Clutching My Cure

Disclaimer: They belong to others who make loads of moolah off of them.

Note: Sorry, the other story caught up with me again. :( And Shan, more Xan soon I promise! ;)

Chapter Thirty-Six


“Force, Gar! You turned out to be damn gorgeous! Who would‘ve guessed?”

The taller man pulled back far enough to offer his long lost friend a playful pout. “I was always gorgeous. You were simply blind back then and couldn‘t see it.”

Grinning at Obi-Wan’s snort of disgust, Garen’s expression grew serious as he examined his friend’s own features. “You blossomed, just as we all suspected you would. If you were back at the Temple you’d be fighting off half the Order.”

“It’s good to see you,” Obi-Wan admitted in a slightly hoarse voice.

Garen smiled as he squeezed the arms he still held. “You too. So what have you been doing with yourself all these years?” A quick glance around the room before he continued. “Something profitable if this room and hotel are anything to go by. The suites don’t come cheap.”

The former Jedi hesitated before responding to the question. “I discovered there are countless wealthy beings in the galaxy who place high importance on their safety. They’re willing to pay obscene amounts of credits to have the best security in the galaxy. I’ve put together the most impressive group of personal bodyguards around.”

Obi-Wan’s lips thinned as the two Jedi exchanged grim looks. “It’s completely legit. I have planetary leaders as well as a few senators as clients.”

Garen couldn’t hide the relief the words brought, his features relaxing as he pulled the smaller man close once again. Eyes shut, he just soaked up the pleasure of having Obi-Wan back in his life once again. He was determined it would stay that way also.

“I missed you so much. We all have.”

Over Garen’s shoulder, Obi-Wan’s gaze met Brucks, the other Jedi’s reflecting a jealousy that seemed out of place under the circumstances. He couldn’t help but wonder just which of them Bruck was jealous of and decided to find out.

“I’ve missed you all too. Well, except Bruck, but we’ve found a way to come to peace about the past. Haven’t we lover?”

Garen’s body stiffened at his teasing words, Bruck’s eyes shooting toward Garen with a wide-eyed look of unease. The tension between the two Jedi was nearly suffocating and told Obi-Wan more than words could what the two men were feeling for one another. The situation grew even more unbearable when Garen stepped back and ran a look of disapproval over his fellow Jedi.

“Chun in heat hum? That’s something I never thought to see, him being as uptight as a Jawa in a room full of Hutts.”

Outrage flared in Bruck’s pale eyes at the nasty jibe, hands clenching into white knuckled fists at his sides. “Just because I haven’t slept my way through half the Temple and galaxy. Is there anything you won’t stick your dick in Muln?”

“You,” Garen shot back with a sneer.

Hurt was briefly reflected on Bruck’s face before he smoothed it into a cold mask. “Funny, you seemed mighty interested in getting in my pants yesterday.”

Obi-Wan’s gaze had been moving back and forth between them, but lit up with interest at that bombshell. His mouth had just opened to intercede when he was forced to jump out of the way or risk being smashed in between the two huge warriors as they threw themselves at one another with matching snarls of rage. Watching from a safe distance, he decided to let them work off some of the sexual tension before stepping in.

Being of relatively the same height and weight, the battle was evenly matched, both taking and receiving brutal punches. Grunts and groans of pain from both echoed in the room, Obi-Wan wincing as Bruck took a particularly nasty elbow to the eye. It wasn’t until Bruck tackled Garen around the waist and sent them both crashing over the back of the couch, taking it and a hololamp with them, that he decided it was time to break things up.

Just as he took a step in their direction the front door slid open once again to admit a stranger. His first thought was that the noise had drawn the attention of the staff, but a quick survey of the new arrival’s attire had him sighing in defeat. Black, leather, Jedi garments, and the dangerous air about the man were clear indications that this was a man to be cautious of. The dark eyed gaze that bored into him reflected nothing before it shifted to take in the two figures that continued to thrash about on the floor.

Stepping inside, the new arrival shut the door and did the unexpected. Instead of hurrying over to pull the two men apart, he leaned back against the wall with arms crossed over his chest and continued to watch.

“Are they fighting over you?”

The question was asked in a deep smoky voice that carried an undercurrent that raised the hairs on the back of Obi-Wan’s neck. “Of course not. I’ve got the distinct impression that they want to jump one another but are too damn stubborn to admit it.”

That cold, dark gaze once again shifted to rest on him. “Seems to be an epidemic these days.”

Obi-Wan’s brow furrowed with confusion at the remark but he was brushed aside as the Jedi finally moved forward. Strong hands wrapped around Garen’s arms and yanked him off of Bruck before tossing him to the side. Hands resting on his hips, the Jedi glared warningly at the two younger men, daring them to make another move toward one another. They both sank down to the floor, exchanging burning glares as they nursed a variety of wounds.

“I’m sure Master Clee and Master Qui-Gon will be overjoyed to hear about your behavior.”

Garen opened his mouth to protest, only to cringe in pain from the split in it. Pressing fingers to the bloodied mess, he spoke with more caution, his eyes pleading with the older man. “Master Eitan, is that really necessary? It was just a simple disagreement between old friends. Right, Chun?”

Bruck’s delayed answer was almost comical. “Uh… Yeah.. Sure.”

“Hmmm,” was the Jedi’s only response before his unsettling gaze turned toward Obi-Wan once again. “What are the two of you doing here anyway?”

Garen scrambled to his feet and hurried over to place an arm around Obi-Wan’s shoulders. The deep affection in his gaze as he stared at his friend was telling.

“This is Obi-Wan Kenobi. He was once a Jedi and my best friend growing up. I followed Chun here in order to see him once again. Obi-Wan, this is Master Eitan Delano.”

Eitan tipped his head in greeting as he inwardly marveled at the young man Xanatos was so infatuated with. It was easy to understand why once seeing the flesh and blood person connected to the name. Kenobi was a gorgeous creature, Eitan suspecting that even his own vow of chastity would be sorely tested if the boy turned his attention Eitan’s direction. He was wondering just how much he should reveal to the younger men, when Garen’s next words settled the matter for him.

“How did you know we were here?”

Drawing himself to his full imposing height, Eitan offered Obi-Wan a knowing half-smile. “I was in the neighborhood visiting a friend and saw the two of you sneaking about and decided to follow. I believe you and my friend are well acquainted, Obi-Wan.”

Visibly puzzled, the young man shrugged. “Really? I can’t imagine who it would be since I haven’t been in contact with any Jedi since I left.”

“Oh he isn’t a Jedi. Well not anymore.” Eitan watched as all three men’s expressions tightened in anticipation. “Xanatos is here on Coruscant and looking for you.”

A wide array of reactions greeted his bombshell announcement. Kenobi’s facial expressions switching from pleasure to resentment in the blink of an eye, while Bruck merely looked deflated. Garen stared at his friend in shocked disbelief, questions brimming on the tip of his tongue before spilling forth.

“Xanatos? As in deCrion? Master Qui-Gon’s fallen apprentice? You know him Obi-Wan?”

Nodding curtly in reply, Obi-Wan met Eitan’s gaze head on. “Well when you see him, you can tell him that I have no desire to see or speak to him ever again. He made his choice back on Telos.”

“I’ll tell him, but I can assure you he won’t take no for an answer,” Eitan warned, his gaze settling on the two Padawans. “In the hallway, now. I want a word with you two before I return to the Temple.”

Ignoring Obi-Wan’s resentful glare, Eitan offered him a bow. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Obi-Wan. I’m sure we shall be seeing one another again.”

The younger man’s muttered “Over my dead body” following him out the door, Eitan made certain the door was shut before he addressed the Padawans.

“I don’t want you two to leave him alone. The instant you do, he’s going to take off and we may never find him again. Take turns if you must, but stick close to him.”

“Why?” Bruck snapped belligerently. “So Xanatos can screw with his mind some more? I won’t help deCrion hurt Obi-Wan more than he already has.”

Eitan stepped forward, pressing his face close to the younger man’s in warning. “You know, as well as I do, that those two are deeply in love with one another. If you truly care for him, you need to put aside your own feelings right now and do what is right.”

Waiting until he received a reluctant nod from Bruck, Eitan spun on his heel and headed for the lift. Garen was shaking his head, a dazed look in his eye as he absorbed everything that had just been said.

“Obi and Xanatos deCrion?”

“Yeah, I had the same reaction when I found out,” Bruck muttered as he pushed the door control. “I have a few days leave so I’ll stay with him for now.”

“Like hell!” Garen hissed as he tried to shoulder Bruck out of the way.

Obi-Wan glanced up from pouring himself a drink, eyebrow raised as the two Jedi nearly tumbled into the room. Clearing their throats and straightening mussed clothes, they smiled in unison.

“We’re both staying!”