Hey all! I seem to complain that most chapters are beasts to write now. This one was no exception. I finally have the direction for the last chunk of this story sorted out, but life's been crazy. I'm hoping things slow down and I can snag some weekend writing time again. Thanks so much for the faves, follows, and reviews! They make my day!

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Chapter 28

Lessons in Huttese

Eight Rotations Later

Squatting down, Kiya grabbed the stack of gold filigree dessert plates from the second shelf in the cupboard.

"Oessert oolates," she said, placing them on the table as she stood.

Nola smiled from across the table. "Uba cheespa bo coopa hurree. Joobah panwawa oessert"

Jabba most certainly did enjoy his desserts. "Tagwa. Little toooh much, " Kiya said with a wink.

Nola giggled.

"Watch it," Porcellus warned from the other end of the table as he placed the bowl of jogan fruit mousse on it. "You never know who might be listening," he added and moved back to the cold box to retrieve the cream.

Kiya retrieved the bowl from the end of the table and started spooning mousse into the awaiting dessert bowls. In contrast, Nola began to plate the greyish-colored, moof cheese souffle on the dessert plates, the ends of her shoulder-length tentacles twitched. Kiya had noticed lighter patches of green around their tips yesterday. From what Kiya understood, that meant she was shedding from her skin being too dry, and she needed salve. Nola had also told Kiya when they twitched; it was because they itched.

"You need to salve your tentacles, kiddo."

Nola just shrugged her shoulders, not even lifting her large black eyes to Kiya. "I know."

Nola was helping in the kitchen because a business associate of Jabba's was at the palace, and Bib liked to throw impromptu feasts. Porcellus had put Kiya on dessert duty because he wasn't sure she would remain in the kitchen. Much of her duties had changed over the last eight rotations. She was a scullery maid for the most part and also helped out in the laundry. Porcellus would rather not have her hand her tray off to another server or abandon her duties, so he took steps to make sure things would still run smoothly if she did. She hadn't been above stairs more than a handful of times over the last eight rotations, either.

That part, at least, Kiya didn't mind so much. She wasn't required to deal with Jabba's patrons, and Bib Fortuna had only specifically requested her two times. As she had expected, everyone was angry or at the very least annoyed after she spent the night in Fett's quarters the last time. As for him, she had barely seen him either. No more than a brief glimpse of chipped paint on beskar a couple of times and passing him when he was on Jabba's dais. He hadn't approached her, and she was glad. The idea of being near him was downright unsettling still. All seeing him without his helmet had done was make her more curious. She had found herself thinking of his dark gaze far more than was wise over the last few cycles. Kiya ignored the chill that slithered along her spine with the memory.

Toroga strode into the kitchen, empty tray in hand and a harried look on his thin tan face. His longish dark hair was pulled sharply back, his faded green tunic hugged his narrow shoulders. "Fortuna is on the warpath," he said, dropping his empty tray on the sideboard by the sink. He held Kiya's gaze as he grabbed another tray. "Be thankful you're down here," he said, winking at her. Then, he made his way back out the door. He was the only one that didn't seem annoyed or angry with her. Lyda glared at her, and the other kitchen staff would barely look at her. Well, except for Porcellus. He was worried. She had seen it first hand when she returned to the kitchen the next morning, and so was Yarna. The Askijian appeared in the room less than five minutes later.

"Kiya?" Nola asked, drawing her attention back to the present. "Will you help with the salve later?"

"Sure."

"Tagwa," Nola corrected as she filled another plate with souffle.

Kiya smiled. "Tagwa." They were only supposed to speak in Huttese, according to her young teacher. The best way to learn was by using the language Nola had announced.

"Pa bu nreshah?" Nola asked next.

"Where is the fresher," Kiya replied with a nod. However, that wasn't quite right. There were many words in basic that Hutts didn't have in their vernacular so what you were actually asking was where the fresher. "Oown bu," she began, trying to remember the Huttese word for hall. "Had third ooor nop bu right."

"Hadd," Nola corrected.

"Hadd," Kiya said, drawing out the d.

Nola laughed. Kiya wouldn't now, or likely ever, trust her Huttese skills when replying to a question in Huttese. She had really just hoped to understand it better. It was a simple enough language to understand but speaking it was a different story. The edge of her mouth pulled up in a sardonic smile. Kiya knew herself well enough to know it would probably sound like she was speaking Kashiek or Jawa by the time she finished butchering it.

"Why are you smiling?" Nola asked.

"Wee uba smiling?" Kiya corrected.

"Whee. Whee uba smiling," Nola said.

"Whe.

"Whee," her teacher said.

Kiya pursed her lips, hiding a smile. "Wheee."

XxX

Kiya sat the basket of clean clothes down on the bench. Nola took care of hanging them up and putting them away. The girl knew what belonged to who and where everything went, and she would take care of it later. At present, she was helping prepare one of the game rooms for Jabba and his business associates' private dinner.

"Laundress today?" Neelah asked as she strode through the door. She didn't even look at Kiya just made her way down the length of the room and disappeared into the sleeping quarters.

Yarna stepped through the door a moment later and approached the vanity station directly adjacent the entrance. "Kiya." The Askijian leaned closer, checking her makeup and fake beauty spots. Yarna moved away from that mirror and continued down the room, sinking into the chair at her own vanity station.

"Rystáll will be back in two days," Yarna said.

Kiya said nothing, simply nodded.

"Melina told me a few minutes ago. We are supposed to make sure there is plenty of room. Apparently, they're bringing another three backup singers with them this trip."

Kiya couldn't imagine there wouldn't be room. Usually, half of the beds in the dancer dormitory weren't occupied. But, truthfully, there were barely enough dancers to fill half, and Neelah preferred the lounge just inside the door to the thin beds in the next room. Kiya understood why Yarna had felt the need to mention Rytsall's return, however. The Theelin had been angry enough on Nal Hutta. Yarna didn't even know the details of that. The backup singer would undoubtedly find out quickly that Kiya had spent another night alone with Boba Fett.

Neelah scoffed from the doorway to the dormitory. "It's not like Rystall will need one. She always finds somewhere else to lay her head."

"This is true," Yarna agreed.

"Contrary to what she'd like everyone to believe," Neelah continued. "I don't think she's ever laid her head down next to Fett's, or any other body part, for that matter," Neelah continued to look at Kiya. "I believe the only one who's had that distinction is our girl right here."

There was no malice in the dancer's voice. She was just teasing her, and Kiya's face flamed.

"I am curious, " Neelah started again, her eyes twinkling. "What's he got going on under that armor?"

Kiya refused to turn red this time even though the image of dark eyes and firm muscles moving under warm skin filled her head. So instead, she just held Neelah's gaze. "Maybe you should ask Rystáll," she suggested. "She'll be back in two rotations."

"She's going to be so angry," Neelah said seriously.

"She's never been turned down before. She's not angry at you. She's just angry." Yarna said to Kiya.

Kiya said nothing. Her brow furrowed. Kiya couldn't tell her that Fett never had.. That they'd never. "It's not like I tried to attract his attention."

Neelah spoke before Yarna had a chance to. "But you did.'' She leaned her shoulder against the door frame and checked her nails bordly. "And Rystall's kind of like the village speeder anyway. Everyone's had a turn."

Kiya couldn't have contained the short bark of laughter that escaped her if she had wanted to.

Yarna chuckled outright."Don't let her hear you say that, she might scratch your eyes out."

"I am not worried about Rystall Sant. Breeding will always out, and she's trash."

"Where did you pick up that saying?" Yarna asked.

Neelah was quiet for a moment, and a shadow fell over her face. "I have no idea," she replied at length, "but it seems to ring true in this case."

"That it does," Yarna said.

Neelah's attention returned to Kiya, and her smile broadened. "Besides. I like it when things don't go quite as Rystálll plans."

Kiya sighed heavily, meeting Yarna's gaze in the mirror. "Nola needs salve."

She couldn't do anything about Rystálls imminent return or Fett's attention, and the last thing she wanted to do was talk about them.

"I noticed," Yarna said.

"She asked me to help her, but I don't know if I will have time."

Yarna nodded. "I will if you don't have time." Something in the other woman's dark gaze told Kiya that she knew Kiya was trying to steer the conversation away from their previous topic.

"You know Fortuna actually wants me to get close to Spiker, " Neelah said, completely redirecting the conversation. "He said I should try and use Sarita as common ground."

Kiya's stomach dropped, and neither she nor Yarna said a word.

"I told him the chiss merc had never even glanced at me."

Kiya wondered how Neelah could sound so calm about it.

"Nee," Yarna said, worry lacing her voice and creasing her brow.

Neelah looked up and shrugged her shoulders. "He can want me to spy all he wants, but that does not mean I will do so."

"Be careful, Nee," Yarna said. They all knew that Fortuna was capable of anything. "He's capable of anything, " Yarna warned her.

"Sarita was a scared child. I'm not. I may seemingly give him what he wants, but I will cut my own deal. It's what Sarita should have done, that and stay away from the spice."

Kiya's attention moved between the two women. She refrained from pointing out that Sarita didn't have a choice.

"Be careful," Yarna reiterated as Neelah pushed away from the door frame and headed for the fresher.

Kiya's attention stayed with the other female until she vanished. "What will she do?" she asked, Yarna.

Yarna shrugged her bulky shoulders. "Tell Spiker maybe."

"Isn't that dangerous?"

"Could be, but she's caught between the rancors pit and a raider's caravan, so to speak." Yarna sighed. "If she's lucky, Spiker won't have any interest in her."

Kiya nodded. "Wouldn't that make Bib angry?"

"It could, but if he isn't interested, he isn't interested."

XxX

Bib made his way to the kitchen, his thoughts on several different things at once. If the violet-eyed dancer played her part and enticed the chiss biker to talk, Bib would still have the insight that he wanted. The disappointment he felt at the grand failure that was the Wroonian girl was still vast. He had expected her to be more malleable to what he wanted her to do. He had counted on her fear of him to push her along. What he hadn't counted on was her fear driving her to run away. It was a pity; he had even thought about rewarding her afterward. He would have made her life easier after she fulfilled her task. Bib Fortuna could be good to those that pleased him, but only if she had proven herself to be valuable.

He had no such thoughts about the haughty violet-eyed dancer. She just had the distinction of being available and would not run away. He had found her almost arrogant at times since she came here. Bib had endeavored to teach her respect a few times. She always ended up needing to be reminded of her place eventually with a firm hand. The slap he had given her a few weeks ago hadn't brought her to heel. But nothing ever really did, but it reminded her life was easier when she did as he wanted.

His thoughts moved on to the slave girl, Kiya. Things couldn't have worked out better if he had planned them there, however. Fett had searched the girl out twice, and Bib Fortuna had no doubt the Bounty Hunter would do so again. It had been eight rotations ago, but Bib was sure things would develop. There was something attractive about the girl despite her flawed appearance.

And Fett had shown her marked attention on more than one occasion. Porcellus had decided to keep the female hidden away, however. The chef undoubtedly kept her below because she was pulled away from serving the palace patrons when needed or wanted elsewhere.

However, Bib Fortuna cared little for the wishes of Jabba's chef. He personally would prefer to have the girl where Fett was likely to see her so he could personally see how they behaved around each other. Instinct still told him things weren't exactly what others thought, but there was something there. Her lingering outside of Jabba's ship on Nal Hutta filled his head. The two had spoken, and the girl was antsy when she finally boarded Jabba's ship. He had no idea what they discussed that time, but the time before that in the great hall, Fett had called her by name. The guard told him that much.

Bib stepped into the kitchen a moment later, his attention landing on Porcellus.

"What can I do for you, your worship?" the chef asked.

"I would like to have the girl Kiya above stairs," he said without preamble. His use of her name didn't go unnoticed, but Porcellus said nothing.

"She is by far your best server, and I want her to serve our Illustrious Jabba and his venerated associate this evening."

"She is taking trays to the guard towers at present; I will send her to you when she returns."

"You will send someone for her now."

"Yes, Your worship," Porcellus said quickly, bowing his head respectfully.

The kitchen boy entered the room, with his arms laden down with a box of fresh vegetables.

"Kiya is taking food to the north guard towers, find her and send her back. You finish up for her, " Porcellus added, so there was no confusion.

Starting at the two of them, Phelgmin wiped his snotty nose on his sleeve then left the room. Bib Fortuna had wondered if the kitchen boy was all there or not. He had this vacant look that he wore most of the time. The rest of the time, he had a nasty expression on his face. He was the kind of creature Bib would expunge as soon as he was in control.

"When she returns, have her change her clothes and come directly to the throne room."

Bib Fortuna turned and headed for the door, pausing by the shelves that held the dishes. He ran his fingers along the edge of the shelf, then looked at them. "And clean this shelf now."

XxX

Kiya hurried through the tunnel, across the lower level, and up the stairs. Taking them two at a time. At first, she had thought or hoped maybe that Phelgmin was playing a nasty joke. However, she did not want to serve upstairs. Within a millisecond of having the thought, she knew he wasn't. He had scoffed at her, yanked the tray from her hands. And he mumbled something about her being one of the palace whores under his breath as she walked off. Kiya's palm had itched to slap him across the face, but she had made herself let it go. She would get him eventually here. She would wait until the next time she knew he was spying on the bathing dancers and tell Melina Carniss. The palace choreographer had far more power than Kiya ever would.

Kiya reached the top of the stairs and jogged down the hallway to the kitchen. Porcellus did little more than glance up. "Go to the pit and change your clothes and make yourself presentable. Fortuna wants you to find him upstairs."

Kiya nodded and opened her mouth to respond but said nothing. He was angry, but there was nothing Kiya could do. She left the kitchen and hurried to the pit.

The room was deserted except for one of the Twi' dancers, whose name Kiya had never learned.

"Those are for you," she said, indicating the box sitting on Yarnas dressing table.

Kiya approached and peered inside. It appeared to contain the various articles of the clothing Kiya had been given to wear when tending Jiliac along with the clothing she had worn to Nal Hutta. Kiya pulled out the long black linen tunic and blue silk bandeau she had first worn and the leggings she had worn to Nal Hutta. She hurried into the fresher and changed quickly. When she exited the room, the pit the other female had left. Kiya dropped her dress inside the box, slipped on the dancer's slipper, checked her braid, and headed upstairs.

She entered the throne room through the main door. Upbeat, fast-paced music filled the air even before she reached the view. She hurried around the edge of the room and up the steps beside Jabba. Bib Fortuna met her back there.

XxX

Boba Fett's attention left the three dancers Jabba's associate had brought with him to perform for the Hutt crime lord and moved to Kiya as she hurried around the edge of the room. He had seen her far more over the last eight rotations than she had likely realized. He made sure he laid eyes on her every day. However, she seemed content in her duties below stairs. He hadn't approached her. He hadn't needed to. Though in truth, it was better when she served above stairs; it was easier for him to keep an eye on her. The Quay had left Jabba's palace three rotations ago. Boba had learned the male had moved on to Nal Hutta, and still, he felt the need to see her. The other Quay was still here.

She was more uncomfortable around him now than she was before. That following morning after she helped him with his ribs, she was red-faced and unable to escape his quarters fast enough. In some way, he had felt a need to stop her. To make her stand still and let him look at her. She hadn't fallen asleep quickly the night before. He had dozed off before she did, his blaster rifle laying across his lap, his pistol holstered on his hip. But he was a light sleeper, despite the pain taxing his body. So he awoke when she moved to lay down. He hadn't slept the first night she spent with him, but he hadn't been the injured one that time. In the morning, she was still curled on her side facing the wall. The sheet on his bed was tangled around her center; her thick loose hair lay spread out across the pillow and sheet. The slit in the side of her skirt left one leg bare for him to see almost to her hip. She might have been less uncomfortable if she hadn't been quite so exposed.

He did stop her. He couldn't remember the last time he had uttered as much; he just knew he needed to say it. It was important. The words had sounded strange in his ears, almost like his voice grew rougher as he said them.

"Thank you," he said, his throat dry.

Her attention shot to his face. Her lips parted slightly. Her brow creased, and her grey-blue eyes clouded with something akin to confusion. She hadn't expected him to thank her. She nodded in reply, her gaze dropping away.

He said her name next because he wanted her to look at him once more. Again, he could smell her confusion and uncertainty. Felt them rolling off of her. She had been that way with him at times the night before as well. Just like then, he wanted to know what was going on behind those grey-blue eyes.

She reappeared, pulling his attention back to the present. A hint of vibrant blue silk was visible under her sleeveless tunic as she discreetly filled Jabba and his companion's cups, then stepped back, decanter in hand as he had seen her do before. Her attention lifted, she was looking for someone in the crowd. It was him, and he knew, even before her gaze fell on him and she looked away, lifting her chin a notch. He pushed away from the wall, crossing the space at his usual pace. He walked across in front of Jabba's platform then stepped up onto it, taking his place beside the crime lord. He turned his attention back to the beautiful females, rolling their hips in unison, brightly colored veils covering their legs. Curved silver bands curled around their biceps.

Kiya tried to ignore her awareness of Boba Fett. It was, however, impossible. She refused to show how uncomfortable he made her. Instead, she forced herself to focus on Jabba and his near-human business associate. Bib had said the male's companions occupied one of the tables across the room at present. When the sixth meal began, they would move upstairs to one of the gaming rooms, and there would be a private show as Jabba and his guest supped. Kiya would help to serve the food. The affair was not nearly as involved as when Jiliac had visited, but Kiya still suspected Boba Fett would be close by, standing guard.

She glanced at the Bounty Hunter out of the corner of her eye. He seemed utterly oblivious to her presence, but as she told Jilliac, who really knew what he was looking at. Kiya suspected it was the three females dancing in the center of the room; nearly every eye present was trained on the three of them.

XxX

Kiya stepped past the guards as she exited the game room and started down the hall. The tray carrying alcohol hadn't arrived yet, and Bib had sent her to check on it. Dengar was standing guard in the room and had offered to join her. Boba Fett had been there at first but left after Dengar arrived. Bib Fortuna had maneuvered things so that Boba Fett was accompanying Jabba's associate to Nal Hutta to procure something tomorrow. Kiya had watched Fett after Fortuna made the offer, a self-satisfied look on his pasty face. Boba Fett gave nothing of what he thought away, and Kiya doubted he would be anymore readable if he wasn't wearing his helmet. Kiya also had to question if Bib Fortuna was on the end of those dark, unreadable eyes if he would be so quick to try and anger the Mandalorian.

Kiya hurried down the steps, dodging patrons as she went. She glanced in the throne room on her way by.

She left thoughts of Fett behind. Dengar was teasing, but when he whispered the offer to join her as she passed, it was tempting. She couldn't imagine any of the staff members in the kitchen would be pleased that she had been sent to fetch a tray Bib Fortuna had ordered himself nearly a standard time unit ago.

Kiya met Toroga in the main hallway downstairs, a large tray of dessert brandies and wines in hand.

He didn't wait for her to speak. "I know, I know. I'm coming. Lyda dropped the last tray." He kept going. "I left two bottles of wine in the kitchen. Could you grab them?"

Kiya continued down the hall. She didn't pause, just hurried to the table to get the bottles.

XxX

Boba made his way back to the second level of the palace. He had much to do before he departed tomorrow morning. Things couldn't have worked out better if he had planned them. He needed to speak to Xo again, but finding the right time had been difficult. Now, he could stop on his return trip from Nal Hutta. The trip also offered him the chance to deal with something else. Boba stepped out the end of the corridor when he saw her. She carried two bottles of wine, her attention on the ground. He had been headed for the steps, but he stopped moving and waited, saying nothing.

He could step to the side, but he didn't. She reached him a couple of seconds later her gaze lifting just in time, though he wouldn't have let her run into him. She stopped, her eyes wide.

"Boba," she said softly, then reached up and brushed the hair from her face with the back of her hand. She flushed. "I'm sorry," she apologized for their almost collision. She had no idea he had stopped directly in her path on purpose.

He remained silent, watching as the color slipping across her skin spread. He had never heard her say his name before. Something stirred in his gut; he found he liked how it sounded. There were barely two feet between them, and yet she didn't move away from him.

"The Quay is gone," he said before she spoke again. "At least for now."

Relief flashed through her eyes. "Good," she said with a nod. Her eyes dropped to his side.

"Are you.." Her words trailed off.

"I am." His gaze drifted down her face. "Kiya," he finished as softly as she had said his name.

He didn't miss the soft rush of breath that escaped her or how her lips parted slightly. Her eyes clouded over and dropped to his chest. Again they were more grey than blue and stormy.

"You're leaving again."

It wasn't a question. It was a statement. She had been standing right there when Bib offered him for the job.

He nodded but said nothing.

"I.." she started, looking about the room. "I have to get back to work." She lifted the bottles of wine slightly.

Boba nodded and looked away from her, waiting as two of Jabba's patrons moved past them. "Why do you hide in the kitchen?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"I don't," she denied with a shake of her head.

"We should be seen together," he paused, watching her before he went on, "Kiya." She only flushed slightly, but her attention darted to his visor.

She nodded a moment later, her gaze searching his visor. He was right, she had been hiding. Porcellus kept her below, which was the only reason she had been able to, however. The Quay was gone, so why did she still feel the need to run and hide right now. If she were honest, she wasn't so sure it was the Quay she was hiding from at all. Kiya ignored the idea.

"How long will you be gone?" Kiya asked, uncertain where the compulsion to ask him came from.

"I leave in the morning. I should be back within three rotations."

Kiya nodded again, confused by why she wanted to know, why she had felt the need to ask him. She had as little understanding of why he asked her why she hid in the kitchen. It could all just be a way to keep her talking and for them to be seen together. It had to be. That explained Boba Fett's interest, but why had she wanted to know how long he would be gone?

"Safe travels," she said. "I will see…" Kiya's words trailed off, and she started again. "I will see you then, I suppose." with that, she nodded and walked away. She had been going to just say, "I will see you then." But, for some reason, those words felt far too intimate, so she added, "I suppose."

As always thanks for reading! To my TLS fan, I hope you like the Nola scene! I love it!