Trigger warning for canon-typical Imperial interrogation techniques!
Force Smuggler - Thanks again for the reply, but feel free to tell me if this gets too confusing!
Ysalmiri. Why did it have to be ysalamiri?
Anakin squinted at the sessile creature draped over the doorway of the detention cell, which blinked back with an incurious expression that might almost have been amused. Did they know that they blanked out the Force in the area around themsleves?
Still, at least they'd let him and Tahiri share a cell, hanging by their wrists side-by-side, in matching stolen Imperial undershirts.
Tahiri was actually hanging from the wrist-binders, head bowed, letting her bare feet trail on the deck. Even the bruises didn't change how beautiful she looked, at least a far as he could tell with one eye swolen shut.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Um, yeah," she said, with a light laugh. "Normally, I'd get crazy if it wasn't you doing this sort of thing. And I don't like people intruding in my territory either. But the fact we're being beaten up together makes it sort of cute."
"Good," he nodded. Was that a weird thing to say? Not important.
"Helps that they're hitting you more, though I think that's just because they're idiots, not because they've worked out I don't mind."
"Oh. Thanks."
Tahiri smiled at him, a sweet smile, made even cuter by the slow way she was swaying.
Anakin squinted back at her. "You're doing that deliberately."
"Yep."
A pause. Shared silence.
"You worked out who the traitor was yet?"
Anakin pursed her lips. "I've been too busy being beaten up by the Imperials we had locked up in here. Kogo was right that his wingman was a piece of work."
She chuckled lightly. "Only you would use a polite euphemism in a situation like this."
"What can I say. I was well-brought-up."
She smiled at that, more amused now. "So, hero-boy, how are we getting out of here?"
"I'll think of something. Waiting for my moment." These idiots are bound to make a misstep that I can work with.
"I think you just like watching me being, ah, interrogated."
"Do not."
"Do too. Anyway, fair's fair. You look cute when you're hanging shirtless by the handcuffs, having the nerf kicked out of you by a group of angry young Imperial fanatics."
"What can I say? Mom taught me to talk properly. Dad taught me how to roll with punches."
"Roll with punches?" She was laughing now, flashing a bright grin. "Your dad taught you how to get beaten up, fast-talk and come out grinning."
"Well, yeah." Apparently, he could still shrug with his wrists in binders above his head. "You think they're watching this...?"
"Is that important?"
"Dunno. Might be."
"You're thinking, aren't you?"
"Yep."
"Try thinking while they're torturing you. I like it when torture brings out your strong-and-silent type."
"Hey. I like to keep the real me in reserve for you..."
She murmured her favourite insult in Yuuzhan Vong. "Anakin Solo. You'd be doing it for me."