Zanta was running late, which was par for the course. She grabbed a cup of stimulant-chocked liquid and downed it, pretending it didn't taste nearly as bad as it smelled. With her books tucked firmly under her arm, blonde hair tied back into its ruthless knot, limbs stuffed into oversized shirts and pants, she ran. Such was the life of a poor college student in the republic. She couldn't complain, they were paying for all of her tuition and education. She would cheerfully spend the rest of her life in research piling on the phd's while she made discoveries in the world of mechanics.
Today was a required lecture in a large hall. Apparently the University of Alderaan had managed to rope in some Jedi to guest lecture a philosophy course. Her physics professor had decided to add themselves to the long list of those who were to attend, in proxy at least. She was to go and take copious notes. But beforehand, she was to meet with these Jedi and ask specific questions in relation to the nature of the force via physics.
Frankly Zanta found it rather stupid. You can't see or touch the damn thing, you couldn't do experiments on it, how are you supposed to believe in something you had no data on? Explaining the physical mechanics of how the force worked to anyone who couldn't sense it would be like explaining Blue to the blind.
But she was going as a dutiful little grad student. It didn't help anything that her professor's last name was "Masters" and hers was "Padakan." Frankly she was getting rather tired of the joke between them.
Zanta ran into the small room just outside of the lecture room just in time to see that the place was packed. She was standing in the aisle scrounging for a seat when she looked up and saw the Jedi walk into the room. The first was easily recognisable as Mace Windu, head of the council. She was now curious how the university managed to swing the clout to get him.
The second was familiar looking and after a bit of figuring she guessed he was Qui-Gon Jinn. She heard descriptions of him and his attitude as well as his friendship with Master Windu. She was about to cut into a spare seat in the front row when the next one walked in.
Time suddenly slowed as she watched him walk closer, head down. He looked up and caught her eyes in his own teal. Time suddenly stopped. At was as if a bell had been dropped inside of her as it echoed and reverberated inside her. His face held a similar expression of shock. She felt her knees buckle as the ground dropped from under her and she crashed to the ground. She suddenly felt as if she had been running a marathon. Her eyes rolled up into her head as she began to shiver uncontrollably, then the pain started.
Her internal organs were being twisted from the inside by an invisible force, individually. What wasn't friezing cold was in excruciating pain. She cried out and felt herself being to tremble under the sensations that wracked her body. In her twitching her hand brushed across something...
Contact! What ever it was, it had calmed the tremors. She reached out for it again and clasped it. She found it was a hand! She held on greedy. Warmth and comfort spread through her from that one point of contact. She opened her eyes and saw that the Jedi padawan she saw earlier was also on the ground, sprawled like her as if having collapsed. From the expression on his face, he didn't looked to be in too good condition either.
She saw his boyish face manage a tremulous smile at her, braid hanging haphazardly over his nose. She managed one back. Suddenly she heard the headmaster of the school come over and started making apologies to the Jedi, saying they had no idea their student was sick and apologized for her infecting one of their own. She felt her self lifted away and the contact was broken.
Zanta sobbed as the tremors started again, worse than before. No! No! She wanted to go back. She wanted that hand! She felt herself carried on a stretcher as the ice and pain enclosed her once again. As she was pulled away from the room the pain merely increased exponentially until she was senseless to anything but the sounds of her own screams and moans. Finally a hypo touched her arm and darkness gave her some reprieve.
***
Zanta woke up groaning as the pain came rushing back as the drugs wore off. She didn't know what was going on or why. She just knew she needed to touch that Padawan again, and then everything would be all right.
She managed to force her awareness to hear the conversation of the room around her. "Masters! Has she been playing with the disease wards or genetic labs?"
"No Headmaster Grenkin, she's been no where for the past three weeks. I don't see how she could have infected that Jedi boy!"
"Then he infected her. Damn, she was going to be one of our brightest pupils in an age. I hope what ever this is won't kill her."
She tried to muster the ability to speak and say she wanted to see that Jedi boy, who ever he was.
"Are they keeping that Apprentice in containment?"
"Windu assures me they are, they even offered to take her off our hands. Since having the same disease in the same area would reduce the risk of infection for the general populace."
*snort* "No way are we letting her out of our labs. I don't care how much the force is with them. Science will cure her."
No it won't... that padawan will.
She whimpered and desperately tried to muster the strength to talk. All that happened was an ice-cold hand landed on her arm, "Nurse."
"I don't understand it. We gave her enough drugs to knock out a Hutt."
As darkness swept over her again she sobbed softly. The ice and pain was only getting worse with each passing minute. That apprentice could cure her... and she didn't even know his name.
***
When she next woke up she felt a hand cover her mouth.
"Zanta, child," came a soft baritone voice, "We want to move you. Can you be quiet?"
She would stay so silent outer space would seem noisy, if they would only find a way to make the pain and cold stop.
"We have come to do just that child," came a second voice. "If you would allow us. Do you need drugs?"
She shook her head. Too many more drugs and she was afraid that the medical team might take the policy that she wasn’t going to survive. Might as well get her hooked on painkillers. If she gets cured, dry her out later.
"Alright," came the first baritone, "Hang on."
She felt herself scooped up and she wrapped her arms weakly around the man's neck. She buried her face into him, trying to find some warmth and leach it off his body. It was no use, the icy core in her centre remained.
She bit her lip as she felt each of his jarring steps and the movement through the air. Her skin was so sensitised she could swear she felt each molecule of air as it passed over her.
And it hurt as it collided as well.
After what seemed like an eternity she dimly heard what seemed to be a hangar door open to a shuttle. She suddenly felt a small reprieve in the ice and pain that encased her soul. She gave a small whimper, and heard an answering one... PADAWAN!
"That's right. He's here. Hang on." came the voice as it rumbled through his chest.
She felt the soul pain lessen with each step making the tremors fade as well. She felt herself gently lowered onto a mattress. Instinct she didn't understand made her reach out a hand.
Only to find it met by one reaching for her.
Fingers clasped, as soon as contact was made, the tremors faded slowly as the pain started to die down... but the ice didn't melt.
Again, instinct overrode reason and she pulled her arm to roll into the complete strangers waiting ones. Normally she would be checking herself into the mental healers at this point. Lie in bed with an utter stranger? She didn't even know his name.
"Obi-Wan, Obi-Wan Kenobi." came a soft musical tenor above her head. She buried her face into his shoulder as he buried his nose into her hair.
The shivers from the cold stopped and she finally began to feel as if her body was starting to warm up from the inside out. What was frozen inside her was beginning to thaw at last.
"Zanta Padakan." She sighed into his shoulder and attempted to bury herself just a little deeper. Their legs twinned around each other like climbing vines as their arms locked around each other's bodies.
"Pleased to meet you Zanta." he replied as they clung to each other as if their lives depended on it.
"Yeah, we had one hell of an introduction." She propped her head up to get a good look at this complete unknown... Blessed Tirana, he was handsome. Boyishly handsome face, quick mouth that had a few smile lines around it and a quirk in it that just spelled 'smart ass.' His eyes changed and swirled with a mixture of emotions she couldn't identify.
Since their instinct told them they weren't in imminent danger of being separated again their grips relaxed enough for him to trace idle patterns on her back with one hand while he brushed some of her blonde hair out of her face.
Logic began to reassert it's self. She turned bright pink and stammered "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me, I.."
He shushed her gently with a slight bit of sadness in his eyes. "It's alright, this is not unknown."
She pulled back a little to look at him squarely, "You normally get girls to collapse on the floor in pain then feel their only cure is to assume this position with you?"
His face lightened up with mirth as his lips curved up into a smile and his eyes grew warm with humour. "Not usually no. I have to admit this is a first for me as well."
She sighed in frustration, "I really DON'T understand what is happening to me."
He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead, "Things will explain themselves in the morning. Right now, I think we both need sleep. We have had an agonizing few weeks."
WEEKS! Time must certainly fly when you're strapped to a bed and being pumped full of drugs.
But her sharp jolt of fear was derailed by a gentle kiss to her cheek then lips. "Sleep now. This can wait until we wake up."
He yawned and suddenly she felt very sleepy as well. Now that the pain was gone she felt she could truly rest instead of being knocked out. There was a big difference between unconsciousness and sleep. With that she snuggled into him as he pulled her close and felt herself drift off, doing what she normally would never do and letting the future take care of it’s self.When Zanta woke up she found that she had changed position. Instead of being curled into his chest she was now spooned up against him. She felt warm, relaxed and utterly content. She smiled at the strong arm belted gently around her waist as the portable space heater behind her warmed her back and breathed into her neck causing the hairs there to flutter.
She cuddled closer simply revelling in the feel of a rare treat for her. Human contact. She sighed inwardly. She almost never got this. No one gets fifteen patents, a doctorate at twenty with a second on the way without giving something up. She gave up a social life to hone her true power, her mind.
Oh she TRIED one, but after one fumbling attempt in the dark where he was asleep before she knew they even started she decided that it wasn’t that big of a sacrifice. She groaned at herself. She was insane. She had become instantly attached and touchy feely with a man she didn’t even know. She SHOULDN’T want to be here, enjoying this as much as she was, craving it as deeply as she did. She was above her baser instincts damn it. The fact the man behind her was obviously having a normal morning male reaction didn’t help anything.
She felt a soft kiss pressed to the back of her neck. "Good morning." came the melodic tenor.
"Morning." She replied and twisted around to face him. While their upper halves may be separated as they propped themselves up on one elbow, their lower bodies stayed nice and cosy, legs twined and lightly rubbing, completely unconscious movement. "This is new."
"So it is." He replied with typical Jedi mystique. Frankly she had a theory that Jedi mystique and wisdom was merely repeating what the speaker said and saying things in contrast, (I.e., Rule your anger, don’t let it rule you)
She frowned; subtle did not work with Jedi. They had a degree in that. Direct may work. "I have no idea what just happened. Do you?" she asked point blank. It was very hard to concentrate with his free hand idly tracing arm.
"Yes." He didn’t look at her, he was watching the finger that he was using to now lightly trace her facial features, starting with her ear. The warm digit made a path along the outside of the shell down her chin.
She waited. His mouth stayed shut, finger kept moving. "Aren’t you going to tell me? I am mystified here and more than a little frightened."
"No." he continued to lightly trace the line of her nose, shape of her brow and the curve of her lips.
She pursed her lips in annoyance. Damn Jedi. "WHY aren’t you going to tell me?"
Finally his hand stopped moving and his eyes flicked up to meet hers. They were now a bright and bonnie blue. "We must wait for Master Windu to come and explain. This is a rather delicate situation and the answers to your questions are rather complex."
"And when will he be here?" she asked
He had resumed his inspection of her face by cupping her chin and rubbing his thumb lightly on her cheek. Normally, in a situation like this she would be attempting to break a few bones. She SHOULD be breaking bones in his body. It wasn’t the fact he was touching with the casualness of a long time lover that bothered her. It was the fact that it didn’t bother her a bit that frightened her. People just don’t have love at first sight!
"About two hours." He finally told her. "We should start getting ready."
She looked around her and realized this looked like a bedroom, and not one on a transport. "Obi-Wan, where are we?"
"So many questions. They will be answered in two hours. For now, let us get dressed and eat. That is all they really expect out of us today." He said softly.
She sighed, maybe she really did have some weird disease and they were just two parts of a virus that needed to kill each other off. It would explain why she was so tired, despite the fact she slept well for an unknown number of hours. It would also explain why she was clinging to the Jedi like a barnacle.
Disentangling their legs they held hands as they scooted to the end of the bed and stood up as one. Thank god this sign of Gratuitous Cuteness slipped past her internal sensor, or else she would be blushing bright pink. She cast about for something for her to wear and saw the clothes she wore when she fell ill sitting on a chair by a desk. She went to reach for the clothes when she was stopped by a firm grip on one of her hands.
She turned to see Obi-Wan clinging to her with a panicky expression on his face. She blinked, panicky? How did she come to read his expressions through that Jedi Sabbac face? She then passed it off as the fact she was always a fast learner. Besides, his grip was certainly telling. He didn’t want to be out of contact with her any more than she did.
She nodded, Going to the bathroom was going to present problems. "Right. This is going to be interesting…"
***
She sat at breakfast one leg on her stool, the other wrapped around Obi-Wan’s as they sat shoulder-to-shoulder eating breakfast. She began to thank god for her preternaturally good balance. They had gotten dressed by standing back to back while they stripped and dressed, one foot hooked around each other’s.
OK, so, she peeked. She would challenge any girl not to. The man was wonderful to look at and the last time she was this close to a handsome man was never.
She began to notice odd things. They would either have things timed extremely well or remarkably badly. They were sitting and eating in unison, spoons lifting and descending at the exact same time. Oh, when she thought about it, she could do it randomly, but let her mind wander a bit and she would fall in synch. Getting dressed they seemed to know exactly when the other was going to let go of a touch point, or when they would need both of their hands, the other would provide the necessary contact. Other times they would reach for the same piece of bread at the same time. It was cute, strange and all together making her extremely uneasy. She began to pick nervously at her food. He touched to her wrist catching her attention and she looked into his eyes. He smiled encouragingly and kissed her forehead as he stroked her back, "Everything will be alright." She looked up to see the door open with Qui-Gon Jinn striding in a half step behind Mace Windu. When she chose she had the mentality of a Rancor with a soup bone when on a problem. Right now, Mace Windu had some explaining to do…
***
Zanta stared blankly at Mace Windu as he spoke, "… to sum up, your force presences were once a single spirit, however, they got separated somehow and is now occupying two bodies. When you met, your souls recognised each other and connection was re-established. In a sense you are now a single soul, two bodied, two-personality entity. Kenobi-Padakan if you will."
She turned her glassy eyed stare onto Qui-Gon as he continued where Mace Windu left off, "So now, your souls are in the process of establishing the connection they need. You will be very closely bonded, you will be able to feel each other’s emotions, sense each other’s thoughts."
"Any questions?" Mace Windu asked.
She blinked several times and repeated what she had been saying for the past three hours. "I don’t get it."
"Where did we lose you this time?" Mace Windu asked
She looked at him squarely, "Right about when you opened your mouth." She heard Obi-Wan snicker softly at her shoulder. It didn’t help her concentration or her ability to assimilate abstract subjects with an adamant padawan trying to stick his hands under her shirt and pull her into his lap.
She was having none of it. Now that she was awake with her faculties at full throttle she wasn’t going to neck with a man she’s exchanged barely fifty words with…despite the fact her body was screaming for her to. She was above her instincts, damn it!
She removed his hands from her waist for the umpteenth time and tried to sit with their sides touching. Somehow he always managed to get behind her again, start nibbling her neck while a pair of wickedly inventive and agile hands tried to get into places they had no right going at their stage of acquaintance and certainly not in public.
This time, Obi-Wan seemed to get a clue and they struck an unconscious compromise. He stilled his hands on her clothed waist while he sat behind her.
She sighed as he decided this wasn't enough and started to nibble the back of her neck again. She rolled her eyes and looked at the two masters, "Will you two just answer my questions in words that consist of less than three syllables and sentences of words less than ten."
The Masters looked at each other, shrugged in unison and turned to her, "What do you wish to know?" Qui-Gon asked
"Explain to me what's up with that?" she said acerbically while pointing to the Horn ball that was also Qui-Gon’s padawan… supposedly. Horny boy ignored her question, and everyone else for that matter, as he nuzzled her shoulder.
Mace Windu snickered a bit and smiled, "I think I had best field this one."
"You certainly should." Qui-Gon replied, "Your mating cycle is legendary. You started your relations right in the middle of the Temple Foyer."
"Mating cycle?" she asked of Mace Windu blandly.
"Yes, there are several stages you shall pass through as the bond is set. The first is re-establishment. That is your souls needing to re-connect which involves a painful need to be in constant contact."
She nodded, this was beginning to make a little sense... sort of. IF she suspended her disbelief to the breaking point. At least it was some explanation for why she was plumb terrified to get out of Obi-Wan’s grasp.. even if it was annoying.
Mace Windu sat back, "Next comes the six months where the bond needs to set fully. The first few months are crucial to a solid bond. The need to be in constant contact fades, but you still need to be close. The distance away from each other that you can stand will expand with time. At the end of Six months the bond is completely set and from that point on it will merely deepen with time. You will be able to sense each other's thoughts and emotions. You will also be able to feel each other's physical sensations. Pain can be a shared burden, a distinct advantage in battle."
"It also sucks for the person not IN battle. Now that you explained the process, that makes me feel better... I think... but you didn't answer my question." she replied testily.
Mace Windu, seemed to be embarrassed.
Qui-Gon simply laughed, "Mace, go on. I saw you at your meeting. You turned white.. and for you that is saying quite a bit."
Mace Windu shot him a look that promised death. "Yes, the Mating cycle. It starts sometime in the second or third week. Usually after the initial shock of bonding has passed comes an irrepressible urge to mate."
She arched an eyebrow as she nudged Obi-Wan to remove his hands from their place of creeping to her bra. "And this is useful how?"
"Sex is a powerful bonding force. Surely you noticed this. It connects the body and psyche. It's only natural that if two souls wish to get in touch, they manifest it in this." Qui-Gon commented calmly
She blinked, "What if this happens between two children, or between a child and an adult?"
"Then they wait until ready. The urge does not appear unless both are emotionally and physically mature enough to handle it." Mace Windu replied She shook her head and shifted Obi-Wan's wandering hands again and tilted her head at him, "That still doesn't explain..."
Mace Windu chuckled, "You are not yet over your shock, and he is. But you are both emotionally and physically ready. When the shock wears off you will see."
She blinked, "Now what is this about the Foyer?"
Qui-Gon laughed, "He is bonded as well, only to another Jedi. They both got over the shock of it at the same time, returning from a walk in the gardens. They were stripping on their way to the nearest closet."
"Does this happen often?" she asked
Qui-Gon sighed, "Between Jedi, it is uncommon but not exceptionally rare. Out of ten thousand Jedi there are approximately one hundred couples. You two however are rarer. A Jedi and a Civilian."
She looked at him levelly, "I take it this is not exactly a good thing."
Mace Windu looked her directly in the eyes and she braced herself. Obi-Wan got a real clue and simply held her close. "Because of how deep this bond runs you are both a blessing and a curse to Obi-Wan. You can share his pain; you can aid him in an infinite number of ways. But you are also a liability. You are not a Jedi, which means..."
"Hostage bait." she finished for him, her rapid-fire mind leaping nimbly to all the conclusions with the agility of a trained acrobat.
Mace Windu blinked in surprise at the fact she saw the problem so fast. He nodded, "You see and realize. Also there is another effect. If one of you dies, the other one is driven mad at the emptiness until they follow."
The implications of this clicked through her mind until she came to the one conclusion that was possible. "To keep us both safe from outside danger and free from temptation to ourselves and others my life is now essentially over."
Mace Windu nodded, "I am sorry. There is no way to reverse the bond. You have been pronounced dead of a mysterious plague to your friends and family and must remain within temple grounds or with Obi-Wan at all times."
She swallowed as she took all this in. Obi-Wan had turned from Hornball to tender and was holding her close. Zanta could never see her friends or family again, ever.
It was a shock, a blow that knocked her emotional house right to the foundations. She loved her family and friends. Now she was dead to them. She felt the fat tears start to well up. She wanted to run, find freedom, ANYTHING. But Obi-Wan was there, gently turning her into his arms until she was cuddled close to him sobbing on his shoulder.
Why she found comfort there, she never knew, and would probably not know for many years. He was what STARTED all this and caused her to lose her life as she knew it. Why she clung to him as an emotional shelter she would never know. Instinctually all that she knew was she would always find comfort and strength there, whenever she needed it.
When Mace and Qui-Gon left, she didn't care. All that she was aware of was the pain in her heart and comforting words and arms of her stranger padawan.
***
Zanta sighed as she woke up after her crying fit the night before and looked up at her Lifebonded. Guh. Being lifebonded was really going to suck the galactic muffin. What if they couldn’t stand each other? How were they going to survive? His eyes popped open and he groaned, "I wish you wouldn’t do that."
She wrinkled her brow, "Do what?"
He sighed, "Think so hard. You are giving the both of us a headache."
She shook her head, "Look, I don’t know a thing about you and I am supposed to spend the rest of my life with you. Not just physically here, but in my head as well? THIS" she emphasized the point by tapping her skull, "Used to me my one private kingdom. NO one could enter. Now you are constantly going to be there? It’s like a stranger is asking me to trust them with a knife at my throat."
He cocked his head and she could almost hear the gears of his mind whirl. "You aren’t used to taking things on faith are you? You still don’t believe this is real."
She nodded, "I don’t get this force thing. To me, it’s as indeterminate as proving the existence of god."
He sighed. "I suppose I will have to convince you then, in a way that can’t be mistaken. I will get up and walk out the door as far as I can. The results of which will prove to you the reality of this situation."
She agreed and he stood up. The second contact was gone she felt unbearably cold. She softly shuddered but firmly stood her ground. Just loss of body heat that was all! He walked out the door, as soon as he was out of sight she felt the ache in her body begin. Damn, what was wrong with her? Her entire body hurt! Every cell screamed out for him, and the cries only got louder as time passed.
Before she knew what was going on she found herself on her feet and running towards him. She was out of the rooms and out of the door to the hall in an eye blink. He had stopped a meter out of the door and had turned to catch her in his arms. They clung to each other like drug addicts would their one solace.
"Now, do you understand?" he murmured into her hair as they waited for the trembling to stop.
She nodded into his shoulder and stayed put. Beyond all reason and logic, she needed him like she needed food and air. It both disturbed her and comforted her that he needed her just as badly.
"Don’t worry, we can make it work. We have to." He whispered fiercely.
***
Two weeks into the deal she had given up any sense of privacy with him. She considered herself highly adaptable so she just got on with it. Granted it still stung that she couldn’t see her family or friends again, but she didn’t exactly have much choice in the matter. They would shower and change together. Granted a deep little part of her was getting a bit of vicarious entertainment when she stripped and dressed him as well as showered with him, but mostly it was clinical cold blooded need. She sighed as she stared into her datapad. They had gotten it so they could go to the refesher on their own, but upon coming back they had to hug very closely for a few minutes.
She looked at Obi-Wan, who sat on the floor with his head resting on her thigh while she lay on the couch. Every once in a while she would idly toy with his hair. They were both making the best of it. To keep in shape they would help each other work out. She would go with him to his classes and sit next to him with their legs touching under the desks.
She was bored in his classes. She had already been to them so she asked the Jedi teaching them if she could do something to keep herself entertained.. like grade the papers. By sheer default she was either his Lab partner or tutor. Zanta found it rather annoying that everyone would look at the both of them and smile to themselves. She had to admit; if she saw two people that were forcibly constantly joined at the hip she would be laughing as well.
He finished off typing into his data pad and tossed it aside in disgust. "Done for the day?" she asked
"Yes."
She lay back, "Talk to me Obi-Wan."
He looked at her with his head propped on her thigh. "I don’t know what I should say to you."
She shrugged, "And I have no idea what to say to you, that doesn’t mean we can’t talk… my married friends have proved that one conclusively."
He smiled and cocked his head, "What I find rather strange is the fact that you are handling this rather well."
She arched an eyebrow, "I am taking this WELL? You call this well?"
He nodded, "Relative to other civilians yes. Most of the time the civilian harbours resentment towards the Jedi for essentially taking their life away. I don’t sense that at all from you."
She shrugged, "I didn’t and still don’t have much choice in the matter. No point in getting upset. Besides I am not alone in this. This sucks just as much for you as it does for me. Best to deal with it and get a move on in life. It’s this reason why I have been called too logical for my own good. I talk myself out of being mad at anything."
He smiled, "Then I am extremely fortunate, indeed." There was real affection in his eyes and she felt a real wave back. They were getting to learn each other very quickly. One does not live in another persons back pocket for weeks without learning a thing or three. She had to admit, she liked his sense of humour and a lot of his quirks. He was clean, polite, gentle, kind, wise, thoughtful and all together an exemplary gentleman. She found herself coming to like him. "Do you wish to learn more about what is happening between us?"
She looked at him and blinked, "I can find out?"
He nodded, "Yes, there is research on lifebonds. We can go to the temple library if you wish."
She smiled, "Obi-Wan, I love you and I want to have your baby."
He chuckled as he stood up, took her hand and pulled her off the couch, "I will take that as a yes."
On the way over there they held hands and chatted. She found out about his training and early life. He learned about her friends and family. What was remarkable for both of them was they quickly discovered that in the little things such as likes and dislikes they were complete opposites. He was outgoing, well for a jedi. She was fairly quiet. But in the important things, they were a lot alike. It wasn’t anything they could describe or even put a finger on. But deep down, they were very similar.
When they arrived, Zanta felt as if she were in heaven. BOOKS! Actual books with paper and that musty smell she loved so well. Rows and tombs of them. She was in heaven. She saw Obi-Wan smile in amusement at the joy in her face. She grabbed his hand and immediately assimilated herself to the layout and found what she was looking for in ten minutes flat.
"Wow." He said softly while he held a hand to the back of her neck, gently stroking her there with his thumb. "I have never seen anyone acclimate themselves that quickly."
She grinned at him before placing her data pad into the slot to download some interesting articles that had come up on the search as she bent her head to the tome before her entitled, "Soulbonds."
***
Two weeks later they had managed to be able to stay with their hands off each other but they had to stay within the same room and within eyesight. She felt cold when they weren’t touching but from what she was reading, that was not going to go away. She simply sighed and started to stock up on sweaters, frowning as she realized everything that she was buying now was beige. Probably one of those ‘other side effects’ mentioned vaguely. Better look it up.
Qui-Gon had been kind enough to teach her how to shield so she now had her thoughts to herself again. She was beginning to get worried about that when Obi-Wan would respond before she even finished thinking about it.
There was one terribly embarrassing incident where she was admiring how fabulous he looked in his uniform, especially with those boots on. He simply turned to her, smiled and said "Actually I find that I look like a loaf of bread in my robes, but if you think so far be it from me to argue. But I am glad you like the boots." She didn’t stop blushing for damn near an hour after that. Obi-Wan, damn him, enjoyed twitting her over it occastionally. The man had a strong sadistic streak in him.
She looked up as Obi-Wan tossed a data pad onto the table in disgust and said, "I can’t stand it any more. I feel positively cooped up. I am getting Cabin fever."
"Tell me about it." She muttered.
He stood up, "That is it, put on your boots, we are going out."
She eyed him suspiciously, "Am I allowed to?"
He shrugged, "As long as you stay close to me, the council cannot take us to task. Come on, we are going to The Fireside."
She stopped, "The Fireside… isn’t that a bar?"
He looked at her mildly, "Yes, we are going to a bar."
"No we aren’t"
"What do you mean we are not." He asked astonished "I used small words. What don't you understand?"
"I said I don't want to go out." She replied "I am not going to a place where the main activity is to consume of poisonous liquid and watch the effects of it on those around me."
"Did I SAY we're going to get drunk? I just want to go OUT. Anywhere but here. I have no intention of becoming a cave-dweller." He said exasperated
"I agree with the going out bit. But WHY a bar?"
"Why NOT a bar? Food, drink, dancing, people...what's not to like?"
"Crowds, smoke, noise, grease..."
"For the love of....Zanta, if I have to stay in another night, I'm going to the dark side..."
"The physics group is going to the park to watch the Meteor shower in the observatory..." she offered
"Oh, joy. Be still my beating heart." He snorted derisively
"Don't knock it until you have tried it buster." She defended
"Zan, I've seen meteor showers from the inside. That did me for the rest of my life." He condescended
"Well I have seen the inside of a bar..." she retorted "that did ME for the rest of MY life."
"Look! I said we're going out. You don't have a choice. You HAVE to come with me, remember?" he looked at her archly
"Um... I am staying here.." She said pointing to the floor "You can try and leave if you want to, but I am staying put unless we can come up with some place to go that won't squick me out or bore you."
"Zan, the only place that doesn't squick you is the physics lab or the living room. Neither of those is conducive to anything resembling a good time."
"Those aren't the ONLY places." Zanta replied defensively "The Concert hall and symphony orchestra are good. Aldreraan had very good lunch time concerts."
"Oh, gods," he cried in mock exaggeration "I may die of boredom just talking about it. Snooze music."
Zanta rolled her eyes "You obviously haven't heard the College Symphony play with the Modern Music Department. Ever hear the S&M holo?"
He waved her off. "I'm done talking about this. Get up, get your boots, and let's go."
"Nope, nuh uh. Not going to a bar. Sorry."
"GET UP!" Zanta didn’t move. "NOW!"
Zanta planted her hands on her hips and stared him down. "Read my lips... LIKE HELL"
At that point they turned at Qui-Gon’s cough. "Children....we need to talk about this, I can hear you all the way at the other end of the apartment..."
"What?" They said simultaneously
"There's something you need to understand about the bond..."
"And that would be?" Obi- wan asked while Zan cocked an eyebrow
"you see, when strong emotions are at play, like anger, or lust, they tend to overwhelm the shielding each partner erects...thus..."Qui-Gon started
"Oh for the love of the Force....SHUT UP!!" They said as one. Qui-Gon seeing that this was not the time to offer sage advice, wisely did a strategic retreat.
"Who asked him?" Zan asked astonished
"Hell if I know." Obi-Wan snorted
"Did you call him over your training bond?" she asked curiously
"No." he replied sounding ticked at his master and not at her
Zan thought fast and hit upon a compromise to her thinking. "So what about a Pub? I like the music there and it's laid back enough for me. There is food, dancing and what not for you."
"I can deal with that" he agreed
"Good, I will grab my Violin." She said quickly
He looked at her curious and pleased, "I didn’t know you played."
"Obi-Wan, I may be an academic, but I am not a complete recluse." She teased.
"Learn something new about each other every day." He laughed
"Indeed." With that, the fight was over, forgiven and forgotten.
***
Zantha sat slumped in her little out of the way nook in the Temple Library that was a data pad's throw from the tombs on Lifebonds. Ever the intrepid researcher, if she encounters something new, she researches it. What she found just left her rather unsure if she had the most splendid luck in the universe...
Or if her life really sucked the Galactic muffin
She didn't need to be told Obi-Wan was behind her. That bond told her by quickening her pulse and giving her a bit of a jolt of happiness. She couldn't read if he was in a good or bad mood, thanks to that shield Qui-Gon taught her to erect. Frankly, she was wondering why the Telepaths at the temple were looking at her rather bewildered. One of them even said, "I never knew you could do that with a spatula. Thanks for the tip."
She sighed as he came up behind her and started to massage her shoulders. She had to give him credit, he was as skilled in his studies as she was in hers. She looked up at him and patted his hand. While physical contact was not painfully needed, they still felt cold when they weren’t touching. So when they were in a room together, they would tend to gravitate to each other.
At least they had managed to get the distance they could stay apart enough so She could bury herself in books while he got beaten in sabre practice. "How are you feeling?" he asked softly after he touched his lips to hers.
She smiled, "Better, now that you are here." Then she flushed. Had she really just said that? Without even thinking?
He chuckled, "I feel the same." He sat down gracefully at the chair to her right, trailing his hands down her arm to capture one of her hands in his.
"Two weeks down huh." she said softly
He nodded, "Two weeks into our six months. This will probably be the only time we have this kind of time together."
She was beginning to accept she no longer had control of some of her emotions. She felt sadness at this statement and just accepted it. He traced idle patterns into her palm with his thumb. "Are you finished?"
She blinked and stared at him. Any moron could see the HUGE stack of data pads and books on the table in front of her. Of course she wasn’t.... oh.
She chuckled, "Yes. I am through surfing the crimson tide, if that is what you are asking. You will no longer have to worry about doubling over in pain with cramps." That had been rather entertaining. She had bad cramps that week and she and Obi-Wan both were lying on the ground groaning in pain at times. The females in the temple gave Zan a standing ovation in the cafeteria when she showed up for lunch.. and Obi-Wan didn’t because he felt the pain was unbearable. The ladies all felt it was poetic justice.
At which point her vision was fogged and she received some of the steamiest and downright blatantly sexual images from her link with Kenobi as he managed a small smirk. She blinked to re-enforce her shield but the images of their limbs entwined, sweat glistening off their bodies while they writhed together remained. This must be some of that powerful emotion that slips through the shields that Qui-Gon talked about.
When the barrage of images finished, complete with sound effects involving their moans, their skin slipping across each others bodies, finally faded she took a deep calming breath.
"Damn Kenobi, is sex all you think about?" she looked at him astonished. He simply looked at the floor for a moment, shifted his feet and then looked back up at her with a sheepish smile.
Damn, he's been keeping this locked up for TWO MONTHS?
"Yes I have." he said softly
She sighed softly, she really really hated to disappoint him, but frankly.."It's not that great anyway."
When he paused then lifted an eyebrow oh-so-casually she realize she REALLY needed to work on making sure her internal monologue did not carry to her out loud voice.
"Not... that... great?" he asked slowly, not moving, but she could feel him gathering himself.
She sighed tiredly, ignoring all the warning signals her intellect, instinct and bond were sending her to SHUT UP NOW. "I've tried it, it's not anything to shout about."
The second brow joined the first putting a look of mild surprise on his face, "Not much to shout about? Love, what happened? Did they all perform like ill mannered teens?"
She snorted, "He had an excuse, we were both teens."
He shook his head sadly, "No excuse. Sheer manners dictates you make sure your partner is as pleased as you are at the end, if not more so." Then he looked up again in surprise, "He...as in only one?"
She looked into his eyes; they had gone dark and intense. She had seen a look similar to this one when he was at lightsaber practice, calculating his next move, anticipating his quarry's next one. She was next to him, she shouldn't be shivering... what was happening?
"Ye... yes. Only once.. um.. sorry to disappoint you but I am afraid I don't have much experie..." he silenced her stammering with a finger to her lips while a smile curved his. She got the distinct sense he found his ability to reduce this normally verbose and eloquent woman to stammer very... intriguing.
"That matters not a Jot." he whispered softly. "I will take up your challenge."
Challenge? She didn't remember ever issuing a challenge!
The next thing she knew was he was pulling her into his lap to straddle him while he pulled her head down to his to receive his kiss.
If his touch warmed her, this threatened to burn her. His lips were hot, moist, soft, and strong as they nimbly tugged and teased her lips. She buried her hands into his hair trying to get a grip on something, anything! She wanted this heat. She craved his touch once again, just as deeply as she did in the beginning, but this was more feral, more passion based.
His tongue traced her lips as his hands found their way under her shirt. She gasped and that wonderful tongue darted into her mouth and traced the ridge on the roof of her mouth. A surprisingly sensitive and highly responsive spot. She groaned and tried to get closer to him by pressing her mouth to his and sliding her own hands into his tunic.
IT didn’t matter that she had seen everything already. It was as if someone had thrown a switch and suddenly she was seeing him fully for the first time. Zanta wanted nothing more than to feel that wonderful skin against hers. She ran her hands over the strong taut pectoral and abdominal muscles covered by ridiculously soft skin. She loved how those muscles seemed to jump and flutter under her touch as if she were electrocuting him. She bowed her back, allowing her to get better access to his mouth while having the side benefits of giving her hands more room to roam as she ground her pelvis into his.
Then she found the most delightful reaction from him. He gave a moan that vibrated his chest under her hands and the lips she was eagerly kissing. That sound bypassed her intellect and landed right in her pelvis. ::He moaned!:: She thought triumphantly :: he actually moaned, all because my hands are on him.::
Their lips came together with a near bruising force as their tongues fought for exploration rights. She had slowly been coming to accept the fact she was going to have completely irrational needs and desires. Intellectually she figured it was like a pregnant woman asking for pickles and ice cream. Right now every bit of study didn't matter a tic as she felt a single overwhelming need to strip them both down. Her skin itched to be out of its confining clothes. She had mentally figured out that in an emergency she could simply take off the belt and pull the tunics up and over his head. She'll be Damned if her hormones right now didn't constitute an emergency.
She managed to get his belt off and started to tug the tunics up over his head.
They broke the kiss and she found his hands were pulling the hem of her shirt up at the same time...
God she loved this bond!
She decided she hadn't given proper exploration to his neck yet so she latched her lips to his pulse while his hands worked at the clasp of her bra. Funny, she thought that getting rid of her clothes would cool her off, it didn't. Her skin felt as if it were burning as his agile and inventive hands roamed her stomach, breasts and back.
"Blessed Tirana!" she gasped and arched back. Apparently this is what he was hoping to happen, cause it allowed him to get the clasp of her trousers undone.
As one they came to a conclusion. Chair was nice....
Obi-Wan wrapped his arms around Zanta and she wrapped her legs around his waist. Zanta took this opportunity to wrap her arms around his neck while she nibbled and sucked on his earlobe. Obi-Wan was all business as he stood up, took the one step over to the table and swept off everything on it with one arm. He laid her back onto the table, the cold surface of the stone on her back made a delightful contrast to otherwise hot skin.
"Much better." They said as one as Zanta obliged Obi-Wan by lifting her hips allowing him to strip off her trousers and underwear. When she kicked off her shoes, she neither knew nor cared.
When she was finally naked and sprawled on the table she looked up at Obi-Wan as he paused, just watching her with a smile. She licked her lips and crooked a finger at him. His smile turned into a leer as he walked his hips between her thighs and leaned down giving her a kiss that took her breath away.
"Close your eyes." He whispered and she obliged. Her reward for following his instructions was having his mouth and hands work on concert on her body.
His hands teasingly gentle as they wandered from her shoulders to her hips along her sides then up her stomach and over her breasts. Oh she tried arching closer for more contact but he would sense when she was moving and just moved his hands with her to keep the light pressure constant.
Damn bond.
She heard him chuckle as the lips that were exploring her neck lightly danced down her sternum and under her breasts. She was no longer aware of where they were, it was just them. The entire TEMPLE could be watching them and she wouldn't have known or cared.
His hands wandered down again to her thighs and knees as his lips gave her something between a break and torture as they danced and licked her breast. She moaned again, she wanted more. She couldn't explain it other than the fact she was as addicted to him as a drug. She reached one hand up to the back of his head and grabbed his ponytail to yank his head up.
So THAT is why that was there! Handy Padawan handle.
He smiled at her as he looked into her eyes. He looked drugged, she suspected she looked the same. He understood, they had months to take it slow. Right now they needed something else.
He placed one last kiss to the outside of her breast before coming back up to claim her lips. She also felt something else rather pressing... again, she didn’t care when he lost his pants, she was just grateful he had.
She smiled into his mouth and wrapped her legs around his hips, pulling him close and arching to meet him.
"Is that a hint?" he asked against her lips.
She promptly gave a sharp nip to his lower lip. He was NOT going to tease her now. Ye gods, she felt like she was in heat. She literally felt something in his mind go snap.
He sank hilt deep inside of her with one surge forward. She couldn't help it, she gasped as muscles long unused had to stretch and relax.
She knew he knew she was all right. He simply held still for a little while, distracting each other by nibbling at each other's necks and exploring each other with hungry hands. When he began to move inside her, her head dropped back as she clung to him.
There was nothing...NOTHING that could compare to this. Gods, it was like a physical manifestation of what their minds and souls did. She knew there was no way this was going to last very long. IT just wasn't going to happen. All she could do was hang on while he all but pounded into her. Then she felt her heart quicken and a feeling as if she was outside of her own skin. Then she felt something in her own mind go snap.
Her back arched right off the table as her orgasm hit her. Every muscle in her body seized frozen while the ones in her abdomen that she didn't know she had jumped and fluttered around the man moving inside her. He too gasped and arched his own back.
She didn't know what happened, she couldn't describe it very well. The only way she could put it was that their souls catapulted out of their own bodies and truly were re-united.
When they finally collapsed she lay panting under him for some time. She knew he was not going to be comfortable in a little while, and wouldn't be able to move as well.
"Floor." they said as one. Without letting go of each other they lowered themselves to the pile of clothes on the floor. She knew she was lying on a data pad, but she couldn't bring herself to care other then idly wondering which one it was.
Oh gods, that was incredible she thought.
It certainly was came a tenor response in her mind.
She would have jumped out of her skin... if she could have mustered the energy. Right now, someone could tell her a planet had blown up and she would simply shrug and roll over.
So this is telepathy.
Yes. I am surprised we can manage this so soon.
We always were overachievers.
Yes... we certainly are he replied with a wave of affection and remembrance of what they just did.
Obi-Wan?
Yes?
Can you move?
No. Can you?
She tried and found the best she could manage was her toes... a little *No, I vote we stay here* Contentment just bathed every cell in her body. Her sense of him told her he felt exactly the same.
Good plan. With that, she felt him call his cloak to lay over the both of them.
They drifted off to sleep.
***
Qui-Gon eyed the chrono on the wall. His Padawan should have returned nearly an hour ago. With a smirk, he wondered if Obi-Wan and Zanta had pulled a Mace, and found the nearest closet. Poor Obi-Wan had been nearly climbing the walls the past couple of days. With a mental shrug, Qui-Gon poured some tea, and sat back to wait for Obi-Wan to come home. Lifebond or no, there was still training to be seen to.
The door chimed. "Come in," Qui-Gon called.
Mace Windu walked in, a grin on his face. "Qui-Gon, I don't suppose you've checked on your apprentice lately, have you?"
Qui-Gon felt a thread of panic, and reached out to Obi-Wan, sensing a peace and contentment that had been absent for quite a while. He laughed. "I see Obi-Wan and Zanta's cycles finally caught up with each other," Qui-Gon lifted the teapot. "Would you like some tea?"
"And how!" Mace said, sitting on the couch. "I think you might need something stronger."
Qui-Gon sat opposite his friend. "Oh no."
"Oh yes. And you'll never guess where," Mace produced a small flask from the sleeve of his robes.
Qui-Gon waved off the alcohol, and buried his face in his hands. "Where?" He asked in a small voice.
Mace busied himself by taking the cap off the flask.
"Mace?"
Mace grinned. "The library."
Qui-Gon snatched the flask from his friend's hand, and took a deep gulp. He returned the half-empty flask. "Well, at least all of Zanta's research was in the back... not as many people likely to see."
Mace outright laughed. "Qui-Gon, my friend, have you ever been to Tattooine during Bantha mating season?"
Qui-Gon sighed. "Well, I suppose we ought to move them to some place a bit more... private."
"What do you mean 'we?'"
"After helping your master move you and Bay-ya from the closet in the main foyer, you owe me for the rest of your life."
Mace grinned. "Hey, we were perfectly comfortable there," he protested.
"Yes, but the cleaning droids you two were keeping company with, weren't."
***
"Oof! Padawan, you need to go on a diet!"
"Okay."
"Zanta, you might want to keep your arm... oh, never mind. Here, let me wrap you in this blanket again."
"You say so, Mace."
"Now, just put her over your shoulder... right. Let me check the halls."
"Zan? Where are you?"
"Ass up over Mace's shoulder. Why's it so dark?"
"Mace and I are trying to save a little bit of face for you two."
"A little bit late for that. Fortunately, I have some pull with the council."
"You know the council gets a kick out of this."
"So why are we being bundled up like a couple sacks of potatoes?"
"Tradition."
"Shut up Qui-Gon. Bay-ya's master was a prude, and you know it."
"Either way, the halls are clear. Let's go?"
"Where are they taking us, Obi-Wan?"
"Sith if I know. Do you care?"
"Nope. You?"
"Nuh-uh."
***
Zanta woke up and looked at Obi-Wan, to see he has woken up the same time as her. She smiled and stretched. She felt absolutely wonderful.
Obi-Wan pulled her on top of him and they were hidden in a curtain of her blonde hair. Once again, it was just them. Nothing else. She smiled and kissed his lips. "So, we are to screw each other blind for four days hmm?"
He nodded, "Lines of communication have been started. We need to make sure communication is clear. After that we need regular maintenance." He gave a tiny quirky smile.
She nibbled on his lower lip. "So four days of fantastic sex followed by post coital sleeping. After that we should start settling into a regular pattern."
"um-hmm." He replied nibbling on her lip in turn.
"Well, we better get a move on. Must do our duty after all." With that she shifted to nibble his neck and chest. He sighed contentedly and toyed with her hair.
"No complaints here."
***
Obi-Wan gave a cry of disgust as he stared at his lightsaber. It wasn’t functioning properly and he had no idea why. Zanta had been watching this from the door rather amused. He whirled and looked at her. What are you looking at?
She chuckled, They were under orders from the council to use only telepathy for the next week, to practice. The council was undertaking their training their bond. She found she rather liked Telepathy. While one could speak with inflection, telepathy allowed you to actually share how you felt. If he had spoken those words, it could be interpreted he was mad at her. She knew he wasn’t. He was mainly frustrated with himself.
You! What’s the problem? Maybe I can help? I do hold several degrees in this stuff. She walked over to him and peered at the light saber. Normally non-jedi weren’t allowed to know how it was constructed. Normally non-Jedi weren’t allowed to go any of the places she went in the temple. But as a lifebond, they considered her Obi-Wan’s other half.
He sighed. Sure, come and see what you can do with this sith piece of equipment.
She gave it a quick glance, grabbed a tool and a wire from the pile in the work shop, added the wire, tweeked a few other things and shut the case. She pressed the button and the Blade appeared, humming an even tone.
Obi-Wan blinked. Wow. I…
She chuckled. I told you, I was good.
He simply nodded. Care to continue your work? I am sure your mechanical abilities would be considered extremely useful.
She looked at him. Like what?
He shrugged. The same things you did on Alderaan. Teach and invent. Granted we cannot give you a PHD, but I am sure we…
He didn’t get a chance to continue. Her lips were latched onto his and doing their level best to distract his thoughts. Oh Love, you can’t know how much I appreciate that! I have been worrying I won’t be useful. That is all I want to be… useful. I don’t give a damn about the letters attached to my name! I just kept getting them because it was the only way they would let me stay and play in the labs!
Obi-Wan smiled into the kiss and returned it. He could feel her happiness reverberating down their soul bond. It was a heady drink, sweet and intoxicating, one that he loved getting from her. With a quick flick of the force he shut the door to the small workshop and locked it. Then turned his complete attention to maintaining communications with his lifebond.
***
Zanta sighed as she rubbed her temples. She really hated it when she and Obi-Wan fought. Not only did she feel pain herself, but she felt all his anger and pain at the fight. "Alright, let’s step back a bit. WHY can’t I go."
He glared at her, "It’s against the rules."
"Like you always follow the council’s dictates." She sighed, "Blessed Tirana it’s just around the corner from the temple and you are here. I can give a mental shout should anything weird happen. Hell, you would know before I even cried out. The area around the temple is the safest place in the galaxy."
"But it’s not within the grounds. You must stay on the grounds." He replied.
She groaned, "Well, why can’t I find someone else to go with me? Like Bant or something. I am sure she wouldn’t mind visiting a music museum."
He sighed, "Why are you being obstinate about this?"
She looked at him, "Obi-Wan I love you dearly and enjoy being around you but I need space to myself!"
"We are lifebonded, there is no such thing anymore." He glowered
She frowned, "But this is your world, not mine. I still feel like an intruder in your world. Obi-Wan I feel all adrift. Like what I am doing is not of any use, just something to make me FEEL useful."
He took her hand in both of his and massaged it, "Love, you are useful here. You have already re-designed the lightsaber making it more stable and power efficient. And we do need someone to teach physics, mathematics and mechanics, someone who actually enjoys the subjects. Master Wendle never did like it. He much prefers his philosophy."
She sighed, "I know, I know. I just can’t help but still feel like a stranger here. Like I am just being tolerated because I am bonded to you."
He smiled and traced her face, "That will fade with time, love. That is all that we need now, time. Time to make this world your own on your own terms."
She nodded and kissed his lips, content to take his word for now. With that she turned back to the Datapad in front of the both of them which was the explanation for Obi-Wan’s irritability, "Alright Love, speaking of mathematics, this theorum is hard, but if you learn how it was developed it should fall into place for you…"
***
Qui-Gon stared at Obi-Wan with his Lifebond as both heads bent over a problem together. Now that Zanta was here he had wondered why he didn’t see that Obi-Wan would bond before. His padawan was much calmer now. He was less edgy and less likely to be angry or fly off the handle. There was a peace in the young man’s eyes and soul that was as deep rooted as his restlessness was.
Zanta also had changed for the better. He had talked to her teachers and found about her while she was in the hospital. She was a brilliant scientist and kindhearted, but she was given to depression and often locked herself away in the labs for days barely speaking to anyone. She had very few friends, preferring her books to be her companions. Her energy had improved and she was certainly more willing to socialize.
Both of them were affecting each other and for the better. Obi-Wan pushed her to be more out-going; she taught him the pains taking patience of a born researcher. They were both given to laughing and smiling more with each passing day. Oh they fought, and when they did jedi for fifty feet nearby went running for cover. But usually within minutes they would pull back, gather, and work it out. Any anger at each other usually was flashfire and over before they even realized they were angry.
To her supreme credit, she understood Qui-Gon’s bond with his padawan and didn’t interfere or make things difficult. In point of fact she was unflaggingly devoted to keeping Obi-Wan on track with his studies. Pure Academics was something Obi-Wan had trouble with, but she helped him through with the skill of a born teacher. Though Qui-Gon doubted she would… reward any other student for a job well done quite like she did Obi-Wan.
It was true. The Jedi got a kick out of bonded pairs. The sense of unity that emanated from them was both calming and thrilling to be near. They were so wrapped in each other Qui-Gon was certain that neither of them notice how Jedi seemed to choose sitting places within their general area. It was the epitome of seeing how a whole can be more than the sum of it’s parts. Watching a pair bond discovering that unity unconsciously is a rare treat. As usual, the force had made a good match, but Qui-Gon sensed this would be far better than most.
He was teaching her how to have faith and act on instinct. She was teaching him how to think and not rush in headlong. It was a good bond. Qui-Gon allowed himself a smile. He found Zan a rather charming young lady and was certain he would come to see her as a daughter in time. Their chats had proven both Master and Civilian enjoyed philosophical debates and she was not afraid to ask his opinion on how to deal with one of Obi-Wan’s moods.
Qui-Gon bit his cheek to prevent an amused grin from breaking out on his face as he saw Obi-Wan’s hand reach for Zanta’s under the table and they twined fingers. He was certain neither of them would appreciate being thought of as cute. However the entire temple found that their attachment to each other was unremittingly adorable.
Qui-Gon went back to his reading enjoying the warm glow of a bonded pair nearby. It was like sitting near a cheerful, warm, crackling fire on the force. It was a good bond, they would go far together, and of this he was certain.
***
Zanta stood at the transport bay trying desperately not to cry. Six months...they had been PROMISED Six months. But they were sending him away after only five. Their bond was deemed set enough for Obi-Wan to leave on a mission with his master.
She was not going to cry, she was going to make his leaving as easy for him as possible. He had a job to do. Even though they were lifebonded, he still belonged to the Temple and not her. She watched as Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon talked for a bit, then Qui-Gon walked onto the transport and Obi-Wan stood there for a little while. Then he walked to Zanta. She bit her lip, what in hell was she supposed to say?
Love, talk to me. You have blocked me out and I really want to know.
She swallowed, "You are leaving early." Gods, he was really rubbing off on her. She was stating the obvious. But it carried the inflection of everything she felt. He nodded and continued to gaze into her eyes. She knew the bond was there, distance was not going to make her breakdown in pain but it wouldn't prevent her from feeling as if she were walking around naked on Hoth while he was away.
She did the one thing she knew how and simply wrapped her arms around him and clung to him. He could be leaving and it was even odds he wasn't coming back.
"Damn, and I was just getting to know you." she choked out through tears. "I was just falling in love with you."
He held her so hard she couldn't breathe. If he cracked her ribs she would endure it just to be close to him for a few seconds longer. I know, I love you too.
"You could be going away to your death."
"Do you regret this?" he asked. She knew he was referring to the bond.
She shook her head. "No, not a single moment."
He pulled back and sighed as he brushed a strand of hair out of her face. "What is it like? Seeing the future as nothing but a dark road?"
She blinked. Huh?
"What is it like, never knowing what is in store? As a Jedi I have a fair knowledge of the near future and a general sense of what is to come in the long run. I can't imagine facing the future totally blind. How do you do it?"
He was staring at her with absolute wonder in his eyes. He kissed her lips softly and whispered against them, "Where do you find the courage?"
With that he kissed her hand and walked into the transport. As the transport left she realized with those words he had erased her grief and pain, he had given her hope. Those words had revealed to her he understood her fear, admired her for her ability to face it, and knew that she could. He understood her emotions while watching him leave were only her cathartic purging, much like his own dissipation of his emotions to the force.
Funny, sometimes she felt as if he was completely naive of the world and she was teaching him. But times like this made her feel as if she had bonded to an infinitely wise sage, someone she wanted to sit at the feet of and learn for the rest of her life. Maybe that is what made their bond work so well, the fact they were so different they loved to constantly learn.
She walked back into the temple and shivered as she prepared to teach her first class. The Jedi Council, bless them, had given her a teaching rotation that left her booked completely from morning until night with work for the next few days.
Six months. In six months her life had changed radically.
Hell, in six nanoseconds it had, by becoming irrevocably bonded to a Jedi.
She thought as she watched the ten-year-old children file in. Maybe what happened to her wasn't so much different than what happened to most people. After all, people date, sleep with and marry those they THINK they are in love with. Then as life progresses they find out who their beloved really is. If both are willing and ready, the learning could be what makes the love all the sweeter.
Was that so different than what happened to her?
She just had the added bonus of a soul bond to help her know what he felt and thought. A small smile touched her lips as she felt Obi-Wan touch her mind, making sure she knew he was all right as much to reassure himself she was going to be. She wordlessly showed him her conclusions. She felt a wave of love, pride and affection so great it warmed her soul, even the places that were frozen because of his distance.
No, he may be across the galaxy, but he was never more than a thought away.
The End.
