The bazaar was busy today. Anakin Skywalker and his Padawan, Ashoka Tano were on their daily patrol, casually strolling through the streets of Coruscant. Among the Jedi, this particular section of the city was infamous for being one of the most tempting (at the same time, it wasn't particularly dangerous, which was likely why it was ideal for Jedis and Padawans they wished to train—or test—the self-control of). By now, Anakin thought himself to be rather good at suppressing his curiosity and desire when it came to material things. Alright, sure, he did occasionally catch himself eyeing several tool sets longingly, even when his current set was still perfectly functionable, and maybe he found himself eagerly scanning shelves of pre-loved mechanic manuals for starfighters and droids, but a man could only suppress so much. Besides, when he and Obi-Wan used to patrol the bazaar, he'd catch his old master tilting his head at the handsome wooden spoons on display with clear interest, before noticing Anakin's amused expression and quickly hurrying on ahead. If one of the most accomplished Jedi Masters Anakin knew were still fallible to such things, then several moments of weakness could surely be excused.
Anakin tore his gaze away from a tray of used droid parts and prodded Ashoka forward. She had been observing a shelf that held several fancy hair combs, ten credits each. But she quickly turned away, smiling at him sheepishly before hurrying on ahead. Anakin smiled, continuing to scan the crowd for any suspicious activity. But it seemed that everything was quiet today—well, as quiet as a bazaar could get.
He came to a stop beside a stall selling traditional Coruscant street food, eyeing the crowd as they passed. He politely nodded at a duo of young women, who giggled as they passed. Anakin allowed himself a silent chuckle, before turning with the intention of speaking to his Padawan. To his surprise, she was not there. A moment later, the sound of Ashoka letting out a silent gasp caused him to turn around.
She was standing at a stall a few feet away, staring intently at something hanging on a mini display stand with wooden hooks. Anakin tilted his head, coming closer. The stand was adorned with necklaces, bejewelled and bedazzled with all sorts of gems and stones. Ashoka was staring at one of the simpler looking ones, eyes shining. It was made of a thin, silver chain, with a small pendant attached to it. The pendant was made out of a white, partially transparent stone with gold veins running through it. It seemed to glow dimly in the sunlight.
Anakin glanced at his Padawan, whose eyes hadn't moved from the piece of jewelry. He had never pegged her to be the jewelry type. Actually, he expected her to find jewelry almost useless and needlessly expensive, although he supposed that was possibly just him projecting his masculine tendencies on her (not to say that men don't wear and appreciate jewelry—only that being attracted to pretty things was typically seen as a feminist characteristic, and that he himself never thought of jewelry as particularly attractive).
Anakin scanned the rest of the shop. It seemed they were one of those stalls that sold their own creations. Anakin turned back to Ashoka, who was scanning the shop too, before turning her eyes back to the necklace with an expression of clear and decisive longing.
"How much is this?" Ashoka asked the vendor eagerly. He placed a pair of tiny spectacles onto his long nose and peered carefully at the necklace she had pointed out.
"Ahhh," he said, nodding. He took the necklace off the hook and held it up to the sun, illuminating the stone pendant and peering at it with expert eyes. "Twenty-five credits," he told her, settling back and smiling. Using his other hand, he lifted the pendant for her to see and added fondly, "These are Bakalash stones. They come from my home planet. 'Reminds me of it whenever I feel homesick."
Ashoka stared at the necklace with glittering eyes as the vendor returned it to its hook.
Anakin, his right hand resting on his waist, coughed, and Ashoka jerked around and stared at him in surprise. "Oh—I'm sorry, Master," she said sheepishly. "I was just... looking around."
Anakin raised an eyebrow, and she sighed in defeat. "Okay, fine. You caught me." She indicated at the necklace eagerly. "But... look at that. It's so... beautiful."
The vendor smiled. Anakin took ahold of the pendant and peered at it. He had to admit, it was pretty. Not that pretty, but he could imagine that Padme would look beautiful in it, which had to mean something. He let the necklace drop back against the the display, offering his Padawan a rueful smile. "Sorry, Snips. You know the rules."
Ashoka stuck her bottom lip out. "Not even this once?" Her voice was uncharacteristically pleading.
Anakin shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry," he said, as she visibly drooped. "But I don't think I'd be a very good master if I let you indulge yourself in things like this just because you wanted to. It isn't the Jedi Way. You know that."
Ashoka lowered her head, and Anakin added, "Besides, you didn't even notice me arrive. What does that tell you about how distracted you were?"
Ashoka sighed, clearly defeated. She crossed her arms across her chest, then uncrossed them again. Finally, she offered the vendor an apologetic glance. "Thanks anyway," she told him sadly.
"Of course, young lady," he replied kindly. "You have a good eye, I'll give you that. I'm glad you liked it."
She smiled sadly at him. She gave the necklace one last look of longing, then turned and slowly headed back in the direction of their speeder. Anakin sighed as he watched her go, that familiar feeling of resentment towards the Jedi and their traditionalism battling inside him. It was just one little thing. Would it have been so bad?
He shook these thoughts out of his head and glanced at the sky, noting that it was about time they headed back to the temple. He eyed the necklace one last time, then shot the vendor an apologetic glance before following his protégé's path to the speeder, pondering deeply as he ignored the rest of the bazaar's yells and calls.
...
Ashoka was in her room, her door firmly shut. Anakin could clearly sense she was still upset. He glanced around warily at the people milling about the corridor, then checked his pockets again. He still had fifty credits saved up, which he had secretly kept hidden in his undergarments drawer. Maybe he really could...
He let out an exhale. He couldn't believe he was doing this. What would Obi-Wan say?
Anakin straightened up and walked through the corridor as casually as he could, taking particular care to keep his feelings in check and his expression as inconspicous as possible. It wouldn't do for any of the Masters to catch him in his little excursion. Thankfully, he was out of the temple and heading for his speeder in a matter of minutes without any incident. He glanced at his personal chronometer and picked up the pace. If he was correct, the bazaar would be closing soon. He had to hurry.
He rushed through the crowd, no longer worrying about discretion as he shoved his way towards the jewelry stall. The vendor immediately recognized him, blinking at him with surprised, yet knowing eyes.
"Good evening," Anakin greeted him, slightly out of breath.
"Good evening," the vendor replied, staring at him with a curious expression. "You're the Jedi who was with that young lady earlier, aren't you?"
"Yes, that would be me," Anakin replied, giving him a mildly embarassed look. "I—I was hoping you still had that necklace."
The vendor observed him with an unreadable expression, and Anakin started to worry that he was too late. But then the vendor broke into a small smile, and he bent down behind the counter. After a moment of digging, he produced a small, grey box and opened it, revealing the necklace.
Anakin let out a slow exhale and licked his lips, then pulled out his pouch. Without taking his eye off it, he asked, "Twenty-five credits, right?"
"Yes," the vendor replied, smiling knowingly.
Anakin looked at the necklace, then at the pouch, then behind him at the Jedi temple looming in the distance. What would the Council say if they found out? he thought anxiously, then, what would Obi-Wan do? then, even more quietly in his head, what would I do? For my Padawan?
For my friend?
Finally, Anakin nodded decisively. He leaned towards the vendor, and in a hushed voice whispered, "Listen, I'm not supposed to be here. If I paid you an extra five credits, do you think you could refrain from mentioning this event to anyone?"
The vendor smiled. "You won't even need to pay me, sir."
...
Obi-Wan watched Anakin run back into the temple with raised eyebrows. What could he possibly have been doing out at this time?
He went up to his former Padawan, a questioning look on his face. "Anakin? What are you doing?"
Anakin froze like a Bantha caught in speeder-lights. "O—oh," he stammered, hands jumping to his pocket nervously. "Just went for a quick patrol in the bazaar. Nothing worth noting."
"I thought you already went on patrol with Ashoka?" Obi-Wan questioned, more than a tad bit suspicious. Anakin swallowed. "Oh, Ashoka decided to head back early. I just thought I'd go back, make sure everything was in order." He smiled weakly.
Obi-Wan could sense that Anakin was hiding something. But... it didn't seem to be malicious. In fact, remembering Ashoka's expression when she and Anakin had returned from their patrol, he thought he had an inkling of what it could be. He briefly considered calling the young Jedi out on it, before simply deciding to nod and offer him a knowing smile. "Alright, then," he said. "But be quick. It's almost time for dinner."
Anakin's body seemed to melt in relief, and he nodded. "Will do, Obi-Wan," he said, smiling at him gratefully. He hurried off, footsteps echoing in the mostly empty hall. Obi-Wan smiled as he watched him go, chuckling silently to himsef as he headed for the dining hall.
...
Ashoka was laying flat on her bed, staring up at the cieling with a blank expression.
Of course, Anakin's just trying to do what's best for me, a voice in her head told her. Of course he is. But still, you did not just find a necklace like that everyday.
She let out a dejected sigh and sat up, shaking her head. It wouldn't do for any of the masters to sense her tumultuous emotions during dinner. She didn't want to get herself—or worse, Anakin—into trouble. It wasn't his fault that such frivolities weren't fit for such dedicated users of the Force. This was the Jedi Way. This was just how it worked.
A tentative knock sounded at the door. Ashoka tilted her head, her Master's presence ebbing at the edge of her Force consciousness. She could sense that he was unusually nervous. Curiosity overcoming her disappointment, she swung her legs out of bed. "Come in"
The door slid open, and Anakin, looking uncharacteristically sheepish, stepped inside. He shut the door behind him and stood awkwardly for a second, watching her as if he was trying to figure out what to say. Then he took a step forward and nodded at the bed. "May I?"
Ashoka nodded, scooting aside. Anakin sat beside her, hesitant.
Ashoka stared at him, her curiosity piqued. "What is it, Skyguy?" she asked, and Anakin bit his lips, something in his eyes betraying embarrassment and... eagerness. Finally, he turned towards her. Inhaling tentatively, he began, "I, uh, have something for you."
Ashoka froze in place, her Force intuition firing all over the place. She stared at her master with a suspicious expression. He couldn't have.
Anakin smiled, obviously sensing her sudden insight, and produced a small, grey case from his right pocket. He looked up at her as he did, and her eyes widened as he handed the case to her. She took it slowly, her gaze still suspicious. Her Master nodded, rubbing the back of his neck with a decidedly embarassed look.
Ashoka hesitated, then finally lifted the cover. Her jaw all but dropped as she saw, glinting and sparkling in the lamp's artificial light, the necklace.
Feelings Ashoka couldn't properly process bounced furiously inside her stomach, and she looked up at Anakin with wide, awed eyes. For a moment, she was—quite uncharacteristically—at a complete loss for words.
"I—I thought—" she stammered, staring at the case in her lap, then at Anakin, then at the necklace again. Anakin chuckled weakly. "I thought you said you wouldn't be a good master if you let me get this," she finally managed, staring with round eyes. Anakin coughed and pulled at his collar. "Well, I still think that's true," he admitted sheepishly. Ashoka looked up at him with a raised eyebrow, and Anakin laughed nervously. "But," he continued slowly. "As a friend, I thought..." he faltered, shrugging uncertainly. Ashoka beamed at him, tears pressing against her eyeballs. Furiously sucking them back into her head, Ashoka let out a huge, wide grin and threw her arms around him. She buried her head into his shoulder, and Anakin, after hesitating for a second, slowly returned the embrace. He seemed to melt in joy and relief.
Ashoka finally pulled away. She carefully lifted the necklace out of its case and held it up to the light, letting it dangle gently from her fingers. It winked at her brightly against the warm light. It was so much more beautiful than she had initially thought.
"Here," Anakin said, taking the necklace from her. He indicated for her to turn around, and she did. He gently pulled the necklace around her neck, the pendant resting lightly against her chest as he attached the ends together. Ashoka's eyes glittered as she stared down at it. She turned around to let him see, and he beamed.
"It looks great on you." Her master's voice was affectionate and sincere. Ashoka grinned, leaping forward to hug him again. This time, he didn't hesitate to return the gesture.
When they finally pulled away, Anakin checked the time. "Well, we better get going," he told her, getting up. "It's almost dinnertime, and I'd hate to miss desert. And Obi-Wan'll kill me if we're late again."
Ashoka laughed and nodded, and her master chuckled while getting to his feet. Ashoka slipped the necklace into her tunic, smiling, as she the adjusted chain so she could be certain it wouldn't be seen. Her master nodded in approval, then made his way to the door.
"Hey," Ashoka called out, just before he could step outside.
Anakin paused in the doorway and raised an eyebrow at her. Ashoka clutched her necklace through her tunic, then whispered, "Thanks, Skyguy."
Anakin smiled. "Anytime, Snips."