Arrogance

After months of non stop training on the Kinnaran homeworld Havolian was flying through space on route to a distant moon. She was on a mission with Elsa and commander Merida of the rebel alliance. Flying the ship they were on was Jack. They came out of hyperspace on an icy habitable moon.

Havolian sat up in his seat. "Ok. So remind me once again why I'm here?" he asked the Jedi Knight and princess. Elsa and Merida rotated in their seats.

"We're here to meet with an Arkanian businessman who owns a large medical company. He's informed us that he might be willing to give medicine and medical supplies to the alliance. This is very important Havolian. We need them to support our injured troops."

"I get that. But why am I here," he asked again.

"What do you know about Arkanians Havolian?" Merida asked.

Havolian frowned. "They're the most arrogant species in the galaxy. And that's saying something. They believe they're the greatest species to ever grace the stars. Even the most humble of them still believe Arkanians are the most intelligent race of all," Havolian muttered with an eye roll.

"Exactly," Elsa said with a nod.

"But we need these supplies. And of all the races the Arkanians have good relations and a high opinion of the Sephi people. We believe he might be more willing to bargain with us with you at our side," Elsa explained.

"Plus he has a daughter about your age," Merida added. Havo cocked a brow. "We have no idea how long this war will last. Good relation with his heir and successor could prove advantageous."

"Basically try to get on good terms with her. Entertain her. Show her some tricks," Elsa offered.

"This doesn't sound like typical Jedi duties." Elsa and Merida only shrugged.

"Coming into orbit," Jack said as the ship dropped into the atmosphere. They came upon a large compound built on the icy surface. They approached as a landing bay was revealed as a section of the roof split open. Jack landed the ship, turning back and nodding.

The Jedi and princess nodded back before standing up. Havolian did the same as he followed them out of the ship. They exited, being greeted by an Arkanian man with tanned skin in expensive robes. Around him were his servants. He welcomed them with open arms.

"Ah, hello my guests," the man said with a smile. Elsa and Merida walked up to him and gave a slight bow and curtsy in greeting.

"Milord. It is an honor," Elsa said respectfully.

"I'm sure it is. And it's a pleasure to meet a Jedi. I'd heard you were all wipe out after the Clone Wars," the man said rather rudely. Elsa pushed down her indignation and smiled tightly.

"And Princess Merida. An honor it is to meet royalty of another world," the man said as he turned his attention to Merida. Merida smiled at him. " I can't say I've heard of this...DunBroke? Was it? Must not have been very important in the galactic senate."

Merida's eyes twitched at the sideways insult of her planet. "It's DunBroch Milord. And I suppose given it's distance it may have escaped some notice by most of the galaxy."

The man nodded before his eyes fell on Havolian. "Ah, a Sephi. Finally someone cultured to talk to. Good to meet you young man," the man said as he extended a hand. Havolian smiled back before introducing himself in perfect Arkanian. The man froze, eyes slightly wide in surprise at hearing his own native tongue come out of another's species mouth. But then his smile returned.

"Come, you must meet my daughter. And of course we can discuss business while we warm up with some food and drink," he said as he escorted them into his home. He led them first to a large study, and sitting behind a desk with a book in hand was a young Arkanian girl around Havo's age.

"Elessa. Come greet our guests," the man said. The girl closed the book she was reading with a blatant frown. She let it drop with a thud as she stomped around the table to join her father at her side. She held her frown, staring at them all with white pupiless eyes.

"Elessa," the girl greeted with a curtsy. Her father introduced them before encouraging her to show Havolian around. With that the adults left them teens to mingle. Elessa stared at the Sephi, still holding her pleasant frown.

Havolian didn't need the Force to tell she wanted nothing to do with him. She radiated annoyance and displeasure. He could tell he wasn't going to like her in the least.

"So. Havolian was it?" she asked.

"Yes Milady," he said politely.

She 'hmphed' turning on her heel to walk to a set of two chair and a small table. She took a seat before looking to him. "Shall we play?" she asked as she gestured to a chess board on the table. "It's been some time since I've played someone new. Perhaps you'll even offer a challenge," she said arrogantly.

Havolian's eye twitched in annoyance. With breath he walked over and took a seat. "Would Milady like the first move?"

Elessa shrugged, obviously not expecting much from the Jedi.

Thirty minutes later...

"Checkmate," Havolian declared with a smile. Elessa stared down the board, her eyes wide in disbelief. She looked up at Havo. He'd just beaten her six time in a row. "Not bad Milady. You came close to almost having me. Shall we play again?" he asked with a smirk.

The girl narrowed her eyes at him and scowled. "I've grown tired of chess. Let us do something else," she said with a huff. Havolian's smirk grew. She was just being a sore loser.

"Tell me Havolian, do you enjoy reading?" she asked as she stood up and walked over to the shelves of books.

"That I do," Havolian said with a nod. She grabbed a book before walking over to the desk. She getsured for him to stand beside her. He complied as she opened the book. Havolian immediately saw it was written in a foreign language. He blinked, causing Elessa to smirk.

"It's in Arkanian. It can be a little hard to understand. But I suppose I can read it for you."

"And on that day the great general declared victory for his forces. A cheer echoed all over the planet and into the void as they celebrated their victory," Havo said aloud as he read a line of words. She blinked in surprise.

"You can read Arkanian?"

"Isn't that rather obvious Milady?" Havolian asked as he tapped the book. She frowned as she slapped the book shut and dropped it.

"Impressive I suppose. Very commendable. Do you speak it as well?"

He greeted her in her own language, causing her to gawk as he said it with a perfect Arkanian accent. Not even tripping over pronunciation.

"Arkanian isn't as difficult to learn as most would think. I learned it in two weeks time," he said casually. He couldn't deny the satisfaction he got at her frown.

"Impressive. For a Sephi. I myself speak four languages," she said proudly.

"I speak eight," Havolian countered.

She frowned at him some more. "Would you like a tour Havolian?"

"Do lead the way Milady," Havolian said with a bow. The girl huffed as she walked out of the room with Havolian following after her. The girl spent pretty much all of the tour showing off her father's wealth. Trying to assert the fact that she was superior to him. But at every opportunity Havolian would show her up, finishing explanation for plants he already knew about in the garden. Pointing out works of artists and styles in their gallery. Even correcting her when she got something wrong.

Havolian let all her arrogant huffing and puffing roll over him. He kept his face apathetic and bored, like nothing she could show him would impress him. And she grew more and more irritated as she saw it wasn't working.

The last place she showed him was a large indoor hot spring baths. She explained how the water was naturally heated. Havo remained unimpressed.

And that's when the girl snapped.

She whirled around to face him. Her face red. She stomped her foot angrily. "OOOOOOOH! You are so...so...rude!"

"Excuse me? I'm rude?" Havolian asked in offense.

"Yes. You've been nothing but arrogant and disrespectful. Acting as if you're superior at every turn!"

"You have the gall to accuse me of arrogance? I'll admit, I can be a bit cocky. But you Arkanians are the very definition of arrogance. All you've done the entire time is try and prove that you're better than me. Well guess what princess, you aren't," Havolian said, crossing his arms over his chest.

She stared at him, jaw hanging low in disbelief that he'd shouted at her. Havolian smirked, glad to see her speechless and quiet. Then her eyes narrowed into a glare before she shoved him. Havo was cut off guard as he fell back and into the large heated baths.

He broke the surface with a gasp to glare up at the proudly smiling Arkanian. With a glare of his own he extended a hand and threw it back. With a yelp and invisible Force threw Elessa into the pool. She came up with a gasp, hair drenched and dress soaked.

She glared at a smiling Havolian before splashing him. Havolian wiped his eyes before splashing her back. This went back and forth for a few minutes, Havolian obviously winning before she threw her hands up.

"That's it! I'm telling my father!" she shouted. She waded over to the edge as Havolian panicked. Crap! He was supposed to be keeping her entertained. If she told her father the deal would likely be off. He shouted and chased after her. exiting the pool as she raced toward the door to find her father.

And then with a shout of panic she slipped. Her eyes widened as she fell face first, head headed straight for the ground at startling speed. She knew this was likely to hurt. She would likely break her nose and maybe a few teeth.

Then her body abruptly stopped, she spun, arm out and extended as Havo held onto her arm to stop her fall. She stared at him in shock, realizing he'd saved her from crashing into the ground. Then she looked to her hand, suddenly aware of how tightly his was holding her. She noticed how warm and large his hand was. She'd never touched a boy before and never held hands with one. For a reason unknown to her her face began to grow warm and her knees began to tremble.

Havo pulled her upright and took a step back as she was awkwardly staring intently at him. He arched a brow.

"Milady?" he asked to break the strange tension.

The Arkanian girl glanced away, cheeks a faint pink. She brought a hand up to her chest and she felt her heart was beating faster than it should. "Elessa," she muttered soflty.

"Pardon?"

"Call me Elessa," she whispered as she refused to meet his eyes.

"Uh? Ele-"

"Elessa?"

The teens leapt in surprise as the adults rushed into the room. Elessa's father took in her dripping state in confusion. "Elessa. Why are you wet? And why are you in the bath with my daughter?" the man asked as he looked to Havolian. Havolian froze, unsure how to answer.

"It's my fault father," Elessa piped in. Her father looked down at her inquisitively. "I was just showing him the bath when I ran and slipped into the pool. Havo was worried and jumped in to assist me," she lied. Havo stared at her, wondering why she'd lie when she'd been about to rat on him to her father.

"Ah, I see. Good man," her father said with a nod. "Let's get you dry and into some new clothes. I'm sure I have something for Havolian to borrow as well." With a nod the man escorted his daughter out of the room by his side. But as they went she looked back to lock eyes with Havo. As soon as their eyes met she looked away, leaving a confused Sephi to stare after her.

The rest of the visit was fairly pleasant. The teens joined the adults for dinner. All the while Elessa kept staring at the Sephi boy. Havolian kept glancing at her, feeling her mix of emotions through the Force. Her thoughts were running rampant. And every time he'd look at her she'd look away, refusing to meet his eye.

Finally it was time to leave. The deal had gone off perfectly with Elessa's father agreeing to supply the rebellion with medical supplies in secret. Merida and Elsa thanked him with smiles.

"It was a pleasure to meet you young man. I do believe you'll make a fine Jedi," he said. Havo smiled and gave his hand a shake.

With that Havolian turned his attention to Elessa. "Elessa. It was a pleasure to meet you," Havolian said politely. She only nodded shyly in respone.

With that they boarded the ship. Havolian sat in his seat and just shook his head at the strange behavior of the Arkanian girl.

On the ground said Arkanian girl stared after the ship as it rose into the air. She blinked, thoughts on the young Sephi boy flying away.

And taking her heart with her.