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"Master, you know you don't have to carry me, right?"
A hum.
"Then, can you please put me down?"
"Well, what if I don't want to?" Anakin retorts with a smirk, his pace not slowing at all. He stops in front of a turbolift, waiting for it to open. "And you heard Master Che: no walking."
Ahsoka huffs at that. She tries to cross her arms, but that only makes her wince in discomfort. Her fingers are still stiff and tender from her most recent brush with death -- hypothermia and all the other stuff that came with it, like second-degree frostbite for one.
She doesn't remember much about the last half of their previous mission -- only a handful of glimpses, but the constant freezing cold stands out the most, and then just darkness. The next thing she knew, she was in the Halls of Healing, covered in blankets and her whole body aching. Her master's concerned and exhausted face was the first thing she saw.
"Ahsoka," he sighed when he noticed her awake. The tight lines on his face softened as he gave her a relieved smile. She returned it, and he didn't waste time moving forward to hug her gently. Ahsoka didn't have enough strength to return the hug, her hands numb and heavy beside her, so she only moved her head to the side to nestle her face in Anakin's neck. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep again, wrapped securely in her master's warm arms.
She's familiar with Anakin's protective nature. So really, she should have seen it coming when Anakin decided to just scoop her up and carry her back to their shared quarters after Master Che said Ahsoka shouldn't be walking for at least a couple more days.
Force, she hates frostbites. And the sharp, tingling pain radiating from her hands right now is not helping at all.
Anakin raises an eyebrow. "Yeah, I'm not putting you down." Her master then gives her a warm smile. "You're still healing, Snips. Take it easy."
"Like you always do?" she snips.
"Hey! I'll let you know I'm a master at taking it easy."
"I'm sure Master Kenobi would love to have a say on that."
Anakin rolls her eyes though it's more fond than anything else. "So snippy."
Ahsoka snickers before she sighs. "You still don't have to do this, Master. I don't want to be a burden--"
"You're not," her master cuts in sternly. "You are not a burden, Snips. I want to do this, okay?
"Besides, this way, I can hug you and get you all to myself," Anakin adds with a cheeky voice, squeezing her closer. Ahsoka fails miserably at keeping her startled laugh from escaping her mouth.
"Fine," Ahsoka chuckles as she snuggles closer to Anakin's chest. "You win."
The turbolift's doors open in front of them, and Anakin steps in with a teasing spring on his step as he cheers lightly.
"Is this okay?" Anakin asks as his fingers slowly spread bacta cream all over Ahsoka's left hand.
Ahsoka nods beside him, dropping her head on his shoulder. "Mmhmm. You're fine."
"Good."
A comfortable silence settles over them as Ahsoka turns her attention back to the holoprojector in front of them.
Anakin continues applying the cream, slowly kneading gentle circles on her palm and then moving to her fingers cautiously. He knows -- from a very unpleasant experience when he was still a padawan -- the fingers are one of the most sensitive spots after frostbites, so he tries to be extra gentle. Once he's done, Anakin wraps Ahsoka's hand with a thin cloth before he puts it down.
"Your other hand, Snips?" he asks. Ahsoka gives him her other hand without turning away from the holoprojector, too engrossed in watching the documentary about a herd of wild Shaaks.
Anakin rolls his eyes before repeating the bacta treatment on Ahsoka's right hand. He's got to talk to Obi-Wan about his influence on his padawan's taste in holo movies.
"There," Anakin declares as he covers Ahsoka's hand with another clean cloth. He presses a soft kiss on her knuckles, earning a chuckle from his padawan. He smiles. "All done."
Ahsoka gives him a grateful look. "Thank you, Master."
"Of course, my dear padawan." Ahsoka rolls her eyes.
Anakin smirks. "Now lie down for me, Snips. I still need to do your feet."
Ahsoka does a salute, nodding, before she plops her head back onto the armrest on the other side of the couch, her head turning toward the holoprojector. Now, it's showing a moving hologram of the same herd of Shaaks going through predators' territory. Anakin has to hold in a chuckle of amusement when he sees Ahsoka's wide eyes, her mouth agape. He shakes his head fondly.
Anakin turns his gaze back to his task at hand. He takes a bit of the blue-colored cream and starts swiping it on Ahsoka's right foot. He hears a sigh from the other side of the couch, and their Force Bond feels light with comfort and relief. Another smile makes its way to his lips.
"There we go," he says when he's done. Anakin lowers Ahsoka's legs from his lap before he stands up. "Now, I'm going to prepare dinner, but stay off of those feet, okay Snips?"
Ahsoka sits up, giving him a look. "Yes, Skyguy, I know."
"I mean it, Snips. No funny business, okay?" He walks toward the kitchen. Backward.
His padawan rolls her eyes, but then she gives him a reassuring smile. "I'll be fine, Master."
Anakin can't help but returns her smile. "I know. But, still--"
"Master," she laughs. "Just go already."
Anakin raises his hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay, I'm going." He turns on his heels and makes his way to the kitchen.
The night seems to be catching up with his padawan. He notices how Ahsoka is leaning heavier and heavier against his side and how she yawns more often. She's tired, and even though it's not particularly late, Anakin is not surprised.
Ahsoka sneezes beside him, sniffling then clearing her throat. Anakin frowns with worry. He really hopes Ahsoka isn't coming down with something, especially not now when she's still recovering. He may be overthinking this, but Anakin is unwilling to risk it.
He slowly shifts, turning off the holoprojector with the Force. Ahsoka looks at him with a bewildered expression. "All right, Snips, I think that's enough documentaries for tonight."
"But, Master, it was just getting good." Ahsoka pouts.
"We can watch it again tomorrow," he answers easily. "Now, it's time for bed."
Ahsoka turns her head to the chrono on the wall in front of them. "It's not even late yet, Master."
"Yes, but you need to rest," he says, standing from the couch. Anakin gently slips his hands beneath Ahsoka's knees and back before lifting her to his arms.
"Master--" Ahsoka is cut off by a sneeze.
Anakin gives her a pointed look.
Her padawan rolls her eyes. "It was only a sneeze, Skyguy. I'm fine."
"And I want to keep you that way," he sighs. "I don't want to see you sick. You've gone through enough things this week. I'm not taking any chances, Snips."
It's silent for a second -- or two -- but then a smile graces Ahsoka's face. "Aww, you're worried about me."
Anakin chuckles. "So okay?"
"Yes, Skyguy."
Anakin grins. He walks toward the fresher, places Ahsoka down onto a chair he moved just this afternoon, and goes over their usual routine: brushing their teeth, then taking turns to change into their sleepwear.
Once he's finished changing, Anakin carefully lifts Ahsoka up into his arms from where she was sitting on one of the dining chairs while she waited for him.
Then he makes his way to his room, adjusting Ahsoka's weight as he goes.
"Um, Master." Ahsoka pokes him on the shoulder. "My room is that way," she says, pointing to the space behind him.
"Oh, you're sleeping in my room tonight."
"But you're always hogging the blanket," Ahsoka whines exaggeratedly, even though Anakin can see her eyes lighting up.
Anakin pouts. "No, I don't."
"Um, yes, you do. Just ask Obi-Wan."
Anakin grumbles at that last comment, already knowing whose side Obi-Wan would pick -- Ahsoka's, obviously. He decides to ignore her triumphant "I win."
He pulls back the covers on his bed and puts Ahsoka down. Her padawan almost immediately settles herself onto the pillow, pulling the covers back up.
Anakin chuckles, quickly joining her after he turns off the lights. "Comfortable, Snips?" he asks.
"Not yet," Ahsoka replies, her eye markings furrowed. "Something's missing."
"What? Do you need more blankets?"
"No..."
Anakin raises a brow as Ahsoka takes his arm and drapes it over her shoulders.
"There. Much better." His padawan grins at him.
Anakin blinks, momentarily surprised, before he laughs. He tightens his hug, pulling his padawan closer "Oh, Snips."
Ahsoka burrows her face into his shoulder. "Goodnight, Master. Mi d'bhem yeh."
Anakin's eyes widen, his heart soaring at the three words spoken in Ahsoka's native tongue. He kisses Ahsoka's forehead and hugs Ahsoka a bit tighter.
"I love you too, my padawan."