It had all started with his question.
He had been watching her from the moment he joined the team. Even before that actually. At her award ceremony, in the Mando hunting camp on Dromund Kaas, even on Taris when nothing should have been able to take his mind off his mission. Watching in awe and…. He couldn't put his finger on the other emotion. A tightening in his chest and adrenaline would flow through him. He would get antsy then, wanting to hunt or spar with her. Wanting her attention on him, her recognition… her praise.
He would not ask for that though, not until his name was worthy. But it didn't stop the wanting.
When it got to strong he would catch himself about to say things he shouldn't, changing his words quickly to something more acceptable. "You're an amazing shot." "…Quite the view." But she didn't make it easy. Her tone would go sultry in response, eyes lighting up with a laugh she didn't give voice to. Her hand always rested on one hip when this happened, instantly drawing his attention to that curve.
He wanted to put his hands there. To feel that slope for himself while he pulled her flush against him. Even with her armor in the way the idea kept him entertained in his daydreams.
This last time they had spoken was no different. They had just gotten back from a very satisfying hunt, both feeling the blush of victory over something twice their combined size.
The ships door shut behind them with a 'woosh' and Kaylatin turned to face Torian, continuing to walk backwards.
"Here." Her hand shot out and something came flying at his face. He grabbed it out of the air with ease and turned it over in his hand. It was a long brilliantly white claw.
"I took it from the beast. Thought you might like it." Her eyes were focused just above his shoulder now, her flush a little deeper then seconds before.
"I'll keep it close." She always grinned at his response to her trophies. This time that grin was all the motivation he needed. His heart hammered in his chest harder than any fight had ever made it and he spoke again, trying not to think about what he was doing. "Mind If I ask you a personal question?"
Kaylatin stopped walking backwards and cocked her head to the side, considering. Slowly, as if she didn't even know she was doing it, her hand came up and rested on her hip.
"If I answer it, I get to ask you something personal." Her lips curved mischievously.
"Fair enough." He answered automatically, not thinking, just trying to finish what he started before he could think better of it. "Are you seeing anyone?"
There, he had finally said it. The question that had been burning in the back of his mind for as long as he'd know her. And for a few seconds he was relieved that he had just gotten it over with and asked! Relieved until her hand slid from her hip and a crease appeared between her brows.
He froze, feeling cold as goose bumps ran down his arms.
"Not really….well kind of." She wouldn't meet his eyes. Her blush had gone from pink to full blown red and from the look on her face she had no idea why she had answered his question.
He stood as still as a statue, watching her avoid his gaze.
"Oh." He didn't know what else to say. He hadn't been expecting her to answer with a yes, or the yes-ish answer she had given. Was that even a real yes? What was "Well kind of." supposed to mean to him? He worked with absolutes: Yes or No. Anything other than those could be misinterpreted! "So-"
The door behind him swung open and Mako entered the ship, arms heavy with metal scavenging materials.
"Hey you guys, how did your hunt go?" Kaylatin focused on Mako like a homing missile. Going to the little healer's side and taking the arm full from her.
"We're still alive and it's not, I'd say it went well."
"You didn't get hurt did you? Torian?" Mako glanced at him to confirm but her gaze froze when she saw his face. Instantly she was by his side, poking wherever her fingers could fit between his armor looking for blood. "What happened? Was the thing poisonous? Where did it get you? Urgh, both of you! You know it was bad enough with just Kaylatin but you're as reckless as her. You need to try and be more careful."
"It didn't get me." He put his hand on Mako's shoulder and stepped around her. "I'm fine." Without looking back at either of them he left the room, heading for the bunks.
He laid in his bunk now, all their conversations playing over and over in his head. He went over every word, every expression, trying to see where he had misread her interest. He had been so sure! Every time she had spoken with him had reinforced his conviction, and the way they sparred together … Five days ago their staffs had clashed in an even match of strength.
Both were panting and sweaty but neither was willing to be the first to give up the offensive, their eyes locked while they grinned at each other. Their bodies were being held apart only by the two staffs between them. And even while fighting to hold her back Torian couldn't help taking quick breaths through his nose, enjoying the scent that floated from her. Every time he was this close he could just smell her natural scent. Not the smell of perfume spray on in excess or over the top lotions, just her. And every time he wanted to just bury his face in her neck and breathe deep.
His thoughts lasted for only a second as, curiously, Torian watched as Kaylatin's gaze shifted, lowering to his mouth and watching it with unmistakable intent. He'd seen that look in her eyes before, it was usually fallowed with a thinly vailed innuendo. But this time there was no vail, he could practically feel the heat from her stare and a nervous anticipation started to build in his stomach. Without meaning to he followed her lead, watching her parted lips as she panted from the strain of pushing against each other. This would be his undoing.
Her tongue darted out, wetting her bottom lip and his stomach jumped as he tried to imagine what was going on in her head, on what could possibly make her so distracted. His grip slackened a minuscule amount but it was enough to give Kaylatin's the edge. His staff went flying and Kaylatin pitched forward, a look of shock blooming on her face.
Mako had giving him a nice long lecture about that one while she healed up the large gash he had received on the side of his head. Apparently if they wanted to be sparring with real weapons they were supposed to wear real armor, including helmets.
With a grunt of frustration Torian pushed himself up. Fixating wasn't getting him anywhere, he had been combing through his memories for the last hour and nothing new occurred to him.
"Such an idiot…." He muttered bitterly.
"I hope you're not talking about me." Mako stood in the doorway to the bunks, expression gentle but concerned. She came into the room and sat beside Torian on his bunk, pulling her legs up to cross them. He shifted over to give her more room, purposely not meeting her curious stare. "Kaylatin's been quieter than usual tonight, you wouldn't happen to know why would you?" He shrugged a shoulder in a vague response and heard Mako sigh. "Okay, since I can't slice into humans I guess I'll just have to check the ships security cameras and see if they can give me some answers." Torian tensed at her words. The ship had security cameras?
Silence passed between them at this. Torian trying to work out what to say while Mako gave him some time to make up his mind. Finally she unfolded her legs and got ready to get up, feeling like he was just stalling at this point.
"She's seeing someone?" Mako settled back down, looking at him with comprehension. She waited for him to say more for a full minute but nothing more came.
"Is that what she told you? That she's seeing someone?" Mako asked.
"Yes. I think." Mako raised an eyebrow at him. "She said: Not really, well kind of."
"Humm… well that makes sense." Torian stare at her. It makes sense? Mako and Kaylatin must be cut from the same cloth when it came to him understanding them.
Mako laughed girlishly at the look Torian was giving her. "It does! Look, we've been moving around pretty much since the beginning of The Great Hunt. Never staying anywhere long enough for either of us to start a real relationship, not to mention being far too busy. But sometimes you just need a good old bought of…" She trailed off as her cheeks reddened, "of stress relief. And in this line of work it's not easy to trust! When you do find someone you can trust and if they're just as interested in keeping things purely physical… well Kaylatin found that on Nar Shaddaa."
Nar Shaddaa …. That explained a few things. When he had first joined the team he thought it strange they made so many trips to the smugglers moon. Mostly after a particularly hard fight or in celebration of something.
Always Gault, Mako, and Kaylatin running off to the cantina while Torian stayed on the ship, not comfortable enough with his place to be drinking with the other crew members yet. Gault would return around midnight with a very drunk Mako on his back and Kaylatin would slip back some time in the early morning, looking like she had just left a bar fight.
He opened his mouth to speak but Mako push on over him. "But Torian, haven't you noticed? It's been months since the last time we went to Nar Shaddaa. And the last time Kaylatin and I where together the whole time! We invited you to come with us, remember?"
He did remember. Kaylatin had seemed uneasy that trip and he had taken it as her only wanting Mako around so he had stayed behind, forcing a annoyed and vocal Gault to stay with him.
That time it had been a very drunk Kaylatin carrying a passed out Mako back to the ship.
"I remember."
Mako sat with him for a while after that, playing with a piece of tech she had pulled from her pocket as he thought things through. He thought maybe she was waiting for him to ask her questions but he didn't have any. Not for her anyways.
When she finally did leave it was past 11 and Torian had just decided on what his next move would be.
A/N: Torian love forever, he's to damn cute.