Nuances of a Jedi

Ahsoka looked around her, taking in her surroundings carefully. She was way out of her area of expertise here. Give her a lightsaber, give her a battle plan, a strategy, a formation, a target, and she'd go all in. But this? Here? She felt so out of place.

This were the lower levels of Coruscant, and while she'd been there on missions before, no mission ever required her to do something like this.

Ahsoka was currently on her way to one of the many brothels in the lower levels and no amount of Jedi training could prepare her for this.

"You're tense." Echoed a voice beside her. Ahsoka glanced to the left to see Barriss looking at her with a soft smile.

Barriss for her part walked the streets like she owned them. Of course she was still on her guard, Barriss was always on guard, but she was a lot more relaxed than Ahsoka. Barriss wrapped her arm around Ahsoka's hip and pulled her closer. Ahsoka took a deep breath as the two drew closer and closer to their destination.

"Remind me again, why are we going undercover in a brothel of all places?" Ahsoka could feel eyes on them as they moved trough the streets.

"Because it's where people spill their secrets. And I just so happen to have a few... trusted acquaintances in there." Ahsoka didn't miss the small smile that graced Barriss's lips as she said those words, "In any case we need to be able to sell them on the fact that we're together. At least for a little while, until I can get in contact with them."

It wasn't long before the two stood at the entrance of a brightly lit building.

"Alright." Ahsoka took a deep breath, "Show time."

The two women entered, and were greeted by a sweet scent invading their senses. It was almost too sweet for Ahsoka's liking.

Barriss walked with her past the counter, nodding at a yellow Nikto whose face lit up when she saw Barriss. The Jedi nodded towards Ashoka with a sheepish grin. The Nikto chuckled and shook her head. She reached down and tossed a key card at Barriss, the Jedi catching it with ease.

"Come love, I got us a special room." Ahsoka blinked at the pet name, a blush spreading across Ahsoka's cheeks. Right, they were supposed to be a couple. Ahsoka smiled and quickly pressed a kiss to Barriss's cheek. Barriss was the one to blush this time.

A chuckle sounded from behind them, "You're blushing?" The Nikto teased, "This one must be really special to you, Offee."

"She is." Barriss smiled warmly, her hand taking Ahsoka's own, "Very special." The two women started making their way trough the halls, "It feels nice to have a bit of freedom again." Barriss commented. This made Ashoka snap her head towards her... kind of friend. Barriss chuckled, "Oh don't give me that look. You know as well as I do that the only reason I'm out of there is because the Jedi can't afford to lose any more soldiers." Barriss's voice was as judgmental as the day she was trialed for an attempted attack on the Temple.

Ahsoka frowned, her hand falling from Barriss's and to her side. Barriss paused, turning her head towards Ahsoka. "I don't see it that way. Your Master cares about you Barriss."

Barriss smiled and shook her head, "Not every Padawan has such a close relationship with their Masters as you do with yours." Ahsoka knew it was true, still she didn't think that Luminara didn't care about her Padawan, just that the Jedi Master didn't know how to show it properly. However she also couldn't fault Barriss either seeing as she was treated poorly by the Council.

It wasn't until Barriss noticed a couple down the hallway, giggling as they stumbled their way into a room, that she noticed they've been standing in the same spot for a while.

With a sigh Barriss turned her charm back on, "We have much better things to do than stand here. Don't you think?" Barriss's smirk made Ahsoka's heart beat faster than usual. Barriss offered Ahsoka her hand, which Ahsoka slowly accepted. Barriss frowned but said nothing as she lead Ahsoka to their assigned room.

It wasn't a huge room by any means, but it held a very warm and intimate ambiance, or maybe sensual was a better way to word it. Barriss seemed to relax as soon as they were inside.

"No cameras here." She clarified.

"That's a relief." Ahsoka scanned the room. There were many boxes on the shelves and while Ahsoka was curious she was also a little scared to look inside.

There was also a small red button on each side of the bed, "For security. In case anything goes wrong at any time." Barriss clarified as she followed Ahsoka's line of sight.

Ahsoka merely nodded. Slowly she sat down on the edge of the bed, Barriss glancing at her as she took off her cloak. When she sat down next to Ahsoka, the Padawan inched away.

This made Barriss chuckle, "Nervous?"

"No." Barriss raised an eyebrow, "Yes? I'm sorry, I just... do we wait it out or..." Ahsoka didn't know what to do with herself. This felt very intimate and the way Barriss looked at her, the way she smiled at her, the way she spoke to her earlier, it all made her heart flutter.

"We can do anything you want. The bed is quite comfy so if you just want to lay down to pass the time we can do that. I understand that it might be a little... much being here for the first time, and on a mission no less. Just try to relax alright? My contact should bring us the intel soon enough." Ahsoka nodded. Sure that was easy to say, but how was she supposed to relax when she was in a love hotel with her crush, who almost got her killed.

"Fine." She probably won't be able to relax but she can try.

Barriss sensed her turmoil, "Is it... is it me? Because I..." Barriss didn't like to talk about what happened. Sure they have talked, Barriss apologized many times, they've been over it so many times.

"No! Well yes but not because of what you think." Ahsoka balled her fists in her lap, her nerves starting to get the better of her. She felt Barriss's eyes on her, which did not help whatsoever. "It's weird being here with you. It's not how I imagined it."

"How... you imagined it?" A confused look spread across Barriss's face as she looked at Ahsoka. Surely she's misunderstanding this.

Ahsoka chuckled, a little bit nervously, before elaborating, "It wasn't... this specifically. Just... me and you. You know? I thought that we'd have a better relationship. A different relationship. I keep thinking, maybe if I told you how I felt you wouldn't have..."

"I would have." Barriss cut her off before she could say anything more, "It wouldn't be you. I never wanted it to be you. I wouldn't let them hurt you." She could feel her emotions rising. Barriss closed her eyes, taking a few deep breaths to calm down. She felt Ahsoka's hand cover hers. "It wasn't up to you Ahsoka, to save me or whatever you're thinking. Those were my actions, and I'm living with the consequences of them. But..." Barriss opened her eyes and looked at Ahsoka, a warm smile spreading across her face, "I'm glad that I have you with me. In any way you're willing to have me in your life... I'll take it, I'll take anything you'll give me."

As soon as Barriss got the words out her flight instincts started to kick in. Her smile dropped, replaced with a self-deprecating frown. She said too much, way too much. Great. Now Ahsoka's going to think she's unfit to be her partner. Or a Jedi. What kind of Jedi just spews out every little...

Her bad train of thoughts was cut off by the feeling of soft lips pressing against hers. Ahsoka's lips. At first Barriss thought this was the Force playing tricks on her, it wouldn't be the first time.

"Breathe. You're ok." As Ahsoka pulled away Barriss exhaled a breath she didn't even realize she was holding.

"Apologies. I think I shared too much." Well there was no way of taking any of it back now, or that kiss for that matter.

Ahsoka shook her head, "No. I'm glad you're opening up to me. It's nice to feel trusted."

Yes, she could trust her. Every word Barriss said was the truth, no more lies, no more holding anything back. Barriss lunged forward and captured Ahsoka's lips once more. Her hand cupped Ahsoka's face, finger tracing over her white marks. Ahsoka sighed at the contact, the sound sending a spark of excitement down Barriss's back.

"This isn't part of the act is it?" Ahsoka's voice is low and breathy against Barriss's lips.

Barriss smirks, "Certainly not on my part." Ahsoka smiled, diving in for another kiss, her hands finding purchase on the small of Barriss's back. The warmth in Barriss's body traveled lower. Well at least this was something she was familiar with. Although it felt different with Ahsoka, in a good way.

She decided to test the waters. Slowly she got on her knees and pushed Ashoka down by the shoulders, her mouth only leaving hers for a few brief moments. Ahsoka didn't push her away, no she held her closer, tongue tentatively licking Barriss's upper lip in a silent request. Of course Barriss accepted, still half convinced that this was a dream of some kind.

The two lost track of time while their mouth, tongues and hands got more and more familiar with each other. "Force..." Ahsoka struggled to catch her breath, something that Barriss felt proud of given how much energy Ahsoka normally had. "Is it always like this?" Ahsoka blinked up at her, her eyes cloudy with lust, chest heaving as she took deep breaths, mouth slightly parted and looking thoroughly kissed.

"No. It's never been this good for me. I've never had you before. Force Ahsoka, do you even know what you're doing to me?" Ahsoka answered by planting a hot, wet kiss just below Barriss's jaw. Barriss inhaled deeply through the nose, her hands itching to touch Ahsoka everywhere, instead grabbing fistfuls of the silky sheets next to Ahsoka's shoulders.

"I think I have a pretty good idea." She growled. Fucking growled. "Fuck, I'm sorry, I don't know why I..." Barriss put a finger to Ahsoka's lips, effectively silencing her apology.

"It's fine. I don't mind." Barriss licked her lips, her finger trailing down Ahsoka's lips, leaving them parted slightly. She didn't miss the way Ahsoka's eyes followed her tongue either. She bent down, closer, she could already taste Ahsoka's lips again.

A knock on the door made them freeze in their tracks.

"What?!" Now it was Barriss who growled, more than a little annoyed at whoever interrupted them.

"Offee, don't give me your attitude, I have your intel." Oh. Oh shit. They were on a mission. This was still a mission.

The two Jedi looked at each other, their cheeks darkening as they scrambled to get some distance between each other. Barriss cleared her throat and regained at least some of her composure before she unlocked and opened the door.

The Nikto from before stepped in, taking notice of the ladies flustered looks and the rumpled sheets. "Sorry to interrupt. I just came to give you this." A small disk was pushed into Barriss's hand, followed by a wink and a grin, "Feel free to stay as long as you want. Any... extra expenses are on the house."

Barriss narrowed her eyes as the door closed. She sighed heavily as she took her spot on the bed next to Ahsoka, the tense atmosphere not back in full force.

"Told you it wouldn't take long." Barriss put the disk between them, like an invisible shield, a barrier, a wall.

"Y-Yeah." Ahsoka wrapped her arms around her shoulders. "Should we stay a while longer?"

"Do you want to?" Barriss kind of dreaded the answer.

"Yes and no. It was nice. It felt amazing actually. But..." Ahsoka bit her bottom lip.

"You're not sure about me. If you actually want to do this." Of course. Why was Barriss so dumb, the Force really was playing with her again. The Force was cruel to her before, why expect anything different now.

"I am. I know what I want. I just think that we need to pace ourselves a little. I thought I knew you before Barriss. But then there was this whole side of you that I have no idea about. I want to know all of you." Her eyes met Barriss's. She was honest, and it actually scared Barriss a bit.

Despite being more experience with relationships, she only had a few to speak of, and they didn't last very long anyway, or that she put that much of an effort to make them last. With Ahsoka however, she wanted something more permanent.

"Alright. If that's really what you want then..." Barriss reached over to pull Ahsoka into her side, a cute yelp escaping the Togruta as she did so, "I'm willing to give this a try as well. It can be our little secret. For now."

"For now." Ahsoka loved the thought of someday being able to tell everyone the full extent of her feelings for Barriss. "Can we stay here a bit longer though?"

"Sure." Barriss turned her head to kiss Ahsoka's forehead, "As long as you want."