Star Wars, The Clone Wars Minisodes

Master and Padawan

Reetha slipped down her bunk bed that she shared with Ahsoka. The two just came back from a day at the medbay. Padme had come down with a heavy fever and nearly passed out from overworking herself. The padawans rushed her to the medbay and informed Anakin about not a moment too late. 

---

"Is Padme alright?" Anakin came running through the doors. Ahsoka and Reetha had settled down next to the senator's bed. Ahsoka placed a hand on Anakin's shoulder "She's on drips master. She's doing fine, for now, just a little dehydrated." Anakin looked sadly at the pale-skinned senator who slept peacefully, moving to sit beside the head of the bed. 

Reetha noticed Anakin's glum look and shared a worried glance with her friend. "Master, don't worry. Senator Amidala will be back to normal in a few days. She just needs rest." 

Anakin didn't answer the two girls so they decided to give him some space to digest the news alone. 

---

"Anakin's not taking the news well, is he?" Reetha nudged the togruta's montrails. Ahsoka shook her head sadly. 

Reetha thought about it for a moment. She knew about the relationship her master shared with the senator. About their secret marriage and romance and attachment. "Why don't we do something to get Anakin's mind of the matter?" She suggested. 

Ahsoka raised one of her white markings over her eyes. "What do you suggest?" 

"Rex and Fives are going out for a drink at 79's tonight. Maybe hanging out with them could soothe his mind?" Reetha motioned her hand, askingly. 

"Anakin's not much of a drinker, really." Ahsoka had a point there. Anakin rarely drank. 

"Yeah, but maybe he could talk it out with Rex. Share some stories, some laughs. Ya know, to temporarily keep his mind of the matter." 

"A man to man talk huh? That actually sounds good. How are we going to persuade him though? Anakin is not going to leave Padme's side unless he's forced to." 

Reetha volunteered to get Kix to help her persuade Anakin. "No one says no to him, especially when it involves health concerns, mentally and physically." Ahsoka agreed and went to inform Rex and Fives about the plan. After all, the relationship between the Jedi and the senator was not much of a secret among the 501st. 

---

Reetha dragged Kix away from this station, much to his disapproval. "You want me to persuade the Gen'ral." He huffed in annoyance. "It's just one time, Kix. Besides, he's not going to leave her side to even have dinner or some decent sleep." Kix sighed, knowing that Reetha was right. Anakin would never leave Padme's side unless Kix made him. It was the same when either padawan got hurt. 

Meanwhile, Rex and Fives were all but more than ready to help their general, their friend. 

---

Anakin was a sulking mess in his room. Kix nearly dragged him from the medbay, made him eat dinner, and then forced him to his room. Reetha smiled apologetically to her master, but deep down she knew he would enjoy the rest of the day. 

She and Kix waited by Anakin's room. Not long after, they saw three figures approaching. Ahsoka, Fives, and Rex. "I take it the Gen'ral's not happy." Kix shook his head from left to right. Rex nodded then turned to Reetha and Ahsoka. "We'll handle it from here little ones." 

Fives knocked on Anakin's door and walked in when it opened, happily greeting the sad Jedi. Rex nodded to the two padawans before dragging Kix along. 

The padawans could hear the banter between the men, before giggling and walking off to their rooms, leaving the later events to unfold on their own. 

---

The padawans were in the lounge, watching some holomovies when four fully grown, half giggly men tumbled into the room. "And-and then I told her that she had to- hic- to but me a drink instead!" Fives and Anakin were practically hanging off each other. Rex and Kix walked behind with red-tinted cheeks. 

"I take it the night out went well. I'm surprised you're back early." Ahsoka sat up from the cushion pile on the floor. Kix walked over to the girls and dropped himself beside Ahsoka. "Fives and your master had a dare." 

Rex removed his helmet and leaned on the table. "As you can see, the dare was 'Who could drink the most shots'." Rex jutted his chin to the two giggling men. 

"Master Skywalker drank?" Rex nodded, confirming Reetha's question. "Not too much. They are basically high from the excitement." 

The girls found out that the men had not even passed their second shot and started to giggle and laugh like maniacs. "Basically, both of them were hyped up by crazy war conspiracy theories." Kix slapped his forehead. 

A few minutes later, the group decided to retire to their rooms for the night. They walked to the barracks to drop off the clones, then the three Jedi walked to their rooms. 

"So, I take it you enjoyed your night master." Reetha quipped cheerfully by her master's side. "I had a lot of fun. Thank goodness Kix forced me out of the medbay. It really took my stress out." 

"I'm glad for that master. You never had a smile that wide for a while." Ahsoka also told Anakin that he should hang out with the clones more often, to which Anakin agreed. 

Anakin reached his room first and bid the girls good night. "Well, looks like the plan worked alright." Ahsoka fist-bumped Reetha. "Indeed. He should really get out more." 

They reached their room and prepared to sleep. However, before either could shut their eye a knock came on their door. "It's Anakin." 

Ahsoka opened the door with the force and invited Anakin in. "Master, are you alright?" Anakin hummed, replying to Reetha. "Yes. But I forgot to do one little thing before that. Reetha, would you mind joining us on the ground?" Anakin gestured to her bunk bed. 

When the girls stood side by side, Anakin immediately engulfed them in a tight hug. The padawans were startled for a moment, before joining in on the embrace. Anakin rubbed his patted their backs and hugged them tighter, making the two girls giggle. 

"Rex told me about today. How you guys were worried for me." He pulled away from them. The padawans mouthed an 'Oh', a little red dusting their cheeks. "Ah, well.." Reetha rubbed the back of her neck and looked to the floor. "We just wanted you to get your mind off things," Ahsoka spoke up for both herself and Reetha.

Reetha hummed in agreement. "We realized you had not exactly been yourself recently. You're always tired and groggy, stressed, and with the senator, you became even more worried. We just wanted you to forget about it for a while." 

Anakin's eyes softened at his two padawans. Never in a million years had he been so grateful to have met angles like them. "And that is why I came here to thank you. Both of you. I would be lying if I said I really did not enjoy my night. Hanging out with Rex and the others, as friends, not as General and troopers or captain made me really happy." 

He took them into another hug, feeling very happy to have such wonderful padawans like themselves. "It wouldn't have happened without both of you." 

Anakin pulled away and looked at them once again, a warm smile gracing his features. "Good night Snips, Ree." 

"We should do this more often," Reetha told Ahsoka with a cheeky smile. "I could not agree more. We should make it a tradition." Reetha nodded, and the two bunk mates went to sleep with wide smiles on their faces.