This one *gasp* has something of a plot - but not much of one. It's not smutty at all, it's more a reflection of ... communal living. I hope you like it.
Obi-Wan shouldered his pack with a sigh. He was supposed to have three more days on the Senior Padawan Field Training, but the last leg of their journey had been curtailed by an ion storm and they had to turn back.
He watched out the view-port as the passenger cruiser docked at the Temple Space Port. With a gentle bump, the big transport settled into place and dropped its ramps. The Padawans and their assorted leaders trouped down and into the Temple proper.
Obi-Wan was tired. Days of rain and mud had taken their toll on the young man. He had been on Madon IV for two weeks in the roughest of conditions and all he really wanted in the whole galaxy was a hot shower and a nice warm bed.
He nodded a weary farewell to his travel companions and trekked down the hall towards the quarters he shared with his Master. Palming the lock, he stepped into the common room, where the sight that greeted his eyes caused his jaw to drop.
Now, Obi-Wan had known since he was thirteen or fourteen that his Master was sexually active. That fact came as no surprise. Still, the stoic Jedi Master had always been extremely discrete and private. Obi-Wan had never known him to engage in any sort of sexual congress outside the confines of the bedroom. Which was part of what shocked him now.
Qui-Gon lay on his back in the middle of the common room. He was naked and straddled by a young woman. Obi-Wan recognized her as Deffi, a young Knight. She was wearing some filmy black negligée. Both of them turned as the door opened. Deffi shrieked, grabbing at a blanket to cover herself.
Qui-Gon looked just as startled as his poor Padawan.
"What are you doing back?" he asked, stunned. "You aren't due back for another three days."
Obi-Wan turned around, averting his eyes as he answered, "We had to turn back after Madon IV because of an ion storm. I sent you a transmission… obviously you didn't get it."
"My apologies, Padawan," Qui-Gon said. "I am very sorry you had to witness this. I-"
"No, Master, it's okay," Obi-Wan answered, heading for the door. "I'll just stay with Tahl. It's not a big deal."
Qui-Gon struggled to sit up. "Padawan, don't. I… these are your rooms too. I…"
"Don't worry about it," Obi-Wan said with a shrug. He let himself out and trudged down the hall to Tahl's room.
Tahl was having a quiet cup of tea and listening to some soft music when there was a knock on her door. Rising slowly, a guiding hand on the wall, she reached the door and opened it.
"Obi-Wan?"
"Yes, it's me."
"What are you doing here? At this hour? Is Qui-Gon alright?" A stream of worried questions poured forth.
"He's fine… a little too fine."
"What do you mean?"
"Do you know Deffi?"
"The young Knight? The one who got her knighthood just last month?"
"That's the one," Obi-Wan answered.
"What about her?"
"She and my Master are a little… occupied at the moment."
Tahl blushed slightly. "Oh."
"I know it's terribly imposing of me to ask, but can I spend the night?"
"Of course. Please come in." She grinned at him. "Would you like a shower?"
"Do I smell that bad?" he asked.
"You do have a certain… essence about you that just screams 'Field Training'," she said with a smile.
"Thanks," he said, smiling back. "I'd love a hot shower."
Early the next morning, Qui-Gon knocked on Tahl's door.
"Good morning, you dirty old karga," Tahl greeted him.
"Spare me," Qui-Gon said with a withering look. "Is Obi-Wan here?"
"Yes, he is," Tahl said. "But he's in the fresher at the moment. Will you come in and have a cup of tea?"
"I'd like that," Qui-Gon answered.
"Good," said Tahl. "And while you're at it, you can tell me how you managed to bed that little Knight."
Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow. "How much of this has Obi-Wan told you?"
"Just that you two were 'occupied' - to use his own phrasing."
"I'll admit I was rather surprised when he walked in."
"So was he."
"That's not my fault," Qui-Gon protested. "He was supposed to be gone for another three days."
"Still, you owe him an apology."
"Yes, I know."
Just then the fresher door opened and Obi-Wan stepped out.
"Hello, Master," he said, blushing slightly.
"Good morning, Padawan," Qui-Gon said calmly. "I'd like to talk to you. I believe I owe you an apology. You have the right to your own room, and I deprived you of it. I'm very sorry that you were inconvenienced."
"Master, it's okay, really. It's not my place to dictate your virtue. I'm sorry I disturbed you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have class." With that, and a quick bow, Obi-Wan left Tahl's quarters.
Qui-Gon turned to Tahl. "Do you think he's still upset?"
"I should say it's fairly obvious," said Tahl. "Your actions did force him to sleep on my couch after two weeks of Field Training. I'd be mad at you too."
Qui-Gon swore softly. "What should I do?"
"Well, if it were me, I'd say you should buy me lots of flowers and candy, but somehow I think Obi-Wan would wonder about you if you tried that with him. Failing that, take him somewhere that he likes to go and apologize again."
Qui-Gon sighed. Somehow he had the feeling that this was going to be a very long day.
"Master Jinn, the transport will be docking with the Temple shortly," the pilot called back to Qui-Gon, who sat in earnest contemplation of the downward flight of the shuttle.
"Thank you, Jev. I must admit, I'm looking forward to some creature comforts," Qui-Gon said with a smile. "Spending the rainy season on Trajus Prime was an exercise in maintaining serenity."
"I'm glad to hear you say that Master Jinn," Jev said with a good-humored grin. "I thought it was just me that was going stir crazy."
Qui-Gon chuckled softly. "It will be a relief to take a hot bath and to wear dry socks for the first time in too many weeks."
Jev laughed. "Yes, I agree." He sat back with a relaxed grin as the Coruscant authorities took remote control of his shuttle, guiding them towards the Temple. "My work is done. I'm looking forward to seeing my wife and children. It's been a long time since I was last on Coruscant."
Qui-Gon smiled. "I look forward to seeing my Apprentice as well," he said. "I wanted to take him with me, but his final exams were last week and he would have missed them. While most of his coursework can be done in the field, there are some parts that must be done in-Temple - much to his chagrin, of course."
Jev grinned again. "Yes, I can imagine he made quite a fuss at being left behind. Most of the Padawans I've met seem to be extremely protective."
"The feeling is mutual, I assure you," said Qui-Gon.
"I can imagine," Jev said.
The shuttle docked with the gentlest of bumps. "Well, here we are," said Jev.
"Thank you for your company, as well as for your skillful abilities," Qui-Gon said with a bow.
"The pleasure was mine, Master Jinn," said Jev. "It's an honor to serve the Jedi."
Platitudes over, the two men shook hands and went their separate ways without a backwards glance.
Qui-Gon walked down the labyrinthian corridors. It was late and he only passed one or two fellow Jedi, going on their quiet ways. They gave him a nod as they passed.
As Qui-Gon palmed open the door to his quarters, he felt a small disturbance in the Force. Something was not quite right.
He glanced around, not truly concerned. Everything in the common room appeared to be in order. The door to his own room was open, as he'd left it. He checked it quickly. Nothing had been changed. A glance into Obi-Wan's room revealed that it was in some disarray, but no more than usual. It was, however, empty. He had expected Obi-Wan to be at home - especially at this late hour. Indeed, he could feel the young man's presence in their quarters. The door to the fresher was closed.
Ah, that must be it, he thought.
He knocked briskly on the door.
"Padawan," he called. "I'm back."
He could feel Obi-Wan's shock at his early homecoming along their training bond.
The door opened and Qui-Gon stood face to face with his dripping Padawan. Obi-Wan had grabbed a towel and was fastening it around his waist as he opened the door.
Holding the towel with one hand and brushing his wet hair out of his eyes with the other he said in some surprise, "Master? You're not supposed to be back till tomorrow morning."
"Yes, I know. Fortunately, the pilot was able to get early clearance and we landed a few moments ago."
"Oh… um, that's great, Master."
For the first time, Qui-Gon glanced past his dripping Apprentice into the fresher. Candles were lit and the privacy curtain drawn in front of the bathtub.
Why would someone close the curtain if they thought they were alone in the apartment?
"Padawan, have I interrupted something?"
"Um… actually… yeah." Obi-Wan blushed.
Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow.
Do I want to know? Probably not.
"In that case, Obi-Wan, I'll just stop in my room to get some dry clothes. I'm sure Tahl's couch is unoccupied."
Obi-Wan blushed even more. "Master, I'm sorry. I can tell Kavi to leave. It's…"
"Say no more, Padawan. I'm perfectly fine with sleeping on Tahl's couch. After all, if my actions can send you there in the middle of the night, I'm sure the reverse is true as well."
Obi-Wan flinched. "Master-"
Qui-Gon held up a silencing hand. Obi-Wan's mouth closed with an audible snap.
"Goodnight, Padawan."
Having grabbed a clean tunic and a change of underclothes from his bedroom, Qui-Gon strode down the hall to Tahl's room. He wasn't sure if he was upset by his Padawan's behavior or not.
He'd known that Obi-Wan was sexually active since he was about eighteen or nineteen. Indeed, he would have been surprised if his Padawan had elected celibacy. But, as a general rule, Obi-Wan did not fill his Master in on his conquests. Nor did Qui-Gon particularly want to know. While the topic was not taboo between them, the Master had made it very clear that his Padawan's sexual partners were to remain private.
Qui-Gon sighed. If he could embarrass his Padawan,
then his Padawan had the right to embarrass him.
Turnabout was fair play after all.