Ahsoka was always comforted by Master Yoda's quarters. It seemed that every day, she was on a new planet, in a new life or death battle, unable to find stable footing. But Master Yoda's quarters were familiar, and seemed to exist in an eternal standstill. From the moment she stepped through the threshold, she would know where her favorite meditation cushion was, how much sunlight would be shining through the blinds, creating striped patterns on the padded floor, and what kind of tea would be brewing in his tiny kitchenette. It was a treasure to know that it would be the same every time she entered.
Master Yoda accepted their traditional bows as they entered the room and took a seat. Within moments, fresh cups of hot tea were given to all, and the trio allowed themselves to sit in silence for a few moments and sip, enjoying each other's presence. Or, they would have, had Master Yoda not immediately picked up on the wampa in the room.
"Padawan Tano, feel you, I cannot? Strengthened your shields, have you?"
Ahsoka nearly shattered at his words. If only she was powerful enough to shield out the elder Jedi. Instead, she simply shook her head and looked up at her Master, the unspoken question dangling from her lips. She hadn't yet been able to explain the situation aloud without crying.
"Master, something has happened to Ahsoka's sensitivity. It's just, evaporated. She can't feel any of her bonds or use it in any way. I can't feel her either, it's like she's been closed off entirely." Anakin reached out a hand to rub the top of her montrals gently, as if his touch would remove some of the sting from his words.
Ahsoka rarely saw panicked Jedi. There were occasions, a Crecheling wanders away on a crowded transport, or a training droid goes rogue and starts firing at anything that moves (including Senators!), but she had never ever seen Master Yoda panic. There were many in the Temple, herself included, that considered him to be an unshakable pillar of calm. But as Anakin told the elder about their problem she knew she saw a flicker of uncertainty and worry in his eyes. It was, she supposed, the closest he had come to panicking in the last hundred years. But it wasn't long before his wisdom and centuries of training kicked in.
"Taken her to the healers, have you?"
Anakin nodded. "Kix tested her on the ship, and we went to the Halls of Healing as soon as we landed, but her midi-chlorians are holding steady. Lower than normal, but everyone says she just needs rest. But this isn't your typical case of Force-muteness. A lack of sleep wouldn't cause a total disappearance."
"Not wouldn't, young Skywalker." He corrected. "Hasn't. Heard of this before, I have not, but not impossible."
Ahsoka could feel her brief glimmer of hope crumbling around her. If Master Yoda didn't have any answers, she'd never be able to recover her Force sense. What would I even do without the Jedi? Where would I go? Do the Agri-Corp even still exist during wartime?
Even without their bond, Anakin could see her falling into a thought spiral. He picked up her forgotten mug of tea and pressed it into her hands. She blinked, and looked up at him, blushing slightly. She hadn't meant to drift off, especially not in front of Master Yoda.
"Feeling, how are you, Padawan?"
Even Anakin had to raise an eyebrow at that. It was not a typical question asked of Jedi, or if it was, with the express purpose of ridding oneself of the feelings. But all Ahsoka could do right now was feel.
"Empty." She said quietly. "Like there's this loud music playing around me, but I can't seem to hear it."
Master Yoda sat quietly, listening. He'd watched this little one grow up before his ancient eyes. He longed to be able to put her at ease, as he had when she was a youngling.
"It's too much and not enough all at once. My head hurts, all my senses are overloaded." She paused for a moment, debating whether or not to tell them, to make her feelings real by saying it aloud.
"Masters… I-I'm scared."
At the moment his padawan said those words, Anakin swore the room got colder. Cold enough that he saw Ahsoka shiver, although that may have just been the reality, harsh and unforgiving, wrapping itself around her. He could practically hear the lecture coming. Obi-Wan was rather fond of it.
Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, yeah yeah whatever.
But if Master Yoda was disturbed by her confession, he did not show it. Instead, he closed his eyes, breathing in and out. Listening. There were stories that claimed that when Master Yoda shut his eyes, he was watching the many currents of the Force and the future, all of their twists and turns and happy endings spread out before him. From there he could make the best decision for the situation, regardless of how bleak things might look in the present. Meanwhile, Anakin tried to keep Ahsoka focused on her tea. Breathe, sip, swallow, breathe. Of course her other senses were going to be working overtime to compensate for her lack of sensitivity. He was going to have to keep her focused and pay attention to her reactions.
Master Yoda opened his eyes and looked back at the pair. In the few minutes he'd been thinking, Ahsoka had drained her mug and Anakin had her drink the rest of his. The elder Jedi Master smiled, despite what he had been thinking about, and Ahsoka seemed to brighten at that.
"What do you think we should do, Master?" Anakin's spirits too, lifted at Ahsoka's tone. She seemed hopeful, for the first time believing that there was a light in this previously unexplored tunnel.
Master Yoda smiled and outstretched his hand, beckoning Ahsoka to him. The padawan moved quickly, eagerly, to sit in front of his meditation cushion, adjusted so that the young Jedi was at eye level with her elder.
"Young Skywalker, join us please."
Anakin too, got up from his seat, though not before sending their empty cups floating to the kitchenette. At Master Yoda's indicating, he settled himself behind his apprentice, resting his hands on her shoulders. Yoda extended his hands toward her and after a moment of hesitation, Ahsoka clutched them tight, appreciating the grounding pressure from the two Masters, holding her to the present moment. Her head still ached something fierce, and she was wondering if she was going to be able to meditate with the pain and without the Force, but she trusted Master Yoda.
"Your eyes, close them. Center yourself. Breathe." Ahsoka shut her eyes and tried to bring herself to center, despite the pounding that echoed in her head.
Anakin took a deep breath, and prepared to shut his eyes, but before he could, the elder Jedi caught his gaze and winked. Before Anakin could form a question, the lightning fast Master had let go of Ahsoka's hand and tapped her forehead with one clawed finger. The padawan was unconscious in a fraction of a second, falling back into her Master's arms. Anakin's protective instincts took over, and held her close. As she went limp, he slid one arm under her knees and the other wrapped around her shoulders- cradling her in his lap. He didn't particularly care what the little troll had to say about attachments at the moment. Not when the same child they'd thrown into a warzone was suffering as a result and wanted comfort. Even when she had been knocked out by a sleep suggestion, she curled into him, somehow knowing that he was there, that she was safe.
"You could've warned me, Master."
The diminutive Jedi shrugged. "Like Master, like Padawan. Stubborn, this one can be."
Anakin chuckled. They were both stubborn, especially when it came to resting. Hell, he'd lost a limb and was still arguing with Obi-Wan that he was fine.
"Pained, she is. Physically. Mentally. Need your help, she will."
Anakin nodded, tightening his grip.
"Not a traditional problem this is. But not a tradition team, you are. Believe in you, I do."
Anakin smiled, rocking the exhausted teenage girl in his arms. They'd make it. They would have to. And even if they didn't, he knew of a certain beautiful Senator who'd let Ahsoka be her bodyguard and let him be a trophy husband.
"Thank you Master Yoda."
"May the Force be with you, young Skywalker."