By noon, Anakin and Ahsoka returned home. She wanted to get out of the speeder first, but Skywalker told her not to get up until the vehicle had come to a complete stop. Then Zutt arrived to help Ahsoka with the housework. First, he handed her a light hooded cloak.
"Here," he said to her, "this is Master Windu's cloak. It's old, but it'll protect you from the sun. Anakin said your face was getting burnt."
Tano took the cloak and stood there for a long time, holding it in her hands. She couldn't say what touched her more, the Master's generosity or Anakin's attention, which was somewhat similar to what it had been when they were just teacher and student. How she sometimes wanted to turn back time. To make sure that fateful conversation and everything that followed never happened. But, alas, what's done is done, and you can't undo the past, which meant she just had to accept the situation as it was and carry on with her life. However, Anakin did not appear until evening, and Togruta only occasionally saw two black dots flashing in the distance, the speeder bikes. It was him and Petro. Ahsoka quickly grew tired in the sun and went into the house, where she immediately lay down on the bed, surrounding herself with the children. She fed them and then even had time to wash up and make the children's beds near the entrance. Then she lit the stove and began to prepare dinner. This is what Anakin found when he returned from reconnaissance, tired and dusty.
"I thought we were going to have dinner with the Masters," he said instead of greeting her, and it came out harsh and sarcastic despite himself. What could he do if what he saw — domestic comfort, children snoring in their cradles and a woman standing at the stove — aroused an inexplicable irritation in him?
"That's true," Tano didn't argue. "But I've been cleaning these vegetables since morning, and if I didn't cook them now, they would definitely go bad. Let's take them there as our share.
Enakina winced at her use of the collective term and hastened to clarify once again:
"No, you take them away from you. I'd rather help Master Wind change the motor on his speeder after we eat.
"Yes, General Skywalker," she snapped, turning towards him and stretching out like a string. "But I just heated up some water for you to wash with, so I'd better wash the children's nappies in it instead.
With that, she turned and walked into the room, deliberately avoiding him, as if afraid of getting dirty. At that moment, Anakin wanted to grab her by the arms and declare loudly and angrily that just because she was helping him with the children didn't mean she had anything to do with him. But by the time the right words came to mind, Asoka had already left, and besides, Skywalker realised that if he touched her, he didn't know what he might do. Asoka wasn't thinking about that; she was just soaping the nappies and throwing them into a large basin. She was annoyed that she had gotten herself into trouble again, but she thought that she had to wash his clothes too. And then she went behind the house, where Anakin, having already taken off his upper clothes, was standing near a bucket of water, soaping himself.
"Give me your clothes, I'll wash them," said Asoka, trying not to look at him and thus not increase the embarrassment of both of them. And Anakin, apparently wanting the same thing, silently handed her the crumpled rags. Only after she had left, having rinsed himself off, did he realise that he had nothing to wear, for he had given all his clothes to Asoka. He had to go as he was, almost naked, thank goodness he had left his trousers on, and ask Asoka to give him at least a shirt in full view of all the honest people. Jocasta happened to be passing by and gave Skywalker a sly smile. What an old hag, she never has any peace. Asoka didn't see this and calmly continued sorting through his things, looking for what he needed. How long can she rummage around? Right, why should she rush, not everyone in the camp has seen his naked torso yet. However, despite his indignation, Anakin noticed that the atmosphere in the house was different from when Padmé was there. Everything was now in order and there was not a speck of dust anywhere."Here, take this," she finally handed him a clean shirt and suddenly froze when she saw a thin but very noticeable scar on the left side of his chest, stretching from his shoulder to almost the bottom of his ribs, which had not been there before. Only with an effort of will did she force herself to look away. Anakin took it and thanked her briefly, hoping that Ahsoka would now come out and that the nasty Joka would see that they had not been together for very long. But sometimes Skywalker expected too much from people.
"Master Skywalker," she said, still in shock from what she had just seen, still calling him by his first name, "won't you let me fly on reconnaissance and hunting missions on my own? I've done it before, in the Order, and not only that, but other things that are much more difficult.
It was clear that the girl was nervous, which is why she spoke quickly and often. At that moment, Anakin was wondering whether to get dressed now or wait until Tano left. He decided to do it now, because he was about to start sweating from her gaze.
"I don't think that's a good idea," he replied at last, wondering what exactly she was staring at, his muscles or his scar. "I'm afraid you'll fall off your speeder or some wild beast will eat you for dessert and forget to sprinkle sugar on you."
"Did Padmé have to do that?" Asoka asked, surprised at herself.
"Yes, she did," Anakin replied reluctantly, retying the belt on his robe.
"Did she really have the strength to do that?" Tano couldn't resist being sarcastic. "The gun weighs more than Luke and Leia."
"She did," came the curt reply, his fingers almost tearing the unfortunate belt.
"Yeah, right!" the Togruta snorted incredulously. "I remember how she fought..."
"Yes! She couldn't! She didn't know how!" Skywalker shouted desperately. "Are you satisfied? Is that what you wanted to hear?"
"But you tried to teach her, and you don't want to teach me," Tano said, her lips pursed in hurt.
"Because it's not your thing," Anakin found a worthy excuse. "Your job is to take care of the children.
"But they're always sleeping," Asoka objected firmly. "I really enjoyed today's trip. I'm not saying I'll do it all the time, but in that case, you'll have more time to rest and tinker with your beloved machines.
"All right," Skywalker finally conceded. "Just keep in mind, it's not as easy as it looks."
"... A pin," he always added when explaining a difficult task. Now he just left, but Togruta was happy with that, considering the outcome of the conversation her first, albeit small, victory.
Dinner in the company of the Masters and their apprentices was usually noisy and lively, so no one noticed the tension between Anakin and Ahsoka. The roast was given great honour, leaving only bones behind. Only Petro seemed dissatisfied. Finally, he got up and, moving away from everyone, stopped near the forest, pressing his back against a tree.
"What's wrong?" Zatt immediately jumped up to him. "Indigestion?"
"Leave me alone," Petro snapped, continuing to break off pieces of the twig he was holding in his hands.
"I know what's wrong!" Zatt didn't want to be outdone. "You just couldn't see Asoka's charms, could you?"
"I'm asking you nicely, go away," Petro began to boil over. "Otherwise, I can't guarantee what I'll do."
"I understand you, my friend," said Zatt with feigned sympathy. "It's hard to tear yourself away from such beauty. I bet you regret now that your name isn't Skywalker.
Petro couldn't take it anymore. He raised his hand, clenched it into a fist, and brought it down on Zatt's jaw. He flew onto the grass in an instant, but managed to trip Petro, who fell right on top of him. A desperate fight ensued, but it was prevented from escalating into something more serious by the appearance of Anakin.
"What the hell is going on here?" the man shouted menacingly, grabbing the one on top, who at that moment was Zatta, by the scruff of his neck and pulling him to his feet. Petro got up on his own, and now both men stood there, smearing blood from scratches and broken noses across their faces.
"Is this how well you work?" he continued to ask. He knew very well what such fights could lead to. First fists, then lightsabers. Skywalker knew this crooked path well, and if someone had set him straight in his childhood and youth, how many problems he could have avoided. Especially since, at the age of these boys, he was one of the best fighters around.
"Petro, can you help me with the engine?" Skywalker asked the boy, and when he received an affirmative answer, he told the second boy, "And you, Zatt, go with Asoka, she has some unfinished business.
There was no time to think about how easy and natural this request sounded, but after Anakin said to both of them:
"But first, make up immediately, and let me never see such quarrels between you again.
Petro and Zutt reluctantly held out their hands to shake. They didn't want to have to answer to the Masters for their scratches, so they happily rushed to carry out Skywalker's orders. And he himself thought again what would have happened if he had made a different decision almost a year ago regarding Padmé and Asoka...
***
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