Bound

Irrational Predictability

Some spoilers from Jedi Apprentice.
No betas, therefore the mistakes are all mine.
See chapter one for disclaimers.

To say Qui-Gon Jinn was angry would have been an understatement of the profoundest order. The Master Jedi was absolutely incensed. That the Council would dare oppose a master in his choice of padawan was practically unheard of. Any challenge of that sort threatened one of the most sacred trusts of the Order and was never done lightly. Only in the most extreme of circumstances had the High Council ever questioned a master's choice and only twice in the long history of the Jedi had a pairing actually been formally opposed. That they had threatened to do so now exceeded the very heights of incredulity.

Qui-Gon held no illusions about how most of the Council felt about him and his field work, but there had always been a level of respect, if not for his status within the Order then at least for his greater than average success rate. That they would do this... speak this... Qui-Gon felt a barely contained rage grow in his chest. Had he still had his Force sense he would have undoubtedly sent much around the room flying in a Force tempest of anger, but as it was, he was Force blind, bed confined, and inordinately pissed off.

No, he was quite ordinately pissed off.

"Master Ji..." came a quiet gasp to Qui-Gon's left. Wild eyes settled on blue-gray ones, blue-gray eyes that held much fear. Qui-Gon immediately closed his own eyes and attempted to calm himself before opening them again. When he did, many heartbeats later, he tried to present an image of a serene Jedi, even if he still did not feel like one.

"Obi-Wan, please come in," he intoned. The boy had yet to step into the room and still seemed disinclined to do so even after being invited. Qui-Gon tilted his head as he observed the teen.

"What's wrong, Padawan?" he asked and Obi-Wan started slightly.

"I'm still your padawan?" he replied timidly. Qui-Gon frowned. Had he truly been such a fright to the boy just now?

"Of course you are. Why would you think otherwise?"

"You were angry. Really angry."

"I was and, in truth, I still am, but not at you, Obi-Wan. Please, come inside," Qui-Gon beckoned as he lay back a bit more comfortably against the pillows that helped to prop him up. Obi-Wan walked sedately into the room and took his customary seat in the chair near the master's medical couch.

"What were you angry about then?" he asked and the master allowed himself a long sigh before he turned his gaze fully on the youth beside his bed.

"It is a long story, one you need not concern yourself with now, but I would like you to trust me when I tell you, you have done nothing to make me angry and I apologize if my lapse just now frightened you. That was not my intent," Qui-Gon answered calmly. Obi-Wan nodded though he still seemed somewhat uncertain to the master's eyes. "Obi-Wan," he paused and began again. "Padawan, there are certain things, certain rituals that are attendant to becoming a Padawan Learner, but I fear we will not be able to do these things until we reach Coruscant and return to the Temple. Know that this fact does not make you any less my padawan in any way. Do you understand?"

"You're taking me back to the Temple?"

"Of course," Qui-Gon replied more than a little surprised. "Why would you think otherwise?"

"Because..." Obi-Wan began he gaze shifting down towards his booted feet. "They sent me away from there. I didn't think... I could ever go back."