Author's Notes: Sexual content ahead, albeit fairly SFW. Someone sent me a prompt.
The tension had been building for weeks.
Her victory over the Voidwolf at Corellia – and the 'conclusion' of her entanglements with Rogun the Butcher – had led to many new opportunities for Captain Bas'riish and her crew aboard the Kikalekki's Gambit.
Her decision to dissolve the smuggler's fleet the 'Wolf had assembled – after unleashing it on the Imperials at Corellia – had further built on that tension.
Exiled queens looking to fund planetary revolutions hated to leave money on the table.
In the absence of daily attempts on her life, it had also meant that Bas'riish was finding herself increasingly distracted concerning her first mate and chief engineer.
To that end, with a few moments to catch her breath while they were docked at Port Nowhere, she'd made her way back to the ship's engine room… and immediately caught her breath at the sight of the protruding posterior of her quarry.
Bas'riish licked her lips as she gazed down at the woman who currently had her head and upper body stuck inside an engine vent. Those tight pants she was wearing accentuated everything.
"You overworked the fuel injectors again." The rebuke from within the vent came before the lovely green Twi'lek captain could start breathing again. "I told you before that would gunk up the sub-light drives."
Risha Drayen had no doubt heard her walking in across the floor panels. Hell, she probably could tell which member of their crew it was just from their footfalls.
Clever bitch. Bas'riish smirked, continuing to gaze at the engineer's butt.
"Sorry about that." She finally spoke. "We had to rush to make the deadline on that shipment."
She tilted her head.
"You need any help in there?"
A long sigh could be heard from the vent.
"Just hand me that power calibrator, alright?"
Her lips impishly smirked as Bas'riish picked up the tool, sliding it into the outstretched hand… and then taking that hand in hers.
"My hand?" the irritated voice came again.
Bas felt her own voice grow softer.
"Got a minute?"
Another sigh escaped the vent.
"Sure. Hold on."
Bas'riish finally released the hand as Risha ducked her head and backed out of the vent.
Damn. Bas'riish thought to herself as the engineer pulled off her goggles. Even sweaty and tired, her tank top clinging to her body (and showing off no small amount of cleavage), Risha was still incredibly beautiful.
And the tension in both women had been slowly building up for a long while.
"What's up?" Risha asked, raising an eyebrow.
Bas'riish swallowed again. Shavit. She never felt nervous. Why was this situation any different from the countless others she'd been through?
Because she knew Risha. She cared about Risha. She trusted Risha.
And right now, she wanted Risha.
"You've been working hard." She began.
Risha rolled her eyes.
"Thanks for noticing."
"…. And we've both been through a lot. These last few weeks." She reached her hand up and gently caressed Risha's cheek. "You've put up with a lot from me."
Risha's eyes widened for half a second but then she closed her eyes and let out yet another sigh. Where the first two sighs communicated frustration, this one reflected something else entirely.
"So." She leaned in. "I was wondering if I could buy you a drink."
Risha's eyes opened and she swallowed. The engineer slash exiled noble slash criminal mastermind usually acted so much wiser and more knowledgeable than her years would suggest, but right now, the look in her lovely brown eyes was younger and vulnerable than Bas had ever seen her.
"I could go for something." She whispered, leaning in towards Bas'riish.
Their lips met. Soft. Inviting. Comforting.
Hands soon followed. And then much more.
Regardless of what else happened, the two women were going to work through their tension.