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"All this talk of the war, and you're smiling."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, but you do." You closed the distance between the two of you and tipped your chin up. Anakin watched your sly hand hover over his sleeve before his eyes darted back to you stepping another inch closer. You smiled and reached behind his head.
The laughable ponytail had since gone. Your fingers ran through soft locks that swept up at the ends. Anakin blinked and raised his hands defensively, holding them a hairline away from your robe as his gaze snapped up and down the corridor. Uncontent with the solitude, his hands fell over your waist and pulled you around a pillar for better privacy. You followed his back step dutifully with a huff through your nose, keeping your hands locked behind his head.
Only when behind the structure did his smile return. Dopey and boyish, his eyes glimmered with pride as his chest swelled. You twirled the locks of hair behind his right ear, where there had been a braid. You smoothed your hand across the back of his head again, letting the swooped ends slip through your fingers.
"I'm sorry I missed your ceremony," you said halfheartedly. Your annoyance with the off-world blunder still lingered hours later.
Anakin shook his head once. "I would hardly call it that. It was better off that you missed it."
Anakin had graduated from Padawan status weeks ago. You tried to communicate your congratulations as best as you could over holoprojection, but the effect wasn't the same as if you had been there to witness it. And he decided to lose the ponytail at the back of his head altogether and let it grow out. You felt the beginning of their wavy texture, but it was at an awkward swept-up angle until more hair grew out. The hair atop his head, in the early stages of bangs, curled limply over his hairline.
"Don't brush me off. I want to congratulate you in person now that I can." You flashed a frown. "I owe you that much."
His hands roamed from your waist to the small of your back, pulling you closer. The dopey smile on his face grew. "How do you plan to do that?"
You blinked at him. He blinked back, his eyes searching yours as they crinkled in delight. His brows rose in proposition. You snorted and leaned away, still twirling his hair. Cocking your head, you cooed, "Congratulations."
His smile turned lopsided and he narrowed his eyes cheekily. "Anything else."
"I have nothing to say." You shrugged and lowered your voice playfully. "General."
Anakin's smile fell. He blinked, stupefied before his lips curled in a smirk. The Jedi's hands returned to your waist and he offered a small squeeze. "I could get used to that."
"Hope you listened well." You covered his hands with yours and returned them to his side while smiling wide. "It's the only time you'll hear me say it like that."
He opened his mouth for a comeback before his holoprojector alerted you both. You broke away from Anakin and peeped over his shoulder as he unpocketed the device and held it up. The blue light crackled, stuttering to life before a figure appeared with crossed arms.
Obi-Wan's holograph swept his gaze from Anakin to you. He perked up and cleared his throat. "Ah, you're both together. Perfect."
"Is something the matter, Master?" Anakin asked.
"Nothing pertinent, I assure you. There is something I'd like to discuss in person if you have the time."
"I'm not busy," you chimed in. Anakin gave you a side-eye. He, of course, wanted to continue where you left off.
"That's good to hear. Meet me at the front steps of the temple and we'll move from there."
"You got it."
"Yes, Master." When the projection collapsed into the device, Anakin pocketed it, turning to you. "Wanna-"
"We don't want to keep Obi-Wan waiting." You turned on your heel with a bright smile, pivoting away from the now sour look on Anakin's face.
His brisk strides allowed him to catch up to you with ease. "Are we going to continue this later?"
You hummed, clasping your hands behind your back as you walked with a pep in your step. "Depends."