My Two Jedi

Part XIII

Obi-Wan scrambled off me so fast, he almost fell off the bed.

“You… You and…him,” he accused, wiping the back of his hand across his
wet, kiss-swollen mouth. “Just like last night.”

I wanted to explain, but his leaving of my mind and my body had left me
in shock. I tried to reach out to him, but all his shields were up.

“You want him?” he continued, rising to his feet. “Well, I’m sorry to
disappoint you, but my Master is not like that. He-”

I couldn’t help myself. I started laughing. He was jealous – of me!
He was trying to protect Qui-Gon from little old me! It was too funny.
Obi-Wan didn’t seem to appreciate the joke, though.

“What is going on? Just what is it that you find so laughable?” He
was trying to look serious and intimidating, but only succeeded in
looking gorgeous. I sat up and tried to make my face form a serious
expression.

“Obi-Wan, you have it all wrong,” I said, soothingly. “I don’t want
Qui-Gon. Well, I do, I mean, he is an utterly desirable man, but then
you know that, don’t you?” He stared at me, not quite knowing what to
make of that. I sighed, lamenting the plan that now wasn’t to be. But
maybe there was a way to salvage something. “Anyway, the important
thing is, that he wants you.”

He tried to speak, but nothing came out the first time. Then “That
isn’t even funny.” The pain on his face went straight to my heart.

“No, but it is true,” I replied, standing up slowly. “And I can prove
it. Look into my mind.” He hesitated, and I put a hand on his chest
and looked deeply into his eyes, my ghtsghts beckoning to him silently.
“There’s nothing to be afraid of.” Though his lips trembled, he took
the invitation.

I felt him enter my mind, hover there uneasily, and so I guided him.
Past my own, irrelevant thoughts, and into his Master’s mind along the
link I held open to Qui-Gon. When he realized what was happening, he
tried to resist, but only half-heartedly, and then it was too late. We
were both inundated with images, the story of his Master’s unquenched
love.

Poignant memories flowed over us. The day the two had first met; the
day in the mine when they realized their bond had formed; the day Qui-
Gon looked at his Padawan with new eyes as he realized the boy was now
a man; the night before, like so many other nights, when Qui-Gon had
lain alone, tormented by his love for Obi-Wan.

And dreams. Erotic dreams, friendship dreams, growing-old-together
dreams, but mostly just the desire to be able to reach out and touch
his Padawan when he wanted, needed to.

I felt Obi-Wan sway, and opened my eyes to steady him, disturbing the
trance-like state we had all been in. His eyes flickered open, and a
single tear rolled down one cheek. He was still open to me, so I could
feel the stunned disbelief, and joy, radiating from him.

We both turned as the door to the room opened and Qui-Gon stepped in.

He was naked and aroused and apparently had used up his courage for the
moment, for he stood stock still just inside the door, staring at the
younger Jedi, who was in much the same state. I looked at them, but
they had eyes only for each other. Just before Obi-Wan gently pushed
me out of his mind, I felt him reach out for Qui-Gon’s.

I had been dismissed. Grabbing up my clothing from the floor, I
slipped out the door, having to squeeze past Qui-Gon, and closed it
behind me. As I quickly dressed, I was suddenly nearly bowled over by
a wave of exultant pleasure. I realized it was coming from Qui-Gon,
that our link was still open, just as the words /Thyou/you/ formed in
my head. I took off, still pulling on clothes. I had to get out of
there. Not only did they deserve their privacy, but if I didn’t put
some distance between us, there was a very real possibility that I
would be unable to keep myself out of that room. If things had worked
out as planned, I would have been in that room. But, my plans had gone
awry. No one else was complaining, though, and there was nothing to be
done about it now.

Outside, in the thankfully deserted hall, I finished settling my
clothing and wondered where to go. Anywhere but here was the only
answer, so I started walking, using only my vague recollections of what
I had seen on my arrival for guidance. Somehow, I found a beautiful
garden, and a bench hung over with multi-colored flowering vines, and
sat down.

I was still breathing hard. The temptation to check up on my two Jedi
was strong, but I fought it. My emotions were in turmoil. While I was
blissfully happy for my Jedi, couldn’t be otherwise after the joy I had
felt from each of them, I also felt the pain of my own loss. Obi-Wan
didn’t need me any more. Generous as both my Jedi were, I knew they
would probably offer to let me stick around anyway, but I had no desire
to be the third wheel.

And if I was truly honest with myself, I would have to say that there
was nothing in particular between us. Yes, we three had linked minds,
but I had the feeling that I could link with just about anyone if I so
desired. It was the fact of the link itself that made the connection
intimate, that made feel like love what was really only attraction.
No, going back really wasn’t an option. I would just have to make
other arrangements, and soon.

As I sat pondering my future, a shadow loomed across my feet.

“Oh, excuse me,” came a deep voice from beneath the cowl of a Jedi
robe. “I did not realize this bench was taken.”

“Please, there is plenty of room,” I replied, scooting over. I watched
him nod, and sit gracefully. As though in answer to my thought, he
reached up and pushed back his cowl. Underneath, his head was
hairless, and a dark, rich brown. I found the look exotic.

“I am Mace Windu.”

“Oh, yes, Obi-Wan mentioned that you wanted to meet me. I am Meera
G’Nal.”

“I know. It is an honor.” He inclined his head courteously, all the
while looking me over in a way that made me think he was probably about
to ask the green-skin question.

“If I may ask,” I preempted him, “why did you wish to meet me?”

“I have always been intrigued by the idea of a fuller, deeper
connection than we Jedi are able to share.” As well you should be, I
thought. “I hoped that you could explain to me what it was like,” he
finished.

“It would be simpler to just show you,” I replied, my voice a bit rough
as my future was revealed to me. He nodded his consent. As I let my
thoughts drift into his, felm opm open up to me, found myself
blissfully surrounded by the unique flavor of his mind, I formed a
picture of what he might look like without those too-concealing robes…