Pairing: Q/O
Rating: G
Category: Humor/Parody
Archive: Master and Apprentice--anyone else ask please
Summary: Obi-Wan's tired and sore and he's not going to take it anymore.
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, much less these fine characters--although I own a couple of action figures of them, does that count? Probably not. Oh well, I refuse to make any money off them in any event, so please don't sue me.
Notes: Huge thank you to Marnee for the quick beta!! This story is mostly James' fault, but a little of the blame goes to my own klutziness and a particularly annoying Monday.



Practice Over Pain
by Nicole D'Annais
Copyright 2000



"Ow!"

Qui-Gon extinguished his lightsaber with a flick of his thumb and rushed over to his fallen student. "Padawan, are you all right?"

"I'm fine," Obi-Wan replied, frowning up at his master. "It just hurts." He leaned to the side, rubbing his tailbone. "Ow!"

"Here." Qui-Gon held out his hand. "Let me help you up."

The hand was ignored, and Obi-Wan stayed where he was. "I don't *want* to get up."

"Padawan." The voice was stern. "If you're not seriously injured, then we need to finish this exercise."

"Why?"

The Jedi Master blinked. "Why what?"

"Why do we need to finish this exercise?"

"Because...because in battle you would not have the luxury of coddling minor injuries."

"So? Do you see any dangerous criminals around? Is there a battalion of evil soldiers hiding under the practice mat? I suppose a herd of banthas could break down the door any second, couldn't it?"

That brought Qui-Gon up short. "Well, no, but--"

"But what?" He winced as he stood up gingerly, still rubbing his tailbone. "I know I'd have to keep going if I were injured in battle, and I've done that in practice many times. But where is it written that I always have to finish every exercise unless I'm skewered with someone's 'saber?"

"Well--"

"It's not! Nowhere, not in anything I've seen, has it ever said that." He stalked over to the door and pointed at the Jedi code, inscripted on a durasteel plate on the wall. "'Peace over anger. Honor over hate. Strength over fear.' Nowhere does it say 'Practice over pain.'"

"Padawan--"

Obi-Wan cut him off with a wave of his hand. "And don't tell me to release my pain and count my blessings, or whatever other trite phrase you were about to use. What if I want to just sit--or stand, since I can't sit without an incredible amount of pain--and wallow in my misery? What if I want to be upset for a few minutes that I have to endure so many injuries to be a Jedi? Is the galaxy going to explode? I don't think so! As a matter of fact, I don't even think I'll turn to the dark side from two minutes of leaning against the wall saying 'It's not fair and I don't want to and you can't make me!'"

With that, he walked over to the wall, his eyes daring his master to try to stop him. He leaned back against the duraplast and crossed his arms, carefully avoiding any contact between the wall and his tailbone.

Qui-Gon simply raised an eyebrow. "Are you finished?"

"Yes," he bit out, still glowering at the older man.

"Then as I was about to say," the Jedi Master continued, crossing the room to join his padawan, "perhaps we should quit for today. Have an early dinner, and maybe a massage to get rid of those aches that seem to be plaguing you."

"Really?" Obi-Wan's eyes lit up, then turned suspicious. "What's the trick?"

"Trick?"

"Yes. You know. What do I have to do in exchange? Twice as many routines tomorrow? An extra week of kitchen duty?"

He shook his head. "No trick. Can't I just do something nice for you once in a while?"

"You do. Frequently. But not when it comes to training."

Qui-Gon leaned over and gave him a soft kiss. "Training is over for the day."

"Oh." Obi-Wan lifted his face for another kiss. When they pulled apart again, he allowed his master to pull him away from the wall. "So we're going back to our rooms?"

"Yes."

"And no more practice for today?"

Qui-Gon shook his head as he put an arm around Obi-Wan's shoulders. "No. We can do anything you want."

"Anything?"

"Anything."

Obi-Wan grinned. "See, Master? I told you getting upset wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Maybe I should try it more often."

The arm around his shoulder tightened. "I wouldn't make a habit of it if I were you."

"Yes, Master."

-----
End

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