Chapter 11.

As always, cheers and enjoy.

Last edited on January 7th, 2015.

Torian sighed and pulled out his holo, punching in Corridan Ordo's combination. Corridan answered on the second ring, he was greeted with a disgruntled looking Torian. Torian sat on the edge of his bunk, slouched over, hand lost in his hair frowning. Corridan frowned.

"Hey ner vod(1), you okay?"

Torian groaned. "Don't understand women."

Corridan laughed and relaxed. "Welcome to the club?"

Torian stood and paced, Corridan watched him, a smile growing on his lips as he gathered Torian's surroundings.

"So is this your room on her ship?"

Torian stopped pacing and nodded. "Yea… Can't believe it, a whole room."

The two men looked at each other and Corridan smirked "You'll need more gear."

They laughed, which helped Torian relax, he sighed. "Don't get it."

Corridan groaned. "What's there to get? You were fortunate enough to get Kalia's looks with Jicoln's build and women love it. And now you're no longer a threat, you proved that you're one of us."

Torian glared at Corridan, growing up with Clan Ordo, Torian had always wanted to be Corridan, tall, lean and dark haired. What he'd wanted more than anything was to be trusted like Corridan was trusted. He had hated his fair hair because it had made him easy to pick out in a crowd. Corridan moved as if to reach out and touch Torian over the light years separating them.

"Just relax, what's the worst they can do?"

Torian continued to glare at Corridan. "Grab a vibro-blade?"

Corridan winced at that, Jetrita had not been an easy woman to deal with. Torian knew he was lucky, she had gone for his throat instead of his gett'se(2).

"Okay, fair enough. You're flustered because they're ambushing you, but the one you want isn't?"

Torian froze, Corridan knew him so well it was sometimes scary. He said nothing just nodded.

"She jumped me out in the field, and now that we're on home turf, she's barely looked at me."

Corridan pondered it. "Well, maybe she's not sure? Bonds form fast under fire, but you're not under fire anymore."

Torian nodded, he knew it as well, but he had not wanted to think about it because that meant that she did not care for him as he had grown to care for her and that stung. He sighed.

"How am I supposed to figure this out?"

Corridan laughed, Torian could sometimes be so involved that the most obvious answers eluded him.

"Oh, I don't know, why not just ask?"

Torian snorted at Corridan. "Yea, sure."

"It'll be more productive than mopping 'round your room will."

Torian frowned, and Corridan just smiled at him.

"Listen, just sleep on it, maybe you'll see it different in the morning? But being direct and honest will be the easiest way to get the answers that you want."

Torian nodded. "Right. It can also make things awkward."

"Fair enough. " Corridan laughed at Torian's expression. "If she turns you down, bring her back to Dromund Kaas, would love to meet her. "

Torian was about to call him something impolite, but Corridan disconnected before he had the chance. Jokes aside, Corridan was right. Torian lay down on his bunk and stretched out again, eyes closed, humming a song under his breath as he drifted off to sleep. Between the quiet hum of the engine and the peace he felt at belonging to his new company, Torian was not surprised that he had fallen asleep. He was surprised to wake to the sound of someone knocking on his door. He got up and opened the door, and there she was.

She wore plain clothes and they hung on her. It bothered him more than he could say. She was a powerhouse on the battle field and yet she looked so vulnerable here, he consolidated the contrast with difficulty. After a moment of silence, he greeted her.

"Hi."

She smiled at him and he enjoyed it. "Hi."

She crossed her arms, she wore a large long sleeved garment he had no name for. It was grey and he wondered if she knew what that meant? Was it just a preference for the colour, or did she know that it was the Mandalorian colour of mourning? Regardless of her reasons, it felt sombre and familiar to him. Coincidentally it also made her breasts in the white tank top stand out obnoxiously, Torian did his best to keep his eyes aligned with hers.

Raidre sighed. "I wanted to apologize if I've been… off."

A hint of a smile graced his lips, softening his focused expression. "Hard day?"

She frowned and nodded. "Lots of thoughts."

"Training has a way of silencing the mind."

She regarded him with thoughtfulness, Torian shrugged. "If you need a partner. " He knocked on the door frame. "I'm here."

Her face had a way of melting by increments, as if she was practised in hiding her gradual ease of tension. He noticed, it was that little frown line between her eyebrows that would soften and then disappear entirely.

"Thanks, I'll remember you offered that."

He nodded, leaning on his door frame, arms crossed and looking down at her. How tall was she? Every time she was out of armour she seemed to shrink, become this small vulnerable beast, ready to run for cover at the slightest hint of trouble, it was unnerving. She gave him a smile, and he tried not to let his pleasure show.

"So, what does the guest of honour want for his feast?"

He blinked at her a couple of times that was not the topic he was expecting to be discussing.

"Guest of honour?"

Her smile grew, it touched her eyes in a way that made his stomach tighten. She nodded. "Of course, we need to honour your deeds with regards to your Clan properly, and you're having joined the company."

She never said 'my' company or mentioned Jicoln, and he felt relieved because of it. He looked up to his left in thought, eyebrows furrowing.

Raidre watched him. She had thought long and hard about things, about her feelings and his reactions. She had come to the conclusion that she needed to stop dissecting everything, because she may be over reacting and creating a mountain out of a mole hill.

Let it be and see what happens.

If he was interested in her as she was in him, he would show her, and then they could tackle whatever damage she had, and vice versa. But first they would have to make a team, a good one. One step at time, no use worrying about obstacles you had yet to meet.

Torian had these adorable little dimples when he smiled, he graced her with those unused smile muscles now and it made her warm with satisfaction.

"I'm traditional, tiingular(3) is good but the others won't like it."

Raidre shrugged. "I can make lots of stuff that everyone will enjoy, how do you feel about Uj cake(4)?"

Torian stared at her, his muscles tense in a way that he had not meant them to be. He had not had Uj'alayi(5) in what seemed like ages. He swallowed audibly.

"You know how?"

There was a look on her face, as if she knew what was bothering him. She just nodded, not taking any notice or at least not making a big deal out of his reaction. "Of course, my Buir(6) used to make it for me, he'd put cherries in for my birthday, you want some?"

He could not look at her just then, Kalia had done the same for him. Raidre grabbed his shoulder and squeezed hard, but said nothing. He looked up unable to say anything, she just continued smiling, and he was sure she knew what was eating at him. Her grip was so strong for a girl, he felt it through his armour, a reassuring pressure.

"I'll go easy on the cherries, you don't strike me as a fan of sweets."

He smiled again, it was bittersweet and tasted of nostalgia. "Like sweets."

She gave him a searching look, and then a silly grin erupted on her face. What had he unwittingly invited? The mischief was ready to burst from her.

"Really?"

Torian shrugged, unable to keep from blushing. "Never really ate much of it."

She laughed this time, leaning on him where her hand had squeezed him before. She smelled like citrus and tropical flowers, it kind of shocked him, it was not what he was expecting. But then she was close to him, and she looked up, those big blue eyes burning. They were alone in the doorway to his room, she was close enough that his hands burned for the opportunity to touch her again. Without armour, that temptation was constant. He could feel his heart beat elevating as he stared at her in silence.

And there it was again. This intensity between them that felt very charged. Raidre had been changed by the line of work she had chosen, her customary response would have been to tease Torian. But years of Bounty Hunting had made her vary of others and also difficult to earn her trust for intimacy. She didn't know Torian all that well, but she knew from what they had accomplished together that she could trust him. It left her feeling odd, like she was flexing a muscle she hadn't used in years.

"You ought to be more careful, the look you're giving me now, might give me the wrong impression."

He blinked, and closed his mouth, he had not even realised his jaw muscles slackening. "What impression?"

He had not meant to be suggestive, but his mind was in the lower levels of Nar Shadaa now, and it showed. She quirked a brow at him and gave him a smile that could have seduced anyone. This time he did blush, especially when she stepped into his personal bubble and leaned into him. He caught her because he could not help himself, he held her because she wrapped those lithe arms around his neck and pulled him down to her level, her nose touching his, he felt like he could not get enough oxygen, drowning in a combined smell of citrus and flowers he could not name. His hand rose to the back of her head of its own accord. Her eyes were half-lidded and those long lashes were going to be the death of him.

"I sure hope your intentions are pure, Torian."

Torian exhaled, unable to meet those magnetic eyes. "Not right now, ma'am."

He felt the smile rather than saw it, she grabbed his chin with her index's tip, the touch light and bittersweet, she forced him to look at her warm eyes. She said nothing else, she just laid a light kiss on the tip of his nose and then withdrew, those tight pants drawing his gaze on her backside.

"We'll talk more later then. "

He did his best not to groan as he watched her go. She waved at him, never looking back.

As soon as she was out of earshot, he did groan and leaned his forehead against his doorframe, the cold comforting against his feverish skin.

He needed to make things clear with Mako.

He made his way there and faced her door for a moment. He sighed and shied away as he knocked a bit louder than he felt needed to, music was blasting from inside that room. He heard someone running around for an instant, a pause and then there she was as the door opened. Skinny and bare in short shorts and a tank top that did not bother trying to cover her taught stomach, her skin was the colour of melted caramel, and she was about to jump into his arms. He braced for impact as he stepped away, which caused her to pause.

"I wanted to be clear that I want our relationship to remain professional."

She blinked at him, confused. "Ok?"

"You're a nice girl, but I am not the man for you."

"Oh, umm, okay. It doesn't have to be that way, you know?"

Torian did his best not to have panic attack, how was he supposed to handle this?! He'd never had to deal with this type of behaviour being directed at him. He had NO idea how to deal with it. He took a deep breath and hoped he looked a lot calmer than he felt.

"Believe you deserve better, and I have my sights set on another target."

All at once, her expression of confusion transformed into relief. She sighed and leaned on him as she exhaled towards the ground. As if the relief also removed a weight of her shoulders.

"Oh thank goodness. You had me worried!"

She stretched as Torian frowned at her. "What's this about?"

Mako just put a finger up to gesture for him to wait. She ran back in her room, Torian heard her rummaging around and she returned with a big baggy shirt that covered her entire body. Torian frowned even deeper. She looked refreshed and more at ease.

"Explain."

Mako flinched at his flat and what she took for his upset tone of voice.

"I just wanted to make sure you weren't a player. Raidre deserves better."

Torian stared at her. "What's a player?"

Mako stared back, several seconds passed and then she laughed out loud. "Oh my goodness, you're perfect!"

Torian looked down still thinking hard. "Not sure I follow."

Mako slapped his shoulder pad. "Oh come on. It's so obvious!"

Torian nodded and wondered off. Mako waved. "See you later."

Torian marched off and found himself walking around aimlessly, not knowing where to go or when to stop moving. So everyone could tell. Well then, guess there was no need to be indirect or abashed about it. He found himself in the kitchen, Raidre was there alone, singing as she mixed the dough with cherries and nuts. He watched from the doorway her back to him. She was unaware of him and he enjoyed the view in silence. There was a gracefulness about her, every motion was fluid and it reminded him of ripples on a placid lake. He walked up to one of the two stools of the island where she was working. Still she did not hear him, he frowned. She was bent over and he forgot to make his presence known as he could not help but stare at her perfectly round cheeks. He blushed and looked away, clearing his throat.

She squealed and he nearly fell off his chair as he burst out laughing. Raidre threw a wooden spoon at him and he just laughed louder as the spoon bounced off his head.

"What's the big idea, jerk?"

Torian tried in vain to catch his breath, he just gave up for a moment and let the laughing fit pass. She went back to what she was doing and ignored him. After a moment, Torian got himself under control and sat back down on the stool. He watched her work, fury evident in every motion. He sighed as he nodded to himself, time to change the subject.

"Thanks for the help on Taris."

She looked up from her work and looked at him then, all annoyance gone. He sat up straight and looked at her directly.

"Decent of you to let me in on the kill. You didn't have to do that."

He'd meant to say that to her for a long time now, it felt good to have it out.

"Couldn't let him keep dragging your Clan's honour through the dirt."

He smiled and nodded. "Vor entye(7)."

Raidre just snorted at him. "Please. Any plans?"

He blinked at her. "Plans?"

She shrugged as she put the bowl down, laying a clean cloth over it to cover the dough so that it may rise. "Well, do you plan to rebuild Clan Cadera?"

Torian frowned and looked away. "I don't know anyone who used to be Cadera."

Raidre smiled sadly. "One step at a time then."

Torian looked up. "Meaning?"

She washed her hands and started pulling out other ingredients, laying vegetables on the island, meat and herbs. Torian smiled, recognizing all the ingredients to tiingular(8). He started peeling some vegetables as she placed the meat in the sink filled with water to defrost.

"If you can't find them, your other options is to start fresh, adopt kids or have your own."

Torian blushed as he found the topic brought him discomfort. Or rather it had him thinking in another way about the woman in front of him. It was hard not to think of her that way, neigh impossible to think of her any other way. She was exactly what a Mando woman should be.

"Don't know."

She joined him in the peeling and smiled. "You'll know when you find the right girl."

Torian frowned, did she know he already had? They peeled in silence for a time, Torian wanted to express everything and nothing at once, and opted to remain silent, he had no intention of making a fool of himself.

"We're headed to Nar Shadaa."

"Job?"

Raidre shrugged. "That and I figured it would do to upgrade some stuff on the Mantis, and your gear."

Torian frowned. "What's wrong with my gear?"

Raidre looked at him. "You have none."

Torian frowned.

Raidre pointed at him with her peeling knife. "Tell me, do you have anything else aside for what's on your back?"

Torian was not used to being embarrassed, but he was now. "Spare kute(9)."

Raidre went back to peeling. "Kind of what I figured."

Torian felt horrible, he did not have the money for more gear, and it would shame him in so many ways for her to gear him up. He was actually panicking about it when she handed him a cup of tea. Raidre sipped her own as she started separating bone from meat.

"With your part in that job we just did, I say you earned a third."

Torian frowned. "By what math?"

Raidre smiled but kept her eyes on her work. "Fair math, you may not have been officially part of the team yet, but you did a third of the work, so you get a third of the pay."

Torian frowned. "What about the others?"

Raidre shrugged. "They get the other two thirds."

Torian frowned. "What about you?"

She shrugged again, placing the choice pieces in a plate. "There's a little job on Nar Shadaa, I'll go and do that while you get familiar with the team and take that for myself."

"I'll watch your six."

Raidre frowned. "I'll be back before you have the chance to realise I was gone."

Torian was stubborn, you did not leave people behind or allow them to go off on their own to do dangerous work. Which this job would have to be to come anywhere near the amount of money from the Black List job.

"Don't care, eyes in the back of your head?"

Raidre smiled and went back to cutting up the meat. "Fifty-fifty then."

He frowned again, he was starting to get what Mako had meant, Raidre was pathologically generous to those she took under her care.

"Too much creds, won't know what to do with them."

Raidre shrugged. "Go out on the town, buy some dances from a cute Twi'lek dancers?"

Torian frowned. "Rather not."

Silence fell as a window opened, if he wanted to be honest and direct, he could be. But as soon as the window opened it closed, and Torian had missed his chance, he was not used to being so hesitant. He cleared his throat.

"Looking forward to this. Not everyone gets to fight beside the Champion of the Great Hunt…"

She smiled and locked her gaze with his, that almost predatory look present once again.

"I can think of better things for us to do than fight."

He could not look away, a crooked smile on his face as they both stopped working on the meal.

"Something to consider."

He had not meant to be so suggestive, but his mind found its way to the gutter with her very quickly. He took a deep breath to steady himself, looked back at the work at hand and continued on, as did she.

"Say the word, I'm ready to move out."

NOTES:

1 .My brother.

2 .Nuts, in this case meaning testicles.

3 .A traditional casserole type dish spiced heavily with heketles.

4 .A flat, dense, and sticky cake, uj'alayi was made of crushed nuts, dried fruits, and a sweet spiced syrup known as uj'ayl

5 .IBIDEM to #2.

6 .Parent, word is not sex-specific, meant for both mother and father.

7 .Thank you, literally: I accept a debt.

8 .IBIDEM to note #3.

9 .Body suit worn under armour.