The flight to Naboo is so awkward, Anakin can't even focus on flying.
Being stuck in the cockpit with the Chancellor and Obi-Wan is becoming unbearable. He's starting to wish he stayed on Coruscant with Ahsoka. Knowing he'll be seeing Padmé in a few hours is the only thing keeping him going.
"What's our ETA, Anakin?" Obi-Wan asks, even though the information is clear on the console.
"Three hours and thirteen minutes." He replies, not taking his eyes away from the viewpoint.
He and Obi-Wan are on alright terms.
Anakin still feels rage rush through his veins whenever he sees his former Master, but there isn't much that can be done about that. Obi-Wan already apologised, and Anakin forgave him- he'll just never forget what Obi-Wan was willing to put him and Ahsoka through.
It's not like his apology makes a difference to Ahsoka's condition anyways.
That does not mean you cannot forgive your Master, Chosen One.
He eases his grip on the controls and turns on auto-pilot, says, "If you'll excuse me, your Excellency."
Palpatine nods graciously as Anakin stands. He doesn't even look at Obi-Wan as he walks past. He considers a nap, but his mind is already working in overdrive so sleeping is out of the question. Instead, he goes to the back of the ship. Maybe he can find something to fix.
He gets the shock of his life when he sees a young Togruta huddled in the luggage hold.
Anakin jumps, swears whilst Ahsoka smiles up at him sheepishly, "Uh, hey, Master."
"Hey, Master?" Anakin crosses his arms over his chest, scowls, "Is that all you have to say for yourself, young lady?"
Ahsoka straightens out her legs- how did she even fit back here? "Master Plo said I could-"
"I'm not falling for that crappy excuse again." Anakin cuts her off. Ahsoka looks away, irritation swirling around her Force-signature.
He should be furious that she went behind his back- and he is- but Anakin is too emotionally drained to be annoyed at another person, especially when that person is Ahsoka.
"Move over."
"What?"
"You heard me, Snips."
Ahsoka blinks before shifting herself to one side, "I don't think we'll both fit down here." Anakin ignores her, squatting beside her, "Oh, okay..."
Anakin hums, holding onto the crate beside him so he doesn't crush his petite Padawan, "Why did you disobey my orders and sneak onto the ship?" He keeps his tone clipped- silently telling her that lying is the worst thing she could do right now.
Ahsoka sighs, rubs her prosthetic knee, "I had a bad feeling about this trip. I didn't want to regret staying on Coruscant."
She looks up at him, and Anakin can see the fear in her eyes so clearly that he may as well be looking in a mirror.
"Like the feeling that told me to take the shot for Master Obi-Wan." She looks so young, so vulnerable. "I can't explain it."
"You don't have to. I understand." He says quietly, slinging an arm around her shoulders and pulling her into his side. "I have bad feelings about things all the time, Snips."
They sit in silence for a while, Ahsoka resting her head on his shoulder, so still that he thinks she's fallen asleep. She's skin and bones under his arm; she really needs to start eating more.
Even though her health isn't excellent, her weight beside him allows the stress to evaporate from Anakin's shoulders. She's always been a light presence in his life- ever since she stepped off the transport on Christophsis.
Now, she's one of the only people- besides Padmé- keeping him sane.
"I'm sorry..." he looks down at Ahsoka with a frown, waiting for her to explain, "for disobeying your orders."
"You should've told me you were worried about something happening." He scolds lightly.
Then again, would he have told her if he had a bad feeling about something? Probably not.
"I'm glad you're here, Snips. Spending this entire trip with Obi-Wan alone would've been torturous."
"What's wrong with Master Kenobi?"
Kriff. Anakin immediately tenses.
When he found out about the Council's plan, he was furious about being left out of the loop- and he still is. How would Ahsoka react to the truth?
It's different keeping things from Ahsoka than keeping things from him. She's in an incredibly vulnerable position right now with her physical recovery accompanied with the trauma of the accident and the depression she's suffered in the Halls of Healing.
Keeping secrets and lying... it isn't the same. She's an exception.
"Master?"
"Nothing's wrong with Obi-Wan; I love spending time with him." Anakin says far too quickly, then he lets out a nervous laugh which he knows Ahsoka notices because her eye markings furrow.
"Then why were you all so quiet in the cockpit?" She asks.
He didn't teach her to be this perceptive.
"Aren't you nosy?" He taps her nose before withdrawing his hand from around her, hoping he's able to cover his tracks. "Come on, Missy, time to tell your Grandmaster that we have a stowaway."
Ahsoka groans as she lets Anakin pull her up. "Play stupid games and you win stupid prizes, Snips."
Obi-Wan steps off the shuttle behind Anakin, already scanning their surroundings for any possible threats. With Windu acting as Hardeen, it's fallen to the next most senior Jedi Master to be the Chancellor's primary bodyguard, aka Obi-Wan.
Anakin was quiet for most of the flight to Naboo. He may claim that he's putting more blame on the Council than Obi-Wan, but he would be a fool to believe that.
Sure, the Council came up with the plan, but Obi-Wan volunteered to take it on.
He's just glad Ahsoka decided to sneak on board. If she hadn't, Anakin's mood would still be intolerable. He's perked up a lot since the Padawan was found hiding in the luggage hold.
Obi-Wan should've been surprised to see her following Anakin into the cockpit, but he really wasn't.
Padmé's waiting for them besides the Queen, and she sneaks a smile to Anakin- who unsurprisingly returns it- before she addresses Palpatine, "Welcome home, Chancellor. I'm thankful to the Jedi for bringing you here safely."
"Yes, Senator, it is good to be back-" Obi-Wan can tell Palpatine is about to insult the Jedi at any moment- "although, I think the amount of security accompanying me is overkill."
There it is.
"With all due respect, Chancellor," Anakin says, his voice full of adoration, "where your safety is concerned, there is no such thing as overkill."
The Padawan, wise one!
Palpatine's about to reply when Ahsoka yelps in pain. Obi-Wan's already rushing to her side and hefting her off the floor at the bottom of the ramp. It looks like she went over her prosthetic and couldn't catch herself with her poorly arm.
"Are you alright?" He asks softly, pushing away the Jedi Master within him who says this wouldn't have happened if she stayed on Coruscant.
"I'm fine," Ahsoka whispers, her voice cracking. He can feel the pure embarrassment and shame radiating off her as the Chancellor and other elites stare with varying degrees of pity on their faces.
"You good, Snips?" Anakin calls, although he doesn't come to her side like Obi-Wan expects him too. Instead, he turns to Palpatine, "Apologies, your Excellency. My Padawan is not quite as stable as she used to be."
He probably didn't mean to sound so harsh, and Anakin rarely pays attention to half the stuff that comes out of his mouth, but that doesn't mean Ahsoka isn't hurt by his words.
For all she acts tough, she's sensitive- just like her Master.
"And here I thought all Jedi were balanced." Palpatine says spitefully, "Yet they bring their injured to defend others. How effective."
Obi-Wan keeps his expression cool as Ahsoka sinks closer to his chest, the chevrons on her lekku darker than he has ever seen them. He puts a comforting hand on her back although she probably can't feel it through the brace, "Anakin, why don't you escort the Chancellor and the other VIPs to the centre. I'll meet you shortly."
Anakin nods, his face stony. "Follow me, your Excellency."
"I guess we should've practised going down ramps, Ahsoka." He murmurs once the others- all but Padmé- leave with Anakin. He takes her hands, notices that she grazed them on the ground but didn't break the skin- fortunately.
He can't imagine how angry Master Che would be if Ahsoka returned to Coruscant with more injuries.
"Anakin's embarrassed by me." Ahsoka murmurs, rubbing her palms together and wincing. Obi-Wan's eyes are drawn to the moisture building between her lashes.
"Save your tears, Padawan." Obi-Wan scolds, crouching to examine her prosthetic which seems to have held up during her fall. "Now is not the time nor place to display such weakness."
The young girl nods, desperately trying to blink the tears away. Padmé glides towards them, takes Ahsoka's hands and blows kisses onto each one like a mother does for her children. Obi-Wan keeps his lips sealed as a lecture about attachment tries to spill out.
"I'll give Anakin a kick up the shebs for the way he acted just then, Ahsoka." The Senator says- it doesn't look like she's teasing.
"He's just stressed about the plot against the Chancellor." Ahsoka says, shrugging. Obi-Wan notices her left shoulder resists the movement.
"Don't let his sour mood ruin your time at the festival." Padmé wraps an arm around the girl before they start away from the ship. "Have you ever been to the Festival of Light? It's an annual event to celebrate the..."
Obi-Wan turns to the members of the Coruscant Guard when Padmé starts a history lesson, "Make sure Senator Amidala and Commander Tano make it to the centre without incident."
Ahsoka's not in the right state to defend herself, let alone somebody else. She's carrying her main lightsaber, but Obi-Wan doubts she'll be able to use it properly in her current condition.
Do not underestimate her, wise one.
"Sir, yes, sir." The clones salute and jog to catch up with the two women who are moving slowly due to Ahsoka's leg.
Obi-Wan has a horrible feeling that letting her come off the ship was a mistake.
"Maybe I should've stayed at the Temple." Ahsoka says, trying her hardest to keep her voice steady. Obi-Wan's right; this isn't the place to cry, especially over something so small as falling down a ramp.
The fall didn't hurt half as bad as hearing the disappointment in Anakin's voice afterwards.
"Nonsense, Ahsoka; I'm glad you came." Padmé says- as cheerful as ever- whilst the two clone escorts join them.
Ahsoka thinks it's ironic. She's supposed to be the one protecting the Senator, and yet the politician is helping her walk along, and they're moving slower than Master Yoda right now.
"Master Skywalker said you intend to stay on Naboo for the week."
Ahsoka frowns, "He did?" Anakin didn't even want her to come to the festival.
Padmé nods, "I have a lake house not far from Theed; that's where Anakin organised a retreat for you after the festival."
Are they talking about the same Master Skywalker who just humiliated her in front of the Chancellor when she fell off the ramp?
"So, are you up for a short vacation?" Padmé asks.
Ahsoka looks at her friend, being careful to still focus on walking steadily. "I'd love to, Senator, thank you."
Padmé squeezes her arm, "You're most welcome, Ahsoka."
"Anakin!" Obi-Wan calls, walking across the platform where Palpatine will give his speech later. Apart from the Knight and a few clone guards, the stage is empty. "Where's the Chancellor?"
The young man turns, still looking tempered. "In the safe room."
"Good." Obi-Wan steps in line with him, "You Padawan is fine, by the way."
Anakin rolls his eyes, "I was about to go and check on Ahsoka."
"Hm," sure he was, "any reason you made her feel like a burden by the shuttle?"
"Obi-Wan..." Anakin groans, turning to look at him. "I didn't mean to upset her. Do you think I would purposefully hurt her? I'm not the Council."
It's a low blow- even by Anakin's standards- but Obi-Wan doesn't dwell on it. Anakin has every right to hold a grudge.
"I know I messed up, Anakin," Obi-Wan starts softly, "but your student doesn't deserve the brunt of your anger."
"I'm angry at her too, Obi-Wan, okay?" Anakin runs his fingers through his hair, "She had a vision this morning and wouldn't tell me what it was about. Then, she broke my trust by sneaking onto the shuttle."
"But... you're glad she came?" Obi-Wan raises an eyebrow, challenging his behaviour like he has done for the past ten or so years. He knows Anakin too well, even when there's a rift between them.
"Don't push your limits." Anakin warns, and the elder Jedi feels tension knot in his shoulders. "Stop acting like nothing's changed between us."
Obi-Wan's face hardens, "I'm not, Anakin."
A moment of awkward silence follows which Obi-Wan quickly breaks it, "Ahsoka has been having visions of me getting shot by Hardeen. I asked Master Yoda to investigate whilst we were away. I assumed they stopped, but I must be wrong."
"I'm fed up with lies upon lies." Anakin snaps, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm her Master. If she's having visions, then I need to be told if they're enough to concern the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order."
Obi-Wan's about to reply when his commlink beeps and he sighs in relief when he sees whose frequency it is. "Mace, thank goodness you're alive."
"Yes," Windu replies, and Anakin looks shocked at how the Jedi Master has Hardeen's voice, "I've seen better days. I'm here in Theed."
Anakin- unable to keep quiet- asks, "So, Dooku's plan is still on?"
"Yes."
Obi-Wan gives Anakin a look and says, "How are they planning to attack the Chancellor?"
"Three of the bounty hunters are disguised as Senate guards." Mace tells them, and they both subconsciously scan the Nabooian guards around them. "Eval is the getaway driver, and they have a Parwan that can pass through the ray shield. I have a sniper rifle."
Obi-Wan's eyebrows rise at the same time as Anakin's. "Don't worry- it's loaded with stun blasts. I'm supposed to immobilise the Chancellor, not kill him."
"Where are you?" Anakin asks.
"In a tower overlooking the plaza."
"So, the attack is going to take place outside?" Obi-Wan assumes.
"Yes." Even with Hardeen's voice, Windu's bluntness comes through. "From here, I can be your eye in the sky. I'll be able to tell you everything that's going on. They will try to infiltrate the security area. Make sure you have someone double-check the guards' identities."
"That's going to take time." Obi-Wan muses.
"You'll have to do your best, my friend." The commlink beeps- the light flickers out- and Obi-Wan gives Anakin a worried look.
"I wish the Chancellor wasn't so darn stubborn and just called off his appearance at the festival." Obi-Wan sighs, lowering his comm.
"We better check on him." Anakin replies, sighing as well. "Then, I'll need to speak to Ahsoka, probably apologise and make sure she's alright."
Obi-Wan hears the irritation in his voice. Not willing to make Anakin speak to Ahsoka whilst he's in this foul mood, he steps in, "I'll go to Ahsoka. You need to keep a straight head if you want to protect the Chancellor. We must remember our purpose here, Ani."
"I know, Mas- Obi-Wan." Anakin gives him an exasperated look whilst he tries not to flinch from the abrupt change in address, "Do you think she'll be mad?"
No, Obi-Wan wants to say, just upset.
Instead, he settles for, "There'll be plenty of time for making up once the mission is over."