Chaos.

That was the only suitable description for the Battle of Christophsis. 

There was minimal strategy, just violence, violence, violence everywhere. The gruesome state of the battlefield was proof enough of that; clones lay dead or dying everywhere amidst the severed parts of Separatist battle droids, a sea of bodies that reeked of death and destruction.

Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi had thought the enemy was defeated, hopeful they could finally catch a break. But since when had Fate been kind to either of them?

Yet another hoard of infuriating, brainless droids began their march towards the exhausted Jedi.

***

Hours later, the raging battle finally took a turn for the better and calmed down slightly. 

To Anakin's irritation, however, he realized his personal battle would soon outweigh the war on Christophsis. "You really think it's a good idea to bring a Padawan Learner into all this?" 

Obi-Wan Kenobi paid no mind to his former apprentice's attitude, replying vaguely about having spoken to Master Yoda about the idea of Anakin putting in a request for a Padawan learner. "You'd make a good teacher," he added as an afterthought.

"No thanks," came the scoff. 

Kenobi wasn't surprised in the least that Skywalker was reacting irritably. He was cocky, brash, and headstrong to a fault, but Obi-Wan wasn't about to lecture him about that. Yet. 

"Anakin," he chastised instead, "Teaching is a privilege! And it's part of a Jedi's responsibility to train the next generation."

"A Padawan would just slow me down!" 

Anakin was far too busy rebutting his old Master's every argument, hence the reason he failed miserably to see Obi-Wan's lip quirk upward slightly into a smirk.

"You'll have to take on an apprentice at some point. Why not do it earlier, rather than later?"

With a still grumbling Anakin in tow, the duo approached the Republican gunship.

***

The ramp of the gunship lowered with a hiss, and through the curling mist, stepped a young girl, who appeared to be no older than thirteen or fourteen. 

She was unique-looking, with orange skin, blue and white striped lekku, diamond facial markings, and lovely blue eyes full of wonder, eagerly taking in her surroundings. 

Togruta, probably. 

Anakin stared in bewilderment. "And... who are you supposed to be?" 

If this had hurt her at all, to her credit, she didn't show it. 

"I'm Ahsoka Tano," the girl said carefully after a moment. "The new Padawan Learner."

***

Still bitter that some youngling had been sent here amid a crucial battle, Anakin did his best to forget about Ahsoka's existence. Unfortunately for him, Obi-Wan chose this moment for introductions. 

"Sorry for the wait, young one. Proper introductions are in order."

Anakin shot her a dirty look.

She paid him no mind. "I'm the new Padawan learner. I'm Ahsoka Tano."

"I'm Obi-Wan Kenobi, your new Master."

"I'm at your service, Master Kenobi," Ahsoka acknowledged, but her gaze turned wary as it landed on Anakin. "but I'm afraid I've actually been assigned to Master Skywalker." 

"What? Oh, no no no, there must've been a mistake," he muttered, jabbing an accusatory finger at Obi-Wan. "He's the one who wanted the Padawan!"

Ahsoka didn't relent, reiterating Master Yoda's intentions, and added that Anakin was to supervise her Jedi training. 

"But that doesn't make any-"

A pointed look from Obi-Wan, then- "We can settle this later. It won't be long until those droids find a way around our canons, so best for you two to be on your way. Captain Rex will be waiting."

Scowling, Skywalker set off to find his Captain. He could at least leave her behind for a precious few minutes. 

"Better take her with you," the most annoying voice in the galaxy added smugly. 

Great.

***

It didn't take long for Ahsoka to catch up to Anakin. He prepared himself for an endless stream of questions and more snarky retorts, but to his surprise, it never came. Risking a glance over at his new Padawan, he was stunned at her almost immediate change in posture. Gone was the cocky and overly insistent teenager; in her place now stood a quiet, defeated child. She seemed to curl in on herself with her shoulders in a slump and eyes fixed determinedly on the ground as her feet dragged her forward. 

Her thoughts were also far too loud. 

... weakling. I don't deserve to be a Padawan.

Huh?

He doesn't even want me. He's never wanted me. He's repulsed at the very idea of even being near me. 

Oh, Force.

They were right. I don't deserve to be here.

It was high time they had a conversation.

Anakin came to a halt. "Ahsoka?" 

She stopped walking, reluctantly meeting his gaze.

"I- I'm... Shit, Ahsoka," he breathed, "I'm sorry. Are you... are you okay?"

It was a stupid question to ask, really. The answer was obvious. Anakin cursed himself for his stupidity, cringing at his own words. 

Her silence was deafening.

"Talk to me, Ahsoka. Please."

"What is there to talk about?" She snapped, aiming a glare at him this time. "You made it very clear that you want nothing to do with me." 

He supposed he deserved that. 

She scoffed, but this time not at him. "Just when I thought I finally had a future, finally had someone who wanted me, valued me for who I was. I thought I could finally leave that wretched Temple, where the only thing I ever heard outside of classes was the incessant insults from the other initiates."

Every word was like a knife to Anakin's gut. 

"'Ahsoka's not good enough';" she mimicked. "'She'll never find a Master'; 'Nobody wants her'; 'Weakling'." 

Bitterly, she added: "You just proved them right."

Anakin's heart broke for the girl beside him. He'd had no idea, and he'd just shattered the little hope she had left. "Ahsoka, I... I am so sorry."

"Are you?" Came her biting reply. "Imagine my elation when Master Yoda sought me out one day, announcing that I was going to be a Padawan. Imagine just how excited I was when he told me I'd be training under Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. You guys are the stuff of legend. Every initiate has heard of your victories on the battlefield and hopes that they'll be selected to one day learn from either one of you." 

Shit. 

"And imagine their fury when they found out that Worthless Ahsoka was set to be apprenticed to you. Everything got so much worse, and when I boarded that cruiser, I thought it was finally over. But it turns out-" her voice broke. "you never wanted me."

Shit. 

Anakin just wanted to wrap her in a tight embrace and tell her everything would be okay. But instead he stood, absolutely powerless, as tears rolled down her cheeks, one after another.

He let her cry. 

By the time her tears began to subside, he pulled her over to a nearby ledge and sat her down. "Ahsoka," he began softly, "look at me. I am so sorry. For everything. For the record, I never hated you. I'm sorry for the way I reacted. I'm sorry for how much my reaction hurt you, and I'm sorry to hear how you were treated at the Temple. That is inexcusable.

But I understand, more than you think, wanting to leave that Temple. When I first got there, they shunned me too. Not just the other younglings, but the Masters on the Council as well. They were bitter that I joined them so late, and was still allowed to be trained just because I was the supposed 'Chosen One'. There was no proof that I was the Chosen One, and they resented me for that. They insulted me. They hurt me. But eventually, finally proved myself worthy of being Obi-Wan's apprentice, and that shut them up for good.

Again, I'm sorry for how my reaction hurt you, and how it added to unresolved trauma from your past. Master Yoda wouldn't have just selected any initiate to be my Padawan. You know as well as I do how much he oversees the youngling's training, and you were chosen because you are worthy. Do you understand?" 

Ahsoka nodded, almost imperceptibly, but Anakin caught it nonetheless. He offered her a warm, tentative smile. "From this moment on, you are my Padawan. Don't ever let anyone convince you otherwise. I will teach you everything I know, and you will become an amazing Jedi in the future. I know it." 

Ahsoka laughed, a watery sound, but it was her first genuine smile since she got here. And that meant the world to Anakin. "Now, let's go find Rex. We've kept him waiting for far too long."

***

"What's the status, captain?"

"Quiet for now, sir," Rex reported. "Looks like the tinnies are gearing up for another attack. Who's the youngling?"

Anakin smiled warmly down at Ahsoka. "She's my Padawan, Rex. You'd do well to teach her everything you know." 

"Roger that, Sir. Welcome to the 501st, kid."

"Oh, and Master?" 

"Hmm?"

"You're stuck with me, Skyguy."

"I wouldn't have it any other way... Snips."

***

edited :)

it's most definitely not 2 am rn and i most definitely did not screw up like three times trying to edit this... but i hope you liked it! i always felt ahsoka would harbour a fair bit of resentment towards anakin for how he initially treated her and while the "you might make it as mine" moment was heartwarming and absolutely precious, i don't think it makes up completely for the damage that was previously dealt, and the show didn't really show that (pun unintended). 

leave a vote and your thoughts, would love to hear 'em! 

until next time!
— jazzy

ps: pls send reqs!!