Title: Shoes and Sparring
Fandom: Star Wars Prequel Trilogy
Rating: All
Length: 545 words
Content Notes: No Warnings
Author Notes: Set in an AU that currently has no name and no other posted stories. Morien is a Togruta OFC, Riaeh is a non-canon alien OFC, and this is set during The Phantom Menace.

Summary: Morien and Obi-Wan discuss shoes, before escaping to spar while their respective Masters argue prophecy.

"You would not have wanted to go barefoot on Tatooine, if you'd been with us." Obi-Wan sits on the railing of the balcony, looking out over the gardens and the rooftop plaza of the Temple, while Morien sits beside him facing inward. "You would have burned your feet."

"Perhaps." Morien leans backward, hands light on the railing as she balances, bare feet pointing toward the open door from which quiet arguing could be heard. Master Riaeh and his own Master were doing their best to keep from shouting, which was probably a good thing. There were enough things to worry about right now. "I haven't burned my feet on a desert world yet, though."

"Hmph." Obi-Wan looks over the garden for a long moment, shifting his weight slightly to keep himself balanced on the narrow railing.

"It's not your fault human feet are delicate things," Morien adds after a while, smiling enough to show off sharp teeth when Obi-Wan glares at her. "Most of the feet of those who are near-human have delicate feet, prone to burns and cuts and scrapes. You come home with enough injuries already, of course you won't risk doing avoidable harm."

"Your feet aren't that much tougher than mine. You just have a cultural excuse not to wear boots." Obi-Wan uses the Force to tickle the bottoms of Morien's feet, and she hisses, reaching out with one hand to poke him in the ribs. "Just as sensitive."

"Perhaps." Morien drops her legs, drawing herself upright again, gaze straying to the space beyond the door. "They're going to be talking about that prophecy and the Skywalker boy all night."

"Likely." Obi-Wan thinks his Master is treading a path he shouldn't - there's danger in Anakin's future, either from him or surrounding him, and he doesn't care which if it's going to do harm to those he's come to call family - but he can't stop Qui-Gon from doing what he wants to. A stubbornness that Obi-Wan knows runs in all those that make up the little family they have.

"If there's a salle open, care to join me in some sparring?" Morien watches him with a small smile on her face. "Unless you really want to watch our Masters try to out-stubborn each other."

"Force, no." Obi-Wan shakes his head, swinging his legs over the railing so he can slide off it. "Especially not if Master Devona shows up."

"Master is cleared to go back to light duty, though it'll probably be another month before we're allowed to go back into the field." Morien makes a face, hopping off the railing herself. "It won't stop her from chasing me around the salle herself if I don't keep up with my practice otherwise."

Obi-Wan snorts, following Morien through the main room of the suite she shares with Master Riaeh. His own Master looks up from the argument before they make it out the door, raising an eyebrow in silent question.

Just hunting down an empty salle to spar in, Master.

A quiet chuckle over the mental bond is his response as the door shuts, and Obi-Wan grins to himself as he and Morien head for the salles. No matter what tomorrow brings, at least today is proving as normal as his life ever gets.