Reena hasn't paid her usual visit to the salon in two days and Blackie was worried that he said or did something to make her angry. It was well past dark as he was walking home because he was late getting out due to some crazy lady screaming and demanding that she be served even though they were closed. Scoria had gone home early due to her not feeling well leaving him to deal with Miss crazy, the authorities were called and she was quickly escorted out. He sighed some people were just insane.
As he neared the apartment he felt like he was being watched, a chill ran down his back and he looked around but he was alone on the long road that lead to the alleyway they lived in, which surprised him since Coruscant was usually very busy but it was eerily dead tonight and it unnerved him. He turned the corner into the alleyway, suddenly he was tackled to the ground and hands wound around his neck.
Shock rippled through him as he looked up at his attacker; he was wearing a hood so he couldn't see his face, after he recovered from the moment of shock he placed his hands on his in an attempt to pull them off his neck. His hands were scaly meaning the attacker was most likely Trandoshan. He kneed him in the sensitive area but the Trandoshan didn't even flinch.
No matter how hard he tried to get him off he just wouldn't budge, just when he thought his life was over the door to their apartment slid open and Scoria rushed out and forced pushed the Trandoshan off of him. He gulped in air, Scoria was too busy tending to him so the attacker ran off.
"Blackie are you ok?" Scoria cried and gave him a bone crushing hug.
"Yea I think so, how did you know I was in trouble?" he wheezed.
"I sensed a disturbance in the force I reached out to sense you and I was able to tell you were in danger" she explained.
"Thank you I would have been dead for sure if you hadn't showed up" he said.
"What in the world happened?" she asked.
"I don't know, I came into the alleyway and he just ambushed me. I'm pretty sure he was waiting for me" Blackie said.
"But why?" she asked.
"Well his hands were scaly meaning he was a Trandoshan and since they are usually bounty hunters that means he was probably hired to kill me" he said.
"But who on Coruscant would want to kill you?" Scoria was shocked.
"I don't know I mean it's not like I'm well known or anything and the attacker is long gone so we can't question him" he said.
"Come on, let's head inside," Scoria said.
"But what if he comes back?" Blackie was worried.
"And he most likely will since he didn't complete his objective but don't worry if he tries something else while I'm around I'll make a purse out of his hide" she reassured him.
They headed inside and sat at the table to talk. Scoria informed Corr and Essami about the attack, and they hurried over to comfort him.
"Poor dear I can't believe that happened to you" Essami cried and hugged him
"From now on you shouldn't be alone, always take someone with you even if it isn't me just until we get to the bottom of this" Scoria said.
"And another thing clearly he knows where you live so for the time being it will be safer if you come stay with me and Essami" Corr said.
"But what about Scoria?" he asked.
'I'll be fine here by myself, take care of yourself" she said.
"Ok if you guys think it's the best option" Blackie said.
"Don't worry, I'll escort you guys home in case lizard brain wants to try it again," Scoria said.
He was in his room grabbing what little he had mostly clothes. He decided to leave Sunshine with Scoria for now. The walk to Corr and Essami's was silent mostly so Scoria could focus on observing the surroundings. They bid each other goodnight and Scoria left, he was putting his clothes in the closet when Essami walked in.
"Settling in?" she asked.
"Yea thanks for everything really you and Corr have been life savers" Blackie said.
"Come" she motioned for him to sit on the bed next to her. He came over and sat down.
"You know when me and Corr were first married I found out I was unable to have kids, the news was pretty devastating you and Scoria fill that void for us, you guys are those kids we always wanted" Essami smiled fondly.
"I...thank you, you don't know how much it means for a clone to be loved and accepted" Blackie teared up.
"There's something I wanted to talk to you about," Essami said.
"What is it?" Blackie asked.
"Me and Corr are going to retire soon and enjoy our golden years, when we do we want you to take over the business" Essami said.
"What! Me? What about Scoria you've known her longer, besides I wouldn't know the first thing about owning a business" Blackie was shocked.
"Don't worry we'd make sure you were properly trained before we passed it onto you, but the real reason we want you to have it is I'm assuming you're going to marry that nice woman you've been seeing and have kids someday so we see longevity with you, our business will stay in the family" Essami explained.
"To be honest with you I don't know if I'll marry her I mean it's a little too early to tell, besides I haven't seen her in days I'm worried I made her mad or something" he sighed.
"Well you won't know unless you ask her dear" Essami said.
"I will after work" he said.
"Goodnight sweetheart" Essami kissed his forehead.
"Sorry dear I know you're physically an adult but you're technically only nine so It's hard not to view you as a child" she said before leaving.
He laid back on the bed after today's events. There was no way he was going to be able to sleep, there was too much on his mind. It's a good thing he remembered to bring his book.
By the time he read the last sentence and closed the book it was nearly morning today was definitely going to be a coffee kind of day. He got out of bed and headed downstairs Corr and Essami were not awake yet so he was careful not to wake them. He poured a mug of coffee and walked over to the window to hopefully watch the sun rise.
In the pale dawn light he was pretty sure he saw something or someone moving in the shadows, was it the Trandoshan? His heart lurched in fear as he backed away from the window. He suddenly felt alone and afraid even though Corr and Essami were there he considered waking them, several moments later there was a knock at the door and he was honestly afraid to open it. What if he was ambushed when he opened the door. Suddenly it slid open to reveal Scoria.
"Blackie are you alright? I got a strong wave of fear from you, did he return? Where is he?" Scoria looked around.
"No he didn't I just thought I saw something outside but I think I'm just being paranoid I'm sorry you came all the way over here for nothing" Blackie looked miserable.
"Don't worry Blackie I won't let that womp rat lay a finger on you ever again if you want I can stay by your side twenty four seven and if he dares to try and hurt you I'll gut him then I'll roast him over an open flame and we'll have him for dinner" Scoria gave him a comforting hug.
Scoria just held him and reminded him he was safe over and over again, a while later Corr and Essami got up and they all walked to work together. As soon as they turned on the open sign Reena came in.
"Reena there you are. I haven't seen you in a couple of days. I was worried" Blackie said.
"Yea I'm sorry I haven't been to see you it's just the Minnuas have this huge gala coming up and I've just been busy preparing for it" she sighed wearily.
"Oh that's a relief I thought you were mad at me or something" he looked sad.
"I'm sorry I made you feel that way" she hugged him.
"Are you ok? You look rough" Reena asked.
"I didn't sleep at all last night, yesterday as I was walking home from work some Trandoshan bounty hunter tried to kill me if it wasn't for Scoria I wouldn't be here right now" he sighed heavily.
"Somebody tried to kill you?! But who? Why?" she gasped in horror.
"We don't know but we're going to get to the bottom of this," Scoria vowed.
"Absolutely just let me know what I can do to help," Reena said. Scoria pulled her aside.
"Maybe you can just hang out with him today you know take his mind off of it he's really stressed out" Scoria said.
"Of course I'd be glad to" she responded.
"Hey Blackie, why don't you take the day off? I bet you're tired so why don't you just relax and chill with Reena today" Scoria said.
"I'm sorry I'm being such a loser" he felt really childish.
"No need to apologize at all" Scoria said.
"Ok let's go don't worry I've got your back Blackie these claws aren't just for show you stood up for me now I will do the same for you because that's what mates do they protect each other" Reena puffed her chest out.
"O-oh was that too much? sorry perhaps I shouldn't have said that I'm so embarrassed" her cheeks were bright red.
"No it's ok really thank you" he said.
"It's my pleasure" a purr rumbled in her throat.
Scoria laughed at the display as they headed out.