'-
Fruits
Anakin discovers that a bored Tom gets... nuts.
Tom thinks Anakin is exagerrating. Minions always make everything better.
'-
The twins Anakin and Tamlin Skywalker gained a more consistent higher self-awareness when they were around four.
"Tamlin! Anakin!"
That was their cue to gather round with the rest of the slaves' children in one corner of the kitchen again as a green-coloured woman with twin tentacles beckoned them (Tom stared a little longer than was polite. She's a Twi'lek, Anakin informed him, and Tom was already getting annoyed at the number of new sentient species he had to keep up with). Shmi Skywalker gave them a nudge and her most encouraging smile. Tom's relief as he noticed he was not being named 'Tom' this time around was palpable to his brother, if the curious glance the blond gave him was any indication. They walked away from their mother to whoever it was that was supposed to watch over them as she worked. She looked somewhat surprised at their action.
Anakin shrugged at his brother's questioning glance.
Maybe we usually try to hang on to her? He guessed. Tom huffed at the indignity of the idea.
Do we need to do that now?
Anakin turned around, but their mother had waved at them and walked away. Huh. I guess not.
I think she'd be thankful we're less of a bother now than before, Tom reasoned quickly, and he knew Anakin wouldn't be able refute that. One less embarassing thing he had to do, he thought with satisfaction. It was enough of a pain that he apparently was accompanying Anakin through his life first and had to adjust to the alien universe the Jedi had come from.
"You know the rules, kids. Play nice with everyone else, no yelling or shouting or you'll pay for it. If anyone cries, the bully and the crybaby earns some time in the closet, separately, you hear that?" The green woman eyed them with a stern look, hands on her hips. Most of the kids were cowed enough to simply nod. Tom couldn't help but roll his eyes.
I'll gladly take the closet than stay here.
Leena's not that bad, Anakin mentally said. Her bark's worst than her bite, and she does care.
I didn't say she wasn't. I was talking about the brats we're stuck with.
The moment Leena left to collect whatever clothing she was going to mend that day or maybe some foodstuff for them to help sort, a six year old girl shoved a lizard-like younger one. He was an inch or two from crying outright.
"Why didja do that for?"
"'Cause I don't like you! Stay away from me! Or else!" The older girl yelled, in a voice not unlike nails scraping on a blackboard.
Tom huffed at the scene, raising an eyebrow at his brother. See what I mean?
Anakin only sighed and sat down next to Tom, not bothering with a verbal reply. He did agree with Tom, but if he said it out loud, his brother was going to be insufferable. This was going to be a long day.
'-
The blonde terror's name was apparently Tasha. The moment there was some sort of crisis distracting Leena on the other side of the kitchen, Tasha had cornered a furry kid, took a large bite out of his fruit and dared him to protest. He stared at her in silent, wide-eyed terror. Satisfied with his silence, she proceeded to do the same to the fruits given to two other kids, leaving a younger, dark-coloured girl to whimper quietly at now-missing chunk from her fruit.
She turned her attention to Tom. He tilted his head to one side and raised the fruit he was holding, dark blue eyes glittering. "Do you want this?"
At her nod, he pulled his arm back and lobbed it at her face. Hard.
Smack!
Several gasps went up around him as droplets of purple dripped by the side of Tasha's nose. Nobody dared to make any sound, and some might even be holding their breaths. Tom could hear Anakin groan somewhere to his left side, and the black-haired twin couldn't help an amused snort from escaping.
Please. Don't tell me you didn't want to do that yourself. The guilty feeling seeping from Anakin's side of their mental bond told him enough about it.
But she's a kid!
And right now she outweighs me by a lot and could probably lift and throw either of us if she tried. Tom said casually. I didn't do anything an annoyed kid wouldn't do.
Tom could see that Tasha's green eyes were watery, and he hoped she wasn't about to start the waterworks. His wish was granted—she rushed forward and pulled him up by his collar, yelling to his face. He winced at the volume, and the occasional rain of saliva. "No one hits Tasha! No one!"
"You know you're wrong, right? 'Cause I just did." Tom drawled.
Anakin groaned. Tom, shut up.
I won't hit her, Tom replied with a mental eyeroll. He wasn't threatened by a kid, even if odds are, he could still Crucio her wandlessly. He'd learned it by instinct when he grew up at the orphanage. Tom didn't know it had a proper name then, but wishing pain on other creatures was effortless to him and he had taken to it like a fish to water. Not that Anakin needed to know that right now.
I'm more worried about her hitting you. Anakin remarked.
If she hits me, you get the proof you'll need to tattle about how she was bullying the other kids, he said, not the least bit repentant or concerned about any possible bruises he would have to sustain.
Why do you even care about a bunch of kids and their fruits? The blond asked, disbelief in his tone.
Tom shrugged. I was bored—that earned him another long-suffering groan from Anakin
—and I thought you're heroic enough to want to do something about it sooner or later. I'm just helping it along faster. It's better this than trying to get out of this damned kitchen, right? Or would you rather do that? I'm game with that too. Tom said.
The worry he could suddenly feel from Anakin was enough of an answer to his second suggestion.
'-
"Shaddup, shaddup, SHADDUP!"
Tom got shaken around a bit more, along with more yelling and threats. It was all too predictable that he was beginning to get bored, again. The other kids were cowering in their respective corners and edges, while Anakin hadn't made up his mind about what to do about the whole spectacle. Just before Tom decided that he'd like to get away before his eardrums suffer any sort of permanent damage, Tasha shoved him backwards. The force of it was enough to send him to the ground and stunned him for a moment. By the sting of it, he probably scraped an elbow or two.
She was staring at him with a look of challenge and satisfaction. He raised an insolent, unamused eyebrow.
That's it?
To be honest, she had a lot of power in that small frame. Any other kid would've bawled their eyes out after that, though Tom was only mildly amused by her early start in thuggery. Well, he supposed everyone had the right to experiment with all careers paths they might be interested in, and thugs had to come from somewhere.
His nonchalance apparently got to her almost as good as any taunts could, as her face was turning into an unflattering shade of red, her hands curled into fists at her side. Tom sat up, but didn't even try to move away. He still wanted to know about what she would do. Heck, he was intrigued by the violence she was all-too-ready to inflict on other people.
Smack!
A slap to his left cheek. Not entirely unexpected, Tom thought, though she was surprisingly fast for her age that he couldn't move his body fast enough to avoid it—he kept forgetting that he had to get used to his new body and not expect it to move like his adult one. He saw her left fist raised and thought that maybe she wanted to follow it with a punch.
Anakin's hand on her wrist stopped that.
"Leave my brother alone."
Tom bit his lip and held back a snicker. His brother wouldn't appreciate that, he knew, yet their higher-pitched, childish voices made Anakin sound as if he was sulking rather than threatening. It was definitely a far cry from any self-respecting hero of the galaxy.
'-
Anakin was casually throwing the fruit he held in his right hand while giving Tasha a long, knowing look. Under any other circumstance, he'd feel stupid for arming himself with fruits as projectile weapons, but eh, beggars can't be choosers. Besides, it served Tom well before, hadn't it? It would be enough. She sniffed at him.
"Or what, shorty?"
"Or you'll regret it." Anakin said, not bothering to hide the threat in his voice. "Tamlin, back me up here, will you?"
His twin sighed at that but did get up. Anakin sent him an annoyed glare. Only Tom could make it seem as if he was doing the blond a favour instead of Anakin doing his best to get his ass out of trouble.
"What now?" Tom asked. Anakin sighed and sent a mental reply. Nothing. We just stare at her until she backs down.
What? That's so boring. Tom groused.
She's a kid, Tom.
Yeah, but you could let her get a few more hits in me, and the adults are going to go crazy.
Anakin rolled his eyes. I still pity her to not pile that many punishments on her.
'-
To Tom's surprise, it worked. All they did was stand there, being very silent and very still, and stare the heck out of Tasha. Apparently kids aren't supposed to be that quiet because she backed away with a final surly glare at them. The other kids stared at the twins in awe, as if they were knights in shining armour, though Tom supposed the analogy wasn't that far from what they just did.
"That's it?" Tom murmurred.
"Well, that, and waiting for Leena to come around so we can tell her what happened."
He shook his head. "I'm sure you can tell her what happened. I'm going to take a nap."
Tom proceeded to lie down with his hands behind his head and closed his eyes, ignoring the evil eye his twin was sending him. He had a good excuse; he was the one who had volunteered to be the human punching bag, not Anakin—heh, some hero, he was. He conveniently ignored the fact that it was a mere six year old that had been threatening him. He was four; she was definitely a dire threat to his physical body and he was sticking to his argument like the Forbidden Forest's gigantic yellow-striped leeches.
'-
"TASHA!"
Tom and Anakin didn't bother to hide their cringing at the volume of Leena's voice and backing away; it was the normal reaction of anyone who got too close to her when she was this livid. Tasha dragged her foot forward, scowling at anyone who dared to even glance at her. That, of course, made Tom lazily stare at her as if he had run out of other interesting things to look at.
Which honestly wasn't that far from the truth.
If looks could kill, then Tasha's glare should've left nothing of Tom but a mushy puddle on the ground. Leena's presence was the only thing holding her back from jumping at him right there and then.
"What happened here?"
"She hit Tamlin!" Anakin interrupted, before Tasha could even open her mouth. The blond was playing the role of the vexed kid who couldn't accept that another kid had slapped his brother to a T, Tom noted. She redirected her staring to him now, instead of putting in more effort to intimidate Tom.
Leena stared the girl down. "Is that true?"
She pouted. "But he started it—"
"Is. That. True?" There was a clear menace in her tone, and yet for some reason Tasha plowed on. Tom couldn't help but shake his head in wonder at the sheer lack of self-preservation that she displayed.
"No! I didn't do anything to him!"
He felt their Twi'lek minder casting a glance at him—he was quite sure the last mark from her slap was still there on his face. Just how stupid was she? Anakin smirked as Tasha dug her own grave deeper with her denials. Leena sighed and turned to Anakin to ask for his version.
"She asked him for his fruit, but he didn't wanna give it and then she starts shoving him around! Then, she hit him!" He said. His hands were folded in front of his chest.
"I did not!"
"You did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did too to infinity!"
"Children!" Leena snapped.
Anakin stopped the silly argument faster than Tasha—it was a ruse to get her to blow her top again, after all. He went on for a while with more explanations in a similar tone to the previous. The blond was indignant, but managed to stop just before being angry. Just the right amount to garner sympathy, Tom thought. She continued to collect the account of what happened from the two of them.
Tom only stood there, tuning his brother out and being completely bored once more, as this morning's excitement seems to be the limit for the whole day. He fiddled with his fingers, trying to remember various wand movements and silently went back to riling up Tasha with strategically placed insolent glances. It wasn't long before Anakin was done and whatever Tasha was saying in defence was found wanting; the last was easily achieved when the other kids were asked about their fruits.
All that was left was for Leena to approach Tom and start checking his face. It took some effort for him to not stop and freeze whenever she touched him.
He had improved, really. At least he didn't cringe.
"Did it hurt?" She asked. He shrugged.
"Not really."
"His elbow was hurt," Anakin said, and Tom was only reminded just then, that yes, he did scrape them.
"Oh, yeah, the elbows. Just scratches." Tom said, trying to ignore how cute his voice had sounded just then. He thought he was reluctant; he sounded like he was embarrassed. Just a little boy trying to avoid further scrutiny. He covered his face with his palms. Urgh. It was a good thing no one he knew witnessed this, least of all his Death Eaters. He would never live it down, much less take over the wizarding world this way.
Leena went to get some bandages for him, and covered them carefully, her eyes filled with so much concern that it was slightly uncomfortable for him. He was fine, really, and could she stop standing so close? Whatever it was that he had been broadcasting mentally, Anakin seems to have caught on to it, because he took several steps closer and placed himself closer to Leena.
"Leena's too close," Anakin said. "Tam's doesn't like it."
She observed the two of them with some interest. "I'm making you uncomfortable, aren't I?"
Anakin nodded, and Tom grudgingly did the same when the Twi'lek glanced at him. As much as he didn't like admitting a weakness, he supposed his choice was either to inform her or suffer through it in silence. He was torn between relieved at having his brother able to adjust to it, and annoyed because Anakin had clearly found an exploitable weakness.
Tom?
What? He realised how curt he had sounded before he tried to correct it. What, Anakin?
What's wrong? I can still feel your restlessness—your Force signature is churning with an irregular pulse. It's also a bit prickly.
Tom mulled over it in silence as Anakin waited. Damn it. He should've known that there were disadvantages as well as advantages to having someone else tied so closely to your mind or soul. He made a passable excuse; not exactly a lie, but not the entire truth.
…she's still too close.
Alright. Just bear with it, I guess. It won't be too long now. Even as he said that, he subtly interposed himself between Tom and Leena as he pretended to enthusiastically try to bandage Tom himself. It was enough to ease her away from him that he was glad for it. Damn. It would seem that he owed Anakin something now.
…thanks. He grudgingly muttered with his mental voice.
Anakin shrugged—it didn't seem to be a big deal to him. It was as if helping Tom was something that always came easily to him. No problem, really.
'-
The next day started like the ones before it, with Shmi Skywalker dropping her children off at the kitchen before she went off to Gardulla's quarters or wherever it was that she usually worked at—not that either Skywalker children knew. Tasha sent the twins evil glares which they ignored without a second thought. The next time Leena's attention was taken away from them, it was apparent that the blonde's time in the closet hadn't improved her attitude any. When she walked over to the two of them, other children gave her a wide berth. She shoved them both at the same time.
"I don't like snitches," she hissed. "You'll pay for that."
Anakin tensed and tried to prepare himself for anything. Tom took one look at her, and laughed.
It threw her off her stride—it threw Anakin off his. Everyone else was staring at him now. "What are you going to do to us?" Tom asked.
"I'll hit you!"
Tom laughed even louder, and this time all the other children started to edge away from him too. "Hit me? You want to hit me? Ha! Go ahead.I've felt it and you've got nothing I can't stand."
Everyone except Anakin took a deliberate step away from him, their too-wide eyes hiding none of their fear or worry. Anakin dropped his face into his hands and didn't bother to stop his groan, giving Tom a shifty sideways look.
Did you realise you've just gotten yourself labelled as crazy?
I've probably gotten us labelled as crazy, Tom corrected. Anakin glared.
Not helping, Tom.
Did I or did I not just solve our little problem without any violence? He asked, his tone smug. What would your venerable Jedi Order say about that?
Anakin was starting to not like the times when Tom was right—he was an annoying prat then. He sighed and took a deep breath, ignoring his high-and-adorable voice as he spoke to Tasha with the most serious expression he could manage.
"We'd also tell Leena that you hit Tamlin again. I bet she'd make you spend the whole day in the closet. Wouldn't that be fun, Tasha?"
'-
Anakin sent a mental poke to his brother. Tom!
What?
Did you notice that we've got tails now?
For some reason, three of the other kids to start following them around with a wide-eyed stare like cute, concussed baby womp rats behind their mother. Tom had the smirk of a man who'd just won the intergalactic lottery.
Tom spared Anakin a smug look. Of course—I'm not blind. It's inevitable, you know?
Anakin found it even weirder when he noticed that two of the followers were older than the Skywalker twins. His brother was not the slightest bit fazed. The dark-haired Skywalker twin considered it completely normal to give them small requests from time to time—can you please get that fruit on the table? I can't reach it. Thanks. Sometimes it went, can I get a bite of your fruit? I always wanted to know what that glowy green thing tastes like.
The blond was amazed to watch the other kids scurry around doing his brother's bidding.
What's inevitable?
Minions! Tom replied, and he didn't hide the glee that was leaking into his voice. It's never too early to start our collection of minions. I love easily-impressionable children.
That had Anakin hurriedly trying to convince the three other kids to stop following them around, and that it's okay to play on their own and not always follow the Tamlin and Anakin everywhere, really. No, they don't mind at all.
Aww, come on, Anakin! It would be fun! Tom said, still too amused for his own good about the whole debacle. The blond rolled his eyes.
We are not getting minions.
It's not as if we're telling them to take over the world, or something. Tom said. They feel better near us. We're doing them a favour for their peace of mind this way.
Tom's ability to rationalise things were really kinda frightening. Anakin steadfastly ignored his twin and continued to assure the three children that they don't have to follow them all the time, because he and his brother would ensure that Tasha wouldn't bother anyone else.
"We won't let anyone bother anyone else," Anakin insisted. "Not just Tasha."
"Really?" Asked an undecided Saurin boy.
"Really," Anakin insisted
Everyone give a loud applause for the knight errant's first completed quest! This is almost as entertaining as the wizarding wireless dramas, Tom commented mentally.
Anakin might not completely understand what he was saying, but he could understand the gist of it. He gave his twin an eyeroll. And a mental two finger salute he found somewhere in the recess of Tom's memory. Oh shut up.
"You can have half my bread," the boy offered, even if he sounded as if he wasn't sure he wanted to give it. Tom had taken it off his hands before Anakin could say anything.
"Thank you, now how about you, young lady? Do you want to give me that fruit?"
"Tamlin!" Anakin hissed.
A small, dark girl whose name still escaped Anakin gave Tom her fruit with a smile. Tom smiled back and halved the fruit, returning one half to her, and it made her grin wider, all cute little teeth.
"Tamlin, we don't take anything from them!"
"We're not taking anything, Anakin. They're happily giving it to us for our protection. You did gift the fruit to us, right?" Tom asked.
"Yes!" The girl said enthusiastically, complete with a raised hand. The Saurin boy only nodded halfway, unsure if he was supposed to say something else.
Tom's grin was smug. "See?"
"Not really—" Anakin jumped, but missed. His twin sibling was surprisingly light on his feet and had easily ducked the blond's attempts at relieving him from his bounty. Tom was already casually eating the half bread, to Anakin's chagrin. It was probably a lost cause soon. "—we don't need to accept anything for what we do!"
"Why not?" The little girl asked him. Tom stood next to her and gave a similar wide-eyed and innocent look. It was uncanny to see how well he could copy expressions.
"Yes, Anakin, why not? Please, do tell us? We do get hungry too, like other people. Why shouldn't we accept the food? It's tiring work, fending off Tasha and other idiots."
"We don't have to get anything for what we do. We do it because it's right!"
"But whyyy?" Tom whined, mischief in his eyes. His twin brother turned to their minions—wait, not minions, dammit! Other kids! Tom was really infecting his brain with this. "Come on, do you get what he said? Because I don't."
"Nu-uh," the little girl shook her head, pigtails following her every movement. "I dun geddit too."
"Because we're, um, heroes. Heroes do what they have to do because it's right. They don't do it because they want to get prizes for it!" Anakin declared. Yes. Heroes—that would've been a pretty good excuse for kids, wouldn't it?
Tom only managed to hold back his laughter for two seconds before he almost choked on the fruit he was eating. He didn't understand why his brother still looked on with glee—like Tom had seen him sitting on a pile of crap that he hadn't noticed. He really didn't have a good feeling about this.
'"Yes! Like that!" the little girl said, to his chagrin. She still had a cute lisp. "We's safe wid you. We follow."
"Yes, yes you are. Smart girl. If you stay with us, you stay safe too. Keep following us!" Tom said with a grin. The Saurin boy now was completely dumbstruck.
"Heroes. You're real heroes," he breathed out, alternately staring between Anakin and Tom in disbelief.
Anakin cursed. Sithspit. He dug himself into this pit, didn't he?
Who knew that children could be cute instead of just annoying little hellions? Tom commented to Anakin, his voice innocuous and innocent. The blond was steadfastly ignoring him now. He deigned to pat her head then, and received a suspicious look from his sibling. He grinned. Don't you know that it's alright to give little rewards to your minions? It helps ensure their loyalty. Anakin glared at him and bit out his reply.
"Not. Helping. Tam."
"Sorry, but I'm still bored, so I'm not saying no to minions for my entertainment." Tom was predictably unapologetic.
'-
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