"No Politics"
Rating: G
A conversation in a garden.
He closed his eyes for a moment, just letting his body relax into the wooden bench. Behind his eyelids he could still see the clean white leaves and dark orange flowers growing abundantly above his head. The warm breeze carried the scent of the kitava trees to him and he thought, if he listened hard enough, he could hear running water. Obi-Wan was tempted to stretch, but after the last three off-world missions with a relatively young, unbelievably energetic padawan, that was too much work. He was warm; he was almost asleep; he was alone.
Bliss.
Sheer bliss...
"Master? Master? Are you down there?"
Obi-Wan considered hiding for a moment, just ducking beneath the bench and pretending he was a bug or a fallen leaf or an exhausted, over-worked, remarkably cranky pile of dirt. "Exhaustion leads to crankiness. Crankiness leads to fussing at your loud, cheery, but admittedly innocent padawan," he muttered under his breath.
"Yes, Padawan. I'm down here."
The blond hair and bright eyes bounced down the trail. It's not like Anakin didn't know where his master liked to hide, to relax. "Good afternoon, Master! I finished my classes and practiced my 'saber drills and did all my studying and I was wondering if I could spend the evening with Po and Killa because they are going to watch holovids and..."
"Yes, Padawan."
"...then they want me to work on a new droid design with them and..."
"Yes, Padawan."
"...and Killa's master said she'll take us to eat and..."
"Padawan!"
Anakin's mouth snapped shut and the light in his eyes faded. Obi-Wan couldn't help but smile. "I said 'yes'. Be home in time for 'saber practice tomorrow and don't eat too much. You'll be logy and I intend to run you ragged."
A quick hug and the boy ran back up the trail. Obi-Wan sagged. "I'm not going to survive this. I don't know how people survive this."
"Luck?" Obi-Wan tensed as a thin, dark-haired man appeared from a small niche within the trees. "Or maybe it's just instinct."
"I'm sorry?" Obi-Wan internally groaned. "Great," he thought, "I get a chance to relax, to just enjoy my day and I blow my masterly image in front of a total stranger. Way to go, Kenobi." Obi-Wan started to stand, but the stranger waved his hand, motioning him to sit.
"No. No. Please. I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I was wandering about down here when you showed up. You... you just looked so damned comfortable that I couldn't disturb you. I was hoping you'd fall asleep so I could just sneak by." The deep brown eyes sparkled with amusement, and, try as he might, Obi-Wan couldn't find it in himself to take offense.
Settling back down, Obi-Wan moved over, offering half the bench. The stranger sat down, looking uncomfortable trying to arrange his dark blue robes. Obi-Wan smiled, a new member of the senate, from the looks of it. Someone who came looking for adventure and now just wishes he were back home.
"So, what brings you to the gardens? It's not very often I find people down this far?"
"Well, it's not very often we get Jedi masters in the public gardens, down this far or not."
Obi-Wan could feel his smile fade a bit, it had been too long since he had felt able to visit this spot and just relax. Too long and he didn't want to think, he just wanted to enjoy the trees. "I like the kitava and I like the solitude and you didn't answer my question, Senator?"
The senator's laugh was deep and hearty, not a trace of corruption in it and Obi-Wan was surprised to find himself fighting not to join in. "Bail, Bail Organa, and, well, to be honest, I'm avoiding sitting in on the Senate Committee on Sanitation Ethics and Morality meeting. I tried to go, but it was warm..."
"...and the kitava were blooming," Obi-Wan finished with a smile.
"Right. So, that blond bundle of energy was your apprentice, Master...?"
"Knight. Obi-Wan Kenobi and yes, he was."
Senator Organa nodded and then leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Obi-Wan studied him. He was lean, dark, skin that might have been steeped in tea. Everything about this man seemed crisp, almost sharp, from his pointed eyebrows, to his closely trimmed beard, to his long, thin fingers. Obi-Wan smiled to himself, this was not a man given to long hours of meditation and study. Senator Organa was a man of action.
The dark eyes popped open. "What are you thinking about, Knight Kenobi?"
"I was wondering where you came from, Senator, and why you are lounging in the public gardens when you'd rather be racing?"
Again that laugh, rich and full and Obi-Wan felt it wash through him, sparking a wave of joy and something approaching arousal. "Alderaan. Quite possibly the most beautiful place in the galaxy."
"You're not a bit proud of it, are you?"
"Yes, I suppose it's required, being Viceroy and all."
Obi-Wan blinked. "Viceroy? My apologies."
"Oh, enough apologies, please. I know I don't look the part, still getting used to the robes and all." He plucked sadly at the folds of fabric around him.
"And fresh enough to speak fondly of your home, too, I see."
The viceroy's grin deepened, "Well, I have a vested interest. Where are you from, Knight Kenobi?"
"The Jedi are my family, Viceroy. The Temple is my home."
The small talk continued, tiny bits of information sliding back and forth between them as the sun slowly set. The conversation traveled, with the viceroy telling jokes about the latest group of aides and Obi-Wan sharing anecdotes about his apprentice.
Obi-Wan had relaxed, legs somewhat sprawled and arms across his chest. The viceroy was turned towards him, arms gesticulating as he impersonated the wookiee who disagreed with his budget reports. Obi-Wan chuckled at the tale, enjoying the exaggerated expression and warm tone of his companion. Suddenly Organa stopped and reached out to Obi-Wan, his hand brushing the copper beard as his long fingers carded through the Knight's shoulder-length hair. Obi-Wan sat up and moved away with a frown.
"Viceroy?"
The dark hand opened, exposing a bright leaf. "It was caught in your hair."
"Oh." Suddenly uncomfortable, Obi-Wan held out his hand. "It was very nice to meet you, Viceroy. I hope to see you again in the future."
Leaf discarded, Obi-Wan's hand was grasped warmly and then released. "Would you like to share an evening meal with me, Knight Kenobi? Continue our discussion?"
Obi-Wan stiffened and stood. "I'm sorry, Viceroy. As much as I appreciate the offer, I must decline. I have a padawan to attend to." A small moment of panic hit him. How long had it been since someone had asked him to share a meal, just him?
"You've given him the evening off, remember?"
"You cannot endanger your position. You might be accused of favoritism, if we're seen." He wasn't ready to do this, to live a normal life. It had been so long since he'd shared a meal with someone attractive, someone who found him attractive. The last time had been before Anakin, before Naboo.
The Viceroy chuckled again. "Knight Kenobi, we can talk politics, if you'd like. The Budgeting Committee is meeting soon and Senator Antilles could use your insight on the stability of the Rim Worlds."
Dragging the guise of political mediator about him, Obi-Wan shook his head, face carefully blank. "I'm sorry, Viceroy. I just don't feel it's the appropriate thing to do." Obi-Wan stood, perfectly at home in his long robe and took a step away from the bench.
"Look, Knight Kenobi, I'm talking about a meal here. You know, food, drink, tables, that sort of thing. Nothing overwhelming. We don't even have to use our given names. I... I just have enjoyed talking with you. I'd like to continue."
Obi-Wan stopped and sighed, hearing the odd softness within the voice behind him. He thought briefly of the last meal he had enjoyed with a friend, someone who laughed. Someone who made him laugh.
Obi-Wan smiled.
"Meet me at Pilog's at the eighth hour? I need time to change. Oh, and Bail?"
"Yes, Obi-Wan?"
"No politics."
~ fin ~