Ziara stayed busy as a senior cadet at Taharim. She hadn't taken a day for social activity since term started, and it showed. Burnout had loomed dangerously close even before her involvement in the freshman cheating incident. As she maintained the integrity of her examination before the academy higher-ups, Ziara felt her toes hanging off the side of a meltdown's cliff. Only the success of their test with real ships had pulled her away from the edge.

She thought that explained why she'd agreed to go out with the Mitth boy afterwards. It wasn't a decision Ziara might have made otherwise. Mitth'raw'nuru was three years her junior, a boy who, despite his tactical promise, possessed all the social awkwardness one expected from a half-grown midager. Ziara knew she was still aging into her commanding grace, but at least she was on her way. If Mitth'raw'nuru had such a presence contained within, it was stuck in its fetal stages.

His choice of venue for their date made these flaws even more obvious. Did he believe he had to choose a sufficiently "grown up" location to impress Ziara? She would have enjoyed a holodrama just as much. As he prattled on about the art in the museum, Ziara had the distinct impression of a man who had memorized Infonet entries in an attempt to portray a second dimension of his intelligence. Perhaps he saw this as another examination, with Ziara once again evaluating him.

Ziara held this assessment until she really listened to what he was saying about each piece. He had insights Ziara hadn't even heard from prolific art critics, yet each commentary he presented had a military's logic to it. Combining the two modes of thinking, a thought that seemed so strange to Ziara, appeared to come naturally to this young man.

As Thrawn encouraged Ziara to look at the upward corner of his favorite brass statue, Ziara took the chance to examine him instead. Her earlier assessment ought to be clarified: despite still possessing many of the mental qualities of a midager, Thrawn was tall and toned, very much a man in the physical sense. The thought sent a spark of warmth up from her toes.

"...do you see it, Ziara?" Thrawn asked. What "it" was, she did not remember.

Ziara did not answer directly. "I see a unique approach to understanding other peoples in the Chaos, if not one that could yield direct results in a military context."

Thrawn frowned, struggling to keep his face impassive. "I believe it could yield direct results. I will show you."

He had Ziara follow him to a new display, then encouraged her to speculate about military history based on (she was serious) the fragility of their plates and furniture.

While she maintained her doubts about Thrawn's art thing, the exercise gave Ziara an idea. A way she could also have fun on this date of theirs. "You have taught me new things tonight, Thrawn. If you would accompany me back to my room, I would like to return the favor."

Curious, Thrawn agreed to her proposal. If Ziara was right to believe his behavior on dates like these was normal, what she would be teaching him was indeed a new lesson.

Ziara closed the door behind them. She meant to direct Thrawn towards her bed, but he got distracted by the wire sculptures she had on display by her desk. "These sculptures show cultivated talent, advanced planning, and consistent dedication in their design." He turned back around to face her. "You created them."

It wasn't a question, she noted. Ziara nodded, wishing to be done with the subject. "Yes, I make wire sculptures in my spare hours. As a way to fill time, not to achieve some artistic expression."

Thrawn looked back at the nightdragon sculpture Ziara had most recently completed. "You achieved a fair deal of artistic expression in this piece."

She needed to get Thrawn out of art mode. Ziara didn't know how much more of this she could listen to. "Enough. Do you know why I invited you up here with me?"

Thrawn's throat hitched, eyes flickering from her to the closed door. For the first time this entire evening, Thrawn didn't seem confident in his analysis of a situation. "You implied you wanted to teach me something. That could mean a great many things."

"Use context clues, then. Narrow down the possibilities. You have just returned to the private quarters of a woman with whom you've gone on a date." Ziara tilted her head, teasing Thrawn in her tone. "What do you make of this new development?"

"I…" The word caught in his throat. "I lack the situational experience needed to be certain."

"Oh?" Ziara's lips quirked. She took a step closer to Thrawn, intending to herd him towards her bed. "How many women did you take on dates before catching a senior cadet's attention?"

"Zero. You are the first woman I approached with this intention."

Ziara stopped in her tracks. She'd been expecting inexperience from Thrawn, but not that much. "How is that so? You hardly lack the confidence."

"I lacked interest prior to meeting you. You are the first woman I have wanted to invite on a… date." Thrawn's cheeks colored a delicious shade of purple. "You are an exceptional cadet, a peerless soldier, a commanding presence in every room you occupy. You are powerful, insightful, principled, and…" Thrawn struggled with what he wanted to say next. "Skilled at maximizing your aesthetic utility."

Aesthetic utility? What did that even… oh. Ziara laughed. "Are you trying to call me beautiful, Thrawn?"

Blink. "I thought I was succeeding. You are… well-known by your peers and lowerclassmen, Ziara. You show an intentional awareness of your superior appearance." Thrawn gestured to the outfit Ziara had constructed for the evening. It was muted red, modest but curve hugging, showcasing both grace and attention to detail. Thrawn, for his part, had worn his formal cadet uniform.

"I am aware of it, yes. All the same, I'm happy you noticed as well." Ziara cornered Thrawn at the edge of her bed. She put a hand to Thrawn's chest to keep him from ducking to the side. "Are you 'aware' of your own appearance?"

The glow in Thrawn's eyes intensified, belying the shy shuffle of his hand as it redirected hers. "I am physically fit. I score top marks in the relevant examinations. Were it not for specific markings on my attire, I would be mistaken for an older cadet more often." He tried to change the subject back to Ziara. "You are also physically strong. I am certain you make an intimidating sparring partner in the dojos."

She did. Too bad they weren't going to the dojos today. Ziara pushed their conversation in the direction she'd been wanting to take it, copying Thrawn's detached way of speaking in the hopes it got through to him. "I take it your lack of interest in other women has left you ignorant to their evaluations of your handsomeness, then. You haven't received instruction in physical intimacy before."

Thrawn shook his head. "I have a theoretical awareness of what it entails. Nothing practical in nature."

Ziara smirked. She put both hands on Thrawn's shoulders, pressing down to suggest he take a seat. After a moment of hesitation, Thrawn obliged her request. "Would you like to learn the basics from me, Thrawn?"

Thrawn swallowed, his body heat creeping upwards. "I suspect you would be an ideal instructor. You are knowledgeable in many areas I am not, intimacy among them." In the mouth of another man, those words might have been an insult. From Thrawn, they were just another pair of statements. Ziara was starting to get a feel for how he approached situations. "Will I be a sufficient pupil for this activity?"

Deciding that straddling on Thrawn's lap would be too forward of her, Ziara sat down next to Thrawn. Their knees knocked together, and Ziara put a hand on his thigh to stop him from scooting away. "Just follow my lead and be open to correction. Some individuals are… sensitive about their intimacy methods."

Thrawn nodded, stony face far too serious for the situation at hand. "I have no pre-established methods about which to be sensitive."

Ziara refused to laugh at him. Once again, she laid a hand over his beating heart, turning so they faced each other better. Thrawn shifted to match her position, hand hesitating over Ziara's chest. She grabbed it with her free hand, moving it to the small of her back. Once it was in place, she leaned in and caught Thrawn's lips.

Both kept their mouths closed for the first kiss, but Thrawn's whole jaw area was tense, limiting the pleasure Ziara could take from the exercise. She pulled back to offer her first correction. "Relax, Thrawn. Defensiveness isn't necessary."

He tried to unlock his jaw, but spots of tension remained. An idea struck Ziara for how to fix the problem. "Each spot I kiss needs to relax. Are you ready?"

Thrawn grunted, nodding. Ziara planted light pecks over every tight spot on Thrawn's face. After each kiss, Thrawn did his best to loosen the muscles in question. Once the first few came unwound, he seemed to have an easier time. By the time Ziara reached the left side of his face, Thrawn's eyes were fluttering shut, his breath deepening in contentment. "Good work, Thrawn."

Ziara watched as warmth surged into his cheeks at her words of praise. She kissed both cheeks to feel the new heat on her lips, confusing Thrawn slightly. "Now you're relaxed. Are you ready to try again?"

"Yes, Ziara." The words came almost sleepily. Thrawn's eyes lingered at half-open.

Ziara felt her own cheeks flush. It was almost too satisfying, putting a sharp-mouthed, trouble-seeking cadet like Thrawn in this state. All with the power of her lips.

"Now when I kiss you, try to return my gestures with eighty percent my intensity."

This time when she put her lips on Thrawn's, his mouth was warm and soft. Ziara didn't layer on pressure at first, waiting for Thrawn to match her position. Once he did, she pushed on his lips, prying the top one up from the bottom one. She let him copy the move on her, modeling how he was meant to respond to her own administrations. When he was ready, Ziara added her tongue to the mix, pushing past Thrawn's idle teeth and exploring the depths of his mouth.

Thrawn didn't copy her exact explorations, but Ziara let him search her on his own terms, fondling his chest and stomach as he did so. Thrawn responded by running his hands over her back, pulling her closer as he jockeyed for better access to her mouth.

When Ziara pulled away to breathe, Thrawn looked disappointed. "Was that correct?"

"That was excellent." Ziara grinned as he lit up once more. Before today, she wouldn't have thought her approval meant so much to Thrawn. "I simply needed air. Do you want to kiss more?"

"I do." His response wouldn't sound eager on the lips of another man, but for Thrawn, he may as well have jumped at the opportunity. "You… are pleasant to the touch, Ziara. A talented instructor."

"Since you did so well with the first lesson, I'm ready to add something else. Keep your whole body relaxed for me now." Ziara pulled her knees up onto her bed, rolling over so she could kneel atop the still neatly-made sheets. She lowered Thrawn's head onto her pillow, letting him stare up at her as he laid vulnerable below. Careful not to add too much too quickly, Ziara locked her legs around Thrawn's ribs, sitting on his taut stomach. Thrawn's bright eyes followed her every move, drinking in each curve as though she were the most intricate sculpture in the art museum.

"Are you comfortable?" Ziara asked.

Thrawn nodded vacantly, distracted by the feeling of her legs embracing his torso. "This placement is acceptable to me."

Ziara bit back a innuendo-laden quip about how Thrawn belonged beneath her. She feared he wouldn't get it. "Are you ready for more? You don't have to mimic my precise moves this time, but stay gentle. Don't tense up."

"I will do as you say." Thrawn tried to rise up to Ziara's lips, but her hold pinned him to the bed. He had to let Ziara come down to him on her own time, catching his lips when they were open and ready.

Ziara's position gave her a lot more control over the situation. She enjoyed the warm softness of his mouth while her hand skimmed over his hair. It was too short for her to grasp or play with, but Thrawn had fun with hers on the rare day she wore it loose.

While it was clear Thrawn had never kissed before, he proved a fast learner. For every move that coaxed a soft moan out of him, Ziara received a duplicate trick in turn. He neither rushed nor faltered, and Ziara kept her lessons slow enough that he could learn by feel. She was enjoying her private mentorship immensely.

Ziara gave one last peck on his bottom lip, then pulled away. "How are you feeling?"

Thrawn smiled, his expression unguarded. "Pleasurable. I sense I shall learn a great deal studying under you, Ziara."

"That you shall." Ziara shifted backward in her straddle over Thrawn's body. Her smirk was devious. "Are you ready for your next lesson?"

The surging heat underneath her felt delicious. She knew Thrawn's answer before he gave it to her. "You may… instruct me as you see fit."

Ziara had made the right choice accompanying Thrawn to that art museum. This activity relieved stress exceptionally well.

A/N's: I've been wanting to write more Thralani for a long time now. I've included them as a background pair in some of my other fics, but here they are front and center. Ar'alani (Ziara at the time) is hot and knows what she wants, and Thrawn is happy to give it to her. Wish I was him.

Thanks for stopping by, feel free to chat with me about this fic (or GG, which I finished last week) below, and have a nice day!