Four: Corellia
The ship was quiet and dark. The rest of the crew was offship, planning for the Kaggath duel tomorrow. Andronikos sat in the pilot's seat, thinking of the next day.
A soft voice came from the darkened hallway, "Rev?"
He stood up and turned around.
Liri stood there, hidden by shadows. For the first time ever, her voice was uncertain. "I couldn't find you."
"Yeah, I just wanted some time away from the crowd."
She walked into the light from the bridge and he caught his breath. She was wearing the black lingerie he'd brought her back from his heist. He walked over, as quickly as he could and took her into his arms.
"We have tonight, Rev," she murmured against his chest.
"What do you mean?" he said, his throat tightening.
Liri shifted to stare into his eyes. "Tonight we get to be everything we've never been able to admit. And then if anything happens tomorrow, tonight is the truth. No evasions or denials of how much we mean to each other. Tonight we get to be honest and we'll always have this night, no matter what happens."
He pressed her against him, unable to take his eyes off her face.
"I love you, Andronikos Revel," her voice trailed off to a whisper, "I love you."
He swept her into his arms and carried her into her room.
The next morning, they both helped each other strap on their armor. Andronikos kept sneaking glances at her, reliving over and over in his head the words they had whispered to each other until dawn and the feel of her body under his hands.