Chapter Text
Competing against one of her best friends was already hard enough. Competing against one of her best friends in a state qualifier championship made the whole thing even harder.
Ahsoka reached over to adjust her uniform for the umpteenth time that evening even though there was nothing wrong with it.
It's only the most important match I've ever competed in, Ahsoka muttered. No pressure. None at all.
She glanced toward the stands in an attempt to find Anakin. He was here. She knew he was. Her brother was the one person who has never missed a single match. Even as a varsity football player and senior class president back in high school, he has always done everything possible and impossible to rearrange his schedule and watch her compete. Even today, she knew that he had final exams to study for - but he was here, cheering her on. Because that was the kind of person Anakin Skywalker was.
But before she could find him, her eyes landed on a middle-aged couple sitting in the second row. Barriss Offee's parents. Her opponent for tonight. Part of her still held on to hope that her own parents would come to watch the match, even though another part of her knew they weren't going to. When she had mentioned a few days ago that it would mean a lot to her if they came, her mom simply shrugged and said, "We'll see." That's been her answer every time she or Anakin were competing - and by now, Ahsoka knew what it really meant: I have more important things to do.
"LET'S GO, SNIPS!"
Anakin's voice. She would know it anywhere.
Anakin was here. Anakin was watching. Anakin believed in her. That was her lifeline and source of strength tonight.
She spotted the two empty seats next to Anakin. He was saving a spot for them too.
Focus, Ahsoka, she commanded silently. Forget them. It doesn't matter. They're the ones missing out.
"Up next - Barriss Offee, a two-time regional champion, and... Ahsoka Tano!"
"YOU GOT THIS, SNIPS!"
I hope you're right, Anakin. I hope you're right.
You've trained for this. You know what you're doing. This isn't your first time competing. Just focus.
"Just because she's won two titles already doesn't mean she's better than you," Anakin had told her in the car on the way here. "Tonight is your night. I know it."
The match started off fairly well. Barriss was prepared - but so was Ahsoka. More than anything, she wanted to prove Anakin right. He was giving up his time to be here, to support her, to watch her win a regional title and advance to state for the first time. Ahsoka wanted to give him something to remember.
Signing Ahsoka up for judo classes toward the end of fifth grade had originally been Anakin's idea to teach her self-defense but as time went on, Ahsoka fell in love with the sport and by the time she started high school, she had promised herself that she would make it to state at least once before she graduated.
This is my chance.
Ahsoka shot a glance toward the two still-empty seats next to Anakin - half a second, maybe less - but long enough for Barriss to realize that she was momentarily distracted and use it as an opportunity.
They collided harder than either one of them expected as Barriss tried to take her down.
"STAY IN THE FIGHT, AHSOKA! YOU CAN DO THIS!"
But for a few seconds, even Anakin's encouragement didn't seem to help.
Both she and Barriss were on the floor before Ahsoka even had the chance to fully realize her mistake. A flash of pain shot down from her elbow to her wrist. Her pinky and ring fingers tingled, then went strangely numb. It almost felt like waking up in the morning and realizing that she'd slept in an awkward position, except this time it felt even worse.
Don't react.
Don't be dramatic. Not with everyone watching.
As Ahsoka tried to straighten her left arm, the one that had somehow twisted itself into a position that definitely didn't feel right during the landing, pins and needles pricked at her skin but she forced herself to keep a straight face.
Not now. You have a match to finish.
And she did. Somehow, by the power of a miracle, she did. She could tell Barriss had noticed that something wasn't right, could see the concern bleeding through her close-friend-but-opponent-for-tonight's face, but she knew that this moment mattered too much to both of them. She knew that Barriss would absolutely ask her if she was okay later - but she wouldn't go easy on her now. Not when a state championship was on the line.
So Ahsoka didn't either.
She tuned out the noise of the spectators around her, the bright gym lights above her, the lingering disappointment that her parents decided not to come after all.
Stay in the fight, Ahsoka.
When the referee signaled the end of the match, Ahsoka stood up slowly, her eyes fixed on the mat under her for a second too long.
And then...
"Ahsoka Tano advances to state!"
Anakin was already halfway down the stands, grinning like she'd just won an Olympic medal instead of a regional qualifier.
"I knew it! I'm so proud of you, Snips!"
Ahsoka finally allowed herself to smile as Anakin wrapped her in a hug. "I can't believe I'm actually going to state."
"I can. I called it, didn't I?"
Ahsoka laughed softly against his shirt. "You know what, maybe you did know all along."
"Not maybe. I did know."
"She almost had me there," Ahsoka admitted as she reluctantly pulled back.
"Speaking of..." Anakin said, gesturing toward Ahsoka's arm.
"I'm alright," Ahsoka said quickly. "Don't worry about it. It was my own fault anyway."
Anakin studied her for a moment, frowning slightly. He almost said something else, almost tried to argue, but then decided against it. "I believe you," he said instead. "For now. But I'm not letting you think it was your fault. Not for wanting something that any kid would want."