A/N: As always, I do not own Star Wars or anything related to it. Huge thanks to Theredstring for beta-ing and generally being very honest about my story! Also to liisiko for giving me some suggestions when I had writer's block. This will be a two-or-three-parter, as far as I can tell.

Reviews welcome, but constructive criticism only please - I need to know where I've gone wrong! It's meant to be light-hearted but I've tried to keep everyone as as in-character as possible, so enjoy.

Cantina Tales - Chapter 1

"There's nothing. Absolutely nothing. It's like he's just vanished..."

Juno's voice trailed off as she turned round in her seat to face Starkiller, who was sitting some way behind her, making adjustments to his lightsaber. He didn't seem to have heard her. As usual. Juno sighed, and slumped back in the pilot's seat. She stared out of the Rogue Shadow's viewport onto the dusty city of Pixelito, on Malastare. General Kota had been here, once, but he was long gone. Nar Shadaa had been a dead end, as well as the countless other worlds they had visited since. Juno had just spent the last few hours slicing into ship registers for this port, and she was feeling bored, grumpy and irritated. Not to mention starving. Her stomach gave a very loud, unhealthy rumble, as if to prove her point.

Starkiller looked up, a look of alarm on his face.

"What was that?" He sounded almost concerned, in his own guarded manner.

"My stomach," she replied, trying not to roll her eyes. "I'm kind of hungry. It's been a while since I've eaten..." her voice trailed off as she remembered what she'd sent Starkiller's droid off to do. "PROXY? How are the supplies doing?"

PROXY wandered into the cockpit, clunking metallically.

"I have been analysing the contents of the supply store for the Rogue Shadow," he announced, somewhat over-dramatically. "In conclusion, 98.4% of total nourishment is unfit for human consumption. I suggest we re-stock before we depart this port."

Juno groaned.

"What do you mean, 'unfit for human consumption'?" she demanded, as her stomach gave another rumble. She needed to eat very soon, or someone would pay.

"Well," PROXY hesitated, "Informally, I think the term is 'off'. Or 'mouldy'."

"But..." Juno fought the urge to go and punch the droid, "How long will it take to restock?"

PROXY appeared to be doing mental calculations.

"Approximately 3.2 standard hours, Captain Eclipse. My joints are not what they used to be."

Juno slapped a hand to her forehead. The time had come for drastic measures, and she could not stand any more dehydrated ration packs. But she did have an idea. She couldn't believe she was going to say this. She turned to face Starkiller again. What on Coruscant was she thinking? He'll turn you down. You'll be humiliated. It's a stupid idea...

"Do you...want to go out – with me, that is - and get a bite to eat? At a cantina, I mean. With, ah, proper food. You know, because I'm hungry, and humans need to eat..." Juno realised she was babbling, and willed her mouth to stop talking. Sadly, it was on autopilot. She spent way too much time in her own company nowadays.

"I mean...aren't you hungry? Ever?" No. Stupid. Stop talking now, Juno!

Thankfully, Starkiller appeared not to notice. Not that he ever did, Juno reminded herself. But she was so hungry.

"Well, I'm going out then. On my own, if that's how you want it. I'll be back soon. Don't worry about me!" Juno moved out of the pilot's seat and made to get her jacket, only to find her way out blocked by Starkiller standing up suddenly. He looked suddenly unsure as to what he was doing, or why he had stood up. Juno raised one eyebrow, folding her arms defiantly. She had had enough of his strange silences, his brusque manner, and she was not going to take any more of this–

"Um. I'll come with you." He had folded his arms, mimicking Juno. She blinked, attempting to hide her surprise. Starkiller? Wow. If she had been feeling a little more confident, she might have tried to brush him off, but at that precise moment she felt just a tiny bit intimidated by his imposing stature. He really is all muscle, she marvelled, before composing herself and nodding to his statement.

"All right. But...just let me do the talking, okay? No offence, but you're not exactly familiar with this sort of thing." She said it with a half-smile, but really she was deadly serious. From what she had learned over the past few months, Starkiller's idea of good conversation involved a lightsaber.

"Okay." Starkiller nodded. He punched the ramp release with his usual roughness, and left the cockpit without another word, leaving Juno mildly confused. She looked over at PROXY, perhaps hoping he could offer some advice on their brooding companion, but he just looked at her, in that funny droid-way of his. Shaking her head, she followed Starkiller down the ramp, shrugging on her coat and hoping fervently that they wouldn't attract too much attention. Having the Imperials turn up just as Juno was going to enjoy her first proper meal in what felt like weeks would certainly put a dampener on things.

To be continued...