The Guardian (Star Wars)

XIV - A Familiar Impasse

"No, I don't believe you," Obi-Wan dismisses my tale.

"That's how we met," I say to him. "I don't understand why a diplomat would want to go to that lowly place, but she did. And she nearly got herself into trouble if I hadn't been around to lend a hand."

Since Obi-Wan's initial visit, he hasn't seemed to leave. I enjoy his company, even when we're both within the same vicinity, sleeping. His presence has a calming effect despite what we've been through together in recent time. We pick up right where we leave off when it comes to conversation, though a heavy topic still lingers in the back of my brain.

"It's like she knew based off of that one encounter alone," I muse.

"Well, she knows to pick good choices."

"Why, thank you." I bow dramatically against the sofa. "How very nice of you to say."

"Well, your dramatics certainly haven't lessened."

"Oh, no, why would they? Sarcasm is allowed out in the real world beyond the Jedi Temple."

"If you were still in training, I'd say let's go to the Temple and grab some practice sabers."

"What? You don't trust me with my own?" I raise a curious brow. "It's because I nearly trimmed your beard when you snuck in, isn't it? There's no shame in admitting it, Ben. There's nobody to tell." I gesture to the rest of the empty place. "What if we practice slowly? Or—or we use a mock lightsaber, other objects, to take their place?"

"I doubt Padmé would appreciate her lamps being destroyed, Thea."

I roll my eyes. "You're no fun, Kenobi. I think being a Master has sucked that clean out of you." I put my hands out, the Force stopping the pillow just before it crashes into my face. I peek around it, seeing Ben's intense concentration. "A pillow fight, seriously?"

"You said no lightsabers." He removes himself from the sofa, fighting for control of the pillow that's close to my face. "This is harmless fun."

"I'm amazed that you remember what that is," I mock him. My green eyes flicker to another pillow. I give it a flick of the wrist, and it smacks softly against the back of his head. His concentration doesn't waver.

"It takes a lot more than that to snap my focus. I think you've forgotten that."

I move inwards a few inches. The pillow remains still in the air. "I think you've forgotten that I haven't lost my touch with the Force. I wonder if that's illegal, to keep using it when you're not a Jedi anymore. I have a lightsaber still, too."

"I knew you didn't hand it over when you made the choice to leave. I knew it the second I saw you use it as if you never stopped your training. You could always appeal to the Council and see if they could let you continue your training."

"I'd hope it's not with pillows, because that's harmless, boring fun."

The two of us move inwards. The pillow starts to quiver from both forces pushing on it. It's not looking to explode from the pressure. I push an extra burst into my concentration, and as the pillow flies to Ben's head, I lunge for him. He deflects the pillow, sending it elsewhere, as we engage in a duel of blocks and kicks close to not-so-nice-places-to-kick.

"You know, since you're mending, you shouldn't be doing this."

"I'm not in pain now, I know my limits."