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Things had been tense, since Qui-gon had returned. Obi-Wan had been just too busy to deal with whatever osik his Master would inevitably start. (He had an uncanny ability to piss off every Mando in a 100 metre radius of himself.)
Now, however, Obi-wan and Qui-gon were alone with nothing to distract either of them, and by the look in the elder man’s eye, this was going to be a long conversation.
“Obi-wan” Qui-gon said, in that condescending tone that the Padawan had heard one too many times. Obi-wan should have said “yes master?” Should have bowed, should have shown some respect. A few years ago, he would have. When Bandomeer and Melida/Daan were still fresh in his mind. When he was still eager to please his master and cement his place in an order that had largely not wanted him.
Part of him still yearned for Qui-gon’s approval. The part that had been conditioned from a young age that he was always wrong, his master always right. Obi-wan knew better now.
Obi-wan was sick, sick of constantly being thrown away, sick of fearing he’d never be a knight, sick of being completely compliant to all of his master's orders.
So he did not bow, and lower his head, like a Jedi Padawan should have, no. He looked his master directly in the eye and he said, “Qui-gon”
The Jedi Master’s frown deepened at the mild disrespect, but Obi-wan stud his ground. “How have you been?”
“Good, the Mando’ade have been very welcoming,”
Obi-wan observed as Qui-gob’s eyebrow twitched at his use of Mando’a. It took everything in the Padawan’s Jedi training and self control not to roll his eyes.
To be honest he had always had a knack for languages. Mando’a had been no different. In fact Obi-wan had already begun to take interest in it before he’d even gotten to Mandalore.
“Hm yes, however soon we will have to inform the council of our inability to complete our objective.”
The redhead raises a questioning eyebrow.
“Isn’t the objective already complete? Master, Mandalore is closer to peace than it has been in decades.”
“Our Objective was to insure Duchess Kryze take power,”
“And she has, the Mand’alor has appointed her as duchess as Duchess of Sundari and ambassador to the republic, if that is not power I don’t know what is”
“The Mand’alor” and the way he says it, in that mocking tone makes anger unbefitting of a Jedi rise up in him. “Is a 16 year old child, she is not fit to rule a system let alone a sector,”
“Let me remind you Satine is only 2 years older than her sister, is an 18 year old so different from a 16 year old?”
“Satine has had core education-“
“Do not get me wrong, I do not doubt Satine’s ability to lead whatsoever, she is a perfect leader, especially for Sundari, but she is not what Mandalore needs.”
“What Mandalore needs is a peaceful leader, who will not plunge it into another war! Not a warlord who would rather paint these fields red rather than be civil with a Jedi or the republic,”
“Bo-Katan is completely fine with Jedi! It is you who is the problem, every time you are around her, you undermine her culture, you insult her religion and you insist that she is some kind of bloodlusting tyrant!”
“Obi-wan! Get your anger under control”
Obi-wan’s eyes narrow, “do not change the subject, you have taught me that Jedi we are supposed to do what is best for people. The people of Mandalore want Bo-Katan as a leader, to try to change that would be undermining democracy,”
“The council-“
“Since when have you listened to the council or the senate for that matter?”
“Since you have proved you cannot listen to orders, when we get back to Coruscant, I will be revoking your Senior Padawanship,”
Obi-wan Kenobi had always doubted his place in the order. He had always thought that was because he was not good enough to be a Jedi. However, reflecting back now, maybe it was the force telling him something. Maybe he isn't meant to be a Jedi, and maybe that’s not a bad thing.
Bo-katan had offered him a place in Mand’yaim at her side, because of his service. There is still so much to do, Tor Vizsla may have died but his son and successor Pre is still trying to lead a much smaller, weaker Krystad.
Obi-wan could admit he’d grown a little more than fond of Satine. He could imagine them together, their life together.
He could still follow the Jedi code and not exactly be a Jedi.
“I’m not returning to Coruscant,”
“What!”
“I wish to stay in Mandalore, to help rebuild the sector”
“You cannot throw away your life because you agree with someone’s politics,”
“I am not throwing away my life, I stayed a Jedi because all I ever wanted to do was help people, the force is telling me, that I will help more here, than I will in the order,”
“I will not come get you when you cry to me that you regret your decisions, not this time,”
Qui-gon turns and leaves the room, but the force reassures him that leaving the Jedi is the right path.
Funnily enough, it seems to be the will of the force.