"Please Master?" "No!" Adu-Reil said. Sara sighed again. Looking at the carpet, she began to scuff the edge of her boot into the carpet. "Stop that." Adu-Reil snapped sharply and turned back to the open flimsy in her lap. Sara grated her teeth together in frustration. She had only been Adu-Reil's padawan for a month and already she couldn't stand her. Half the time the old woman didn't even notice she was there, the other half she fussed and nagged over the state of Sara's room or the length of her hair. Now she wasn't letting Sara go out for the night. There was a knock at the door and Sara sighed as she went to open it. Her hands had almost totally healed and now she only wore thin gloves to prevent the new skin from being scratched and hurt. "Hello Sara." Qui-Gon greeted her cheerfully as the door slid open but the look on his face fell as he regarded the sour look that Sara was wearing. "What's wrong?" He asked as he sidestepped through the door. Sara thumbed towards Master Adu-Reil's back and Qui-Gon frowned at her obvious show of disrespect. "Master." Sara said ignoring his frown and then louder, "MASTER!" "You don't have to shout," Adu-Reil said, looking at Sara sharply. She glanced at Qui-Gon and then peered even closer. "Oh, good evening Master Jinn." "Good evening Master Grien," Qui-Gon said, and bowed. The ancient Master waved Qui-Gon to a seat and then frowned at Sara. "My padawan and I seem to be having a disagreement." Adu-Reil said, "I don't think that she is old enough to go out by herself with a boy." Qui-Gon frowned at Sara, his face thoughtful. "I don't think that it would be advisable either," he said, "you're far too young to be going out by yourself." "But I'm not too young..." Sara started. "...and she wouldn't be by herself," another voice said from the door. Sara smiled as she recognized Xanatos' quiet tones. "Padawan?" Qui-Gon queried. "I came to see where you were, Master," Xanatos said. "I was going to take Sara out with a bunch of other padawans from the temple, Master Grien." "Oh, Xanatos," Master Adu-Reil said, peering at the padawan. "Well if /you/ are going-" "Which he's not," Qui-Gon said. "Padawan, when did you clear this with me?" "About a week ago Master." Xanatos said serenely. Both he and Sara watched as Qui-Gon sat deep in thought, then gave a sudden sigh. "My apologies, Padawan, you did," he said after a moment. "May I go then Master?" Sara asked beaming. Adu-Reil waved a hand at her and Sara scooted into her bedroom to get her things, which she had already packed. She almost ran back into the lounge room, and was in time to hear Qui-Gon giving a whispered lecture to his padawan. "Don't let her out of your sights. Don't abandon her. Here's some credits to pay for things. I'm not happy with this, Padawan, but as long as you promise to take care of her-" "I will, Master," Xanatos said reassuringly, and smiled over his Master's shoulder at Sara. She smiled back more shyly, then bowed to her master and Qui-Gon and rushed out of the door before someone could call her back. Xanatos followed at a more sedate pace. Just as the padawan came out of the door Sara could hear Qui-Gon calling: "AND BE BACK BY TEN!" Xanatos smiled at Sara as they walked down the hall to the lifts. Two figures were lounging nearby and they straightened as Xanatos sauntered up to them. "Barin, Juli, this is Sara." Xanatos introduced the two figures to her. Barin had pale blonde hair and icy blue eyes that twinkled at Sara as he greeted her. Juli, however, raised one of her perfectly plucked black eyebrows and gave Sara a once over look that made the young girl drop her eyes and shift uncomfortably. She felt Xanatos' hands on her shoulders and they gave a tight squeeze of support. "Sara is my friend, Juli," Xanatos told the black haired girl, calmly but with emphasis. Juli flicked her hair over her shoulder with a deliberate movement and shrugged. "That's fine with me, Xani," she said as they moved into the lift. Sara was just ahead of them, but close enough to hear Juli's whisper to Barin. "She's a bit young for him, isn't she?" Sara's face flamed and Xanatos' hand squeezed again. She gave him a half-hearted smile and he smiled back warmly, his deep blue eyes crinkling at the corners. ****** They changed out of their Jedi robes in the 'freshers on the reception floor of the Jedi Temple. Sara emerged feeling self-conscious, in a blue top and darker blue pants instead of her Jedi robes. Barin was already dressed and waiting when she emerged, looking quite at ease despite his conspicuous frilled scarlet shirt and very tight black pants. "The fair lady Sara," he greeted her, with a smile and a bow as she sidled nervously up to him. Sara flushed and gave a tight smile, but said nothing. Barin noticed the way Sara was rubbing her hands together and his eyebrow raised. "Did you damage your hands?" he asked. "I burnt them," Sara said softly, "about two months ago." The corner of Barin's mouth tugged into a sympathetic expression, and Sara found that she liked him. "Then you must be Xani's little monster," he said teasingly. Sara's eyes widened at the name. "He speaks of very little else these days," Barin added, as Juli returned with Xanatos on her arm. The tall girl's gold top and black pants set off her tanned skin, dark hair and eyes, and she was obviously aware of how well they complemented her looks. She flashed a white smile at Xanatos and gave Sara an arch look. Barin must have seen the look as well, for he leaned closer to Sara, winked, and whispered: "Never mind Queen Juli, her manners never have matched her aspirations." Juli gave him a suspicious glance, and he beamed at her with charming innocence. Xanatos released Juli's arm and took Sara's hand in his. "Shall we go, little monster?" he asked quietly, guiding her towards the door and out into the street. ****** They walked down the main streets of Coruscant, with Juli and Barin out ahead talking quietly between themselves. Occasionally Juli would half turn to include Xanatos in the conversation but the only indication that she realised that Sara was even there was an occasional arched eyebrow or look of disdain. "So, little monster," Xanatos asked her quietly, "how is your new master?" Sara shrugged non-commitally but didn't answer for a moment. "Is it alright if you don't like your master?" she asked him softly. "It is not usually the case," Xanatos answered, "but it can happen." "Do you like your Master?" Sara asked. A range of emotions flicked briefly across Xani's face and then as he realized Sara was watching him; he squeezed her gently and gave her a reassuring smile. "Yes of course I do," he answered. Sara frowned and looked to the ground. It felt to her like Xanatos was hiding something about his feelings towards his Master. //You're being silly// she told herself, //of course he likes Qui-Gon, who couldn't!// She shook her head to clear her mind and smiled back. "It's not that I don't like her," Sara explained, "it is just that she seems to forget everything, including me." Juli turned again and saw the soft affection on Xanatos' face, which made her scowl at Sara. "So," she said to Sara, fake amiability plastered across her face. "Does Xani call you 'little monster' as a pet name, or because you're so ugly?" Sara baulked and Xanatos' grip tightened around her shoulders. She felt a flash of anger from him and even Barin's smile faded into a slight frown. "Leave her alone, Juli," Xanatos snapped, his voice cold. Juli shrugged and turned back to Barin. "If she can't take a joke..." she said, pouting. "If you must attempt insulting jokes, do at least try to be amusing about it," drawled Barin. Juli glared at him, but he only yawned in a bored manner and looked away. "Maybe I should go home, Xani," Sara said, trying to ignore the stinging of her eyes and the lump in her throat. "Don't be ridiculous," Xanatos said, "Juli is catty at the best of times. Anyway you can't go home-" He pointed up towards a neon sign and the lines of people going into the club. "-because we're here." ****** Xanatos found space for four in a booth facing the dance floor. He and Barin promptly took possession, Xanatos lounging with his arm flung across the back of the neighbouring chair, and Barin tipping back in his seat with one booted foot propped against the wall. Sara hesitantly sat in the seat beside Xanatos, and felt his hand close reassuringly on her shoulder. Juli gave her a long, unfriendly look, then took herself off to the 'fresher. Xanatos watched the dark-haired girl flouncing away. Barin shook his head and gave a short 'mrmph' of amusement, observing his friend from beneath half-closed eyelids. "There walks jealousy personified," he remarked. "You realise she has no interest in me at all, Xan." Xanatos gave a soft laugh. "Of course she does. She's been hanging 'round you since you came back from Drowgheer all grown up." Barin's expression momentarily turned sour. Then he also laughed. "A short, skinny man instead of a short, skinny boy?" he asked lightly. Xanatos held up a finger. "A rich and powerful man. Well, you could be," he added, with a lopsided grin. "Ah. So she wants me for my money, not my body." Barin cast an ironic glance over his slender frame, and snorted. "I fear it says no more for her taste." "But..." Sara began shyly, then stopped. Xanatos immediately turned to her, and Barin waved a lazy hand for her to continue. "Speak, oh beauteous damsel." Sara blushed. "Jedi aren't supposed to 'seek material wealth'," she said, feeling embarrassed. "Xanatos likes to consider all possibilities," Barin said, dryly. Xanatos shifted in his seat, his arm tightening around Sara's shoulders. "Why not? You could have been Lord Truthfinder, and I could have been Lord of Telos. We'd probably both have known one another anyway. Going to the same dances and receptions..." "...and /deadly/ dull political functions," added Barin, sounding slightly bored. "...mixing with kings and princesses," continued Xanatos, in joking tones. "...and marrying some ageing, ugly, overweight second cousin to the assistant zookeeper of the Grand High Moff," Barin concluded. "I could have married your sister," said Xanatos, giving Barin a sly look. "You are quite welcome to her," replied Barin, a little sharply. "Why? Didn't you like her?" Xanatos teased. For one completely unexpected moment, Sara thought Barin might actually hit Xanatos. His glacier-blue eyes flared with sudden anger and he froze in his chair, glaring at his friend. Just as rapidly the moment passed and he relaxed again. The fury in his gaze vanished behind his usual expression of faint amusement. Sara hadn't noticed Xanatos also tensing, but now she felt him let out a breath. She looked between the two, feeling confused, and Xanatos patted her reassuringly on the knee with his free hand. "Sorry Barin. I shouldn't have said that," Xanatos apologised. "Barin didn't get on with his sister very well, when he was taken to meet his family," he explained for Sara's benefit. Barin gave him a small, grateful smile. "My, aren't we all friendly here!" remarked Juli as she reached the table, having seen the end of the exchange on her way back from the 'fresher. The look she gave Sara was deadly. "Shall we dance? If you /can/ dance," she added, peering down her nose at Sara. Sara watched in fascination as Barin and Juli made their way to the dance floor. Juli had already attracted almost half the male audience on the way up to the dance floor and now she and Barin took their place as the next song started. Within seconds a small circle had formed around the dancing pair. Over the top of the crowd Sara could see Barin flipping from his feet to his hands in time with the music. Next to her Xanatos began to tap out the rhythm on the table with his fingers. "You going to come dance with me, Monster?" he asked over the music. "I don't know, Xani, I'm not as good as that," Sara said, waving a hand to where Barin and Juli had taken center stage. "So?" Xanatos asked, smiling at her, his dark blue eyes crinkling at the corners. He pushed her out of her seat and then led her to the dance floor. Sara stood still with her arms by her sides, watching the activity around her. His eyes betraying some cheeky intent, Xanatos crept behind her and grabbed her wrists, making her move to the music. Sara giggled as he swung her like a puppet. Barin appeared in front of them, his eyebrows raised in amusement. "Sprightly trips the maiden fair?" he asked Xanatos, grinning. "Like she was born dancing," Xanatos replied. Barin motioned for them to follow him and they did, Xanatos dragging Sara behind him. "Have you ever done the twelfth kata?" he whispered. Sara nodded. She had learnt it soon after becoming a padawan, but she didn't see what that had to do with dancing. "Well," Xanatos continued, "If you do the first half of the kata and add a few moves it makes a very impressive dance." Sara gave another nod as they came to the edge of the circle, and then she found herself in the middle of it. Xanatos began dancing with Juli and Barin, and Juli gave Sara a contemptuous look as Barin spun her past the younger girl. Suddenly feeling self-conscious, Sara retreated to the wall of people to watch the others. Barin was by far the better dancer, Sara thought; or perhaps he was just the more flamboyant and acrobatic. Xanatos was more restrained, and the exact sense of rhythm that Barin seemed to possess wasn't there. Juli was a good dancer too, Sara had to admit to herself, and she knew how to attract an audience. Xanatos appeared suddenly before Sara, pulling her away from the crowd into the open. "Come on Sara," he whispered, but she shook her head. Sara hated making a fool of herself in front of anyone, and was scared of performing in case she did indeed make a fool of herself. Xanatos launched into the kata, and then motioned for Sara to copy. After a moment's hesitation she did so, and found that it was rather fun. She had always excelled at lightsabre but never at physical hand to hand combat, so this was perfect. Within minutes she had forgotten about Juli, Barin and Xanatos. She didn't see Xanatos' amazed expression until she stopped, exhausted. He stared at her opened mouthed for a few moments. "What?" Sara asked, self-conscious again, her arms crossing her chest to hug her shoulders. Around them the other dancers had begun mingling again. "I didn't embarrass you did I?" Sara asked, worried. Xanatos shook his head and put his arms around her. "Born dancing?" Barin asked as he twirled past them. "But surely she has danced since first music began!" Sara blushed at the compliment. Xanatos treated her to a few more dances, and then looked at his chrono. "We'd better go," he said suddenly, "I did promise Qui-Gon." Sara nodded and watched him as he went to pick out Barin and Juli. Juli didn't seem at all eager to leave. "Why can't she take herself home, Xani?" Sara heard her complaining to Xanatos as they left. "She's fourteen," Xanatos replied. "She's not old enough." //Not old enough? Was that what Xanatos thought of her? Was he just treating her like this because of her injuries and the fact that she 'wasn't old enough'?// Sara bit her lip and sighed. She liked Xanatos much more then just friends now. She sighed and frowned and then felt his arms around her shoulders again. "Come on, Monster," he said. "Cheer up! We'll get you home alright." ****** "Is this the right way, Xani?" asked Sara, peering along the darkened alleyway. "I don't remember it." "It's a short-cut," Xanatos explained. "Can't get you back late, can we?" Juli tossed her head and strode forwards, but Barin put out a hand to hold her back. "I believe-" "Oh, get a move on," snapped Juli, pulling her arm away. "If we have to play babysitters, let's get it over with. There might still be time to go out for a drink afterwards." Barin gave her a long look, then spread his hands in a gesture of resignation. His lips twitched in amusement. "As you wish..." Juli flounced away into the alley, the others starting along behind her. "...but you may prefer to stay together," Barin finished, as several figures materialised from the doorways and junk-heaps along the alley sides. Sara became aware of several things. She saw Juli pause, then step back into a defensive stance as half-a-dozen black-clothed street-gang types formed a loose circle around her. She saw Barin rocking his weight back onto his heels, his eyebrows lifting as he observed the strangers with an air of suppressed excitement. She felt Xanatos chuckle, drop his arm and step a little to one side, and heard the hum of a vibroknife. She caught movement out of the corner of her eye, and turned her head to see another four gangers approaching, two-and-two to either side of herself and Xanatos. She sensed that there were more people closing the exit to the street behind. "Hmm. Four on twelve. A slightly unequal contest is it not, Xan?" Barin's voice carried a mixture of slightly arrogant amusement and eager anticipation. "You might be right," replied Xanatos, with a laugh. "Hey, little monster, do you mind sitting this one out?" "Why..." Sara nervously licked her lips, and tried again. "Why don't we find out what they want?" she asked. "Easy," answered one of the gang. "We want ya money." "I'll settle for the girl," called another, with a leer at Juli. "Over my dead body, Tauntaun-breath," said Juli, and kicked him in the head. The alleyway erupted into violence. Sara turned to keep Xanatos' reassuring presence at her back, and faced the two gang-members that closed on her with heavy-looking knives. Sara felt for her lightsaber, remembered that it was back at the Temple, gulped, and tried to remember her unarmed combat lessons. She managed to disarm the taller of the two with a kick to the wrist, but the other one grabbed her and she felt his blade knick the skin beneath her ear, the smell of hot leather and rancid breath filling her nostrils. "Keep still, and ya don't get hurt much," he grated. "Leave her alone, guttertrash," hissed Xanatos, his face dark with anger. He lashed out with the vibroknife in his hand, slicing the man's hand along it's length. The ganger dropped his own blade and clutched at the wound. Sara pulled free, and Xanatos launched a kick at her attacker that left the man crumpled in a heap on the ground. "Are you okay, Sara?" Xanatos asked with concern in his eyes. Sara nodded and Xanatos spun round in a swirl of black cloak to face two more of the gang-members who were closing on him from behind. Juli was demonstrating why it was that few of the other padawans cared to pick a fight with her. She would hit anything with anything, and she knew exactly which spots were the most vulnerable. The gang members were keeping their distance, a couple of them now facing her with lengths of pipe dragged out of the alley's rubbish and a third holding the same type of long, heavy knife that Sara's two attackers had been carrying. Barin had at first been almost overlooked by the gang, as small and therefore inconsequential. The mistake became obvious when his sole attacker stopped with a gasp as an elbow met his windpipe. The ganger was tumbled into the air over Barin's shoulder, and slammed onto his back with a whoosh of air. Barin kicked out backwards as three more gang-members closed to help their companion, catching one on the thigh as a curly-haired youngster managed to connect a nail-studded bat with Barin's head. Barin rolled with the blow, somersaulting over and changing direction in one movement. Crouched on hands and feet, he looked up at his three attackers. A trickle of blood ran down the side of his face from a messy-looking cut on his forehead. His expression lit up with unholy glee. "Oh yes," he breathed. "I /liked/ that. Care to try again?" The curly-haired kid swung at him with his bat again. Barin's hand flashed out, caught the weapon and twisted it from the kid's grasp. His arm pistoned back again, ramming the handle of the bat into the kid's eye, and the kid fell back with a cry. The other two gangers stepped forwards, one of them meeting Barin's foot coming in the opposite direction at high speed. He was flung backwards into the side-wall of the alley, retching and clutching his stomach. The third flicked a knife towards Barin's head. Barin blocked, ducked beneath the blade, seized the man's hair and smacked the man's face into his knee with a crunch, then dropped him to one side. Barin straightened, took a long breath, and dusted the dirt from his shoulder. "Xan? I seem to have finished mine, may I borrow one of yours?" Facing down three more gang-members with a practiced weaving motion of his knife, Xanatos rolled his eyes. "I've told you before, don't hit them all at once. No, you can't have mine. You should have made yours last longer." The gang members were backing off now, aware that they had picked a harder target than first appearances had suggested. Xanatos, Juli and Barin did not let them escape, working as a threesome to cut them off and take them down. The fight lasted less than a minute, and none of the gang walked away. The three padawans rejoined Sara, looking pleased with themselves. "Barin, you're hurt," said Sara, seeing the trail of blood. Barin touched a hand to the cut on his head, peered at his fingers, then slightly absently licked them clean. He shrugged. "Nothing serious." "But won't your Master wonder..." "No," Barin said sharply, his eyes looking anywhere but at Sara and his shoulders hunching slightly. He took a quick breath, shook his head, and managed the semblance of a cheeky grin. "Worry not, I shall think of some excuse," he said with a wink. Sara stared at him for a second and he turned away again, casting his gaze over the alleyway. "Shouldn't we... help them or something?" wondered Sara, looking at the carnage. The other three glanced at her in surprise. "Why should we?" asked Juli, contemptuously. "But... some of them aren't moving," said Sara, feeling a little sick. Xanatos quickly stepped up to her and wrapped her into his cloak, his arm holding her against his side. "They're scum, Sara. They would have done exactly the same to us. Probably worse. They'd probably have stripped us and thrown us into the sewers. They're not worth worrying about." Sara shook her head, seeing some sense in what Xanatos was saying but still bothered by the thought of just leaving them lying there, possibly badly injured. "What do you think they'd do if we healed them, Sara?" asked Juli. "Start kissing babies and helping old ladies across the street? I don't think so. Get real, little girl." "Taking them out of commission is a service to the community," added Barin, more kindly. Xanatos nodded. "This lot won't be bothering anybody else for a while," he agreed. "Come on, little monster. Let's get you back to the Temple before my Master sends out a search-party." He guided Sara away from the alley. Sara moved reluctantly, some thought still nagging at the back of her mind. The others were right, but but they weren't, and she couldn't work out why. Perhaps she should talk to her master... but no, she decided. Adu-Reil wasn't the sort of person she could talk to. She sighed, and leaned into Xanatos' supporting arm. Maybe Qui-Gon? Almost as if he sensed Sara's thoughts, Xanatos glanced down at her. "I don't think we should mention this when we get back," he said. "If your Master, or mine even, finds out we got into a fight..." he let the sentence trail off suggestively. "But we couldn't help it," protested Sara. Then she stopped. Could they have avoided the fight? It was almost as if the others had gone looking for trouble. They certainly hadn't tried talking, or running away. "I don't think your Master would see it that way," said Xanatos, wryly. "She'd probably ground you for life." Sara had to agree. Master Adu-Reil would be so horrified that Sara would be lucky to be allowed out of her sight. "I guess," she admitted. Xanatos gave her an approving squeeze. "Come on, Monster. Let's go home." |
 |
| If you have enjoyed this story please consider leaving feedback, no matter how short or long. Many thanks! Add Comment |
| Come Dance With Me By HaiGan & Kit |