Author's Note: Hey all. Well, this one took longer than planned, but the next one is well underway. So I should have it out much quicker. On that note, I am going on vacation for a week, and I fly out on the 13th. So I should have post one more chapter before I go. I hope you all have a great weekend! Sorry if this has a bunch of errors, I was just so frustrated with it, I decided to post.

As always, thanks for the reviews!

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars, but I wish I did.

Chapter 25

Trust

Boba Fett walked into the dimly lit smuggler's cantina with Dengar not far behind him. Navigating the smuggler's run was a challenge of skill for many. Boba himself had never had any issues, but nerve wasn't something he lacked. Dengar could challenge anyone's calm, however. True to form, the cyborg hadn't shut up for more than a few minutes at a time since they had been confined on Slave 1 together again. And again, Boba knew it was all to get under his skin, and it worked. Dengar was aware it worked and delighted in it. He had stayed stretched out in one of the hammocks behind the cockpit, talking.

A jizz band played away in one corner of the room. A Sooman male attended the bar, his insectoid wings folded behind his back. He stopped moving when he saw Boba Fett and watched him closely. The Besalisk, known as Karesi Lrelk, sat across the busy room at a table, his massive lower arms folded in his lap. His right upper arm rested on the table. He held a drink in its enormous hand; his other arm rested draped along the back of the bench seat he occupied. At present, his undivided attention was on the neighboring table and the pink Twi'lek girl dancing on its top.

Boba approached the male unobserved by him, but several other sentients followed his progress. The elastic chinned Besalisk didn't turn his head until Boba Fett appeared at his side, blaster rifle in hand, and silently waited. The girl turned her attention to Boba as well and stopped dancing. She scuttled down from the table quickly, her pink leku slipping across her back as she did so. She hurried toward the bar.

"Ah, Boba Fett, to what do I owe this honor?" Karesi boomed as if they were old friends when in truth, their dealings had been minimal.

"I'm here for Jabba," Boba stated.

The Besalisk eyes darted around the room then he turned his hefty frame in his seat. "Yes! Yes, of course. I had heard you were working for The Hutt these days."

Boba said nothing, simply stepped back.

Karesi sat his cup down and gained his feet, towering over Fett. He knew of many sentients that were intimidated by the male standing before him. Boba was not now, nor had he ever been one of them. Boba moved to the side.

"Come, come," the Besalisk said, with a sweep of one arm. He stepped past Boba Fett, leaving him to follow.

Dengar leaned against the bar, talking to the Twi'lek dancer. He lifted his cup in salute and smirked, then turned his attention back to his companion. So much for "true love." Boba Fett wondered if Dengar even remembered the young woman he had gone on and on about onboard Slave 1.

Boba followed Karesi out of the cantina, cut into the asteroid with precision, and down one of the tunnels. Lights were embedded into the rock overhead, illuminating the corridor. The Besalisk turned his crested head, looking at Boba out of the corner of the eye for just a moment.

"Here we are," he said, stopping in front of a steel grey blast door. He placed one of his palms on the security panel. It scanned his hand with a green light. Next, Karesi punched a sequence of buttons on his gauntlet, and the door whooshed open.

"You can never be too careful, " Karesi said, stepping inside.

Boba followed him through the blast door, pausing just within. He looked around space. Two guards stood just inside the door, shelves covered with all manner of things lined the walls. A small red maintenance droid stood across the room near a counter.

Karesi continued deeper into the room and behind the same counter. "Just a moment," he said. "Droid, open the safe," he commanded.

"Yes, sir," the droid said, disappearing behind the counter as well. There was the sound of tumblers turning. The top of his head was all that was visible as he worked behind the counter.

The guards behind Boba shifted their stances. Boba remained still, watching them in his helmet's view field. They looked at each other, the one to the right, nodded his head toward the counter.

The other guard moved away from his post and crossed the room to the smaller blast door by the counter. Boba turned his head, following the guard's movements across the room, even as the other took up position in front of the door and directly behind him.

Boba shifted subtly, his hands tightening on his rifle; he scanned the room with his helmet for any explosive devices. The male behind him had one thermal detonator tucked inside his pockets, as did the one by the counter.

Boba started to lift his rifle just as Karesi stood, a small case of credits in hand. "Ah, here we are, Fett. It's been a good month for Jabba."

"I'll take that," the guards by the inner door said. Then, he pointed a blaster pistol at Karesi, he fired at him. The Besalisk shot back as he fell to the ground. At the same time, his associate began to lift his own rifle.

Boba brought up his rifle, spinning around and shooting the other guard. Even as he dropped to the floor, Boba dove for cover, and the other guard fired three bolts in Bobas direction. The one-eyed maintenance droid hurried out from around the other end of the counter with the case in hand and hurried through a small hatch in the wall. Boba repeatedly fired at the other guard as he tried to chase the droid. The guard pressed back out of sight.

"Drop your weapon," Fett called from behind the shelf he hand landed behind.

The only response was the sound of the thermal detonator arming itself.

"You don't want to do that," Boba Fett warned.

"Oh, I think I do."

The guard threw the detonator and ran through the open doorway. It hit the shelving unit behind him then dropped to the ground with a dull thud.

Boba spun around, but he didn't have enough time. The device had a shortened detonation time. The blast force sent Boba Fett flying upward into a support beam, and the asteroid shook. Pain exploded in his side as he hit the unyielding steel. Fett fell to the floor, quickly gaining his feet despite the pain exploding along his side in protest. He gave no outward sign of his injury as he collected his blaster rifle from the floor. He never did, weakness got you killed, but more importantly, he wasn't playing around anymore. His attention was already on the blast door Karesi guard had used to exit. There would be plenty of time to tend to his injury later.

Karesi stood up as well, pulling his pistol from its holster and running toward the door.

Boba Fett spun around as the door that led to the establishment whooshed open. The end of a rifle was the first thing Boba Fett saw, then Dengar filled the doorway. "I leave you alone for a minute, and it all goes to hell." Dengar said.

Apparently, it was too much to want things to go smoothly.

"I guess some things never change," Dengar observed next.

More blaster fire reached them through the door Karesi had followed the guard through. "Help Karesi," Boba barked, already heading for the hatch the droid had used to escape.

Dengar ran past him and through the door.

XxX

Kiya met Yarna's gaze as she entered the pit with a tray of refreshments. Bib was in a challenging mood. He had been since they returned. In the last two days, Kiya had seen him reprimand if not yell at a dozen people. Everyone from servers and dancers to guards and even the sentients who delivered fresh produce and other goods from Mos Eisley.

Lyda had been serving in the main hall last night, and he had accused her of being slovenly. Kiya had no idea when the neatness of the staff had become a moment of concern for Bib Fortuna. If it had, she had clearly never noticed before, and she had absolutely no idea how Phelgmin had escaped his attention at all. The boy was always filthy and stunk of body odor. Lyda's attire was as neat as she could keep it, and she was as clean as she could be also.

Neelah sat in one of the vanity chairs, a cloth held against the right side of her face. Yarna stood beside her. Kiya could see the beginnings of a bruise forming around it.

"Bib Fortuna," Yarna explained, pulling Kiyas' gaze. She sat the tray she carried down on the table inside the door as her gaze returned to Neelah.

"One of these days, I hope someone stabs him," Neelah said. Her eyes were flashing coldly, shoulders square. Kiya had never asked the tall dancer with spiked hair who she once was, but her bearing denoted something far different than a slave girl. "If I don't do it first," she added.

"Be careful," Yarna warned quietly, her gaze shooting past Kiya to the open doorway.

Kiya looked over her shoulder, half expecting to see the pale pink-eyed Twi' standing there watching them.

Neelah's eyes flashed again, and she spit on the floor, mumbling something in a language Kiya didn't understand. The tall thin beauty climbed to her feet and dropped the cloth in her chair, contempt flashing in her eyes. She strode toward the fresher, chin up, eyes staring straight ahead.

Kiya watched her disappear through the doorway before she turned her attention back to Yarna. The other female's face was pinched with worry, she let out a heavy breath.

Both females turned their attention back to the door as Melina Carniss came storming through. "Where is she?"

"Fresher," one of the other girls said. Kiya hadn't even been aware of the two Twi' girls sitting at vanities further down the room.

Melina continued toward the fresher. "I don't know how he expects me to—" her words trailed off as the fresher door closed.

Yarna turned her attention to the other girls. "You two better get upstairs before he comes looking."

They both blanched and jumped up, hurrying out the door. No one wanted to anger Bib Fortuna. Well, unless you were untouchable like Jiliac.

"How was he on Nal Hutta?" Yarna asked ironically, as soon as they were alone.

"I saw very little of him. Then, the last night we were there, I served Jiliac, and he wasn't happy."

"No?" Yarna asked.

"Jiliac tends to do exactly as she wishes, and I believe she wishes to irritate Bib Fortuna."

The edge of Yarna's lips pulled upward slightly.

Kiya smiled in return. "It's actually quite funny." Kiya's expression turned more serious. "He gets very red-faced. I don't think it helped that Jabba seemingly blamed Bib for the dead prisoner when we returned." Jabba chastized him in front of the entire throne room.

"Ah. I could see that," Yarna admitted.

Kiya moved closer, placing her hands on the back of the chair Neelah had occupied. "Jiliac offered me a place. In her household."

Yarna stared at Kiya for a moment. "Don't get me wrong, I love your face, but why didn't you stay?"

Kiya opened her mouth, closing it just as quickly. She shrugged. "I don't know. Nola," she finished with another shrug.

Yarna's painted brow lifted, but there wasn't really any surprise in her brown gaze. Just understanding.

"I wish we knew if she had any family." At this moment, Kiya couldn't help but regret that she hadn't asked Jiliac for help.

Yarna's brows pinched. "Jabba would never just let her go, Kiya. She's his property, and he would exploit that."

Kiya remained silent for a moment, studying her friend. "But you think he'll let you take her?"

The fresher door whooshed open, and Melina Carniss stepped outside. "When she gets out of the shower, see if you can help her cover that bruise."

Melina Carniss didn't wait for a reply, just headed back out the door.

"I better get back to the kitchen," Kiya said after the other woman left.

XxX

Kiya hurried up the back steps to the throne room. Bib Fortuna had decided he didn't want Lyda serving the upstairs at all tonight, so Kiya had quickly given her a rundown of what she would need to do in the kitchen to help Porcellus and when to take drinks and food to the guard towers and dancers pit. It didn't help that Bib Fortuna had explicitly asked that she be sent upstairs to take Lyda's place. It was also becoming clear, Porcellus bounced her all over, so if Bib wanted her, she was free. Bib Fortuna had requested her both of the last two days at some point or another, at least once.

Kiya stepped through the door and slowed. Boba Fett stood on the dais beside Jabba. Her stomach tightened, heart thumping a little faster as she bit her lip. He had said two cycles. And that was what it had been. Kiya still was not confident how she felt or what she thought about his behavior on Nal Hutta. She hadn't let herself think about it or him the last two days. It was all too confusing. His questioning why she wouldn't stay with Jilaic was confusing. His walking her outside was confusing. His saying her name was confounding. The Quay hadn't hardly looked at her, and she was grateful for that, but Kiya still wasn't sure. Yarna hadn't brought him up once since Kiya returned from Nal Hutta and Kiya was relieved. Though she had no reason to, Kiya still felt like she had done something wrong. Like she was keeping something from her parents. She still didn't understand why he cared. Cared was the wrong word; there was no way he cared. But Kiya didn't understand why it mattered.

She let out a deep breath and moved around the edge of the cantina band, her attention drifting from him. A Besalisk stood towering in front of Jabba, and another sentiment knelt in the ground in front of him. The sight brought Kiya out of her musings.

"Uba would moocha nrom bu, teeat joobah?" Bib Fortuna demanded of the one kneeling.

The Besalisk kicked the sentient. "It's time to pay up," he said. "Feed him to your pet," the Besalisk suggested next. Kiya's stomach turned as a roar of approval rose in the crowd.

"If I may, Your Greatness," Bib Fortuna started with a bow once the noise quieted. "Why do we not let the Rancor hunt him instead?"

There was an even louder roar of approval. Kiya's attention lifted back to Fett, where he stood by the Hutt crime boss.

Kiya averted her gaze and kept it forward as she made her way up the steps beside the dais, not even glancing out of the corner of her eye.

XxX

Boba's attention stayed with her as she climbed the few steps beside Jabba's platform, her features pinched with apprehension. He had seen her the moment she entered the room and stopped behind the band. Truthfully, he had been watching for her since he followed Karesi and his prisoner into the throne room not long before. He had wondered how she would handle this scene if she stumbled across another sentient being fed to Jabba's pet. Some would be becoming desensitized to the violence and death. He wasn't sure if she could take it in stride after what happened to her friend so recently.

"Tagwa hunt hannah doompasha," Jabba boomed in agreement to Bib Fortuna's suggestion from moments ago. He laughed, his corpulent mass shaking as he rocked back and forth. Salacious Crumb, Jabba's pet monkey lizard, cackled along with his master.

Boba cared for the monkey lizard about as much he did Bib Fortuna. Many who came to Jabba's palace underestimated the smallest of Jabba's spies. Boba was not one of them.

A shot of pain radiated along his side, reminding him of his injury. It burned more intensely with even the slightest movement, even breathing. Boba gritted his teeth. He knew he had broken ribs, but there was no way he was tending them on the return trip to Tatooine. Not even if he had just had Dengar for company, but certainly not with the Besalisk who had invited himself along for the ride. He wasn't in the habit of letting anyone on Slave 1 unless they were a prisoner or it was a necessity. He had maintained constant surveillance on the Besalisk with Slave 1's computers. Boba Fett would take care of his ribs in his quarters later tonight behind closed and locked doors.

His thoughts returned to the young woman moving around behind him. He couldn't help but feel she would be better off if she hadn't arrived until after this was over, and the male's fate was decided. He blinked twice, switching his helmet to 360 mode, and watched her moving around behind them as she poured drinks and loaded a tray. She had changed back into the dress with the open back, but she looked fine. Part of him hadn't been entirely sure the Weequay would leave her alone. Typically sentients gave him a wide berth, and most would leave her alone because of him. The Quay had exhibited little intelligence, however. In his mind, he had some claim. She was his. Boba had seen it in the way he watched her. It had also been evident in how he had growled at the other Quay that night her friend died. Weequay's communicated primarily by grunts and growling and hormones in their own society. They had little to no spoken language, and very few had names. Hondo was the most memorable one who did, besides Sugi. But then again, the Weequay pirate differed from his brethren in many ways. He would have also seen the wisdom in leaving her alone.

As much danger as Jiliac's life might be in, the girl would have been better off if she had stayed on Nal Hutta. He still couldn't fathom what would make her refuse. Again, most sentients in her position wouldn't.

She lifted the tray, her attention landing on him as she headed back in their direction. She was wary. Boba turned his head slightly, switching off the 360 view field as she made her way down the steps beside him. She didn't even glance in their direction again.

Two of Jabba's Gamorrean guards arrived and dragged Karesi's guard away. Boba studied her as they did so. Finally, she turned her head, watching; relief flashed through her pale eyes. It quickly faded away, however.

XxX

Kiya sat the cup on the table and turned, now empty tray in hand.

Her attention traveled to the dais. She ignored the strange feeling in her stomach when she found Boba Fett was still gone, just as she had ignored the one earlier. Part of her was glad he had disappeared, but another part wasn't. She refused to think about why that was. Instead, her attention drifted around the rest of the room as she made her way to the steps that led behind Jabba. She refused to think about the male Jabba's guards had dragged away a short time ago also. Life here was harsh, and she knew that. From what she gathered, he had stolen from Jabba. As far as Kiya could tell, that wasn't something any sentient who valued their lives did to any Hutt. A man frozen in carbonite hung across the room as a testament to the folly in it. And his fate was an exception and far from the rule. Most who were stupid enough suffered far worse.

Kiya hurried up the steps, her attention already on the decanters sitting on the counter across the space. She still had two tables left to serve drinks, and then Bib Fortuna wanted her to return to the kitchen for desserts for Jabba.

A figure stood in the archway of the alcove to the left, crates of goods behind him. Kiya's steps slowed. Her heart thumped a little harder before her attention had even returned to him, she knew it was him. For some reason, she flushed, looking away as she stopped in front of him. Kiya let go of her empty tray with one hand, she reached up, tucking her hair behind her ear. Kiya took a deep breath refusing to be flustered, she lifted her attention to him again.

He didn't move or say anything, and Kiya felt the weight of his gaze. "Come with me," he said softly a moment later. The tenor of his voice made her heart thump a little faster still and a knot form in her stomach.

Kiya stared into his visor for a moment, tray forgotten in her hand. Then, Fett stepped away from the wall and waited quietly. Kiya nodded.

She moved on, sat her empty tray on the counter, and turned back around to find him, waiting still. He inclined his head toward the steps. Kiya's gaze dropped, and she stepped past him, making her way down the steps, then continued across the throne room. When they reached the stairs, Kiya stepped to the side and waited for him to move past her. She hesitated for a moment, looking over her shoulder. She found Yarna gaze on her. Kiya looked away and followed Boba Fett up the steps.

XxX

Thanks for reading!

So, I tried and tried to get Boba's second scene to come out how I wanted, but it wouldn't. I know it's a little clunky, and I'm sorry.