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Of all the things in Anakin Skywalker’s life he expected to have happen, willingly, happily calling someone Master was not one of them. Except, it had happened. And not only did it happen, but it had taken less than a year for the reverently said ‘Elder Plo’ to become ‘Master Plo’. He hadn’t even really noticed it happen, either. One day, he was just saying it with ease, stunning both him and his Master.
The touched, heartfelt emotions Master Plo had flooded their bond with before sweeping Anakin into a hug had been well worth any discomfort that would have lingered with the term, had there been any. But there weren’t! Because in the months since he had been one of the Jedi, they had done so much to show him they were nothing like the masters he knew.
It started with them listening! The Jedi Councilor’s had taken his warning to heart about the frightening zabrak man and sent another Master and Padawan pair to Naboo alongside Master Jinn and Obi-Wan. An action that had allowed all four of them to come home when it turned out that yes, the red man was a well learned darksider. Though Master Jinn had been injured, he survived, something that never would have happened were the Jedi not willing to listen.
Then, they went a step further to show that they were honest and good by going to Tatooine and returning with his mother! Not only returning, but housing and employing her too! According to Master Fisto, the Temple was always in need of skilled mechanics and his mom fit that role perfectly. It made giving her a new home easier than simple.
So, not only was he listened to, cared for, and helped, but his mom was too! And he got to see her! He spent most of his weekends in her apartment, and she had a weekly dinner with him and Master Plo. Something that they insisted be shared both in their common rooms, and Master Plo’s personal rooms, so that they all got to experience the meal. Anakin could tell how touched both his mom and Master were at the gesture and it never failed to make him beam.
Becoming a Jedi had given him more than just Freedom. He was learning more than he had ever thought possible. Experiencing more than he could have ever imagined. And while doing so, he lost nothing . Instead, he had gained so much more. Another culture, a new language,an entire family .
Master Plo had been right that first day they had met. The Jedi truly were a family, a giant woven tapestry within the Force and Anakin was more than happy to be one of them. They were his family, each of them, and he loved them all. Yet, there were three Jedi that he loved more than any of the others.
His Master, of course, was number one. The Kel Dor was just the kindest, softest, most caring man Anakin had ever met. He helped him through any issue that Anakin had without getting even mildly frustrated. From learning to read and write Basic, all the way to finding the best method of meditation for him. Master Plo was nothing but considerate and caring. It took no time at all for Anakin to be certain that he was everything that a father was meant to be.
The second most important Jedi to him was his best friend, Aayla Secura. She was a feisty, opinionated Twi’lek who had literally dropped down on top of him during his first week at the temple. She had given him a wide smile and declared that he was hers to guide now, and he better get used to it. All he could do was blink in surprise and accept the offered friendship. Not that he had really wanted to do anything else but accept. The older Padawan seemed nothing but bright and pure in the Force, and Anakin knew that he would need someone to show him the proper ways of being a Jedi child.
His third special Jedi was both a surprise and completely expected. From the moment that he had met Obi-Wan Kenobi, he had known that the young man was his brother. From what he had gathered about Jedi lineages, had Master Qui-Gon trained him, he would have been. Despite not being part of the young Knight’s direct Jedi family, he still saw him as nothing but an older brother. A role model of what a Jedi is supposed to be. He told him as such too, and had gotten a stunned smile and tight hug in return.
His adoration of the older Jedi was something that always seemed to amuse Aayla to no end. Every time he would see Obi-Wan, he eagerly exchanged conversation with him about anything. Even frogs once! As long as he got to feel the warmth of the Knight’s approval and attention, he felt like things were going right. Aayla thought he was ridiculous.
“He’s just Obi! ” she exclaimed as they left her rooms, where, to his delight, Obi-Wan had been visiting her Master Quinlan Vos. “He’s a giant nerd! Why do you like him so much?”
“I’m a nerd!”
“You’re a mechanics nerd! Obi is a nerd, nerd . He likes to read . He drinks tea ! He wears those cardigan things when he isn’t in robes!”
Anakin shrugged. “He’s cool.”
“No he’s not! He’s just Master Quin’s dumb boyfriend!"
“He killed a Sith!”
“Helped kill a Sith!”
He shrugged again and bit his lip. She clearly felt his nervousness in the Force and stopped walking, a worried expression crossing her features.
“You don’t like, have a crush on him, do you?”
“What!” he screeched. “No! Eew! I see him as a brother! That's gross, Aayla!"
She giggled, her hands covering her mouth for a second, before she reached out to place them on his narrow shoulders. “Alright. What is it then?”
“Well, I guess, Obi-Wan, Master Plo and you were the first Jedi to actually just like and want to know me as Anakin. Master Qui-Gon, he saw me as a midichlorian count and some dumb prophecy things which im sure is just moslty bantha poodoo. The Councilors didn’t like me at first. Obi-Wan, he was nice and he wanted to know me right away. Like you did. So I just, I can’t help but like him and see him as a brother."
She stared at him for a long moment and then nodded. “Okay. Okay, well, he’s your brother then. We’re all family, and we get to decide what family is to us."
“You don’t think it's weird?”
“Nope. Makes total sense.” A slow grin spread over her face. “And you know what it means?”
“Uhm, no?”
“It means, your brother is dating my master, who is like a brother-dad, so we’re even more family! You’re like, my brother-nephew brother-in-law!"
He blinked multiple times before asking, “What?”
“Nevermind specifics!” she said with a wave of her hand. “Whats important is that it means were close family. It also means that there would be nothing wrong with such close family, say, playing a few pranks on each other."
Anakin’s eyes went wide and he gasped. “You want to prank them!?”
“Why not! Master Quin is fun! And Obi needs to laugh more! He only laughs when he thinks I’m not there. Or when they’re watching those dumb plotless holoshows."
A slow grin spread over his face and he nodded. “Okay. Okay, I think pranks could be fun.”
“Yeah?” she questioned eagerly and he nodded.
“Yeah! What did you have in mind first?"
They decided to start simple. Switched out spices. Emptied tea containers. Plotless holoshows recorded over with painfully obnoxious childrens’ shows. Datapads taped to the ceiling. It wasn’t until Aayla had decided they should put glitter in Obi-Wan’s shave cream that things began to escalate.
Knight Vos and Obi-Wan found them seated together in one of the study halls, unimpressed looks on both their faces. Though, Obi-Wan’s stern expression was ruined by the fact that there was still glitter clinging to his cheeks, under his jaw, and at the ends of his sideburns. It took all of Anakin’s willpower not to giggle at the sight.
“Padawans.” Knight Vos greeted, his arms crossing over his chest as they stopped beside them. Obi-Wan copied the movement, but his made less of an impact when his lips curled up in a small smile as they turned to face the two Knights.
“Master.” Aayla greets back with a wide grin.
“We’re well aware it's you that has been messing with our things these past weeks.” Knight Vos said with a pointed raise of his eyebrow.
Anakin made his face go as innocent as he could and said in his best Coruscanti accent, “Why, Master Vos, whatever are you talking about?"
Obi-Wan snorted, but the other Knight huffed and dramatically pointed at his boyfriend. “Look what you’ve done to Obi-Wan’s pretty face!” he exclaimed, far louder than the study halls were meant for, clearly not caring about the attention he drew in. “He’s traumatized! He’ll never be able to shave again and is going to have to grow a beard now!”
“To be fair,” Anakin remarked with a soft grin, “I think Obi-Wan would look very distinguished with a beard."
Obi-Wan laughed and gave him a small smile, “Why, thank you, Anakin.”
“Yes, yes, Obi would look very hot with a beard, but that’s not the point!”
Aayla giggled and tilted her head curiously. “What is the point, then, Master?”
Knight Vos swung his arm forward so that he could point an overly dramatic finger at her and said, “The point, my darling Padawan, is that you are asking for war and Obi-Wan and I will happily bring it.”
Anakin and Aayla exchanged amused glances and then asked together, “War?"
“Mhhm. You didn’t really think we’d let all these pranks slide, did you?” Knight Vos asked. “Oh no. Payback is coming, young Padawans, and you better be prepared."
He grabbed Obi-Wan’s arm and led him out then, the glitter doused Knight sending off a wave as they left. As soon as they were out of the study hall, both Aayla and Anakin burst into quiet giggles.
“Do you think we should be worried?” he asked in a delighted whisper.
“Of whatever Master Quin and Obi come up with? Oh yeah, they can be diabolical."
He snorted. “Then, why aren’t we worried?”
“It is the will of the Force, young grasshopper.” she replied with a cheeky grin and he burst into more giggles, hands coming up to cover his face when a group of older Padawan’s shot them with annoyed looks.
It turned out that Aayla was very correct, and that while diabolical, they really had nothing to worry about from her Master and Obi-Wan. Not because they didn’t come back for revenge, but because that revenge backfired on them spectacularly.
It came about a couple days later when Anakin and Aayla were lounging under their favorite tree in the Room of a Thousand Fountains. It was so thick, it would take at least a dozen beings to wrap their arms around it and towered far, far above them into the glass ceiling. Anakin adored just lounging beneath it, and Aayla was always happy to join him.
They were there so often, that other Jedi knew to almost always check there before anywhere else if they needed to be found. Which was why it wasn’t at all a surprise that Master Plo and Master Windu walked up to them purposefully, clearly without any doubt as to where they would be.
“Anakin, little flame, Mace and I had something we wished to discuss with you."
He sat up, intrigued, but didn’t get to find out what that something may be. Because right at that moment, two huge water balloons were falling from the tree’s branches to land on the Masters’ heads. They exploded the second they made contact, soaking both men in an instant.
Though, soaking them wasn’t enough, it seemed. The balloons hadn’t just been filled with water, but some sort of glowing dye. So now both Master’s were wet and glowing a bright purple and teal. It was as hilarious as it was shocking.
Aayla let out a gasp at his side, while Anakin just stared towards his Master and the Councilor in shock. Neither of them really knew how to respond, or knew what they should do. The attackers didn’t seem to either. At least, he assumed so due to a muffled curse and alarmed exclamation sounding from the branches above them, while two aghast Force signatures flared to life.
Master Windu sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. Master Plo, though, gave a deep chuckle and shake of his head.
“Knight Vos, Knight Kenobi, perhaps you would like to join us?"
Leaves rustled and twigs broke before both of them were landing flawlessly down between the still stunned Padawans and exasperated Masters. Knight Vos wore a sheepish expression while Obi-Wan’s cheeks were flushed bright in embarrassment.
“Master Windu, Master Koon, we are so sorry.” he apologized profusely. “We didn’t mean to hit you with those.”
“We were aiming for the Padawans.” Knight Vos added with a gesture towards Anakin and Aayla. “They’ve been playing little pranks on us, and we figured it was time for us to get them back."
The Masters exchanged unreadable expressions before Master Windu was nodding. “I see.”
Master Plo made a noise of agreement as he nodded. “I suppose it is only fair now that we get you back as well."
Obi-Wan’s eyes went wide and Master Vos gasped before spluttering out, “Wait, what?”
“Well, you have pranked us. By your logic, isn’t it now fair that we prank you?"
“Yes!” Anakin agreed with his Master eagerly, finally stepping forward as he nodded happily. “I think so, Master Plo!”
“The Padawans did start it.” Obi-Wan pointed out with a gesture towards them, his blue eyes huge. “Shouldn’t you not be getting them back instead?”
“Hey, you guys dropped the balloons on them!” Aayla refuted. “Why should we be dragged into it?"
Master Windu hummed, his lips curling up in a small smile. “You know, perhaps this would be a good opportunity to give a Temple wide lesson on unity."
“What do you mean?” Anakin asked curiously.
“Working together with your fellow Padawans against the Knights and Masters would be a perfect way to foster teamwork, don’t you think, Padawan Skywalker?"
He gasped and took a step closer to peer up at him. “Wait, you mean like, prank all the Knights and Masters? Even Councilors ?”
“I believe that is exactly what he means, little flame.” Master Plo agreed, his expression shifting into what Anakin knew was a smile.
“Would this be a complete free for all?” Knight Vos asked with an eager grin. One that only grew as Mace nodded.
“Yes, I believe it would be. Nothing dangerous, of course. Merely harmless fun to promote unity within our ranks.”
Aayla and Anakin cheered together at that while the two Knights gave small exclamations of their own. It couldn’t have been made more clear that the Jedi were a family than having the Head of the Order more or less declare a Temple wide prank war. Something like that would have never happened on Tatooine, and Anakin couldn’t help but to feel giddy. He was delighted at the idea of working with his fellow Jedi to bring down the elder ones, and eager to get started.
He, also, couldn’t wait for the chance to tell his mom all about it that weekend when they, of course, inevitably won. He knew she would be overjoyed to hear it, because she, like him, saw what the Jedi meant to him. They were his saviors, his friends, his family. They were the people he could accidentally start a Temple wide prank war with and face no repercussions, outside of the slime that ended up in his hair. The Jedi were more to him than he ever imagined, and he loved them all fiercely.