Starboy - Clone Wars

One

"I'm sorry," Seraphina May says to Ahsoka's figure, "you want me to go where?"

"It's Anakin's plan!" she defends.

Seraphina breathes out. "Of course it is." She gives Ahsoka another glance. "I guess I'll go save your asses again."

The two have gotten close since their first meeting... which hadn't exactly been great. And everyone can blame that fact on Anakin. Always blame Anakin Skywalker. Especially when he's at fault.

Ahsoka looked at Anakin and Obi-Wan as they got out after the Clones; but behind them was a woman. Her red hair intrigued the young padawan; the short length also made her curious, thinking of it in comparison to Padme's long hair.

"Ahsoka," Anakin introduced, "meet Seraphina May. Cad Bane's protege that's now on our side."

And that was the end of her awe of the woman. Seraphina had felt the shift and glared at Anakin who gave her a look back. Even Obi-Wan's help couldn't completely clear the air between the two - it certainly didn't help when Anakin and Seraphina would train against one another, not using the force or weapons, and she'd beat Ahsoka's Master the same amount he would beat the thief. She had thought that this was an act that Seraphina was pulling for Bane.

Not that Seraphina blamed the young girl. In fact, she tried to earn Ahsoka's trust over missions they went on together - she had helped the padawan with lessons she learned from Bane in fighting and flying before she told Anakin anything of the sort. That's when everything started to change.

She took Ahsoka to get food from new planets, despite Anakin saying no because he's not in charge of her. Seraphina started to be someone the young padawan looked to for advice, for practice, for a voice of reason against Anakin's stupidity and dramatic flair. The pilot - the new Captain - had given it to her without a second thought.

Seraphina's training with Anakin became a game to Ahsoka and the rest of the 501st. They would place bets on who won the match. And every single time, the young padawan placed her bet for Seraphina while Rex took Anakin's side. Sure, Anakin was still more popular amongst the ranks - mainly with those the Captain hadn't really gotten to know - but for Ahsoka, she felt connected to Seraphina in ways she hadn't been able to connect to Anakin. Two girls fighting in a war, surrounded by men.

"You're the best," Ahsoka tells her.

Seraphina chuckles to herself and rolls her shoulders, preparing herself. The Clone next to her is ready, following her every directive as they move through space, dodging blaster shots from the droids and other ships. She loops around one; he shoots it down. Then the one in front of them. Bly shoots behind them.

Her attention moves to Anakin's falling form. "What is he doing?" she mutters the question, returning her focus to the battlefield. She only sees him jump from droid to droid - his troops follow behind in the ship. And she rolls her eyes at his dramaticness.

"Does he always do that?" She asks.

The Clone next to her nods with gritted teeth. She forgets that not everyone has had piloting lessons from Bane. This is almost too easy compared to what he put her through as a kid.

"Listen, kid, your parents are gone," Cad told the young seven-year-old girl.

"They told me they'd come back," she replied, her voice shaking and hard all at the same time. Cad had seen her potential then and there. "You're a liar!"

He grabbed her fist, stopping her punch with ease. "I promised your mother I'd look after you but you're going to need to make it on your own later." He grabbed her other hand, bringing them down from their raised positions. "You've got the fire, kid. I just need you to learn how to treat the flames. And the burns." He let her go.