Clutching My Cure

Disclaimer: George owns them, I just play. :)

Chapter Thirty-Five

The mist that had hung over the city planet the entire day suddenly opened up into a full scale downpour. The crowded streets and walkways quickly began to thin out as beings scurried inside to avoid being drenched by the chilling rain. Hood pulled low over his face, Bruck picked up his pace and wondered sourly why he’d dismissed the idea of taking a speeder. Water logged leather boots convinced him that he was indeed a first class fool.

Eager both to escape the nasty weather, and to see Obi-Wan again, he was oblivious to his surroundings as he neared the hotel. If he hadn’t been so anxious to wipe the memory of being lip locked with Muln from his mind and dreams by engaging in a heavy make out session with Obi-Wan, he might have realized that he was being followed. Had been ever since he stepped foot outside of the Temple doors.

Features covered by the dark robe he wore, Garen moved with wraith like movements as he trailed the other Padawan. He’d been determined to see and speak with his old childhood friend since the moment he’d become aware of the rumors circling the Temple. He and Bant had worried and wondered about Obi-Wan all of these years, to discover he was alive and close by was driving him crazy. It had come as no surprise that Chun refused to tell him anything, the dislike between them going back many years. He knew if he were patient it was only a matter of time before Bruck would lead him to Obi-Wan’s whereabouts.

Just as he reached one of Coruscant’s more exclusive hotels, Bruck paused and turned to sweep his surroundings. Garen barely had time to duck behind a nearby building before he was spotted. Back pressed against the wall, his heart raced as he waited for the questing tendrils of Force energy to pass by. Relaxing with a shuddering gasp when it was finally withdrawn, he wiped a trembling hand across his forehead before peering cautiously around the corner.

Bruck had entered the hotel lobby and was visible through the glass front, engaged in conversation with the front desk droid. Hurrying across the street, Garen took up position behind a large neon billboard that stood in front of the neighboring hotel where he had a safe, unobstructed view, of his target. As he watched, Bruck swept back his hood and smiled at something a passing humanoid said to him. Garen’s heart immediately leapt as he studied the other Jedi’s tanned, handsome features.

A part of him hated himself for the feelings he had toward Chun. Feelings that had plagued him a good portion of his adolescence and strengthened as they reached puberty. Part of his guilt dealt mainly with seeing those feelings as a betrayal of Obi-Wan and their friendship. Finding out that his lost friend had engaged in what was clearly a sexual relationship with Chun while he was captive, changed things in a way he was leery of dissecting right now. The only thing he knew for sure, was that he was nearly drowning in jealousy at the thought of Chun making love with someone else.

Ruthlessly pushing the disquieting thought to the farthest reaches of his mind, Garen left his hiding spot when Bruck disappeared from view. He waited to make certain the other man had left the lobby before entering the hotel himself. He was oblivious to the shadowed figure who exited the hotel he’d just been hiding in front of. Dressed all in black, the observer smiled as he dogged the two Padawan’s steps.

Eitan was overjoyed with the way the Force seemed to be aiding his mission, his target almost falling into his lap with ease. Leaving Xan’s suite, he’d been racking his brain trying to figure out how he was going to get Bruck Chun to confide in him. He’d had no real contact with Jinn’s apprentice other than a casual word or two in greeting as they passed in the hallways. Garen Muln was another story however. The young man was one of the Order’s best pilots and Eitan considered him a good friend, haven spent considerable time with him in the air, as well as on the ground. As fate would have it, Garen was anxious to reconnect with his childhood friend and giving Eitan the perfect excuse to not only discover where Kenobi was residing, but to meet him without Xanatos’s presence intruding.

Bruck stepped off the lift and moved down the hall until he found the correct room number. He stood staring at the closed door in mute silence for several minutes as he tried to purge any lingering memories of his kiss with Garen from his mind. He didn’t want to taint what time he had with Obi-Wan mooning over a man he could barely stand. Shaking the water from his robe, he stepped forward and rang the chime before he could change his mind.

The door slid open with surprising swiftness, Obi-Wan’s eyes lighting up with pleasure as he took in his guest. Bruck’s face split into a wide grin as he took in the fallen Jedi’s casual attire and rumpled locks of reddish-gold hair. Obi-Wan looked as if he’d just rolled out of bed, a thought that sent jolts of pleasure straight to Bruck’s groin.

“You came.”

“Of course. I told you I would,” he chided the former Jedi.

Obi-Wan reached out and grasped his hand, tugging him into the suite before slapping the door control. Even before it had slide completely closed, Obi-Wan had the taller man pushed up against the wall and plastered himself as close as physically possible. Their lips came together with unrestrained eagerness, hands busy stroking and fondling through cloth that acted as a thin barrier between them.

“I’ve been so damn bored,” Obi-Wan admitted, lips trailing down the strong throat. “I’m glad you came.”

Bruck had a difficult time gathering his thoughts into something resembling coherency when a hand palmed his erection. He forced himself to reach down and still Obi-Wan’s roving hand with his own so they could speak. Ignoring the growl of frustration that rumbled in the fallen Jedi’s throat, he locked eyes with his tormentor.

“We need to talk.” The serious tone of his breathless words had Obi-Wan freezing in place.

“About?”

Bruck caressed a smooth cheek with the pad of his thumb. “I ran into two of your old friends since I’ve been back. They’d already heard rumors that you were behind my abduction and were asking a lot of questions.”

Something shifted in the multi-hued orbs, long lashes sweeping down to conceal it from his view. “What old friends?”

“Muln accosted me the instant I exited the Council Chamber yesterday.” Bruck grimaced at the memory. “I thought he was going to pound me into tiny bits when I refused to give him any information about you.”

Obi-Wan had no comment as he turned his head away. “And the other friend?”

“Bant.” Bruck watched in silence as Obi-Wan’s eyes slid shut, a pained expression shadowing his face. “She asked me to tell you that she loves you, and would like to speak with you.”

“Bant.” The name was whispered with quiet reverence, a tremulous smile trembling on Obi-Wan’s lips. “Good old Bant. I’ve missed her.”

Bruck took advantage of his companion’s lowered defenses and grasped Obi-Wan’s face between his palms, forcing Obi-Wan to face him once again. “Obi-Wan, please come to the Temple for a visit. Master Yoda wants you to know that you are welcome anytime and he longs to see you. If you won’t do it for yourself, do it for me?”

Conflicted emotions whirled in eyes that shone with suspicious brightness. “I don’t know if I can, Bruck. I’m not the person everyone remembers. My presence in the Temple would be….. Sacrilegious.”

“Don’t say that,” Bruck demanded with genuine anger. “You’ve been invited by the Grand Master of the Jedi Order. If he has no issues with the person you’ve become, why should you or anyone else?”

He felt a flood of elation as Obi-Wan’s resistance began to crumble. Before anything more could be decided on the matter, however, the door unexpectedly slid open with a jarring thud. Matching startled gazes turned to watch as a hooded figure swept into the room, hand resting by the silver cylinder that hung at his side. Tense silence filled the room as the new arrival took in the scene he'd interrupted in a single glance.

“Who the hell are you, and what are doing barging into my rooms?” Obi-Wan spat the words as he began to advance on the stranger.

Bruck felt nauseous as hands lifted to pull the hood back and reveal the handsome features of Garen Muln. The other Jedi’s dark gaze briefly bored into his before shifting to drink in Obi-Wan, full lips quivering with emotion.

“Obi-Wan. I…I can’t believe it’s you.”

His brow knitted in confusion, it took a few minutes for recognition to set in for Obi-Wan. When it finally did, the young man’s expression transformed into one Bruck hadn’t been privy to. He felt choked by the jealous bile that stung the back of his throat as the childhood friends each took the first steps necessary to bring them into one another’s enfolding arms.