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"- you paying attention? Obi-Wan?"
The sound of his name drew him out of the stupor. He had just closed his eyes for a moment; the sunset glancing off of Coruscant's buildings and shining into the High Council room was far too bright. While he usually enjoyed the way that the dazzling rays sung through the Force, they were currently worsening the sparks of pain that shot through his head. What had started as a small tingling behind his eyes had quickly turned into an uncomfortable pressure.
"Obi-Wan, we're reviewing important information. Are you alright?" Mace was an expert at schooling his expression into severity, but Obi-Wan could feel genuine worry behind his old friend's stoic face.
He forced his eyes open just enough to see his fellow Council-members' faces. "Forgive me, masters. Could you please repeat-"
"It is not necessary, Obi-Wan," Shaak Ti's gentle voice interrupted. "You are in pain. You need to rest now."
"But-"
"I will note down any significant points and update you, once you have slept."
"Hold on, I never said I was tired."
"In a room full of Jedi masters, you are." Yoda quirked his ears playfully. Obi-Wan noticed the old master's gnarled hands tightening around his gimer stick, a sure sign that he would get a swat on the shin if he didn't comply quickly.
Obi-Wan swept one more glance around the room. "Please, I don't want you to think less of me. I can stay here. I can do it."
It was Plo Koon's deep rumble then, kindly insisting, "Obi-Wan, who here would think less of you for needing rest? It is essential to balance work and sleep. Go now. The meeting is almost over, you will not miss much."
Obi-Wan heaved a sigh and pushed himself out of his chair. The moment that he was standing, however, the pain behind his eyes shattered, sending shards of agony through his skull. He attempted to grab the armrest of his chair, but his vision had gone splotchy. Trying to avoid falling against any of the chairs' edges, he threw his body forward.
He didn't fall. Instead, Obi-Wan felt Ki-Ad-Mundi's firm hands holding his forearms, supporting him as his body sunk to kneel on the floor.
"Thank you," he mumbled, even as he shut his eyes tight against the new onslaught of pain.
"Obi-Wan," Ki-Adi's words were laced with worry. "Obi-Wan, you are trembling. Why did you come here today? Surely you know all of us would understand?"
The older master tried to lend more support to Obi-Wan, felt tremors running through his frame.
Obi-Wan extricated his arms from Ki-Adi's grasp, nearly scowling as he pushed him away. "I am fine. This matter is hardly important enough to bring our meeting to a halt."
"When was the last time you slept, my friend?" Kit Fisto's kind but firm voice drifted across the room.
Obi-Wan scoffed. "Last night, of course."
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught Yoda nodding towards Depa, who covertly tapped her commlink.
Still kneeling on the floor, Obi-Wan managed to straighten his back and put on the commanding expression that he had learned from Qui-Gon. "What was that? What are you doing, Depa?"
"Nothing, I assure you."
"Who did you call?"
Depa shot a conspiratorial glance at Yoda. Ears twitching delightedly, the little Jedi master gave her a wink before turning to Obi-Wan with a mock-serious expression.
Obi-Wan cautiously stood up and drew himself up to his full height, trying to ignore the pulses of pain shooting up his neck.
Adi Gallia spoke up. "That's not what Kit meant, and you know it, Obi-Wan. How have you been sleeping?"
"I'll tell you about my sleep if you tell me who you commed."
"Oh ho ho!" chortled Yoda. "Our negotiator, you're dealing with, hmm?"
Adi smiled despite herself and nodded to Obi-Wan. "Very well, I agree to your terms."
"I..." Obi-Wan's cheeks flushed. "I did sleep last night, for about an hour."
The Council's cacophony of protests only fell silent when Obi-Wan grimaced.
"I have been supporting Anakin with Ahsoka's training. This past month has been my turn to help with the Crèche. I have also been running meditation sessions for our older younglings; I know the anxiety that comes with worrying that you will not be chosen as a padawan. Night is the time when I can make sure that I am not falling behind on my work with the Council."
Obi-Wan's eyes had slipped shut as he spoke, and his body swayed backwards with his attempts to maintain balance.
"Exhausted, you are. Take over some of your duties, we will. Just for a while, yes."
"Please, no. I am not complaining, I just..." Obi-Wan seemed to reconsider his argument and instead managed a small smirk. "Adi, I have given you enough. Now, keep your end of the deal."
"Ah," her tone was light and impish. "Obi-Wan, I promise you, it's for your own g-"
The Council-room's door swung open. It took less than a heartbeat for Obi-Wan to recognize the graceful height and long, sleek hair of his old master.
Obi-Wan drew his shoulders up and back before giving a stiff bow. "Master Qui-Gon. I apologize; I do not know why the Council insisted on calling you."
One corner of Qui-Gon's mouth quirked up. "Surely you know that it would take more than a few years to make me forget the signs. I have been here for all of five seconds, and this is clearly the result of your proclivity for working through the night. You need to rest, Master Kenobi."
His teasing use of Obi-Wan's formal title sent cheerful titters around the room.
"Come now, I will help you back to your rooms. You need rest."
"I assure you, Master Jinn," Obi-Wan sourly emphasized the name, "I am quite alright."
"Enough that is, Obi-Wan," Yoda's voice rang through the chamber decisively. "Go with Qui-Gon, you will."
Obi-Wan paused then seemed to think better of further defiance. He inclined his head to his great-grandmaster and made his way towards the door.
As he passed the edge of the circle of chairs, Obi-Wan stumbled. Qui-Gon wordlessly grasped Obi-Wan's elbow and pulled his former padawan against his side. Together, they made it the rest of the way across the room.
At the door, Obi-Wan shook off Qui-Gon's support and turned to face the Council. His robe swept around him dramatically, but he immediately had to clutch the doorframe to remain standing. Qui-Gon supposed that his old padawan's attempt at dignified vexation would have been amusing if it wasn't so worrying. As it was, Obi-Wan's white knuckles grasping the doorframe, his whole bodyweight listing against the wall, and one side of his robe falling off of his shoulder to drag on the ground called for more distress than deference.
Obi-Wan turned his face to Shaak Ti. "You'll send me your notes for the rest of the meeting?"
"Of course, Master Kenobi."
After a respectful bow, Obi-Wan stepped out of the room and waited for Qui-Gon to shut the door.
Once he was certain that the others wouldn't hear them, Obi-Wan exploded: "That's just great, master! Now you have let all of them know that I am not to be taken seriously, that they can make fun of my place on the Council."
"I have done no such thing, young one," came the placid response.
"Then, why did Shaak call me 'Master Kenobi' after you did?"
"Because that is your title."
Obi-Wan was slumped against the wall, eyes half-lidded, but he fought on. "They have never used that title in a private meeting before! Only the younglings are taught to practise such formalities. She was making fun of me, just as you did."
"I sincerely doubt that. I was merely calling into question how masterly it is to deprive yourself of sleep to the point of exhaustion. And, it seemed to me that Master Ti was reminding you of your respected position, reassuring you that you do not have to prove yourself to them. They already trust you. You are on the Council."
Obi-Wan paused. "But..." He had slid further down the wall, and it took a concerted effort to look up enough to meet Qui-Gon's eye. "But, they put me on the Council because they believed that I would do useful work for them. Wouldn't I be betraying their trust if I didn't do so?"
"There are other ways to manage your work, Obi-Wan. You could delegate some of your tasks to others. You could ask for relief from certain duties during times when you are especially busy. You could call on me for help. The Council believes in your ability to do all of your tasks, but that does not mean that you have to do all of them all the time."
Obi-Wan's glassy eyes looked up at him, clearly paying attention but having a difficult time processing the ideas.
"Come, let your old master help you back to your quarters." Qui-Gon held out his hand.
As Obi-Wan reached out to accept, his legs once again gave out, and he stumbled into his master's chest.
"Please, master. Could you... Could you hold me? I am... so tired."
Qui-Gon was taken by surprise, but then he quickly wrapped his arms around the exhausted man in front of him. It was no longer often that Obi-Wan asked for such affection. Qui-Gon sometimes missed the padawan that had openly asked for hugs. But, he was also infinitely proud of the Jedi Master who took his duty to the Council so seriously.
"I trust that you have tea stashed away, my little one? This evening calls for chamomile."