Warnings: minor references to puberty and sexual
growth
"Padawan, when I tell you to meet me a two hours past noon for saber practice, I mean it. I do not mean fifteen minutes later." Qui-Gon sounded definitely peeved.
Obi-Wan fought the urge to scuff his feet against the floor.
"I'm sorry, Master. I got… sidetracked."
Qui-Gon crossed his arms over his chest and regarded the fourteen-year-old.
"Oh?" he asked, his expression dark. "Please elaborate."
"Garen stopped me in the hall and said he had some stuff to show me. It was in his quarters, so we went there. I guess I lost track of the time."
"Obviously," Qui-Gon said, his frown deepening. "Tell me, Obi-Wan, what sort of 'stuff' was Garen showing you?"
Obi-Wan swallowed. "Just some holo-pictures, Master."
"Holo-pictures of what?"
"Um… people."
Qui-Gon put a hand to the bridge of his nose. He couldn't take it anymore.
"Padawan, I'm only going to ask you this once and I want the truth. Were you and Garen looking at pornography?"
Obi-Wan's eyes dropped to the mat. "Yes, Master," he said in a very small voice.
Qui-Gon stood and regarded his Padawan for a minute. "You know how I feel about that, Obi-Wan," he said in a disappointed tone. "We've discussed before that there are healthier ways of exploring your budding sexuality than to look at pictures of those exploited for their physical attributes."
Obi-Wan winced.
"We'll discuss that angle later, however. Right now I want to discuss your tardiness. Now, under normal circumstances, for being fifteen minutes late, I would drill you for an extra half-hour. However, today we have an appointment at the Senate, so I will put off that extra training. Seeing as you are, as of right now, grounded for the next two weeks, I don't think we'll have a problem fitting it in."
"But Master!" Obi-Wan protested.
"Argue with me, Padawan, and I'll make it three."
Obi-Wan shut up.
"Now, go put on your training tunic and we'll make the best out of our remaining time."
"Yes, sir," Obi-Wan said with a sigh.
The physical workout was harder than normal and Obi-Wan didn't need to be a genius to figure out why. It pained him to know that Qui-Gon was disappointed with him.
After their training match, Obi-Wan headed for the showers. While he was occupied, Qui-Gon called Garen's Master on his commlink.
"What?!"
"You heard me," Qui-Gon said, smiling faintly.
"Men," she grumbled petulantly before switching off the commlink.
Qui-Gon didn't speak during the ride to the Senate. Obi-Wan wasn't sure if his Master was still angry with him or not, but he decided to play it safe and keep his mouth shut.
When they reached the Senate building, a young aide, scarcely older than Obi-Wan, showed them to a small chamber. There they sat in uncomfortable, high-backed chairs. They did not wait long. Senator M'rali and Governor Palbis joined them almost immediately.
Both Jedi rose and bowed. Qui-Gon introduced them both. The Senator and the Governor nodded to them.
"Let's get down to business," said M'rali, not wanting to waste any time. "The Governor of our fair planet has come to Coruscant on a mission of the gravest importance."
Obi-Wan's ears pricked up, expecting an adventure story. But as he listened, he discovered that their main complaint was in regards to taxation, he quickly lost interest. Half an hour later, he was bored out of his mind.
Obi-Wan knew better than to fidget, but boredom was threatening to drive him insane. His fingers, seemingly of their own volition, began to play with the hem on his sleeve. Qui-Gon shot him a look that said, as plainly as words, "Quit it."
Repressing a sigh, Obi-Wan folded his hands in his lap and tried to at least look like he was paying attention. After a few moments, his gaze wandered and he stared out the window, lost in thought.
The Senator glanced at him. Noting Obi-Wan's lack of attention he said kindly, "Perhaps, young Jedi, you would prefer to walk through our arboretum than to sit and listen to such seemingly meaningless prattle."
Obi-Wan grinned, and was about to agree, when Qui-Gon laid a hand on his arm. "Thank you for your offer, Senator," he said with a polite smile. "But Obi-Wan is here to further his education. To deprive him of it would be a disservice."
The Senator inclined his head. "As you wish," he said, and the talks continued. Obi-Wan stifled a groan.
Finally, after what seemed like weeks, but was in reality only a little over two hours, an agreement was reached and Qui-Gon led the way to the air-taxi bay. Pausing at a stair landing, he turned.
"Would you care to give me an explanation for your behavior?"
"I was bored," Obi-Wan said a trifle defensively.
"I noticed. And so did the Senator. So much so that he commented on it."
Obi-Wan bit his lip. He didn't know what else to say.
"I did not bring you along so you could sit there and look ornamental," Qui-Gon said, irritation coloring his tone. "I brought you so that I could have a fresh perspective on the issue and perhaps bounce my ideas off your own. But since you didn't listen to a word that was spoken, that's not possible, is it?"
Obi-Wan tried to look away from the keen blue gaze and failed. "No, sir."
Qui-Gon turned, cloak swirling. "Let's just go home and do our best to put this day behind us," he said with a sigh.
Bant smacked her hand into Obi-Wan's chest.
"You're such a bastard!" she yelled.
Obi-Wan's eyes went wide. "What did I do?"
"You got grounded, that's what. And you managed to get grounded at the same time as Garen. Who am I supposed to talk with now?" she wailed.
"How'd you know I was grounded?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I called you last night on the commlink, and Master Qui-Gon told me you couldn't talk to me because you were grounded. I asked him what you did, but he wouldn't tell me. He said I should ask you."
"Well, I'm not going to tell you either," Obi-Wan said.
"Why not?"
"Because you'll be even more mad."
She rolled her eyes. "You're such a… boy!" she threw at him before turning and stalking out of the training hall. He stared after her, perplexed.
Just then their instructor, Master Sampa, entered the room. She looked around in confusion.
"Where's Bant?"
"She got mad and left," Obi-Wan said.
"Why?"
"I think I said something that upset her," Obi-Wan said with a shrug.
Master Sampa sighed. "Well, you can't do the exercise alone. You might as well return to your quarters."
Obi-Wan's shoulders drooped. He'd spent far too much time in his quarters already and it was only one day into his two weeks of being grounded.
"Do I have to?" he asked. He knew he sounded petulant and childish, but he didn't care.
"No, I suppose not," said his teacher. "But I really should find something for you to do. I can't have you wandering around unsupervised. Not after the holo-comm I got from your Master this morning."
Obi-Wan blanched. "How much did he tell you?"
She smiled at him. "Not to worry, Obi-Wan. He didn't tell me what you did, only that you were grounded."
Obi-Wan wrinkled his nose. "Master Sampa, did you ever get grounded?"
She looked surprised by the question. "Yes, of course. Half the time it was your Master's fault," she added ruefully.
Obi-Wan looked startled. "My Master?"
She smiled. "Yes. Though perhaps I shouldn't be telling you these stories."
"Oh, please do," he said. The two of them shared a conspiratorial grin.
Master Sampa soon had Obi-Wan rolling on the floor, tears of laughter running down his face as she described the time they snuck out of the Temple but got caught sneaking back in.
"Master Yoda chased Qui-Gon down the hall with his gimmer stick. I thought it was the funniest thing I'd ever seen - until my Master dragged me back to our quarters by my braid and gave me one of the longest lectures of my life."
Obi-Wan sat up, sobering. "Yeah, that's the worst part."
She smiled sympathetically. "Yes, I know."
Obi-Wan glanced at his chrono. "I should probably go," he said with a sigh. "I don't want to be late again."
"Is that why you're in trouble? Because you were late?" she asked in some surprise.
He smiled slightly. "That's part of it."
She smiled back, a shared understanding passed between them.
She shooed him away with a hand. "Go on now, Obi-Wan. Don't keep Qui-Gon waiting."
Flashing her a grin, he jogged easily out of the gym.
"I'm so glad to see you here on time, Padawan," Qui-Gon said, more than a hint of sarcasm in his tone as Obi-Wan dashed through the doorway with three seconds to spare.
Obi-Wan smiled serenely.
Qui-Gon looked at his suspiciously. "What are you hiding, Padawan?"
"Me?" said Obi-Wan in his most innocent voice.
"Obi-Wan…"
"It's nothing bad," Obi-Wan said quickly. "Master Sampa was just telling me stories."
Qui-Gon's eyebrows rose. "Really? I may have to have a talk with her." But the twinkling of his eyes belied the seriousness of his tone.
"She said you used to get her into trouble," Obi-Wan said, grinning.
"Me? Oh no, I would never do such a thing," Qui-Gon said with a wink.
"Yeah, right," Obi-Wan retorted, ducking under the playful cuff aimed at his head. He changed quickly into his training tunic.
Practice went well and Obi-Wan's afternoon classes were fairly uneventful. Returning to his quarters after the evening meal, Obi-Wan was surprised to see Qui-Gon already there.
"Hello, Master," he said.
Qui-Gon looked up from his reading with a smile. "Good evening, Padawan. Do you have much course work this evening?"
"Not much."
"Good. Perhaps if you finish it quickly we may have time for a game or two of Sabbac."
"Really?"
Qui-Gon smiled. "Yes, really. But you have to finish all your course work."
"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan said, settling down with his data-slate at the table. He grinned to himself. He was so glad that his Master wasn't still angry with him. He didn't care about being grounded, as long as Qui-Gon wasn't mad.
In fact, he thought to himself. As long as Master
Qui-Gon isn't mad, I could be grounded forever… well,
maybe not *forever*…