Title: Confined (to Quarters)
Author: Kaylie Malinza
Rating: PG-13
Archive: Sure. Yes. I'd be pleased.
Category: First-Time.
Warnings: Teenage "wit" and subsequent embarassment
Summary: Anakin's a bastard, Obi-Wan's a prude.
This fic is also at Fanfiction.net
"Padawan."
"Yes?"
The words hung there, sounding like another other pair would say them. Sounding like the normal interaction that happened everyday in quarters all over the Temple, and in its halls and classrooms. The Master's call of authority; the Padawan's respectful reply.
Obi-Wan Kenobi looked at his apprentice standing in the grey dawn light with one hand on his bedroom door, boots in hand and his shirt misbuttoned, his Padawan braid frizzed and crooked and thought: Respectful, indeed.
Anakin smiled innocently at his master.
"Yes, Master? You told me not to read minds, so you'll have to tell me." Kenobi didn't crack a smile. Anakin tried again.
"Are you rescheduling our sparring session? Because I'd like to get some sleep beforehand. So I can concentrate and do well." Kenobi didn't bat an eye; he continued to stare at Anakin, arms folded and his bearded mouth set in the ubiquitous thin line of disapproval.
"I'm restricting you to quarters for three weeks," he said, and walked away. Please, please obey me....
Anakin sighed and went into his room. It was too late for this sort of thing. He looked at the clock. Or too early, he amended. He was asleep before his body hit the bed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Obi-Wan Kenobi sat in his favorite chair, trying to concentrate on the datapad he was holding despite the loud noises emanating from his Padawan's room.
"Master!"
"I'm right in here Padawan," he said evenly. "Do not shout across the quarters like that."
"Ok. Sorry, Master," came the shouted response. Obi-Wan sighed.
Anakin came into the common room with all the pomp and racket of the young. He caught sight of Obi-Wan and cocked his head to the side like a curious dog.
"I didn't know you wore glasses," he said.
"Sometimes. When my eyes are tired," said Obi-Wan. Anakin tilted his head to the other side, squinting his eyes in thought.
"I like them," he pronounced finally. "They make you look bookish but, well, you are. Do we have any food?" he asked brightly.
"Yes, Padawan, in the place where food goes. Which is, surprisingly, in the kitchen and not under your bed," said Obi-Wan. Anakin had the decency to look sheepish.
"Right. Sorry," he said, and went into the kitchen.
Bookish, thought Obi-Wan. Bookish?
Anakin came in with a sandwich and seated himself on the footstool, staring at Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan sighed and put the datapad down.
"Yes, Anakin?"
"Can I go out tonight?"
"No. I restricted you to quarters."
"But that was a week ago!"
"And you're restricted for two weeks more."
Anakin frowned and took a bite of sandwich.
"Master, don't you think.... I mean, the transgression wasn't that bad. I only came home late once."
"Once a night, you mean." Obi-Wan ignored Anakin's indignant, innocent expression. Anakin sputtered for a moment, then decided to try another tack.
"Master, you don't understand!" he said, throwing his arm dramatically across his eyes.
"Of course I understand. I was seventeen once."
"How long ago?"
"What?" Obi-Wan blinked. Anakin was looking at him curiously.
"How long ago were you seventeen? I mean, how old are you now?" asked Anakin. Obi-Wan shifted in the chair.
"Thirty-one," he said, discomfited.
"Huh," said Anakin.
"How old did you think I was?" Obi-Wan asked, not quite apprehensive.
"Well, I don't know. You don't have that much grey hair yet, so.... Whatever." Anakin shrugged. "But anyway, you wouldn't understand. Even if you were seventeen, I bet you didn't have any libido."
If? thought Obi-Wan. Libido?
"The Jedi do not let such things interfere with their training," he said. Anakin snorted.
"Yeah, right," he said. "So, I'll go meditate or something. Then take a cold shower." He went back to his room, still carrying the sandwich.
Obi-Wan stared at his datapad for a little while. Then he took off his glasses and went to bed.
His dreams were vaguely disturbing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You can't possibly keep me here for three weeks, Master."
"Only one and a half to go."
"But Master—"
Obi-Wan cringed.
"Don't whine, Anakin. I'm not going to change my mind."
"But three weeks!"
"I noticed you're doing much better in Galactic Philosophy in Literature."
"That's because there's nothing else to do!"
"Exactly."
Anakin shut his mouth, glaring at his master. Obi-Wan, studiously eating his fruit, ignored it. Anakin gave a theatrical sigh.
"Master, it's... it's an urge."
"Jedi overcome their urges."
"I'm a teenaged boy! A normal functioning humanoid male! That's not something to overcome, it's something to.... to...."
"Succumb to?"
"No. Satisfy."
Obi-Wan shrugged and buttered a biscuit. Anakin continued.
"Master, if you'd just let me go around the Temple.... I won't go to the rest of Coruscant or anything, I'll just find another Padawan, or something...."
"I doubt another Padawan would be very willing, Anakin. They have the same view I do about these things."
"What, that our dicks are dead?"
Obi-Wan nearly dropped his biscuit. He glared sternly at Anakin.
"That was highly inappropriate, Padawan. I'll thank you not to say it again."
"Sorry, Master."
I'll bet you are, thought Obi-Wan.
"Anakin, I'm not telling you to be celibate. Jedi do have sex, in moderation. I understand that this is a trying time for you, and it's perfectly ok for you to—"
"But you've confined me to quarters!"
"—have sex, as long as it doesn't interfere with your training."
"It wasn't interfering with my training."
"Padawan, you came home at dawn for three weeks straight. Half the time you had a hangover the day afterwards—"
"Which I dispelled through the Force."
"—and you rarely got enough sleep. Once when we were sparring, I told you to do the third kata and you asked me to pass the butter!"
"I was dreaming—"
"Standing up, in the middle of a training salle, with a lightsabre in your hand," he finished. Anakin looked at his plate, not saying anything. Obi-Wan sighed. "I hardly think that counts as not interfering, Padawan."
"Ok, maybe I was wrong."
"Yes."
"I'm wrong a lot."
"Yes."
"But not letting me go out will interfere even more."
"You seem fine to me." Anakin glared at his master. Obi-Wan smiled pleasantly. "I'm not being facetious. Your academics have improved, you have more energy for training, you have been able to meditate more easily.... and you shower daily now."
"You can't bring that up! I was twelve!"
"And thirteen. And fourteen, and fifteen. But anyway, Padawan, I think being confined to quarters has done you a lot of good."
"But it makes me angry." That hung in the air, dripping with portent.
Anakin gave Obi-Wan a hard look. Obi-Wan opened his mouth to speak; his lips fluttered a bit, and he finally said: "You should meditate on that, Padawan." And he left the table.
Anakin stabbed at his breakfast, and broke his fork in half.
Obi-Wan, safe in his room, pretended not to notice.
"Sweet Force, I'm so horny I would do anyone!"
"Anakin!"
"Sorry, Master."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Obi-Wan stared at his Padawan in shock, the wooden spoon in his hand suddenly still. Anakin grinned.
"Whatcha cooking, Master?" he asked. Obi-Wan blinked and looked down at the pot in front of him.
"Uh... it's linguine with chala root sauce," he said. Anakin came up behind him to peer into the pot. "Don't look over my shoulder, please."
"Can't help it, Master. Your shoulder's right at chest level." Obi-Wan turned and glared. Anakin laughed. "Sorry, Master, that was a cheap shot." Obi-Wan turned back to the pasta a little sulkily. Anakin started rummaging in the cabinets.
"Anakin! We're just about to have dinner."
"I know that. I was going to make tea."
"Oh. Thank you."
They didn't talk for a little while; the steam from the pasta slid upwards into the room and mingled with the scent of tea. The pot bubbled noisily; Anakin reached around his master to put the teapot on the stove.
"You could ask me to move out of the way, Anakin."
"It's ok. My arms are long enough to go around you." Anakin grinned at him again. Obi-Wan decided not to say anything. They sat there for another while, waiting for the pasta to cook and the tea water to boil. Anakin watched Obi-Wan sprinkle more spices into the sauce. "Master...." He trailed off.
"Yes, Anakin?"
Anakin put the tea into the water, to let it steep. His brow furrowed as he worked, determining the best way to put it.
"Master, what are the rules... regarding relationships between Masters and Padawans?"
"What do you mean?" asked Obi-Wan, draining the linguine.
"I mean sexual relationships."
Obi-Wan paused, and the pasta slid out of the pot unchecked. It landed sloppily in the colander; Obi-Wan stared at his apprentice.
"You were serious when you said `anyone', weren't you?" he said, only slightly bitter. He slapped the pasta into a bowl, dumped the sauce on it and took it to the table.
"Wait, Master, I didn't mean it like that—"
"Like any other relationship, the Code dictates that all partners should consent. That ends it, Anakin."
Anakin paused at the tone of voice. He carefully poured the tea, brought it to the table.
"So, you don't consent," he said.
"No."
There wasn't much to be said after that.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anakin languidly rinsed the dishes; he had been uncharacteristically quiet. Obi-Wan scrubbed them; he had been uncharacteristically tense.
"Master—"
"What."
Anakin turned to his master in surprise.
"That was rude," he said.
"Forgive me, Padawan. I must have learned it from you."
"Master—"
"Keep rinsing, Padawan. We don't have all day."
"I'm sorry, Master." He wasn't talking about the dishes.
"You say that a lot, I've noticed."
"Well, what do you want me to say!" Anakin threw a plate down; Obi-Wan watched it shatter in the sink, and looked up at his apprentice.
"Control your anger, my apprentice."
"Control yours!"
It was an accusation; it drenched the air between them.
"I'm not smashing dishes," said Obi-Wan.
A pause. Anakin took a deep breath; he counted to twenty, breathed out, counted to twenty again.
"I didn't mean to offend you," he said.
"You didn't mean to break the plate, either."
"Master! I'm trying."
A breath.
"I'm sorry, Padawan. Please continue." Obi-Wan did look contrite. Anakin began picking bits of plate out of the sink. It was a little hard to speak.
"When I asked.... I wasn't being..... I mean, I respect you."
"Thank you, Padawan." His voice was a little wondrous. Anakin turned to him in surprise.
"You didn't know that?"
"You're always.... respectful, I just...."
"I do respect you. I think you're the smartest man alive."
"Padawan, that's not—"
"I know, I know. But let me think it. You know a lot more than me, anyway." He glanced at his master; they smiled at each other for the first time in a long while. "So anyway, about sex.... I was just wondering. Because you're always here, and you're attractive—"
"Anakin—"
"I know, that sounds bad too. I don't know how to put this."
"Padawan, I understand. But I don't see the appeal of a casual encounter. I prefer long-term—"
"That's fine."
A pause.
"It is?"
"Yeah. It makes sense enough. I mean, we're always together, we don't have to worry about diseases, it won't interfere with my training— if I have trouble focusing, you could just pop me a quick one, get me back on track."
Obi-Wan flushed bright red. Anakin grinned.
"Sorry," he said. "I forgot you're a prude."
"I'm not—Padawan—" He took a deep breath, and then another, trying not to hyperventilate. "This is something you should work out on your own."
"My left hand isn't going to cut it, Master."
Obi-Wan flushed even more.
"That's not what I meant." Pause. "You should be with people your own age," he said, and left the kitchen.
"But you've confined me to quarters!" yelled Anakin.
There was no answer.
Completely inexplicably, the linguine burst into flame. There goes the leftovers, thought Anakin.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Obi-Wan parried, lunged, ducked and flipped. The kiss of laser; his flesh sizzled and he spun, sending the other lightsabre across the room.
"Dammit," said Anakin, and sighed.
"Good match," said Obi-Wan, absently healing the blister he'd acquired. "Don't forget to watch your left side, though. You're dropping your guard. And Anakin—" He told him this every time. "Be patient. Do not let your opponent provoke you into attack."
"Yes Master." It was barely mumbled. Anakin watched his master, eyes hooded. Obi-Wan caught spare drifts of emotion in the air; his breath quickened.
"Concentrate on the here and now, Padawan."
Anakin laughed; the laugh could only be described as wicked.
Obi-Wan dispelled his fear.
"Now, Padawan." He said, almost authoritatively. Anakin went to get his lightsabre, insouciant and lazy. It snapped to life; its acrid hum echoed and danced with random loose tendrils of the Force. Obi-Wan saw lust sparkle at the tip of it.
Anakin began the dance again. He had paid attention, and Obi- Wan could not get through his left side. But he struck too quickly and too often; soon he was tired, and his master dealt him a stinging blow to the neck.
"Anakin," said the master.
"I know, I know. I'm working on it. I do listen to you."
"Yes, well...." Obi-Wan trailed off, wiping his neck and hair with a towel. Anakin joined him at the bench, clipping his `sabre to his sweatstained clothes.
"We going to go again?" he asked.
"No, I don't think so. We've done enough for today."
Anakin nodded, wiped himself with the towel.
"Master, do you think you could help me with my coursework later? Galactic Lit's really got me confused, and I know you're better at that stuff."
"Of course Padawan. But I need to talk to you about something, first."
Anakin glanced up curiously.
"What?" he said. Obi-Wan sighed, looked around.
"Let's wait until we are in our quarters," he said. Anakin nodded, wrinkling his brow in thought. Suddenly, his face cleared and he looked up anxiously.
"Master, if it's about that— Are you going to ground me here for even longer? Because I really think—"
"In our quarters, Padawan. Patience."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Obi-Wan got to shower first because he was the master; Anakin waited around and stank until Obi-Wan came out.
"This is a bad system," he said, watching Obi-Wan towel his hair. "If we were lovers, we could've taken a shower at the same time."
Obi-Wan pointed at the `fresher door.
"Go," he said.
"Yes, Master," said Anakin, and went.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~