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Anakin Skywalker hated sand.
There was nothing quippy to add, it was just a fact, he hated it. The consistency, the way it always managed to get everywhere. It was beyond irritating.
And sand generally went hand in hand with that scorching heat the two sun's of Tatooine brought. Another not-so-fond memory he associated with the planet, the sunstroke he'd grown accustomed to.
Snow on the other hand was fluffy, soft, cold and gentle. He loved it. Perhaps it was the contrast of how different it was from Tatooine, or maybe it was the treat of how rarely he got to experience it. Either way, Anakin loved it.
Part of the reason he'd volunteered to accompany the Duchess to Alderaan was the possibility of snow.
So Anakin stood in their quarters waiting for the Duchess to finish her meeting with the Organa's, staring out the window, waiting for the snow to start.
"General Skywalker?"
Anakin turned to find the Duchess watching him with narrowed eyes.
"Are you alright?" She asked him.
"Of course, Your Grace," Anakin assured her.
The Duchess moved towards the window to stand beside him, squinting out the window.
"What are you looking at?" She asked him.
"Nothing," Anakin shrugged. "I'm waiting for snow."
"Snow?" The Duches turned to look at him with a smile. "That's rather odd don't you think?"
"I like snow," Anakin pointed out, choosing to leave it there as he wasn't sure trauma dumping was a good idea with the Duchess, there was no way of knowing how she would respond.
"Me too," She smiled out the window almost wistfully. "I haven't seen it in years," She began. "The constant fighting on Mandalore has managed to kill the planet, our rain and snow is incredibly toxic at this point, it's why we live in domes. I've never actually seen snow on Mandalore, I've only heard stories about it."
"I'm sorry to hear that, Your Grace," Anakin frowned at that, he had no idea of the true damage that all their wars had caused. He had to wonder if the clone wars would do the same to the rest of the galaxy?
"It's nothing for you to be sorry about, General," The Duchess threw him a look from the corner of her eye. "I only hope that you understand some day what I wish to accomplish in pacifism. I'm aware of the fact that you aren't very keen on the ways of nonviolence, but sometimes it's for the best."
"I think that most times it's for the best," Anakin told her. "And though I'm usually the first guy to draw his weapon, I do understand why you don't, I understand why Mandalore needs to stay out of this," Anakin felt her eyes on him, but he continued to stare down at the windowsill, avoiding her eyes. "You're doing the right thing, Your Grace."
"You can call me Satine if you'd like," She told him softly.
Anakin's head snapped towards hers. "Really?"
"Well I think it's only fair considering the fact that we're about to go make a snowman," Satine pointed out the window.
Anakin eyes lit up as he saw the little white flecks falling from the sky.
—
"That is not fair!"
"It's not my fault you don't have the force," Anakin laughed at the blonde woman who was struggling to make a single snowball to start her snowman with.
And with that, the beginnings of Anakin's snowman fell to the ground.
"Oops," Satine laughed. "Looks as though you're not as good at making force snowmen as you thought."
"You distracted me," Anakin argued, though he was having a hard time sounding angry.
"How is this my fault?" Satine laughed at him.
"You distracted me!" Anakin complained, balling up some snow in his hands.
"I did no-" Satine was silenced by a snowball to the back of her hood.
"Oops," Anakin mumbled her earlier sentiment.
"You little shit," Satine muttered to herself, struggling to make a snowball for herself.
Anakin could only allow it to go on for so long, balling up another handful of snow and handing it off to her.
"Go ahead," He stepped back, held his arms out, and braced himself for the blow.
And while the Duchess wasn't the best as making snowballs, she did have great aim...
"Ow," Anakin whined.
"I'm so sorry," Satine rushed towards him with a grimace.
"You got me right in the nose," Anakin laughed.
"That was the intention," Satine admitted.
"Wait, you meant to hit me right in the face?" Anakin asked her.
"Yes?" Satine said with a guilty smile.
"But you just apologised for it," Anakin held a hand to his face. "I thought it was an accident."
"The pain was unintentional," Satine pointed out with a laugh. "Who would have thought, the hero with no fear, brought down by a pacifist with a snowball."
"A snowball that I made," Anakin reminded her.
"Still," Satine shrugged. "I think this means that I win this fight right?"
"Yeah," Anakin gave in with narrowed eyes. "This one."
—
"His head looks a little lopsided," Anakin pointed out.
"I was thinking the same thing," Satine nodded, running towards him and adjusting their snowman's head.
"There, perfect," Anakin gave her a thumbs up to stop moving the head.
Satine moved back to take a look at their creation.
"Perhaps I'm a bit biased, but I think we've just made the most handsome snowman to ever exist," Satine pointed out.
"Oh no, he's definitely a looker," Anakin agreed. "We should get him to model."
"That's hardly a stable career, Anakin," Satine noted.
"Right, maybe he could be a mechanic," Anakin wondered. "Or he could go into politics like his mother, though I doubt his Uncle Obi-Wan would like that very much."
Satine laughed at that. "He probably wouldn't, he's definitely not fond of politicians."
"Well," Anakin smirked at her. "He happens to really like a few."
Satine averted her eyes with a blush, and while Anakin could blame it on the cold, he doubted that was the reason.
"We should probably go inside now," Anakin noted. "I think the gears in my hand are starting to freeze up."
"Good idea," Satine smiled, seemingly glad for the change in topic. "We can argue about custody there."
Anakin laughed as he followed the Duch- Satine back towards the palace. He really did love the snow.