Word Count: 1279
Hunt Log: Side Notes and Journals
Sighting: Rishi

Nothing stays secret for long. My mother always told me not to put things into words that you weren't willing to own up to. I was never very good about taking her lessons to heart. Despite all of my precautions, everyone slips up sooner or later. Thankfully, mine involved the only person in the entire galaxy that I can trust. Damn him for being such a good man. Makes it impossible to stay angry.

Sadio stretched to find Torian's side of the bed empty. They'd been on Rishi less than a week, and already her husband couldn't stay put. With a smile, Sadio pulled the blanket around her and padded through their small hutt to see where he'd wandered off to this time.

Torian bent over the counter in their small kitchen with elbows propped on the rough surface while he read. His profile came into view when he turned to take a bite of one of the local fruits held in his free hand, then returned his attention to the object of interest.

Creeping up behind Torian, Sadio opened the blanket to wrap them both in it as her hands slid around his waist. Torian didn't flinch, letting Sadio know that he'd been aware of her presence all along. "Whatcha reading?" She rested her cheek against Torian's shoulder and savored the feeling of his warm skin against hers. She'd seldom seen him at ease enough to walk around without his armor.

"The harrowing tale of a hunter and her elusive prey," Torian responded while taking another bite.

Curious, Sadio leaned around to find her journal between Torian's elbows. Gasping, she snatched it from under him and retreated across the room. "How much did you read?"

Torian smirked as he turned to lean back against the counter. "You'd just decided that you loved me." Sadio groaned as she flipped through the entries. That left a lot of embarrassing possibilities.

Torian crossed the room, concern etching his brow. "Didn't know it was a secret. The file was open when I came in." His hands gripped Sadio's upper arms gently. "Sorry, cyare."

Sadio allowed herself to be pulled into Torian's arms and sighed. "I've grown too comfortable with you," she teased. "I hadn't intended for you to read those, no." Ever, more like it.

Torian laid a kiss on the top of her head. "I won't read anymore." Sadio nodded against his chest while his hands rubbed a comfortable line up her back. She felt his smile widened against her ear. "I liked the title, though. Hunt Log, clever."

Sadio shoved away from her husband and smacked his chest playfully. "Get some clothes on, we're due in the Raider's Cove to collect Wanda's supplies."

An hour later, and after Torian convinced Sadio to join his shower so that he could properly apologize, they exited the warehouse. "Take these to my ship," Sadio instructed the loader droids. "Phil, you go too and make sure they don't touch anything."

The knee-high, defender droid chirped in understanding before scuttling after the crates. Despite his size, Phil had more than proven himself capable of protecting Sadio's assets. Even if the droid was still convinced that Torian stood in opposition to her best interests.

Torian watched the droid leave and gave an exaggerated sigh of relief. Sadio backhanded his stomach. With a chuckle, the Mandalorian threw an arm over her shoulders. "Kidding. In all honesty, I'm glad you have such a devoted protector for when I'm not around." His features turned dark. "The galaxy is going to osik, riduur. I worry about you."

"That's still a long way from us," Sadio answered while she checked their supply list. "My routes don't take me anywhere near Ziost, or Korriban for that matter." She glanced up with a pointed glare. "But, yours do."

Torian tightened his arm around Sadio, but didn't argue. That concerned her all the more. Especially when he tugged her away from the main boardwalk. "Come on, I need to get something from the post."

Sadio allowed herself to be steered into a squat building where durasteel bars cordoned off half the room. An even squatter man stood behind their shelter. "May I help you?"

"Cadera," Torian answered as he removed his grove to place a hand against the scanner. It flashed green, and the man nodded before vanishing into the back. When he returned, it was while grunting under the weight of a box that looked too small to be so heavy. Torian thanked the man and retrieved it from the chute. Sadio had to bite her lip to hide her amusement at the expression the postman made when Torian lifted the cate with ease.

Once outside, Sadio cast a meaningful glance at the mysterious package. "I'll show you when we reach the Medallion," Torian answered to her silent question.

It took all of Sadio's minimal willpower to keep herself from bugging Torian while they wove through Raider's Cove towards the shipyard. Once inside, she rounded on him. "Alright, buddy. Spill it."

Setting the box down, Torian focused on releasing the seals while he answered. "There's a Mirialan saying: Love's the armor of the heart." Sadio craned her neck to see inside while Torian checked its contents. Finally, he sat back on his haunches with a smile. "Mandos are a bit more proactive."

Taking it as an invitation, Sadio squatted across from her husband to pull out a lightweight chest plate. "Torian…is this?"

"Never been much of a metal worker, but Corridan helped me mold the beskar." Sadio looked up to meet his bright, blue eyes. He'd only just procured his own last year, yet had somehow managed to scrounge together enough to get her what looked to be an entire set. And, he'd shaped it himself; with Sadio's lifestyle in mind.

"It's beautiful." Sadio laughed when she found the leather vest covered in pockets, and looked up to meet Torian's proud smirk. "Really, thank you." The armor wasn't bulky like the stuff he wore, but woven with fabric to make it lighter and easily concealed. Tears pricked her eyes. "I don't know what else to say."

Torian ran his fingers over the greeves still tucked inside the box. "It'll protect you when I can't." He met her gaze, desperation burning in his eyes. "Promise you'll wear it when meeting clients."

Sadio nodded. She'd always scoffed at Torian's determination to armor her, but she'd never known it could be so beautiful. Not to mention the random sorties popping up all over the galaxy. She couldn't remember a time when things had been so unstable. "I promise, lover."

Standing, Torian pulled Sadio to her feet, then put everything back into the box so that he could lift it. "Come on, let's make sure the size is right. Beskar fits together different than other armor, and I need to see that it's correct before Wanda gets here."

Sadio followed, then laughed. Torian glanced over his shoulder, and she shook her head. "It just occurred to me that the colors match my boots. Was that on purpose?"

A bright grin split Torian's face. "It's a good color on you. Didn't see a reason to change it."

Sadio swatted Torian's butt. "Keep that up, and I might forgive you for reading my journal."

Torian plopped the package onto the bed inside Sadio's room, then turned to pull her against him. "Keep that up, and I might forget that I had a stalker."

Sadio growled playfully before she kissed him. "Shut up and show me how this armor works." Or better yet, how to take it off.