Clutching My Cure

disclaimer: They belong to others. Just using them for fun.


Chapter Thirty-One


Packed traffic lanes and an endless sea of buildings stretched as far as the eye could see. Huge neon billboards advertised a variety of products in countless languages as the citizens of the bustling city-planet scurried about their business. Only a few beings paused long enough to watch as a luxurious ship made its way toward one of the floating landing pads that extended from the Jedi Temple. They had a fleeting curiosity about who could be visiting the normally secluded Jedi before hurrying along to finish their own tasks.

Three men eventually strolled down the landing ramp, two of them dressed in the flowing tunics and robes associated with members of the Jedi Order. The other was dressed more casually and carried a small travel bag clutched tightly in one hand. He came to an abrupt halt the instant his booted heels left the bottom of the ramp, the wind whipping long strands of reddish-gold hair as he tilted his head back in order to gaze up at the imposing complex that towered above them.

His companions exchanged weighted glances before refocusing their attention on their leery guest. It was painfully obvious he was unsettled at being in such close contact with the place he had once called home. The walls he had known intimately since he was a mere toddler and the people who’d once been both family and friends. They didn’t need to hear him speak the words, both able to sense through the Force how the place still called to him, his body visibly leaning forward as if he longed to run toward it.

It was Qui-Gon who broke the tense moment, his words spoken in a gentle voice. “Obi-Wan, you are more than welcome to come inside and look around. Perhaps speaking with some old friends and seeing familiar places can help you find peace.”

The kaleidoscope eyes met his, fear quickly shuttered from his view as the young man drew himself up and shook his head. “No thanks. I need to get to my place and catch up on business as soon as possible.”

Smiling with genuine regret, the Jedi Master bowed respectfully. “The offer is open if you should change your mind and I’m sure Bruck would be happy to act as your guide. It was a pleasure to see you alive and well, Obi-Wan. May the Force be with you.”

Having to settle for the briefest of smiles, he clasped his apprentice on the shoulder as he turned to enter the Temple. “I will see you in an hours time, Padawan. The Council will be expecting an explanation.”

“Yes Master.” Bruck waited until his mentor has vanished from view before turning a solemn look on Obi-Wan.

He had so much he wanted to say before they parted but it was difficult to speak the words without breaking down. The instant those eyes met his he was in motion, closing the distance between them in record time. A hand wrapped around the back of Obi-Wan’s neck, pulling the shorter man flush against his body. He was relieved when his kiss was accepted, their tongues jostling as they fought for closer contact. Both of them were breathless when they eventually pulled apart, foreheads touching as they savored the taste of the other.

“I want to see you again. Soon.”

Obi-Wan sighed regretfully at the imploring words. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Bruck. Your place is with the Jedi and there’s no longer any room for me in that world. Besides, I can’t give you what you want and I’d rather we part now, before you get hurt.”

Bruck put enough distance between them so he was able to stare directly into Obi-Wan’s eyes. An unsteady hand lifted, thumb caressing the dimpled chin he found so enticing. “I know you don’t love me and if we never sleep together again I can live with that. I’m offering you my friendship, Obi. There is nothing in the Code that prohibits me from being friends with you. Please don’t toss my offer back in my face in a misguided attempt to protect me.”

Touched by the heartfelt words and the kitling plea evident in pale blue eyes, the fallen Jedi smiled warmly. “Friends then.”

Bruck’s expression lit up with joy as he pulled Obi-Wan close for a tight hug. “Let me grab a speeder and I’ll take you to your apartment.”

“I can hail a cab,” Obi-Wan’s protest was spoken to Bruck’s back as the other man had already hurried into the hanger bay.

Shaking his head with exasperation, the former Jedi cautiously peered into the spacious docking bay. He was impressed by the lines of starfighters, having heard that the Order had formed its own fleet but until now never seeing one up close. Although he wasn’t overly fond of flying, his fingers still itched to get his hands on the controls to see what the ships were capable of.

He easily spotted Bruck amongst the orderly chaos speaking with the Jedi in charge of the vehicles. As he turned toward a row of speeders his path was intercepted by a fellow Padawan, something about the equally tall and brawny man freezing Bruck’s features into a cold mask. Obi-Wan’s curiosity about the other Jedi increased as he watched Bruck attempt to move around the young man, only to have his path blocked. Bruck’s reaction was instantaneous, hands slamming against a broad chest as he viciously shoved his assailant out of the way before hopping into one of the speeders.

Obi-Wan inhaled sharply in surprise when the man righted himself and turned to watch Bruck with a small jeering smile curling his lips. Although it had been nearly eight years since he’d last set eyes on the Jedi, Obi-Wan recognized him instantly. Blond, good-looking and sporting a healthy spacers tan, Garen Muln had been his best friend growing up, the two inseparable for the most part. Obi-Wan had thought about Garen a lot over the course of the years, wondering what his old friend thought about his leaving the Order.

Almost as if he sensed Obi-Wan’s presence, Garen’s gaze swung in his direction, a frown creasing his brow. Holding his breath as their eyes met and held, Obi-Wan felt a flutter of panic as he saw shocked recognition dawn. Garen’s lips formed his name as he took a stumbling step forward, only to be forced back as Bruck sent the speeder shooting by dangerously close.

Obi-Wan tore his gaze away from his old friend, ignoring the plea in the dark depths as he vaulted into the speeder. Bruck gunned the engines and sent them roaring into the clogged traffic lanes, Obi-Wan twisting in the seat in order to see Garen watching their departure. He didn’t turn back around until the Temple became nothing more than a tiny spec in the distance, eyes burning with emotions he’d thought long buried.

“Sorry about that Obi. Rotten luck he’d be hanging around the hanger today of all days,” Bruck apologized, shooting worried glances his direction in between guiding the speeder through traffic.

“Don’t lose any sleep over it, I won’t.” He shifted so he was in a better position to study his friend’s expression. “I saw the two of you…talking. Still bad blood between you I take it?”

A grimace twisted Bruck’s handsome features. “As far as Muln is concerned, I’m the root of all evil in the galaxy. He’s still holding a grudge against me because of the way I treated you when we were kids. I made a few attempts in the past to patch things up at the request of Master Qui-Gon, but Muln wouldn’t hear of it.”

Obi-Wan pointed at his approaching building, his thoughts back on the interaction between Bruck and Garen. There had been something in his childhood friend’s expression when Bruck wasn’t looking that made Obi-Wan question the truth of Garen’s feelings toward Bruck. Although fleeting, it had been powerful enough to leave an imprint in his mind.

Garen had looked at Bruck with something akin to longing.

He was forced to put his thoughts on hold as Bruck pulled the speeder to a stop in front of the floating building where he kept a suite. When the Jedi made as if to hop from the vehicle, Obi-Wan placed a hand on his arm in order to keep him in place.

“Don’t bother getting out. You have an appointment with the Council to keep and I’ll be buried in work for a day or two at least.” Before Bruck could voice the protest that hovered on his lips, he leaned over and covered the other man’s mouth with his own.

He was smiling with affection when he finally drew back. “Come see me as soon as you can?”

“Of course,” Bruck replied quickly in a breathless whisper, stealing yet another kiss before Obi-Wan laughed and managed to slip away.

The fallen Jedi gave him a jaunty salute before disappearing into the lobby of the building. It was a much more solemn Bruck who guided the speeder back toward the Temple, his heart and thoughts left behind with Obi-Wan.