#Qui-Gon is the professor that you'd love to spent more time with if only you could ever find him

[sushiburritonoms]

28. knocking on the wrong door au Qui & Obi or QuiObi, dealer's choice...

Happy Birthday, Dark! I finally finished this one! It's been 5000 years since I last saw the Prequels and even longer since I took a Philosophy course, but I hope this still works for you.

28. Knocking on the wrong door

The soft pacing footsteps outside of his door, followed by the hesitant knock made Professor Qui-Gon Jinn immediately think, ‘lower-division undergrad, come to bargain’. Probably someone from his Existentialist Philosophy course. He usually starts to receive visitors to his tiny corner of the basement of the Amidala Humanities Center when they’re forced to grapple with Kierkegaard in the midterm essay. It’s not office hours, but he’s never been able to turn a pathetic first year away.

“Come in.”

Instead of a nervous-looking 19-year-old, he is surprised to see a strikingly handsome man dressed impeccably in a navy pinstripe suit with a tasteful lavender tie cautiously peeking into his messy office. The man has auburn hair, brushed neatly across his forehead, and a well-maintained beard. The beard made Qui-Gon think ‘university administrator’, aided by the lost look of his blue eyes.

“Hello there,” said the man, “I hope I’m not disturbing you.” The man had a soft voice with an accent--British perhaps?

“Not at all,” he replied as he carefully placed his worn leather bookmark to save his place in his book.

“I hate to barge in like this,” said the other man, even if he’s doing the very opposite of it, with most of his body politely behind the frame of Qui-Gon’s door. “But I’m looking for the Chair of Philosophy, Professor Windu? I was told his office was on this floor?”

“Ah! Mace is just down the hallway, four doors from here,” Qui-Gon said, sitting back in his chair. “Take a right, another right at the water fountain, then the corridor narrows, and at Professor Mundi’s office, turn left. Mind you don’t go too far or you’ll reach Theological Studies and you’ll never be seen again.”

The man chuckles. “My word, this building is a maze. I should have brought breadcrumbs so I could find my way out again. Thank you, Professor...ah…” the man leaned back and checked his door. “Dooku?”

“That would be my former esteemed colleague,” Qui-Gon corrected. “Administration failed to change the doorplate when I moved in and I have no compunction to correct them.”

“I see.” Qui-Gon could see the wheels turning in the young man’s head as he took in Qui-Gon’s crowded and messy office, crammed packed with books, his many office plants, and other odds and ends he’s collected over the years. “And when did Professor Dooku retire exactly?”

“Hmmm about 13 years ago now, I should say,” he replied thoughtfully. Ah his old mentor, he missed the irritable Master. Always threatening to take over the department in the name of Schopenhauerian pessimism.

“And you’ve never changed the name on the door?” The man looked amused now, crossing his hands over his chest. The navy of his suit made his eyes sparkle. Even the ghastly light of the basement corridor failed to dim their splendor. In front of Qui-Gon was a perfect simulacrum of the traditional British gentleman, and he did have quite the fondness for the old country. Qui-Gon suddenly found himself almost wishing he had a modern phone with a camera so he could capture the beauty of the moment. Almost.

“And make it easy for the first years to find me? I should think not,” Qui-Gon said with a real smile. “Finding my office is a rite of passage in the department and it helps weed out the uncommitted.”

The man laughed openly now, a wonderful sound that reminded him of the University Tower bells. “Well then, I dare say I’ve passed as well.”

“Ah, you weren’t looking for me and you don’t know who I am,” Qui-Gon said with a shake of his finger. “It's not a true experience.”

“Perhaps, but I would have searched for you eventually. My name is Obi-Wan Kenobi.” He finally introduced himself and stepped past Qui-Gon’s threshold to hold out his hand. “I’m the Visiting Professor from King’s.”

Qui-Gon rose and shook Obi-Wan’s hand. “Qui-Gon Jinn. I didn’t know we had an open position,” he admitted. “My apologies, Professor Kenobi.”

“Just Obi-Wan is fine. I didn’t think I saw you at my presentation.”

Obi-Wan had soft hands but a surprisingly strong, confident handshake. Qui-Gon’s own hand was slow to withdraw. “I’m afraid I’m notoriously absent at department events.”

“Is that so?” A smirk tugged at Obi-Wan’s mouth. “A hidden office, absent at hiring. I don’t suppose you attend the required department meetings I was told about?”

“Not since I received Full Professorship,” he admitted.

“Hmm, a pity. I was hoping I’d get the chance to meet my new colleagues. I’ve nothing else to do at the moment since I’ve arrived mid-semester.”

Was the man fluttering his eyelashes at him? Qui-Gon was so very out of practice at flirting but he was sure he never felt such heat from any of their other new hires before (not that he remembered them). There was a magnetism to Professor Kenobi, he couldn’t deny that. The suit, the accent, and the way he looked at Qui-Gon like he was the most fascinating thing in the room (and he had quite the impressive collection of bromeliads and fiddle leaf figs in his office!). It was quite flattering...and it had been too long since he’d enjoyed the company of his fellow faculty. He was content to ignore them all, especially Mace, but perhaps this young professor would be more tolerant of his eccentricities? After all, a visiting position was just a year or two, it wasn’t like this man was going to interrupt his life too badly.

“Perhaps after you’ve checked in with the Chair, you’ll have time for some lunch?”

Obi-Wan tilted an eyebrow at him. “It’s 3:30 pm.”

Ah. Not like he got much light in the basement. “Early Dinner? Actually, by the time Mace has finished detailing your contact, it’ll be almost breakfast time. ”

“I should hope not,” Obi-Wan laughed. “I’m still on London time--”

Was that a no? “Then I shan’t keep you any longer,” he said with a sigh. Perhaps he had misread the younger man.

“You didn’t let me finish, Professor,” said Obi-Wan with a shy smile. “I was going to say, my body clock is so out of sync, I could eat at any time.”

“...Well then, that’s settled,” Qui-Gon said slowly. “Please feel free to come back when Mace is finished with you. I look forward to hearing your perspective on his unique outlook on Academia.”

“Oh dear, I’m beginning to think I’m in over my head,” Obi-Wan laughed.

‘Me too,’ thought Qui-Gon with a tiny flutter stirring his chest.

--

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