Warning: Some violence, almost smut. Kind of moves into the realm of fluff quite rapidly.
"Remind me," Jaesa asked Vette again, "Exactly why are we doing this?"
She grinned impishly back at her best friend, "We've decided that Tali has become too Sithy recently, and we're trying to make her calm down a little."
"I know that!" Jaesa rolled her eyes, beginning to really worry about the prank the two of them were about to pull on their other close friend, boss, and Sith Lord, the Emporer's Wrath, "But she's more than likely to explode with rage in... about thirty seconds from now." Jaesa twisted her hands together in anxiety.
"Relax!" Vette chortled at her, seemingly amused by her friend's nerves, "This is about to turn Tali back into the happy little Sith that definitely isn't a psychotic murderer again." The Twi'lek considered it for a minute, before adding, "Hopefully."
Jaesa sighed sharply, "If you've got this wrong, we're both dead."
"Lets just hope I'm right then."
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Tali glared at the display screen on her com unit. Vette and Jaese were late. And Tali did not like lateness. In fact, it charted at number forty-three on her list of 'Things That Piss Me Off A Lot. No, Really A Lot'.
"Where are those two?" She demanded angrily of the empty room, kicking out at a table in anger. She gave a yelp as her foot made contact with the table, although whether it was a yelp of annoyance or pain, even she wasn't sure.
"If I knew, I'd tell you, my lord." Came a voice from the shadows. The Sith Lord yelped again, and spun round, eyes blazing with fury as they rested on Malavai Quinn.
"What are you doing here?" She snarled, hands on her hips, angry, defiant and somewhat upset.
"Same as you, I expect." He chuckled nervously. Big mistake.
"Oh yeah? What'd you know about me? You're pathetic!" Her volume had escalated to the 'hysterical' setting by now. This particular setting of Tali's involved the pitch of her voice rising considerably, along with the volume of her voice and her own rage.
"I guess Jaesa and Vette invited you here 'for dinner', and failed to show, the same as they did to me?" Malavai said calmly, although he did wince slightly at Tali's enraged screaming. Remain calm, he repeated over and over in his mind.
"I'll kill them!" The Sith screamed, following up with a stream of expletives in languages ranging from Huttese to Twi'leki to Mando'a to basic. Malavai opened his mouth to speak, only to be cut off by Tali screaming again, "Don't you dare! Don't you dare speak to me, ever, ever again! I don't want to hear anything you have to say, you're a liar and a traitor and... and..." She took a step towards him, "And I'm going to kill you, one day." Not satisfied by the look of pure terror on Malavai's face, the Sith began to hurl random objects from around the room at him, starting with a selection of tasteful Sith ornaments. He ducked, and the first ornament smashed into the opposite wall, smashing into a thousand tiny pieces. One of the ornaments connected with Malavai's head with a resounding twack. He stumbled backwards slightly, internally pleased with his self-control in that he'd managed to stifle his instinctive shout of pain at the connection of the ornament with his face. I guess that's what a life in the Imperial military, under the control of Sith Lords does to you, he mused, fully aware it wasn't the best moment to do so, you learn not show pain or fear where you can. He was aware that there was a table nearby, slightly to the left and behind him. As the next object flew his way, he let the force with which it hit him sending him stumbling towards the table, so that his dash for cover could seem more natural and less like trying to get away.
Tali laughed, sounding increasingly deranged, "Don't like be on the recieving end of pain, do you? Do you?" She stormed forwards, leaping over the table he'd stumbled behind to get away from her, marching right up to him. Malavai tried to step away from Tali, but he only walked into a wall.
"Tali..." His attempt to reason with her trailed off when she couldn't think of anything to say. She raised her hand, to hit Malavai. Before she could, he reached out, catching hold of her wrist. Damn! She's even more beautiful than she used to be, Malavai thought as the Sith glared at him. Maybe its because she's angry, he mused, her anger always was stunning. Tali didn't look much like a Sith Lord that evening though, she'd clearly been told - as had he - to dress up for the dinner. Her usually poker-straight red hair was curled into ringlets that framed her delicate, pale face. She was wearing a tiny amount of make-up, which Malavai thought she definitely didn't need, and she was wearing a black dress that clung to her slim body. It was only while his eyes travelled over her body that he realised how close together they were standing, and that the anger that had made her eyes burn orange like flames, was fading, to be replaced by something much softer. He let go of her wrist, his heart racing, fairly certain he was blushing too, although he was unsure whether that was from the fight or from how close to the woman he still loved he was standing at that moment in time.
Tali reached out, her anger seemed to have entirely dissipated now, touching his face where the ornament had hit him, "Your face... Malavai... I'm sorry. Are you okay?"
Malavai felt his face flush, as her fingers brushed against his skin, "I... yes, I'm fine my lo - Tali." Shit, he thought, internally kicking himself, was I going to say 'my lord' or 'my love' just then?
Tali took a nervous, shaky breath. Stop shaking, her mind told her sternly. Her hand slid from his bruised cheek to the back his neck. Oh god, Malavai closed his eyes, knowing that if he looked into Tali's big brown eyes at that moment, she would know exactly what he was thinking and how he felt about her. It was his own feelings that scared him, more than he was afraid of Sith Lord in his arms.
"I... I'm sorry I... you know, attacked you. I know what you did wasn't you. I know it was Baras, manipulating you. I... I sensed your pain. You hated yourself. But... I understand now. I'm here now, if... if you still feel the same." She'd sensed his feelings properly - really sensed his feeling, understood his pain - when he'd been gazing at her with his big blue eyes all wide and full of emotion. She stumbled over her words, her uncertainty and inexperience at dealing with emotional situations showing. And now, as she spoke, she watched his handsome face. He looked so tired, but as she spoke, his face lit up. Tali could feel Malavai trembling, wanting to run... he was scared. Not just scared - terrified. But terrified of what? Tali couldn't help wondering.
"Malavai..." She murmured softly, "Malavai, don't pull away. Talk to me, please."
Malavai reached out, sliding his arms around her, drawing her close. The feeling of her body so close to his - again - was amazing. He wanted desperately to kiss her, and be with her again, but he restrained himself. His heart was still bruised and battered from everything that had happened and he didn't know if he could ever regain he trust, let alone rekindle the relationship they'd had. But at that moment in time, he didn't want to talk, he only wanted to turn back time and never have attempted to betray the love of his life. His voice was barely louder than a whisper as he admitted something that had confused him since the betrayal.
"The way you reacted is what I never understood. Any ither Sith would have killed me."
"I'm not any normal Sith." She was pressed against his body, his arms tight around her slender waist, her arms around his neck. Too right you're not, his thoughts betrayed what he wanted more than anything else. Then another thought occured to him, one of such great importance that he had to make Tali aware of it.
"Tali," Malavai murmured her name, "What are we doing? Things won't ever be the same as they used to be... Pierce and Broonmark will kill us both. Then Vette and Jaesa for setting us up."
"Shut up." Tali told him, "Just... shut up."
"Gladly." Malavai whispered breathlessly, leaning down so that he could kiss the beautiful Sith Lord in his arms. Tali closed her eyes, craning her head upwards, all she wanted was to kiss Malavai again after so long.
After so many months... he was finally hers again. He held her closer again, lifting one hand from her waist and burying it in her soft, ruby-coloured corkscrew curls. Heaven at last, was the only thought in Malavai's head as he spun Tali round, pinning her against the wall. As he did so, Tali managed to wrap her legs around his waist, effectively closing the gap between their bodies even more. As their frantic kissing resumed, Malavai found the fastening at the back of Tali's dress, twisting it between his fingers. Tali pulled back from the kiss yet again, her desire-filled eyes fixing on his as she answered the question he didn't even have to ask.
"Yes. Please Malavai." She hissed, groaning softly when he did as he told, releasing the clasp of her dress and letting the soft fabric fall away from her body.
All of a sudden, there was a massive crashing sounding from elsewhere in the Fury. "Damn!" Malavai growled, as Tali dropped herself back down to her feet, pulling her dress back up and refastening the clasp, then he grinned at Tali, "You look incredible, by the way."
Tali rolled her eyes, "I'm going to strangle whoever just ruined our night." She told him, "I think they're in the galley. Come to my room when I tell you there's no one being an annoyance any more."
"Of course, my beautiful Tali." Malavai murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead and stepping away from her to let her out of the room.
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Vette and Jaesa, whose attempted spying had resulted in the crashing noise, were making a bad attempt to hide, exactly where Tali had predicted they would be. They were both hoping against hope that Tali wouldn't come looking for them, but that hope was dashed when the Sith Lord appearend in the galley doorway, hair dishevelled, face flushed but dressed in the poshest dress either of them had ever seen Tali even look at. Even if it was still black. Her face showed that was trying very hard to look like the angry Sith Lord she really was not at that moment, but the entire effort was rather let down by the happiness she couldn't quite control.
"I'm not impressed with the antics of you two." She announced, glaring at the cupboard Vette was hiding in, then at the cupboard Jaesa was hiding behind.
"Well something had to be done." Vette's cupboard huffed, "You were turning into a right psycho. And he was pissing everyone off, moping around the ship like someone'd tipped a bucket of water over his head."
Jaesa's cupboard piped up with a cheery, "Well you'd know!"
"It was your idea Jae!" Vette lied in return.
Jaesa started to protest but was cut off by Tali letting out a sharp sigh before uttering her next statement, "I'm not going to listen to your excuses. However, I'm not going to force-choke you either."
"Why ever not?" Jaesa chirped cheekily.
"Because you've helped both Quinn and I with you meddling tricks, and I know that you meant well anyway. Despite the fact I beat him up and told him I'd kill him." Tali informed her two friends, before she left the room. Jaesa and Vette burst out cackling as soon as they thought Tali would be out of earshot. They climbed from their cupboards, smirking proudly. Vette high-fived Jaesa, and bounced around the galley. "Told you it was a brilliant idea!"
"Okay, okay, next time you have an idea, I'll tell you its the most amazing idea ever, before anything's even happened." Jaesa chuckled, then she poked her friend in the ribs, "And next time its about to go wrong, don't try to blame me."
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As Malavai entered Tali's room, the stunning choice of decorations and the personal items of Tali's that usually intrigued him as he still knew very little about the Sith's background, even with his contacts he could dig up little about her past, was one of the furthest things from his mind. This attention was solely focused on the beautiful woman lying on the bed, wearing only black lace underwear. She looked up as he entered the room, rolling herself onto her front and leaning on her elbows, one hand supporting her chin and the other arm resting on the black Alderaanian silk sheets, fingers trailing back and forth over the fabric.
"Hey, sexy." She drawled, meeting his eyes across the room. Damn, he thought, she is just incredible. She twisted herself round, throwing her toned body into a tight flip as she landed on the floor next to the bed, her deep red hair bouncing from the impact.
"Tali..." He whispered, suddenly knocked breathless, crossing the room and wrapping his arms tightly around her, "I'm missed you so much, my love."
In the time it had taken him to murmur those words, Tali had undone all of the buttons on his shirt. As he finished speaking, he pressed one finger to his lips,
"I've missed you too, more than you could ever believe." She whispered, "But there's plenty of time for that conversation in the morning. For tonight, Malavai Quinn," She paused slightly, lowering her voice, making it more husky and seductive, "You are mine."
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The next morning, Tali awoke to the sounds of an argument coming from the corridor outside her quarters.
"Who are you, and what you doing on my master's ship? Get off or she'll explode in anger!" It was Jaesa's voice.
"The Sith Lord invited me here," Came the reply, its speaker sounding bored, "Name's Darth Nox, sure you've heard of me."
Jaesa sighed, "Master's not up yet, but come through here and wait..."
Which was followed by the sounds of several sets of footsteps walking away. Tali glanced across at Malavai, smiling as she took in the way his raven hair fell across his pale cheek as he slept. She reached out, hating to wake him up, but knowing she had to, and stroking his bruised cheek. She winced guiltily at the sight of what she'd done to him.
"Hey, you." He murmured sleepily.
"Good morning, my sweetheart." Tali said softly, "We've got to get up, we've got guests."
"You don't sound enthralled by the idea, my lo- Tali." He smiled up at her.
"My dear friend has invited herself round. She goes by two names: Kitty Zalia-Revel-Kallig, and Darth Nox."
"Didn't know you were friends with Darth Nox." Malavai muttered, sitting up slowly.
"It seems that I am. And right now, she's a Sith who bumped into Jaesa in our corridor and ought to be thanking the force she didn't walk into Broonmark. Although an interaction between them would be amusing... if it didn't mean we were cleaning blood out of the air vents for the next three months."
Malavai chuckled, then leant forwards a little, closer to Tali. She smiled up at him, closing her eyes as their lips met.
"Mmm," She murmured as they pulled apart, reaching up to caress his face, "I love you Malavai Quinn."
He smiled, gazing at the delicate Sith in his arms, I really am the luckiest man in the galaxy, he thought blissfully, before he replied, "I love you too Tali."
A clatter in the corridor made them both jump.
"Guess our morning together is over then." She sighed quietly, moving to get up from the bed. Malavai caught her arm, pulling her back to his side,
"One last thing," He said, his tone low and serious, "Tali... there was something I wanted to ask you before... I lost my nerve," He bit his lip slightly. Tali felt her heart flutter with nerves, and excitement. "Tali, will you marry me?" Malavai asked softly, which was when Tali realised he was also holding a ring - a simple, silver band, with something engraved on it.
She gasped, "Malavai, of course I'll marry you! There's nothing I'd like more, my love."
His face lit up, as he slipped the ring onto her finger. She held it up to admire it, noticing for the first time what the engravings on the ring read - it was two entwined letters: T and M. Their initials. Tali's face flushed, and broke into a huge smile. Then she glanced at the door.
"Come on," She grinned, "Looks like we're needed to sort out another of the galaxys' many problems."
He took both of her hands in his as he returned her smile and said, "Together."