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In the late afternoon the Temple refectory was filled with golden light and the sound of quiet conversations. Outside of the busier periods around mid and late-meal it was a peaceful place, perfect for pep-talks between Masters and padawans, for knights catching up with each other after long missions and of course, for delicate negotiations.
On this particular day one such discussion was taking place between Master Qui-Gon Jinn and Knight Kenobi, who were sitting together towards the back of the hall, talking with the ease of long familiarity.
‘Obi-Wan,’ Qui-Gon said, looking appealingly at his companion from his seat on the opposite side of the long wooden bench, ‘I need to ask you for a favour.’
‘Oh?’ Obi-Wan said, raising an eyebrow and pouring another measure of tea into his cup. ‘And what might that be?’
‘As you know, Anakin and I are being sent on a long, and likely rather dull diplomatic mission tomorrow,’ Qui-Gon began, sitting back in his chair and cradling his own mug between his hands.
‘I did hear something of that nature, and I’m sure that between the two of you, you’ll find a way to make your task interesting, possibly too much so for the Council’s comfort,’ Obi-Wan commented rather dryly.
Qui-Gon shot him a sly grin before continuing, ‘be that as it may, it’s going to be the first time we’re both away from the Temple for an extended mission since...well, since Naboo.’
‘Ah yes,’ Obi-Wan said, his smile dimming a little at the mention of that disastrous mission that had almost cost them both so much.
‘That’s not the issue at hand, however,’ Qui-Gon continued hurriedly, evidently trying to disperse the pall that had suddenly fallen over them. ‘My problem is that given how long it’s likely to take I’m a little worried about my plants.’
‘Your plants?’ Obi-Wan said, ‘oh Sweet Force, are you talking about that jungle you’ve established in your quarters?’
‘Precisely, Obi-Wan,’ Qui-Gon said, leaning forward earnestly, ‘how will they be cared for in my absence?’
‘Hang on,’ Obi-Wan said, frowning, ‘I thought you said that Anakin had built a droid to look after them?’
Qui-Gon pulled a face, ‘he did, but while Anakin’s engineering skills are unparalleled, his knowledge of plant-care is not.’
Obi-Wan suppressed a laugh, ‘did it get a little overzealous?’
‘Only last week I was rather abruptly brought out of meditation when it started watering me .’
‘Oh well you can hardly blame the poor thing,’ Obi-Wan teased, ‘I occasionally used to wonder whether you had put down roots myself.’
Qui-Gon chuckled, ‘be that as it may, while I can survive the occasional unexpected dousing, some of my plants require a little more finesse,’ he smiled, ‘so I immediately thought of you.’
Obi-Wan really should have stopped allowing warmth to curl through him at the slightest compliment from Qui-Gon by now. Ideally it should have happened seven years earlier when he had leaned over the infirmary bed to have his padawan braid cut, but the feeling persisted nonetheless.
‘So am I to understand from all this build-up, that you’d like me to look after your plants while you’re away?’ He said, deciding to cut to the chase.
Qui-Gon beamed, ‘only if it’s not too inconvenient, and if you’re not scheduled for any missions of your own.’
‘I’m on a teaching rotation for the next month, as your spies on the Council will have no doubt informed you,’ Obi-Wan said.
‘I have no idea what you mean,’ Qui-Gon said innocently, as though Plo and Depa didn’t go to his quarters to drink tea and complain after almost every Council meeting, ‘but if your schedule does allow you to check in on them then I would be very grateful.’
‘Of course I’d be happy to look after them,’ Obi-Wan said.
‘Thank you Obi-Wan, that is a real weight off my mind,’ Qui-Gon reached over and squeezed Obi-Wan’s hand affectionately, his palm still warm from where it had been curved around his teacup.
Obi-Wan very carefully did not shiver with pleasure at the touch.
‘Will you have time to come to my quarters this evening so that I can talk you through which ones might need a little more attention?’ Qui-Gon said hopefully, ‘I could make you dinner, and I’m sure Anakin would be delighted to see you too.’
‘I’m afraid I can’t,’ Obi-Wan said, with genuine regret. ‘I’ve been asked to do some Soresu tuition with a group of the Senior Padawans and the only time the salles are empty enough is late in the evenings.’
‘That’s quite alright Obi-Wan,’ Qui-Gon said, ‘I’ll just note down some of the most important things and send them to your padd.’ He hesitated, ‘perhaps we could do that dinner when we return instead?’
‘That would be nice,’ Obi-Wan said, taking a sip of tea to cover his blush.
***
For the duration of Obi-Wan’s apprenticeship Qui-Gon’s rooms had been a rather spartan space, suitable for a Jedi Master and padawan who were constantly hopping from planet-to-planet, system-to-system, and who only returned to the Temple on rare occasions. Obi-Wan recalled that there had been a single cactus kept in the rooms, a hardy thing that had been a gift Qui-Gon had picked up on some long-ago mission and which could survive long periods of benign neglect. But otherwise Qui-Gon had been required to channel his interest in things that grew into passive appreciation of the galaxy’s plant-life whenever their missions allowed it.
This had changed, as so much had, after Naboo. The requirements of Qui-Gon’s recovery and the needs of his new padawan ensured that he was grounded to the Temple for a long period of time. According to temple gossip, he had initially been asked to take care of some of the more delicate specimens brought back to the Temple gardens due to his ability in the Living Force. This temporary custody had become permanent once they had flourished under his care, and as so often happens, his friends had responded by gifting him still more plants on special occasions, and as souvenirs from various missions.
(Obi-Wan vividly recalled the day that Master Gallia had come staggering out of her transport back to the temple, bearing the weight of a very large tree-fern while yelling for Qui-Gon to ‘come and take the sith-damned thing off her hands before she dropped it on his head’.)
Therefore, when Obi-Wan opened the door to Qui-Gon’s rooms the following morning he was struck immediately by the differences between their appearance now, to what they had looked like during his apprenticeship. The broad configuration of the furniture was the same, and Obi-Wan recognised certain items such as the crocheted blanket cast carelessly over the sofa and the battered tea-tins on the kitchen shelf. However, the whole atmosphere of the place had turned from being sparse and austere to vibrantly, uncontrollably green due to the plants that rested on almost every free surface.
There were delicate ferns cascading down from shelves and hanging pots, and rows of mint and chilli plants, even what appeared to be an aubergine, by the kitchen window. The other main window had a cluster of cacti and succulents around it to catch the morning sun and there was a further large group of miscellaneous plants arrayed around Qui-Gon’s meditation mat.
Obi-Wan checked the padd to see which needed attention straight away and smiled as he read Qui-Gon’s first note.
The majority of the plants are in the main room. Needless to say, Anakin and I have an agreement that he keeps the droid parts out of the common area and I keep the plants out of his room, so you (thankfully) won’t need to go in there.
Obi-Wan smirked and glanced over at the door to the room that had once been his, now firmly shut. Even considering his own frequent absences from the Temple and generally neat habits, his room had still frequently resembled a bombsite during his own padawan years, so he dreaded to think what it would look like now that Anakin was its occupant.
He looked down at the rest of what Qui-Gon had written and felt himself freeze.
but there are a couple that live in my bedroom and which were a little too big to be moved, if you wouldn’t mind checking in there as well.
Oh kriff. Obi-Wan glanced up at the other door and saw what he hadn’t noticed before, that it was slightly ajar. Squaring his shoulders, he crossed the room to carefully push it open wider, feeling obscurely guilty even though he had permission and knew that no-one would be within.
‘Look,’ he told himself, ‘it’s just an ordinary bedroom, barely any different to yours. There’s no need to make a big deal of it.’
But Obi-Wan’s own bedroom did not have the faint scent of the herbal shampoo used by Qui-Gon still hanging in the air, nor Qui-Gon’s spare reading glasses sitting crookedly atop the pile of books on the bedside table. And unlike in his own chilly sleeping quarters, in this room it was all too easy for Obi-Wan to imagine Qui-Gon’s long limbs gently rumpling the sheets.
He took another steadying breath and turned his attention to the two large ferns in pots by the window. One of them had been listed by Qui-Gon as needing regular misting, and so Obi-Wan did so, opeinnig the window a crack so that the moisture wouldn’t hang around too long in the air.
That duty done, he beat a hasty retreat, keeping a tight rein on his imagination until he was back in the safely neutral hallways of the Temple once more.
***
Obi-Wan was a creature of routine, and so he seamlessly wove his new role as plant-wrangler into his daily schedule, enjoying the fifteen minutes or so he would spend every morning tending to the greenery in Qui-Gon’s quarters. Though the plants themselves were a soothing presence, Obi-Wan’s primary enjoyment came from the idiosyncratic little notes that Qui-Gon had made about each of them, along with instructions for their care.
Look out for the one that looks a bit like Master Yoda, one read, it can get a bit fussy about light-levels so you may need to move it to another position.
Obi-Wan had stifled a laugh on finding the squat little succulent with large green fronds that did rather resemble Yoda’s ears, and had shifted it to the other windowsill just in case.
The cacti will only need watering every couple of weeks or so, said another, don’t worry about the droid-arm sticking out of the pot of the one with yellow spines, that’s supposed to show that it belongs to Anakin (not that he ever waters it) and as far as I can tell it isn’t doing it any harm.
To Obi-Wan’s delight, he saw that the cactus he remembered from his own apprenticeship was also still there, now surrounded by similar plants and looking rather healthier than it had before.
Of course, just as Obi-Wan had adjusted to this new element of his daily duties, a fresh challenge emerged, in the shape of a small dark green plant that was apparently ‘supposed’ to have holes in its leaves.
The first time Obi-Wan had seen it, he had frowned, had some pest been eating at it? But he had checked Qui-Gon’s notes and been reassured that this was its proper appearance. He’d kept an eye on it though, and had grown concerned as the days passed and its leaves took on a duller cast that did not resemble the pictures he had found of healthy specimens on the holonet.
The guidance he found there said that he should dust the leaves to ensure that the plant could absorb light and that over-watering could occasionally cause problems. Accordingly, Obi-Wan had left it for a couple of days, only to find that the situation had not improved.
‘Look,’ he addressed the little plant sternly, ‘I’m doing everything I’m supposed to here, and I’d really appreciate it if you didn’t die while I’m looking after you.’
The plant somehow seemed to wilt even further in response.
Aside from this uncooperative individual, the rest of the plants appeared to adjust to Obi-Wan’s care relatively well. This was confirmed one morning when Obi-Wan checked the cacti for any signs of distress. He was going about his duties with a little more haste than usual, owing to having agreed to meet Bant for earlymeal, and therefore he almost didn't spot it. However, out of the corner of his eye as he was turning to go, he saw a fleck of pink.
There, on the little cactus that had been in Qui-Gon’s quarters since Obi-Wan had been a padawan, was a small flower.
Obi-Wan didn’t think twice before snapping a picture of it and sending it immediately to Qui-Gon’s comm.
This one is flowering!
It was a matter of moments before Qui-Gon replied, evidently he’d caught him at a free moment.
It hasn’t done that before in all the years I’ve owned it!
Only seconds after, Obi-Wan’s comm pinged again.
It must have missed you.
Obi-Wan had to spend a good few moments typing out and deleting possible replies to that second message, before he managed to write something appropriately witty and self-deprecating. Needless to say, he did end up being rather late to his meal with Bant after all.
***
After this, Obi-Wan began to send Qui-Gon messages more regularly, keeping him apprised of the progress of his plants and receiving updates on the course of Qui-Gon’s mission (which appeared to be turning out to be as dull as Qui-Gon had feared) in return.
The small plant that Obi-Wan had privately dubbed ‘that leafy little arsehole’ continued to fade and droop dramatically, but Obi-Wan was kriffed if he was going to let Qui-Gon know about it.
He had cause to revise his stance on appealing to Qui-Gon for aid however, when a different plant, one of the delicate tumbling ferns, also began to grow yellow and wan. He fretted over it for a couple of days before he finally gave in and sent a picture to Qui-Gon.
Sorry for disturbing you, his message read, but this one seems increasingly unhappy. I’ve checked the notes you left and I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong!
This time five minutes elapsed before Obi-Wan’s comm began to buzz, not with a message, but with an incoming call.
‘Qui-Gon!’ He said, accepting it, ‘I didn’t mean to disturb you!”
‘You did not,’ Qui-Gon’s voice was warm in reply, ‘or rather, you didn’t distract me from anything I wasn’t desperately trying to get out of anyway. I am currently hiding in what appears to be a cloakroom in order to get a few moments respite from a seriously dreary formal dinner.’
‘You claimed that my message was an “urgent update from the temple” didn’t you?’ Obi-Wan said, amused, and then a worrying thought occurred to him, ‘hang on, you haven’t left Anakin in there alone have you?’
‘Perish the thought,’ Qui-Gon said, ‘no Anakin was able to beg off tonight’s festivities on the pretext of studying for an advanced astronavigation exam. Seeing as he sailed through that paper when he was fourteen I have a feeling that in reality he is spending the evening reprogramming the housekeeping droids. But I decided not to call him out on it.’
‘That was very kind of you,’ Obi-Wan said, ‘so what’s the problem with this particular group of dignitaries?’ He asked, ‘dogmatism, apathy or over-eagerness?’
‘A terrible mixture of all three,’ Qui-Gon complained, ‘but the worst is the Chief Minister, who has been somewhat...overly-attentive to me.’
Obi-Wan felt his hackles rise, ‘I see,’ he said, hoping his voice still sounded casual. ‘Not your type?’
‘Not really,’ Qui-Gon said, ‘even if I weren’t long past the stage where I was looking for casual arrangements in the middle of missions, especially not now...Anyway,’ his tone became more businesslike, ‘I’ll probably have to head back soon so I wanted to talk about the plant. You don’t need to worry, it had the same reaction when I first bought it. The official guidance says water it twice a week but if the weather on Coruscant gets humid this can be a bit too much. I would hold off on misting it until next week and see if that makes it perk up.’
‘Thanks,’ Obi-Wan said, making a note on his padd, ‘I’ll do that. Good luck with the rest of your boring dinner and the slightly lecherous chief minister.’
‘Thanks,’ Qui-Gon replied, ‘I think I’ll drop a few hints that this call was actually from my secret lover at the temple, that might serve to put him off a bit. Speak to you later!’ He signed off cheerfully.
‘Yes, speak to you then...’ Obi-Wan croaked, long after the other man had ended the call. Cancelling it on his end he sat himself down on Qui-Gon’s ancient sofa and briefly considered smothering himself with one of the cushions. .
Obi-Wan could not identify the precise moment he had fallen in love with Qui-Gon, but in spite of what others might suspect, he was able to say that the process had only properly begun after his apprenticeship had ended. The Qui-Gon to whom he had been a padawan had been a grand, mercurial figure, sometimes kind and attentive but at other times distant and inscrutable He had been someone to be admired certainly, and, if Obi-Wan was honest, someone to whom he been at least a little physically attracted, but not someone whom it was easy to love.
The severing of Obi-Wan’s padawan braid had seemed initially to represent a similar breaking off of their relationship, as Qui-Gon had embarked on the difficult process of healing and Obi-Wan had undergone his first solo missions as a knight.
So it was that almost two years had passed before Obi-Wan had stayed long enough at the Temple to notice that Qui-Gon had changed.
Not in the essentials of his character, nor in the little quirks and inclinations with which Obi-Wan had become familiar during their time together. But there was suddenly an undercurrent of warmth in his demeanor that had been absent before, and the serenity he displayed now seemed to have been tempered by adversity and grown deeper-rooted in response.
Obi-Wan might have become resentful at missing out on this gentler Qui-Gon during his training, had the man’s newfound warmth not been extended to him too.
Obi-Wan remembered the first, faltering invitation to tea that Qui-Gon had issued, his manner tentative, as though he feared Obi-Wan might shut him down. Needless to say, Obi-Wan had been far too curious (and had missed Qui-Gon’s company too much) to do so, and so he gradually began spending more and more time with him and Anakin whenever he was back in the temple.
Of course, because he could never do anything by halves, his unruly heart had completely failed to settle for the gentle, undemanding friendship that was probably the only thing on offer. No, instead he had started noticing things like the way the evening sunlight lit up Qui-Gon’s face, the strength of his body in the salles and the patience and gentleness he offered to his friends, to his padawan, hell, even to his kriffing plants. From there it had only been a short step to thinking dreamily about these things during boring missions when he was far from the temple, and to parsing Qui-Gon’s every word to him like some Outer-Rim soothsayer for any indication that his regard might be returned.
‘I cannot believe I am quite this stupid,’ Obi-Wan groaned.
The plants did not reply, though Obi-Wan could have sworn he caught a slightly derisive rustle from the area where the awkward, drooping plant was positioned. .
***
I have a question about this plant,’ Obi-Wan sent to Qui-Gon’s comm late one night, attached to a picture of an unassuming little green and purple bush that had been among the group by Qui-Gon’s meditation mat.
Yes? The reply came very quickly, Qui-Gon must have been either unoccupied or trying to distract himself once again.
I looked it up the other day to check that I was using the right watering schedule, and it turns out that it’s a registered narcotic on all Core planets! Were you aware of this?
There was a slight delay during which Obi-Wan glared narrow-eyed down at his comm, before Qui-Gon’s reply came.
All I will say in response is that I picked it up in the Outer Rim, on a planet whose inhabitants experience no effects from it whatsoever and instead cultivate it for its pleasant scent.
That’s a nice story Qui-Gon, I’ll be sure to relay it to the police if my holonet search-history pings their radar.
I hardly think they would spend time monitoring the Jedi’s use of the holonet with that level of thoroughness Obi-Wan.
Let’s hope, but if they do, know that I am going to shop you to Mace straightaway in order to exonerate myself.
Abruptly, Obi-Wan’s comm began to ring.
‘And I will take that as my due punishment,’ Qui-Gon said as the call connected, his voice amused. ‘How are you Obi-Wan? Bar the constant fear of being the subject of a drug bust that is.’
‘Don’t even joke about it,’ Obi-Wan said, ‘and I’m fine, I’m teaching the advanced Galactic History course this time around, so at least the padawans in my classes don’t look like they actively want to throw themselves out of the window.’
‘I’m sure they appreciate you,’ Qui-Gon said, ‘you’re a very good teacher.’
‘Hmm,’ Obi-Wan said, unable to suppress a smile at the praise, ‘and how are you? Is that Chief Minister still chasing after you?’
‘No he’s backed off,’ Qui-Gon said in a satisfied tone, ‘with a bit of ill-grace mind, he gave me such a glare when I left to call you just now.’
‘Qui-Gon!’ Obi-Wan said, scandalised and slightly amused, ‘you really let him believe that we were together! You better not let him have access to your comm, if he sees our actual messages the game will definitely be up.’
‘Do you think so?’ Qui-Gon said, ‘Obi-Wan, our messages consist of titbits about our respective days, photos sent by you from my rooms and mutual fretting about our plant collection. If I were in the Chief Minister’s position and I saw our correspondence I would probably assume that we were married!’
‘What.’ Obi-Wan said eloquently, as his brain flashed up the word ‘married’ in neon letters.
‘Anyway, I should probably go,’ Qui-Gon sighed, as though he hadn’t just shut down Obi-Wan’s ability to function entirely, ‘I’ll speak to you soon dear Obi-Wan, perhaps tomorrow? In the meantime you ought to get some sleep, I know it’s late on Coruscant by now.’
Once again, he rang off before Obi-Wan could collect himself sufficiently to reply.
Having filed that conversation in a mental folder marked ‘deal with this later, possibly never’, the next day saw Obi-Wan headed into the temple gardens on a mission. Specifically he was looking for a new pot for one of the succulents that was looking increasingly cramped.
He found Master Don carefully tying a spindly young tree to a supporting stake and waited until they had completed their work.
‘Knight Kenobi,’ they said when they were finished, ‘I was wondering when you might be coming to see me. Is all well with Qui-Gon’s collection?’
‘Yes, so far,’ Obi-Wan said, ‘but I was hoping that you might have a spare pot for this one? I think it’s getting a little big for its current container.’
‘Let’s have a look,’ Master Don said, taking the plant from it and inspecting it, ‘yes I think I’ve got something that will suit, follow me.’ He led Obi-Wan off down the gravel paths towards a small shed.
‘Never had much time for houseplants myself,’ Master Don said, ‘part of the point of a garden for me is to be out in the open air. But having a bit of green about you indoors is better than nothing, I suppose.’
‘Yes,’ Obi-Wan said, ‘I think Qui-Gon must have wanted to keep plants like this for a long time.’
‘You do?’ Master Don said, raising an eyebrow, ‘I always thought he was far too impatient to be bothered with gardening before, always dashing around the galaxy like the Force itself was driving him on.’
‘But surely,’ Obi-Wan said, ‘his affinity for the Living Force…’
Master Don snorted, ‘let me tell you, the Living Force is no substitute for patience, a keen eye and a careful hand. Fortunately, Qui-Gon seems to have improved in those respects. Now,’ he held up two pots, one charcoal in colour, the other glazed with a rich burnt-orange, ‘these are about the right size, which one do you prefer?’
‘Hmm,’ Obi-Wan said, considering them both, ‘I’m not entirely sure, but I think the orange one might be more Qui-Gon’s style.’
‘I reckon you’re right on that score, Knight Kenobi,’ Master Don said dryly.
***
‘Listen you kriffing annoying piece of vegetable matter,’ Obi-Wan snarled at the small plant in his room, ‘I've just about had it up to here with your attitude.’
‘You tell it Obi,’ Bant drawled from her seat in his cramped living quarters, ‘show it who’s boss.’
‘I cannot believe,’ Quinlan said from where he was opening three fresh beers in Obi-Wan’s kitchen, ‘that I am currently watching one of the finest knights in the Jedi Order chastise a houseplant.’
‘It’s amazing what love will make us do,’ Bant smirked, chinking her beer bottle against Quinlan’s as he handed it over.
‘I thought we agreed that my crush on Qui-Gon was off limits?’ Obi-Wan said tiredly, accepting his own bottle.
Quinlan snorted, ‘you might have tried to insist, but there’s no way either of us would have agreed to pass up on such prime teasing material. So how’s it going on that front? More late-night breathless conversations about pruning?’ He waggled his eyebrows, ‘perhaps a little bit of chat about pollination?’
‘Sweet Force, Quinlan, shut the kriff up,’ Bant said, grimacing.
‘What!’ Quinlan said, grinning, ‘it wouldn’t be the first time a mid-mission comm call got a little spicy.’ He took a swig of beer, ‘and I reckon Qui-Gon would be totally into it.’
‘Bant,’ Obi-Wan said desperately, ‘be the voice of reason here, please.’
‘Hmm I don’t know Obi,’ Bant said, ‘I think Quinlan might actually have a point there.’
‘You can’t be serious,’ Obi-Wan said, raising his voice to be heard over Quinlan’s shout of triumph.
‘Obi, I cannot stress the extent to which no-one touches Qui-Gon’s plants ,’ Bant said, ‘I swear he’d even fight the temple gardeners if they tried.’
‘She’s right,’ Quinlan said, ‘I went to his rooms with Aayla once and he practically glared a hole in the side of my head for even standing in the vicinity of one of those precious ferns of his.’
Obi-Wan scoffed, ‘what exactly are you guys trying to say here?’
‘I’m saying,’ Quinlan’s grin widened and grew more salacious, ‘that out of everyone in the temple, you’re the only one that gets to touch the things that Qui-Gon really cares about.’
‘For kriffs sake Quin!’ Bant yelled, ‘I did not need that mental image!’
‘Get out of my quarters, both of you,’ Obi-Wan said, tightly, ‘leave the rest of the booze.’
Of course, it actually took them another hour to leave, and of course this was a night on which Qui-Gon chose to call. Obi-Wan’s blush returned full-force as he saw the name flash up on his comm and he gritted his teeth as he accepted it.
‘Hi Qui-Gon.’
‘Are you alright Obi-Wan?’ Qui-Gon, alert as ever, picked up on his tone immediately.
‘I’m fine,’ Obi-Wan sighed, ‘I just had Bant and Quinlan over and they were hauling me over the coals as usual.’
‘Oh really?’ Qui-Gon said, amused, ‘that must have made a nice change for Knight Vos, not to have his indiscretions be the main subject of conversation. What were they teasing you about?’
‘There’s this plant,’ Obi-Wan sighed, going for the only safe topic of conversation, ‘it’s seriously misbehaving and I’m at my wit’s end,’
‘That sounds serious,’ Qui-Gon said, ‘which one is it?’
‘The one with the holes in its leaves that apparently ought to be there?’ Obi-Wan said.
‘Oh the cheese plant,’ Qui-Gon said, ‘yes that one can be a little sensitive.’
‘I’m sorry, the cheese plant?’ Obi-Wan said, incredulous.
‘Supposedly it resembles one of those cheeses with holes in it.’ Qui-Gon said, ‘why, what have you been calling it?’
‘Mainly “that leafy little arsehole,” Obi-Wan confessed, grinning as he heard Qui-Gon dissolve into laughter on the other end of the comm.
‘That’s a much better name,’ he said, once he had composed himself, ‘but my dear Obi-Wan, please don’t worry about it. I’d much rather the plant wilted entirely than see it cause you any stress.’
‘Thank you,’ Obi-Wan said, smiling, ‘but it’s become a matter of honour now.’
‘Well then I’ll just wish you luck,’ Qui-Gon said, ‘but is that the only thing that has been bothering you Obi-Wan?’
Obi-Wan hesitated, something about the faint buzz from his third beer and the ache that resided in his chest, making him abruptly tired of dodging questions and always, always keeping his feelings under-wraps.
‘Nothing that we can’t talk about when you get back.’ He eventually replied.
‘So there is something,’ Qui-Gon said and then hesitated himself, ‘have I said or done anything to make you uncomfortable?’
‘No,’ Obi-Wan hastened to reassure him, ‘nothing like that, it’s only that,’ he paused searching for a way to explain it, ‘I feel like I’ve crossed some kind of line over these past weeks when I’ve been looking after your plants and talking to you so frequently. Again, not in a bad way, it’s sort of been a taste of what I’ve wanted for a while now.’
He heard Qui-Gon take in a sharp breath on the other end of the line and waited, his palms abruptly sweaty.
‘I see,’ Qui-Gon said, and the smile was back in his voice, ‘then I agree that this is a conversation which would be much better if we hold it face to face. I confess, I’m tempted to ditch this planet and its dreary government in order to do so as soon as possible.’
‘How long do you think it will take to finish the mission?’ Obi-Wan asked.
‘We’ll be done very soon, if I have anything to say about it,’ Qui-Gon said decisively, ‘but for now my dear, I’ve got to go, and it must be getting late where you are.’
‘It is,’ Obi-Wan said, a smile on his face and his whole chest filled with warmth, ‘goodnight Qui-Gon.’
‘Goodnight Obi-Wan.’
Obi-Wan fell asleep quickly after that, and fell into warm, faintly arousing dreams that featured Qui-Gon kissing him passionately in some setting that might have been the temple gardens or might have been Qui-Gon’s own green-scented quarters. At any rate he woke up aching and rather frustrated, hoping that all the parties involved in whatever interminable negotiations Qui-Gon had been sent to supervise got a kriffing move on.
***
A couple of days later Obi-Wan was leaving the training salles after a session with the Senior Padwans when he ran into Master Don.
‘Ah, Knight Kenobi, I was looking for you,’ the Master said, holding out two pots to him, ‘we’re rather overrun with these in the herb garden at the moment, and they can be kept indoors so I thought you might like them.’
‘Thank you Master Don,’ Obi-Wan said, breathing in the scent of the leaves as he held them against his chest, ‘I'm afraid I can’t identify them by sight.’
‘This one’s basil,’ Master Don said, ‘and the other is lavender. Put them in a decent amount of sunlight and water them sparingly.’
‘Thank you,’ Obi-Wan said again, and watched as the other Jedi nodded and strode off down the corridor.
Of course, there was just one problem with his new acquisitions. Obi-Wan’s rooms were set into the north-facing wall of the Temple and so often remained gloomy even on the brightest of days. This was not something that bothered Obi-Wan overmuch, as he didn’t spend a lot of time there, but he feared that the plants would be much less happy with it.
The obvious solution would be to put them in Qui-Gon’s rooms, but as he slowly made his way there, Obi-Wan found himself hesitating. Of course he had kept his belongings in those same rooms before throughout his apprenticeship, but that was to be expected, part of the routine, impermanent relationship between Master and padawan.
Returning to those rooms now as a Knight, bearing something of his own that he was going to ask Qui-Gon to look after felt entirely different.
He knew that this sort of notion was the kind of thing that caused Bant to roll her eyes and accuse him of investing everything with too much significance, but he felt that there was a heaviness to the gesture, as he carefully placed the pots of herbs on the kitchen windowsill next to Qui-Gon’s mint. It came to him as he looked at them there, that it was a statement of hope, that he might have reason to intermingle his possessions with those of Qui-Gon’s, and that his presence would be welcome there.
He sighed, he was probably getting way ahead of himself again. Shaking his head he slipped out of Qui-Gon’s rooms, hoping that this waiting game would soon draw to a close.
***
Of course the very next day Obi-Wan was called from his teaching to attend an emergency meeting of the Council.
‘Obi-Wan,’ Mace said, ‘I’m afraid we’re going to have to interrupt your teaching rotation, a situation has arisen on Egind.’
‘Egind,’ Obi-Wan frowned at the name of the small planet on the edge of the Core, ‘isn’t that where Knight Amun was sent a few weeks ago?’
‘The situation, worsened it has,’ Yoda said, ‘assistance for Knight Amun, needed it is.’
‘Of course,’Obi-Wan said, ‘should I leave immediately?’
‘We’re putting together a briefing document as we speak,’ Mace said, ‘your task is essentially to evacuate of a couple of key members of the opposition party on the planet who are under immediate threat of assassination, plus Knight Amun and her padawn.’
‘Very well,’ Obi-Wan nodded, and was then struck by a sudden thought, ‘do you have an idea of how long the mission will take?’
Mace frowned, ‘it’s a few hours in hyperspace to reach Egind, and once you’re there you’re authorised to act as quickly as possible. Why do you ask?’
‘If worried about Qui-Gon’s plants, you are,’ Yoda said, a slightly sly look on his face, ‘concerned you should not be. A day or two at best, this mission should last.’
‘Thank you,’ Obi-Wan said, relieved, and took his leave, glancing slightly guiltily at Mace, who had raised his eyes to the ceiling as though appealing to the Force for patience.
Yoda’s estimate was a little overoptimistic, as it was in fact two and a half days before Obi-Wan landed back at the temple, late in the evening. He bade Knight Amun a quick farewell before she and her padawan headed to the infirmary to get some of the superficial wounds they had incurred during their escape seen to. Obi-Wan did not feel the need to follow them, he ached with exertion and his ears were still ringing from that last explosion, but otherwise he was unhurt.
He wavered in the corridor. The sensible thing to do would be to head to his own quarters, make use of the fresher there, change his clothes and then check on the plants, but still, it had been over two days since some of them had been watered.
He sighed, adjusted his pack on his shoulders and headed towards Qui-Gon’s rooms.
He unlocked the door and stumbled on autopilot towards the place in the kitchen where the mister was kept, frowning when he saw it wasn't there. Had he misplaced it? It had been such a fraught couple of hours after he had been assigned the emergency mission that it was certainly possible.
The most likely option was that he had left it in Qui-Gon’s bedroom, so he put his stuff down carefully and headed over there to find it. Opening the door, he flicked the light on.
‘Obi-Wan?’ Qui-Gon said muzzily from the bed, his hair wild and his chest tantalisingly bare.
‘Kriff,’ Obi-Wan said, immediately flicking the light off again.
‘Obi-Wan,’ Qui-Gon said, amusement threading through his voice, ‘would you mind turning that back on? I’d very much like to see you.’
‘I’m sorry,’ Obi-Wan said, mortified, ‘I just landed from my mission and came straight here to check on the plants. I had no idea you had returned. I can go...’
‘Please, stay,’ Qui-Gon said gently, getting out of bed and pulling his heavier robe over the leggings he wore to sleep in, ‘are you alright?’ He scrutinised Obi-Wan carefully, obviously checking for any injuries.
‘I’m fine,’ Obi-Wan said, ‘just a little tired.’
He kept his eyes firmly on Qui-Gon’s face, which was a difficult enough task given the affectionate smile that the other man was presently directing at him, but which was an infinitely safer option than letting his eyes rest on the sliver of naked chest that was still visible where the other man’s robe hung apart.
‘I’m sure you must be exhausted,’ Qui-Gon said, ‘are you too tired to talk?’ He sat down on the end of the bed and patted the space beside him.
Gingerly Obi-Wan took the proffered seat, his shoulders abruptly tense.
‘I wanted to start by thanking you,’ Qui-Gon said, ‘for looking after my plants so well.’
‘You’re welcome,’ Obi-Wan said, ‘I only hope I haven’t permanently damaged any of them.’
‘Damaged?’ Qui-Gon said incredulously, ‘Obi-Wan, they’re thriving! The care you’ve taken with them, it’s extraordinary.’ He reached over to take one of Obi-Wan’s hands, ‘and the way you brightened up an incredibly dreary mission with your messages, and by tolerating all my ridiculous comm calls, which I mainly made just so that I could hear your voice...well I’m afraid you’ve got me into terrible trouble.’
‘How’s that?’ Obi-Wan croaked, his fingers curling over Qui-Gon’s large, calloused hand.
‘You’ve given me hope,’ Qui-Gon breathed, ‘Obi-Wan, dearest, when you spent so much of your time and effort on me and the things that I care about over these last few weeks, did it mean what I hope that it does? Dare I hope that I might call even a fraction of that care and devotion my own?’
Obi-Wan blinked, gazing in dazed wonder at Qui-Gon, who was not only suddenly back in his presence, but who was also holding his hand and looking at him like Obi-Wan was something incredibly precious. He was silent for perhaps too long a moment and saw Qui-Gon’s bright expression dim into uncertainty. Desperate to have that smile back, he raised his free hand to cradle Qui-Gon’s face and pulled himself together long enough to speak.
‘All of it,’ Obi-Wan said breathlessly, ‘you can have all of it, it’s yours.’
Qui-Gon’s eyes lit up once more and he tugged Obi-Wan into an embrace, tilting his chin up and kissing him with such focused intent and thoroughness that, by the time they came up for air, Obi-Wan found that he was flat on his back on the bed and clinging on to Qui-Gon’s broad shoulders for dear life.
‘Oh yes,’ that’s exactly what I needed,’ he said nonsensically as he ran his hands through Qui-Gon’s long hair.
‘I’ll be sure to put that in my notes,’ Qui-Gon said, mischievously, ‘on the proper care of Obi-Wan. Anything else I ought to add?’
‘I’ve got some ideas,’ Obi-Wan murmured, leaning up to kiss Qui-Gon’s neck and enjoying the visible shiver that ran through the other man in response, ‘but,’ he wrinkled his nose, ‘I really ought to have a shower and some sleep first. I suppose I should go back to my rooms.’
‘Or,’ Qui-Gon said, clutching at Obi-Wan’s sides rather possessively, ‘you could use the perfectly good fresher here and spend the night in my bed instead.’ As if to add to the persuasion, he dipped his head down to kiss teasingly along Obi-Wan’s cheekbone and down to the corner of his mouth.
‘That does sound appealing,’ Obi-Wan said, melting further into Qui-Gon’s touch, ‘but what about..?’
‘Anakin will be dead to the world until at least midday tomorrow,’ Qui-Gon reassured him, ‘plus we have a very clear mutual agreement regarding privacy. Any other concerns?’ He turned his attention to Obi-Wan’s earlobe, taking it lightly between his teeth.
‘Mmm not really,’ Obi-Wan said, arching his neck to encourage Qui-Gon to continue his path there, ‘oh hang on, what about the plants?’
‘The plants can wait,’ Qui-Gon growled.
***
They ended up making it out of the bedroom late on the following afternoon, only emerging after Anakin had made a loud and rather pointed production of gathering his stuff from the living room and heading off to his afternoon lessons.
Having had his own classes cancelled for the day, Obi-Wan was free to linger in Qui-Gon’s kitchen as the other man made them tea, luxuriating in the feeling of being well-rested (and the rather pleasant ache in some of his muscles). He glanced around the room vaguely and benevolently before he caught sight of the plant on the coffee table, at which point his mood abruptly changed.
‘Oh you have got to be kidding me,’ he hissed.
‘Hmmm’ Qui-Gon enquired
Obi-Wan gestured furiously towards the table where that kriffing little cheese plant sat, positively radiant with good health with its leaves dark green and shining. It even seemed to have grown a couple of centimetres since Obi-Wan had last seen it.
‘I absolutely cannot believe it,’ Obi-Wan groused as Qui-Gon laughed helplessly and pulled him back into an embrace, ‘that kriffing plant is toying with me!’
‘Oh my darling Obi-Wan,’ Qui-Gon said, grinning down at him, ‘how can I possibly repay you for the trials you have endured in the service of my plants?’
Obi-Wan had to concede that the passionate kiss that ensued was an excellent way to start.