Title: This

Author: tarotgal

Fandom: Star Wars

Rating: PG (if that)

Pairing: Obi-Wan/Qui-Gon

Disclaimer: Oh how I wish these characters were mine. But they're George's and I can only play with them.

Summary: Obi-Wan's sick and even though Qui-Gon knows best, he's not going to push his somewhat stubborn padawan.

Notes: I've had this bunny on my list of things to write for months upon months now. In an attempt to shake this pseudo writer's block and wake up, I decided to try writing it. Took just a couple hours from start to finish.

 

 

This

     The birds' songs were a sweet, soft medley that was both strange and familiar to Qui-Gon on their second morning on the planet. It was certainly a more pleasant way of waking than a buzzing alarm clock. It was not a method that worked as well on his padawan, however. His sense of hearing gave way to sense of touch as he became aware of the tangle of bed sheets and limbs of which he was a part. Warmth and steady breaths on his chest told him where Obi-Wan's head was and told him the young man was still asleep. One of his arms was drawn around his padawan's torso and another was bent beneath a pillow. Legs were intertwined and the sheets and blanket wove in and out around and on top of them. The slight dampness of the bedding indicated the night had been hotter than they'd predicted, and even the fact that they wore nothing but sleep pants had not helped. He could gauge nothing more touch so he opened his eyes.

 

     His gaze fell upon the clock. Qui-Gon took a deep breath and stretched, tilting his head to the side. Then he laid his large hand upon Obi-Wan's head. "We need to get up now, Padawan Mine."

 

     Obi-Wan stirred and sniffed hard. He shook his head slightly, insisting they stay in bed longer. "Want to stay in bed." He was perfectly comfortable, snuggled close to his master, without need to worry or work.

 

     Qui-Gon wished they could do so. Tenderly, he kissed his padawan's forehead.  "We need to attend the meetings. That is, if you think you feel up to it."

 

     Those were the magic words. Obi-Wan instantly opened his eyes and pushed off from the bed to sit up. He shook his head rapidly to wake himself up and blinked. "I'm up. And I'm feeling fine."

 

     "Hmm," Qui-Gon smiled mildly. "Well, if you're feeling fine we need to be out of here by nine." As Obi-Wan was on top, he got up first. "Go run the shower- with water. I'll bring our clothes in and join you."

 

     Obi-Wan obeyed, moving slowly but steadily. Qui-Gon watched him until he disappeared into the refresher, then he gathered up their clothes into a neat piles. When he reached the 'fresher, he found the shower running and Obi-Wan standing beneath the spray.

 

     The stall was a square, with navy blue tiles on two walls and glass on the other two. The glass door was ajar in an inviting sort of way even though Obi-Wan clearly looked like he was in a world of his own in the shower. The water ran down his body, starting at his face and shoulders and ending with his toes. His braid was still braided but the rest of his short hair hung limply as it was soaked and darkened from water. He looked relaxed, peaceful. At least until his head snapped down and his entire body shook. "hehhhh-UHSchhhhh! EhhSchhhh!" He pressed the back of his wrist to his nose as he sniffed hard. Then he turned his face up towards the shower head and let it clean him. "Planning to stand there all morning, Master? Or are you going to join me?" Water flooded his mouth as he spoke, and he blew it out afterwards.

 

     Amused, Qui-Gon smiled and set the clothes down on the closed lid toilet seat lid. He tucked his thumbs under the waistband of his sleep pants and slid them down. Stepping out of them and into the shower stall was done in one smooth movement. Then he pressed his front to Obi-Wan's back and wrapped his arms around the young man from behind. "I wish I could stand here all morning," Qui-Gon admitted as the water rushed down him as well. The warmth and the touch of his padawan both were invigorating. "And I wish you felt better."

 

     Obi-Wan sniffed and turned his head, looking back and up at Qui-Gon. "I feel fine, Master," he insisted.

 

     "This?" asked Qui-Gon, sounding skeptical.

 

     "This is just a tiny little cold in my nose. I can handle it." Obi-Wan scrubbed at his nose and sniffled again.

 

     "Hmm," said Qui-Gon, reaching for the soap instead of disagreeing. He ignored his padawan's continual sniffling as he washed them both. But he took notice of the deep, building breaths Obi-Wan gave before sneezing yet again. "ehhh-hehhhChshhh! hehhSCHhhhhh!" The sneezes shook his whole body which Qui-Gon could see clearly. He hugged Obi-Wan to keep him steady, not wanting him to slip on the wet tile floor and hurt himself. Qui-Gon continued to hug or at least hold him until they'd been rinsed off, and Obi-Wan did not protest.

 

     Then he wrapped a towel around Obi-Wan before beginning to dry himself once the shower was over. They dressed efficiently, apart from selecting the wrong undertunics from the pile of clothes and having to trade.

 

     The 'fresher was equipped with a double sink, which both admitted was quite luxurious and unnecessary but which came in handy in the mornings. Qui-Gon took the one on the left and reached immediately for his comb. He worked it through his hair, straightening it before pulling it back.

 

     On his right, Obi-Wan combed his own hair but that didn't take more than a few seconds to do as his hair was so short and his padawan braid was already done up. He moved on to brushing his teeth, though he didn't close his mouth as he did so, as he wasn't able to breathe through his nose.

 

     Qui-Gon smiled as it sounded different than usual and watched Obi-Wan's reflection in the mirror in front of them. He noticed the way Obi-Wan's nostrils twitched while he brushed his teeth. Clearly the man was doing his very best not to sneeze. And, for the most part, his efforts worked. It wasn't until Obi-Wan spat and rinsed out his mouth that he reached for the toilet paper roll and tore off a half dozen squares. "hehhhChuhh! hehhhShooo! Ehhh-hehhChooo!" He blew his nose and avoided meeting Qui-Gon's eyes either in person or in his mirror reflection.

 

     As Qui-Gon began brushing his teeth, Obi-Wan picked a small bottle of shaving cream and a razor. Obi-Wan stopped up the sink then ran the water to fill it most of the way. Then he lathered the lower half of his face then raised the blade. His nose twitched again and Qui-Gon cleared his throat.

 

     "You'd better not sneeze while you're shaving," Qui-Gon warned, talking around the toothbrush in his mouth. He eyed Obi-Wan in the mirror.

 

     "I don't need to sneeze," Obi-Wan said, with a strong sniff. He waited a few more moments. "See? I'm fine."

 

     Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow but let his padawan do as he thought best.

 

     Obi-Wan ran the blade smoothly down his cheek several times, then rinsed it off in the basin. His nostrils twitched and he sniffed again, but again he managed to hold in his sneeze. It seemed to be a harder battle than the last time, however. "ehhh..." His breath wavered and his eyes closed. His hand and the razor froze as the padawan controlled himself. After a few moments, he sighed and resumed. He shaved his other cheek, then worked on his chin and started on his neck.

 

     "hehhh..." Obi-Wan breathed again. He closed his eyes again. "ehhh... ih..." The pitch of his vocalized breaths rose. "hehhhhh!" He tried hard to hold the sneeze in and, this time, failed before he was aware of his failure.

 

     Watching closely, Qui-Gon raised his hand and used the Force to guide the razor out of his padawan's hand. It hung in the air, a safe distance away.

 

     Obi-Wan's head tilted back, then he snapped forward with sneezes. "hahhh-TChooo! hehhhShooo! hehhShahhhh! KShahhh!" Qui-Gon plucked the razor out of midair, then retrieved the toilet paper roll. He tore a piece off and handed it to Obi-Wan, who blew his nose liquidly. He swayed, feeling a little lightheaded from the sneezes, then sighed weakly.

 

     "This is you feeling fine?" Qui-Gon asked as he tore another piece off and used it to wipe off the mirror where most of the shaving cream that had remained on Obi-Wan's face had ended up. Then he squirted out a little more shaving cream, covered a few portions of Obi-Wan's face and shaved his padawan with gentle but strong strokes. When finished, Obi-Wan buried his face in a towel to wipe off.

 

     Then he lifted his head, sniffling. "Maybe not so fine after all, Master."

 

     Qui-Gon pulled Obi-Wan close and embraced him. Obi-Wan sniffled and nuzzled into Qui-Gon's chest, finding peace there again. "Do you think you will be well enough to go today?"

 

     Obi-Wan thought for a moment, then nodded determinedly. "Not completely well, but well enough I think."

 

     "And if you start feeling worse you'll let me know immediately?" Qui-Gon asked, stroking the back of Obi-Wan's head.

 

     "Yes, Master," Obi-Wan agreed. He stepped back, sniffling and rubbing at his nose. He looked at himself in the mirror, then nodded to his reflection approvingly. Qui-Gon couldn't help but smile at that.

 

     They finished up in the 'fresher. Then they collected their lightsabers and tidied up the room a little while securing their belongings in the locked cases they'd brought, just in case. All the while, Obi-Wan sniffled. Qui-Gon saw that they brought a few good handkerchiefs with them.

 

     "ehhh... ehhh-Chushhh! hehhhShooo!" Obi-Wan cupped his hand to his face but did not blow his nose afterwards. This proved to be a mistake. As the two Jedi headed out of the room they'd been given, Qui-Gon noticed Obi-Wan fighting against another tickle in his nose. Obi-Wan's breath caught. He cupped both hands to his face. "hehhhChuhhh! hehhShahhh! Hehhhhhh..."

 

     Obi-Wan swayed so badly as the sneeze built that Qui-Gon reached out and held onto his padawan to keep him steady.

 

     "EHHHShooo! HehhhShahhh! EhhSHUHH!" Tiredly, Obi-Wan dug out one of the handkerchiefs and blew his nose. Though the door was open and they were only a few steps from leaving the room, Obi-Wan looked up at Qui-Gon and their eyes met. They did not need to communicate in words or in thoughts.

 

     They turned back immediately. Qui-Gon pulled down the sheets and coverlet on the bed while Obi-Wan sat down and pulled off his boots. He lay down on the bed and Qui-Gon pulled the covers up. "I think I should stay in bed this morning after all," Obi-Wan decided.

 

     "Hmm," Qui-Gon said again. Gently, he kissed Obi-Wan's forehead. "I think that's a very wise decision. Rest, Padawan Mine. I'll stop in to see you in a few hours with food. Unless you need some sent to you sooner?"

 

     Obi-Wan shook his head. "I'm fine." He hugged the sheets and blanket to his chest so they were pulled around him more tightly. He yawned and closed his eyes, ready to go back to sleep.

 

     Qui-Gon smiled. This was Obi-Wan feeling fine.