Obi-Wan is aging surprisingly well (obi1) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-04-04 15:44:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, atton rand, obi-wan kenobi |
The whole master thing. That reaaaally doesn’t help.
Who: Obi-Wan and Atton
What: Weapons Training
When: Over the Weekend
Where: Woods
Rating: PG; Some joking about sex and gay droids, and gay droid sex
Status: Complete
When training with lightsabers, it was best not to be out in the open -- at the gym or in one's backyard, for example -- but wide open spaces were a good thing. Obi-Wan and Meetra had long ago discovered a wooded area perfect for combat practice, where the trees provided cover without density. It was also aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Beautiful, really. It reminded Obi-Wan very much of the Room of the Thousand Fountains at the Jedi Temple. It made him almost nostalgic.
He'd brought Atton to this place today.
Atton still didn’t have a lightsaber, but he was doing well enough training with a wooden practice sword. He’d always picked up things like this fairly quickly. Maybe it was his quick pilot’s senses, maybe it was the fact that he was loads smarter than he let on, but he liked this.
Obi-Wan had brought along two of Loras’s bo staffs, which he still liked to work with from time to time. They were easier to spin than a lightsaber. Safer, too -- though he’d gotten a few bruises and bloody noses along the way. Loras had stopped holding back a long time ago.
He walked through the trees with the staffs in his hands and his lightsaber in his pocket. He was looking forward to the session ahead as much as he was dreading it. Taking on a student after Anakin was a frightening prospect, no matter how many times Obi-Wan told himself it wasn’t his fault.
Smiling, Atton shook his head. “You don’t have to be so nervous, Obi. I’m way too lazy for revenge and evil, no matter what I am in my dreams.”
Obi-Wan smirked a bit. “I see you’re getting more comfortable reading others.”
“A little, yeah. I still try not to do it to the girlfriend, though, but that’s because she’s got great aim and an even better arm. She can really whip a pillow, and they sorta hurt.” He shrugged out of his leather jacket, figuring it wouldn’t do to train in it.
“It’s not all dangerous,” Obi-Wan replied. “The skills come in handy with women, now and again.” His ears turned a little read, even though he’d kept most of what he meant to himself. He’d learned a few tricks, so to say. Ahem.
“Oh, really, Master. How?” Atton couldn’t help but grin at the other man.
The red in his ears had already spread down the back of his neck. “Not before training,” he said, clearing his throat. He tossed Atton on of the bo staffs.
Atton caught it with one hand, waiting to be told how to use it. He couldn’t help smiling a little to himself, amused by Obi’s obvious nervousness. The other man was ridiculously gentle, and Atton thought it was charming.
When Obi-Wan had first gotten the hankering for swordplay, he’d made use of a broom handle. The bo staff wasn’t much different, except that it was longer, which made it easier to switch between one-handed and two-handed stances. He began to demonstrate the different ways it could be held.
“When you swing, your entire body moves with it. None of this jab and parry fencing nonsense,” Obi-Wan said, exaggerating the stiffness in his legs. “The staff is like a lightsaber in that you should think of it as an extension of yourself.”
Atton nodded. “Like a rifle, got it.” He gave it a few experimental swings, if only to find out about its reach, to see how long it was. He knew there was also no use in being scared of it. He was resigned to having bruises and bumps. He’d gone through basic, he’d be fine with this too.
He met Atton’s swings, giving him a taste for how the two weapons worked together. They moved slowly, with Obi-Wan gesturing with his eyes where he would strike next has he pushed the simulation onward.
The younger man tried to match his parries and thrusts, tried to get a feel for where Obi was swinging, tried to move intuitively. He was remembering that it was an extension of his arms, that his legs were extensions of the ground, that he was flowing like the water. He knew it was a hippie thing, but hell. It worked.
Obi-Wan could recall when he’d first begun training Luke, how he’d taken to work with the saber like he’d always been meant for it. Atton was not a Skywalker, but he had exceptional instincts. A grin appeared on his face, one that wrinkled the corners of his eyes. “I’d say you’re better at this than you expected to be.”
Looking up, Atton blinked. “You think? Thanks.” His brow was still furrowed, still focusing. If Obi-wan squinted hard enough, maybe he’d find traces of a certain smuggler’s focus as he piloted the Millennium Falcon. Maybe.
Obi-Wan stepped back and mopped his brow with the back of his arm, even though he’d barely broken a sweat. Then he lunged at Atton, the bo staff swiftly coming down over his head.
“Augh, why do you hate me?” Atton rolled out of the way, kicking fiercely with his legs in a sweep, trying to knock him down while he swung carefully with the bo.
Obi-Wan evaded both attacked rather effortless, but he was impressed. “I don’t hate you,” he replied, offering a hand to help him up. “In fact, I’d say I’m reasonably fond of you. Though let me show you what you should have done.”
He proceeded to display a better tactic, keeping both attacks focused on his middle. “Like most men my age, my knees aren’t what they used to be. You gave me something I could easily hop over. Make me work a little harder next time. Now, come again!” And with that, he repeated his lunge.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” Atton huffed, standing up. He breathed a bit harder, a bit faster, moving defensively for a moment before attacking, trying not to go too fast to the point where he’d get sloppy. Somehow, this was easier if he just … let go. If he stopped thinking.
It was a test, of course, which Obi-Wan proved by leaping neatly over Atton’s bo staff, somersaulting and landing behind him. He’d wanted to see how the young man responded to off-kilter directives. “Believe me, you won’t. Not yet, anyway. That was a good effort though.”
“Probably not, but still.” Atton turned the stick to lunge toward Obi-wan before swinging his body around, and the bo at the same time.
That time, he nearly had him, and Obi-Wan met Atton’s bo with his own with wide eyes. “Ah...” he breathed, coming back and swinging toward Atton’s shoulder. In real combat, it would have been his head.
Atton smiled, leaning back and taking a deep breath. “You’d have gotten me there.” He sighed a little to himself. “Thank you.” The training was important, and Atton moved a little harder, tried to move a little faster. It was weird, it was like if he let the same bit of his brain that could hear other’s thoughts control his movements, they were more fluid and natural.
Their attacks and defences had taken on a certain smoothness. Obi-Wan was still holding back, of course, but only in the sense that he wasn’t fighting an enemy. He tested Atton’s stamina and refused to cut him any slack, not even time to catch his breath.
In his memories, he was good at this. In his memories he cut other Jedi down, in his memories he parted people like Obi-wan like so many knives through butter. Closing his eyes for a moment, he felt some of that power again, and he moved a little faster.
Obi-Wan’s eyes flashed. He sensed a darkness invading Atton’s mind. It moved swiftly, like a blast of wind. Holding up a hand, the Jedi pushed gently against him, holding him at bay, ending the exercises. “Atton... be wary. I know your dreams have taught you many things, but be careful when you draw from them in the waking world.”
Atton nodded. He set the bo down, closing his eyes. “You’re right. If I’m going to learn this, I’ll have to start over from scratch. I can’t … rely on what that Atton did.” He bit his lower lip and sighed. “I don’t want to … be the man in those dreams.”
Obi-Wan also placed his staff on the ground. He placed his hands on Atton’s shoulders. “I still struggle continually. This isn’t something you face alone, but we are defined by how we respond to it.”
“Well, I hope my dreams are an indication of how my life will go. I get over it. I think I learn how to be a good person. I mean... I think I’m one now?” Atton clapped his hand lightly over Obi-wan’s, smiling at him. “I’ve only killed a couple of people, both in the line of duty.” And both had torn him up.
One more than one occasion, Obi-Wan had wondered if he should have pursued a military career, instead of becoming a lawyer. His role as a Jedi was complicated. In his era, they had made the shift from peacekeepers and monks to generals and strategists. But he wasn’t the sort to want to go back and change things. All these elements were parts of the man he was now.
“You would do better not to doubt yourself,” he said gently.
“That’s really all I do. Hard to quit your full time job this late in the game.” Atton smiled sadly, shaking his head. He often wondered if deserting had been the best thing to do. But he’d seen too much; he’d been sent on a peacekeeping mission doomed to fail, sent to protect people from a genocide he’d watched from afar. He still woke up gasping sometimes, he’d just gotten better at hiding it.
Obi-Wan’s cool gaze didn’t falter. He looked squarely at Atton, tilting his head. Being prone to self-doubt himself, he had compassion for the younger man. “Well... my job is to strengthen your confidence.”
“Are you going to tell me I’m pretty?” Atton couldn’t help but quip whenever things got too awkward or too close to home.
“I would if you were.” Obi-Wan chuckled and turned away, gathering up the bo staffs. He pulled his lightsaber from a pocket in his paint-splattered cargo pants. He walked back, holding it out to Atton. “Want to give this a try?”
“Hey, I’m gorgeous, that’s just not nice.” Atton smirked, leaning over to catch his breath. He couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow when he saw the lightsaber. “Do you think I’m ready? I don’t want to lose an arm.”
“Then hold it carefully,” Obi-Wan replied dryly. “Don’t go all... Errol Flynn on me. I’d like you feel the weight. It’s a lot lighter than you’d expect. The blade itself is weightless.”
“Errol … look, I know you think you’re old, but you’re not that old.” Atton nodded, reaching out to take it. He hefted it without letting the blade out. Especially if it was weightless, he wouldn’t have to worry about more weight than just the hilt. “It really is light. I don’t have one in my dreams, but … I don’t know. Maybe you have to earn it.”
Obi-Wan’s had recieved his lightsaber here following a dream about it. “You might wake up one morning to find one,” he said, stepping aside to give him room.
“Like my jacket,” he murmured. He intuitively let the blade out when there was enough room to do so, and he looked at it in awe. “It’s … humbling, actually. That someone might think I’m good enough to wield this.”
The sapphire glow made Obi-Wan’s eyes light up instantly. A smile played gently on his face. For a peacekeeper, he did love his weapon. “Now, what did I just say, Atton?” There was a warning tone to his voice.
“Something about how you’re old and don’t want me to whip it around?” He smiled, putting the blade back into the hilt.
The old man pulled the lightsaber back toward him without touching it. It floated through the air to his palm and it wagged it at Atton like his was shaking his finger. “No more vocalizing your self-doubt.” Obi-Wan slipped the hilt back into his pocket. “There’s only room for one self-deprecating Jedi... and that position has been filled.”
“Oh, fine. But if you decide that you want to step down, I’m first in line.” Atton grinned. “Can we go lay down and be lazy, now? I haven’t worked that hard since basic.”
“Did you just ask me if you could have naptime?”
“Only if you’ll let me hold you.”
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. Great, he thought. Now I have two Lorases. But at least this one probably didn’t mean it when he asked to hold him. “We can relax over by the ridge.” Meetra had discovered the spot, with a waterfall in view. He gestured east. “Hopefully it’s romantic enough for you.”
Atton snorted. “I’m just kidding, you know.” He clapped Obi on the back and then put his hands into his pockets to follow.
Obi-Wan tucked the bo staffs under his arm and walked on slightly ahead. “I hope you know I’m kidding, too,” he said, looking back over his shoulder. He was chuckling.
“Well, now that you’ve gone and broken my heart,” Atton teased, feigning sobs.
Obi-Wan walked onward, leading the way to the cliffside. It really was a lovely vista and he often went there on his own to meditate. Occasionally Meetra and he would meet to spar, though not for some time now. Their lives had been coursing different and complicated paths as of late.
“This is … wow.” Atton sat down and cocked his head, looking around at the greenery. “You’re lucky you live so close to this.”
“Even if I didn’t, I’d drive for the view.” Obi-Wan set himself down on the grass and pulled a knee to his chest. He motioned for Atton to sit. “And the privacy.”
“Is this where you tell me that you feel very close to me?” Atton tried to mimic his accent. “That you’ve never felt this way before?” Sitting down, Atton chuckled. “I tease.”
Obi-Wan lifted an eyebrow. He shook his head and sighed. “Is there some version of myself that exists out there that I’m not aware of, who does prefer the company of gentlemen? Is that why Kitty delights in insinuating Qui-Gon and I were...” He scrunched up his face, like he smelled something bad. “Or Anakin and I, for that matter?” He laughed.
“I think she’s a young woman, she just likes disturbing shit.” Atton grinned. “Plus, the whole master thing. That reaaaally doesn’t help.” Atton’s own nose wrinkled. “And the gay droids.”
Gay droids? Ooh. "That never occurred to me... I mean, they don't have the necessary... Well, come to think of it, R2 did have that rather phallic spanner." He wrinkled his nose.
“No rogue downloading sessions?” Atton waggled his eyebrows.
"Oh God," Obi-Wan grimaced. "It's best not to think about that too much. Or at all."
That made Atton giggle, and he shook his head. “Sorry. Do you meditate up here? I’ve tried to meditate, I’m not too good at it yet.”
Obi-Wan leaned back on his elbows, stretching out his legs. He squinted up at Atton. "It took me a while, as well. Generally, I had a hard time learning how to let go. Does that surprise you? It surprised me. I didn't realize how much baggage I was carrying..." He frowned ever so slightly. "From both worlds."
“That’s not surprising at all. Most people don’t like silence, because then you have to think all the icky thoughts you hold back.” Atton smiled. “It’s why I usually think about poker hands. In a loop.”
“You find that relaxing?” Obi-Wan asked, sounding somewhat dubious.
“Well, yeah. That, and I don’t know. It’s like white noise. Doesn’t mean much but it’s soothing.” Atton looked sheepish.
Obi-Wan shrugged. He didn’t have strong opinions about gambling, except for thinking it was a potential waste of hard-earned money. He wasn’t moralistic about it. “I sometimes think about building things. Houses, decks... I go through diagrams in my head.” He smiled. “You know, if you play poker and someone finds out you can read minds, it’s not going to end well.”
“Shh,” Atton grinned, lifting a finger to his lips. “It’s not like I’m going around advertising that. And I’m certainly not going to do it. Do you know how boring that would make work?” Atton made a grossed out face. “And to be fair, it’s already pretty boring.”
"And what about Isabela?" Obi-Wan asked. "I'm sure she keeps you on your toes." He'd met the woman recently, though under less than ideal circumstances. She'd helped to recover Merrill. The two women shared a dream world. But Obi-Wan didn't know how much Isabela had shared with Atton about her dreams and the rescue operation, and for now he decided against explicitly bringing it up.
“Oh, yes. She’s hardly boring, but alas, I can’t bring her to work every time.” Atton smiled to himself as he thought of her. “She’s moving in. It’s … nice, actually.” Atton had never thought that he’d find someone that he’d want to move in, much less someone who wanted the same thing.
Obi-Wan smiled warmly. He'd lately been in need of happy news. "That's wonderful," he said softly. "...I've been considering taking a big step myself."
“Really? Like what?” Atton had come to think of the older man like an uncle, like family.
Obi-Wan's ears had turned red again. He tilted his head. "Marriage, actually." He smiled, shyly.
That made Atton clap Obi-Wan on the back. “Congratulations! Have you been married before, or are you a salty old bachelor like me?”
Obi-Wan’s head bobbed along with Atton’s clap. He cleared his throat. “I was once. I--” He paused. Talking about that part of his past was as always a challenge. “I got married because I thought it was something I was supposed to do.” Emily had been the boss’s daughter, and even though the feelings Obi-Wan had for her had been strong, it wasn’t love and they’d had no business getting married.
“That’s got to be hard. But you’re doing it for love, now.” Atton surely hoped so. “What’s she like?”
With a happy sigh, he smiled and watched the waterfall for a moment. “She’s far too good for me, that’s for sure. She’s a brilliant doctor, but she’s sweet and childlike. She makes me smile constantly when I’m with her.” And a smile from Obi-Wan was a rare thing, like an endangered species some of the time. “She thinks of everyone else before herself, she’s gorgeous but she doesn’t know it... What more can I say?” he finished softly.
Atton couldn’t help but smile fondly at how Obi-Wan talked of his lady love. “Yeah. You should probably marry her.” It was as simple as that. Anyone who could make Obi sound dreamy and happy should be with him. And be commended for it.
“Yes, probably,” Obi-Wan said, chuckling. Soon, he said to himself. He cleared his throat. “It’s still a little strange, a Jedi talking about marriage. For me, anyway. Just... I think my version of the Code will always be in the back of my mind.”
“Yeah, it’s weird for me too. In my dreams, they were kind of uptight and really busy killing each other.” Atton wrinkled his nose. “All the time. Yay war.”
"In my dreams they were really uptight and killing everyone else...” Obi-Wan sighed. Himself included, on both counts. “But we, you and Meetra and I, we get to start fresh here. And I think that’s... a blessing.”
“Making a new Order,” Atton mused. “One where love isn’t cheapened by being forbidden. One where I won’t be an assassin, killing Padawans. ‘Cause that’s silly, being as I’m the only one anyway.” He flopped down onto his back, chuckling at himself.
Obi-Wan looked down at his new padawan. There was compassion in his eyes, while Atton wasn’t looking. “Yes, very silly.”
His padawan. Obi-Wan gulped and looked back to the waterfall, and quietly began to meditate on the cleansing power of the river.