Typing in the seven digit code, Estar unlocked the ray shielded cell door. Tyresius sat at the small table inside, his cuffed hands clasped neatly on top of it. He watched her, silent, as she pulled up the other chair, sitting across from him.
She stared at the worn wood of the table, not looking at him, "I don't normally do favors," She said quietly. Bless the stars, he stayed quiet, only nodding. If he started acting smug for a second, she was leaving, "But sometimes there are exceptions. Technically, you saved my life back there, so I do owe you. I could maybe change your bounty status to KIA, no remains. I maybe could do that," Her words slowly dragged out. Half her brain was telling her that this could possibly be her worst idea in a long time, "Also, I might be able to arrange for a new ID to be made for you. You could fill in the bio, if you wanted to,"
"A blank slate?" He asked, disbelieving. She still refused to look at him, but she could hear the almost childlike excitement in his voice.
"Sort of. It's not a chance to muck up your life again, it's a chance to steer it in another direction. I have a spare bunk, if you need time to get back on your feet again. If you want it. You won't be on here for a free cruise, you'll be working for me. When I say jump, you say how high,"
Tyresius leaned back in his chair. She finally looked up at him, gauging his reaction. Even though he acted like he was in deep thought, she could see his mind was already made up, "You know, you and I certainly made a good team back there. Working with you is the most profitable choice I can make,"
He extended his cuffed hands to her in an offer of shaking, "You've got a deal, sweetheart," He said.
"Don't call me sweetheart," Estar muttered, reaching across the table to shake on the deal. His hands were rough and warm over hers.
"Fine by me," He shrugged as she unlatched his cuffs, "I think we'll make a good team. I can do all the talking, while you kill people while looking pretty,"
She glared at him, "Or I can just kill people,"
He smiled at her. A genuine smile, too, not a grin or a smirk, but one that made his eyes crinkle.
And she was smiling actually back