Clutching My Cure

Chapter Seventeen


Bruck tugged at his arm in a vain attempt to dislodge the iron clad grip Obi-Wan had on it. His tanned skin had already turned white from lack of blood circulation, so tight was the other man’s hold on him. He was being dragged down the halls, the obscene pants he still wore slipping dangerously low, his free hand holding them up in order to protect what modesty he had left.

"Please! At least let me change into something decent before I have to face him."

His breathless plea was greeted with a low guttural curse seconds before he found himself grabbed and slammed up against the wall. The back of his head connected with the unforgiving durasteel with an unforgiving crack, his vision blurring as Obi-Wan pressed against him. Before he could utter a protest of any type, the other man’s mouth locked over his, a hand reaching down to fondle him through the gossamer fine material.

In seconds he was aroused and hard, his breathing labored as he willingly succumbed to the forceful seduction. A part of him knew that it was wrong to give in so easily. But his heart whispered otherwise. This was Obi-Wan after all. Skilled lips traveled across his face before attaching themselves to his neck. Bruck hissed as teeth bit into the corded muscle of his throat, only to be followed by the gentle lapping of a tongue that soothed the sting. Returning to nip at his mouth, Obi-Wan worried his bottom lip between even white teeth. Dazed and enflamed, Bruck was slow to respond as the other man pulled back in order to survey his handiwork.

"You look thoroughly debauched." A gloating note filled Obi-Wan’s voice. "Jinn would have to be blind not to see how well fucked you’ve been."

Oblivious to the gleam of hurt and outrage his words incited, Obi-Wan slapped his hand over the doors control pad. Barely waiting for it to slide open the entire way, he manhandled Bruck inside, both hands slamming in between his shoulders and sending the Jedi stumbling. He didn’t even notice as Bruck fell prostrate before the chair where his mentor was bound. Didn’t see the way Xanatos eyes narrowed in anger as he noticed the new markings upon the young Jedi’s body. He was blind to everything but the figure that sat straight in the chair, concerned blue eyes staring down at his apprentice.

"Padawan? Are you alright?"

Obi-Wan’s teeth ground together at the sound of genuine concern in the refined voice. He couldn’t seem to tear his stare away from the Jedi Master, even though his own presence had as yet gone unnoticed. Jinn’s entire focus was centered on the young man who knelt at his feet, head bowed in shame.

"Padawan, answer me."

A shiver coursed through Bruck’s muscular body as he forced himself to lift his head and face his mentor. He couldn’t make eye contact, his gaze sliding away as the piercing stare traveled over him in a search for injuries. Even without his connection to the Force, he felt the waves of grief and anguish that echoed through their bond as understanding dawned.

"Oh, Bruck. What has he done to you?" Receiving no reply, Qui-Gon shot a look filled with what could have been betrayal toward his former apprentice. "How could you do this? Your fight is with me. He’s done nothing to deserve this."

"Master," Bruck’s voice broke but he managed to find the courage to continue. "It wasn’t rape if that’s what you’re thinking."

Stunned silence filled the room as Qui-Gon stared down at his apprentice in disbelief. "What are saying?"

Meeting the older man’s gaze for the first time, Bruck shrugged helplessly. "It was something I’ve wanted since I was a teenager. I’ve dreamed about him often over the years, wondering and wanting. I’m sorry to disappoint you."

Qui-Gon shook his head in confusion. "That makes no sense, Padawan. You’d never even met Xanatos before he left the Order."

"I believe he’s referring to that gift I promised you," Xanatos interjected quietly, turning toward his young lover for the first time.

Qui-Gon tried to identify the emotion that flashed in Xanatos’ eyes before long sooty lashes fell to shield it from his view. Following the direction of his former apprentice’s gaze, he found himself confronted with a visibly enraged young man. Something tugged at his memories, whispering that any reaction he made next could be of vital importance.

"Qui-Gon, meet my…..partner, Obi-Wan Kenobi," Xanatos murmured, his tone reflecting the emotion Qui-Gon had briefly glimpsed in his eyes.

Shock was too weak a word to describe the Jedi Master’s initial reaction to the announcement. He scanned the young man’s alluring features in an attempt to recognize some sign of the child he’d abandoned all those years ago. It wasn’t until he blocked out the tanned skin, sun-streaked mane of hair, and high cheekbones that the resemblance became clear. The eyes were the same. Large and shifting in color as swiftly as the young man’s emotions did. A pain lodged itself in the area of Qui-Gon’s heart as he was faced with his greatest shame.

His failure to show compassion.

"Obi-Wan." He spoke the name with a reverence that seemed to take the former Jedi off guard. "I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to see you well, young one."

Those eyes widened at his words, the rage escalating even more. It was understandable that the former Jedi would hold a grudge against him, but this almost uncontrolled hatred seemed more than a bit extreme. Qui-Gon watched in puzzlement as Obi-Wan bared his teeth in a snarl, hands clenching into white knuckled fists at his sides.

"Is that supposed to be funny, Jinn? Don’t sit there and try to pretend you gave me a second thought after deserting me on Melida/Daan."

Qui-Gon frowned with honest bafflement at the accusation. "Of course I did. I went back a few weeks later in order to retrieve you, but you’d already fled the planet."

"Liar!"

The broken cry echoed through the room as Obi-Wan unclipped his light saber and began to advance on the Jedi Master with deadly intent. Through a red haze he once again relived those horrible experiences he'd suffered because of this man. Bruck surged to his feet with fluid grace, positioning himself protectively in front of his mentor at the same time Xanatos moved to intercept his lover. The younger man was so intent on his mission, Xanatos was sent back several steps before he was able to bring Obi-Wan to a standstill. Even with his arms wrapped tightly around the slim body, he was hard pressed to maintain control of the wriggling livewire.

Lips pressed against the younger man’s ear, his own body tensed as he picked up the distinctive aroma of sex. This was too strong to be the remnants of their all night excursions. It was difficult to put his own hurt and anger on hold in order to deal with his mates childhood issues.

"Stop this! Do you truly want to give him the satisfaction of knowing how much he hurt you?"

Obi-Wan trembled in his arms, a combination of anger and suppressed sobs wracking his body. Xanatos ignored the watchful eyes of the two Jedi as he placed a comforting hand alongside of Obi-Wan’s head, his lips pressing a kiss against the top of the shorter man’s head.

"Come. Let’s get you calmed down before you deal with him again." He was already guiding his lover toward the door as he spoke, a quick warning tossed over his shoulder. "Guards will be stationed outside so don’t try anything."

As the door shut behind them, a mentally drained Bruck turned back and dropped to his knees before his mentor. Qui-Gon tore his gaze away from the spot where the two men had exited, his mind racing at the implications of the tenderness he'd just witnessed between his former apprentice.

"Would you be so kind as to tell me what is going on here, Padawan?"