AN: Why hello, my curious friend. :creepygusta:

Nah, I'm kidding. Sorta. :P This is the first of a series of one-shots that I will write when I decide I don't want to write my other fic, Seeking Answers. They are NOT related AT ALL, just to say. This one is of Atton and the Exile playing some late night Pazaak. :3 By the way, my Exile is the same here as in Seeking Answers, though I restate that the two stories are completely unrelated.

Disclaimer: I don't own any extremely wealthy industry, such as Lucas Arts. Damn.


Pure Pazaak~!

Jay waited for the other crew members to fall soundly asleep before she rose. Since she didn't want to share a bunk with Visas or Kreia (or anyone else, for that matter), she took residence in the communications room, right next to the cockpit. Even from there, she knew when everyone slept. The bonds she shared with everyone made it easy for her to lightly reach out with the Force and see.

She tugged the black robe tighter around the grey and red under robes as she lightly padded to the cockpit. As always, the pilot spun in his chair to face her, a cock-sure grin on his handsome face. Ignoring his grin, as she often did, she silently sat in the co-pilots chair, swiveling so the small table between the chairs was between them.

They fell into their normal pattern as Atton dealt the cards. It had become habit for them to do this. Neither could sleep well, so they both stayed up and played Pazaak to keep them occupied. Or, that was what they told themselves. Both could sleep fine, it was the nightmares they were wary of. Their meetings weren't only to play Pazaak. They talked, sometimes all night, they laughed, they started to trust.

Somewhere down the line, he had fallen in love with the Exile. Maybe it was the way her hips swayed as she ran. Maybe it was that first glimpse of her he saw, where she was dressed in nothing but undergarments. He knew neither of these were the true reason, though they certainly did help. It was her he loved, not her body. Her fiery personality with the wit to match even his, the way she drew people to her like a magnet when not even trying, how she was the strongest person he's ever met, the fact that she trusted him more than anyone else on the ship. Oh, her trust! It was a sweet relief that he did not deserve.

Her voice brought him back to the Pazaak game going on in front of him. "Is something bothering you, Atton?" she asked. It was the first thing he's heard all night, since today seemed to be a day that both of them wanted to think. "It's been your move for 5 minutes now," she added, raising one eyebrow.

He laughed a bit, scratching the back of his neck. "I was just in shock that you actually beat me this round." He was obviously lying, but she knew better than to push it. Instead, she glared at him in a playful manner.

"What do you mean I 'actually' beat you?" she asked, crossing her arms. "I've beaten you plenty of times, I'll have you know!"

He smirked, leaning his elbows on the table and moving closer to her. "I'll let you in on a little secret, Sweets. I let you win sometimes so you don't get aggravated and leave," he whispered loudly.

Her cheeks flushed ever so slightly as she thought on his words. "You let me win so that I wouldn't leave?" she repeated, not sure she heard him correctly.

"Er, that is... I didn't want to play by myself. It gets boring when you play both sides of the board," he added quickly. Smooth, Atton, he thought, way to give that away, Slick.

"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard," she laughed. He braced himself for pure rejection. "You could have just asked me to stay, Atton," her beautiful voice surprised him. His eyes looked up at her from where they were gazing on the table.

She had no idea why he was so surprised by this. Maybe it's because he's never had a good friend before. It took a few for Jay to realize just why he was so surprised. She opened her mouth, not sure what she was going to say, when Atton stood. His sudden movements scared her, so she stood too. He backed her quickly into the wall, his lips less than an inch from hers. She closed her eyes, trying the regain her composure.

"You're trembling," he said, his mouth quirking up on one side. His eyes showed all his confined emotions; passion, pain, fascination, and a small flicker of nervousness.

"I am not trembling," she said, her voice confident and defiant. Her face gave her away. Her eyes, a blue so dark they looked like the night sky on Dantooine, were wide and confused. She was conflicted. Her feelings for Atton couldn't have been denied, but she couldn't say that she loved him either. She wanted something with her flyboy, but she didn't want to be hurt. Suddenly, she found that she in fact was trembling. For what reason, she did not know.

"You like me because I'm a scoundrel. There isn't enough of that in your life." He was teasing her now, she could feel it. The way he would lean in as if to kiss her, then back away yet again, never leaving more than an inch between them. She was ever so tempted to close the gap and let go, but no, that would give him satisfaction he didn't deserve.

His arms slithered around her in a way that was so foreign yet so familiar. One arm slipped into her outer rope, resting around her waist. His other hand pressed against the cool metal beside her head as he loomed over her. "I happen to like nice guys, thank you." she lied. She knew it was a horrid lie, but what else could she do, give in? No, that isn't Jay.

"I'm a nice man," he grinned as he stared into her soul. He may not be able to read minds, but he could read the Exile like a book. It made him feel like he mattered to her. He didn't really need the reassurance, now that he could see the look on her face as he kissed her.

She melted. Her stubborn attitude fell away as soon as their lips met. She knew this was a horrible idea. She knew she would regret this eventually, but she didn't care. She didn't regret it now, after all. Then she realized something, something she didn't like. To get here, he had played with her like a cat with a mouse. Two can play at that game, she thought.

She smirked against his lips, removing the outer rope of her Jedi outfit. He chuckled in response, his face dipping to rest on her shoulder. Suddenly, he found nothing but space where she once was. A smug, accomplished voice spoke in his ear. "Sorry, flyboy. Looks like you're fresh outta luck."

She dropped her winning hand on the table and left the room. "Looks like I win this round. Night, Atton!"