Clutching My Cure

Chapter Six

Aalto Ayo paused in the doorway of the cafeteria, dark green, intelligent eyes sweeping the packed tables for a sign of his friend. Bruck’s shocking white hair was easy to pick out amongst the rows of Jedi, the other Padawan sitting alone as usual intent on a datapad. Shaking his head in exasperation, Aalto weaved his way between the tables until he stood directly in front of his friend’s table. When his presence received absolutely no reaction, he pulled the chair out, making certain the legs scraped loudly on the floor.

"Do you mind?"

"What are you studying?" Aalto ignored his friend’s irritated remark, leaning back until the chair rested solely on its back legs.

"Mission report. Master Qui-Gon and I leave first thing in the morning." Bruck glanced up long enough to shoot his friend a warning look before returning to his studies. "One of these days you’re going to fall over backwards and I intend to laugh uproariously when it happens."

Aalto made a face at his bent head before righting himself. "Did you ever find out what was bothering your mentor?"

Bruck switched the datapad off and pushed it away with a low curse. His blue eyes were heated as they met Aalto’s equally dark ones. "Unfortunately, yes. Today was Kenobi’s Naming Day."

A low whistle of surprise issued from Aalto at the revelation, his expression shifting to concern as he studied his best friend. He, more than anyone in the Temple, knew and understood the depth and reasons behind Bruck’s dislike for Obi-Wan Kenobi. He’d hoped that years with Kenobi gone would help Bruck overcome the past. His hope had proved to be futile.

"Bruck, don’t you think it’s past time both you and Master Qui-Gon move on? Put the past behind you and live for today?"

A dark glower flooded Bruck’s tanned features. "Channeling Yoda today, Aalto? Maybe you and the rest of the Order can forgive and forget Kenobi’s betrayal, but I can’t. I won’t be blinded by infatuation like the rest of you."

Aalto flushed at the reminder of his own childhood crush on Obi-Wan Kenobi. Most of their agemates had been half in love with him. Not only had he been cute and charming, but he’d gone out of his way to be nice to everyone and had a dry sense of humor. Even to this day, many of the Jedi they’d grown up with idolized Kenobi’s memory. A fact which only incited Bruck’s raw feelings.

"I admit that I had a crush on him." Aalto paused when Bruck’s stare grew even icier, as if sensing what was coming next. "Maybe if you’d admit to your own feelings for him, you’d be able to make peace with the past."

"Shut up!"

Conversations broke off around them, heads swinging in their direction as Bruck jumped to his feet. Hands clenched at his sides, he fairly quivered with anger as he glared down at his best friend.

"You promised that you’d never mention that," he hissed in a low tone.

"I’m sorry. Now sit, and calm down before someone decides to come over and find out what’s wrong."

Noticing for the first time the attention he’d drawn their direction, Bruck swallowed his anger and dropped back into the chair. They sat in weighted silence until the onlookers lost interest and returned to their conversations. Eventually the dark haired boy leaned forward, a hand resting on Bruck’s fisted ones in comfort.

"I’m sorry I brought that up. I’m just worried about you."

The tension gradually bled from Bruck at the words of comfort. Aalto was the only real friend he had in the Temple and he treasured their friendship more than anything. When everyone else had written him off as a lost cause after the death of his first master, Aalto had remained steadfast in supporting him. He knew his fellow apprentice would never betray the confidence he’d made during a difficult time.

"A part of me knows you’re right, Aalto." The admission visibly pained him. "I was a fool back then."

"You were thirteen, Bruck. A child, even though at the time we would have protested being called such. I’m sure if you were to come face-to-face with Obi-Wan today, you’d realize that those feelings were left behind with your childhood."

His friend’s assurance did nothing to alleviate Bruck’s disquieted thoughts. It was a difficult thing to do, admitting the feelings he’d had for Kenobi as they’d perched on the edge of puberty. At thirteen, Obi-Wan had just begun to grow into his body, big ears and feet somehow morphing into what promised to one day be a stunning physical appearance. Even to this day, Bruck often woke up sweating after a dream in which he’d interacted with an adult Kenobi on a very intimate level.

"So where are you and Master Qui-Gon off to this time?"

Aalto’s query broke him out of the disturbing direction his thoughts had drifted. "Ord Radama. It’s time for the annual negotiation of the treaty they have with their neighboring planets."

Aalto’s handsome features tightened into lines of concentration. "Ord Radama? Isn’t Telos one of those neighboring planets?"

Bruck froze at the question, his hands immediately grabbing for his datapad. He could feel his friend’s worried gaze as he frantically scrolled through the mission docket, searchng for information on the planets that would be represented.

"Force no!" Sitting back in stunned disbelief, he sent Aalto a disbelieving look. "What is the Council thinking by sending us?"

"Telos is a huge planet and as far as I know, deCrion no longer holds any political influence over it. He’s gone out of his way to avoid any contact with the Jedi since he left, I doubt you need worry about running into him," Aalto assured his agitated friend.

"Still," Bruck breathed. "Just being in such close proximity to the planet, and having to deal with representatives from there will be difficult for Master Qui-Gon. It's bound to bring up bad memories."

Aalto slapped him on the shoulder. "That’s why he has you. Don’t worry about it, Bruck. The two of you will handle matters and return without any trouble."

"You’re right, Aalto." Bruck drew himself up as he gathered his things. "This is just another mission."

"That’s the spirit! Interested in getting some sparring in before you leave tomorrow?"

"You’re on. I need to drop these off at the apartment so I’ll meet you in the salle."

Bruck’s steps were lighter as he parted ways with Aalto outside of the cafeteria. As he traveled the hallways toward his rooms, he hummed a song, a small smile curving his lips as he looked forward to spending time with his mentor away from the grind of Temple life.