Ruffled

Jacen's brow was knit tight in concentration as he focused on his final flight tests. The holographic display on his desk pulsed bright reds and greens, as if to distract him from the obvious answer.

Obvious to Jaina perhaps. Even Anakin. But piloting was definitely not one of Jacen's strong points. Sure he could join a dogfight with some of the best pilots of the New Republic, but his skill was a far cry from the natural ability his sister and brother possessed. Still he trudged on, never one to shy away from a challenge. He'd play by the rules.

Jaina glanced at her twin a few seats over from her. She stifled a giggle when Jacen scratched his head and tapped his fingers on the desk. She thought about sending him some help through the Force, and just as quickly dismissed the idea. She looked to the front of the classroom and saw why.

Kyp Durron sat quietly behind the lecturn, arms crossed over his chest, no expression on his face. He was placed here to prevent just such a thing. That is if any student was stupid enough to try it. Her mouth quirked into a smile as she took in the handsome Jedi, his messy dark hair and piercing eyes. Too old for her, maybe. But a girl could dream.

Kyp's eyes slid over to hers in that moment, a little smile blossoming on his lips. Jaina's eyes widened and she swore under her breath, cursing her lack of control. She quickly looked back down at her console.

Jacen, sensing something, looked up in time to see Kyp smiling. He followed his gaze to his sister, who was blushing and concentrating just a bit too hard on her test. Jacen cocked an eyebrow and looked back to Kyp only to find himself now the subject of scrutiny. The Jedi Master was still smiling. Unbelievably, Jacen found himself blushing.

What in the nine Corellian hells is wrong with me??

For some reason, he couldn't look away. He found himself looking Kyp over. His hair, his eyes, his nose and lips, his chin. He tried to look away again, but only returned the gaze. Kyp's smile slowly receded and they seemed to be locked in some silent battle of wills.

It all lasted just a few seconds. But to Jacen it felt alot longer.

Anakin, who was so advanced that he'd been allowed to take his tests with the older students, sat a little farther back in the middle of his siblings. He looked up and saw the little play by play going on between his brother and Kyp. Shaking his head and grinning, he returned to his test.

Kyp lifted his chin and indicated to Jacen to finish his test. He smiled again. Jacen finally shook himself out of his reverie and focused his attention back on the task at hand. He couldn't hide the flush that was apparent all over his face though.

About an hour later, everyone was finished. As the last of the students trickled out, Jaina, Anakin and Lowie loitered around Kyp, each asking if he could grade them now. Kyp was laughing and holding up his hands in helplessness. Jacen stayed at his desk and finished up his last entry. Just as he was about to key it, the test turned off.

"Hey!" Jacen yelled. "What's going on???!!"

Kyp looked past the other young Jedi at the eldest Solo sibling. "Nothing is going on. The test timer has run out." He raised an eyebrow at Jacen.

"But..." Jacen stammered. "That was my last entry. It could affect my rating."

Kyp nodded and shrugged, drawing a chuckle from the others. "Yes," he drawled. "It could. What do you want me to do about it?"

Jacen looked down at the now dark console on his desk, then up at Kyp, then back again. "I....I don't..." He sighed and put his head in his hands. If he'd been concentrating on his test for those few minutes instead of bothering about the exchange between his sister and the Jedi Master, he would have had that last entry done. He narrowed his eyes and slowly looked up at Kyp.

"Hmmm..." Kyp said, smiling. "If looks could kill..." Jaina and Anakin laughed and Lowie managed to look the other way. Kyp sighed, then slowly walked around the lecturn toward Jacen. "Well, you could always do a make-up test. Of course since you're the only one who didn't finish, you'd also be the only one here." He indicated the room by pointing his finger down at the floor. "Except for me, that is." He grinned, letting his hands drop to his sides.

Jacen didn't need to guess what he meant. He knew then for sure that the Jedi had felt his thoughts. Embarassed now but too stubborn to show it, he rose from his seat, grabbed his jacket and shoved his arms into it angrily.

"No, thank you. Sir," Jacen bit out.

The older Jedi shrugged, then turned to walk back to the lecturn. "Fine. Take your chances then."

"I'd rather." Jacen stormed past Kyp, throwing an angry glance at his siblings as they tried, unsuccessfully, to hide their laughter. Kyp shook his head and couldn't help but laugh a little. Jaina, Anakin and Lowie said their goodbyes then headed out for dinner.

As he gathered his robe, he wondered what it was about Jacen that made him such a target. The young man was so infuriating. That was probably it. He made you want to pick on him. His endless moaning and philosophical debates. Force!

It wasn't that Kyp didn't agree with Jacen on some of his notions. At first he thought it rather impressive for someone so young to be so incredibly thoughtful about the Force. But it soon grew tiresome as Jacen began to debate with anyone who would listen. And he and Anakin were constantly at it. He figured that was probably why he wasn't doing so well with the girls.

He left the testing room and headed down the hall. As he walked, his mind wandered back to the incident. He'd sensed Jaina's thoughts right away. She was very sloppy with her emotions when she was smitten. He'd noticed the same thing whenever Zekk was around. But Jacen. Now that was another matter. He replayed the scene in his head again. He must have misinterpreted it. He'd felt the silent outrage from Jacen's knowledge that his sister was flirting with him. Then... it changed. Into something softer, almost seductive? He'd felt Jacen.....admiring him?

He shook his head to clear away the insane thoughts. He must have imagined it. Yes, that was it. He'd imagined it.

As Kyp stepped into his room and closed the door, he felt only the slightest hint of excitement that maybe, just maybe, he hadn't.

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Jacen practically ripped off his jacket and threw it across the room. It landed on the cage of one of his pets. The furry inhabitant scurried around and clicked loudly at being disturbed.

Normally, Jacen would have been concerned. But he was so angry right now, he didn't care. And that was saying something. He paced back and forth in front of his bed, seething like an incensed vornskr. Running his hand through his hair, he tried again to understand the strange thoughts that had entered his mind during the test. Deep down, he thought he might know what they meant. He was just too stubborn to admit it to himself.

Damn Kyp, anyway.

"You okay, bro?"

Jacen jumped and turned to see Anakin leaning against the open door, a lop-sided grin on his face. Anakin looked more and more like their father everyday.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Why?"

Anakin smirked and raised an eyebrow. "You really want me to ask?"

Jacen pretended ignorance for a moment, then his eyes fell. He'd half expected Jaina to be the one here, being his twin. But here stood Anakin, with a knowing smile on his face. Jacen sighed and sat on the edge of his bed. "No, you don't have to ask."

Anakin walked over and sat beside his brother. They both looked down at the ground, neither wanting to be the first to break this ice. Jacen decided to take the first swing. "Okay. I felt something....um..." he fumbled for the words. "Something strange during the test."

"Indeed," Anakin teased.

Jacen looked up sharply at his brother's smiling face. "Anakin, you're not helping. If you know something, I wish you'd just go ahead and say it!"

Anakin smiled, trying to suppress his laughter. He decided to put his brother out of his misery. He leaned forward and rested his arms on his knees. "Okay, you asked. You my dear big brother, fancy Kyp Durron." He waited and watched as Jacen's eyes widened to saucers. He bolted off the bed and began to pace back and forth again.

"That has got to be the craziest," he threw his hands up in the air. "...most insane, ridiculous conclusion...." he trailed off as the steam melted off him. He stopped pacing and seemed to shrink as his shoulders slumped.

Anakin felt bad for his brother as the realization sunk in. Not that he was ashamed. But for the fact that Jacen would have to accept something about himself that he'd never imagined he would. His brother looked down at him with questioning eyes.

"But Tenel Ka....?"

Anakin shrugged and picked at his fingernails. "Programming. Social programming."

Jacen put his hands on his hips and frowned. "But....that doesn't....I mean." He squinted at his brother. "I don't get it."

"That's obvious. Let me ask you this? What did you feel when you and Kyp were locking sockets?"

Jacen knew the answer and didn't hesitate. He watched from somewhere far, far away as he answered. "Desire." Then he clapped his hand over his mouth, his eyes wider than they were before. "Oh, Force," he whispered. "Oh, Force, no."

Anakin just sat calmly watching his brother freak out and pace the room like one of his caged pets. "Well, there you have it, bro."

Jacen spun back to face him. "Have it? Have what? That I'm attracted to MEN???!!" He ran both hands over his head. "What does that mean??"

Anakin stood and slapped his brother's shoulder. "I think you know what it means." He headed for the door and left his brother to his very troubled thoughts.