Mace wanders the room of a thousand fountains, hoping to find a quiet place to meditate.
He’s feeling inclined to wander, the Force is pleasantly restless. Not the restlessness of anticipation or coming tragedy but the restlessness of a day too pleasant to stay still and trapped in endless meetings. Where habits feel wrong and a change of pace sounds wonderful.
He pauses briefly to close his eyes and take in the sound of running water, the quiet chatter of his fellow Jedi.
There’s a shuffling sound in front of him and he opens his eyes to find a very small child barreling towards him.
He smiles lightly, bemused by the serious expression on the face of such a little one.
They continue straight for him, seemingly without noticing the obstacle in their path at all and he prepares to side-step them and avoid the oncoming crash.
At the last moment, his shadow falls over them and they look up, startled. They stumble back a half step, mouth open with surprise.
Mace crouches down to the child’s level, they can’t be much older than three or four and gives them a small smile.
“Hello little one, are you lost?”
Their face twists in a grumpy pout and they cross their arms stubbornly.
“No.”
“Is that so?” He raises one eyebrow slightly, willing them to go on.
“I’m running away.”
“Oh?”
The youngling nods seriously, their dark hair bouncing with the movement.
“Sammo’s being mean, I don’t like him anymore.”
“I see.” Mace has no concept of how serious that may be, hopefully just a childhood spat easily forgotten and mended.
“And then! And then! Crechemaster Kav said we weren’t having any snacks today!” The toddler cries, as if missing snacktime is the greatest crime in the galaxy. Mace hopes it will be the greatest hardship they face for a long time.
“And why is that?”
“I don’t know, she didn’t tell us.” They grumble.
“So you ran away?”
“Yeah!” They puff up in triumph, no doubt proud of their independence.
Mace makes a considering noise, working out how to handle this.
“Well, Initiate…”
“Dume! Caleb Dume!”
“Caleb, would it be alright if I joined you?”
Caleb gasps, wide-eyed. Even with how far he’s crouched they still have to look up at him.
“You want to run away too Master?”
“Hmmm, not forever I think, but a little won’t hurt.”
They consider this for a moment, their face scrunching up in thought.
“Okay. You can come.”
“Thank you Caleb.” Mace smiles and Caleb beams.
He offers his hand and Caleb takes it without hesitation. Once he stands he has to bend slightly to keep holding their hand.
Mace takes a moment to send a message to the Crechemaster Caleb mentioned, thankful he has so many Jedi programmed in for emergencies.
He lets Caleb lead the way. They’re very determined to travel at first but quickly discover that he’s tall and strong enough to keep them from tripping over their own feet, which of course leads to the request that he lift them up.
It isn’t long before he has a small child on his shoulders gleefully pointing him in different directions so they can “be tall.”
Finally he settles them next to one of the small waterfalls in a less traveled corner.
“Master?”
“Yes, Caleb?”
“I’m tired now.” Mace smiles, their energy has been clearly waning for some time now.
“Are you ready to go back?”
Their face scrunches up with unhappiness and stubborn disapproval.
“No!”
“Don’t you want to nap with all your friends?”
They glare at him, apparently guessing his intent before climbing over, plunking themself on his lap and leaning back into his chest stubbornly.
Well, Mace can’t argue with that logic. He readjusts himself into a more comfortable sitting position around the little one and checks his comm. The child’s Crechemaster’s sent a response, acknowledging his message and asking that he bring them back when he has the chance.
He breathes deeply, in and out, and settles into a light meditation.
It’s peaceful, next to the quiet sounds of the waterfall, the soft mosses under him, the rise and fall of Caleb’s chest as they drift off to sleep, the distant sound of voices fading in and out in the distance.
He focuses on the feeling of the Force, peaceful and content in the garden.
The way it swirls protectively around the youngling, even in sleep.
It speaks of no danger, no loss, not here.
He revels in it.
The simple joy of communing with the Force.
Eventually, feeling a fidgeting impatient impression join the Force, he breathes out one final deep exhale and opens his eyes.
Caleb’s face is only a few inches from his own, staring intently at him.
Mace carefully doesn’t react to the admittedly startling sight.
“Hello Caleb, are you feeling better?”
They nod decisively, nearly slamming their heads together with enthusiasm.
“I’m hungry now.”
He sighs quietly, before nodding.
“Alright, why don’t we see if we can find you something to eat.”
“Yeah!” Caleb throws their pudgy little fist in the air and scrambles out of his lap before turning back to face him. “Can we get sweet rolls?”
Truly, Mace thinks, the mind of a youngling is an incredible thing.
“I’ll see what we can do.”
Mace could swing by the mess and drop Caleb off at the Creche on the way back but… he would like Caleb to make that decision themself and Depa did leave a box of sweet rolls on his counter the last time she was in the temple.
Crechemaster Kav probably won’t mind too much.
“Oh, it’s my favorite place!”
Mace lets Caleb drag him over, it’s a very nice little corner near the center of the gardens. Lots of soft moss and pretty flowers, well within view of any supervising Padawan or Crechemaster.
“It’s very nice Caleb.”
“Yeah! I love it! The flowers are pretty!”
“Indeed they are.”
“Do you have a favorite place, Master?”
“Hmmm, I’ve had many favorite places in my time. Maybe, in time, you’ll also come to have many favorites.”
They stare at him.
“I don’t think I could, but maybe if I’m as old as you, that must be a very long time.”
“Well, from my perspective it doesn’t seem very long at all.”
They scrunch their nose up, confused.
“I guess.”
He leads them out of the garden, nodding and lightly bowing to the Jedi they pass. Several of whom give little waves and bows to the Initiate holding his hand.
He weathers more than a few bemused smiles on his way.
Finally they make it to his rooms and he settles the child at a low table, grateful that his seating isn’t counter based. He can only imagine the heart attack of the daring little one trying to get down by themself.
He goes through his cupboards and presents Caleb with half a sweet roll.
“Thank you!”
“You’re very welcome Caleb, did you enjoy your adventure?”
He watches them stuff far too much roll into their mouth and nod instead of answering with actual words, at least they didn’t try to talk.
“Yes!”
He gentles his voice as best he can and goes on. “Are you ready to go back now?”
Mace is proud to see them actually think about it this time, tilting their head slightly and gaze going slightly distant even as they continue to chew.
Caleb nods slowly.
“I think so, I’m not mad at Sammo anymore and the Force is happy here. I like the Force, it’s nice.”
He smiles gently. “I’m glad Caleb, now, once you're finished with your sweet roll, why don’t we get you back to your clan.”
“Okay!”
He waits for them to finish, taking his time enjoying his own portion of sweet roll and relaxing as best he can.
It isn't long before he holds out a hand and pulls Caleb up, intentionally overestimating their height to lift them clear off their feet, much to the delight of the youngling, who squeals with excitement at the movement.
"Alright little one, let's see about getting you home."