Complicated Lives

"You didn't happen to learn anything about Hock's vault while you were there, did you? Or maybe something about a graybox?" - K. G.

Jasmine stared at the message for a minute, debating on whether or not she should show it to Isaac. He'd given her the greenlight to exchange information with the spy back on Beckenstein, but it didn't mean he'd want Jasmine to have an ongoing conversation with the woman. Yet … he did tell her to make her own contacts, and her service contract expired soon …. She hit 'reply'.

"No, I'm sorry, I can't say that I did. I take it you were after this graybox and you think it's in the vault?" - H. P.

Haven Prior. Just using the old alias' initials brought back a flood of memories. Some good, some bad, but mostly, they just exhausted her to even think about. And, most of them tied back to Leon one way or another. So, she didn't think about them and instead shoved them to the side. But, writing down the initials also made her think of her real name.

Hmm. Jasmine Isabell Shepard-Krios. Yeah. Yeah, I can live with that.

The thought filled her with warmth and brought a smile to her face. It also made her really want to be close to her husband. Closing her omni-tool, she left the kitchen in search of him.


Thane smiled when Jasmine slipped her arms around his waist from behind. Turning in her arms, he pulled her in closer. "Hello, siha."

"Hey," she said, her grin soft and loving. "How are you?"

"I am well, particularly with you in my arms." He leaned in and rested his forehead against hers, breathing in her scent and simply basking in her presence. "And you, my beautiful wife, how are you?"

"I'm fantastic, and in your arms is right where I want to be." She let out a soft, contented purr of sound. "I love you, Thane."

"And I you, Jasmine. Always and with all that I am." Nudging her head back, he gave her a kiss, gentle and chaste. He didn't think he'd ever grow used to the way she made him feel whole after spending so much time feeling empty inside. "I thought we might go out tonight, do something together just the two of us. I'm sure Drali and Theodus can entertain themselves for one evening."

Huffing, she chuckled and said, "Oh, I think Drali will be more than entertained tonight, but I doubt he'll be inviting Theodus to join him. He went over to Isaac's."

"Ah." Pulling back, he met her gaze. "Does this trouble you?"

She shook her head. "No, not really. I just don't want anyone to get hurt. Emotionally or physically."

"Indeed." He rubbed his hand along her spine, savoring the way she moved into his touch.

"So, where did you want to go?" she asked, pulling one of her arms free and placed her palm against his chest.

"We can go wherever you wish." He truly didn't have a preference, but he'd taken the liberty of compiling a list of suggestions in case she wanted him to decide.

"I don't care where we go." With a huskier voice, she added, "So long as the night ends with you inside of me."

His entire body heated in response to her suggestion, making him want her right then. Moving a hand to her face, he captured her lips with his, teasing her mouth opened with his tongue. He kissed her softly at first, but as his hunger for her grew, he became more demanding, and she matched his fervor with her own.

Sliding his hands down, he grabbed her just beneath her rear and hoisted her up, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. Breaking the kiss, he whispered against her lips, "Why don't we start there, instead?"


"Theo, my dear, sweet, kind, generous new cousin." Jasmine threw an arm around his shoulder as she walked beside him.

He chuckled, glancing sideways at her. "Yes, my dear, sweet, mischievous, beautiful new cousin?"

She batted her eyelashes, just for the fun of it, and gave him an award-winning smile. "Do you have time to do a—hopefully small—job for me? Unrelated to the Cerberus thing and just between you and me for now?"

"Hiding things from your husband, already?" He smirked and waved a dismissive hand. "Not that it matters, of course. Business is business." He stopped walking and turned to face her, so she let her arm drop to her side. "What is this hopefully-small-job?"

"I met a woman on my last job; I think she was a spy. Well, at least it seemed to be what she was doing there. Anyway," she said, waving a hand as she brushed aside that part of the explanation, "long story short, I need you to find out what kind of vault someone owns and how one might go about getting inside of said vault. Also, if you happen to see anything mentioned about a graybox associated with the name, that would be excellent."

"My, my. Are we planning to moonlight as thieves?" He raised his brow ridges, watching her with a relaxed amusement.

"Nope, but she might be, and I think I'd like to help her out." She shrugged and tipped her head. "Who knows, maybe she'll feel grateful enough to help me out of a jam down the road."

Theodus gave her a warm smile and nodded. "Give me what you have, and I'll see what I can do."


More than a little drunk—yet not so drunk she didn't know exactly where she was, who with, and which strangers watched—Jasmine raised her arms above her head and moved with the music. Flux wasn't as dark and alluring as Chora's Den, but it had its charms … and a dance floor. It felt good to let loose and enjoy herself, and the energetic beat of the techno music playing over the speakers gave her a sort of natural high. The only kind of high she didn't need to feel ashamed about. She wished Thane and Theodus had decided to join them, but she understood their aversion to night clubs, and she was still perfectly content out on the dance floor with Issac and Drali nearby.

At least she was content until unfamiliar hands latched onto her hips and a foriegn crotch pressed against her ass. Before she had the opportunity to react, the man yelped in her ear and his hands disappeared. Spinning around, she found Isaac holding the stranger by the scruff of his neck with one hand and pinning the man's arms behind his back with the other. She couldn't quite make out what he said, but the look on Isaac's face made it more than clear Bossman was pissed.

Her gaze slid past Isaac to find Drali standing next to them with a stoney, cold look on his face as he stared daggers at the man in Isaac's grasp. Jasmine snorted, amused and endeared by her big, bad protectors even though they both knew damn well she could take care of herself. Drali skirted around Isaac, making his way to Jasmine's side as a bouncer walked out onto the dance floor to relieve Isaac of his quarry.

"You alright, Sunshine?" Isaac asked, leaning in close to her ear so she could actually hear him, and the comforting, familiar scent of his cologne filled her nostrils.

Chuckling, she nodded and patted his cheek. "My hero."

He smirked before taking her hand and lifting her arm above her head. Grabbing her hip, he sent her spinning toward Drali, but instead of letting her go, Isaac moved closer. Effectively trapped between the two of them, she laughed and went with it when Isaac brought her hand to his shoulder and started moving with the music. A moment later, Drali rested his hand, featherlight, on her ribs. It gave her a fix on his precise location and let her feel his movements as he danced at her back.


Jasmine knocked back the last of her spiced rum before sucking an ice cube into her mouth. She watched Drali and Isaac from across the table, leaning into each other and whispering in one another's ears … probably something trashy given the bawdy look on Drali's face and Isaac's responding grin. Okay, so she guessed she could admit it. They were actually really cute together, and she loved seeing Isaac look so happy and relaxed, too.

Fighting back a yawn, she put her glass down on the table and leaned forward to be heard over the music. "I think I'm going to call it a night."

"Already?" Drali scoffed and waved a hand. "It's still so early."

"Yeah, I know." She shrugged. "But I'm tired, and I just want to curl up in front of the fireplace and watch vids with Thane." It was half of the truth, at least. The other half was, quite simply, she'd started to feel like a third wheel and wanted to give the two love birds a little space.

"Bah!" Drali waved a hand and pushed back his chair. "One more dance, first! My brother can wait." Leaning across the table, he held his hand out to her and wiggled his fingers.

Grinning, she slipped her hand into his and said, "One more." She stood when he tugged on her hand and let him lead her to the dance floor. "Malcolm really likes you," she said, smiling up at the drell towering over her as she settled her hands on his shoulders.

"I like him, too." Resting his palms on her ribs, Drali grinned. "I've seen his scars, Sister. I've also seen you defer to him without thought. I think he is more than a mere friend to you, though most certainly not a lover." He turned, leading her in the dance.

"Drali, don't. I know what you're getting at, but I've already told you all I really can." She let out a soft sigh and glanced back at Isaac, still sitting at the table and watching them dance. "If you really want to push your luck, ask him, not me."

"As you wish." Drali fell silent for a few seconds, simply moving her with the music, a soft smile on his face as he watched her. "It's a shame I must leave in two days, but I promised Kolyat I wouldn't stay away for long. I've found my time on the Citadel to be revitalizing. I think I'll start taking more frequent trips away from Kahje. Perhaps, when Kolyat is older and Rone can be convinced, I'll take my nephew with me to see the galaxy."

"He'd really like that, but you know … even though Kolyat is under Rone's care, you should probably clear it with Thane, too." Lifting her brows, she added, "He's getting better, but believe me, losing Irikah left him devastated. If he thinks Kolyat isn't safe, even for a moment, God only knows what he'll do."

Clearly taken aback, Drali held her at arm's length and let out a soft hiss, dipping his brow ridges. "I would never let harm come to Kolyat."

Giving him a soothing smile, Jasmine squeezed his shoulder. "I have no doubt you'd put your own life before that kid's," she said, carefully stepping around the fact that his own sister lost her life doing exactly the same thing, "but … it might not be enough to keep him safe if the wrong people come looking for him." She licked her lips and added, "Just … just clear it with Thane, okay? And if he asks you to take certain precautions, trust it's for Kolyat's safety and yours."

After a moment of silence, he gave her a bemused shake of his head. "What complicated lives the two of you must live." He chuckled and spun her around before pulling her back into his grasp.

"You have no idea," she said with a laugh.