(A/N: I was writing this, and I really, really, really liked it... This may become a series. :)

SNARK AT IT'S FINEST

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~Written by Malicious_Intent)

"I don't do partners."

How many times had Boba Fett made that statement to Jabba? How many times had he found the dissatisfaction of repeating himself to the crime lord? Looking over at the thin, armored zabrak, the mandalorian couldn't help the slightest amount of amusement. The zabrak was small enough that Boba could easily break his spine with a well-aimed kick.

Jabba huffed loudly and began to speak again, everyone present easily able to recognize the annoyance in his tone, whether they understood what he was saying or not. Most would recognize this as a time to tread carefully, if they were even still alive at that point, but Boba never did. He was more valuable to Jabba alive than dead.

"The great and mighty Jabba wants you to know that this is his final offer." Bib Fortuna announced dramatically, leering at the mercenary with contempt. "You are to work with the chosen candidate, or you are not to receive the contract."

Silence fell as every creature, person, and being turned their attention onto Boba Fett, waiting to see how he would respond.

Boba turned slowly to face the zabrak again, staring for a long moment as he waited for the chosen 'candidate' to falter. He didn't. Perhaps he wouldn't be useless after all.

Without a word, the mandalorian turned and headed for the door, never once having to deviate from his path as those in his way quickly gave him room. Footsteps followed, before the band started up again and drowned them out. Good. At least the noob didn't have to be told what he'd decided.

Out in the hall, Boba lashed out as soon as the doors closed behind him, his booted foot catching behind the zabrak's knee just as the mandalorian's fist connected with the tattooed male's throat, sending him down to the ground.

Staring down at the choking mercenary, Boba felt that disdain rise up again. "Useless. If the contract didn't demand your survival, I would shoot you right now."

Golden eyes met the darkened visor as the zabrak caught his wind and glared. "If there wasn't a contract, I wouldn't lower myself to working with you."

"You'd have to rise pretty high to even gain my attention, much less be worth the sum it'd take to hire me to knock you off. Now I'd love to make an exception." Boba stared down at the younger male, standing as still as a statue as he processed the zabrak. Young, foolish, but obviously skilled enough that Jabba would hand-pick him as his partner, weak looking, but looks could be deceiving. "You're weak, little training, either banished or the nightbrother's have lowered their standards."

A cold smile curled over the yellow and black zabrak's lips as he got back up to his feet. "Broken neck actually. They think I'm dead."

Boba raised his eyebrows, even if the gesture was unseen. "And I doubt none the happier for it."

Tenseness reigned, the two Gamorrean guards standing by the door watching with obvious interest. Anything that even looked like it might develop into a fight was interesting for them.

"Regardless, I'm stuck with you, and you have to make sure I survive." The zabrak responded coldly, moving to brush past the mandalorian. "Otherwise you won't get paid."

"It's beginning to look like a good investment."

"Believe me, the feeling is mutual."

It seemed that the little zabrak couldn't be intimidated, perhaps the only thing that was useful so far for when they were working in the field, but useless when it came to their partnership. If the zabrak couldn't be intimidated, then he couldn't be effectively told what to do.

"Where do you think you're going, Zabrak?" Boba questioned, standing in the middle of the hall as his 'partner' began to head off on his way. Hopefully he'd get lost and Boba wouldn't have to deal with dragging his sorry ass everywhere.

"I'm known as Feral," the zabrak responded without a hitch in his step, still walking to wherever it was that he was headed. "And I'm going to the landing platform to retrieve my ship." Feral added, Boba snorting as he moved at a steady gait to draw up beside the zabrak, demeanor cold and unfeeling. "We're not using your ship."

Feral stopped midstep now, turning to face the mandalorian, pushing a hand against the armored chest as he shoved Boba back a little, the other warrior immediately deflecting him away. "You might think that your reputation and obvious favor with Jabba puts you in charge, but it doesn't. Now you either come with me, or you go back there and terminate the contract with Jabba." He ordered.

"I'm not stepping foot onto whatever piece of shit you call a ship. Just because you have a few pieces of scrap metal welded together doesn't mean it classifies." Boba answered, undaunted by the zabrak's attempt to become physically aggressive, "either we use my ship, or you head back in there and tell Jabba that you're not as good as he thought."

The two mercenaries silently glared at one another, each waiting for the other to back down, but it was clear that Feral had become uncertain with the way he was shifting foot to foot. The mandalorian stood like a rock, unmoving, undaunted, silently refusing to back down.

"Fine." Feral snapped, motioning sharply down the hall.

"I thought there was something of a mind in there," the armored male retorted, heading down the hall as if nothing had happened, Feral at his heels.

There was many reasons for Fett wanting to use his own ship, first and formost being that he knew everything about it, and that it was one of the best ships the galaxy possessed. Secondly, Feral would be entering into his territory and expected to abide by the rules he gave. As far as Boba was concerned, Feral was an unwanted crew. He'd be giving the orders.

"I thought welding scrap metal together didn't classify as a ship?"

Feral's voice pulled Boba from his thoughts, the mandalorian silent pinging the ship with the required codes to shut off the proximity defenses and lower the boarding ramp. He refused to respond to the younger's attempt at aggravating him. Feral was already doing a good job of that.

A loud thunk caused the armored mandalorian to swing around towards the sound, Boba unsure of what to expect from the sound, finding that Feral had only dropped his crate of... whatever he'd brought with him – on the floor of the cargo bay.

"Do I really seem so threatening?" Feral questioned smugly, head cocked to the side as he leaned against the wall.

Emotionlessly, Boba tilted his face up to regard the other silently for a few moments. "No. I had merely hoped you'd suddenly met your end and that was the sound of your lifeless body hitting the floor. Pick it up."

Snorting, Feral looked at his designated 'partner' in amusement. "Pick what up? It's a cargo bay. Isn't this the best place to leave stuff?"

Boba Fett stepped in nice and close, close enough that the zabrak's breath fogged the bottom half of his visor. "This is my ship, you'll obey my commands. Pick it up, or get off."

Leering at the older warrior, Feral leaned over and picked it up again, unamused. "Where then, shall I be staying?" He demanded, his sarcastically sweet tone grating on Boba's nerves as the mandalorian spun around and headed deeper into the ship. Again, he expected Feral to follow, and he wasn't disappointed this time either.

"I have to stay in the hold area? I suppose that makes me safest. They'll get you first."

A smile spread across Fett's face, but there was no amount of amusement in it, making the smile almost eerie had Feral been able to see it. "It'll be the first place to get hit if we come under attack while travelling."

Stepping aside of a doorway, Boba motioned towards the room.

Feral stopped just outside of the room, taking in the sparse surroundings. It was honestly better than what he had back on the Nexus.

Waiting patiently for the zabrak to step inside, Boba turned and pressed his hand against the control console, crossing his arms over his chest as forceshield lit up. "Enjoy your lodgings."

"What the fuck, Fett!" Feral cried, stepping up close to the field separating him from the mandalorian, though he was intelligent enough to not get close enough to touch it. "This wasn't part of the deal!"

"Wrong," the mandalorian responded, moving towards the ladder leading up into the cockpit. "With you there, there's no risk of you dying, and I don't have to worry about you getting underfoot. I'll let you out when we come back to Tattooine, and if you want to get paid and avoid the humiliation, you'd know to not say anything." Boba responded, one hand on the ladder now as he turned to look over his shoulder at the zabrak. "I'll try to remember you. Most of the time I'm compensated for feeding my prisoners, but I'm sure Jabba won't mind if you're a little hungry when we return."

With that said, Boba Fett mounted the ladder and climbed up into the cockpit, ignoring the shouting from his unexpected visitor. With luck, he'd complete the mission within his usual timeframe and be rid of Feral before too long.

Jabba never said anything about actually working together after all.