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Anakin ran through the halls of the Temple in a hurry. He'd promised Mace that he'd meet him out front at 0950, it was currently 1013.
Shit.
Anakin picked up the pace, darting around a corner and nearly skidding into a wall. He finally made it outside, only to find Mace leaning against the hood of their speeder, watching his wrist chrono.
"You're late."
"I know," Anakin slid into the drivers seat. "Sorry about that, Master, I promised Ahsoka I'd spar with her this morning and we got a little sidetracked."
"Sidetracked how?" Mace raised a suspicious eyebrow at him as he beckoned Anakin out of the drivers seat.
Anakin begrudgingly slid across to the passengers seat.
"Sidetracked like Master Unduli and Padawan Offee showed up so we decided to have a little competition," Anakin informed him.
"And the winner?" Mace inquired, starting up the speeder.
"Is that even a question?" Anakin teased with a smug grin.
Mace already knew who had won the fight, however, he firmly believed that Skywalker could always use a good ego check from time to time.
"Unduli and Offee would be my guess," Mace began. "But if you and your padawan managed to pull out a success I would consider myself shocked."
Anakin deflated in his chair.
Mace smirked to himself.
—
"I don't like this one," Anakin pointed to it. "It doesn't look right."
"What do you mean it doesn't look right?" Mace asked him. "It looks the same as every other tree."
"What?" Anakin spun around to him. "How could you possibly think these all look the same?"
"They're green trees," Was Mace's monotone response.
"Yes, but this one is an Alderaanian pine, and this one is a Nabooan fir," Anakin pointed to the trees. "Very, very, different."
"Funny," Mace noted. "I wouldn't have pegged you as the plant type."
"I'm not," Anakin shrugged. "I just promised Ahsoka that I'd find the perfect tree, this'll be her first Life Day at the Temple since the war started, I want her to enjoy it."
Mace was quiet for a moment, Anakin's need to make this Life Day perfect for his padawan reminded him of Depa during Caleb's first Life Day as her padawan.
"Very well," Mace nodded. "I suppose we better keep looking for trees then."
Anakin smiled.
—
They found it, it was the perfect tree for them. An Endor spruce.
"Are you sure this is the one?" Mace asked Anakin.
"Absolutely it-"
"It really isn't that important."
Anakin and Mace froze. They knew that voice. That was...
"Obi-Wan, don't be ridiculous, of course it's important!" An equally familiar voice called out.
Anakin and Mace peeked around their tree to find none other than Obi-Wan Kenobi and Satine Kryze standing by the trees just behind theirs.
"It's just a tree," Obi-Wan pointed out with a laugh.
"Just a tree," Satine rolled her eyes. "You know, I'm starting to regret having brought you along."
"Yes, why did you do that?" Obi-Wan smirked at her.
"Ahsoka was busy and recommended you," Satine shrugged.
"Ahsoka?" Obi-Wan tilted his head. "Since when are you two friends?"
"Since her mission to Mandalore, she's quite the bright young woman, you and Master Skywalker have much to be proud of," Satine smiled at him.
"We do," Obi-Wan agreed with a laugh. "Leave it to you to befriend every Jedi in your sights."
"I do seem to be quite good at it, don't I?" Satine smirked at him.
Obi-Wan didn't say anything then, adverting his eyes with a blush and an uncomfortable laugh.
Anakin was near giddy, he'd never seen Obi-Wan more bashful than when he was in the company of the Duchess.
But as entertained as Anakin was, he also wanted to be a good friend. He needed to get Mace out of here before the older master noticed the obvious tension between the Jedi-Mandalorian duo.
"We should probably get go-" Anakin turned around to find Mace smiling. "Wha..."
"I think you might be right, Skywalker," Mace turned around and began to walk away from their spruce.
Anakin followed behind in pure bewilderment.
"You were smiling," Anakin noted as they continued to walk through the maze of trees.
"Yes, I believe I was," Mace looked at him out of the corner of his eyes, smirking as he did so.
"You know!" Anakin blew up, halting in front of Mace and jabbing a finger into his chest.
"Know what?" Mace narrowed his eyes at him.
"Don't do that, you know!" Anakin cried with glee.
Mace allowed him to stew in his excitement for a few minutes before he finally decided to provide some clarity.
"Of course I know," Mace rolled his eyes. "The entire council knows, why do you think we sent him to Mandalore last year?"
Anakin was speechless, a rarity that Mace was glad for. In fact, he was so stunned that he didn't speak another word until they were in the speeder driving home.
"Well done," Mace said, finally snapping Anakin out of his daze. "For winning your sparring match this morning."
Anakin smiled.
"Wait, you got the tree right?" Anakin asked him.
"Indeed."
—
"Wow," Ahsoka exclaimed at the sight of the brightly lit tree.
"It's lovely," Depa added with a hand on Caleb's shoulder.
"It looks awfully familiar," Obi-Wan tilted his head. "What tree did you get?"
Mace and Anakin shared a look.
"Mandalorian cedar."