Master Petting
a Star Wars story
by Nermal
With a satisfied smile, Obi-Wan shut down the data-terminal and removed his information card. He had been able to shower, read through his master's reports and correct any errors in the reports in a relatively short period of time. Not that he was in a hurry, but he did want to finish as soon as possible. He and Qui-Gon had gotten through their post-mission duties quickly and had the rest of the week free. Not haste, but anticipation had spurred Obi-Wan to finish his work on the final details of their last mission. Standing up, he stretched the muscles in his neck and back and yawned. Now he could go join Qui-Gon in their bedchamber and relax.
At least that's where Obi-Wan assumed Qui-Gon would be. A smile crept over Obi-Wan's face as he recalled how easily Qui-Gon had complied with his suggestion to take a hot bath. Usually his master proofed their reports, waiting until all the small details had been taken care of before letting himself relax. This time a head cold had slowed Qui-Gon down enough to allow Obi-Wan to see to the post-mission tasks. Besides editing the reports, Obi-Wan had done the unpacking and made tea. After indulging himself in another slow stretch and yawn, Obi-Wan carried the tea into the bedchamber.
As Obi-Wan had hoped, Qui-Gon had finished taking a bath. He sat on the bed and was busy blowing his nose when Obi-Wan came in. From the slightly damp, tangled state of his hair and the way his tunic hung open, Obi-Wan guessed he had just came from the 'fresher. Qui-Gon tossed a few used tissues away and nodded when Obi-Wan placed the tray that held the teapot and two mugs on the bedside table.
"You sound congested." Obi-Wan smoothed his hand over Qui-Gon's hair as he sat down on the bed.
"The steam from the bath helped a bit," Qui-Gon murmured, grabbing another tissue. "Ehh.. HehKESHH!"
"Bless you."
Qui-Gon nodded, not opening his eyes, and held the tissue in front of his face expectantly. With a quiet gasp he raised it to cover his nose and mouth. "ehKSHH!! kehHushoo!"
Combing Qui-Gon's hair with his fingers, Obi-Wan made a soft, murmuring noise of comfort as Qui-Gon kept the tissue in place to blow his nose again. The steam may have loosened the congestion, but it did not appear to have offered Qui-Gon much relief. The few words he had uttered had sounded nasal; the quiet sniffle that followed the nose blowing came from what had to be a stuffy nose.
"It hasn't moved to your chest, has it?" Obi-Wan stroked Qui-Gon's hair again. Even a minor illness like this one tended to make him uneasy. When Qui-Gon shook his head, Obi-Wan felt a flutter of relief in his stomach.
"Feels like it's all here," Qui-Gon pressed two fingers to his forehead, right above his nose. "Headache, and nasal congestion." He sighed and rubbed the fingers over his forehead.
"And the sneezing."
"Mmm, yes."
Obi-Wan pressed a kiss to Qui-Gon's shoulder, stood up from the bed, and walked around to stand in front of his master. Kneeling down, he fussed with the fastenings on Qui-Gon's tunic. "In that case, why don't you get in bed, warm up, and drink some of the tea I prepared." Obi-Wan patted the wrinkles from the tunic front. "I'll brush out your hair and rub your shoulders until you're ready for sleep. How does that sound, Master?"
"Entirely over-indulgent. Padawan, I'm not that ill."
"No, but you are sick enough to be in bed." Obi-Wan pulled the blankets down, guiding Qui-Gon into a comfortable position. "And as I'm joining you, I might as well do something I like." He slid in next to Qui-Gon and poured out two cups of tea.
"Master petting?"
"Master petting." Obi-Wan nodded in agreement. He reached over to hand Qui-Gon a cup, but pulled his hand back. "Drink or tissues?"
Qui-Gon sniffled, rubbing his nose with one finger. "Tissues, I'm afraid."
"Right." A handful of tissues replaced the teacup. "Here, love."
"heh! ChishhAH! CHshh! HehChishhSHOO!" Eyes opening slowly, shoulders sagging just as slowly, Qui-Gon excused himself. "Pardon; could I have another tissue?" The last sneeze left his eyes watering and voice hoarse and Obi-Wan noticed both as Qui-Gon turned to face him. He turned back again, this movement quick, and sneezed a softer "Chishhih!" into the clean tissue.
"Blessings." Obi-Wan, certain the sneezes had finished for moment, took the used tissues from his master.
"Obi-Wan..."
"Master," he handed the tea to Qui-Gon, "if I'm going to catch this, I'm going to catch it whether or not I clean up after you." Obi-Wan reached over to rub Qui-Gon's back. "Poor Master," he whispered, his hand moving in small circles.
"Ah... oh, that's nice." The tension in Qui-Gon's body eased. He drank slowly, stopping to press his nose into the sleeve of his tunic. Leaning forward and away from Obi-Wan, he half-stifled a sneeze. After a small shudder shook his body, Qui-Gon sniffed and remained still.
"Another sneeze?" Obi-Wan stopped rubbing to look attentively at Qui-Gon. "Do you need..."
"N-no," Qui-Gon's voice wavered, "No. My nose just tickles." He pinched his nostrils shut, working his nose back and forth as if trying to work out the itch.
"That can't be good for you," Obi-Wan commented and pushed the box of tissues closer to Qui-Gon. "Take these for when you *do* sneeze. Can you drink some more tea for me, Master?"
Qui-Gon nodded. Obi-Wan took the opportunity, while Qui-Gon had a second cup of tea, to have one of his own. He swallowed his down with honey, drinking quickly and keeping an eye on Qui-Gon. The anxious weariness that had etched Qui-Gon's face had all but disappeared. Although he still looked tired, he no longer had the strained look of fatigue about him. Obi-Wan massaged Qui-Gon's shoulder with his fingers, took one last sip of tea, and placed his cup on the table.
"Would it be all right if I brushed your hair now?" Obi asked as he stroked the hair that fell over his master's shoulder.
"I'd like that."
"Yes, hmm?" Obi kissed the hand that touched his face.
Obi-Wan first stroked his fingertips over the hair at Qui-Gon's temples. It felt soft and clean, the damp having evaporated from the fine hair there. Drawing his fingers back, gently he combed through the rest of Qui-Gon's hair. He paused when his fingers snagged a tangle, extricating them rather than tug on Qui-Gon's hair. Now, this was truly something he enjoyed. Obi-Wan adored the way Qui-Gon would relax under his touch, instinctively moving closer. The soft noise he made –a rumbling purr from deep in his chest – made Obi-Wan swell with satisfaction. He was the one Qui-Gon trusted to make him feel safe, warm, and vulnerable. That was the noise of content and no matter how hard he tried, Qui-Gon could not hide that content from his padawan when Obi-Wan decided 'master petting' was how the evening would be spent. Master petting. Obi-Wan felt a grin form on his lips. Moments like this, when Qui-Gon was more tired and run down than anything else, gave Obi-Wan the chance to indulge both himself and Qui-Gon. He could give his master all the attention Qui-Gon needed, wanted and deserved without too much of an argument from Qui-Gon.
Admiring the job he had done on Qui-Gon's hair, Obi-Wan placed the brush down. His master's hair was getting long, the ends reaching past Qui-Gon's shoulders almost to the middle of his back, and should probably be pulled back for sleep. Obi-Wan stroked his fingers through the soft, heavy weight of Qui-Gon's hair and was about to ask Qui-Gon if he wanted it braided. Obi-Wan pulled away when Qui-Gon's shoulders shook as he stifled another sneeze into a tissue.
"ehKmmp! k'shmpff!! Heh...Chshhn!" A congested sniffle followed the sneezes. Qui-Gon lowered the tissues, mumbled an apology, and sniffled again.
"Don't hold them in, love, it's just going to make you sneeze more." Obi-Wan pressed closer to Qui-Gon with the hope that Qui-Gon would lean against him and relax. "And bless you."
"Didn't... want... EhiishhhAHH! ... bother, both-- HuhEHShhHAH!! EhhShooo! HuhEshhoshh!" Instead of leaning into Obi-Wan's embrace, Qui-Gon pulled away a bit farther with each sneeze. His recently brushed hair fell over trembling shoulders as another fit of sneezes curled Qui-Gon in on himself. "EhCHishhh!! Chihhshh! Chuh!EhehSHOO!" Although Obi-Wan rubbed his shoulder lightly, Qui-Gon did not turn around to face him until after he blew his nose wetly into a handful of tissues. "Excuse me. I didn't want to bother you."
Obi-Wan shook his head. With his watery eyes and pink nose, Qui-Gon looked more ill than apologetic. "I'm done brushing your hair. You can bother me all you want." He rubbed one hand up and down Qui-Gon's back, intending to give him a quick massage. When Qui-Gon yawned, then failed to hold back another yawn, Obi-Wan decided to pull Qui-Gon back into his arms. "Come, relax."
"Are sure you?"
"Of course, dear."
Qui-Gon gave Obi-Wan an apprehensive look. He remained thus for a few moments. Slowly, Qui-Gon sank into the hug Obi-Wan offered. A shiver had him snuggling closer for warmth and grabbing the tissues for his runny nose.
"Comfortable?" Obi-Wan nuzzled Qui-Gon's hair, urging him to put his head on Obi-Wan's shoulder.
Qui-God nodded slowly. His eyes drooped shut as he relaxed even further into the warmth of the bed and Obi-Wan, then flittered open for a second. "EhKISHH!"
"Oh, bless you!" Obi-Wan smiled, cuddling Qui-Gon close to him once more. The sudden sneeze had set Qui-Gon sniffling again – a soft, repeated noise that stopped when Obi-Wan gently wiped his nose. "There, feel better?" He kissed Qui-Gon's head after a small sigh of satisfaction issued from Qui-Gon's lips. "Good."
After a few minutes of fussing with blankets, getting himself comfortable and making sure Qui-Gon had all that he needed, Obi-Wan settled down. The bed felt decadent after the cots and benches he had slept on during their last mission. Warm, dry, large enough for him to share it with Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan smiled with satisfaction and nestled into the pillows. Looking down as Qui-Gon's hand brushed over his, Obi-Wan pressed a tender kiss to his master's head. "Yes?"
Qui-Gon sniffled quietly. "Are you sure you don't mind sitting in bed?"
"Not at all, dear."
"This isn't how you wanted to spend your evening." He shook his head tiredly.
"On the contrary, Qui-Gon, this is exactly how I wanted to spend the evening." Obi-Wan dimmed the lights, hugged Qui-Gon to him, and pulled the blanket up over his chest. "I've been planning it for weeks."
"Oh, really?"
"Well, not the you catching a cold part, but the you and I cuddled up in bed part."
"In that case, don't let me spoil your plans, my Obi."
With a content sigh, Obi-Wan closed his eyes. "You couldn't, dear. Trust me."
The End
It's all GL's. :) A/N: Yes, I'm highly aware of how dumb the title of this 'fic is. It's been on my hard drive as "Qui fluffy bunny fic" for way too long. Time to post it, dumb title or not.