No longer children
I looked to Anakin with a little confusion; was Master Kenobi just leaving us to complete the mission alone, surely not, we're just a couple of padawans-not saying we couldn't it was just very unlike him to trust us with something such as this.
"Right well we should split up, I'll take this side and you can serch over there." I instructed while pointing my hands in oposite directions to indicate where we'd be looking.
"Since when did you become the leader here?" Anakin asked with a small smirk as he rose a brow at me, looking both surprised and a little impressed, my best guess is he was more used to giving orders than recieving them.
"Since you didn't." I chuckled lightly back, looking over my shoulder toweard him as I headed into the crowds. Through the mass of patreons I saw him lightly shake his head before walking off in the oposite direction with a casual posture, women all around checking him out, I don't blame them, he had grown into a rather hansome young man-for a jedi that is.
I'd caught sight of someone strangely dressed in comparison to others around here heading in the general direction of the bar, unfortunately in my hurry to follow them I tripped at the top of a couple of steps, falling right down into some guy that stank of booze. I groaned quietly, feeling pretty embarrassed at the blunder as I tried to pull away back onto my own to feet.
"Well well what's this? Pretty lady throwing herself at me? Can't say I mind~" He slurred turning to face me, one of his large hands taking hold of my chin and tilting it up as he stared hazily down at me. I clenched my jaw, the last thing I wanted was to cause a seen, but as my eyes flicked around I could see this guy had at least three strong looking friends. Why can't anything ever be easy. "Say pretty little thing, how'd you like to have some fun~" The dreadful man slurred leaning uncomfortably close. I glared daggers up at him in warning that he should release me, not wanting to cause a huge seen despite the fact I had the severe urge to force push the man right across the room. "What's that face for doll? Aren't you-
"She's with me." I suddenly heard a familiar voice say from behind me, having sensed him rush over while the guy was talking. Yet again he was saving my neck, though it was a little embarrassing since I could handle it.
"And you would be?" The guy holding me asked,thankfully moving away so I could breath without inhaling alcohol.
"The guy warning you to stay away from his girl." My dear friend practically growled back, and I could practically feel the anger burning round him, though I wasn't to sure why he was so mad.
'His girl..?'
I know this was just to get me out the situation, but I couldn't help but let my heart jump at the words for some reason I'd always longed to hear, though I knew I shouldn't. Before they could argue anymore I felt a firm, yet comforting grip pull me back into its owners chest, feeling relief now I was a safe distance away from the drunks.
"Let's get outta here," He muttered, taking my hand in his and guiding me away. I could feel a tension hanging between us: as though he had something he was itching to say but didn't, the feeling only helping
my guilt further grow at jeopardising the mission. "...you should be more careful, you're a beautiful, innocent girl in a snake pit right now, don't trust anyone," He said quietly after the long moment of silence between us, his eyes focused ahead and hand still wrapped securely round mine.
"Anakin I'm a Jedi just like you, I'm not helpless anymore you don't need to protect me," I said with a slight sigh back, wanting to tell him I could handle myself in the most delicate possible. "...saying that though, thank you for that, if you hadn't stepped in that guy wouldn't have got off so easy:" I chuckled slightly back while looking up at his stoic expression.
"Heh...yeah I don't doubt it, you've got a lot stronger." He said with a small smirk as he glanced back down at me.
As we continued walking I began to sense something wasn't right. Then we stopped, Anakin seeming focused for once, seemed he'd noticed it too.
"Do you feel that?" He asked without looking down, his hand slipping back off mine.
Suddenly I heard I lightsaber closely followed by a cry of pain. Anakin must've heard it to since soon after his hand was pulling me by the wrist towards where the noise had come from. "Easy, Jedi business go back to your drinks." Anakin announced to the weary onlookers as he let go of me and picked the assassin up by their wrists. I followed closely closely behind him and Master Kenobi and we stopped in a quiet area outside the club to question her.
"Do you know who you where hired to kill?" Obi-wan asked calmly while looking down at them. "Well?"
"It was the senator from Naboo." The assassin answered after a moments mumbling thought.
"And who sent you?" Obi-Wan asked, maintaining his level headed composure the whole time.
"It was just a job..." the assassin said quietly, reluctant to give us a name.
"Who sent, you tell us?" Anakin asked kindly while leaning forward, surprising both me and Obi-Wan with his maturity. "Tell us now?!" He then demanded more menacingly, causing me to flinch in surprise at his sudden change of tone.
"It was bounty hunter named jan-
Before she could finish however a dart zipped through the air into her neck, killing her within seconds. We all looked round to see someone in mandolorian amour flying off, knowing we were to late to follow them.
"Well there goes that." I sighed while Obi-Wan took the dart carefully out her neck.
"Strange, I've never seen a dart like this before..." He says while holding it up to examine. I don't get a clear look so all I really know is it's tiny and deadly.
"What Now master?" Anakin asks while I stand by trying to see if we missed anything.
"We report to the council," Master Kenobi says while placing the dart in his robe pocket and looking around for a speeder. "And Anakin. you must teach (y/n) how to drive." He says while walking off, catching my attention.
"Don't tell me you piloted the speeder after me," Anakin chuckles with his hands in his pockets as he locked back at me.
"Yeah...I don't blame him for being scared, I had no clue what I was doing." I admitted with a guilty smile back at him. Everyone in the order knew I couldn't fly, after all it was something the council had put out so it was pretty much common knowledge.
Almost ten years ago now Anakin tried teaching me how to drive, back then I couldn't see at all so let's just say the results were chaotic.
"No wonder he looked scared of you earlier," Anakin jokes with realisation while beginning to walk after the master, laughing slightly, most likely at the idea of me driving. I ran along after him with my own cheerful smile at the notion. There was a few moments of silence between us as we continued to walk over towards the roads to catch a lift back. "Hey, next time you're free, want me to give you another lesson? I mean Obi-Wan did ask me to teech you." Anakin broke the silence to say, side glancing over at me with a small smile.
"Sure, though I'm warning you, It'll be scary." I chuckled as he hailed for a Taxi, since it turned out Master Kenobi hadn't waited for us.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure you don't crash." He chuckled while stepping to the side and offering for me to go in first.
"I meant more scary for you." I laughed back as I went in and took a seat, sliding over to the far side as he moved in next to me and the door closed.
"Like you could scare me." He said back with a smirk while looking directly over at me, as if challenging me to try him. I rose a brow back at him while leaning into seat as we pulled away, folding my arms over my chest.
"Well we'll see won't we." I spoke somewhat teasingly back with a small smirk before looking ahead. It was so strange having Anakin back; I mean we'd barely been together a day, and we're already starting up childish compertitions, nothing's changed, I feel sorry for Obi-Wan. SneakilyI stole a glance of the teenager beside me as he stared out the window, and by the force has he grown, definitly not that little wirey kid anymore.
We arrived back at the temple a few minutes later, where it turned out Master Kenobi was waiting to take us up to the council rooms for our report. The meeting was farily unintresting, and as padawan's me and Anakin didn't really get to say much except confirm what Obi Wan had said.
"Hm, back to Naboo the senator should be taken under our protection," I heard Yoda saying as I shifted my head back up, eyes momentarily meeting with my old masters. "Skywalker, (y/l/n), go with the senator you should." I had to admit I was shocked at his words, I hadn't left the planet in, well, a very long time.
"Do you think that's wise master? The pair have never worked alone before." Obi-Wan interjected while stepping forward, looking mildly concerned at the idea. I don't blame him, as younlings we hadn't been known for being particularlly reliable.
"Children, they no longer are." Yoda says to Obi-Wan in reassurance. Though I still had my doubts, not of Anakin, but of myself. Though I appear more confident now, inside i'm still that little girl from Okarius, still trying to prove I'm worthy of the Jedi name.
"Me and (y/n) will not let you down master, we'll make sure the senator is safe." Anakin stepped slightly forward to say, his confidence unwavering and shining out like the light of the star. I nodded in agreement, yes I had my doubts, but between us I believed the mission would only go smoothly.
"So it's settled, Skywalker and (y/l/n) will esscort the senator back to Naboo." Master Windu stated while getting up out his chair. Seemed like the desicion had been made, can't say I wasn't excited, a trip to one of the most beautful planets I'd heard of, accompanied by my best friend. Sounds more like a holiday.
Like that the meeting was over and the pair of us where dimissed while Master Kenobi stayed behind to discuss something or other. Me and Anakin walked away to the lift in a kind of comfortable silence, like the both of us were content with the councils desicion for once.
"Well it seems I'll be giving you those driving lessons sooner than expected," He finally spole up as we began to head down in the lift. "...are you happy with the councils desicion?" He asked in a softer tone, glancing round towards me with something I could almost mistake as concern.
"...if i said I wasn't nervous I'd be lying...but I am glad you'll be with me." I answered truthly, giving him a small smile of reasurance that I'd be fine.
"Good to hear," He answered briefly as we stepped out the lift into the main temple area. "Well, I'll leave you to pack, my things are, somewhere, hopefully already at Padme's, so I'll meet you there." He shrugged without looking back at me as he turned to leave, seeming a little distant compared to our earlier joking. Maybe he was worried about Padme...they had a history after all..
"Alright I'll be over shortly, good luck finding your belongings." I responded with a nod, hearing him hum in response as I turned to head for my dormitory. As I was packing a few things into a smal bag my comunicator started flashing so I answered it, my master image projecting up before me.
"Ah, good evening Master." I greeted the woman polietly with a small bow of my head.
"I hear you have a mission." She responded curtly, Kaida always was one to get straight to the point, not at all one for small talk or pleasentaries.
"Well yes, I've be tasked with protecting the senator of Naboo alongisde Anakin Sky-
"Skywalker? I thought he was on a misson with his master." She responded with some distain, after all it was well known master Starfallen held quite a few ill feelings towards the padawan, though no one knew exactly why since she never spoke about it.
"He returned earlier today Master, along with master Kenobi, the both of us are set to travel tomarrow back to Naboo alongsde the senator." I explained, hoping to avoid any unneeded comments against Anakin.
"Hm, alright well good luck, and
"Keep away from Skywalker, yes I know." I interupted, having heard the same speach a thousand times before, though that didn't mean I'd listen to it anymore than I usually did, after all it's my choice who I decided to trust.
"Hm, well untill we meet again." She said with a blank expression like usual, as I said, she really was one for pleasentries, it had taken me years to get her this close to saying goodbye without just signing off.
"Untill then, may the force be with you master." I replied with a slight sigh as I turned of the comunicator and chucked it into my bag. Conversations with my master either went one of three ways, incredibly frustrating, humourously, or complete silence.
I continued to pack up a few essential items here and there before heading to the door, a familiar metlaic object catching my eye as I reched for the handle. It was the gift Anakin had made my all those years ago, a little musical instrument made of scrap metal, where every fleck was tuned to an individual note, a beautiful and unique item. Without realsing a smile had spread across my lips as I stepped over towards the shelf and reached out for the item. It looked pretty small in my hands now, but I could still reconise all the old bits of ships and scraps of droids he'd. used to build it, so resourceful...
No matter how many times my master tells me to stay away from him, I won't, he was the first person to see me for me, Anakin Skywalker is my best friend, I'll never abandon him.
Never...