooner or later was taken on. Why she was sent with Obi-Wan, he had no clue.
“Most Padawans are hot headed. It evens out after a while. I know another one who was rather emotional at the beginning but resembles a prime example of patience by now.”
Obi-Wan nudged his shoulder before he took a good sip from his cup. His master could not put into words how proud he was how his Padawan had evolved, growing from an emotionally ravaged youngling to a selfless, brave knight that stood up to whatever the force put him through.
“Though I enjoy the silence, I miss our little guy.”
“Bant will be back with him soon. Why don't we spend the time together until then?”
He felt the green eyes on him, the puckered lips were tempting but none of them wanted their friend to walk in on them during whatever was not for Feemors eyes.
“What do you have in mind?”
After another quick peck on those tempting lips, he rose and walked over to the shelf and turned on the radio. Quiet tunes chimed through the room, slow and gentle, that didn't interrupt the serene calmness that had wrapped itself around them. The master offered a hand to Obi-Wan who got up with a smile. He reached out, folding his fingers into Qui-Gons before he came close, gladly sinking into the loose embrace.
They weighed themselves slowly, their feet quietly strolling through the room. Dancing had not necessarily been Obi-Wan's favourite thing to do. His former clumsiness kept him from experiencing the lovely closeness that came with it. Stumbling over his own feet was a matter of the past. It was replaced by a graceful flow of movement, secure and confident, or in that case, trusting.
His Padawan melted onto him, leaning his weight into his Masters arms while they slowly turned to the rhythm of the music. Qui-Gon heard the even breathing that came with slow rubs against his chest, sighs and broad smiles. The force swirled around them in soft gushes, carrying warmth and care with it. It hummed contently, sparkling of light when they closed their eyes. They felt each other physically and mentally, Obi-Wan's brightly shining silhouette burned, a whirling sun within the fabric of the force. The beacon swept his light all throughout the room like a wave with spheres like luminescent jellyfish.
Gentle fingers glided up Qui-Gons neck, scratching the bearded skin. They stroked through the thick strands of greying hair, a thumb brushing his cheek. Obi-Wan's embrace tightened, sighing happily as the warmth of his Master dripped into him.
Even after one song had ended and a new beginning, they kept slowly dancing through the little room, their eyes closed and just breathing evenly while their minds touched. Tendrils stroked over the thoughts and emotions, pulsating in their shared rhythm. Like vines, they wrapped themselves around them to tuck them close.
Qui-Gon's nose brushed Obi-Wan's forehead, sinking down until their heads rested together. His arms reached up, slinging around his Masters head. The tall man would bet his soul that he felt the heartbeat against his chest, firm and strong, pulsating for him.
“Are we interrupting something?”
Both men snapped back to reality. Bant had entered the room without any of them noticing, putting a bundle in an orange-yellow robe on the ground. The Mon Calamari crossed her arms with a smile. The bundle crawled towards them, a fuzzy hood with fluffy cat ears hanging in his face. Feemor wobbly sat up, his chubby little face barely peeking out. Then he threw his hood out of his eyes and sparked a high pitched baby roar. His fingers clawed open and close before he burst out in giggles that made him tumble to his back, his tiny feet kicking through the air.
Obi-Wan began to laugh and walked over to his son, holding his Master's hand to pull him along. He picked up their little lion and brushed the bathing robe out of his face. Gleaming blue eyes shone on them, looking back and forth between the warm gazes of his fathers. He blinked, his fine eyelashes still glistering from his swim. Soft kisses showered his blond hair that made him smile and babble, reaching for the auburn strands that dangled above him.
“It’s nice to see you, Bant,” Qui-Gon said calmly, barely able to take his eyes off the little boy that patted his chest with the other hand. “How did his first lesson go?”
She did not come closer but laughed, stemming her hands to her hips.
“Pretty good for a human. Babies seem to be more talented in moving in water than adults do. He was not nearly as afraid as the older children when he introduced them to the pool. He was scared at first but as soon as he floated in my hands, he calmed down.”
“He knows your presence in water means safety,” Obi-Wan chimed in, finally looking up from Feemor too. “There is hardly any better companion in that element than you.”
Qui-Gon kissed his beloved's head. The deep friendship these two shared was something wonderful to see. Relationships that lasted that long could hardly be broken. It reminded him of the friendship he and Tahl had shared back in their days, being up for all kinds of havoc behind Master Yoda's back though he was sure the Grandmaster had known somehow. Children always thought they were smarter than their elders until they became elders themselves, realising how much the other actually had known.
“He still needs some more hours but he’s on a good course.”
“Thank you, Bant. It means a lot to us that you take him in on that.”
Their friend shrugged her shoulders with a smug smile and turned to leave.
“How could I say no to such a face? No, I don't mean you, Kenobi.”
The young man smiled smugly back before he rested his head back on his master's chest. Feemor bounced up and down in his fathers arm until the hood slipped back into his face, leaving him to look around aimlessly before he giggled again. Qui-Gon had reached out with the force, touching the glowing mind that bubbled from the experiences of the day. He would have a very vivid night's dream.
“Don't you want to stay? I could make us some tea.”
Qui-Gon wanted to invite her too but the Mon Calamari shook her head.
“I would love to, but I have my own Padawan to attend to. I left her alone for way too long already. Who knows where that girl is stumbling around by now? I better find her before she dumps herself into the next pond.”
“Like Master, like Padawan,” Qui-Gon stated amused. The young Nautolan girl she had taken on some years ago was full of rebellious energy whenever she thought nobody was watching her. Dips in the room of a thousand fountains were forbidden as it was a room of serenity and meditation, which did not hinder him from going for a swim as a teenager, especially with Tahl. Nobody could know what their little boy would do as soon as he could walk around on his own with her lessons in mind.
“Just know that you are always welcome, Bant.”
Their friend left them with a little wave of hand before the door closed behind them. Feemor had turned around to look at his new mentor, waving his little hand until the door shut. His eyes came back to his fathers, glowing with joy. Qui-Gon stroked over the chubby cheek and smiled. His chest felt like it filled with warm water that slowly seeped to his limbs.
While they both enjoyed the bubbly joy Feemor radiated, a quiet growl rumbled between them. Qui-Gon was unsure which of them had caused that sound until the happy face slowly melted to confusion, followed by a growing grimace and cut short sobs. Obi-Wan kissed his little boy's forehead before he turned to his Master, slowly gliding out of their half embrace.
“Let's make us something to eat. He’s not the only one who is hungry.”
“Then rest while I make something for you two, my loves.”
Qui-Gon kissed both of them gently before he strolled over to the kitchen. None of his beloved should be hungry under his watch.