.4.

Corso boarded the Aditi, unease soothed a bit by being back on the ship he'd come to think of as home. He wasn't sure when Tial's ship had become home to him but that was exactly what it was. It was one of the few dependable things he had now and even with the sometimes cramped conditions he couldn't think of anywhere else he'd want to lay his head at night.

He could hear Risha, Tial, and Spar speaking in the engine room and headed in that direction, needing his captain to see what he'd been up to. He knew the woman was in a bad mood, a state that was becoming common these days, because of a conversation she'd had with Risha earlier.

The would-be-queen had suggested that, since Tial and Corso now had a huge bounty on their heads that was attracting every two-bit Bounty Hunter with a blaster to their doorstep, that they consider a change in appearance. As it turned out Mirialans with dark red hair were an anomaly and it had become something of an identifying mark for Tial, as had her markings. Descriptions of the two of them were all over, though actual video or pictures of them weren't.

Tial had been furious, cursing Rogun the Butcher and Skavak, claiming she wished she could bring the useless pile of Hutt crap back so she could kill him again. Spar had interjected here that vanity had lead many people to their grave and that Tial should consider Risha's suggestion. Tial had, true to form, just yelled more before stomping off to her quarters.

Corso had slipped out here, knowing that Tial would need time to let her rage subside. He could probably get through to her if he was so inclined (and was the only person who could when she was good and angry.) but sometimes it was good to let her work it through alone. Besides they were docked on Nar Shaddaa and he was pretty sure he could find a way to show his support for Tial down there.

He stopped in the doorway of the engine room, brow furrowing. Tial had her back to him, talking to the other two woman about the next planet they would be visiting, but her hair was now shorter, done in a prim looking bun, and colored an inky black. He couldn't help but feel a flash of longing for the long red locks he'd gotten so used to winding around his fingers when no one else was around to see.

Spar noticed him first, nodding in his direction. "Riggs. We weren't sure if something had happened to you or not."

"Nah, just went out for some air." Corso said, watching the way Tial's shoulder stiffened at the sound of his voice. "Looks like I missed something."

"Just your captain coming to her senses." Risha said loftily. Sometimes Corso really wished Tial had just airlocked the woman back when they'd first met her, fortune and notoriety be damned. "Right Tia?"

Tial sighed then made a rude gesture at Risha while turning to face him. He couldn't stop the noise of surprise from escaping his lips. Her face was a smooth green, unmarked by the tattoos that told the story of her life. She looked strange and...well, more naked that he'd ever seen her.

Also miserable. Her lips were pressed together tightly, her deep purple eyes were downcast, and her left hand was clenched into a fist.

"Well? What do you think." Tial muttered, eyes darting up to look at him.

Corso looked past her to see Risha and Spar looking at him, one expectantly and the other with a careful mask of indifference. Back to Tial, who seemed suddenly smaller than she normally did. He wanted to reach out and pull her close; partially to comfort her and partially to be sure that she was the same person.

He was in full armor though, not wanting to be caught off guard on his trip. He couldn't have this conversation looking like this.

"Can we talk in your room Captain?" She nodded tightly then moved around him, careful to not make contact, then headed down to her quarters. He followed, resolving to do something to make Risha and Spar hate their lives later.

He found Tial sitting in the middle of her bed (their bed?) starring at one of the walls intently. She didn't say anything, or even look at him, as he shed his armor down to the protective tunic and pants underneath then crawled into the bed. He sat behind her, pulling her into his lap and wrapping his arms around her small frame. She seemed to become undone, all tension leaving her body as she sank into him, fitting her head under his chin and sighing.

"Your markings-"

"It's makeup." Tial said, voice clipped. He was oddly relived by that. He touched her hair, finding the tie keeping the bun in place, and tugging it free. Her hair felt the same, thick and soft, though it only fell to just above her shoulder now. "It's going to take me forever to grow it back out."

He chuckled. "I can relate."

"Huh?" She twisted around, looking at him for the first time, and her mouth fell open. She moved fast, hands on his head and she crowded herself even closer. He laughed in spite of himself; her wide-eyed expression of shock was too absurd to not laugh at. "Corso. You. Hair."

What she was trying to say was that he'd gone out and gotten rid of his dreads. His hair was now a close cropped fuzz. Tial's fingers moved over his scalp for a moment longer then she moved her face closer to his, until they were nose to nose.

"You didn't have to do this."

Corso swiped a finger over her face, cringing at the thick green gunk he came away with. He could now make out the shadow of a black triangle. "I hate it."

She kissed him softly, a change from the usual frantic passion she displayed.

.5.

Elara and Leta's wedding was a small, but lively affair. Even Jorgan managed to shed some of his stiffness for the occasion, showing up out of uniform and having a entire two drinks after, which according to Leta was something of a minor miracle.

Others, people affected by Havoc Squad, had come and gone through out the day, wishing the couple well. Now, with the sun down and a slight chill beginning to creep over the outdoor pavilion the event was winding down, with only the assembled crews of the Aditi, Chaos, and Yuga still present, aside from the band.

The normally reserved Dorne had been dragged out for another dance with her new bride and though the blond human had fussed and moaned about it getting late she was still smiling brightly. Tial had allowed Theran to coax her out, gracing Corso with a look that said, very plainly 'No violence' before heading out.

As it turned out the doctor was, while under the careful watch of Corso and Tial's older brother, a perfect gentleman. At least from what they could see; considering how loudly Tial was laughing he was probably saying something that would offend most people.

Tymar just shook his head. "If I didn't know for a fact that Holiday has him wrapped around her fingers I might be concerned."

Corso frowned, thinking about the holographic woman who'd been hovering at Theran's side most of the night, not sure if the Jedi was implying what he seemed to be. A shrug from Tymar told him that it was exactly what he thought. "I...see."

"Not that I think Tial would ever do anything like that to you." Tymar added lightly, but his eyes were narrowed seriously. Corso was immediately suspicious of the redhead.

He liked the Jedi these days, now that Tymar had let go of a lot of the idealism and stiffness he'd exuded when they'd first met. He even considered him a friend, a good friend even. He was always willing to hear Corso out and offer his thoughts without judgment, even when it came to Tial and Corso tried to do the same.

"And you wouldn't do anything to hurt my little sister, would you?" Wisps of golden light drifted between Tymar's fingers, a casual display of the power he wielded. Corso wasn't impressed, or at least not as impressed as he would have been once.

"Of course not." He hesitated for a moment, eyes finding Tial on the dance floor. She was smiling, eyes bright, as she whirled around the floor with Elara, having traded partners with her sister at some point. "I love Tial."

Tymar's expression softened. "I know. I...look, I think of you like a little brother, but not really because you're sleeping with my sister." Corso laughed and the Jedi offered up a small amused smile. "Which is why I haven't killed you yet. For you to be with her for so long but not have declared any intentions is a serious insult. It means you don't think she's worthy of marrying."

Corso stared, not sure what exactly to make of that declaration. Was Tymar really giving him some kind of 'Do right by my sister or else' speech? Corso had a few friends who'd gotten married at blaster point after getting a girl 'in trouble', or getting caught with her, but he'd never imagined he'd been in that position.

Finally he found his voice again. "I don't think Tial is interested in marrying me."

"I think you'd be surprised." Tymar leaned back in his chair, dark purple eyes staring forward at something Corso couldn't see. "And I didn't say you had to. Marks of Intent are about...saying that you want to be with someone and only them. It doesn't mean anything to you humans, I guess, but the tattoos are apart of who we are."

Corso was saved from answering by a red-faced Elara coming to stand in front of their table, eyes dancing with mirth. "Tia wants you to come out Corso."

"I don't dance." The response was automatic and had been stated no less than twenty times that evening. Elara sniffed, voice taking on a hint of an Imperial accent.

"Tia says that's an order from your Captain, Riggs."

Evil woman. Corso was going to tell Elara exactly what he thought of Tial's orders but the woman turned her head slightly, exposing the small double triangle markings right behind her ear. He'd never seen them before, probably because they were in a place that was easily covered with hair, but they didn't look new.

"Well. I wouldn't want to defy an order."

Elara smiled again then headed back to where Tial and Leta were waiting. Tymar sipped his drink primly, but wasn't able to smother the smug smile. Sadly all the loosening up in the world hadn't changed the fact that the oldest Chraya child was a smug bastard.

"When are you going to declare your intentions towards Risha?"

Tymar choked, loudly. Nadia, who was engaged in a intense conversation with Aric, looked over in alarm and all but flew over, ready to attend to her master. Tymar had confessed that he thought his padawan had a crush on him and that it made life on his ship endlessly awkward. Now, as Nadia began to fuss over him, Tymar glared at him balefully, eyes promising pain.

.6.

"Marry me."

Tial sputtered, hairbrush falling from her suddenly nerveless fingers. She turned to stare at her boyfriend, or whatever she was supposed to call him, who was sprawled out on their bed, watching her intently. His eyes were dark and serious and it made her stomach twist.

This wasn't the first time he'd asked her, that had been in the cockpit of the ship. She'd basically fallen apart, laughing nervously and telling him that she wasn't the marrying type before fleeing to her bedroom, locking him out for the night. He hadn't brought it up again, but she'd felt the distance between them even if the words weren't said. He'd taken to sleeping in his old bunk, which had been a source of annoyance for Guss and Bow considering how cramped the conditions were with three people crammed in there.

This was the first night he'd spent back in here with her, and she'd been hoping for sex, not a follow up proposal. He could be so infuriating.

"Damnit Corso." She started to bend to pick up the brush.

"Tial."

She groaned, glaring up at him through her bangs. He clearly didn't intend to play fair tonight; he knew what saying her name like that did to her. She was so used to him calling her Captain that when she'd first heard him say her name (No, it was more like he'd breathed her name, a soft gasping noise that had cut right through her) it had destroyed all of the careful emotional distance she had constructed between them.

He only called her by her name when they were alone, but it still had a powerful effect on her. In the heat of passion it could make her come undone, in tense moments it could relax her, when she was angry it was the only thing that could soothe her.

When had she allowed one person to gain so much control over her?

He was out of the bed, wearing nothing but his shorts, and was pulling her close. Hands on her hips then one on the small of her back, holding her in place while he kissed her. She gave up on the brush and focused on kissing him back, arms wrapping around his neck. His body was hard and hot, arms strong around her and it was so easy to just pull him closer and drink it in.

Kissing him always sent a flush of heat through her body and wrapped a fog around her brain. That was how they'd ended up in bed together to begin with; a little too much booze and a few fierce kisses and she'd practically forgotten her own name in her haste to get Corso's pants off.

It hadn't been her finest moment, but she supposed she didn't regret it.

His tongue touched her lips and she parted for him eagerly. The hand on her hip moved, cupping the side of her face with a gentleness that didn't quite work with the way he kissed her, but it was Corso so it worked perfectly.

She pulled back to breathe and turned her head to nuzzle his hand, happy that he didn't seem to be pressing the marriage issue. Something dark on his wrist caught her attention and she grabbed his wrist, sex temporarily forgotten as the gravity of what she was looking at sank in.

He had two small triangles in black ink on the inside of his wrist, one with small dots at the point and the other with an oval resting against it's right side. She breathed out, thumb rubbing over the marks. She could feel him looking down at her and knew his eyes were worried and that he was probably chewing on his bottom lip, waiting for her response.

Her stomach heart felt like it was being squeezed in a vice and her eyes burned. She swallowed, willing the tears that wanted to betray her to stay put. Finally, the silence stretching almost painfully between them, she pressed a feather light kiss to the inside of his wrist.

"Fine. But don't you come crying to me if you regret it later." Her voice wasn't her own, pitched oddly and wavering wetly.

0000000000

Finished! I'm not sure any of these moments fit into the 'Hot on My Heels' future storyline, but they were fun to write either way. Playing in Corso and Tial's head is always fun, especially when I get to leave the context of the Smuggler storyline.

Thanks to everyone who read and I hope you all enjoyed it!