Untitled 8
Feb. 7th, 2003 07:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
emmagrant01Untitled, Part 8
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
emmagrant01
Rating: R
Summary: After the shower scene
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: All hail Lucas. Not my characters. No money made here.
Feedback: Yes, and you know I mean it! Really! Help me polish this.
Note: Sorry that this took a while - QAJ kept me busy this week!
*************************
"Tea," Obi-Wan said to himself, pacing in the common room. "I should make some tea." The room was equipped with an automatic kettle and a variety of types of tea in individual packets. He filled the kettle from the small sink and set it to boil.
The scene in the 'fresher had been humiliating, to say the least. He seemed to be making a fool of himself in front of Siri at every turn. At least she didn't seem to mind -- in fact, she seemed to enjoy it.
Why should I be concerned about what Siri thinks of me? he wondered, settling back into pacing the floor, lost in thought. If she thinks I'm a fool, or if she thinks otherwise, what does it matter? For some reason, it did matter to him, he realized with a start. He wanted her to like him, to think highly of him. He'd known her for years. She either thought highly of him or she didn't. Why did he feel so compelled to impress her now?
The kettle chimed, indicating that the water was ready. He turned the kettle off, filled two strangely-shaped cups, and examined the packets of tea available. Most were brands he'd never heard of, so he chose two at random. He carried the steeping mugs back to the low table by the sofa, casting a glance at the 'fresher door. Siri ought to be emerging any moment.
He sat on the rather large sofa, stiffly at first, wondering what the best pose to strike should be. If he sat like this, he'd appear too tense, too disturbed by what had just happened between them. He leaned back, sinking into the sofa cushions. This position might appear too relaxed, and he couldn't quite reach his tea. Casual, but dignified -- that's what he needed. He pulled his feet up under him, cross-legged, in a meditation pose. Better. He turned his body and stretched his legs out across the cushions, almost horizontal, draping his arm across the back of the sofa.
He grinned at himself. No, this makes it look like--
The door opened. He nearly fell off of the sofa in his haste to sit upright again. Siri looked at him oddly.
Fuck. I can't win.
"I made some tea," he said, unable to think of any other way to invite her to sit down.
She nodded, settling comfortably next to him and taking the warm mug into her hand. He couldn't help but notice that she chose to sit in the center of the sofa, close to him.
She took a sip and grimaced slightly. "Is there any sweetener?"
He leapt to his feet a bit more enthusiastically than he intended. He quickly found the sweetener packets, and something with which to stir the tea. He handed them to her and sat down again. Her lips quirked upwards in a strange smile as she prepared her tea, hands moving in a familiar routine. He found himself drawn to her, unable to take his eyes off of her.
He inhaled, noting that she smelled clean and slightly fragrant, like the soap he'd used earlier. His soap. Her short blond hair had been towel-dried and stuck out from her head in several directions. It was refreshing to see her this way, and almost... intimate. She raised the cup to her lips and cast her eyes towards him as she took a sip.
She swallowed. "Why are you staring at me? Is something wrong?" She threaded fingers through her short hair.
He grinned. "I thought you didn't mind if I looked at you. At least, as long as you have clothes on." He was immediately mortified. Why did I say that?
To his relief, she laughed. "Yes, I did say that, didn't I?" Her eyes grew darker. "You can look all you like, if you'll allow me the same liberty."
"I'll leave the door open next time I take a shower," he said, shocked at his own boldness. "It's only fair." It was the closest thing to an apology he could muster.
She blinked for a moment. "May I confess something to you?"
"Certainly."
She paused, as if reconsidering for a brief moment, then charged ahead. "I have seen you naked, actually. Once, years ago, I snuck into the men's showers by the training salles and watched you in the shower."
"Really?" He had to laugh at that. It took some courage for her to admit this transgression. "When was this?"
"At least ten years ago," she said, relieved at his reaction. "So I suppose we're even now."
"Perhaps," he replied. "Of course, I imagine that I look different now than I did then."
She shrugged and raised the cup to her lips to cover her smile.
"I'm glad you've stayed for tea, actually, because I was hoping we could talk about what we should do next."
Her eyebrows raised at that. "Next?" She looked a little flustered. "Well, I..." She set her cup down on the table and turned to face him. She took a deep breath and took one of his hands in hers. "Why do we have to talk about it? Why can't we just...?"
Obi-Wan suddenly realized that they were having two completely different conversations. He paused, feeling her fingers stroke his palm slowly, surprised by how good that simple touch felt. Maybe he should let this happen. It was clear that they were attracted to one another. They were friends. What harm could come from a little physical comfort? He met her gaze steadily.
"That... feels nice," he stammered. He took a deep breath. "Please feel free to continue doing it. I... was referring to the mission, though."
She dropped his hand abruptly. "Oh, Force, I..." She blushed. "How embarrassing. I'm sorry."
He took her hand, replicating her earlier caress in turn. "Siri, don't apologize. I don't want us to feel uncomfortable with each other, especially not now, when we have a mission to attend to. I won't deny that I'm attracted to you." Her eyes met his at that. He swallowed down his sudden feelings of awkwardness and continued, "And whatever we choose to do about that is a separate issue. The two can coexist, but one should not detract from the other."
She nodded and slid a little closer to him. Her thigh pressed against his, and their clasped hands rested in his lap. She smiled, composure regained. "So, what were you going to tell me?"
Her proximity was a little distracting, but not overwhelmingly so. "We still haven't received a message, or even an acknowledgement from the Krisilian government. I can't help but think that something has happened to the interim governor."
She settled back against the cushion of the sofa, her shoulder pressed against his, forehead furrowed in concentration. "We should probably contact the Council. Of course, my first thought is to split up and go to negotiate with the candidates, as originally planned. Perhaps one of them is involved in the governor's disappearance."
"We don't know for certain that he's disappeared."
"He was the one who requested our presence. We've tried repeatedly to contact him and have received no reply. It strongly suggests that he's disappeared, or has been incapacitated somehow."
"Yes, but it's speculation at this point. I think that we should spend a few days here and investigate. Once we've verified his situation, we can re-evaluate."
"That sounds precisely like what the Council would suggest," she remarked dryly. "But I suppose you're right. The conservative course of action is probably best."
"Conservative?" he laughed. "Is that what you think of me?"
"Yes," she replied, a little too quickly. He frowned slightly. "Obi, you are the epitome of a conservative Jedi Knight. I used to wonder if you'd even take a piss without the Council's approval." She grinned and squeezed his hand. "Now I know that isn't true."
He snorted at that, uncertain if he was amused or offended. He didn't think of himself as conservative. Well, compared to Qui-Gon, he certainly was, but in general...?
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it, fixing her with an amused stare. Surely a conservative person wouldn't do that. Or...
He turned her hand over and kissed her palm, then traced a path across it with the tip of his tongue. She sucked in her breath sharply and closed her eyes. He immediately wondered if he'd gone too far, releasing her hand.
She opened her eyes and smiled. "That was unexpected," she admitted. "And very nice."
He smiled back. "Conservative?"
She grinned wickedly. "Definitely. You'll have to do better than that to change my mind."
*******************************
Author:
emmagrant01Rating: R
Summary: After the shower scene
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: All hail Lucas. Not my characters. No money made here.
Feedback: Yes, and you know I mean it! Really! Help me polish this.
Note: Sorry that this took a while - QAJ kept me busy this week!
*************************
"Tea," Obi-Wan said to himself, pacing in the common room. "I should make some tea." The room was equipped with an automatic kettle and a variety of types of tea in individual packets. He filled the kettle from the small sink and set it to boil.
The scene in the 'fresher had been humiliating, to say the least. He seemed to be making a fool of himself in front of Siri at every turn. At least she didn't seem to mind -- in fact, she seemed to enjoy it.
Why should I be concerned about what Siri thinks of me? he wondered, settling back into pacing the floor, lost in thought. If she thinks I'm a fool, or if she thinks otherwise, what does it matter? For some reason, it did matter to him, he realized with a start. He wanted her to like him, to think highly of him. He'd known her for years. She either thought highly of him or she didn't. Why did he feel so compelled to impress her now?
The kettle chimed, indicating that the water was ready. He turned the kettle off, filled two strangely-shaped cups, and examined the packets of tea available. Most were brands he'd never heard of, so he chose two at random. He carried the steeping mugs back to the low table by the sofa, casting a glance at the 'fresher door. Siri ought to be emerging any moment.
He sat on the rather large sofa, stiffly at first, wondering what the best pose to strike should be. If he sat like this, he'd appear too tense, too disturbed by what had just happened between them. He leaned back, sinking into the sofa cushions. This position might appear too relaxed, and he couldn't quite reach his tea. Casual, but dignified -- that's what he needed. He pulled his feet up under him, cross-legged, in a meditation pose. Better. He turned his body and stretched his legs out across the cushions, almost horizontal, draping his arm across the back of the sofa.
He grinned at himself. No, this makes it look like--
The door opened. He nearly fell off of the sofa in his haste to sit upright again. Siri looked at him oddly.
Fuck. I can't win.
"I made some tea," he said, unable to think of any other way to invite her to sit down.
She nodded, settling comfortably next to him and taking the warm mug into her hand. He couldn't help but notice that she chose to sit in the center of the sofa, close to him.
She took a sip and grimaced slightly. "Is there any sweetener?"
He leapt to his feet a bit more enthusiastically than he intended. He quickly found the sweetener packets, and something with which to stir the tea. He handed them to her and sat down again. Her lips quirked upwards in a strange smile as she prepared her tea, hands moving in a familiar routine. He found himself drawn to her, unable to take his eyes off of her.
He inhaled, noting that she smelled clean and slightly fragrant, like the soap he'd used earlier. His soap. Her short blond hair had been towel-dried and stuck out from her head in several directions. It was refreshing to see her this way, and almost... intimate. She raised the cup to her lips and cast her eyes towards him as she took a sip.
She swallowed. "Why are you staring at me? Is something wrong?" She threaded fingers through her short hair.
He grinned. "I thought you didn't mind if I looked at you. At least, as long as you have clothes on." He was immediately mortified. Why did I say that?
To his relief, she laughed. "Yes, I did say that, didn't I?" Her eyes grew darker. "You can look all you like, if you'll allow me the same liberty."
"I'll leave the door open next time I take a shower," he said, shocked at his own boldness. "It's only fair." It was the closest thing to an apology he could muster.
She blinked for a moment. "May I confess something to you?"
"Certainly."
She paused, as if reconsidering for a brief moment, then charged ahead. "I have seen you naked, actually. Once, years ago, I snuck into the men's showers by the training salles and watched you in the shower."
"Really?" He had to laugh at that. It took some courage for her to admit this transgression. "When was this?"
"At least ten years ago," she said, relieved at his reaction. "So I suppose we're even now."
"Perhaps," he replied. "Of course, I imagine that I look different now than I did then."
She shrugged and raised the cup to her lips to cover her smile.
"I'm glad you've stayed for tea, actually, because I was hoping we could talk about what we should do next."
Her eyebrows raised at that. "Next?" She looked a little flustered. "Well, I..." She set her cup down on the table and turned to face him. She took a deep breath and took one of his hands in hers. "Why do we have to talk about it? Why can't we just...?"
Obi-Wan suddenly realized that they were having two completely different conversations. He paused, feeling her fingers stroke his palm slowly, surprised by how good that simple touch felt. Maybe he should let this happen. It was clear that they were attracted to one another. They were friends. What harm could come from a little physical comfort? He met her gaze steadily.
"That... feels nice," he stammered. He took a deep breath. "Please feel free to continue doing it. I... was referring to the mission, though."
She dropped his hand abruptly. "Oh, Force, I..." She blushed. "How embarrassing. I'm sorry."
He took her hand, replicating her earlier caress in turn. "Siri, don't apologize. I don't want us to feel uncomfortable with each other, especially not now, when we have a mission to attend to. I won't deny that I'm attracted to you." Her eyes met his at that. He swallowed down his sudden feelings of awkwardness and continued, "And whatever we choose to do about that is a separate issue. The two can coexist, but one should not detract from the other."
She nodded and slid a little closer to him. Her thigh pressed against his, and their clasped hands rested in his lap. She smiled, composure regained. "So, what were you going to tell me?"
Her proximity was a little distracting, but not overwhelmingly so. "We still haven't received a message, or even an acknowledgement from the Krisilian government. I can't help but think that something has happened to the interim governor."
She settled back against the cushion of the sofa, her shoulder pressed against his, forehead furrowed in concentration. "We should probably contact the Council. Of course, my first thought is to split up and go to negotiate with the candidates, as originally planned. Perhaps one of them is involved in the governor's disappearance."
"We don't know for certain that he's disappeared."
"He was the one who requested our presence. We've tried repeatedly to contact him and have received no reply. It strongly suggests that he's disappeared, or has been incapacitated somehow."
"Yes, but it's speculation at this point. I think that we should spend a few days here and investigate. Once we've verified his situation, we can re-evaluate."
"That sounds precisely like what the Council would suggest," she remarked dryly. "But I suppose you're right. The conservative course of action is probably best."
"Conservative?" he laughed. "Is that what you think of me?"
"Yes," she replied, a little too quickly. He frowned slightly. "Obi, you are the epitome of a conservative Jedi Knight. I used to wonder if you'd even take a piss without the Council's approval." She grinned and squeezed his hand. "Now I know that isn't true."
He snorted at that, uncertain if he was amused or offended. He didn't think of himself as conservative. Well, compared to Qui-Gon, he certainly was, but in general...?
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it, fixing her with an amused stare. Surely a conservative person wouldn't do that. Or...
He turned her hand over and kissed her palm, then traced a path across it with the tip of his tongue. She sucked in her breath sharply and closed her eyes. He immediately wondered if he'd gone too far, releasing her hand.
She opened her eyes and smiled. "That was unexpected," she admitted. "And very nice."
He smiled back. "Conservative?"
She grinned wickedly. "Definitely. You'll have to do better than that to change my mind."
*******************************
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2003-02-07 07:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-02-07 09:20 am (UTC)