Archive: M/A, any others please ask
Category: AU, POV, Vignette, h/c
Pairing: Q/O
Rating: PG-13? (implied violence)
Summary: Qui-Gon's thoughts as he is reunited with his Padawan,
returning home after a mission gone bad.
Notes: This little piece was inspired by this pic:
http://www.ews-temple.com/sunlife02.jpg
Please visit the top page too:
http://www.ews-temple.com/
All we can do is wait.
It will be a long journey, the journey back to our home, the only
home Obi-Wan has ever known. It will take days to return to
Coruscant. But even that will not be enough time to wipe away the
events of the past few days; even that will not be enough to
erase the memories, all the pain and suffering, and the agonizing
loneliness and feelings of hopelessness that my Padawan has
known.
They say time heals all wounds; I fear for my Padawan, for there
could not possibly be enough time in all the galaxy to heal the
wounds that he has suffered.
I look down at my Obi-Wan, lying still in my lap, a tiny smile of
contentment upon his lips. His dirty, bruised fingers wrap around
my thigh as if he is holding on for dear life, as if he is afraid
to let go. He is sleeping, finally. I am relieved, for I am
certain that this is the first time in days that he has found
rest, that he has felt safe.
A tiny crease forms on his brow, a flicker of pain, of fear. He
is dreaming again, no doubt reliving the pain and torture of the
past few days. His smile of contentment becomes a frown of anger,
of suffering. As the nightmare plays out in his mind, I feel his
fingers tighten against my leg, as if grasping some unseen
surface, fingernails digging into the cold, damp stone of a wall
as a whip stings him mercilessly.
Yes, I can see the evidence of the whip through the soft, worn
fabric of his tunic. The angry crimson marks shine through the
soft ivory material, bright red lashes that seem to mock me,
reminding me of how I was not there, how I was not able to
prevent this unspeakable act from happening.
I hear a moan escape his lips, and I see his face contort in an
expression of torment, as his mind replays the horrible events of
his time imprisoned. I run my fingers through his hair, stroking
it lovingly, and I lean down to whisper to him, to reassure him.
"Shhhh, my Obi-Wan, it is only a dream. You are safe with me
now."
I see evidence of his nightmare slip away, as his face once again
becomes smoothly serene, all lines of anger and pain slowly
leaving his beautiful features as he feels safe once again,
secure in knowing that I am here with him, that I will never
leave him again.
His smile of contentment widens, and I can hear him whisper ever
so softly, "...Master...".
The sound of my name on my Padawan's lips fills my heart with an
indescribable joy. In all the universe, there could be nothing
more beautiful than the gentle, lilting sound of my Obi-Wan's
voice.
Finally, we are reunited. Finally, we are heading home.
~ End