Ahsoka barely had any time to say anything before she suddenly found herself crushed into a tight embrace, her face buried in the texture of dark coloured Jedi robes.
Anakin had always been open with his emotions, something which Ahsoka admired him for.
That being said, he rarely ever gave into them in public. Even rarer was a hug the strength of the one he was currently giving her. In fact, she was finding it kind of hard to breathe.
"Master… can't.. breathe… squashing me!"
The words seemed to have the intended effect, as Anakin pulled back from the embrace, not fully letting go mind you, but far enough so that she could see his face.
It had only been a few weeks since she had last seen him, but Ahsoka was struck by how different he seemed to look. His eyes were warier, and had what looked to be 'bags' under his eyes, at least that's what Anakin had called them in the past. Togruta didn't suffer from 'bags' themselves.
His hair was also far more out of control than when she had last seen him. Had he not been grooming himself… or whatever it was humans did with their hair?
But right now, his physical appearance didn't matter at all. He was here, and he was still Anakin.
Anakin meanwhile appeared to be in a similar state of both shock and joy at seeing his former apprentice. He had worried for so long, knowing full well that she would take care of herself, but still wanted nothing more than to go and find her.
And yet now here she was, standing before him.
Perhaps the force had not given up on him yet?
"Ahsoka I… it's good to see you. What are you doing here?" Anakin questioned, surprised by how his own voice rose in enthusiasm. he hadn't felt this joyous in quite some time.
A gentle cough came from behind Ahsoka, drawing Anakin's attention to the Chancellor at his desk, who had a warm smile on his face as he witnessed the reunion before him.
"My apologies for not telling you sooner my boy. Ahsoka has been working for me recently as my personal agent. I felt so bad about the outcome of the trial, and I hated to see you worrying about her wellbeing, so I took it upon myself to ensure she was doing well. I do hope you don't mind that I orchestrated this reunion for you both?"
Anakin's eyes darted between his two friends for a few moments as he considered this new revelation of the Chancellor's. He knew that Palpatine was pragmatic at best, and that many did not agree with his policies or the way he ran things. But Anakin knew that he was a good man deep down, only wanting to preserve and uphold the sanctity of the republic.
The fact that he had taken Ahsoka under his wing when Anakin could no longer protect her meant the world to him, and only further convinced him of the Chancellor's innate goodness.
"Of course not your excellency. It is I who should thank you for looking out for Ahsoka." Anakin replied, moving forward to shake the Chancellor's hand with gratitude.
"Nonsense my boy, nonsense. Any friend of yours is a friend of mine. Now, Agent Tano will fill you in on the details of this mission on route. Your ship is waiting for you one docking platform seven." The Chancellor replied, before turning his attention to Ahsoka again.
"Agent Tano, I have taken the liberty of assigning you the experimental T-6 shuttle once again. I have also updated the registry on it. She is yours from this point onward. I hope she serves you well."
It was Ahsoka's turn to be surprised by the Chancellor's gesture this time. Now he was gifting her an experimental ship!?
Still, she wouldn't say no. Especially since it would more than likely make Anakin extremely jealous.
Bowing her head once, Ahsoka uttered her thanks, before gesturing to her former master to follow her out of the Chancellor's office.
Both Human and Togruta walked down the ornately decorated halls of the senate building side by side, a companionable silence settling in between them as it had done many times before. The atmosphere between them wasn't tense, as Ahsoka had expected it to be, but rather once of acceptance.
Still, she could tell that Anakin desperately wanted to ask her every possible question in existence, all so he could figure out if she was ok. However, he seemed reluctant to do so, and whilst before she would have gently tugged on their master and apprentice mental bond, now she wasn't sure if she should. The last thing she wanted to do was overstep the boundaries that now existed between them. She was no longer his apprentice. Perhaps he wanted to be cut off from her through the force?
Still, someone had to speak first, and if Anakin wasn't going to be the one, then she would be.
That being said, there was also no way that she would immediately jump to more sensitive topics. Rather, she opted for something that was more familiar to both of them.
Harmless mocking.
"So, 'General Skywalker', is that a grey hair I see on your head? Losing the colour in your old age huh?"
Ahsoka didn't miss the way Anakin shook his head in false despair at her comment, nor did she miss the small smile that came to his lips. She was at least glad they still had this between them.
"Dunno Snips, can't say I really pay much attention to the hair. Besides, I'm not the one that used to spend over an hour in the refresher every morning. I mean, how long does it take to wash your montrals huh?" Anakin jibbed back, his tone teasing and light, as it always was with her.
"Yeah well at least I don't constantly crash every ship I fly." Ahsoka replied, shooting a smug look up at her master. He was still much taller than she was. One day that might change, if her biology was anything like other Togruta's, though that was still a long ways off. For now, she would make do being shorter than he was.
"It's not my fault it's the ship!" Anakin replied, his tone jokingly agitated and somewhat embarrassed by the sound of it.
Ahsoka couldn't help but chuckle to herself at the words he so commonly said when confronted with such accusations. Every time he blamed the ship.
"Keep telling yourself that Anakin."
Ahsoka expected that to be the end of the 'debate'. Clearly Anakin thought otherwise.
"Now Ahsoka, don't be so rude to your elders."
This time Ahsoka couldn't stop herself from releasing a loud laugh, one that attracted the attention of other individuals walking through the hallways, confused looks on their faces as they watched the two friends.
"Elders?! You're only six years older than me, even if you act two most of the time!"
The scandalized look on Anakin's face only made the situation funnier, especially when he attempted to answer back but could only respond with stutters and splutters as he tripped over his words.
"Sorry, what's that master? I can't hear you over the sound of me being right." Ahsoka continued, shooting a smug smile up at Anakin as the two continued to walk through the hallways towards the landing platforms.
Eventually, Anakin managed to gain control of himself, regaining control of his speech, before falling silent. It didn't escape Ahsoka's notice that the bright smile that had appeared on his face since seeing her again hadn't left, even in the midst of their teasing of one another.
The duo made it several more steps forward before Anakin spoke again, this time in a different tone. Gone was the mockery and teasing nature, replaced with what Ahsoka could only call sincerity.
"I've missed this Snips."
It was a simple statement, but one that meant the world to her.
"Me too Skyguy. Me too."
As if right on schedule, both Anakin and Ahsoka found themselves face to face with the doorway to the landing platforms, where hopefully Ahsoka's new ship was waiting.
Exiting out of the senate building and onto the landing platforms, Ahsoka gazed across the horizon at the various assembled ships. Many were quite clearly expensive speeders or personal transport shuttles owned by the various senators that worked daily within the building. Each was, in a way, a symbol of prestige and power.
It occured to Ahsoka suddenly that, if she really wanted to, she could more than likely afford a speeder similar to the ones around her now, thanks to the sheer amount of money the Chancellor had given her as payment. Perhaps she would indulge when she got back from this mission.
Shaking the thoughts out of her head, her eyes continued to survey the landing platform for the familiar sight of the T-6 shuttle. Now that she owned it, she would have to give it a name.
Eventually, her eyes came to rest of another familiar ship to her. A yellow painted Jedi Starfighter.
Anakin's starfighter.
And there, parked next to it as if it was fate, as the T-6 shuttle.
Leading the way, Ahsoka approached the back of the ship, intending on heading up the ramp and into the ship itself.
"This is your ship? I don't see what's so special about it that renders it experimental?" Anakin questioned, following Ahsoka up the ramp and into the ship.
"It's got a few upgrades to it, including a stealth drive. It allowed me to sneak right past a Separatist capital ship on my last mission." Ahsoka replied, smirking at the astounded look on Anakin's face.
"A stealth drive? Seriously? Snips! You gotta let me fly this beauty!" Anakin replied, bouncing on his heels in what appeared to be excitement. Seconds later he quite obviously began to move towards the pilot seat, fully intended on taking control of the ship itself.
That was until Ahsoka stepped right in front of him, halting his progress, a serious expression on her face.
"I don't think so mister. Remember our earlier discussion. You crash every ship you ever fly. No way am I letting you fly my new ship unless I absolutely have to."
With that, she gently grabbed his arm, before pulling him over to the co-pilots seat, before pushing him down into it, chuckling as he groaned under his breath about how unfair it was.
When she was convinced that Anakin had learnt his lesson, ironically enough, Ahsoka sat down in the pilot's seat and began to power up the ship, inputting the coordinates they needed for the mission.
When all was said and done, she grasped the joystick controls in her hands, and pulled upwards, lifting the ship off of the landing platform and into the sky above Coruscant.
Hyperspace was as uneventful as always, giving both Anakin and Ahsoka time to reacquaint with one another.
The two had talked briefly, mainly about what the mission was the entail, as well as a brief description of what exactly Ahsoka had been up to on her last mission. Anakin hadn't been too impressed that she had gone up against General Grievous again without him.
But still, despite the easy nature of their relationship that they had instantly resumed, Anakin couldn't help but think that more needed to be said. He and Ahsoka had been through so much together, and her departure had hit him hard. He didn't blame her, he never would.
The question was, did she know that?
Glancing out of the cockpit window at the vortex of hyperspace, Anakin took a deep breath and prepared to speak. This discussion was coming, one way or another. It was just a case of when.
And all Anakin wanted to do was get it over as fast as possible.
"Listen, Ahsoka, about what happened. You know I don't blame you, right?"
Ahsoka's head snapped round suddenly, surprise and what appeared to be horror present in her bright blue eyes.
"Of course not master! Did you really think that I would think that?" Ahsoka replied, her voice sounding both much younger than it should be, as well as much more wise for someone her age.
Anakin didn't miss the way she addressed him by his title. She shouldn't have to do that anymore. He wasn't her teacher anymore.
"No it's just… I don't think I've ever told you how proud of you I am Ahsoka. I couldn't have asked for a better padawan, nor a better friend. No matter what has happened, I'll always be there for you, day or night, ok?"
Anakin knew he was bordering on overly sentimental. He also knew that he was practically violating every aspect of the Jedi code on attachment. But he didn't care. Ahsoka was one of the few people he trusted unconditionally in his life. She would understand him, and she would never judge him for it, even if it flew in face of everything the Jedi had tried to teach them both.
Ahsoka's response was a warm smile, followed by her reaching across the gap between them to squeeze his hand gently.
"I know you're proud of me master. I never doubted that. And I couldn't have asked for a more annoyingly brilliant mentor in you… even if you do act like a child some of the time."
Anakin couldn't help but roll his eyes with humour at Ahsoka's response. He was touched by her kind, encouraging words. It was almost as if she was trying to teach him a lesson.
"Cheeky Togruta." Anakin quipped back, nudging her hand away with his in response.
"Aggravating Human." Ahsoka replied in kind, the smile never leaving her face.
Before the two could descend into any further insults or jokes, the telltale sound of the shuttle's hyperdrive powering down hit their senses, the blue vortex of hyperspace fading away in conjunction with the sound, replaced by the blackness of space.
Glancing out the window, Anakin spied the planet that was their destination before them.
Manaan was, for all accounts and measures, an aquatic planet strewn with various small islands. As far as he knew it was inhabited by any major species in the galaxy. Certainly no major aquatic species, such as the Quarren, lived there. Still, he was certain that the waters more than likely held some sort of indigenous creatures within them.
Still, if what Ahsoka had told him about the mission thus far was true, then it was more than likely that the Venator had gone down deep into one of the oceans of Manaan.
That meant that this mission was more than likely going to involve some deep sea exploration, not that Anakin minded all that much. Growing up on a desert world had given him an intense love of the water and of swimming in general. It was part of the reason he like planets such as Naboo so much.
'Aside from the other reason you like Naboo so much huh?' A sudden and surprisingly voice in his head sounded out. Anakin hadn't realised that he and Ahsoka were still mentally linked, eve after so long apart. Had he subconsciously re-connected their bond? Or had she?
Shaking his head, Anakin sent his response to her.
'Very funny Snips.'
Ahsoka chuckled again in response before focusing on the task at hand, piloting the shuttle down through the atmosphere of Manaan and into the clouds.
A few moments were spent navigating slightly choppy winds before the shuttle emerged from the clouds, allowing both Anakin and Ahsoka their first glance at their target.
Beside him Ahsoka gasped at the sight before them. Their target, the Venator class Star Destroyer, had not sunk completely. The rear section of the capital ship, containing the bridge and the engines were submerged, leaving only the front end of the vessel pointing out of the water, as if it was a monument of some kind. There was no sign of any hull breaches on the exposed section of the ship, but Anakin had no doubt that the submerged section would be much different. After all, the ship had to have sunk somehow.
Glancing around the crash sight further, Anakin spotted a chain of small islands next to the sunken ship, a perfect spot to land the shuttle and prepare.
Inwardly, Anakin shuddered lightly at the sight of the beach, but chose to ignore it. Now was not the time for personal preferences.
"Guess it's a good thing the Chancellor put some scuba gear in this ship huh?" Ahsoka commented from beside him, her hands moving the joystick controls as she spoke. Anakin felt the pull of the ship as it began to descend towards the chain of islands he has spotted. Clearly Ahsoka thought it a good place to land as well.
"Yeah." Anakin replied. "Though I get the feeling that something isn't right about all this. Where are the Separatists, or scavengers for that matter?"
Through the force, Anakin felt the ever comforting presence of his former padawan, who clearly shared his sentiment at the situation.
Suffice to say, Anakin had a bad feeling about what was to come.
Author's thoughts
Yay, happy reunions are happy!
Apologies for the absence and delay with this chapter. Work hasn't been too great lately. Everyone seems to be shooting the messenger at the moment, which just so happens to be me. Not exactly too great for my already non-existent self esteem and motivation huh?
Still, hopefully this fluffy happy funny chapter makes up for it. I wanted Anakin and Ahsoka's reunion to mimic their overall relationship, as opposed to some sort of heart to heart talk. Still, hopefully you like how they interacted. More to come in the future I promise. After all, who doesn't want to see Skyguy and Snips take the piss out of each other (and Obi-Wan of course)
Anyway, hopefully the idea of an underwater shipwreck entices you for what is to come. I wonder if anyone else is investigating the wreck as well?
As usual, comment and speculate at will. Speaking of which:
Mysterious guest number one: Thank you very much. Glad you enjoyed seeing the aftermath of Ahsoka's departure. It's a shame we never really got to see it, even if it is sort of implied that Anakin had a bit of a mental breakdown eventually. (looking at you Vader). Clone Wars is indeed saved. I only hope they do new content rather than stuff we've already seen.
Travis Middleton: No problem for being absent. Happens to us all. :)
I'm glad you liked seeing all the different aspects of Ahsoka's departure, as well as the results of the trial. They will, as you can no doubt expect, play a role in the future.
SLE's fave guest: Poor Anakin really has become predictable huh? I'm glad you liked seeing how he interacts with each person he trusts in his life. It felt natural for him to vent the way he did to each person, as opposed to the same to each individual. No way he'd shout at Palpy the way he does Obi-Wan, but then Obi-Wan understands.
The 501st wouldn't most certainly be pissed off. I wouldn't be surprised if they had some sort of backup plan to bust Ahsoka out if she was convicted. They are loyal to their brothers... or sister in this case.
And yeah, it was harsh on Wolffe, but that was the point. Fox is next to untouchable considering he is under Palpy's protection, thus Five's took his anger out on Wolffe instead. There is no bad blood between them, just a need for a punching bag. Unfortunately it was Wolffe.
Hopefully you enjoyed Anakin's reactions to seeing Ahsoka again.
Chiara Polairix Edelstein: Glad you enjoyed the chapter. Hopefully you liked the reunion.
KnightLawn: Thank you very much. :)
Aya Song: Sorry again. Hopefully this chapter makes it all the better. :)