A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...
A little farmgirl from Saleucami gave an enhanced female clone from Kamino a happy and beautiful little portrait, showing how much the now honorary aunt meant to the adopted niece.
When Shaeeah Lawquane was a little older, a little wiser, Agent Talla wanted to tell the farmgirl just how much that happy little portrait meant to her lowly Enhanced-Clone-of-the-GAR persona. She got too choked up in the gift-giving moment that was regrettably followed by her squadron's abrupt departure.
It was one thing to say you were fighting so that the children of the galaxy wouldn't have to face unimaginable evils under a cruel regime, yet having firsthand experience with these innocent and precious life forms put a whole new perspective on the war for Agent Talla. It was a hard bite to swallow, but Cut's words did ring some straight truths: It wasn't by choice that she fought in this bloody war, Agent Talla was indeed designed for, born, and forced into it.
As was part of his goodbye ritual, Cut always made sure to let the soldiers who happened to crash on his doorstep know that they were more than welcome to stay where the Republic hadn't found a deserter and his precious, illegal family. Those who chose to stay could build a new and peaceful life for themselves, away from the bloodshed.
Yet after Saleucami, Agent Talla learned she did have a choice... and decided, all on her own, to keep fighting. It was not encouraged for clones to think about the future because they are not expected to outlive the war. But it was amazing Shaeeah could see so much light and happiness in what Talla had observed was a dark and twisted galaxy. She wants to make the little girls happier perception an actual reality. Now, that happy picture was tucked into the corner of Talla's bedroom mirror, so that when donning her armor and weapons it would be the reminder why the she was going out to unavoidably stain them with blood again, but of those who wished to destroy Shaeeah's happiness. Talla hated the smell, feel and taste of spilt blood but she'd do it for Shaeeah, and through her Cut, Suu, Jek, and the little Lawquanes on the way.
And though Crosshair claimed to loathe the very existence of his niece(s) and nephew(s), perhaps this was why he also framed and hung his own pictural gifts up in his room. The best Sniper in the entire GAR also needed a reminder once in a while on why he kept trudging on, too.
Talla learned she indeed also had the choice whether or not to have a relationship with Hunter which led to her first experience of a passionate moment, underneath the twinkling stars of the Saleucami desert, in the arms of her Sergeant.
Would this particular choice have drastic consequences if found out?
Yes.
After tonight, Talla was reminded why she wholeheartedly agreed to Hunter's plan of keeping this under wraps for the foreseeable future, because while both knew none of the brothers would ever betray them by blabbing... if this somehow got out to any of their cruel superiors, there was no doubt in the incognito couple's mind that something bad would happen, and they'd lose this escape from their gruesome job.
And they were right.
It was taking an unusual amount of time to receive an assignment. They spent 3.5 days on Saleucami, yet still managed to make the 6.2 day journey back to Coruscant with no communications from Lama Su, Commander Cody, an Admiral, a Jedi General, or a reg Commander in need of the Bad Batch's superior soldiering.
To pass that time, Talla had:
- Dyed her hair the stunning hue of violet.
- Used a shampoo prank on Crosshair so he temporarily had this same coloration, which completely backfired because he infuriatingly flaunted the new do instead of cursing her out as expected, his genius form of payback.
- Researched and experimented with modifications for her helmet.
- Read two entire series of novels on her datapad and finished an entire six-season holodrama with Wrecker.
- Dabbled in carving a wooden accessory to attach to a nexu tooth for a sweet new necklace pendant.
- Treated her nexu battle wounds.
- Gambled way too much at sabacc and dejarik.
- Brushed off the cobwebs on her Ryl (Twi'leki) that Nik and Sky had been teaching to Talla, who's brave buddy also venturing into this new language territory being Wrecker. He was doing quite well since his motivation was to learn more about his girlfriend's culture! Him and Talla learned quite similarly: verbally with tons of repetition through interpersonal practice sessions with each other. And they often watched reruns of favorite holovids translated into Ryl for visual lessons too, though the Tiima's helped them sound less stiff and formal, and the soldiers were adopting the dialect from the part of Ryloth the Tiima's originated from.
Almost ten days of activities passed... There was no call to duty that interrupted them.
It was a bit alarming for the best squadron in the GAR, but perhaps the Separatists had taken a few days off? Highly unlikely, but Wrecker had no complaints, which was as phenomenal as say, the Eye of Aldhani, because Mr. Demolitions Expert used to constantly complain about the lack of exciting explosions in between those long hours dragging on between missions.
But Hunter and Talla were beginning to understand how having an equally electrifying distraction off the battlefield definitely took away that restlessness. And Talla managed to only nearly ruin the big secret that was their secret romantic relationship a small handful of times... A day.
She couldn't help it! Two people could only hide out in some distant part of the starship so many times before it started becoming suspicious.
And while the Agent was good at thinking up excuses on the fly when nearly caught in a compromising position-
'Hunter is helping me with my Mando'a!'
'Hunter is helping me dye my hair!'
'Hunter is getting another sword lesson!'
- it wouldn't matter how believable it was because while Hunter did help with her hair (usually someone else's job because he hated the smell of the chemicals) and Hunter did get another sword lesson (he was becoming a formidable opponent) and Hunter did help Talla brush up on her Mando'a too (quite the linguist, she discovered), when stupid Hunter found out that him speaking to Talla in that particular language with his apparently 'sexy voice' caused her to become an outright ooey gooey, goofily giggling and grinning mess, the stoic man's previously shot confidence levels SKYROCKETED. And alongside that, his cheekiness.
Sergeant Hunter had the audacity to start using it against her. It was in these moments Talla could see how him and smug Crosshair were brothers! And it didn't really matter what Hunter said, it was just the accent and his smoky tone that never failed to crumble her coolness.
After washing out the dye she asked what he thought of the color so far, and when he couldn't sputter forth a compliment 'cause he sucked at those, he tested the Mando'a Speaking Theory instead by simply going 'You just look like a drowned womp-rat, to be honest' in said language, and viola - amidst the goofy giggling she tried hiding behind her hand, she'd actually given a little pig snort that was incredibly embarrassing on her end, incredibly confidence boosting on his end.
During a sparring session, the student discovered that using Mando'a during a taunt could be a tactic to throw the expert off her guard, which he claimed significantly evened the playing field.
"Serves you right," He'd also said once in further boldness, and fighting that stupid grin she told him to shut up with a 'light' shove.
He'd collided with a stack of crates behind him, but casually leaning against it Hunter folded his arms and pushed back harder by saying: "You did this to me all throughout the last few months without even trying -"
*unapologetic shrug and muted smirk*
"- only fair if I get some compensation for my troubles."
That smirk too. Again, used to seeing it in a battle environment, or directed at his brothers, not at herself. Another weakness.
Clasping her hands behind her back, in that moment blushing Talla made up for all her unintentional wrongdoings against Hunter by standing on her tiptoes and giving him a shy peck on his tattooed cheek.
Hunter's smirk softened to a smile, because that was the only time since Saleucami either had felt brave enough express that sort of affection again.
Both really liked it. Both didn't know until that moment under the stars that they really craved and wanted that emotional and physical, warm and toasty yet ELECTRIFYING closeness with someone. But with such foreign territory both felt, surprise surprise, still uneasy and unsure about it. What was expected? What were the boundaries?
They needed to discuss this, obviously.
But maybe not right now. Both simultaneously thought, hesitant arms wrapping around each other, and faces instinctively drawing closer like they were caught in a tractor beam-
Too bad Tech decided to interrupt the tender moment, barging into the cargo hold with some fascinating information he just read about Mandalorians, one of the civilizations they derived inspiration from in creating their own unique culture as clones tended to do, and the brainiac HAD to share all this with his fellow exceptionally minded sibling who was currently refreshing her memory on those badass warriors.
Boy, he had no idea.
Hence, the mild glares went way over his head, much like the information over forcibly smiling Talla's, who was unsuspectingly leaned up against the other far end of the crate aisle.
It was a good thing the security cam system in the Marauder was down for maintenance. The little modified antenna Tech had affixed their ship with, so the feed could long-distance broadcast to his datapad, was apparently welded with the shoddy craftsmanship of a five-year-old and must've snapped off after entering hyperspace.
In reality, before take-off Talla had snuck away just long enough to snap the antenna off herself, plus a few primary system parts they didn't have spares of, knowing the security cams could compromise her and Hunter's inevitable sneaking around... Tech believing he might need a new prescription on his goggles was an unfortunate side-effect of her trickery, but one she could live with.
And it wasn't just Tech accidentally interrupting, someone else popped up every once in a while to 'look for something' - Crosshair - and it always happened during the most inconvenient of times, just as the couple braved getting cozy again.
It was just daybreak on Coruscant when the Marauder was FINALLY docked at the military base they might as well have a reserved docking port with their logo emblazoned on the landing pad.
With Tech's travel-time prediction Wrecker had been able to inform Skylar of their scheduled arrival beforehand, and knew to meet her at Dex's Diner for an early breakfast buffet.
Neither having a significant other of their own, single Crosshair trudged along with single Tech to peruse the markets, for he wanted to replace some of Gonky's rusted over parts for cosmetic purposes - Talla didn't want the droid pet to look or feel like he wasn't loved - and to also hunt down those spare cam parts.
That only left the incognito couple, and hopefully a whole day to themselves!
Hunter had been peacefully sipping on a mug of caf in his room, decompressing after the long and stifling hyperspace journey, but when Talla heard the speeders buzz off where did she go? Without knocking she burst right into his room with a loud, happy squeal and he habitually jumped up from his chair.
"Everyone's gone!" Talla cheered, ready to spend quality time with her favorite person.
Whom, blankly blinking, had to catch his bearings.
NOT under attack.
He glanced from sprightly Talla literally bouncing from one foot to other, then down to the caf droplets staining his clean undershirt -
Hunter startled when Talla manifested right before him, hopping onto the abandoned chair and settling on her knees.
Too excited to verbally apologize, with her thumb Talla only brushed away a stray droplet on his chin. "Any ideas on what to do today? Because we now have a sixty percent less chance of the big secret getting out!" That she was starting to tire from hiding cause of the brother's lack of ceremony.
Hunter tilted his head at her and deadpanned, "Take some responsibility, Tal - of you screwing up and the big secret getting out."
Mocking a frown back at him, "Because of YOUR tomfoolery, Sarge." She retorted, lightly jabbing his pec.
A muscular and rather defined pec with that close-fitting shirt -
Alright, maybe that wasn't a good idea.
Twisting away, Talla modestly withdrew and folded her arms on the chair's headrest to maintain some of her dignity. There had to be a first time for that, right?
Not on Hunter's watch.
"And who here is trained to handle whatever is thrown at them when undercover?" He goaded, 'the smirk' re-emerging, mischievously glinting eyes doing the rest.
And Hunter mentally high-fived himself when he once again successfully riddled the badass super soldier into a puddle of nerves, the cute blush unable to be concealed even when she tucked her chin to her chest because it was still evident by tips of her reddened ears.
"'Shockingly,'" Talla emphasized sarcastically, "My complex training regime did not consist of me learning how to handle smoothtalkin' from my -"
Her eyebrows snapped together and she looked up, pondering him curiously. "What do I get to call you?" She finally openly asked, "What do we call each other?"
The Sergeant hummed and set aside his mug. Talla shifted back her arms so he mimic her thoughtfulness by leaning on the headrest too, forearms perched on either side of her.
His captivating brown eyes bore down at her with equal curiosity. "You're the one who does the most holovid watching and novel reading out of all of us - are there terms that stick out to you?"
A stupid question really, as a TALLA-TALK was his reply because OF COURSE SHE'D BEEN WRACKING HER BRAIN.
And TALLA-TALK's trumped flustered anytime, any day. "Well, there's the obvious titles - boyfriend and girlfriend - but if you find that too juvenile like some do, there's are other obvious titles - partner, significant other, lover..." She avoided eye contact, clearing her dry throat awkwardly, "Although we are not engaged in a physical relationship at present so that might not fit." Before he could register his own demure existence, a Tech-like finger appeared millimeters from his face, "But I swear on my nonexistent mother's grave, if you just want to call us 'friends' I will riot because the whole point of us sneaking around is so that people don't see we're beyond the friend zone!"
He huffed, half nervous and half amused. "Well, I've been giving it some thought too..."
Her heart fluttered, and finger lowered. "You have?"
Nodding, his gaze briefly flitted to the side, pausing for a thought.
Then he said, "I didn't want to be one of those kruddy boyfriends I see in your holos, and doesn't put forth any effort."
That was her answer: Hunter wanted to test out 'boyfriend' first. And broadly grinning, Talla communicated that he was already infinitely better than those brain bolted jerks.
She again asked if he had any suggestions on what they should do with their free time, but the thing was, Hunter had wanted the next trip to Coruscant to be the time Nik would finish the masterpiece that was the entire left side of his body having a matching skeleton to his skull face. Hunter had pushed off getting the rib cage done until the very end, being informed the chest area was one of the most painful places to get inked, though discovered his foot and shin hadn't been a walk in the park either, and we all know he endured the original face depiction. Did not mean he enjoyed it. He just liked the finished product and the confidence that he was just as unique as his brothers a tattoo helped give him.
Hunter knew it was gonna be a long few hours, and didn't even know if they'd get a comm in the middle of it, or afterwards, so Talla was informed of this original plan, which already had been set in stone during the hyperspace journey.
Her face paled as expected. "You mean..."
"Yes, if you want to tag along you'll have to watch me get impaled by an electric needle 3,000 times per minute for several hours on end." He must've remembered that right because Talla didn't correct Hunter, only set her chin atop her folded arms and lightly exhaled through her nose. She was conflicted.
Hunter did understandably say that he wouldn't be opposed to her wanting to find something else to occupy herself, but she gave a slight pout and with a light nose then forehead nudge - keldabe - and with no further thinking necessary she murmured, "Your girlfriend wants to spend the time with her boyfriend." And they both exhaled a breathy chuckle this time because they quite liked how nicely that sounded so far.
It wasn't the exclusive time together they'd needed to discuss things, and they'd have to maintain some physical distance with the Tiima's around, but perhaps there'd be time to go somewhere and hang out later. Maybe finally be able kiss a little.
Heck, 'the kids' were gone, they could kiss a little now.
Just as their eyelids flitted closed and their lips touched, some clattering noises from Gonky - Hunter's makeshift coffee table apparently - made them spring apart.
"Oh kriff, I forgot we adopted a droid." Talla swore down at the droid powering up and ejecting his clunky legs. "Gonky, how much did you hear?!"
*excited honking, concerning whirring noises and temperature spike*
Talla raised a hand. "EASY, your still staticky from the adoption, don't fry your circuits!"
There was a low, whistle-like noise equivalent to a human's exhale.
*mellow, curious honks*
"Yes, we're together."
*happy honks and wiggling again*
Talla went 'aww' and placed that hand over her heart. "Yes, I know we make an adorable couple, but I really need you to keep it a secret."
*serious honk, but followed by an affectionate bonk on her leg*
And by now incredibly baffled, Hunter watched his girlfriend fondly pat the droids hot-to-the-touch outer shell. "I'll find a way for you to have a real nice oil bath as payment for your silence, but I swear if you start blackmailing me I will not hesitate to rip you apart bolt by bolt."
"GONK GONK!" The droid clumsily twirled and clunked out of the room, and Hunter helplessly watched his precious mug shatter to the ground.
"You understand it?" He incredulously asked instead of sulking.
And scrunched his face when receiving a flick to the forehead. "His name is Gonky, and I studied his particular dialect of droidspeak on the way here."
"Shyriiwook speaking Wookies make more sense than Gonky." Hunter retorted to hide his insecurity at her information memorization abilities.
"Well, it's been established your technologically challenged -"
Wait.
While he coyly squinted at the offense she squinted back with an impressed upturn of her lips. "You speak Shyriiwook?"
"Why do you think my voice is so 'smoky and sexy?'" He jested, though he was still a beginner according to the brief mentor he had on that Kashyyyk village liberation.
Talla propped her chin on a curled fist, feigning (but not really) a dreamy expression. "It was a happy side effect of your genetic mutation?"
"Happy for who?" He truly wondered, because he would've loved to have better pitch when he yelled at his misbehaving brethren.
"For me!"
Oh, duh, of course.
Shivering Skylar caught sight of big shadow of Wrecker rounding the darkened street corner to the Diner. Warmth blooming in her chest, a wide grin spread across her face. Taking a running start she closed the distance and leapt into his ready arms, the force from her happiness and relief actually making him stumble back once, which was impressive. He gave a good-natured bark of a laugh, they both did when he gave them a twirl.
Just over three weeks of holo-communications had barely kept them upbeat, the ache of physical distance something they were hoping would get easier. But neither could let go that it was so much better to physically be here with each other than talking to a literally hollow projection that you couldn't hug or kiss or cuddle, even if being able to communicate at all was better than nothing.
Now, Dex's Diner had seen many an odd moment since the Bad Batch started frequenting the establishment. So, when Wrecker waltzed in with his gorgeous girlfriend on his arm, animatedly chatting up a storm already, the waitress made a bee-line to the kitchen to give the owner a heads up that two members of the crazy shuttle were now docked at the landing port.
"It's too early for this bantha crap." He grumbled.
Shockingly, this time around there was no shenanigans after all, because they did not eat at the establishment, they chose a bench that overlooked the awakening city and skies. Wrecker had something serious he wanted to ask Skylar, and incriminating information could not fall into the wrong hands.
...
Pre-serious-question jitters made him stall by gobbling down that last piece of toast from the mountain he'd ordered... He made a strained face since it did NOT go down easy because of his throat drying, and failing to clear it only caused a nearby flock of birds to fly away from their power pole perches, squawking in protest.
Wrecker ended up having to accept his to-go cup of meiloorun juice Sky thrust out, and she heartily patted his back while offering reassurances.
His face screwed up again when he downed that glass in one go too, the toast feeling like a boulder going down the wrong tube and making his chest feel like it was on fire. Ouch.
Wrecker ended up needing to down the last dregs of his warm Jawa Juice too, giving a slight cough as the burning abated. Only now he felt brave enough to shift to face his girlfriend next to him in the booth, and with such gentleness took her free hands in his, to which he received a curious blink and full attention.
"Okay, hypo-the-ti-cal question." Wrecker sounded out, wanting to sound book-smart to hopefully boost his non-existent confidence.
It didn't. And gulping nervously, he chose to focus down on her small soft hands in his large, calloused ones, fidgeting with one of her rings by sliding it side to side. By Wrecker's serious tone, for a horrifying moment Sky feared bad news.
A soft kiss pressed to the corner of his troubled frown beckoned Wrecker to look back into her bright blue, kind eyes that never failed to be encouraging and enchanting and intimidating.
"Wou - would ya ever wanna take a trip together, mesh'la?" He blurted out, his short-circuiting brain riddling him to nothing more than a dummy droid.
"Oh?" Sky's forehead puckered, but the heart fluttered excitedly at the thought of traveling and not feeling the dread that her boyfriend would be torn apart from her at a moment's notice.
"Yeah, it'd have to be with all my family though." He rolled his eyes, "'cause Hunter still hasn't gotten over the skyscraper I blew the roof off of and won't let me borrow the Marauder." Which was stupid in Wrecker's eyes, because blowing the roof off a place was generally a good thing! At least, during a dance party at 79's it was.
"I figured as much." Skylar chortled about the family comment, hearing many a story about his destructive tendencies.
Personally, she found it incredibly hot.
Slipping her hands from his she let them travel up his brawny forearms and biceps, gazing up at his flustered but pleased grin through her lashes because those muscles still prominent even under the thick coat he wore. "You know, I actually walked by the construction sight the other day, and it gave me goosebumps but in a good way -" Legs tucked under her now, her wandering hands settled on his broad shoulders, her smirking face inches away from his. "'cause it shows the galaxy how smart and strong you are."
Usually, burly Wrecker swayed to the power his girlfriend had to melt him into nothing more than moldable clay in her smaller, perfectly manicured hands. It was the blanket they'd been using to keep warm slipping off that gave him the jolt he needed to keep her at arm's length.
... After a good smooch.
Maybe two.
"Now, don't do that, I'm tryin' to have a serious conversation with ya." Wrecker chuckled, sheepishly rubbing the back of his warm, red neck but left his other arm draped around her to keep her close.
Sky half-shrugged with a dimpled grin. "Sorry."
Not.
After resituating the blanket that he held closed, her hands folded on his shoulder, Sky perched her chin atop them, half-lidded eyes twinkling up at him in full, undivided attention. "Continue."
It took a second for him to find that courage again, and required another encouraging peck on his scarred jawline for it to return. "Well, the trip would have to last like a week 'cause we'd have to go to the Outer Rim, we have some... Other family out there."
That was rather a vague explanation, causing a brow raise, so he whispered, "An ex-reg and his wife 'n step-kids." Wrecker shrugged his unoccupied shoulder, "That's where we were just now, I told 'em all about ya!"
Timidly, he looked off to the side but stroked up and down her back to keep himself in the moment and finish what he started. "'I guess I was kinda hopin' you'd wanna meet my in-laws, niece 'n nephew, 'cause they sure wanna meet you, it's even on a sunny desert planet, which ya told me was a dream of yours to see one day, to see what livin' on Ryloth is like!"
Wrecker knew this was a big conscience matter though, asking Skylar to meet and associate with a deserter of the Army, and keep his existence a secret from the government he evaded, but they were obedient citizens of. He'd discussed this at length with Cut, and then with his squadron, figuring since it worked out with Talla, perhaps one day, under more favorable circumstances, he could bring his girlfriend to meet the extended family. Cut had no quarrels about it, even teased that they could always put together a second house on the property one day *wink*
There was more that needed to be discussed, and Wrecker had been given permission to reveal the reason why Cut deserted so she could judge for herself whether or not to associate with him. Wrecker withheld the exact location of where Cut lived until he figured out where Skylar's head was at to, you know, protect his family.
For a moment, Skylar pondered Wrecker, then only said this:
"Well, it sounds like a nice thing we can discuss more, ma sareen, and in the meantime, since we've reached the point of meeting each other families..." Her anxious smile gave him a pit in his stomach, "We gotta find a time where I can properly introduce you to my parents."
Ideally this should've been an encouraging statement - meeting the deserter and his family was open for discussion! And it seemed like it'd be a likely yes because she wanted to introduce him to HER family! Her parents!
...
WAIT.
Wrecker's jaw became slack, his face pale. "... You're parents?" He whispered.
He felt sick.
"Oh kark, I forgot nat-borns have actual parents!"
The clone soldier was eventually gonna have to face the protective parents of a beloved daughter.
"I absolutely hate this place." Freezing Talla spat, an unpredicted early morning frost chilling her sensitive self to the bone. And she was only wearing thin leggings with a tank top and leather jacket. Her ankle boots weren't even suited for the cold.
How would she have known it'd be this cold, it wasn't like she was ever up at this ungodly hour in between missions! The sun was barely risen over the horizon!
Pacing to keep the blood flow going, her jacket was tugged closer around her midriff at the unexpected early morning BREEZE too, even though the thin black leather wasn't helping.
Leaning against the wall by the Parlor entrance, slightly more bundled up Hunter chuckled, "Thought you preferred the cold." When she zipped the jacket up all the way to her chin.
"Being in the desert messed up my cold tolerance." Her bare hands were shoved into her pockets, but bangs blew this way and that with the next breeze, Talla spat them out of her mouth to no avail and the cold, stiff digits needed to be extracted again. And gosh, her droid leg ACHED.
"Hey, you didn't have to come." Hunter reminded her, once again very happy in his choice of hair accessory that prevented such inconveniences, and his GLOVED hands were toasty warm. "Your wound's still raw, you already dyed your hair, and you're not drunk, which means you can't get another piercing without sucker-punching Sky."
Yet upon catching her eye he made a 'c'mere' sign with his fingers, and Talla immediately obliged thinking a warm hug was in the near future, mildly disappointed when he just tugged off his red scarf.
It was draped and tied snugly to her neck, and he was so kind as to gently free her braid, and she grumbled into the fabric, "I know I didn't have to, this is a matter of wanting to pick up as much extra change as I can."
He quirked a brow down at her questionably, slipping his hands back into his pockets.
Giving an actually happy shiver from the warmth the soft scarf riddled his scent gave, Talla elaborated. "I've been doing a lot of research about my new position as 'Honorary Aunt,' like what is to be expected of me, and through extensive holovid watching and holonet scrolling, I've learned that while I am not the parent, my good or bad influence still can shape the lives of the littles in the extended family."
Hunter's second eyebrow raised.
She shrugged. "I aspire to be the perfect balance of playful, supportive, loving and nurturing figure in the Lawquane children's life - There could be times I can provide comfort when their parents cannot; I can provide a little break from the mundane day-to-day life."
Now his features softened at the sweetness.
"And I can shower them with gifts, even the unborn ones, and there really isn't a way that the proud parents can say no unless I bring them home a Seppie Tank for a playpen." Was her haughty finish, referring to the Lawquane couple's uneasiness with their friend's monetary assistance.
With a ghost of a smile now, Hunter shook his head. "You're somethin' else."
"You know what you signed up for." Talla sniffed, mostly because of the nippy cold. "I have no sympathy for ignorance this far in because there's absolutely no excuse for it - we live together, for kriff's sake, you should already know how extra I am."
That he did.
The Lower District Markets were as busy as ever. And Crosshair hated it as much as ever. Or maybe he just woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning and had zero tolerance for life continuing around him as normal, as opposed to most of the time possessing just enough restraint he didn't incinerate someone on the spot if they so much as looked at him the wrong way.
To Tech, there wasn't any notable difference with his brother at first, which was why he prattled on as always while they poked around specific stands and shops. This was his happy place, after all! So much to see! So much to buy! So many possibilities!
But leaning against a nearby barrel, jaw clenched with lips curled downwards and fingers tapping his crossed arms impatiently, surly Crosshair wanted to rip Tech's voice box out when watching him negotiate with the shop owner, finding the war with value and condition and yada yada yada over some droid part much more tedious than usual. It was difficult for the Sniper to not shoot the scales off a trandoshan across the way so he wouldn't take his frustrations out on Tech, who was innocent in this regard by simply engaging in a normal aspect of haggling so as not to be cheated with second-hand technology.
It wasn't until they'd exited the droid shop when Tech picked up on his brother's higher than average levels of crankiness.
The brainiac was babbling about the steal he'd gotten on the mint condition power couplings, being held out to admire, and Crosshair rudely snapped, "Blow it out your exhaust vent!" Causing Tech startle and almost fumble with the parts.
It was only natural Tech asked, "Do you require a sustenance break?" Because Crosshair did have a tendency to get 'hangry'-
"No." He said shortly, and increasing the speed of his stiff marching he left Tech behind.
Eyes squinting behind his goggles, intrigued Tech tilted his head at the retreating, hunched figure of the Sniper. Hmm...
Based on previous data, it was dangerous to engage with such levels of crankiness, but Tech needed answers. So he stowed away the parts in a belt pouch, and scanned their busy surroundings while taking long strides to catch up.
He suffered an accidental elbow to the knee by a short Ugnaught he failed to see, which led Tech to first theorize: There are many people out shopping before the workday begins, but I do not see anyone he cheated money off of at 79's...
Seeing a flash out of his peripherals, Tech beheld a shower of sparks fall from above. Glancing up, he only had to squint again at the blinding glare from a mess of cables cross-crossing throughout the tall, saggy buildings lining the streets. They significantly lit up the dark and dreary part of these lower levels, as if they were up at the surface levels of the ecumenopolis planet.
This glare is similar to Kamino except for the various colorations - perhaps he has a headache?
Declaring premature victory, Tech dodged several people to scurry back up to his grumpy brother's side and raised his finger triumphantly. "Do you require an acetaminophen?"
In reality, Crosshair wanted to chop off that stupid finger, but he settled with keeping his hard eyes trained forward, simply grumbling 'No' again.
Tech's steady pace faltered. Oh.
Another scan was taken, but of Crosshair this time, who was so out of it he nearly squirmed under that shrewd gaze because Tech was the one with the behavioral profile. Unlike the others, when the brainiac wasn't preoccupied with projects or his datapad, Crosshair was an open book to him.
He is rigid, and just shoved hands into his trouser pockets, he is ducking his head... from the wind?
There IS a lick of cold in the air - he is cold, perhaps?
Tech gestured to the left of them. "Do you require another sweater, there is a clothing stand right over -"
"No." Crosshair scowled, and not-so-nicely bumped away someone who got to close. "I don't need anything!"
Tech would've apologized to the victim, but this extra mystery crankiness had a vice-like grip on his curiosity, overpowering everything. His exceptional mind was seldom wrong, and yet Tech had frustratingly and disappointingly guessed wrong three times in the last minute.
So shoulder-bumping Crosshair himself, straight into a little alley between two stands, Tech blocked his exit with his body and authoritatively folded his arms at the growling baby brother who was 'bout as terrifying as a feral tooka kitten to his older brother. "Well, something obviously has your 'panties in a twist' as Talla would say in this moment, if she had joined in on our exciting field trip."
Crosshairs disgusted eyeroll was to be expected since he absolutely hated when that phrase was directed towards him. "No, she isn't here, and she loves shopping -" He huffed, then side-eyed Tech. "Odd, isn't it?"
Tech's oblivious shrug squashed his hopes for a sympathetic ear. "Not particularly, she has many other interests besides shopping."
Resting-bitch-face back up and running, Crosshair hmph'ed and made to step around Tech. "Yes, I believe she does."
His escape was foiled by hand clamping around his bicep. "Would you stop being so ambiguous and tell me what exactly has 'twisted your -'"
Crosshair wrenched his arm free. "Don't. Say. It." But sharply exhaling and meeting Tech's wary gaze, he quietly emphasized, "Hunter... and Talla."
"Yes?" Tech prodded flatly.
Lips pinching, that niggling suspicion Crosshair was actually alone in this intensified, so he chose his next words carefully. "... They've been... spending a lot of time together."
Tech nodded once. "Yes, Hunter and Talla often spend much of their free time together."
You know what, damn my dignity.
"You don't find that odd?" When Tech blankly blinked, Crosshair gave in and stopped being so vague, the red lights twinkling from an overhead string of lights only intensified the crazed glint in his amber orbs when he took a step closer to the smartest man in the galaxy. "You've never suspected they're screwing around behind our backs?"
Oh dear, his peering over his shoulder, his steering a little closer, the crazed glint in his eyes - this particular behavior brought back some memories.
But Tech was never one for sugarcoating - Crosshair was suffering from paranoia again about his peers, due to the tormenting inflicted by outsiders as a cadet, and seeing as he wanted some feedback on this matter Tech did what Hunter did last time and this negated outlandish, baseless conspiracy theory with facts, which would hopefully soothe his triggered response.
"To automatically assume that when a male and female spend much of their time together only because of secret or repressed romantic feelings is a flawed and often wrong social cliche I have learned to dismiss since Talla came into our lives." He stated pragmatically, pushing the slacking goggles up his nose bridge to better gawk at Crosshair's reaction, hoping for positive results. "We are all part of the same found family, so naturally we each have activities we exclusively participate in with a certain other family member. Hardly a day goes by that Talla is not leading or assisting me in a technological, research, or maintenance project, we even co-own a scavenging business - would you consider us being in a casual or committed relationship?"
"Tech'ika getting a girlfriend - that'd be the day." Crosshair jested out of habit for self-preservation.
'Tech'ika' took it a different way, and was already pulling back out his datapad and turning away. "You are dodging the question, which means I have my answer."
A hand shot out to clamp on Tech's shoulder, and for emphasis he felt Crosshair lean in. "It's different with them."
Tech threw him a mildly irritated glance over his shoulder, unamused and unmoved. "Crosshair, you constantly exchange quips with Talla in what one would call a flirtatious nature, a common and obvious symptom of romantic attraction - perhaps it is you who actually has secret, repressed feelings for her?"
"With that bubbly, bag of crazy?" Crosshair could chuckle, and ever the Drama King, faked a slight gag to bury the uncomfortable sensations that suggestion gave. "Not a chance."
To Tech, Crosshair could not see reason right now, and he did not want to take this nonsense any further by a fruitless debate. "Crosshair, have you noticed any actual symptoms of romantic attraction between Hunter and Talla, something other than this baseless accusation on the fact they spend so much exclusive time together?" Tech curtly asked.
Chest burning, visible cords on Crosshair's neck while fighting to hold Tech's gaze. "... No." He could only admit weakly. Not that he was an expert in such matters, and while the brainiacs lack of interest without proven facts was typical, it did not lessen the snipers' frustrations.
Crosshair knew he had developed a pattern. Crosshair hated it made him look crazy until proven otherwise.
And instead of a Tech-Talk dragging on a conversation, it ended this one. "I calculated long ago that at least one of us might find her as a desirable candidate for a potential mate, yet in the last four months I have not picked up on any noticeable signs of romantic attraction in any of us." Not that he paid too much attention to these matters in the first place, there were far more important things to ponder over.
Regardless, "Talla and Hunter are only guilty of spending exclusive time together doing activities they mutually enjoy to decompress after a mission. I also do so with her. As does Wrecker. As does yourself - need I remind you of all the dates to Dex's Diner under the pretense you are married and expecting twins?"
One of his favorite pranks ever, Crosshair would remember it fondly had not her and his brother been keeping secrets.
Tech gestured dismissively with his datapad. "The only notable oddness is what I see on Hunter's end - it appears he has not let go of the massive guilt on how Talla was treated when she first arrived, thus resulting in the over-exertion to make sure she is happy, and showering her with gifts, and extra effort to be attentive and compassionate.
"So unless you do away with the conspiracy theories and find actual data for us to pore over, I wish to return to my shopping."
And that was the end of that.
Unbeknownst to Tech, who wandered off before Crosshair formulated a retort, the Sniper's icy glare signaled it was in fact NOT the end. Not by a longshot.
It was in his job description to be patient, vigilant, and outta sight, outta mind. While he was wrong about Talla being out to harm his family, Crosshair was certain that he wasn't wrong about this.
Tech forgot to add this into his calculations: as opposed to the fear he felt with the first conspiracy theory about Talla, pure spite was the motivating factor in this equation.
"Where the chobb is Nik?" Hunter wondered out loud when it was near opening time - 0900 - and the Co-Owner was nowhere to be found. Him and Talla had arrived just before 0800, expecting him to come early to prepare opening up the shop to the public.
Perched in the corner of the little alcove by the entrance, Talla could only offer a shrug.
Then, their enhanced eardrums picking up on a distant high-pitched whistle from above.
Becoming rigid, they exchanged alarmed glances - it was heading directly towards their location at a scarily triggering pace, and it was not unheard of for a Seppie attack to occur on Coruscant.
By instinct, they hit the dirt, the whistle making their heads feel they were gonna explode before the bomb actually hit. It already felt like their eardrums had, it was shocking they weren't bleeding.
Arms thrown over her head, Talla braced for impact, Hunter surprisingly throwing his entire self over her at the last second when they both felt their pounding hearts might explode too-
But there was no bomb, no shockwave that stirred up debris and shrapnel, or leveled a skyscraper, not even smoke or deadly chemicals burning their nostrils.
It turned out to be a reckless, run-down air speeder going WAY past the legal speed limit, shooting not at them, but through the alleyway to the back parking lot.
Just as they realized this, the screech of metal scraped against metal made their hands snap back over their ears with a loud wince - the driver took that narrow-left turn too fast and too soon.
"FORCE-DAMMIT, NOT AGAIN!" They barely heard someone shout into the void, physical symptoms temporarily overwhelming them.
With shaky breaths Hunter and Talla slowly recovered from reliving the warfront. His were more controlled while trying to quell his raised blood pressure, dizziness and blurred eyesight. Hers symptoms on the other hand were dangerously close to panic attack levels.
A careful touch to her shoulder caused a jump, but Hunter's 'You alright, soldier?' was interrupted by, after Talla's crazed eyes came back into focus, a dizzying flurry of emotions fueled an impulse for her to to yank Hunter in for a kiss, which he didn't have time to process because just as fast as it happened it was over, But however brief it was, it effectively communicated the overwhelming anxiety from the tremors of her hand that pushed and held his head to hers, the effect of the triggered response by the few saltwater tears he ended up tasting on her lips, and the blissful relief in the aftermath when her arms locked around his neck, which she buried her face into.
"Yeah, I'm fine." She mumbled against his thundering pulse, definitely sounding a little more in control of her faculties. "Definitely don't need a shot of caf anymore, though."
Out of habit, Hunter pulled her close, her transferring some of that relief onto him. "Me neither." He sighed, cupping the back of her head more for himself than her - she was here, he was here, there was no bomb, and they were fine.
Unfortunately, since there was in fact no bomb, the couple embracing on the ground by the Parlor's door got odd looks from all the passerby's, and there were many considering it was rush hour, so they were forced to break up and shove off the ground, brushing off the dirt and fixing their rumpled clothes and hair.
They caught sight of a bundled up grey twi'lek dash around the corner the speeder crashed into, that reckless driver turning out to be a frazzled Nik with a briefcase in one hand, keycard to the shop in the other, and the handle of a to-go bag clenched between his teeth. "'m' shhorry 'm nate!" He unsuccessfully called out, unaware of his triggering appearance.
When he skidded to a stop before them, Talla held out her hands, he spit out his hold on the bag.
"I'm sorry I'm late!" Nik apologized more clearly, rushing around the woman who was more interested in the bundle's contents that gave off the aroma of a sweet breakfast treat. "Mom let me sleep in!" One of those weird eye-looking scanners popped out of the wall, a red laser-light scanned the keycard he held up, and a happy beep allowed the foyer doors to open.
Thank the Maker, they could all escape the cold!
Next to the second set of doors, Nik's fingers sped over the keypad for the complicated security code, all the while grumbling to the confused couple: "I specifically told Mom it was just me manning the shop this morning 'cause Skylar's off getting reacquainted with her boyfriend, and Blair's off to go check out a secondhand protocol droid that looked promising."
The doors slid open, and the couple silently followed the rambling man, who, briefcase and all, waved his arms as animatedly as he spoke. "But since mom's feeling better she let me sleep in on my last morning home as a thank you for all the help during her recovery!"
Oh, right, his mother had a surgery. They both vaguely remembered it was this event that made them travel to Saleucami in the first place, and triggered the series of events that led to their secret happiness.
A secret, longing side-eyed glance was exchanged.
They reached the back counter and his briefcase THUNKED! when tossed atop, snapping them out of the trance. "AND if that wasn't stalling enough, my Dad made me a big ol' breakfast so how could I say no to that?" This was a rhetorical question, Nik prattling on while putting in the number combo for his case, "I couldn't, and he knew I couldn't, so it was obviously a trap!"
The couple merely hopped up on the counter to sit and silently continue listening.
Click!
The briefcase was opened with a frustrated huff and shake of the head. "So, I had to choke down all that food - "
Mood flip.
Raising his head, a nostalgic smile wiped that frown upside down. "It was all quite delicious actually, he got up early and baked fresh muffins, and waking up to the smell of warm spices and brewed caf - that was the only good thing about this all, oh it just reminded me of my childhood -" He gestured to the bag Talla was dying to peek into, "Would you care for one? He insisted I take the leftovers."
Talla went 'Yay!' and dug right in, salivating at the sight the leftover half dozen that were not warm anymore, but still fragrant with warm and yummy spices and a hint of nuttiness - a pleasant distraction from the scare just experienced!
Nik did go off on another long tangent but she only half-listened this time, plucking just one treat out of the bag to split with Hunter so they wouldn't be puffer pigs...
It turns out Hunter had kept on listening to be nice, but with his ears ringing he murmured when accepting his half of the muffin, "Remember when you said Shaeeah was like Tech on steroids?"
"Mhm." Talla could only respond around a mouthful, ending with a little moan of pleasure cause the spice levels were just perfect and didn't burn her sensitive tongue.
"I'm sorry I ever doubted you." Hunter apologized even if she didn't hear, Talla happily swinging her legs hanging off the counters edge with a mouthful of deliciousness.
"Anyways!" Nik finally concluded, slamming shut a cabinet beneath the counter, and the couple noticed in their trance he'd tucked away the briefcase, flicked on all the lights, and stowed away his winter garb, "I am late and I am behind -" When Nik walked past, Hunter chomping down on his muffin was rudely interrupted by a finger jabbed in his shoulder, "And Sergeant Luscious Locks, your appointment is gonna have to be pushed back because it's a tentative plan anyways, all because my parents love me too much - I'm sure you understand?"
The CLONE SOLDIER blankly stared back. "No."
"Sounds like a nat-born problem, Tiima." The CLONE AGENT agreed, but added, "Need a helper? I'm just a tag along today."
As animated as ever, Nik clasped his hands and nearly fell to his knees while gushing, "You're an angel and I love you!"
Turns out he'd already was going to put her to work, whipping out her work materials from his inner vest pocket. "Here's your badge, here's your datapad." They were plopped in her lap, and with a stern look and raise of his finger Nik asked, "Do you remember the rules?"
Rolling her eyes, Talla swallowed her last mouthful of muffin, listing the annoying 'rules' off with her fingers. "Check people in, let them know about the wait, and don't yell at the bratty customers, just offer them a complimentary cold beverage and add a percent to the final bill for compensation."
"And with the flirty, handsy, weasly customers?"
She smirked, eyes glinting with bloodlust. "Open the gates of hell."
Eyes widening a little, Hunter almost felt sorry for those poor suckers... and wholeheartedly wanted a front row seat to that shit-show.
To further show his sincerity, Nik caught the hand Talla regally held out to him, placing a hand over his be-stilled heart. "Again, I love you!" As expected, he kissed the Queen's hand with a loud 'Mwah!' "You're the best!"
Blatantly ignoring and kinda digging Hunter pointedly looking away in mild jealousy, Talla raised her chin in faux conceited manner. "I know."
Oblivious Nik made Hunter jump when he bellowed, "YOU, come with me to the supply room."
"Why?"
"Um, because I'm not athletically gifted like you and Queen Agent Wonder here - I need some muscle to haul the heavy crates." Turning on his heel, Nik snapped his fingers. "So chop chop, time is money!"
"I've been summoned." Hunter mock sneered to HIS 'QUEEN' when Nik disappeared through the door behind the counter, but he already knew he had nothing to worry about. Just was envious of the playful banter everyone else seemed to exceed at off the battlefield, except him.
Talla brushed crumby palms off on her leggings. "And I've got to go to work!"
Not feeling all that hungry anymore, Hunter held up his last bite of muffin near her lips. "Here." And Talla accepted with a surprised but happy hum and smile, "See you at lunch break, I guess." He grumbled, sliding off the counter with a disappointed sigh.
Force, what am I gonna do all day?
"Wait."
He heard her hop down too and turning, Hunter barely held his ground when Talla threw her arms around her boyfriend's neck in a tight hug of temporary goodbye.
It was not the display of affection he would've hoped for, returning it just in time before his girlfriend scampered off so they wouldn't be caught, but hopefully that could be remedied in secret later.
Too bad this was the first time security cams would give them away.
Within the open lounge of the dressing rooms, Talla twisted this way and that before one of the light-up mirrors, pursing her lips distastefully when beholding the outfit she'd picked out from her work locker.
It was an outfit that she'd felt confident in the last time it was worn, hugging her curves perfectly and an alluring shade of red that looked very nicely against her once flawless skin tone. But now it put her developing canvas of 'ugly' imperfections on full display for the galaxy to ogle at. And it was not just the ghastly puncture wound scar anymore either. That last day docked at Saleucami, Talla had stupidly forgone wearing layers to cover up due to the inconvenience of the stiff bandaging. She merely sported a cropped top and shorts because they were just easy to slip on, which got her a bit of a sunburn on all her exposed skin, resulting in the unveiling that it wasn't just her right forearm that had unhealed electrical shock scarring. Her entire body was snaked with those stomach-turning ugly white patterns, and the one on her face curled over her right earlobe was more prominent.
This style she had grown to feel confident in, a little risqué as Nik once called it, it now just adding to her growing insecurity issues. There were only two trauma's people would speculate over: she was tortured, or struck by lightning... It was obvious which one was, as ironic as it sounded, more likely. And Talla hated it. It showed the super soldier was still weak enough to be preyed on.
Briefly sliding her eyes shut, Talla forced her mind to recall the Shaeeah picture, and through that her family.
Remember why you go through this. Was a new mantra of hers since deciding this fate for herself, even though deep down Talla knew Nala Se or the Republic couldn't care less.
She jumped when the entrance curtain swished, and her Sergeant appeared across the room.
In the mirror's reflection, Talla could clearly see his relaxed demeanor spoiled by an immediate frown. "Stop." Hunter drawled out chidingly, "I know you're doing it again."
"I'm just not sure about this dress anymore." Talla negated much too quickly, tucking her chin close to her body and brushing back a loose lock of hair.
A surefire tell she was downplaying. One she had begun training herself to break to avoid the awkward atmosphere afterwards.
Because it only ever earned a pointed yet sad look, right now directed down at her through small mirror reflection when Hunter stopped just behind her.
Feeling him reach out and lay a tentative hand on her uninjured shoulder, Talla did tense at the foreign warmth on her cool and bare skin, but then her entire frame sagged with a sigh of guilty defeat. Giving into tugging on a hair strand, she also tugged at Hunter's heartstrings with her bad habit of severe self-criticism.
"I thought if I went back to the full-on crazy hair, it'd draw attention away from all THIS." She quietly admitted, with a sour grimace waving a hand over her general hideous existence.
Oh no, here came that insecurity for Hunter now - giving a compliment that could bolster her spirits. Even though they were finally together now, his mind continued to race but for different reasons. The stoic yet socially awkward Sarge was worried he'd never get the hang of compliments instead of simply going mesh'la during a sparring session to throw her off her game.
Sometimes he succeeded, and other times:
"The dress looks fine."
...
He wanted to take that swan dive off the skyscraper again.
This is even worse than last time - 'Boyfriend of the Year' medal earned this time, di'kut.
But a snigger and amused grin/shake of the head tossed over her shoulder told Hunter it was all 'fine' after all. He was not the only one who remembered his first attempt at a compliment, right in front of this very establishment almost four months ago.
*wistful sigh* Memories.
Hunter brushed a thumb over her rigid muscle beneath it, applying slight pressure in what he hoped was a relaxing manner. A little massage to ease the tension away. It certainly did the trick for him that last night on Saleucami, but his ministrations unintentionally happened over a streak one of those 'ugly' white scars.
"You are fine." There, that could be taken well, though he wished he'd added 'Just the way you are' or something like that before the pause became too long and it'd just be weird if he blurted it out now.
No matter, though. Talla did take it in a good way. Anything was better than that drowned rat comment last week, or anything Crosshair would come up with because he wouldn't even try to be encouraging, not after the purple dye prank.
One of her hands reached up to touch his in thanks, and biting her lip unsurely Talla braved a step back further into his embrace. Hunter snaked his arms around her and holding her house he enveloped her with the warmth of his affection exclusively saved just for her, yet she wanted to 'ugly' sob when he surprised her by leaning down and pressing his lips to that lightning mark by her right earlobe, further proof he did not find her disgusting and untouchable as she saw herself as.
A further surprise was him nuzzling her neck, eliciting a quiet giggle as it kinda tickled.
"I really like this." She murmured, wishing fear of persecutors didn't hold them back from letting it be known to dangerous galaxy because she literally never wanted this to stop, and be forced to act indifferent.
"Agreed." He sighed, swaying them a little.
Against the skin of her neck, she felt his lips twitch upwards - the smirk.
A nice compliment did come to mind, and because he just loved the discovery of there being gruff yet comforting like right now, and then there was husky and sexy in Mando'a dialect now breathed close to her ear: "Ner mesh'la t'kaan dala."
[nair MAYSH'lah ti'KAHN DAH-lah]
'My beautiful wolf woman.'
Loth-wolves signify strength, resilience, intelligence, loyalty, wildness, independence-
Yeah, Talla liked that a lot.
And upon exiting the dressing rooms, Hunter liked hearing the never-failing goofy giggling state he'd left her in. Much better than the self-destructive patterns of thought and speech. He felt he deserved that medal now.
Until he saw she still put on a weird sweater thing to cover most of the visible damage.
It was noon.
Hunter had read every blasted sports, news, and Coruscant gossip headline there was on the holonet for the last three hours. Back at the waiting area, it was pointless to watch the programs playing on the big screen too, because whether or not it was sports or a holodrama, people were rowdy. Everywhere he went to try relaxing, there was unfamiliar, overwhelming scents, noises, lighting, etc.
Talla was busy, Blair who returned from the meet-up unsatisfied was busy, so Hunter was completely losing his mind in people and reg-infested territory. Nik was also busy, obviously, but Hunter kept his distance from the twi, because the guy kept sending him death glares for some reason. The Sarge swore he didn't break anything when hauling crates earlier. Maybe it was a good thing his appointment was pushed back/possibly canceled.
Regardless, Hunter did not want to leave, because where else could he go and not face the same sensory/people issues on this blasted city planet? Plus, he wanted to be near Talla.
Luckily, his mind-numbing bored idleness ended at the lunch break, because not only was there FINALLY blissful silence and solitude, but he did also get a front row seat to the main event that was 5'5" lean, mean, fast, and muscular Talla, manhandling an 8' colossal Dowutin, who was no doubt twice the size of Wrecker and refused to accept the inconvenient situation he was in was by his own doing.
It started when you could hear the brute's bellows of bellyaching from miles away, echoing off the walls of the empty Parlor. The operative word being empty, because they should have closed the doors to the public ten minutes ago.
It was hard enough to get everyone else out, and it didn't help that Nik was, as he stated before, not athletically gifted in any way. Compared to the brute, he was basically a small bug filling his hearing with an annoying buzz, only making him angrier and angrier with each sound that was not Nik relenting to fork over what was demanded.
Hunter could even hear the commotion his hiding spot - a bearable broom closet on the second floor. His duty to protect the innocent made him leave his hiding spot, and the distinct difference between the Dowutin's earth-rumbling protests, and Nik's fake, meek customer service voice was crystal clear while going down the slow lift.
"Sir, I need you to leave, we're closed for the lunch hour."
"I PAID A DEPOSIT FOR MY TIME SLOT!"
"A time slot you missed by a whopping thirty-seven minutes on a busy day."
"I'M NOT PAYING YOU A SINGLE CRED UNTIL I GET WHAT I CAME HERE FOR!"
"I'm not going to do a single thing until you reschedule another time slot."
"THEN WE GOT A PROBLEM!"
"We do indeed - I know how much my art and time is worth, and you do not give a kark."
Hunter jumped off the ledge just in time to see that calm facade drop, and for cornered Nik in the foyer to shout: "SECURITY!"
There was no need for Hunter to intervene, because 'SECURITY' turned out to be Talla, who popped up from behind the back counter where she'd been sorting products, patiently waiting to be summoned.
The Dowutin man scoffed at the thought a puny thing like her could take him down.
To intimidate, she tore off her sweater and squared her shoulders, cracked her knuckles like Wrecker while stalking over with her silver eye's pools of cold hard steel... and the Dowutin actually barked a laugh.
She wasn't even worth a cutting remark it seemed, him proceeding to roughly scoop Nik up by the neck with his monstrous hand, the twi's legs dangling several feet off the ground.
"You have one last chance to cooperate and be escorted off the premises." Talla warned, sizing him up, though by comparison she was a Loth-wolf next to a Rancor.
Which made her considerably more quick and agile. And when the Dowutin tested Talla by squeezing Nik's neck and the twi choked a cough, eyes bulging when he pawed at the guy's fingers and wrist, the Agent worked so fast the brute didn't know what hit him.
With the strength of an angry wookie, there was a crippling elbow strike to his side, his roar masking the satisfying crack of his ribcage to the regular of hearing.
Before he could claw at her she'd already stunt rolled to his other side and landed another blow.
His doubling over put him in range of her knee a bit restricted by the tighter skirt, and yanking him down by his shoulder a deadly knee to the groin crippled him to his knees.
Thankfully Hunter was nearby and caught the dropped twi'lek.
But his attention was not on the sputtering owner gasping in sweet air, he was openly dumbstruck watching his badass girlfriend, whose unforgiving elbow jabbed between the Dowutin's shoulder blades, now officially a downed opponent.
But that was not enough. She grabbed the heap of groans and broken bones by his collar and heaved him out the door, and literally kicked his ass to the curb.
A man as monstrous as he was faceplanting against the duracrete sidewalk stunned passersby.
A Dowutin having just enough spite to drive him to shakily unholster his large blaster, heave onto his back and shoot, yet the shot deflected by a vibroblade-wielding maniac drew in a large crowd.
The second deflected shot miraculously ricocheted right at the Dowutins hand. He cried at the burn, blaster clattering to the ground. His pain distracted him long enough for her to catch his wrist with a crushing hold, heave him back up to dizzyingly whirl him around with her, and with that build up of centripetal force when she let go he almost flew off the edge of the skyscrapers sidewalk-
The crowd gasped.
- right into his abandoned aircar.
Snatching up the blaster, Talla loudly growled while hurling it at his raising head, "You almost made me TEAR MY SKIRT!" BONK!
It came as no surprise his frantic speeding away nearly caused five crashes before he was outta sight, outta mind.
Again, she had drawn quite the crowd, people swarming to watch her kick the chin horns off this brute, whooping and hollering and giving her shoulder/back pats, highly impressed.
Gaping Hunter eventually lost sight of her, but was forced to practically carry Nik to the back so he could get an ice pack for his bruised neck.
This worked out in Talla's favor, when a face who looked like a billion others took a turn to pat her on the back, but she recognized his unique appearance immediately.
Talla gaped up at the stress-weathered clone medic who'd treated her on Coruscant and Kaliida Shoals, his grey streak of hair accompanied by other smatterings around his outgrown head of dark brown hair.
"Convor?"
The little crinkles by his eyes and mouth deepened from the faint smile he graced her with. "Well, I suppose if I'd ever hoped to interact with you again, it'd happen under less dire circumstances."
Unlike what he openly displayed, Talla did not feel that warmth from reuniting with a comrade, sadly. While they had two short, eventful, interesting, short work interactions so far, the trained Clone Agent could see straight through that foreign smile. It did not reach his eyes. And she picked up on Convor's elevated heart rate, dilated pupils, and other fear-ridden symptoms. And the way he made them stand, it was odd. Yes, made, with his hand on her good shoulder still, he angled away from the Parlor's front. That's where the nearest security cams were.
These were classic moves to avoid detection when engaging in incriminating conversations or actions out in the open. Talla had expected to do this undercover when communicating with informants, not with a fellow clone.
Out of ingrained technique, Talla waited to be spoken to, for the shred of new information that could save her skin out there, and help her complete the mission without breaking her cover.
Convor's fake felicities morphed to retrained horror when his eyes flicked to new, gnarly scar on her other shoulder. "That's new."
A proud smile easily plastered onto Talla's face, and she showed off by a slight flex of her muscular bicep. "Got it fighting off a nexu on Saleucami." To further rub it in his face, the trophy around her neck was lifted for a better view, "How have you spent your time since our last meeting, sir, hm?"
Another smile creaked onto Convor's face. "I'd say I've done well, too - I've been promoted and transferred to Kallida Shoals on tomorrow's shuttle." Talla's forehead creased suspiciously. "So I figured I'd treat myself to a tattoo and proper haircut before I'm stationed in the Outer Rim, on a remote space medical station, no less."
Huh. Usually, medics weren't 'promoted.' Every single one was trained to for their specific post the second they popped outta the tubes, just like clone commandos, and every other special division in the GAR.
Thankfully, she didn't have to pry for answers, at least later she didn't. Right now, Convor was speaking, and the grip on her shoulder tightened, telling her to listen closely when he lowered his tone so they were ineligible amongst the dissipating crowd.
"We need to talk. Meet up at 79's. The security cams on this junky part of the city are distorted at night by all the light fixtures, so come after sunset."
A/N:
The calm before the chaos.
'T'kaan' is a made up Mando'a term by me, influenced by who informed me of a word of Native American origin, 'Tikanni' which means wolf. Whether or not this follows Mando'a dialect rules... I really could not comprehend how the language works no matter how much research I did so I settled with this 'cause I liked it XD
And yes, Talla works under the table at Nik's, for more information on that, read Chapter 3 of When the Stars Burn Out titled: ' Sticks and Stones'
HAPPY STAR WARS WEEK, MAH PEEPS! MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!
- Ella