Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars The Clone Wars or any of the original characters.
The halls of the Jedi Temple were bustling with life as we passed through, the low hum of soft, murmuring voices filling the air. As we skirted around a small group of younglings hurrying off to their chambers, I snuck a quick glance at my new master as he walked calmly beside me, a question that had been nagging me since my arrival on Coruscant tugging at my mind.
"Master", I finally said casually, gaining his attention, "Have you been fully informed of the circumstances behind my needing a new master?"
He eyed me in amusement out of the corner of his eye and the corners of his mouth quirked slightly in a sympathetic smile.
"Yes Iris, I have. And I am very sorry for your loss. Ki Adi was a good friend of mine and I grieve for him greatly. Though I doubt my grief could even begin to rival yours, my young padawan."
He rested a hand on my shoulder and I dipped my head in gratitude and not a little sheepishness as my discomfort at the topic of our exchange grew.
"Thank you Master Kenobi. I appreciate your sympathies and I know I'm the one who brought it up, but I would really prefer to put the whole event behind me. If I let my past rule my future then I will only focus on the what-ifs and lose focus on what's truly important. And right now, that's winning this war."
Master Kenobi shot me a surprised look, his eyebrows rising slightly.
"I've never seen wisdom like that from a padawan before", he said, his voice registering slight respect and admiration.
I forced a blush away before it could creep up my neck to color my cheeks at his kind words and smiled awkwardly.
"Well my master insisted on reminding me at every available opportunity so I guess it kinda stuck."
He smiled slightly in amusement, picking up instantly on my discomfort. Thankfully, he let the topic drop and we continued on in silence. After a few more moments of silence between us, he turned to me again and said, "Pardon my asking, but how do you know Padawan Tano?"
Confusion clouded my mind for a split second, then cleared when I realized he was talking about Ahsoka.
"Oh, you mean Ahsoka", I asked, continuing at his nod, "We met a while back when she first came to the temple. We were partnered up in class since I was late to class that day and all the other kids my age were already partnered up. I worked the practice probe first while she practiced blocking first. It was actually pretty funny considering the helmet was too big on her and kept sliding off. Later we found out we were bunk mates in the same chamber. From then on, until the day she was sent to Christophsis to become Master Skywalker's padawan, we were close friends, though most of our time together was either spent training or getting into some sort of trouble that I'd talked her into in the first place. I was never the calmest youngling in the temple. I'm sure if you asked Master Windu, he'd tell you I was a menace."
He laughed at that and shook his head.
"I don't doubt it. I can sense much mischief in you, young one. As well as much bravery."
I shook my head and said, "I wouldn't call it bravery so much as pure impulsiveness. Something I'm sure you're quite familiar with having had Master Skywalker as an apprentice."
He gave me an amused, knowing look and nodded.
"I'll admit. Anakin was quite a handful. Much like you actually."
I smiled impishly up at him.
"Master, are you already calling me a handful after only knowing me for about 30 minutes? That must be a new record for me."
He chuckled at the cheeky expression on my face and replied, "I may have only known you personally for 30 minutes, but I've known of you for quite some time. Your master spoke of you often and other Jedi Masters have mentioned you before."
I raised my eyebrows and tried to keep a smirk from stealing across my face.
"So I'm famous am I?"
He laughed.
"Not quite. I've mostly been warned about your insufferable snark and frustratingly impulsive nature. Apparently both are renowned throughout the galaxy among those who have worked with you and against you."
I opened my mouth to respond when suddenly a very broad shoulder slammed into mine and knocked me slightly off balance.
I whirled around, a biting insult ready on the tip of my tongue, when my eyes locked onto a narrowed pair of emerald green eyes and the vision hit me like a wave on the stormy planet of Kamino.
Wind howling all around me, whipping through my hair and rain pelting me in torrents. A flash of red light and a heavy weight smashing into my chest, knocking the very breath from my heaving lungs. Horrified green eyes drilling into mine, a gloved hand gripping mine with bruising force. A streak of terror, a fear the likes of which I've never known rushing through my freezing blood.
Then just as quickly as it came, the vision was gone, leaving me standing in stunned silence in the bustling corridor staring up into wide green eyes that looked just as shocked as I felt.
I could tell from his expression that whatever that had been he had seen it too and based on the confusion that was rolling off him in waves, I was pretty sure he didn't have any more of an idea than I did about what it meant.
We just stood there for another moment, composing ourselves, our gazes locked while slowly taking each other in.
He was young, around my age maybe a little older with dirty blonde hair that seemed more golden in the light coming in through the windows on the other side of the corridor. His skin was deeply bronzed and was a sharp contrast to his bright emerald green eyes which shone from under a thick fringe of long dark lashes that just brushed his high cheek bones every time he blinked. He was tall, very tall, almost a whole foot taller than me with strong broad shoulders that led down to a lean muscular torso and extended out into long, well-muscled arms from hours of training and working out. All in all he was exceedingly attractive and I didn't know what to make of him at all.
Finally I found my voice and opened my mouth to say something, anything, when suddenly, the stunned expression in his eyes vanished and a look of pure contempt and indifference clouded his gaze and an emotionless mask fell over his expression.
"Watch where you're going next time, Sculag."
Anger, hot and scorching, shot through me and I glared coldly up at him.
"You're the one who ran into me, laserbrain", I spat through gritted teeth.
His eyes narrowed and he scoffed arrogantly before turning on his heel and continuing on his way.
I glared after him before turning back to my master, whom I had forgotten was even there up until seconds ago, muttering irritatedly under my breath, "Laserbrained hutt-spawn, nerf herding lurdo."
Master Kenobi raised a single eyebrow at my mutterings and I quickly glanced away, trying to push away my anger and annoyance at the arrogant boy's rude demeanor.
"Such language is not appropriate for a jedi, my young padawan", he said giving me a pointed look.
I heaved a sigh and shook my head.
"I know. Sorry master."
"It's alright Iris, but you really do need to try to control your temper. Anger is one of the easier ways to fall down the dark path as I'm sure you're well aware."
I dipped my head respectfully, pushing my negative feelings to the back of my mind.
"Yes master. I'll try harder to keep my emotions in check next time."
He nodded and continued walking.
As we walked silently down the long corridor, curiosity prickled at my mind as the boy's face once again appeared in my mind.
Who was he?
I glanced up at my master.
Perhaps Master Obi Wan knows.
"Master", I asked carefully, watching him out of the corner of my eye.
"Hmm?"
"I was wondering. Did you know who that boy was back there? The one who bumped into me."
Master Kenobi turned to look at me curiously, tilting his head slightly to the side.
"That young man was Alec Darkwrite, Master Windu's apprentice."
A wave of shock washed over me as my eyes widened slightly.
"Master Windu took an apprentice? I thought he hated younglings?"
Master Kenobi chuckled softly and shook his head.
"I can see why you'd think that, but no he doesn't so much as hate them as he is annoyed by them. Younglings frustrate him because they're not usually very serious or focused in his mind. And under normal circumstances he wouldn't have taken one on as his apprentice. But when he discovered young Alec out on the outer rim on a planet completely decimated by civil war, he made a promise to his young, dying mother that he would look after the child and that is exactly what he has done."
I pushed back a wave of pity for the boy as it threatened to cloud my mind, focusing instead on the arrogant, contemptible look in his green, green eyes and let that annoyed feeling flow through me, making me frown slightly and scrunch up my nose in disgust.
"Well, at least that explains his horrible attitude. Master Windu is known for his moods and crankiness. It doesn't surprise me that his apprentice is the same."
He laughed once more and placed a strong hand on my shoulder.
"I will admit, he's not the friendliest being in the galaxy, but from what I've heard he is a very gifted fighter and a natural leader among the clone ranks. Many around the temple believe he has a promising future in the Jedi Order."
I grunted in response, not really sure how I was supposed to respond to that.
"Though I can understand why you would wish to avoid him", he continued giving me a pointed look out of the corner of his eye, "If you ever do interact with him again, please at least try to be civil. It won't help either of you if one of you starts a fight."
I sighed heavily and dramatically and grumbled, "Yes master."
He nodded in satisfaction and we continued on our way to the council chambers.
The rest of the walk was done so in silence and my mind wondered. To keep my thoughts about a certain green eyed boy at bay, I instead focused my attention on the strange vision that had wracked my body not so long ago.
What was that? Was that a vision of the future? Maybe the past? I should speak with Master Yoda about this later. He'll know what it means.
I nodded slightly as I came to an agreement with myself and continued on quietly, still trying and failing to keep those emerald green eyes at bay.