A/N: This almost turned into a series of vignettes of the misadventures of Padme, Obi-Wan, and Anakin in the marketplace. I had no idea these three would be SO enjoyable to write just doing whatever. ALSO: please forgive that sometimes Padme doesn't have an accented "e" (like just now). My laptop uses a surface keyboard, on which it is extremely difficult to do the accent. I have to go back and forth writing with my phone or edit in Word to get the accent to work properly. I do like it when I can get it on there, though!
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THREE
"Where did you go?" She overheard Ani demand of Obi-Wan, once they'd found each other in the mass of passengers waiting to exit the transport.
"We were over there," replied Obi-Wan with a careless gesture, not seeming ruffled at all by Anakin's questioning.
Ani continued to ignore Padmé, as if she wasn't at all welcome in his Jedi club, except he did afford her the occasional disdainful glance. She was fine with this, deciding she didn't care for whatever stage of maturity Ani was currently in, and stayed close to Obi-Wan's other side.
As they navigated the press of the crowd, she cinched the edge of Obi-Wan's sleeve in her fingers to keep herself in arm's reach. He must have felt her tug on his sleeve, for he took her hand in his instead and pulled her along until they'd breached enough space to ensure none of them would get lost.
"Now," he said, turning to face the two of them. "What shall we do first?"
"Food," said Anakin.
"Shopping," said Padmé at the exact same time.
She glanced at Ani, wondering how he could think of food at a time like this. He returned her glance, seeming irritated by her suggestion.
"To get a better disguise," she explained, gesturing to her shroud.
Anakin took one look at her shroud and then appeared as if he were trying very hard not to roll his eyes. It was infuriating, really.
"Perhaps we should first find where we will stay tonight," suggested Obi-Wan. "We won't leave to join the Naboo shipment until the morning."
"I suppose," assented Ani.
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Lodging options were minimal, though not terrible, at the station, and Obi-Wan procured for them a set of two conjoined rooms in which to stay the "night"… whatever "night" meant in space.
"So," said Obi-Wan, as they convened in the larger of the two rooms. "Shall we go to the marketplace and see what we can find?"
"Yes, but," said Anakin, "we aren't getting disguises, are we?"
He seemed consumed by doubt over what Padmé had said before.
"Maybe," said Obi-Wan in a noncommittal fashion.
"Master," said Anakin, "I must object. We're Jedi, and we shouldn't hide what we are."
"But Anakin," said Obi-Wan. "We should be cautious not to limit the completion our mission due to pride in what we are."
"I suppose, Master," replied Anakin, passing a sullen look towards Padme, on whom he seemed to be blaming everything he didn't like about his mission.
"We will all have to hide our identities, not just Padmé," declared Obi-Wan, as if he'd just finalized the decision. "I think it's for the best."
"I agree," replied Padmé with a slight shrug.
"Good," said Obi-Wan. "So… disguises and food?"
Ani appeared pleased by the inclusion of food on the agenda, and they all made haste.
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The marketplace of Hathon Station was relatively robust due to the size of the station itself. Being one of the major off-world ports of Coruscant, Hathon Station couldn't be anything but robust. However, this particular station had long since fallen out of favor with the more fashionable crowd and a had a bit of a cobbled-together look about it; there were bits and pieces all over the station that had clearly either seen better days or had been salvaged from other ships and ports for reuse here. It had a weathered, used look, but was still used productively, if mostly only for those of low or frugal means. The marketplace didn't have the finest wares (at least, not legally) but it did have a lot of wares to choose from, and in the chaotic mess of mish-mash stalls it was easy for one to get lost, or to lose oneself, whichever one might prefer.
"What shall we do in the morning?" Padmé asked Obi-Wan, curious for details.
"Ah," said Obi-Wan, falling back to walk beside her as Anakin became occupied ahead of them with some form of street food on a stick. "I've arranged for a small transport for us to take to join the Naboo shipment. We're going to join the crew."
"We- we are?" inquired Padmé, not having supposed such a thing would be part of all this.
"Yes," said Obi-Wan. "I assume you're good at crewing?"
Padmé laughed.
"No, I'm terrible at crewing," she replied. "But only because I don't know what it is."
"Then our plan is already foiled," said Obi-Wan with a smile.
"Tell me what I'm to do," she prompted.
"Well," said Obi-Wan. "I've been thinking about it, and I think you're quite good at negotiating."
"I suppose," replied Padmé.
"So, you should be involved in the negotiations," said Obi-Wan.
"What negotiations?" asked Padmé.
"With the shipment crew," said Obi-Wan. "You're a merchant. A travelling one, you see."
"Oh, am I?" asked Padmé. "Interesting. Tell me more about myself."
"You've been sent from Naboo to handle the negotiations when the shipment reaches port," said Obi-Wan. "That'll give you a good reason to be there to look over the shipment, but also a good reason to keep to yourself when you need to."
"Oh," said Padmé.
"And then, when the pirates come, you can help with the real negotiations," said Obi-Wan.
"What are those going to be like?" asked Padmé.
"Hopefully not violent," said Obi-Wan, glancing across the stalls they walked by. His eyes came back to her and he added, "Anakin and I will be your guards. I mean, we really are, but also we will pretend to be hired guards to your merchant persona."
"A merchant hires Jedi to guard her?" she asked.
"Not officially," said Obi-Wan. "We will hide our true selves at first, I suppose."
He didn't seem very happy about that, so Padmé touched his arm.
His glance traveled to her, but slowly.
"You don't have to wear a disguise, Obi-Wan," she said. "Not if you don't feel right about it."
"It will be fine, Padmé," he said to her, covering her hand with his. "You're our inspiration."
"Am I?" she inquired bemusedly.
"We will wear shrouds," he replied.
Padmé laughed.
"How mysterious I will be, with shrouded guards," she said, moving to take the shroud from her head.
"Oh, wait, wait," said Obi-Wan, holding his hands up to stop her. "What if someone recognizes you here?"
She brushed his hands aside and said, "Senator Amidala would not be caught dead in this place. No one will be looking for me, and if they think I might look like the senator, it will surely be a mistake."
Unwrapping her shroud, she draped it lightly around the nape of his neck and, holding the two ends, moved close, as if in confidence.
"I want you to wear it," she said to him.
"Shall I, then?" he inquired, as if only to keep talking.
"Yes," she said. "You are a knight, are you not? And I am a lady?"
"Indeed," he agreed.
"Then it's settled," she said, drawing back and waving a hand. "You have my favor."
He seemed caught between smiling and not, as if he'd lost his certainty about which to do.
"Now, I need something, don't I?" she said, turning away to the nearest clothing stall.
She felt him grasp her arm from behind and pull her to his side to face the makeshift mannequin upon which he was gazing.
"That's it," he said, pointing at the red-trimmed black tailored suit with gleaming silver buttons which hung on the mannequin. A dark cape hung clasped to its shoulders with a voluminous hood. It was made from thick, finely woven material.
"I suppose a relatively wealthy traveling merchant might wear that," said Padmé, turning her head a bit sideways.
"We'll take that," said Obi-Wan to the worn stall matron, who nodded and began to remove it from the mannequin.
"But you'll need more of a shroud," said Padmé, picking up a long, gauzy piece of dark material and holding it up to Obi-Wan.
"Don't I have this one?" he inquired, holding up the end of her shroud around his shoulders.
"That's your under-shroud," she determined. "It's not enough alone."
"Under-shroud, huh?" said Obi-Wan, with a light laugh.
She threw the larger, cloak-like shroud around him and clasped it at the shoulder. It hung mysteriously upon him, as if he were a wraith come to claim life, and not at all a Jedi. Something about it disturbed her, and he seemed to perceive it at once and looked at her curiously from the dark hood of the shroud.
She reached around his shoulder and pulled the hood of the shroud off to lie against his back.
"What's the matter?" he asked.
She shook her head a little and said, "It doesn't feel right to hide…" and she trailed off, searching for the words momentarily, "…your light."
He smiled a little at her, but it seemed bright, as if made more radiant by being hidden for a moment.
Padmé glanced down and scoffed at how ridiculous she must have sounded, but he touched her wrist and leaned closer.
"What are we going to do?" he asked, smiling wryly. "Shall I pretend not to be a Jedi but wear a shroud without shrouding myself?"
Padmé laughed and said, "You have a point, Obi-Wan. I'll suffer through it."
She pulled the hood up again and arranged it around him, hiding him from those who might recognize the light of a Jedi Knight. She was careful about it, as if due to her care she was making it all right, as if by being attentive it would bother her less.
Obi-Wan stood mildly and allowed her to fuss over him, and when she'd finished she found he was gazing at her, and due to the confines of the shroud, only she could see it. Something about his gaze made a shiver drive up her arms towards her heart and her hands slowed to a stop on either side of his hood, falling to his chest.
"That'll be four hundred credits," said the stall matron, waylaying them both with surprise and wearily holding a box out for someone, anyone, to take.
"Oh, right," said Obi-Wan reaching for his pockets.
"No, I will handle it," said Padmé, brushing him aside. "We will also take two of these dark shrouds."
"Whatever floats your starship," said the matron, sounding bored and holding out her hand for payment.
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Disguised and hooded, Padmé and Obi-Wan found the idea of sneaking up on Anakin irresistible. They found him ahead of them a ways, browsing a table of bric-a-brac and eating a bun. From behind, she realized he was quite tall.
Obi-Wan caught her eye and gave her a wink from his shroud, and, as delightful as it was, she returned it with a smirk as they moved quickly to flank Ani on both sides. The younger Jedi tensed at once.
"Hey," she said in a low and (she hoped) menacing voice, "Where's your master?"
The only way Padmé could later describe what happened next was that Anakin exploded. His lightsaber ignited from nowhere and she found herself being flung violently into the nearest basket of wares by the air itself.
"Stop!" she heard Obi-Wan cry out, and the tumult stopped as suddenly as it began. The sound of a lightsaber being turned off came next.
"Master!" said Ani with surprise, and then: "Wait… was that…?"
It was at this point she felt herself being fished out of the wares basket, and soon realized it was Ani doing the fishing. He looked honestly remorseful, which was unusual for him.
"Padmé, I didn't know…," he said as she was righted on her feet and brushed off for good measure. "Are you alright?"
She pushed his hands away and straightened herself, mustering as much dignity as she could.
"Never sneak up in a Jedi," she said. "I shall remember that."
"I honestly thought there was no way you wouldn't recognize us, Anakin," said Obi-Wan. "You must work on your awareness."
"Yes, Master," said Anakin, and Padmé noticed he was shaking a little.
Obi-Wan turned to the observing shopkeeper nearby and waved his hand vaguely.
"We were never here," he said calmly.
"You were never here," said the shopkeeper mildly.
"Put this on," said Obi-Wan, handing Ani the extra shroud.
Anakin obeyed without a word.
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The rest of the evening passed with much less commotion and they found themselves back at their rooms ruminating on what the next day would bring.
"Do you think we'll fight the pirates?" asked Ani.
"Don't get ahead of yourself, Anakin," said Obi-Wan.
"But do you think?..." he asked again.
"I should hope not," said Padmé.
Ani seemed a little restless.
"Tomorrow we're going to be acting as Padmé's guards and she's going to handle the negotiations," said Obi-Wan.
Ani glanced at Padmé.
"So… this entire mission hinges on whether or not she can act well enough to convince them she's a travelling merchant?" he asked, looking dubious.
"I can act," said Padmé, feeling affronted.
"I've never seen you act like anything except a stuck-up senator," said Ani.
"Hey!" objected Padmé.
"Anakin," said Obi-Wan. "That was out of line."
"I'm just saying," said Ani, "she has to figure out how to act like the rest of us before she can convince anyone of anything."
Obi-Wan sighed and looked at Padmé.
"Despite Anakin's… choice of words… he does have a point, but I had just assumed you would know how to… ah… act as if you're of lower social standing," said Obi-Wan.
"I'm not sure what exactly you mean," replied Padmé, and Anakin threw up his hands in frustration.
"It's a disaster," muttered Ani.
"Well," said Obi-Wan, who seemed to be trying to ignore Anakin, "You could try being a bit less polished… in your speech… and perhaps bearing."
"Indeed?" inquired Padmé.
"Lost cause," murmured Anakin to Obi-Wan.
"For example, you could reply 'what?', instead of 'indeed?'," suggested Obi-Wan.
"I wasn't aware we'd started already," replied Padmé, feeling a bit annoyed.
"I don't think she can do it," said Ani.
"Do not presume you can tell me what I can or cannot do, Anakin Skywalker," she chided, nearing the end of her patience.
Anakin folded his arms and opted for silence.
Obi-Wan observed her thoughtfully for a moment, and then leaned toward her a bit.
"Try this," he said, holding up a finger. "Do you remember the old sales matron tonight at the stall?"
"Yes," said Padmé, touching her black and red-trimmed suit, "the one where we bought this."
Obi-Wan nodded and smiled.
"And you got that," she said, touching his shroud at the shoulder, and then the under-shroud she'd given him which still draped around his neck, "and this."
"Yes," said Obi-Wan, though his voice softened slightly when he said it, as if remembering.
Padmé fought against warmth in her face.
"Do you think you could act like her?" he asked. "The matron?"
"I don't care what you lot do," she said, taking on a long-suffering look, "So long as the credits are valid and plentiful."
Obi-Wan laughed in delight.
"Quite right," he said. "I think that'll do."
Padmé smirked at Anakin, who seemed to be amused by her impression despite himself.
"Fine," said Ani, "This might work, after all."
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