Confessions of a Tired Padawan by Emmy (NC-17)

[blacksquirrel.livejournal.com]

Send Feedback to Emmy at amariem@worldnet.att.net
Fandom: STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE
Pairing: Obi-Wan/OFC
Author Website: http://www.geocities.com/mistressdiebin/emmy
Why this must be read:

This story is in ABH form - wait! Come back! I'm not ordinarily a fan of ABH, OFCs or even het, but this story undercuts the MarySue stereotype at (almost) every pass. Based on the premise that the Jedi Temple is paired by a temple of devoted admirers, the story centers on one particular admirer who knows how to give a young, virile young Jedi exactly what he most wants - a nap. Set against fanon, "Confessions" reverses expectations again and again in a dizzying, cute, and satisfying tour of "your" unlikely relationship with a tired padawan. And did I mention the hot smut?

Personally, I loved this story because I'm primarily a slash fan and "Confessions" uses the "buddy pairing" formula in a het story - the characters are fairly evenly matched, both emotionally mature, both flawed, and both well developed - a friendship to love romance instead of a seduction/courtship. The rest of the month will be full of Obi/Qui slash, but I thought I'd bring some of the more unconventional 'ships to light in my first couple recs.

You quickly exhale loudly. "If your precious ego can handle it, I’ll have you know that I’m more than a little burned out on the creation of Obi smut."

He sighs, "Me, too."

His tone finally causes you to stop your defensive attack. "Huh?"

"Nothing," he says just the way you would say it when something eats at you.

"Whoa. Tell me what’s going on," you say.

"It’s just..." Then he shakes his head. "Oh, never mind."

You sit up in your chair. "No never mind. You tell me what’s bothering you."

"Well, being a Jedi is rather difficult business sometimes," he says.

"I can imagine. All those bad guys and inter-galactic conflict and such."

He shakes his head. "No, not that. I mean..." He looks around rather nervously.

"You mean... What? Bad food at the Temple? Too much boring meditation?"

He chuckles. "No, no. I mean -"

"I believe you said that already. Tell," you insist.

"With . . . with women," he says sheepishly.

You stare at him with eyebrows raised. "You have difficulty with women?"

"Well, in a manner of speaking - yes," he says hesitantly.

"What? Too much action leaving the wells dry and the general unable to perform his duties?"

Obi-Wan sits straight in his chair and asserts, "I assure you, my concerns have nothing to do with my physical abilities."

You put both hands up. "OK, calm down. Geez, you men are so sensitive about that."

"A Jedi never loses his abilities," he quips.

"Fine. But it’s nothing to be ashamed of if you do. We women are very understanding."

He smirks. "How nice for you. But a woman’s understanding is not required where I am concerned."

You cock your head to the side. "So what’s your problem then?"

"Well- "

"Obi-Wan, quit skirting the issue and tell me. I promise, your secrets are safe with me."

"Until you decide to write another story about me," he huffs.

You throw your hands up in the air. "OK, now you’ve offended me. I’m trying to help you, but just forget it."

"I’m sorry," he says.

"I take my friendships very seriously, you know."

"I know," he says.

"And I’d never betray a confidence," you say.

"I know."

"So spit it out or go away," you say as only you can.

He sighs and says, "There is just alot of pressure when it comes to women. They expect a lot from a Jedi. Not that I don’t enjoy giving a lot, you understand."

"But all this reading desires and fulfilling fantasies can wear a guy out," you say.

His eyes brighten. "Exactly. I’m constantly meeting everyone else’s needs. What about my needs?"

"You sound like a woman," you say.

"I thought you were trying to help me," he says.

"Sorry. But if you don’t enjoy it, why do you do it? Why come here, especially?"

"I do enjoy it. I really do," he says convincingly. "Especially the girls here. Qui-Gon and I are the most envied Jedi around. The experiences we’ve had here have been the most amazing -

"Too much information," you say, holding your hand up.

He continues, "There is just another side to it. We have these exhausting missions and then come home to women throwing themselves at us."

"Yeah," you say sarcastically, "it sucks to be you. Cuz I know if I had gorgeous men throwing themselves at me, I’d just want to run away and hide."

"I do not believe this is helping me," he says.

"Yeah. OK. Smart ass me is put away for now." You clear your throat. "So what you’re saying is that, although you enjoy all the attention and enjoy being fantasy man and serving and pleasing and all that, there’s a part of you that remains unfulfilled."

He nods. "And tired."

"And tired," you say as you pick up your pen and begin to scribble.

"What are you doing?" he asks. "You said you wouldn’t write this."

"I’m just doodling," you defend. "It helps me think. When are you ever going to trust me?"

"I do, I do. I’m just afraid of anyone here ever learning this."

"So why don’t you just say something? Express your needs. Unlike you, we can’t do the mind whammy bit," you say.

"I love how you reduce centuries of practice and years of my own training into the term ‘mind whammy.’"

You chuckle at the way those words sound coming out of his mouth and then give him a big cheesy grin. "I aim to please."

"I understand," he says with a soft smile.

Suddenly the light goes on. "Ah-HA! That’s your problem," you say.

"What?"

"You are a Jedi. You live by this centuries-old code of serving others, serving the Force. You are taught to forego your own needs for the needs of others."

He nods in agreement.

"So," you say, slapping your hand on the table, "let’s talk about your needs."

"Why are you awake? You should be asleep at this hour," he says.

"As should you," you say. "Don’t try and change the subject. Tell me what you need."

"What I need?"

"Yes. What does Obi-Wan need?"

... ...

"Sleep." He leans forward a bit. "I would give anything for a full night of uninterrupted sleep."

"I hear ya, brother."

Obi-Wan stares at you. "And why don’t you sleep? What keeps you up in the middle of the night?"

"Angst and masochism," you say. "But we’re not talking about me, we’re talking about you."

Confessions of a Tired Padawan