AN:I do not own Star Wars or any of its characters.

Nyctophilia describes the love of darkness or the night. The person then finds comfort or relaxation in the darkness.

Nyctophilia

"Have you understood everything? Do you have any questions?" asked Mace Windu, the Korun Council Member with a serious tone.

"What about my Master? Will he be informed of this?" the ginger-haired young man with green-blue eyes and a long braid behind his left ear inquired.

"Informed Master Qui-Gon, should not. Endangering the mission, it could," a grebe troll, whose claws rested on the handle of a gimer stick, answered.

"He will not be pleased…" the young man mumbled, but the dark-skinned Korun Master caught it nevertheless and answered, "This will be of our concern, but your Master has to be kept in the dark or his unnatural behaviour will jeopardize your mission and endanger your life Padawan."

"Kept in the dark are the right words for this…" Obi-Wan thought bitterly.

"I understand and therefore will follow the Council's decision, even though I do not fully agree with it."

"Nothing else expect, we did!" Yoda said clearly amused.

The ginger-haired man bowed in respect, "I will go and prepare everything for my departure then."

The Council members nodded their approval and with that the young man left the chambers.

Obi-Wan slowly made his way through the seemingly endless corridors of the great Jedi temple. It was early in the evening and most of the temple's inhabits would either be in their sleeping quarters or eating dinner in the dining hall, leaving the corridors abandoned and empty and Obi-Wan was able to let his thoughts wander. His 'mission' was to infiltrate the Sith and the dark side to gather information. The problem with this mission was that he would have to cut all his connections to the Jedi Order to trick the Sith in believing him and Obi-Wan was not quite sure if he could do this to his friends and most importantly to his Master. Qui-Gon had already lost an apprentice to the dark side, not to imagine what would happen if he lost another one.

Obi-Wan didn't want to imagine what his Master would possible do and that is why he desperately wanted to tell his Master, who had become like a father figure to him during the years they spent together, everything about his mission. Unfortunately the Council had strictly forbidden to inform Qui-Gon and they had made it very clear that there was no way out of this mission for Obi-Wan.

The young Jedi sighed. He would leave the temple tomorrow morning, which meant he had to tell this evening that he would go on a mission. It wasn't a lie, but it definitely felt like one. There wouldn't be any record of his task, at least not until his mission was complete and the Council would act as if they didn't know about sending him on any mission.

This whole business just felt utterly wrong and his instincts screamed at him to immediately run to Qui-Gon and spill his heart out, but Obi-Wan wouldn't betray the Council's trust, even if it meant going against his training and his instincts.

Obi-Wan came out of his musing and noticed that he had walked all the way from the Council Chambers to the quarters he shared with his Master, without noticing anything of his surroundings.

He exhaled slowly through his nose, tried to find his balance and checked if his mental shield were still in place and finally entered the quarters. A delicious smell from the kitchen greeted him and Obi-Wan immediately felt even worse then before, because he would have to lie to the most important person in his life.

"Welcome back, my Padawan," greeted a deep voice from the kitchen cheerfully.

"Hello Master," Obi-Wan returned the greeting and quickly shed his cloak and lightsaber before entering the kitchen, where the sight of his tall Master, who had bound his long brown and slightly graying hair to a braid to keep them from falling into the man's face, greeted him.

"How was your day?"

Obi-Wan stepped to his Master and took the plates the older man was holding and started to set the table.

"It was good," he answered honestly.

"After all, I did not need to lie to you yet!" Obi-Wan grumbled mentally.

"It was good? Does this mean you did not miss your old Master?" Qui-Gon said with a hint of hurt in his voice.

Obi-Wan turned around and was greeted by the sight of a mockingly hurt and pouting Jedi Master. He had to stop himself from grinning. Their relationship hadn't started out well, but they had developed a strong bond and they were now more than comfortable to mock the other one then and there.

"Of course not, why would I?" Obi-Wan retorted, trying his best to sound serious, but failing quite miserable.

Qui-Gon put his hand on his chest and looked completely shocked and hurt at his Padawan's word, but to Obi-Wan it was painfully obvious that his Master's act was fake.

"How can you?" the older man eventually spat out. "After all we've been through?! After all the nights I have spent sleepless at your bed, caring and worrying for you?! I am deeply hurt my Padawan!"

"I guess I just grew up," Obi-Wan said, his eyes sparkling with glee and fully grinning now.

The brown-haired man's eyes softened and Qui-Gon approached the younger male and lais his hands on his Padawan's shoulders, before he rested his forehead on Obi-Wan's. The young Jedi slightly smiled and closed his eyes, feeling content while enjoying the moment of peace and calm.

"You have indeed my cheeky Padawan and I find myself wondering where those years have disappeared to. I am very proud of you and all you achieved." There was a pause, before Qui-Gon continued, "Do you think you can forgive an old man for wishing it to last a bit longer?"

"Only when you can forgive a young apprentice for wishing the same," Obi-Wan retorted.

The hands on his shoulders tightened their grip for a moment and Obi-Wan opened his eyes only to find himself gazing into the smiling and loving face of his Master.

"As much as I enjoy this moment Master, but I think something is burning…"

The long-haired Jedi Master immediately straightened up and turned to his forgotten cooking. Obi-Wan stood back, smiling fondly at the back of the tall man before him. He felt another pang of guilt. How would he be able to hurt and betray this man, who had become like a father to him?

"At least it has one good aspect. The hate I am going to hold for myself will be helpful to deceive the Sith!" Obi-Wan thought bitterly.

The meal went by quickly and the two Jedi found themselves kneeling on the floor of their shared living room afterwards, meditating and connecting with the Force. Obi-Wan however found himself unable to do so. His thoughts were swirling and he couldn't bring himself to focus on the Force that surrounded him.

"You seem troubled Padawan, is something the matter?" Qui-Gon eventually asked, sensing his apprentice's restlessness.

"Now or never."

"I have something to tell you Master," he took a deep breath before gazing into Qui-Gon's midnight blue eyes and continuing, "The council had summoned me today."

"Oh?" the older man's brow furrowed.

"Don't worry, I haven't done anything wrong!" Obi-Wan hastily replied, causing Qui-Gon's frown to turn into an amused chuckle.

"Why did they summon you then?"

"They gave me a mission, a solo mission."

"And what is this solo mission about?" Qui-Gon inquired further.

"A simple negotiation mission between two groups, there shouldn't be any problems, nor should it take much time. Oh, and the Council made it very clear that you are to stay in the temple until you are fully recovered from out last mission!"

During their last mission, the long-haired Jedi-Master got shot while protecting the son of the count who had required the Jedi's help. It was nothing too fatal, but the muscles of his right leg had suffered and even after a bacta bath, the temple healer had ordered Qui-Gon to stay put for at least a month. Needless to say, the blue-eyed Jedi Master wasn't pleased about this at all.

"Have they now?"

Obi-Wan nodded, "I am to leave tomorrow morning."

Qui-Gon seemed to ponder about the information before his expression softened again.

"Well, I know that you will do me proud Padawan and I have no doubts about your abilities."

Obi-Wan forced himself to smile and if it was a little bit strained, his Master did not seem to notice. He got up instead and Obi-Wan quickly followed his Master's example.

"I know that you are probably excited, it is your first mission without me after all, but don't worry. Just listen to the Force and everything is going to be fine."

"I will, thank you Master!"

Qui-Gon smiled, "Well, up to bed then. You should be rested for tomorrow!"

Obi-Wan nodded and bid his Master good night, before he vanished into his room, closing the door behind him.

"Oh Force, give me strength!"

I hope you like this idea so far.

I would be really happy about some comments! ^^

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