Chapter 1

Sorry, but I kept getting pestered by Dusk and Flair to write this... The pairings are Denal/Dusk and Koho/Flair. Each chapter will go back and forth between each couple. And we start with...Denal and Dusk!

Denal let his eyes linger a bit too long on the girl, then swiftly looked away. Koho caught his prolonged look and burst into laughter. Denal glared at his brother and elbowed him in the ribs.

Koho smiled. "Go talk to her."

Denal's eyes widened. "What?"

Koho laughed again. "You know what I said."

"Koho! I'm not just going to go up to her and randomly start talking!" Denal glared.

Koho shrugged. "Just go up and say hi, get her talking. I don't know."

"And why don't you?" Denal retorted.

Koho snorted. "She's sitting over there all by herself, get the guts and go over there. Now if you'll excuse me I have my eye on another girl." He slid off the bar stool and disappeared into the crowd.

Denal sighed and sucked in a deep breath. Making his way to the young Omawati woman sitting at the table he slid across from her. She looked up and raised an eyebrow.

Denal shrugged. "You looked lonely."

She smiled. "I'm Dusk and yourself?"

"Denal."

Dusk batted away a dark red feathery hair from her eye and Denal gulped. Stang she was beautiful. Denal closed his eyes and wished for a moment he was Koho, the one who always knew what to say.

Then he reached out a hand to Dusk. "Come with me?"

She hesitantly took his offer and Denal led her out onto the balcony of the Cosrucanti bar. He wrapped an arm around her carefully and Dusk looked up at him with a smile, one that encouraged him to move a little closer.

She was probably a head and a bit shorter than him and Denal was sure she could feel the flutter of his heart when she leaned on him through his civvies.

Dusk closed her eyes. "You're a clone trooper, right?"

Denal nodded. "Yes, is that a problem?"

Dusk laughed. "Not at all, just wondering."

Denal brushed a hand tentatively through Dusk's feathered hair. Her soft sigh of contentment made him all the more sure of what he was doing.

Dusk swayed softly to the music to the music coming through the bar door and Denal watched her with interest. Her figure moved to the beat and she was perfectly on time.

She looked up at him. "Sorry, I'm Omawati, we love music."

Denal shrugged. "I don't get to listen to music much, only on leave and that doesn't happen often so..." He trailed off.

Dusk nodded. "That makes sense."

"What?" Denal asked, confused.

Dusk bit her lip. "That you don't get much leave. No one really seems to notice you guys as real people."

Denal didn't say anything. He'd know that now for a while but hearing it said from a civilian made a different impression than the one he was used to from his brothers.

Dusk turned around to face him, her deep black eyes filled with sympathy. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that." She began to slip out of his arms and Denal held her back.

He tilted her head with a hand so he could look her straight in the eye. "It's not your fault. I know it's like that. Don't worry about it."

Dusk shook her head. "I still shouldn't have said that, I don't see you that way so I shouldn't be reinforcing that belief."

Denal took her hand in his and rubbed it gently. "Trust me, it's okay."

Dusk smiled. "Thank you. You're much nicer than people I've met."

Denal blushed. "It's-it's nothing."

Dusk laughed. "It's not nothing." She reached up, kissing Denal lightly on the cheek.

Denal blushed harder. He'd never actually been this close to a girl like Dusk before and it was...amazing.

Dusk slid a feather behind her hair and smiled tentatively. "Sorry I-"

Denal leaned forward so Dusk could feel his breath on her cheek. "No, don't be, that was just fine with me." He brushed his lips across her cheek and Dusk moved to catch him with her own before he pulled away, embarrassed that he'd been so prompt with a girl he hardly knew.

Dusk laughed at the look on Denal's face. He pulled away a little farther and Dusk pulled him back, setting her hands on his arms. Denal gained his confidence again and wrapped his arms around her waist.

Dusk put her head on Denal's chest. "And that was just fine with me." Denal played with Dusk's feathers, twisting the front ones into a braid and letting it fall down to chin length.

Dusk sighed. "Thank you Denal." She closed her eyes for a moment and Denal was sure she was listening to the beat of his heart.

"I think I should be the one saying thank you." Denal smiled, he felt...comfortable with Dusk.

Dusk pulled her head away and looked at her chrono. "Blast it's late. I should go."

Denal led her back into the bar. "Do you walk from here?"

Dusk nodded. "Usually."

Denal turned to face her. "May I walk you home?"

Dusk leaned on his shoulder. "That...would be nice."

Denal left his arm around Dusk's waist, not noticing Koho smiling as he caught sight of them.

Denal let her lead the way and watched for land marks so he'd remember, if he ever needed to find her.

Dusk spared a glance in Denal's direction every so often. Denal did the same and for a moment they caught each other's look and turned away hastily. Dusk stopped him in front of one of the smaller houses. Denal walked her to the doorstep and Dusk turned to him before opening it.

"Denal that was wonderful." Dusk found herself caught in Denal's golden-brown eyes.

"You have no idea." Denal smiled shyly.

Dusk turned serious. "I'll see you again?"

"Promise." Denal reached over and squeezed her hand. "If not back there, I'll remember where you live."

"When can I see you?" Dusk's eyes showed her worry.

"How 'bout tomorrow? I'll pick you up here."

Dusk relaxed. "That sounds fair." She leaned up on her tiptoes and brought her lips to Denal's. He pulled her closer and enjoyed the soft pressure she was giving him. The warmth was something new to them both.

Dusk pulled back, dazed. "Good night"

"Good night." Denal whispered back as Dusk slipped inside the house.

Again he didn't notice anyone watching him as Dusk slid the curtains back a little and watched him walk away. Walk away with a promise to come back. Denal looked back one last time at the house, sending a thank you and a wish up to the sky.

This is totally uncivilized of me but I really am going to need reviews on this one. *gets down on knees and begs* Please! I brought Denal and Koho back and I NEED to know whether you guys like the pairings. You'll meet Flair next chapter but for the moment I hope you like it. And kudos to those who've reviewed Healing and Loving or Understanding, I love you guys!

Chow for now!