Sitting in the circular duelling pit's seats, Anakin sighed boredly, his head resting on a hand as a Mirulan Jedi faced off against her opponent. The two relied on the simplistic motions of shii cho, in clear attack-block-riposte sequences while the two largely stood still, relying completely on their limited bladework to duel. Given they were only thirteen and fourteen respectively, it was to be expected, though Anakin couldn't help the traitorous thought that he was better at that age despite starting much later. In just over five years of training, he had surpassed the peers who once mocked his lackluster performance.
"Finally!" he muttered to himself the Mirulan managed to land a hit on her opponent, ending the duel. Anakin gave some obligatory claps, though his attention remained largely on the empty balcony up top, where his master had promised to show up to observe.
As the next pairing was called up, Anakin tugged at his padawan braid, bored out of his mind. He had left his holopad back in his room upon threat of confiscation by Obi Wan, leaving him with little to do currently. Thankfully, their duelling instructor, battlemaster Cin Drallig, didn't pay attention to his boredom. He was half tempted to meditate!
"Next up, Padawan Lez Katysua against Padawan Anakin Skywalker," the announcer called up. Anakin sucked in a deep breath, eyeing his opponent, a duros five years his senior, nervously. The alien had a blue head that appeared like a lightbulb, though the rest of him was largely human. He saw the alien several words of encouragement from his master, and had to fight down a pang of jealousy at that. This nagging feeling only increased as several of Katysua's friends offered up their words of encouragement, while Anakin was alone as he descended down the steps to his side of the duelling pit.
As the alien descended down the steps on his side of the duelling pit, Anakin centered himself, reaching out with his senses and concentrating on the duel up ahead. Anakin raised his blade in the traditional salute, something the other Jedi returned lazily after giving him an unimpressed appraisal.
"Begin!" the instructor ordered, and his opponent charged forward, green blade in a neutral forward position. Anakin sidestepped gracefully, delivering a quick kick to Katysua's side and causing his opponent to stumble. He followed this up with several slashes of his lightsaber, which his now off-balanced opponent worked fervently with his blade to deflect. Clipping Katysua's shoulder, he rammed his opponent, who despite being larger in size, was off balance, and thus bore the brunt of the impact, being knocked tenuously past the edge of the duelling pit.
"Break!" the instructor ordered as he neared delivering a finishing blow to his opponent, causing Anakin to glare at his opponent while backing up cautiously. After several seconds, he turned exasperatedly to the instructor, who was observing the exercise neutrally. "Begin!"
With a scowl, Anakin closed the distance with a leap, feinting to his upper left before pivoting and delivering a slash to the right, which his opponent took a step backwards to avoid, buying valuable time to block Anakin's next strikes. His blue blade was a movement of flurry, striking violently from multiple angles a second and pushing Katysua towards the edge of the duelling pit, when the instructor called out, "Break!"
Letting out a snarl, Anakin reluctantly stopped his onslaught, once again allowing his opponent to recover. The duros now eyed him with slight apprehension, as the instructor called for them to begin again. Anakin immediately took to the offensive, engaging in a blade lock before briefly deactivating before reactivating his lightsaber, bypassing his stunned opponent's blade and managing to land a strike on his opponent's neck, something which would have decapitated the alien had their blades not been set to their low powered training mode.
The entire audience was in stunned silence, before reluctant applause began to break out at the behest of one of the watching knights. Looking around, Anakin saw visages of fear and jealousy on many other padawans' faces, though he continued looking, slightly downcast when he didn't see Obi Wan anywhere among the audience.
He offered a hand up to Katysua, who accepted the gesture, quickly muttering a muted congratulations before scampering off from the duelling pit. As Anakin returned to his seat to wait for his next match, he saw his master Obi Wan as well as several high council members atop one of the balconies overlooking the duelling pits.
Anakin felt a surge of determination, and couldn't help but feel excitement begin to bubble over into a smile as he watched several other duels, waiting for his second bout. Several figures wearing opulent robes joined the members of the council up top in the balconies, though Anakin couldn't name a single one of them.
He watched several other pairs of padawans face off, paying particular attention to several more adept individuals and mentally noting down their preferred patterns and any openings he could spot. From his observation, he was one of the few to do so, most of the other padawans using this time to chat amongst each other.
Just before his name was called up, one of the masters called over the instructor, whispering something in the Jedi's ear. There was a short but heated whispered conversation, before Drallig walked over to a tall blue Twi'lek female and whispered something in her ear, receiving a curt nod.
"Padawan Anakin Skywalker against Knight Aayla Secura." Anakin's eyes nearly bulged. A fully fledged Jedi knight against him! He turned to the instructor, though the man had an unrepentantly neutral look that looked on the cusp of being smug.
Taking several breaths, Anakin centered himself on the force, cheeks slightly flushed as he descended down the steps, raising a salute to her as she did the same to him, her eyes observing him closely as he did her.
As the instructor called for them to begin, only a prod from the force saved him from being immediately knocked out as she dashed forward with a burst of speed that his eyes had trouble tracking. Within half a second, she had closed the distance of the diameter of the platform!
Surprised, he quickly swirled around in time to intercept a probing strike from her, before being swiftly pushed back by a flurry of strikes from Secura's blue blade. Anakin struggled to block all of the blows, despite most of them being agile rather than strength based. Taking a gamble, he shifted his weight to his right foot before vaulting to the left, the deception successfully confusing Secura and halting her onslaught for the briefest of moments, form which Anakin gained some distance and refocused himself,
Giving an amused grin, Secura took several breaths before charging once again, her abilities in Ataru's agile form clear as she quickly pressed onto the offensive again, until Anakin was nearing the edge. He waited several moments on the defensive, waiting for a break to be called, but when he chanced a glance at the instructor, the man had a calm, uncaring gaze, and at that moment Anakin knew he would not be offered a reprieve.
Anakin ducked under the blue blade of his opponent, thrusting his own one forward, which his opponent narrowly avoided with a timely backflip, trying to regain his composure. However, the twi'lek did not get a chance as Anakin pressed the attack, feinting an upper swing before lashing downwards, grazing the other Jedi in their left leg before his opponent landed a solid kick on his chest, sending Anakin staggering backwards and barely able to raise his blade to defend against several violent strikes.
Letting go, Anakin trusted in the force to guide his motions, allowing his mind to become removed from immediate survival and observe her movements more objectively while his body acted on instinct, deflecting and avoiding blows rather than overextending in an attempt to counterattack.
He gracefully maneuvered Secura around for several minutes, until the blue skinned Jedi was clearly tiring, before he opened his eyes, retaking control as he predicted her upward slash, narrowly brushing past it and stabbing her chest with his blade.
There was several moments of silence before the instructor's hesitant voice called out, "Victory, Skywalker?"
Secura's wide eyes mirrored his own, Anakin's disbelief that such a simple move would have ended the duel evident. "Continue," Windu barked from on top of the balcony, causing muttering to erupt from the audience, though the battlemaster gestured for them to resume their posts. Secura now had a determined glint in her eyes, cautiously advancing once the call was given to begin.
"Tired?" Anakin offered, causing the knight's lips to curl up.
"A bit. You?"
"Likewise," Anakin acknowledged, lining his blade so the ends of their two lightsabers pressed against each other, letting out a constant whir as the two opponents continued circling each other.
Anakin stepped forward, pressing his blade slightly before disengaging and trying to slice at her hand. Gracefully, Secura angled her blade so that the blow landed harmlessly off target, offering up his side as a target. Only by committing to ramming her instead did he avoid getting slashed on his side, with Secura falling onto the ground and Anakin on top of her.
"Break! Warning, Skywalker! Excessive physical combat," Drallig called out as he untangled himself from Secura and assumed a ready stance, waiting for the call to begin. Wincing as she stood up, she gave an amused glare as she too raised her blade, nodding at Drallig to begin.
"That was quite a move," she complimented, "you must show me sometime."
"Just as you must show me that deflection," Anakin grinned wryly. "You're a very interesting duellist."
"Likewise," she returned, before advancing and swinging her blade in several probing strikes. Anakin used minimal movements, angling his blade to sufficiently deflect the glancing blows. Secura's eyes widened in surprise as she retreated several steps.
"Impossible, blade deflection is not taught to those so young!" she exclaimed, causing whispers to break out amongst the watching padawans. Anakin merely shrugged as he advanced, adopting the Djem So's strength form and performing several powerful strikes, which despite his younger body managed to force Secura to expend considerable effort deflecting the strikes. As she angled her blade in preparation for a riposte, Anakin smirked, twisting his blade and causing Secura's to twist out of her hand, deactivating and flying off to the side.
"Yield?" he asked, raising the blade to her chin.
"Yield," she conceded with raised hands, expression in near disbelief. Anakin summoned the blade with an extended hand, returning the blade to her. "I don't suppose you want a duel with use of the force?"
"Agreed," Drallig immediately cut in, causing Anakin to frown despite willingly adopting a ready stance once again. Secura flashed him an apologetic smile which he waved off. Once the call to begin emanate, he leapt forward, only to be met by a powerful force push that sent him flying towards the edge of the duelling pit. Secura didn't let up on this advantage, pressing the attack and forcing him on the defensive, clearly weary of giving him the initiative.
Anakin once again entered a mild trance, trusting in the force to guide his movements as he deflected blow after blow, retreating in a circular path around the duelling pit while trying to formulate another plan.
"This is hardly interesting, there isn't any environment to manipulate with the force," Anaklin lamented as he leapt back while throwing his lightsaber forward. Secura raised her blade to deflect, only for the blade to veer in an unnatural arc made possible only through manipulation of the force.
Her eyes bulged at this as she ducked under the lightsaber, while Anakin summoned his blade back to his hand, raising his blade in a defensive posture. He was already panting and sweating, though Secura seemed equally if not, to his mild pride, slightly worse.
"Time to end this, don't you think?" Anakin offered. Secura nodded, a glint in her eye as she let out a cry before leaping at him, lightsaber raised above her head. Anakin tossed his lightsaber like a javelin, forcing her to twist her blade awkwardly to deflect it, and distracting her enough to leave Secura vulnerable to a force push from him, sending her flying backwards.
To her credit, Secura landed gracefully, using a roll to absorb the impact, before readying herself once again. This time, Anakin took the initiative, charging forward with a clear power strike. However, trusting in his trance to carry forward the motion, he focused instead of tapping into the force, analysing her blade closely. A smirk broke out on his face after several deflected strikes, as he waved his hand, targeting the hidden switch of Secura's lightsaber and causing it to flicker off, leaving her wholly unprepared for the blade raised at her throat the second time.
"Yield?" Anakin questioned. Secura slowly raised her hands, before ducking under the blade and trying to tackle him to the ground. Anakin twirled gracefully out of the way, causing Secura to land on the floor undignified. Raising his blade, he couldn't help a cocky grin forming as he placed it a millimeter from her throat in clear warning. "Yield?"
"Yield," she conceded quickly, only relaxing when he deactivated the blade, offering her a hand up. "Whose padawan are you? I've never seen lightsaber fighting like that from a padawan, most knights couldn't boast of that!"
"I'm master Kenobi's," Anakin admitted as the two walked off the duelling platform.
"Kenobi...doesn't seem to match his style," Secura muttered under her breath.
"I'm mostly self-taught," he explained, causing her to give him an incredulous look. "My master prefers Soresu, I've found that the form alone is too limited though."
"Indeed why many tried to convince him to adopt Ataru, although he remained firm in his choice," Secura explained. "You specialise in Djem So?"
"I dabble," he deflected. At her curious look, he shrugged. "There is no single best form. Soresu would not work trying to subdue and opponent because it relies on them attacking, while Djem So would be foolhardy when on the defense."
"I...haven't thought about it like that," Secura admitted, looking at him with slight awe. Before their conversation could continue, her communicator buzzed, and she gave him an apologetic look. "Unfortunately, it seems duty calls. Hopefully we'll get a chance to speak again."
They said their goodbyes, and Anakin returned to his seat. His attention though, immediately turned to the balcony, where he observed several masters discussing animatedly. Yet when his gaze landed on the brown hair of Obi Wan Kenobi, Anakin could only see disinterest, as the man turned and left without so much as a second glance to him.
Giving a sigh, even the congratulations Secura offered didn't allay the bitterness he felt as he quickly excused himself back to his seat to watch the next battle. Afterwards, a Nautolan with green tentacles drooped from his face faced off against a tall palliduvan, though Anakin paid it little attention given the lackluster performance of both duellists.
"A most impressive duel, young Skywalker," a friendly voice offered. Startled but masking it, Anakin turned to see a genial old man in simple blue robes lay a hand on his shoulder. "Especially for one so young, I daresay I have never seen such remarkable potential in my admittedly limited experience."
"Thank you, sir," Anakin dipped his head in acknowledgement, trying not to show his ignorance at the man's identity.
"Sheev Palpatine, senator for Naboo," he replied easily, causing Anakin to wonder how the man knew. "Unlike most other self-absorbed senators, I know not to expect most to know me, given my humble position."
"A senator?" Anakin asked intrigued. "It must be amazing, being able to make such a difference in the galaxy."
"Oh ho," Palpatine chuckled, "if only more individuals had your energy. Alas, the cogs of bureaucracy will always turn slowly."
"I wouldn't know, Jedi aren't supposed to intervene in politics," Anakin shrugged, causing the man to frown slightly before nodding.
"I suppose not for one so young," Palpatine mused. Anakin quirked an eyebrow, causing the man to smirk briefly before it vanished under an apologetic shrug, "I misspoke, I suppose. The Jedi do not often intervene in politics, unless one considers the Council."
"The Council?" Anakin probed curiously.
"Indeed, the high council. They do wield considerable influence on the affairs of the Republic, as the last effective fighting force."
"But the Jedi strive for peace," Anakin proffered, though whether it was to convince himself or the man beside him, he could not be sure. "Some violence is necessary against those who wouldn't yield, but most of that is limited in scope and for the greater good."
"Strange you would speak of the greater good," Palpatine mused ruefully. "What is the greater good? From whose perspective?"
Anakin had no answers, to which Palpatine gave a dainty shrug. "Perhaps it is wrong for me to expect one so young to understand."
"Officially Jedi are merely supposed to interpret the directives of the Republic," Anakin proffered anxiously, missing the hint of a smirk on Palpatine's face at this.
"You disagree?"
"Jedi are not infallible. I know many in the galaxy resent, fear or even disbelieve in the Jedi's existence," Anakin sighed.
"You speak from experience, how...curious," Palpatine observed. "Would you perhaps be the same Skywalker who was recruited six...seven years ago?"
"I think so?" Anakin shrugged meekly, causing the senator to laugh.
"Likely so, I would think. Your recruitment caused quite the headache for the Republic's negotiators with the Hutts," his voice carried a disgusted inflexion at the end, eliciting a curious look from Anakin. "To recognise let alone legitimise the savages that are the Hutts is an insult to everything this Republic stands for. Alas credits speak far louder than morals for many of my colleagues."
"You're different from them, aren't you?" Anakin pondered. "You're not like them."
"I like to think so," Palpatine admitted nonchalantly, "I like to think I can't be bought, not for credits at least. Everyone has a price. Even the Jedi."
"And what would that price be?" Anakin asked curious, causing the senator to break out in a chuckle. "Forgive me if I-"
"No, no. It is refreshing to speak with one so directly, ah the bluntness of youth," Palpatine mirthfully assuaged. "That, if I may say, is the question on most officials' minds. Even mine, I must admit. To think that the Jedi could one day turn against the Republic they swear to serve...those are troubling thoughts indeed."
"Surely the Jedi wouldn't turn against the Republic," Anakin resolved, though Palpatine appeared far less certain, and Anakin couldn't help but admit a sliver of doubt himself. "I suppose if it went against the code."
"Ah, the Jedi code, quite vague, isn't it?"
"You know of the code?"
"I think most competent individuals would strive to understand the organisation that defends the ideals we hold so dear. There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony. There is no death, there is the Force. I believe these are the verses, unless I am very much mistaken."
"You disapprove?"
"Admittedly so. I find it foolish to inhibit oneself to anything, however vague and easy to twist. To adhere to the tenants of a theoretical or dated ideal is to lose sight of reality," Palpatine proffered. Anakin nodded solemnly in agreement, causing a smile to form on the politician's face. "You're different from them, aren't you?"
"I like to think so," Anakin returned. "Even amongst the Jedi there are…rifts between those of different beliefs, despite what the High Council would like most to believe. My master's master, Qui Gon Jinn, he was reassigned to some unimportant distant post because of his disagreement with the masters."
"Ah, a shame, master Jinn was quite the admirable Jedi. I always thought he represented...the best of you. To see his abilities confined as such...truly a shame," Palpatine lamented. "However, it seems his legacy will live on in you."
Anakin blushed at the praise, ducking his head before shaking it in denial. "Master Jinn remains far ahead of me."
"For now perhaps," Palpatine mused, "but given time, I have no doubt your lightsaber skills will far surpass most Jedi, if not all of them. While I may not be a Jedi, my old master...he had interest in many forms of blade combat, and some of it rubbed off onto me. You have every making of a blademaster."
"Being a Jedi isn't only about the lightsaber though. I remain very ignorant in the true power of the force."
"Indeed, the force is quite a mystery," Palpatine mused, "it is admittedly hard for one who does not possess it to understand. I myself had the honour to witness several impressive feats of it...feats that I daresay the Jedi would not approve of."
"You've met a Sith?" Anakin asked frightfully, causing Palpatine to chuckle.
"Thankfully nothing of the sort I could not handle. You will find there are many force using groups out there besides the Jedi. I myself am privy to those known as the Keepers, warrior monks who guard various shrines across the Outer Rim."
"The Jedi do not speak of these groups," Anakin frowned. "They prefer to deny us such knowledge."
"Indeed, the council guards their secrets most zealously. I myself have wondered, as have many others, what secrets they would keep even from the Republic they swear to protect, though alas it shall remain idle curiosity." Palpatine pondered, causing Anakin to let out a frustrated sigh.
"I wish there was some way to learn more quicker. The Council is wise, yet stuck in their ways. I could have become a knight already, yet I am told to continue to have patience."
"Senator Palpatine," the calm voice of Obi Wan Kenobi interjected. Both Jedi missed the hint of annoyance on the politician before a serene smile took its place.
"Master Kenobi, a pleasure to see you again," he replied cheerfully. "I was just here congratulating young Skywalker on his performance, most impressive I must say."
"Yes, unfortunately I must speak with my padawan with haste, if you would excuse us?" Obi Wan offered slightly impatiently despite Anakin's frown.
"Of course, I do have paperwork to return to as well, alas." Palpatine allowed with an easy smile, "but I shall be watching your career with great interest, Anakin."
With that, he placed a small holochip in Anakin's pocket, patted him firmly on the shoulder before walking off, being met by two blue robed senate guards. Obi Wan firmly led Anakin to one side before loosening his grip and sighing. "You shouldn't be consorting with politicians, padawna. It isn't the place of a Jedi to interfere in the affairs of the Republic!"
"But master-"
"No, Anakin. The Council is left to deal with the politicians because they have more experience. One as young as you wouldn't understand, but politicians always are looking for the next batch of credits to line their pockets or the next electoral season."
"Senator Palpatine is different!"
"And how would you know?" Obi Wan snorted. "Some politicians might hide it better than others, but all of them have some sort of agenda, some sort of motive."
"And what if that motive is noble? Just as the Jedi seek to protect the Republic, who is to say others cannot have similarly noble callings?" Anakin questioned.
"You wouldn't understand, being so young," Obi Wan lamented, before rebuking, "but that is not the point, You shouldn't be talking to politicians, who knows what sort of diplomatic incident you could cause? And don't get me started about the duel just now, do you have any idea what a mess you created?"
"How so mas-"
"Why did you have to best a Jedi knight in a public setting," Obi Wan exclaimed. "The whole council is not up in a frenzy, which means more problems of me trying to explain how you developed such skills supposedly under my tutolate."
"Isn't that a good thing, master?"
"A good thing? Force's sake, Anakin, now the Council will be looking to me to accelerate your training. I'm already juggling so many tasks, and now they are looking to me to give you additional lessons! I just don't have time again."
"Perhaps I should find a new master then," Anakin grumbled, though evidently not quietly enough as Obi Wan huffed.
"I didn't ask for an apprentice! I just came into my knighthood, I was hardly ready! You were meant to be Qui Gon's, until he got himself effectively exiled by the council, leaving me to deal with his mess!"
"Then why not knight me and be done with this? I'm more than qualified, everyone says that!"
"You're not ready, and this childishness is evidence of this!"
"I know someone proposed on the council for my knighting, and that it was you who convinced them to reject it," Anakin fumed. Obi Wan appeared taken aback before regaining his composure.
"Well in my view, it is clear your maturity and adherence to the code still leaves much to be desired. I merely presented my case to the Council, who I remind you, agreed with me in the end."
"I see how it is," Anakin muttered darkly, turning away and fighting down a sarcastic rebuke. He stormed away, ignoring Obi Wan's calls for him to stop, rejoining his class for meditation in the Room of a Thousand Fountains, surrounded by tens of thousands of exotic plants, the scents wafting through the air and calming him. His brisk walk turned more sedate, as he reached out with the force, sensing the various signatures that the plants contained.
He deviated from the class, heading to his preferred spot in a secluded corner, sitting on a stone bench and assuming a crossed leg position, entering a trance as he submerged himself deep into the currents of the cosmic force. After several minutes, he felt a slight probe against his aura, causing him to withdraw from the deepest currents of his meditation to see a familiar pink aura.
His pleasure knocked him out of his trance as he stood up and rushed forward, pulling Satele into a hug, her floral scent somehow still distinct from the fauna surrounding them in the room. The girl giggled, wrapping her arms around him. "Someone's glad to see me."
"Always, Sat," Anakin grinned, pulling back and sitting down on the bench, gesturing for her to do the same. "So how'd your mission to the Wookies go?"
"Dreadfully dull," Satele bemoaned, leaning her head on his shoulder. "I wasn't allowed to leave the Wookie encampment while they explored the shadowlands, they didn't find anything anyways. I couldn't understand a lick of what the Wookies were trying to say to me!"
Anakin contained a snort at the imagery, merely offering a reassuring pat on her back as she fumed. "I swear, master Vos is great but he coddles me so much. How am I meant to improve if I never get to actually enter potentially dangerous situation?"
"Surely master Vos has a good reason," Anakin proffered uneasily.
"You believe that as much as I do," Satele huffed, folding her arms. "But enough about me, I watched the stream of your duel with Secura, most impressive."
"Thanks," Anakin smiled, his spirits lifting. "It's so lonely here without you. Master seems more interested in training other younglings than me, and I don't even get to leave the temple."
"Surely Kenobi wouldn't be that bad," she offered weakly. He gave her an exasperated sigh, flicking her on the nose.
"You believe that as much as I do."
"Touche," she conceded with an amused grin before sobering. "But you don't need him, you're advancing well enough on your own."
"I was shortlisted for knighthood," he morosed.
"I would think that'd be good news?"
"Kenobi argued against it," he ground out, her gasp finally allowing his anger to flow freely. "I was recommended by another Jedi, all he had to do was keep his mouth shut, but he would deny me the chance to be knighted! He doesn't even want me as a padawan, force knows he barely sees me!"
"You could ask for a transfer. With your abilities...most masters should be eager to have you."
"And risk annoying the council?" At her confused look, he elaborated, "Kenobi has been shortlisted as part of the old guard. No master is going to risk annoying a future high council member."
"What? How have I never heard of thi?"
"It's kept close to the chests of the masters. I only know because I was tasked with maintaining some of the temple's security equipment and overheard. The Jedi are just playing politics," Anakin lamented. Satele offered a commenserating sigh.
"Well, maybe one day we'll be able to change the system from within," Satele proffered with conviction. "Your rise is inevitable, even the most stubborn council member would have to acknowledge that. At fifteen and already besting knights in lightsaber duels…"
"Being a Jedi isn't just about being strong," Anakin sighed. "Force knows if that were the case you would have been knighted long ago."
He observed her sheepish look critically before cracking a grin. "You're getting knighted aren't you."
"Yeah…" she admitted hesitantly, causing him to engulf her in a hug.
"That's great!" Anakin cheered, feeling her sag in relief as she returned his embrace. "Why didn't you tell me earlier! This calls for a celebration!"
"It's not that big of a deal," she ducked her head blushing.
"Not a big deal," Anakin scoffed, as though offended by the very notion, "Of course it is. You'll be a Jedi knight at seventeen, among the youngest in the council!"
"Well by all measures you should be a knight now. Even in two years you'd still match me, and you'd be the youngest if they do so in a year," she comforted, and somehow, Anakin found comfort in those words.
"You want to spar?" Anakin offered. Satele laughed before rolling her eyes.
"You've beaten one knight already, isn't that enough for one day? I'd rather not get my ass handed to me again, especially if we're celebrating."
"Can you blame me, you have a nice butt," Anakin shrugged, causing Satele to let out an eep before swatting at him.
"Pervert."
"I'm a teenager, and you do have a nice ass," he shrugged, smirking at the increasing blush on her face as her hand self-consciously reached to her rear.
"You really know how to make a girl feel special, don't you?" Satele quipped, surprising both him and seemingly herself as she straddled herself onto his lap. "But to be honest, all I want is to relax, and forget about our worries."
Smiling, Anakin leaned into her hug, allowing himself to fall backwards and land on the grass, Satele pressed on top of him as she let out a squeal. Together, the hours seemed to pass by carefree, the two willfully obvious to the confused and disapproving looks of other passing Jedi.
Author Note:
Sorry if the time skip was a bit adrupt, I really didn't want to focus on an angsty young Anakin. I want him aged up and genuinely capable to better fit into dealing with political intrigue and war. While many of the plot points in the coming chapters will just be the Phantom Menance rearranged slightly, I feel a lot of it is necessary as setup to the deviations we're going to see in how I plan on doing Episode 2 and 3. Hopefully staying in familiar territory will also make it easier on me to try and write competently XD