| ***** Obi-Wan was aware of two things as he saw his master bend down to kiss his girlfriend…his girlfriend…on the lips. Firstly, he felt his eyes being pulled irresistibly to the floor. It was either that or watch through his fingers. Secondly, people were giving him furtive glances. This should not be happening, Kenobi thought. Jemmy wasn’t looking particularly unhappy with the situation. His master had looked damned uncomfortable. Mace nudged him again. "Whoa! I’m sure the welfare people would have been interested in this!" He grinned. "She’s sixteen. She can kiss who she wants." Obi-Wan growled. "Is that why you’ve turned that particularly fetching shade of green." Mace laughed. He whispered in the Padawan’s ear. "You know I actually think the old boy’s beginning to enjoy himself." "I feel sick." Obi-Wan closed his eyes in disgust. "Looks like she’s teaching him a few tricks, huh, Obi-Wan?" Mace crowed. Kenobi said nothing, merely praying that the whole fiasco would be over soon. Then he remembered that Letina was filming it all… If Obi-Wan had been feeling bothered by the whole situation it was nothing to how awkward Qui-Gon was feeling. Part of him was saying ‘damn the lot of them’. The part that was winning was telling him that he should have volunteered to swallow his lightsabre before agreeing to this. But was it so wrong, anyway? They weren’t related or anything. He was no longer her guardian. She was a young woman of sixteen who already seemed to be experienced far beyond her years… No. He didn’t want to think about that. The fact was that he still felt responsible for her. It was as if he and Evla shared the parental duties in many ways, and so denying his guardianship seemed to be a bit of a lame excuse for what he was actually doing. And experienced or otherwise, it was sometimes difficult for him to think of her as anything other than a ten-year-old. Which made things even worse. She was his Padawan’s girlfriend. He didn’t like it, but he had (very) reluctantly accepted it. As Jemmiah kissed him it occurred to Qui-Gon to wonder what his padawan was thinking. And why the hell when he had been so lost in thought he had been kissing her back! Sithspit! He jumped back, completely shocked. Just how long had they been…entangled…anyway? One glance at his padawan told him the answer. "I am so sorry." Qui-Gon apologized to Jemmiah, completely ashamed of himself, although in truth she seemed more surprised than offended. "I don’t know what I was thinking…" There were a few rowdy remarks from round the men’s line, which caused Jinn’s face to redden further. Sal-Fina looked disgusted. Obi-Wan appeared miserable. Leona seemed embarrassed. Mace was winking at him and Dexy was grinning suggestively. Across from him, Rela was making thumbs up sign, with a look on her face that told him that she was NEVER going to let him forget this. EVER. "I’m sorry." He mumbled again. "Didn’t you like it?" she asked warily. "Like?" Jinn let his eyebrows climb to the top of his forehead. "It felt positively incestuous!" Jemmiah shrugged. "Felt fine to me." She smiled, walking over to Rela to retrieve something. Qui-Gon wished the ground would open up and swallow him. He edged back to his place in the line and stood next to Mace. "That went quite well judging by the look of things." Mace smirked. "Well?" Jinn hissed under his breath. "How could it get any worse? Rela is going to be mentioning cradle-snatching jokes from now to eternity. The other Jedi have me down as some kind of pervert who enjoys stealing his own Padawan’s girlfriend. Obi-Wan looks like he’s never going to speak to me again. I have humiliated myself kissing someone I considered to be a daughter." He stopped, as another terrible thought dawned on him. "And Evla is going to mince me when she hears about it." "But apart from that, it went really well." Mace smiled. Qui-Gon looked at Jemmiah. She hadn’t seemed the least bit offended, but he couldn’t help but wonder what she was really thinking. Then he got his answer. She held up the flimsyplast sheet, which sported a great big ten on it. "Oh, Sithhellanddamnation!" Jinn groaned as the others clapped. Rela nudged Jemmy. "Your turn again, jail bait." "Huh?" Jemmy frowned. "Oh. How do I improve on the last one?" "Pick your lucky number." Rela replied. Jemmiah returned to the center of the two groups and turned round, waiting until the noise of boots shuffling against floor had ceased. She took a deep breath. "Number four." If there had been a dreadful, embarrassed hush before then the reaction that followed was it’s polar opposite. "Like master, like padawan!" An-Paj clapped in amusement. "Give you a chance to compare one to the other, huh Jemmiah?" Berlingside whooped. Obi-Wan stepped determinedly out of the line without even looking at Qui-Gon. If there was going to be any comparisons made here, he was going to make sure he was the one that came out favorably. Jemmiah watched him cross over towards her as she stood in the middle of both lines. For some reason she felt extremely nervous. Maybe it had something to do with the fact Kryztan was standing as near to her as possible. Or the fact that Qui-Gon was scrutinizing her every move. Or that the steely look in Obi-Wan’s eye spoke only of reclaiming a possession, rather than the chance of a passionate kiss with his girlfriend… "I’m ready when you are." He said bluntly. Fine, she thought. If that’s the way he wants it… She heard his stomach growl once more, much to Kenobi’s chagrin. It broke the ice somewhat between them and caused her to laugh. "Come here," she instructed, "I’ll take your mind off your stomach." Despite his annoyance at her kissing his master only moments earlier, Kenobi found the situation just too much for him as she grabbed him somewhat roughly and initiated the kiss. Damn it, he wondered, how does she always manage to do this? Just one flutter of her dark lashes in his direction would make him forgive the greatest of misdemeanors on her part. One smile would reduce him to a quivering wreck. Lust had a lot to answer for, he thought as he pressed back against her. "Sith! Don’t you feed your padawan anything?" Dexy asked Qui-Gon in amazement. "I can see why you call him ‘the termite’. He’ll eat just about anything!" Mace commented as Obi-Wan clearly began to get enthusiastic. "I think he’s forgotten where he is." Simeon whispered to An-Paj. "I don’t think he cares!" The healer replied. "Not if our little infirmary bed privacy screen situation has anything to do with it." "Eh?" Cates asked. "Long story." An-Paj frowned as he watched the two of them continue to put some effort into it. "Somebody get them a bucket of water." Sal-Fina said sourly, looking at her chrono. Leona risked a look in Qui-Gon’s direction, but his expression was impossible to read. Only the folded arms indicated that perhaps he thought his padawan was enjoying himself a little too much. This is heaven, Obi-Wan sighed inwardly. He opened one eye and caught the infuriated Kryztan seething away just yards from where they were standing. He resolved to kiss her even more vigorously. "Mmmmmm." He moaned for Kryztan’s benefit. "Oh, pu-leeeeeeze!" Meri rolled her eyes. "They’re like two Gundarks in the mating season!" Qui-Gon had up until then felt rather awkward about telling his padawan to speed things up a bit, especially in the light of the kiss he’d just shared with Jemmiah. But this had been going on for the last two minutes… //Padawan.// Obi-Wan didn’t acknowledge him. //Padawan!// Kenobi responded this time. He gave a contented thumbs up signal. //Please let Jemmiah get some air!// //We’re fine thank you…// //You won’t be if you don’t put her down!// //But…// //NOW, padawan!// Obi-Wan glared at Kryztan out the corner of his eye and made the most of his theatrical climax. "Mmmmmmm!" He let go of Jemmiah’s lips, then the pair of them bowed to both lines, receiving rapturous applause. Kryztan remained silent. War had just been officially declared. As Jemmiah was about to walk over to the girls’ line Harkley tapped her sharply on the shoulder. "I bet he doesn’t kiss as well as I did." He said loudly enough for Kenobi to hear, before leaning over and whispering something in her ear. Qui-Gon was over like a shot. Jemmiah listened to Kryztan’s words before giving her answer. "If it’s bothering you that much, I’d put some ice on it." She retorted as Jinn hovered by her side. "What did he say?" He asked, aware that the others were beginning to stare. "I was talking about his jaw." She smiled. "Why, what did you think I meant?" Qui-Gon watched her take her place beside Spider. "Back off." He lowered his voice. "All I said was…" "Back off while you can still walk." Jinn said sweetly. The threat seemed to register with Kryztan and he slunk back into the line. "What was that about?" Kenobi demanded. "It’s your turn, padawan." Jinn pushed the question aside. "I suggest you take less time than you did with Jemmiah, otherwise An-Paj will have you down at the healer’s trying to replace your overused tongue." Obi-Wan blushed, and waited as the two lines moved about once more. "Thirteen." He called. "This’ll be good!" came an authoritative voice from the side. Kenobi turned round. Lilith Demodae stared right back at him. "Let’s see what your Corellian girlfriend’s taught you, shall we?" She rubbed her hands. Obi-Wan gulped. Oh, shoozer! ***** Lilith stepped forward boldly and smiled in a pleased, anticipatory sort of way. "It looks like Jemmiah's not the only one who'll get to compare between Master and Apprentice," she said, referring back to the game of truth or dare. She stopped right in front of Kenobi and bent to close the distance the difference in height created. "And I'll warn you up front." She glanced up over his shoulder to shoot a flirtatious gaze at the now clean-shaven Jedi. "Your master is quite a good kisser." That said, Lilith took Obi-Wan's face in her hands and gently pressed her lips to his, deepening the kiss when it became obvious he really did know what he was doing. Some time later, when she finally stood up, Lilith threw a saucy wink and Qui-Gon and turned to Jemmiah. "Not bad, girl. You've obviously been a good tutor." That brought laughter from both sides and Jemmiah smiled back at her. "Hey, Lil, which is the better of the two?" Krelo asked from the sidelines where she had moved to get a better angle on the action. "Ah," Lilith smiled slow and secretive, "A lady doesn't discuss such things in public." ***** Lilith didn’t posses the force. Well, at least she assumed so. Still, even she would be hard pressed to disagree that her next partner was an inspired choice. "Eight." She called roughly. Turning to face her suitor, Lilith was surprised to see…nobody. "C’mon number eight. Stop messing about." She started to count down the line to see where the hold up lay, and then realized exactly what the problem was. Or rather, who. Kryztan Harkley. A very intimidated looking Kryztan Harkley. So much the better, thought Lilith as she sported a carnivorous looking grin. Let’s see the little Womp Rat get out of this… "I’m afraid you might find me too lively for your taste," Lilith growled in a low voice, "seeing as how I know that you like your women more…passive." She watched as Harkley’s face paled, in stark contrast to the dark bruise that had spread along his jaw. Opening her mouth to say something further, Lilith caught sight of Qui-Gon shaking his head ever so slightly, pleading with his eyes for her to say nothing more on what had happened earlier that night. Instead, she settled for pulling the reluctant padawan towards her and whispering in his ear, "Or do you prefer them unconscious? Is that it?" Kryztan‘s expression changed from wary to half smug in a matter of seconds. Lilith regarded him in contempt. "You’ve played that trick before, haven’t you?" She hissed. "At brothels? Is that the only way you can get someone to give you a good time?" "What if I have used it before?" Harkley shrugged. "I’ve never had any complaints." "Only because your floozies are too drugged to remember the next day." She placed her hands on his shoulders while she talked, trying to look seductive. "One doxy’s very much like another." Kryztan smiled boyishly, looking at Jemmiah whilst he spoke. "That’s what I’ve found." That left Lilith’s blood cold. "If I find out you’ve used that drug on her before I am going to tie both your legs to two swoops and have them fly off in different directions." With that, Lilith grabbed hold of his jaw in a vice like grip and wrenched him forwards to meet her lips. As she kissed him, she continued to squeeze mercilessly until the tears were running from his eyes in pain. Nobody else could witness it of course, as she had maneuvered him round so that both lines could only see him from his other side. "How do you like it now, eh?" Lilith said as she released him. "Not very nice having someone forcing their attentions on you, is it?" She hadn’t said it very loudly at all, but Rela’s sharp ears had picked up her bitter words. It certainly didn’t take much of a jump in logic to work out what had happened. It was just one more thing that she would have to add to the catalogue of questions she had to ask Qui-Gon. Along with just how exactly Kryztan had come by his injured jaw. The red haired girl gritted her teeth. Harkley had better pray he never met her on a dark night… Kryztan struggled away. The woman was a maniac! His bruised jaw was fiery agony now. Tenderly he rubbed it, remembering that his master was watching him. He couldn’t let him think something was amiss. But he took considerable delight in Kenobi’s discomfort as he viewed the padawan haranguing his master with impatient questions. "Master, I demand that you tell me what’s been going on between…" "Excuse me?" Qui-Gon cut in. "Did you just issue me with a command?" Kenobi said nothing, but his face betrayed his displeasure. "That’s better." Qui-Gon waited until his apprentice had calmed himself down. "First of all, I do not take kindly to being addressed in that tone. Secondly, you are sulking like a little child." "You treat me as if I am." "Stop acting like one, then." Jinn replied sharply. "I tell you what you need to know, when you need to know it." "But…" "I mean it, padawan. Drop the subject." He reeled in his temper and said in a much gentler tone, "We’ll discuss this tomorrow. Ok?" Obi-Wan nodded once, then directed his stare at Kryztan who was back at the head of the lines. The girls wound their way in and out as they hurriedly selected their positions. Harkley had already turned his back. "Three." Kryztan said with the hint of a smile in his voice... "What do I do if it’s me?" Kylenn had asked Jemmiah whilst Kryztan had waited for the lines to reassemble themselves. "Be sick all over him." Jemmy growled. "Just keep everything crossed that it’s not you. But if anyone does pick you, my advice is to go in with all guns blazing." "How do you mean?" Kylenn asked a trifle nervously. "If you take the fight to them, you control how long the kiss lasts. If it’s someone you like you can keep it going indefinitely. If it’s not," she glared at Harkley, "then you can finish it that much sooner. So always make the first move." Kylenn nodded. It seemed like sound advice. "Three." Kryztan called out. Krelo stepped out of the line wearing a scowl on her normally placid features. Kryztan observed the look of contempt from close up, trying uneasily to fathom the reason behind it. He was soon left in no doubt. "Arrogant Sithslime." She remarked acerbically. "Do you have any idea what they do to people like you on some of the more backward fringe planets?" She spoke in a dangerous voice. " They remove the offenders genitalia and make them eat them." "That would be a tragic waste to humanity." Kryztan smiled. Inwardly he was enraged. Trust Jemmiah to go tale telling. But what could he do about it? "Is that right?" Krelo’s eyes narrowed. "I really hope you get what you deserve." She bent over and gave him the quickest of kisses on the mouth and then backed off. "I wouldn’t want to catch something." she said so only he could hear. "If I want to kiss immature boys I’ll go to the crèche and pick one of the babies. I prefer their brand of excrement to the kind you talk." Berlingside and Mace exchanged surprised looks. "Is that it?" Mace frowned. "Yup." Krelo winked at Lilith as a disgusted and embarrassed Kryztan slunk back once more to stand warily next to Qui-Gon. Everyone was no doubt wondering what their conversation had consisted of and why she had refused to give him no more than a brief peck. "Five minute break." Called Krelo. "I’m gasping for a drink." "Me too." Berlingside nodded. Kylenn exchanged a relieved glance with Jemmiah. "I need some fresh air." Jemmy muttered. "If anyone wants to know where I am…" "Sure." Kylenn said, looking slightly wistfully after Jay Abran. Jemmy shook her head and wandered towards the exit. Kryztan watched her leave. Rela played with her glass of non-alcoholic ‘fruit burst’ for a moment. Perhaps now would be an excellent time to talk to Qui-Gon as she had promised Obi-Wan. She saw the Jedi master in conversation with Leona and couldn’t resist a smile. Bearded or beardless the man still couldn’t help but draw admirers. Well, she thought as she prepared to wander off in pursuit. Here goes… Somebody clumsily elbowed her in the ribs. "Watch it!" She scowled, swinging round to meet the owner of the offending body part. To her surprise she came face to face with Obi-Wan. "Don’t s’pose you’ve seen Jemmy?" He sighed. "She’s gone again." "Try the ladies fresher." Rela said. "On second thoughts, maybe you shouldn’t." "It would be about the only chance we’d get to be alone." Kenobi grumbled. "Didn’t you enjoy your kiss?" Rela teased. "Somebody got in their first." Obi-Wan shot his master a mutinous look. "My only consolation was that it wasn’t Kryztan." He twisted his braid absently in his fingers. "He’s been thinking of causing trouble for us. Kylenn warned me as much, a couple of days ago but I didn’t believe her. I mean, he’s always been a friend. Not a close one, admittedly, but reliable. He’s got this thing about Jemmy, though." Rela listened to him ramble. "Sybelle said he might try something tonight." "Try?" Rela snorted into her glass. "More like did." Kenobi snapped his head up from the bar surface. "What?" He said sharply. "Nothing." Rela replied, trying too hard to cover up. "Tell me what’s going on. My master says there’s nothing I need to know…" "Then he’s probably right." Rela answered him. "You’re lying." Obi-Wan countered in frustration. "I want to know!" Rela was torn between two people. It was obvious that for whatever reason Qui-Gon was trying to hush up the whole affair, yet she couldn’t stand the idea of a worthless snake like Harkley being let away with something so serious. It made her really angry. Nobody did that to one of her friends and got away with it. "I…I don’t know. Lilith does. And Qui-Gon. But I heard Lilith say that he’d…" "What?" Obi-Wan insisted. "Well…he’d…forced himself on her." She couldn’t quite look him in the eye as she spoke the words but then she didn’t need to. She could almost feel the color draining from his face. The silence that followed felt ominous in the extreme to Rela. It was broken only seconds later by Obi-Wan slamming his glass down hard against the bar surface, making her shoot out her seat in alarm. "Where is he?" He scanned the surrounding bar for any sight of Kryztan Harkley and found nothing. Rela was now beginning to regret having told him anything. There was a look in his eyes that was not normally there… jealousy? Fury? She didn’t know what specifically except that it was so out of place it was almost frightening. "Calm down!" She hung determinedly onto his arm. "What do you think you’re going to do?" "Oh, I’m sure I won’t have any problems thinking of something." He snapped. Rela watched as he half closed his eyes. What was he doing, she wondered? "He’s outside in the backstreet." Kenobi bristled. "This isn’t such a good…" "A good what? Do you want him to get away with that? Because he’ll try it again." Obi-Wan hissed at her. "I’m not having him within a mile of her." Rela could understand his anger, but still remained uncertain. Perhaps if she told Qui-Gon he’d know what to do… Kenobi’s eyes widened suddenly in shock. "What is it?" Rela asked, dry mouthed. Jemmiah rested her head against the wall of the Cantina. If she was feeling truthful, her head was beginning to spin a little. Whether this was as a result of the concussion or too many Flameouts she couldn’t say. The whole situation was starting to get to her. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were barely speaking, and Lilith and Griff were dropping huge hints all over the place as to the ‘incident’ earlier that night. She still had that horrible taste in her mouth, except that it was now accompanied by the equally nauseating taste of the Papyri juice she’d been forced to drink. Sighing, she tried to brush the whole thing from her mind. It was not something she particularly wanted to recall. A voice beside her made her jump violently. "I think we need to have a little talk." It said. Jemmiah turned to face the source of the voice. "I’ve got nothing to say to you." "Well I’ve got something to say to you." Kryztan snapped. "You told Krelo what happened between us…" "Go to blazes." She said. "I wouldn’t waste my breath. You’re not that important." "I don’t believe you." He shot out a hand and circled it firmly round her already bruised wrist. "If you don’t let me go you are going to spend the rest of your miserable existence drinking through a straw." She attempted to loose his grip, but instead he only tightened it, causing her to wince. "Why don’t you try Captain Demodae? I think if you want to have a go at someone it should be her. Although I don’t think you’d dare." Kryztan stared at her as if trying to search her face for the truth. "OK." He said it reluctantly, releasing her hand. "I’m sorry." "Sorry for what?" She massaged the bruises that had already come up. "Not believing me or trying to force me to…" "Both." He cut in too quickly. "It might not surprise you to know that I don’t care." Jemmiah said angrily. "I don’t know how you got it into your head that I could ever think of going out with you when you’re prepared to do something like that." She backed off slowly. "I don’t even know why I’m speaking to you now." Kryztan tried to block her move past him. "Maybe you care more for me than you’re prepared to admit." He fixed her with glittering eyes. "I think you secretly like the idea of two people competing over you." He paused "Or is it three? Master Jinn was pretty quick to come to your aid, wasn’t he? Maybe he was jealous." "You are sick!" Jemmiah growled. "I have never…there’s never been anything between Master Jinn and myself." "Only a matter of time." Harkley smiled. "Is that why you dress like that? To get the old boy’s attention?" "Let me past." Jemmiah was furious. "I don’t see what you can have against me." Kryztan refused to budge. "You’ve been with a considerable amount of people both within and without the temple." He frowned as he tried to reel off a list of names. "Let’s see. Your mathematics tutor. I saw you two in the temple gardens. His idea of multiplication obviously was to your liking. I’m sure Master Sovalla would love to hear about that one. Who else?" He pretended to be deep in thought. "Jay Abran? Your precious Obi-Wan would be ecstatic if someone were to mention that to him. I know you and Zak V’Aladee were close. For all of one night." He enjoyed watching the blood drain from her face. "Then there was that healer whatsisname? Gethin Territ? Trying to cure you of possible food poisoning? I DON’T THINK SO." He grinned. "An-Paj might be concerned by his colleague’s interest in fifteen year old girls." "Go away." Jemmiah said lamely. "And then I’m sure Qui-Gon would be most put out if he were to find out about you and that Corellian half-breed that works behind the bar of this very cantina. And how you spend all your spare time. Does he know that you ride swoops?" Jemmiah didn’t meet his look. "I thought not." "You’ve been following me." She breathed. "Oh, yes. I’ve been following you for over three months." He nodded. "Not that you’ve ever noticed." "There are laws against stalking." "I don’t think you can do much to stop me. Not considering what I found out about you." He leaned against the cold wall, regarding her carefully. "One word in the wrong place is going to make life very uncomfortable for you." She swallowed. "I think you know what I’m going to suggest." "I think you know what my answer is." She spat. "Nobody tries to blackmail me." "I don’t see what the problem is." Kryztan said insistently. "We could have made a great couple. Why don’t you see it? Why did you have to go out with Kenobi?" "Because he’s never tried to force himself on me!" Jemmiah hissed. "He’s not obsessive or deranged like you are." Kryztan’s eyes narrowed in anger. "I don’t imagine that’s a problem for you. You should be used to hiring yourself out to clients, huh? Did you miss your old life so much that you felt you had to recreate it here on Coruscant?" "I’m not listening to this." Jemmiah said in shock. Kryztan again tried to block her way past. "I know all about you. I heard Master Jinn discussing your rather sorry past with my master a year or so ago. Doesn’t it make you feel guilty knowing that you were the only one who got off that planet with their life intact?" He watched her flinch. "I’m sure that must haunt you terribly, hmmm? All those people dead and then there’s you enjoying a life of pampered freedom…" "SHUT UP!" She screamed at him. "I think I must have hit a nerve there." Kryztan smiled. "Do you dream about them? Do you see their faces?" She swore at him in Corellian, aware of the fact that there were tears running down her face. "Oh, what coarse language." Kryztan replied. "Must be what comes of associating with working girls for such a length of time. You really did start young, didn’t you? How old were you? Five? Six? And what about that crazy person who swore he’s going to come back and get you? Do you feel safe walking the streets of Coruscant?" He smiled at the pain he was evidently causing her. "It makes you think, doesn’t it? He could be anywhere. Just waiting his chance. A person could easily disappear in these back streets and never be seen again. And poor Obi-Wan would have to find himself another girlfriend." He reached out a hand to wipe away the tears from her face. "I thought Qui-Gon said you never cried." Satisfied at having caused such an extreme reaction in her, Kryztan took a step forwards. "I wonder that you dare set foot out of the temple. So many evil people outside…" A hand descended on his shoulder and clamped down hard. "And so many evil people inside." Obi-Wan spun Kryztan round before knocking him to the ground. |
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| A Night to (Almost) Remember |
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