Disclaimer: Not mine, yadda yadda, I make no money, yadda yadda, don't sue me, yadda yadda. I follow movie canon only. Well, mostly. I sneak some EU in there.
Notes: Beta'd by the infallible Penumbra. All mistakes that remain are mine alone. Set between AotC and RotS. Thanks to Luthe for the extra beta.
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Anakin tried not to look too bored as Obi-Wan finished arranging their transport onboard a Republic carrier with a surly-looking man. They'd been standing in front of the ship hangar for so long that Anakin was convinced he'd drown in his own sweat if they didn't get inside soon. He found his mind wandering to thoughts of Padmé and cool nights spent on Naboo in between bouts of wishing for a stiff breeze. The jungle planet of Haruun Kal had been a less than pleasant experience and had certainly explained more about Master Mace Windu than Anakin had cared to ever know. He rather thought the unbearable humidity of the planet was good enough reason for its inhabitants to be so war-like.
"... unbearably hot. And what is Artoo doing? I swear that droid has a loose wire somewhere," muttered Obi-Wan. Anakin snorted and crossed his arms, glancing over at Artoo, who was rocking back and forth, beeping in excitement. Anakin saw the reason immediately. A young boy was standing by him, poking at the droid curiously while eating something greasy and unrecognizable.
"Hey!" Anakin cried, uncrossing his arms and heading over to where Artoo was standing. The little boy looked alarmed, putting his hands up and backing away from Artoo. He couldn't have been any older than five, maybe six, and his brown eyes were very wide. Anakin supposed the boy could have been cute, if one were to ignore the tangled mop of brown hair and the dirty flight suit.
"What were you doing to my droid?" Anakin demanded. Obi-Wan was watching him, his brows furrowed.
"I was just looking at him, sir, wasn't doin' nuthin'." The boy looked sullen now and continued to eat the greasy something in his hand.
"Anakin." Obi-Wan's voice had a distinct undertone of warning to it.
Artoo made a few rude beeps and whistles at the boy, which only caused the child to turn and stick his tongue out at Artoo. "You were touching him, not just looking," said Anakin, trying to keep his voice light and failing.
The boy shrugged his shoulders. "Didn't do nuthin'," he insisted.
"Solo! We're leaving for Kashyyyk now, boy! Get your ass on the ship!" called a gruff male voice from inside the hangar.
The boy glanced into the ship hangar and then back at Anakin. Artoo beeped at him, while Anakin drew himself up, crossing his arms again.
"Keep your hands off my property... Solo," said Anakin.
"Right, right," Solo answered, glancing at Obi-Wan before running into the ship hangar. Artoo beeped again as Solo disappeared into the comparative gloom.
"Did he break anything, Artoo?" asked Anakin. Artoo beeped a negative.
"Let's just get on with things, shall we?" asked Obi-Wan, surging forward into the ship hangar.
Anakin followed, hearing Obi-Wan sigh in relief as they entered the cool sanctuary of the hangar. Various ships of shapes and sizes were docked inside, and people crawled all over them like insects. The roof would open and close to allow ships to fly in and out, making the hangar alternately bright and dark. Anakin glanced to his left and saw the boy, Solo, sitting on the landing ramp of a large freighter nearby.
"Solo! Dammit, boy, we're leaving!" came the gruff voice again. Solo glanced at Anakin, flashed him an impish smile that would no doubt dazzle many women sometime in the future, and ran up the ramp. It closed behind him with a soft hiss. Anakin read the ship's name on the side: Trader's Luck.
"They'll need all the luck they can get with that brat onboard," he muttered to himself and hurried to catch up with Obi-Wan.
End.