Chapter 3: Personal Questions

Torian was cleaning one of the tools at the workbench, grateful for the silence aboard the ship. Mako and Gault were out shopping, and Arikah… well, he hadn't seen her since he'd gotten back, but from the gentle sounds of water running above him, he could picture what she was doing.

In fact, he was trying very hard not to think about what she was doing.

She hadn't let up in her overt flirting with him, and he was starting to feel comfortable enough to take the initiative and respond in kind. Well, next time she did, he would respond in kind. He hadn't yet had the chance.

Her voice was liquid desire when she spoke to him in that tone, a noise that he wanted to reach out and clasp, to hold on to, but it always disappeared like smoke when he tried. There were many nights he drifted off thinking of the words she'd said to him, and then she'd come to him in his dreams. But in his dreams, it was like she was teasing him, repeating words she'd spoken earlier in the day, but slipping just out of reach when he tried to grab her, to act instead of remaining passive for once.

It wasn't all sexual tension - although that was certainly a big factor. He felt himself opening up to her more and more. When he'd told her about Corridan Ordo and securing the factory on Eriadu, that had meant a lot to him. It wasn't that he hadn't spoken of that experience with anyone before; it was just rare for him to share outside people he felt close with. So the fact that he felt comfortable enough with her to say all that spoke volumes.

On top of that, Corridan was someone he looked up to, someone he respected highly. He was still amazed that Corridan had managed to minimalize the factory worker casualties, and the squad's numbers had barely been affected by the stealthed resistance fighters. To tell Arikah she reminded him of Corridan was a great compliment coming from him. He wondered if she realized how significant it was, how expansive his admiration for her was. She'd mentioned she would try not to disappoint, but he'd told her easily that she shouldn't worry about it. She'd managed to get them through some pretty tight scenarios already. He had faith in her. He wouldn't have told her that story if he didn't trust her.

A noise on the stairs startled him out of his reverie, and he looked up… and the tool fell from his numb fingers and clattered loudly on the workbench at the sight he was presented with.

Arikah stood on the steps, in an outfit that could hardly be considered clothing at all. She wore a skimpy tank top that could barely cover the swell of her breasts and revealed her flat midriff. Tight shorts displayed long, tanned legs and the lovely curve of her hips. Certainly he'd seen her dressed down before - as the entire crew except him preferred civilian clothing while aboard the ship - but never this exposed. Her body was incredible.

Was the woman trying to kill him? Drive him mad with desire? He felt a familiar aching in his body at the sight of her, one he tried hard to ignore. He was so inexperienced around women that he still wasn't totally positive if her flirting meant she was seriously interested in him or if she was just having fun. In fact, he wasn't even sure if she wasn't already seeing someone. He should make an effort to ask her point blank about that sometime soon…

She looked equally as surprised to see him there, however, so clearly she hadn't meant for him to see her like this. It was a rare moment for her to be taken aback. Rarer still was the fact that she seemed almost shy about it. The blush that rose in her cheeks furthered the glow within him.

"Torian! I- I didn't realize you were here," she stammered. She paused, seeming to catch herself, and continued in a steadier voice, "I thought you were all shopping while we're here?"

They were taking a short break between missions, and were currently docked with the Imperial Fleet. Arikah liked to stock up on supplies before rushing headlong into a lengthy battle, another fact that he appreciated. She made sure her team was well outfitted with the best armor, weapons, and gear before she led them into a fight.

And of course, while they were here, Gault wanted to relax at the cantina and Mako could hardly contain her excitement at the prospect of shopping. Even Torian liked to take a short stroll around the ship to scope out the newest tech.

He shrugged in answer to her question. With her dressed like that, where was he supposed to look? He could hardly keep his eyes from wandering down her beautiful body. Safer to study the tool. He picked it back up. "Didn't take me long. I came back by myself."

"So… we're alone, then." That purring tone had returned to her voice. Don't turn around, or'dinii. He feared he wouldn't be able to hold himself above ogling her if he turned around, and she deserved more respect than that. Even if her tone did suggest that she wouldn't mind it.

"Haar'chak, dala," he muttered. Why did she have to make things so difficult for him? And how did she manage it? Were all women so challenging? Louder, he agreed, "Guess so."

"Ah," was all she said in response. The silence after her single word stretched, and he found his eyes drifting away from the tool, trying to catch a glimpse of her lovely form in the corner of his eye, or in the reflection of the workbench. Then he heard the soft patter of bare feet on the steps, drawing closer, and he hunched down, his body tense.

"It's just that I left my blaster down here, and I don't like to be without it, so…" Her voice was just over his left shoulder. He dared not turn, but it grew harder to stay focused when a shadow fell over him and he could actually feel the heat radiating from her body - freshly steamed from the shower - at how close she was.

His eyes dropped to the table, and that's when he saw that her blaster was directly in front of him. She must have been cleaning it earlier, then left it when she went to take a shower. How had he not noticed it before?

His chair shifted slightly as she supported herself against it. He barely had time to register what was happening when a slender yet strong tanned arm snaked over his shoulder, inching toward her blaster. He felt her lean down, heard her breath next to his ear. Haar'chak, she was right there. She was so close he could have turned and been nose to nose with her. He would be given quite an eyeful if he chose to turn. With her leaning down, he imagined her shirt would be dipping quite low. And those luscious lips of hers would be so close, easily within reach…

He dropped all pretense of cleaning the tool, staring at her smooth arm, holding his breath as she reached for the gun. That didn't stop him from catching the fresh scent coming off her, a cleanliness mixed with the usual, undefinable spice that seemed to follow her and he found incredibly sexy.

"Excuse me," she whispered, her voice deep and layered, warming his ear. A shiver ran through him and his longing intensified.

She made a very quiet sound as her fingers closed around the blaster's handle – a small noise one might make as they've stretched themselves as far as they can to clasp something. It very nearly sent him over the edge of acting on his urges, sweeping her into his arms and tasting those full lips. He was already throbbing, picturing her bending over him practically naked, knowing how close she was, and he couldn't help but imagine that if he made the first move and turned to her, she wouldn't deny him.

But to his surprise, she pulled back fairly quickly, relieving him of her torturous ministrations.

"Umaan dala!" he growled. The Mando'a burst out of him, unable to be held in. The native Mandalorian language came to him more easily than Basic did, particularly when he was rattled.

But rather than get upset or confused as he could have expected from a born-and-raised Mandalorian woman, Arikah laughed. The sound caught him off guard. When he looked back at her, he found her light blue eyes held tiny glimmers of light that flashed at him teasingly. "What does that mean?"

He paused, considering the fact that she knew very little Mando'a, despite being officially part of the Mandalorians. This was something she needed according to the Resol'nare, the Six actions. One of the cores of Mandalorian life was to speak the language. It only made sense that she learn Mando'a. And, as the only Mando around, it was his duty to teach her. Rather than answer her question directly, he said, "You should learn Mando'a. It's one of the cores of Mandalorian life, and seeing how you're Mandalorian now…"

Her face sobered and she was nodding before he could finish the sentence. "You're right."

"I could teach you, if you're interested," he offered.

"Private lessons from you? I'd love nothing more." There was that smoky note again, and the half curving of her lips. Then she turned away before he could say anything else, giving him full view of the rear he always guarded. He could have sworn there was an extra sway in her steps that had him thinking very inappropriate thoughts about his alor'ad.

After she'd gone back to her quarters, he exhaled heavily, placing the tool on the table and resting his elbows there, cradling his head. He was left spinning at the encounter. If this was to be their relationship, he couldn't see himself holding back from her much longer. He'd best get the question that was weighing heavily on his mind out of the way, then figure out how to be someone she could be proud of. Someone she'd want to keep around.

She wasn't gone long, but when she returned, she was dressed in maroon and cream civilian clothing. Torian was relieved that she was more clothed and therefore less distracting. He wanted to be able to focus for this conversation.

He stood up as she approached, straightening his spine. "Mind if I ask you a personal question?" he asked, drawing a curious look from her before she reverted back to her usual composure.

"Only if I get to ask you something personal as well."

"Fair enough," he paused, but then decided not to waste any time and pressed forward. "Are you seeing anyone?"

Her voice dropped slightly, slipping into the level that gave a velvet coating to her words. "No, but I could be talked into it, by the right guy." She ended with a smile that seemed private. Meant for him alone. That was promising.

"Really… I'll have to remember that," he replied. "Guess it's only fair I let you ask one, too. Shoot."

A sudden intensity flashed in her eyes, something that went as quickly as it had come, for she hid it away. "All right. Your turn to tell me: you seeing anyone?"

It felt like he'd hit the bull's eye on every target on a firing range. Her overly casual question had to mean she was interested, right? "Not yet. Thinking about it, though." He watched her face carefully, noting how the corners of her eyes crinkled as though she were smiling and how she worked to keep her lips straight.

Which was why her next question seemed to come from another galaxy entirely. "Have you pursued many women?"

Why would she be interested in that? He was thrown, but he could see nothing wrong with being honest. "No. No one caught my attention." He needed someone he could respect, and none of the women he'd been around could have remotely compared to Arikah.

"No one?" she repeated, sounding surprised. "You must have high standards. What do you look for in a woman?"

The first was obvious. "She has to be Mandalorian." He tapped his chin. What made him respect a woman? "And… she's got to be a better shot than me."

This time, she made no effort to conceal her grin, and she mimed shooting down two skyward opponents with her hand. "I'm two for two. What do I win?"

Strangely, his heart sank with her words. It was simply another reminder of how far out of reach a woman like her was to him. She was the Grand Champion of the Great Hunt! How could he possibly hope to keep a woman as incredible as her around? He didn't want to fall for her, only to have her move on because she grew bored of him. Could he ever hope to keep up? "Not much of a prize right now. I'd better work on that."

The airlock door leading to the Fleet's large ship hissed, signaling that it was about to open, most likely to reveal a slightly unsteady Gault and a cheerful – despite somewhat lightened of credits – Mako.

"We should get moving. We can talk later," Torian said, feeling a bit of regret.

"I'll hold you to that," Arikah replied, and went to assist Mako in stabilizing Gault before he fell over on his way up the ramp.

Mando'a Translations

Or'dinii – Moron, fool

Haar'chak – Damn it

Dala – Woman

Umaan – Difficult

Alor'ad – Captain

I wouldn't normally like to have a conversation from the game practically word for word in this story, but I made an exception here because I felt it was important to show Torian's conflicted feelings about the BH. How he believes he's not worthy, why he tends to hold himself back, despite the BH's heavy-handed suggestions. Anyways, hope it didn't make the chapter boring! Reviews are always appreciated!