HELLO AGAIN HERE AR SUM MOOOR CKCW STORIES. (I DON'T OWN CAPSLOCKS, STARWARS REX,AHSOKA OR ANYONE. BUT IF I DID THE SW WORLD WOULD BE VEEERRRYYY DIFFERENT.
INNOCENCE(REXSOKA)
AHSOKA HUMMED QUIETLY AS SHE GAVE HER WORK ONE FINAL LOOK-OVER. SHE SMILED, IT WAS PRETTY GOOD LOOKING, IN HER OPINION. NOT AS GOOD-LOOKING AS- WELL, NOTHING WAS AS WONDERFULLY HANDSOME AS REX. SHE SCURRIED OUT OF HER TEMPLE QUARTERS, HIDING HER PRECIOUS CARGO IN HER BACKPACK.
SHE KNEW WHERE THE CLONES LIVED WHEN THEY WERE ON LEAVE, BUT HAD NEVER GONE THERE. SHE AND REX MET HALFWAY USUALLY, IN A HOTEL OR AN ALLEY. BUT, ALAS, SHE WAS TOO EXCITED TO WAIT UNTIL THEIR NEXT PLANNED MEETING (IN TWO DAYS), AND BESIDES, SHE WANTED TO SURPRISE HIM.
THE BARRACKS HELD THE STENCH OF MEN. LOTS OF MEN. MAN SWEAT. MAN BREATH. OTHER FORMS OF SCENT UNIQUE TO THE MALE. BUT, AHSOKA DIDN'T MIND TOO MUCH. SHE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH MEN, SO THE SMELLS DIDN'T OFFEND HER LIKE THEY WOULD BARRISS.
THE YOUNG TORTUGA STOOD OUTSIDE THE BARRACKS DOOR, UNSURE OF HOW TO PROCEED. REX WAS IN THERE, SHE SENSED HIM. HE WOULDN'T BE SUSPICIOUS OF HER PRESENCE, HE WOULD SIMPLY BE PLEASED TO SEE HER, BUT... WHAT TO SAY TO THE OTHERS? THEY WERE IN THERE TOO. AND THEY- THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.
FINALLY, SHE DECIDED TO JUST DO IT. BOTH SHE AND REX WERE THEIR COMMANDING OFFICERS, SO THEY WOULD JUST HAVE TO SUCK IT UP AND LET HER STEAL REX FOR A MOMENT.
AHSOKA OPENED THE DOOR AND STRIDED IN, SHOULDERS STRAIGHT, HEAD HIGH, STEPS LIGHT, STRONG, GRACEFUL, JEDI-LIKE. SOME OF THE MEN'S MOUTHS HUNG OPEN, SOME STARED, SOME HASTILY COVERED HALF-NAKED BODIES, OTHERS QUICKLY TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN THEMSELVES.
"HELLO" SHE SAID, GREETING THE SHOCKED STARES. SHE CLEARED HER THROAT, "CAPTIAN REX?"
"COMMANDER?" HE RESPONDED, GIVING HER A CONFUSED LOOK.
"I WOULD LIKE A WORD WITH YOU, IN PRIVATE..."
"PRIVATE?" A NAMELESS CLONE INTERJECTED, "WHY?"
HER CONFIDENT EXTERIOR BEGAN MELTING. "I HAVE MATTERS TO DISSCUSS WITH HIM-"
"WHAT MATTERS CAN'T YOU DISSCUSS IN FRONT OF US?" SAID ANOTHER. THE CLONES GRUNTED IN AGREEMENT.
AHSOKA FELT ANGER RISING TO THE SURFACE. "I AM YOUR COMMANDING OFFICER, AND I. WANT. TO. SEE. REX. NOW."
THE CLONES SHRUNK BACK, AND REX STARTED FORWARD. AHSOKA GLARED BEFORE TURNING AROUND TO LEAVE, REX TAILING HER.
THEY FINALLY FOUND A QUIET PLACE TO TALK BEHIND SOME SUPPLY CRATES. AHSOKA WAS SEETHING, "HOW DARE THEY? I AM THE COMMANDER!"
"AHSOKA?" REX MURMERED, TOUCHING HER SHOULDER.
"MMM?"
"WHAT IS IT?"
AHSOKA GAZED UP AT HIM, LOVE SUDDENLY COLORING HER FEATURES. SHE BEGAN DIGGING IN HER BACKPACK.
"I MADE YOU SOMETHING!" SHE PULLED OUT A HAND MADE PLUSH DOLL. A CLONE PLUSH DOLL. THE HELMET HADE THE SAME DESIGNS AS HIS. HE TOOK IT FROM HER AND ANALYZED IT.
"IT'S YOU! DO YOU LIKE IT? I MADE IT MYSELF!"
"IT'S WONDERFUL AHSOKA" HE HANDED IT BACK TO HER. SHE STARED AT HIM, THEN HELD IT BACK OUT TO HIM, "BUT, IT'S YOURS, I MADE IT FOR YOU"
REX SIGHED, CLASPING HIS HANDS BEHIND HIS BACK. "I CAN'T TAKE IT, AHSOKA... I CAN'T"
HER EYES WIDENED "WHY?"
THE CLONE SHOOK HIS HEAD AND KICKED THE DIRT.
"THE MEN... THEY'LL BE SUSPICIOUS, THEY ALREADY ARE, ACTUALLY. OF YOU AND ME. BESIDES," HE SPOKE FASTER AND QUIETER NOW, "THEY'LLMAKEFUNOFME"
AHSOKA'S EYES FILLED WITH TEARS. SHE SQUEEZED THE DOLL IN ONE HAND, AND CRIED OUT, "WHY WOULD THEY DO SOMETHING LIKE-! IT'S NOT FAIR! WHY? WHY CAN'T- WHY CAN'T WE- STUPID WAR! STUPID CODE! WHY CAN'T THIS...I, I LOVE YOU" SHE TRAILED OFF, SOBS TAKING THE PLACE OF WORDS.
REX DREW HER INTO AN EMBRACE. "I'M SORRY... SO SORRY. I JUST, I CAN'T TAKE IT. I WANT TO. BUT, I MEAN, I WANT TO SCREAM HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU FROM THE TALLEST BUILDING. I WANT TO GET A TATTOO THAT SAYS 'I LOVE AHSOKA'. I WANT TO MARRY YOU. BUT I WON'T. I CAN'T. IT DOESN'T MEAN I LOVE YOU ANY LESS...OK?" SHE NODDED. SHE HELD THE DOLL CLOSE. "MAYBE... SOMEDAY." SHE MURMERED.
REX SHRUGED. AHSOKA SMILED, "I KNOW, I'LL KEEP IT WITH ME, SO THAT WHEN I MISS YOU, I'LL FEEL BETTER!" REX SMILED. "THAT'S A GREAT IDEA... I NEED TO GO BACK THOUGH, SO DO YOU; SEE YOU IN A FEW DAYS" HE KISSED HER LIPS, THEN WALKED AWAY. HE GLANCED BACK ONCE. SHE WAS CUDDLING THE DOLL HAPPILY; ANGER, SADNESS, LONLINESS FORGOTTEN FOR THE MOMENT. HOW HER LOVED HER. SHE TOOK DOWN BADGUYS, TOOK DOWN A DROID FACTORY, AND SURVIVED KILLER WORMS. YET, SHE GOT SO UPSET OVER A STUFFED DOLL. SUCH CHILDISH BEHAVIOR.
THAT INNOCENCE THAT REX LOVED.
EVERY GIRL WANTS A COWBOY. (TBC)
AHSOKA HAD BEEN THROUGH EVERY CABINET, CLOSET, AND CUPBOARD IN THE BOUNTY HUNTER'S LIVING QUARTERS, BUT COULDN'T SEEM TO FIND ANYTHING THAT WOULD HINT TO THE COMBINATION ON THE DOOR. HE HAD PUNCHED IT IN QUICK BEFORE LEAVING FOR THE NIGHT, AND THAT'S JUST WHAT HE DID; LEAVE. HE WENT TO GO DO WHATEVER HE DID DURING THE NIGHT HOURS, WHICH AHSOKA ONLY PRESUMED WAS LESS THAN SAVORY ACTIVITY. HE HAD SAID, "I'M GOING OUT," AND THAT WAS THAT. TO BE HONEST, SHE WAS SURPRISED HE EVEN SAID ANYTHING AT ALL. USUALLY HE JUST GRABBED HIS COAT AND HIS HAT AND THAT WAS IT. BUT TONIGHT, A WHOLE THREE WORDS. WOW.
SHE HAD BEEN HIS 'HOSTAGE' FOR A WHOLE TWO MONTHS NOW. SHE USED THE WORD 'HOSTAGE' LIGHTLY BECAUSE IT WASN'T A TERRIBLY 'HOSTAGE LIKE' SITUATION. HE JUST KINDA DRAGGED HER ALONG WITH HIM. AND LOCKED HER IN HIS SHIP WHENEVER HE WENT OUT. IT WAS BIZARRE BUT AS LONG AS HER LIFE WASN'T IN DANGER, SHE WOULD RIDE WITH IT AND SEE HOW IT PLAYED OUT. PATIENCE. THE JEDI WAY.
OUT OF BOREDOM SHE OPENED HIS FRIDGE. SHE HAD ALREADY GONE THROUGH IT A BAZILLION TIMES SINCE HE LEFT, BUT WHAT WOULD ONE MORE LOOK AROUND HURT? IT WAS THE SAME OLD CRAP IN IT NOW AS THERE WAS AN HOUR AGO. BEER, BEER, MORE BEER, A PLATE OF BONES FOR SOME REASON, AND AN OLD APPLE. IT DIDN'T LOOK EDIBLE. SHE TOOK A BITE OUT OF IT ANYWAY, AND THEN PUT IT BACK. SHE COULDN'T REALLY DO ANYTHING TO HIM WITHOUT HER LIGHTSABER, AND THE JERK PAWNED IT WHILE ON CORUSCANT, SO ANY LITTLE PLEASURES SHE COULD GET OUT OF ANNOYING HIM SHE WOULD TAKE. CHILDISH? YES. BUT DAMMIT, IT WAS ALL SHE HAD LEFT. ENJOY THIS APPLE I TOOK A BITE OUT OF, BANE. YOU ASSHOLE.
SHE FELL INTO A SPINNING CHAIR SHE FOUND IN THE CORNER, AND THEN ROLLED HERSELF AROUND THE ROOM. DAMN SHE WAS BORED. IT WAS TOO EARLY TO HIT THE HAY. WAS HE TRYING TO KILL HER WITH BOREDOM? WAS THAT HIS PLAN? SHE ACTUALLY FOUND HERSELF CONSIDERING IT FOR A MINUTE OR TWO, BUT THEN DISMISSED IT. NOT BECAUSE IT WAS RIDICULOUS, BUT BECAUSE SHE WAS QUITE SURE BANE NEVER REALLY HAD A PLAN. HE JUST KIND OF.... WENT WITH IT.
SHE WAS TRYING TO SEE HOW FAST SHE COULD SPIN BEFORE GETTING NAUSEOUS WHEN SHE HEARD THE MAIN DOOR TO THE SHIP OPEN. HE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE GONE FOR A WHOLE LOT OF TIME. WEIRD.
SHE HEARD THE FAMILIAR CLANK OF HIS BOOTS AS HE MADE HIS WAY TO THE LIVING QUARTERS. SHE TWIRLED IN THE CHAIR A LITTLE BIT, BUT KEPT HER EYES TO THE GROUND. THE DOOR SWOOSHED OPEN, SOUNDING LIKE A GUST OF WIND, AND IN HE CAME, HAVING TO BEND OVER A LITTLE TO KEEP HIS HEAD FROM HITTING THE DOOR FRAME. HE TOSSED HIS HAT ONTO THE BED, AND THEN BEGAN TO TAKE OFF HIS COAT, BUT BEFORE HE DID HE HAD TO PLACE DOWN WHAT HE WAS HOLDING; A BIG BAG WITH SOMETHING RED INSIDE. IT LOOKED LIKE CLOTHING. WHAT THE HELL? SHE TRIED TO PEER INSIDE OF IT BUT HE KICKED IT INTO THE CORNER BEFORE SHE COULD. SHE POUTED; HE THREW HIS COAT ONTO A CHAIR.
"SHOULDN'T YOU BE IN BED, LITTLE GIRL?"
SHE GRITTED HER TEETH, HER MOUTH BECOMING NOTHING MORE THAN A THIN LINE. HE REALLY KNEW WHAT BUTTONS TO PUSH.
"IT'S EIGHT THIRTY."
HE IGNORED HER. TYPICAL. HE OPENED THE FRIDGE AND GRABBED A BEER, AND THEN OPENED IT WITH HIS TEETH, SOMETHING SHE'S SEEN HIM DO MORE TIMES THAN SHE WOULD HAVE LIKED. SHE WAS HOPING HE WOULD NOTICE THE APPLE, HER NEED TO GET HIM BACK GROWING BY THE SECOND, BUT HE DIDN'T. HE JUST CLOSED THE FRIDGE AND TOOK A SEAT IN FRONT OF THE ROOMS TERMINAL, PLOPPING HIS FEET UP ON THE TABLE AND TURNING IT ON. THE BLUE LIGHT ILLUMINATED THE OTHERWISE DIMLY LIT ROOM, MAKING IT SEEM SMALLER THAN IT ALREADY WAS. HE DIDN'T LOOK OVER AT HER ONCE. AHSOKA REASONED SHE COULD HAVE VERY WELL BEEN ON FIRE WHEN HE CAME BACK TO THE SHIP AND HE WOULD HAVE GREETED HER IN THE SAME MANNER. AND SO BEGINS ANOTHER EVENING LIKE MOST OF HER OTHERS THE PAST TWO MONTHS. BANE DOES WHATEVER HE DOES, AND AHSOKA STARES AT THE WALL, PRETENDING TO BE SOMEWHERE ELSE.
SHE WASN'T SURE HOW MUCH TIME HAD PASSED WHEN BANE SUDDENLY SWITCHED THE SCREEN OFF. SHE GUESSED MAYBE AN HOUR. SHE HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE SPINNING CHAIR, JUST DAYDREAMING ABOUT WHAT SHE COULD BE DOING IF SHE WAS BACK AT THE TEMPLE. PROBABLY NOTHING INCREDIBLY INTERESTING. SHE FOUND IT ODD THAT HER MIND WANDERED INTO AN EXTENDED VERSION OF HER DAYDREAM, WONDERING WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF SHE STARTED A FOOD FIGHT ONE DAY IN THE MESS HALL. SHE WAS SO PREOCCUPIED IMAGING BARRISS WITH PUDDING ON HER FACE THAT SHE ALMOST DIDN'T NOTICE BANE GET UP AND SWITCH THE OVERHEAD LIGHTS ON. SHE BLINKED AT THE SUDDEN INTRUSION TO HER EYES, AND THEN SHOOK HER HEAD, CLEARING HER THOUGHTS. WHEN HER EYES ADJUSTED, SHE SAW BANE MUCH CLOSER THAN SHE WOULD HAVE LIKED, PULLING A CHAIR OVER IN FRONT OF HER. HER FIRST REACTION WAS TO BACK AWAY, OR IN THIS CASE ROLL THE CHAIR BACK A FEW FEET, AND SHE WAS EMBARRASSED TO FIND OUT HER BODY ACTED ON IT. SHE THOUGHT SHE COULD CONTROL HER INSTINCTS BY NOW, AND WAS A LITTLE DISTURBED BY THE THOUGHT THAT HER BODY STILL SAW BANE AS A THREAT.
HE LOOKED SHOCKED FOR A NANO SECOND, AND AHSOKA HAD JUST ENOUGH TIME TO THINK HOW STRANGE THAT EXPRESSION LOOKED ON HIM, BEFORE HE FROWNED AND BARED HIS TEETH IN A GROWL, ANNOYED.
"KNOCK IT OFF," HE GRABBED THE BOTTOM OF THE CHAIR AND ROLLED HER CLOSER TO HIM, HER BODY TENSING UP. SHE HAD NO IDEA WHAT HE WAS DOING, AND THAT FREAKED HER OUT MORE THAN SHE WANTED TO ADMIT. "I'M NOT GONNA BITE." HERE HE BARED HIS TEETH AT HER, THOSE SHARP, YELLOW CHOMPERS. AT FIRST SHE THOUGHT HE WAS TRYING TO SMILE, BUT THEN HE SNAPPED THEM TOGETHER ONCE, LOUD, MAKING HER JUMP. HE LET OUT A THROATY BARK OF LAUGHTER.
JERK.
"LOOK," HE BEGAN TO DIG AROUND IN HIS PANTS POCKET, JUST UNDERNEATH HIS CHAPS AND JUST ABOVE HIS HOLSTER, WHICH HE STILL HAD ON FOR SOME REASON. SHE HATED HIS CHAPS MORE THAN ANYTHING. HE WAS MAKING A STATEMENT, OBVIOUSLY, BUT WHY DID HE HAVE TO BE SO DAMN CLICHE? WE GET IT, YOU WANNA LOOK LIKE A COWBOY. TAKE IT DOWN A FEW NOTCHES. HIS THIN, BONEY FINGERS EMERGED HOLDING A CRUMPLED UP PAPER. IT LOOKED LIKE IT COULD HAVE BEEN FANCY AT ONE POINT, LIKE A WEDDING INVITATION OR SOMETHING, BUT NOW IT JUST LOOKED LIKE GARBAGE. A RECEIPT OR A WRAPPER OR SOMETHING. HIS FACE DROPPED FOR A SECOND, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION HOW MUCH OF A BEATING IT TOOK. THEN, HIS EXPRESSION CLEARED, AND HE JUST LOOKED BORED. HE HELD IT OUT FOR HER.
SHE LOOKED AT IT, THEN BACK AT HIM. THEN DOWN AT THE PAPER AGAIN. SHE LIFTED HER HAND SLIGHTLY, BUT AT FIRST LEFT IT JUST HANGING IN THE AIR. THEN SHE SLOWLY MADE A MOVE TO RETRIEVE IT. AS HER FINGERS BRUSHED UP AGAINST IT, HE SNATCHED IT BACK A FEW FEET, HOLDING IT JUST OUT OF REACH. SHE LOOKED AT HIM, A LITTLE SHOCKED, AND SAW HE WAS TRYING HIS HARDEST TO KEEP FROM SMIRKING. BUT HIS EYES WERE DANCING AND HELD A TEASING AIR.
"YOU CAN READ CAN'T YOU?"
SHE HUFFED, AND FOLDED HER ARMS OVER HER CHEST. HE CHUCKLED, AND HELD OUT THE PAPER AGAIN. SHE TURNED HER HEAD COMPLETELY AWAY FROM HIM, AWARE SHE WAS ACTING LIKE A MELODRAMATIC THREE YEAR OLD, BUT WAY PAST THE POINT OF CARING. HE CRUMPLED THE PAPER INTO A BALL, AND TOSSED IT LIGHTLY AT HER CHEST. IT HIT WITH A LIGHT THUD AND THEN FELL DIRECTLY INTO HER LAP. SHE SNATCHED IT UP QUICK, AND OPENED IT UP, SMOOTHED IT OUT. SHE WOULD ADMIT, SHE WAS CURIOUS.
SHE COULD FEEL HIS EYES WATCHING HER AS SHE READ, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO CONCENTRATE ON THE WORDS IN FRONT OF HER. WHEN SHE READ WHO IT WAS FROM, HOWEVER, SHE FOUND HER ATTENTION COULD NOT BE AVERTED. SHE EVEN READ IT OVER AGAIN, HER MOUTH HANGING OPEN.
"THIS.... THIS IS...."
"MMM." HE AGREED. HE LEANED BACK IN HIS CHAIR AND CROSSED ONE LONG LEG OVER THE OTHER, HIS HANDS INTERTWINED BEHIND HIS HEAD. HE HAD PRODUCED A PERFECTLY HAND ROLLED CIGARETTE FROM.... SOMEWHERE, AND IT WAS NOW DANGLING LIMPLY FROM HIS LIPS, UNLIT. "THOSE HUTTS..." HE CLUCKED HIS TONGUE. "FORMAL WHEN THEY WANT TO BE."
"WHERE DID YOU GET THIS?"
HE FISHED AROUND IN HIS BREAST POCKET FOR A SECOND, AND EMERGED WITH A MATCH. HE FLICKED HIS CALLOUS THUMB OVER THE TIP AND IT BURST INTO A PERFECT BLUE FLAME. HE LIT, SHOOK THE MATCH DEAD, AND THREW IT SOMEWHERE ON THE FLOOR.
"THEY ALWAYS HAVE ONE OF THEIR WHORES WORKING ON THE INSIDE..." HE TOOK A DRAG, BLEW OUT A LONG PUFF OF SMOKE SLOWLY, A LITTLE CLOSER TO HER FACE THAN SHE WOULD HAVE LIKED. HE REMOVED THE CIGARETTE FROM HIS CHAPPED LIPS, TURNED IT OVER IN HIS HAND ONCE, THEN PUT IT BACK IN HIS MOUTH. HE LET IT HANG THERE FOR A MINUTE, AND WHEN AHSOKA WAS ALMOST POSITIVE HE WASN'T GOING TO ELABORATE, HE STARTED UP AGAIN.
"...WHEREVER YOU HAPPEN TO BE. THIS PARTICULAR BIRD WORKS AT ZUKO'S, JUST DOWN THE STREET. ALSO WORKS FOR THE HUTTS, APPARENTLY."
ZUKO'S. AHSOKA ASSUMED HE WAS TALKING ABOUT A BAR. OR A GENTLEMAN'S CLUB.
HE SAT STILL FOR A MINUTE, SHIFTING THE CIGARETTE FROM ONE SIDE OF HIS MOUTH TO THE OTHER.
"SHE WORKED ME OVER A FEW TIMES, TOO..."
AHSOKA ROLLED HER EYES. WELL, THAT SOLVED THAT MYSTERY.
SHE HELD THE INVITATION OUT TO HIM. HE LOOKED AT IT, A LITTLE CONFUSED, AS IF HE FORGOT WHAT IT WAS. THEN HE TOOK IT NONCHALANTLY AND STUFFED IT BACK INTO HIS POCKET, RIGHT BEFORE SNUFFING HIS CIGARETTE OUT ON THE TABLE.
"WILL YOU GO?"
WILL HE GO. THAT WAS THE REAL QUESTION. IF ANYONE COULD THROW A PARTY, IT WOULD BE THE HUTTS. HE GOT UP FROM THE CHAIR SLOWLY, MADE HIS WAY OVER TO THE WINDOW AND LOOKED OUT.
"I NEVER HAVE IN THE PAST."
AT THIS, AHSOKA FOUND HERSELF RISING FROM HER CHAIR. SHE STARED AT THE BACK OF HIS HEAD. THIS WAS GETTING INTERESTING.
"WAIT.... THEY'VE ASKED YOU BEFORE?"
"MMM HMMM."
"HOW MANY TIMES?" SHE WAS INTERESTED NOW, SHE COULDN'T DENY IT.
HE GRUMBLED. "EVER SINCE I BUSTED ZIRO OUT." HE STRAIGHTENED, CLASPED HIS HANDS BEHIND HIS BACK. SHE COULD HEAR THE SMILE IN HIS VOICE. "I GUESS THEY THOUGHT I DID A BANG UP JOB."
AHSOKA WAS ENGROSSED. THE HUTTS LIKED BANE? WELL, OF COURSE THEY WOULD. HE'S EXACTLY THE TYPE OF INDIVIDUAL THEY WOULD LIKE. SHE WAS EVEN A LITTLE SURPRISED THEY HADN'T TRIED TO INITIATE HIM YET. FOR ALL SHE KNEW, THEY HAD.
"THIS IS A STRANGE PROFESSION." HE CONTINUED. "IT SHOULDN'T BE GLAMOROUS, AND YET...."
AHSOKA COULD SEE HIS REFLECTION IN THE WINDOW, COULD SEE HIM FURROW HIS PROMINENT BROW IN A PUZZLING SORT OF EXPRESSION. BUT THE MENTION OF HIS 'CHOSEN CAREER' BROUGHT HER SPIRITS DOWN, AND SHE FOUND HERSELF A LITTLE IRKED. PROFESSION? SHE SUPPOSED THEFT AND EXTORTION COULD BE CONSIDERED A PROFESSION, BUT THE MORE SHE DWELLED ON IT THE MORE IRRITATED SHE BECAME.
"SO WHAT?" SHE ASKED FINALLY. "EITHER GO OR DON'T GO. WHY ARE YOU TELLING ME?"
WHEN SHE GLANCED UP, SHE FOUND HE HAD TURNED HIS HEAD FROM THE WINDOW AND WAS NOW LOOKING AT HER, AN UNIMAGINABLY LARGE GRIN PLASTERED ON HIS FACE. HER STOMACH FLIPPED.
"BANE?"
HE BEGAN WALKING TOWARD HER, AND SHE INVOLUNTARILY TOOK A FEW STEPS BACK.
"I NEVER FIT IN AT THOSE KINDS OF THINGS..." HE BEGAN, STILL MOVING FORWARD, STILL SMILING, EXCEPT HIS GRIN SOMEHOW SEEMED WIDER, HIS EYES MORE NARROW. NOTHING MORE THAN SNEAKY, PLOTTING SLITS OF RED.
SHE BACKED UP INTO THE TABLE, WHICH CAUGHT HER OFF GUARD. IN THAT MOMENT, HE PICKED UP HIS PACE TOWARD THE YOUNG PADAWAN, AND MADE AN ATTEMPT TO GRAB HER. SHE SQUEAKED, AND DASHED TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE, THE CIRCULAR EATING SURFACE NOW THE ONLY THING BETWEEN THEM. WHEN SHE MOVED LEFT, HE MOVED RIGHT, WHEN SHE MOVED RIGHT, HE MOVED LEFT.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING???" SHE SHRIEKED.
"TOO NOISY, TOO MANY PEOPLE IN YOUR BUSINESS..." HE CONTINUED, ELABORATING HIS DISLIKE FOR THOSE CERTAIN TYPES OF PARTIES. "HOWEVER," AND HERE, HE PUT BOTH HANDS ON THE SURFACE OF THE TABLE, AND LEANED ACROSS IT, PLACING HIS FACE INCHES AWAY FROM HER OWN. SHE CAUGHT A WHIFF OF HIS BREATH, SPICY, WITH THE LINGERING AFTERMATH OF NICOTINE.
"HOWEVER," HE CONTINUED, "I'VE NEVER HAD THE RIGHT PERSON TO ACCOMPANY ME."
THE YOUNG TOGRUTA'S EYES WIDENED. SHE DIDN'T LIKE WHERE THIS WAS HEADED.
"WH... WHERE DO I FIT IN WITH THIS?" SHE WAS AFRAID TO ASK, BUT HER CURIOSITY GOT THE BETTER OF HER.
HIS SINISTER GRIN WAS AT IT'S PEAK, ROWS OF YELLOW TEETH TWINKLING LIKE FORBIDDEN STARS. SHE COULD PRACTICALLY SEE THE GEARS TURNING IN HIS HEAD, HIS PLAN COMING TO FRUITION.
"YOU'RE GOING TO BE MY DATE."
HOME-MADE WARMTH (BARRSOKA)
THE SHIP HAD BEEN BLOWN TO SO MUCH SPACE DEBRIS. ONLY AHSOKA AND BARRISS HAD SURVIVED. OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, ON THE EDGE OF THE MID-RIM, THEIR ESCAPE POD FLOATED AIMLESSLY. THE DISTRESS SIGNAL CONTINUED IN A NEVER ENDING LOOP.
THOUSANDS OF THEIR MEN HAD DIED. THE ONLY REASON THEY WERE ALIVE WAS BECAUSE A COUPLE OF THE CLONES HAD SHOVED THEM INTO AN ESCAPE POD AND LSUNCHED IT JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE CRUISER HAD EXPLODED, KILLING ALL BUT THE TWO PADAWANS.
HOURS HAD PASSED WITH NO SIGN OF RESCUE, AND THEY FOUND THEMSELVES WRAPPED IN EACH OTHER'S ARMS, CREATING THEIR OWN WARMTH.
BARRISS WRIGGLES HER FINGERS AND SMILES AGAINST AHSOKA'S NECK AS THE TOGRUTA HAS A SHUDDERING ORGASM, SCREAMING OUT IN ECSTACY, WHIMPERING AS SHE RECOVERS EVER SO SLOWLY.
"YOU'RE WELCOME,BARRISS WHISPERS INTO HER EAR. AHSOKA CHUCKLES AND NIPS HER LOWER LIP.
"MY TURN," AHSOKA GROWLS INTO HER EAR AND BEGINS TO SLIDE A HAND UP BARRISS'S THIGH, FINDER HER WAY TO THE WET HEAT BETWEEN HER LEGS AND SLOWLY TEASING HER. "AND I'M NOT GOING TO STOP UNTL YOU FAINT."
