Corso stayed awake, the woman in his arms murmuring softly in her sleep.
Only time would sort out the fear that she had of him and he didn't intend on going anywhere. He wanted to make something permanent with her, but it was too soon. Even just a promise to each other, something more. He knew how she felt about marriage, but there were other things he could do, a promise ring, maybe.
Knowing her, a promise knife would work better, but now that he knew what kind of connotations that had for her, he wouldn't go that route.
He was forced to realize how sheltered he'd been. He'd never known there were people like Damiar in the world. A guy who enjoyed killing pigs a little too much, maybe, men who got rough with their wives, but not someone who enjoyed making their lover bleed. It made Corso sick to think about Ryli in that guy's hands.
He looked down at her in his hands and ran them over her skin, tracing her tattoos, brushing her hair back from her face. She sighed and moved closer to him in her sleep. His heartbeat sped up at that.
He thought about the Imperial's comment earlier that day. Ryli shifted against him and opened her eyes slowly. They were adoring and he caught his breath.
"Ry," he said quietly, "What's 'the tree'?"
"Mmm, it's where we would go to hide from Gloria," she said sleepily. "It was this great big leafy tree that was so tall. I used to sit in the tree and dream of being out amongst the stars. It was the closest I got to freedom back then."
"I used to stare at the stars too."
"Oh, teenage Corso, what was that like?" she teased.
"Was simple." He shrugged, "Everything was planned out, knew what kind of life I'd have."
"Do you miss everything being so simple?"
"Not to say I wouldn't love you and I getting some time together that didn't involve blasters or knives, but no. I enjoy you being complicated, figuring you out."
"What about your fiancée?"
"What about her?"
"Do you ever think about her?"
"I feel bad for taking off without telling her anything, but not so bad that I need to track her down now. With any luck she's happily married to someone else and without luck, well, I'd rather not know."
She stroked his arm, "Do you think about them a lot?"
He sighed, heavy-hearted, but easily following her train of thought, "Not as much as I think I should, if that makes some sense. I miss my family, but I don't spend all my time wishing it were otherwise. I made as much peace with it as I can."
"Have you heard from Rona?"
"No, don't expect to either. She's a grown woman and I can't force her to choose a different life. You taught me that."
"We could go try to talk to her again."
He shook his head, "Naw, she knows how to reach me."
"What did you do as a teenager, anyway? Herd rontos? Drink with your friends secretly?"
"Heh, farm work, Captain. And yeah, we'd steal beers from my dad and hide behind the barn. He knew every time though." Corso laughed, remembering, "One time he marched out back and caught us red-handed. He looked at us and said, 'Don't go driving any of the equipment' and then he left. Lied to my mom so we didn't get into trouble."
"He sounds great."
"He was." Corso sighed. "Taught me how to do most things, fix most anything."
"What about your mother?" Ryli had an odd wistful tone to her voice, so he just kept talking instead of making a joke or changing the subject.
"She kept the neatest house, was a medic herself. All sorts of folks used to bring people and animals by for her to patch up. She sang while she worked." Corso smiled, "She made me learn about spices, how to cook basics. Said a man had to be able to fend for himself. You'd have liked her."
"It sounds so nice."
"It was, it was great childhood."
"What about girls?"
"I don't follow."
"Didn't you ever have feelings for a girl, act on it, anything?"
"Not really like that where I grew up, Captain. I've told you. I never even stole a kiss 'til after they were gone."
"It's so different to me," she said. "There were boys all over the village, happy to kiss you, do more. They were all so... I find it hard to believe you were so contained."
"I was a ball o'frusteration, but that don't mean I acted inappropriately. My dad taught me to be respectful. You're not a man if you're disrespectful to women, he used to tell me."
Ryli smirked at him, "But that was because women need protecting, according to him."
"Well, yeah," Corso admitted. "And I recognize you can take care of yourself, but I enjoy watching your back."
"Obviously. You spent so much time 'watching my back' I thought you'd've popped a lot earlier."
Corso blushed, "You're the one always crouching over in her stealth generator. Can't blame a fellow for looking when it's just right there." He blushed further, but slid his hand down and squeezed the body part in question. "Right there and the perfect shape..."
Her hand stroking his arm was inspiring blood to flow in a different direction. He pulled her to him, still kneading. He made himself wait until he heard her soft gasp and then bent to kiss her.