Ahsoka walked back with her head hung.
"It's closed."
A few weeks ago, Anakin had promised he would take her on a small getaway, only a day or two, so they could relax a little, with the war still ever present in their minds. They had already gotten some Jogan berry ice cream which was very good. Coruscant was always sold out what with how popular it was.
Now Anakin had brought her to a speeder rental so they could have a race.
"You sure? Hmm…It's not late or anything. Let's go check."
Ahsoka looked up at Anakin and asked jokingly, "What? Do you not trust me?"
He huffed and shook his head. "Snips…"
They walked up to the shop window near the parked speeders. Anakin knocked on the closed window.
"Hello? We want to rent two speeders. …Hello?"
"See? I told you." Ahsoka crossed her arms. "And I was excited to do this," she mumbled, looking down at her boots.
"Ahsoka, you know I'm always going to do everything I can to make sure you're able to do what you want, right?"
Ahsoka looked at her Master with a confused look.
"Well, do you know what we're going to do to make sure you have the time of your life?" He leaned closer as if he was letting her in on a secret. "We're going to steal them."
Ahsoka gasped, "Master! And w- you're not going to pay, or wait until tomorrow?"
"Of course, I'm going to pay! I'll just leave some credits and a note explaining what happened. I'll return them when we're done." Anakin opened the window with the Force, leaving some credits on the desk. Ahsoka knew he would write the note later.
He started toward the speeders, calling over his shoulder, "Now come on! It's gonna be fun!"
"Okay, Skyguy! Okay!" Ahsoka got on a blue spreader and Anakin on the one next to it. "I know how to ride a speeder, Master. Don't worry."
"Didn't doubt you for a second. Now come on. Where do you wanna start the race?"
They went to an open area still near the shop and started getting ready.
"Tell me 'when'."
"And…" Anakin paused, for dramatic effect. "Now."
And off they went, zooming across tall grass and through mud patches.
They egged each other on, each inching ahead of the other with each provocation. Before long they entered a forest. It was laden with tall, thick trees letting very little light in.
"How're you doing over there?!" Anakin yelled through the trees that were hiding them from one another.
"I'm doing good! This is fun!"
Ahsoka leaned farther forward on her bike and kicked the speed up a notch, feeling the wind rush past her, drowning out any distractions.
It was utterly mind-numbing, in the best way possible, just focusing on the heart-racing, sweaty, palm-inducing thrill of the speeds they were going. Ahsoka couldn't get enough.
They continued through the forest and after a few minutes, they met back up. Anakin swerved his bike a little closer to Ahsoka to give her a high five which she reciprocated with a huge grin.
"Oh, I love this!" She was still yelling to be heard above the wind. "I feel the adrenaline and my heart is going fast, but it's like… like a fun type of exhilaration!"
"I knew you would," Anakin called out to her. "Now, faster?"
"Always!"
The speed dial on the bike couldn't even register the speeds they were pushing toward. Ahsoka could tell they were getting close to the limit of the bike, but she was tapping into the Force to will it to stay together and keep going. Probably not the best idea or use of her powers, but it was worth it. Oh, so worth it.
"Wheeeeeeewwww!" Ahsoka giddily exclaimed. She needed an outlet for her happiness, so she allowed herself one.
She heard Anakin laugh behind her. "You're doing great, Ahsoka. Keep going!"
Anakin was leaning down on his bike as far as possible when he heard Ahsoka let out her excitement.
Anakin leaned back a little bit so he could watch Ahsoka's obvious amazement at this type of experience. He never knew his Padawan to be such an adrenaline junkie, but he should have known better.
Ahsoka looked back at him with a joyous, carefree expression he hadn't seen in a long time.
He wouldn't trade this time with his Padawan for the galaxy.
Anakin knew they should probably start heading back soon. It had been nearly an hour. It was more time than they should've had the speeders for. He couldn't help basking in the genuine happiness of the young Togruta though. He let her keep going and going, as much as she could handle or wanted. Anakin kept watching her all the while.
After some more time, the sun started going down and, to Anakin's dismay, it seemed to snap Ahsoka out of her trance of giddy release.
"Oh, stars! I didn't realize how late it was," she called back to him, slowing down a bit and leaning back so Anakin could catch up and they could actually talk a bit easier, "I'm sorry, Master! Should we head back?"
"Your choice, Snips!"
Ahsoka pulled back a bit more and turned around. They had been going straight most of the time so finding their way back would be easy.
"How long has it been? I lost track of time." Now they were both going at much more respectable speeds.
"Mmm," Anakin thought about it. "...Three hours or so?" he admitted guiltily, knowing how his Padawan would react.
"Three hours?! Master! We should have been back at the thirty-five minute mark!" Ahsoka exclaimed, eyes still on their path.
"I couldn't stop you. You were having so much fun! I didn't have the heart."
Ahsoka gave him a look, but he didn't say anything.
Ahsoka convinced Anakin to speed up and they found a shortcut, so they wouldn't be more than about two hours and thirty minutes late.
As they approached the shop, they saw the owner looking quite perturbed, tapping his foot.
Anakin parked and got off his bike, telling Ahsoka he would talk to the owner and handle the situation.
"Sir, what would you like me to do about the obvious issue?" Anakin gestured to the speeders behind him.
The man sighed roughly. "What I would like you to do is pay me for three sessions plus an extra. Do you have any idea how many customers I've lost today because of you two?" He looked between Anakin and Ahsoka. "I'm lucky I have other bikes."
In an effort to avoid unwanted attention, they were both dressed as civilians. Where Anakin's armor and commanding presence could usually be trusted to intimidate a man like this, Anakin knew charm would have to take its place.
"Thank you for being so gracious, sir." Anakin didn't mind employing his impeccable manners to appease the man if it would smooth everything over. He dug around in his back pocket for Credits and dropped them into the man's already-awaiting palm.
"Pleasure doing business with you."
Anakin could taste the underhanded blackmail but kept his mouth shut to not arise any suspicions.
Anakin put on a fake smile. "You too."
Then he walked back over to Ahsoka, put his arm around her shoulders, and started toward the small room they had gotten.
"We're going to do that again sometime," Anakin said, smiling at Ahsoka's still slightly flushed face.
"Yeah, please. That was amazing." Ahsoka stopped and turned to him. "Thank you, Master."
Anakin leaned in and hugged Ahsoka.
"Of course, Snips, anything to make you happy…"