As the speeder pulled into the landing pad for the spaceport Buck mulled over what they'd discovered. So Angel had seen the Republic wasn't as squeaky clean as it wanted the galaxy to believe, he thought. He was more aware of what went on behind their façade than most, however it was rare to have such glaring evidence of what they were capable of. Part of him wanted to gloat but seeing Angel so subdued wasn't sitting well with him. She'd gotten a harsh glimpse at something she'd been trained to believe in and he could see the doubt overwhelming her. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder as they moved quickly through the port.
"Rough huh?" he asked quietly, "Having illusions shattered?" She still looked serious as she nodded.
"I just wasn't expecting something like that from the Republic," her eyes were solemn as she gazed up at Buck, "Makes me wonder who's on the right side."
"Not thinking of defecting are you?" Buck teased, trying to wheedle a smile from her. One appeared, small and subtle but it was a welcome sight.
"If anything this only shows me I'm where I need to be, for now," she said, "Seems like I might be the only one trying to find out what's going on," her smile grew bigger as she nudged Buck's arm, "Can't do that if I'm playing for the wrong team."
He was glad to see her buoyant personality was indomitable as it seemed and nudged her back. "Well if you ever do decide to come over, I'll put in a good word for you," he joked, chuckling as she stuck her tongue out at him then settled back into her 'Corporal Kys' persona.
A sense of relief overwhelmed Buck as the Corsair came into view. He hit a button on his comm unit to signal Fourgee that he was close. Still hurrying, he knew his signal had been received when he saw the ramp lower and the door open. A tentative smile passed over his face and he took a quick look at Angel who looked just as relieved. Putting his hand on her elbow he tried to keep his pace quick without drawing attention to them when her head shot up and she froze. Stopping more subtly he saw her eyes had a faraway look in them and she turned her head looking worried.
"I sense something," she whispered, looking around carefully. Buck looked around as well trying to remain inconspicuous, when he saw what she referred to. A dark-haired male Sith was talking to an Imperial officer and judging by their faces the Sith wasn't pleased. His black and red robes flowed from the wide armored shoulders and the veins on his face were etched darkly against his pale skin indicating a high level of Dark Side corruption.
Should have known, Buck thought, he'd been surprised they hadn't run into one before now. It looked like a low level lord, but he might be volatile nonetheless. Angel looked like she was about to raise her hand, a movement that he associated with her using her stealth abilities and he tapped her on the shoulder. He understood it was her instinct but wanted her to remember that going invisible now would only draw more attention. Urging her to continue moving to his ship he noticed the Sith turn around and start scanning the crowd. His eyes latched onto Angel and he looked puzzled then began to move towards them with determination.
"Move Angel," Buck muttered giving her a light inconspicuous push away from him. She glanced back but kept moving towards the Corsair at a quickened pace.
"Agent, stop that woman!" he heard the Sith bark, and Angel turned to meet his eyes. Buck was torn, if he didn't try for her it would seem suspicious but he didn't want to turn his friend over to the Sith. It seemed like Angel understood his hesitation and she nodded quickly. Her eyes flashed briefly with regret and he wondered what she had in mind.
"Sorry Buck," she whispered before lifting her leg in a high roundhouse kick. It met his chest firmly enough to knock him off-balance and he staggered back as she kicked again lower, catching him in the midsection.
Her hand whipped out and one of his blasters flew into it. Raising it along with the blaster he'd already given her, she bore down on him with both. He was shocked when she fired several shots in his direction, one catching his upper left arm and another grazing his side. Dropping quickly he rolled away pulling his second blaster instinctively but she'd already used her stealth abilities and was nowhere to be seen. Other officers drawn by the commotion converged on him and assisted him up. The Sith elbowed his way to Buck and gave him a stern look.
"Who was that?" he looked furious, but Buck kept calm, staying respectful but detached.
"I was told she was an officer doing a maintenance check. She was assigned to me this morning, my lord," Buck lied, "Was supposed to take her to Maximum Security Block J-7 then back to the Orbital Station, but we never made it past the Esh-Kha." Buck focused on the lie in case the Sith tried looking into his mind to discern if his was telling the truth. He didn't feel any probing even as the Sith looked at him uncertainly.
"Did you know she was Force sensitive?" the Sith asked and Buck shook his head.
"Was just following orders, my lord," he said briskly and was pinned with another hard look. He made a show of rubbing his injured side, "I can get the name of the officer who assigned her to me but based on that little display I'd wager that it'd be fake. Now if you'll excuse me, I'd like to get to my ship and tend to my wounds." He knew he was being borderline impertinent and the Sith glanced at him sharply.
"My lord," a nervous looking Major spoke up, "The woman couldn't have gone far. It'd be a shame to waylay one of our valued Agents from seeking medical attention while we search the spaceport for her." The Sith turned his glare on the Major but nodded slightly before turning and stomping off dramatically.
"Don't know about you Agent," the Major whispered, "But sometimes those Sith can give you the creeps, eh?" Despite the pain, Buck gave the Major a nod, reminding himself that he owed the man a favor, then paced to the Corsair and entered.
Buck wasn't sure what hurt more, his blaster wounds or his pride. Either way he found himself in a foul mood. Stalking to the Corsair's console, he briskly punched in the commands to launch the ship and travel to neutral territory. "You'd better be in here Angel," he muttered, as the ship rose and blasted off, but he knew she was. He'd seen the door to his quarters was closed and had remembered it'd been open when they'd left. He leaned back with a pained groan and stood up.
"Master," Fourgee purred, "Are you injured?" He rolled his eyes at the droid.
"I'll live Fourgee," he grumbled, "Watch the controls, I'm heading to the med bay." But first, he thought, I have to talk to a certain brazen Jedi. Walking to his quarters he plugged in the unlock code on the panel to the side of the door and stormed in.
"Buck!" he heard Angel's gasp of disbelief, "I thought I locked that door."
He looked over and was surprised to see her changing. It looked like she'd just slid out of the uniform pants he'd given her. Her light tunic and leggings were draped across his bed and she stood by them in her thin tank top and shorts. The unexpected sight of her undressed caused him the stall. He knew she had a great body, but he couldn't have predicted that the expanse of her tawny skin would look so soft and touchable. After he hadn't moved, Angel pulled her hair from its bun and planted one hand on her hip, cocking it to the side.
"Well?" she asked, her eyes lit up with mirth.
"Well what," he shot back, grasping for the annoyance he felt about her shooting him. It seemed to have flown from his mind at seeing her in her underclothes, "This is my room, usually any partially undressed girls in here are welcoming me with open arms." He was hoping to embarrass her, but she just laughed off his comment.
"I'm a friend, not a conquest Buck," she bantered, and he looked pointedly at his arm.
"A friend who shot me!" he fumed, "That was the best strategy you could come up with?" The look on her face was completely apologetic, but mischief danced in her eyes as she fluttered her eyelashes.
"Had to make you look innocent," she said, "Do you know how hard that is? I thought if you were injured in the fray they'd have to let you seek medical help, giving you an excuse to leave." Buck tried focusing on his wounds to stay angry, but he'd admit her quick thinking had gotten them out of there efficiently.
"I hope you at least feel guilty about it," he groused and she raised an eyebrow at him as she crossed her arms.
"How about I feel as guilty about shooting you as you do about tranking me twice when we first met? And don't give me that 'in the line of duty' blah blah blah." She gave him a hard look as Buck opened his mouth, then closed it quickly, realizing this was not an argument he wanted to perpetuate.
"Fair enough," he grumbled, then started stripping off his shirt with a grimace as he headed to the med bay.
"Too stubborn to ask," she clucked her tongue as she followed him, "Let me help." She watched as he got up on the med bay table and assisted him in taking off his shirt. He noted her eyes widened slightly at the sight of his bared chest, but thankfully she didn't make any comments about his blue skin.
"Kolto's in the top drawer," he said gruffly trying to not be won over by her nursing his wounds. It was difficult as she shook her head with an easy smile and glided her fingers over the burn on his arm. A pale glow radiated from them along with the soothing coolness from before and he felt the burns ease as her hands drifted up and down. Once she appeared satisfied with the state of his arm she turned her attention to his side. He groaned at the gentle strokes and leaned back on the table.
His lids partially shut but he watched Angel as she concentrated on mending his burns. There was something he found suggestive in the intensity on her face and the locks of silver hair falling around it. She was still in her tank top and shorts which, oddly, did better things for her figure than some of the outfits he'd seen dancing girls wear. Her pale eyes darted to his and a smile played around her mouth as she noticed him watching her but she didn't stop until she'd thoroughly healed his side.
"So, are you better now?" she added a syrupy sweetness to her voice as she quipped and he felt a reluctant smile cross his face.
"My side and arm are," he allowed, "But my pride feels bruised. I still can't believe you caught me off guard like that." She leaned back with another feisty smirk.
"There you go, underestimating me again," she teased with her eyes full of challenge. Never was one to turn down a challenge, Buck thought.
"Maybe I need to catch you off guard, return the favor," he said as he raised enough to ease his hand around the back of her neck, noting her disbelief as he brought her mouth down to his.
Her confession in the tunnels on Belsavis combined with her natural sensuality had kicked off something insistent in him; he wanted to see just how much he could appeal to her. She stilled before smoothing her hands over his chest. She still tasted as sweet as he remembered, he thought, caressing her mouth with his, but she was more alluring now that he knew her. Keeping his touch light but firm, he was ready to break off at any sign of resistance. He almost pulled back until he heard her sigh and she relaxed into the kiss. Knew it, he gloated quietly, she was attracted to him more than she'd wanted to let on.
He used one of his favorite moves, running his fingers lightly down her skin to make her shiver and instinctively move closer to him, drawn to the warmth of his body. It worked like a charm and when she leaned into him he stroked his hands more assertively down her back without trying to push too hard. Giving her lips one last nip he leaned his head back to gage her reaction. She looked dazed but not upset and when she regarded him he had a feeling she was analyzing what was happening.
"That did catch me off guard, Buck," she breathed, "I thought we were just friends."
"That's why this is perfect," he kept his voice soft and hands moving slowly, not wanting to break to spell he was weaving, "No commitments, no attachments other than our friendship. I think I know you pretty well Angel, you're curious. You want to know what it feels like, to see just how much pleasure your body is capable of under all of that control you've been taught."
He used his fingertips to draw another shiver from her, watching her chest rise as her breath caught and the tips of her breasts strained against her top. Pulling her back to him, he saw her eyes drift closed and her mouth open in a soft sigh. He pressed another kiss to her lips, keeping his mouth relaxed as he backed away slightly then pressed again, repeating the coaxing movement. Her hands skimmed up his shoulders as she mirrored how he was kissing her and he let his glide down her body.
She was resting against his chest, and he noticed the back of her tank had risen slightly leaving the swath of skin above the base of her spine exposed. Running his hand across it drew a shudder from her. Wonder what else would make her shudder, he thought, and with that errant thought something clicked in his mind. He began pondering other things, like would she be as playful in bed as she was everywhere else, what noises she would make in the heat of passion, and what would those legs feel like wrapped around him?
Dangerous territory, he warned himself, don't get distracted, this was supposed to be about him tempting her. But he started pulling her tighter to his chest and heard her moan as their kiss grew more urgent. She continued to mimic his actions, threading her fingers through his short indigo hair as he ran his through her silver locks, opening her mouth to his when he parted his lips further letting their tongues meet. Even her breathing echoed his, becoming heavy in the heated moment.
More images flooded him; pulling her up on the table to straddle him, pressing his mouth to her pulse to see if it raced, seeing the look in her eyes when he… k'pah, he had to stop himself again. Questioning who'd snared whom, his body was reacting to the images in his mind combined with her enthusiastic response and he broke off with a deep groan. Her eyes opened and as he met her gaze, a slow grin spread across his face. Her eyes instantly started dancing with glee and a giggle escaped her.
"Oh Buck," she sighed with a smile, "Didn't I warn you about looking smug?" He cursed inwardly, one slip and the daze he'd worked so hard to create had evaporated. She folded her arms on his chest propping herself up to look him in the eyes even as his hands slid up and down her back.
"Had to try," he said teasingly, still trying to banish the pictures his imagination was creating while she smiled indulgently at him.
"And it was a good try," she sighed again, "Very good. But like I said, I'm a friend, not a conquest. And of those two choices I rather stay a friend."
"You sure?" he couldn't resist asking, and chuckled at her raised eyebrow, "Alright silly question, but I was just thinking you could help me relax since I was so helpful to you." Her smile turned sly as she looked at the med bay counter.
"Well since you were so helpful, I guess I should help you relax." Trouble gleamed in her eyes as she lifted her hand and a stim gun levitated to it. A split second before he could react she shot it into his arm and tranquilized him.
"Really Angel?" he groaned and she smiled sweetly at him.
"I still owed you one, Buck. Think you'll be plenty relaxed after a nap," she said leaning over him as he fought to keep his eyes open, "But here," she bent down and gave him a lush and lingering kiss on his lips, "There's a kiss goodnight. The Corsair will be docked safely on Nar Shadda when you wake up. Sweet dreams."
She stroked his cheek and he heard her footsteps saunter away as he started drifting. K'pah, she'd got him again, he thought. Part of him was indignant while the rest of him wanted to chuckle. Alright Angel this round is yours, he relented, and he wondered if it was wrong to hope there'd be more rounds to come.