Continuing on from Philosophical Discussions... Poor Anakin.
Mace took a moment to reach out in the Force to determine if Obi-Wan was as willing as the boy seemed to indicate. There was another thump against the wall and muffled moan. Mace withdrew from the Force, his face only slightly shifting with an uneven mix of disapproval and humor. Boba was correct, Obi-Wan was perfectly willing.
He reached out and deftly caught the boy's hand before he could touch the locking mechanism.
"Perhaps we should not interrupt them right now," he intoned with only the driest of hints of humor coloring his voice, "they are otherwise...engaged."
"You mean they're frakking each other silly," Boba replied matter-of-factly, he looked past Mace, "Is he okay?"
Mace turned to see Anakin, twitching, being supported by Padmé, seemly paralyzed by indecision and shock.
"I don't think he ever thought of his Master as being," oh Mace knew he shouldn't do it, but for once he decided not to resist, "Frakkable."
Skywalker twitched even more violently, and Mace almost, almost took a step back from the glare Senator Amidala leveled at him.
"I could take you to Taun We," Boba offered, and Mace could swear the child was planning some other surprise, just to see how they would react.
"No, I think it best we wait until we can talk with Master Kenobi and your Father," Mace shook his head, "We shall return to our ships until that time."
Boba's face lit up.
"I can go back to studying's Obi-Wan's ship?"
Anakin shook himself and finally found his voice.
"Master Windu, do you think that truly wise?" Skywalker winced as his voice squeaked from unexpected stress.
"He gave me permission."
It was a borderline whine from Boba, but the big pleading brown eyes made up for it. Mace still wasn't buying it.
"Is there somewhere where," Mace began when there was an exceptional loud thump and someone was urging loud enough they could hear clearly despite the soundproofing.
"HARDER"
"I think that was Dad," Boba stared, a little shocked, at the wall for a moment, really looking like the ten year old child he was.
"Is there somewhere where we can find refreshment?" Mace hurriedly asked managing to shepherd the group away from the apartment before Skywalker completely freaked out. Senator Amidala wasn't helping things; she looked like she was going to burst out into giggles at any moment.
"I can make hot chocolate on Slave I," Boba offered as he kept looking back, eyes all-rounded and blinking, then he looked at Anakin a little shyly and a touch slyly, "I think you just became my brother."
Mace got Anakin and Senator Amidala settled back on the Senator's ship, and let the Senator fuss over Kenobi's...traumatized seemed too strong a words, but Mace was willing to go with it, Kenobi's traumatized padawan. Mace had a troubling feeling about that particular situation, but it was a better alternative than keeping Skywalker and the Fett child in any kind of proximity, at least not until Obi-Wan was present and could make an account of himself.
Mace knew he should report to the Council, or at least Yoda, but not just yet. He was going to accompany Boba and have a hot chocolate. If he knew his bounty hunters right, there would something stronger on that ship that could be added to the hot chocolate. Then he would contact his little green goblin of a best friend. It was going to be a long conversation.
