A few days had passed since they found out Echo could be alive and Shadow handed Jesse his ass in the sparring match. The twins stayed in the shadows of the base, moving silently like a predator on the hunt as they walked the halls. Though they seemed to have gained respect among the clones and Jedi, the twins still kept to themselves. They trained whenever they could to pass the time, but they mostly trained at night. This gave them the best chance to test their enhancement. Scarlett's eyes could see more at night then most, and Shadow could control and band the shadows and darkness to counsel her. They would spar, using bow staffs made of metal to train in hand to hand combat, the sound of clashing iron the only noise to fill the darkness around them. The moon hung high in the night, lighting the dark airfield around them as they used their enhancements on each other, pushing and working to make each other stronger with each blow of the staff.
The twins knew each other's strengths and weaknesses, they knew how far to push before one of them unlocked a new piece of themselves, till they either gained more in their abilities or broke and fell short. Shadow would spar with two, 4 inch metal poles instead of a seven foot bow staff Scarlett preferred to use. Shadow felt she had better control and more movement with the 'broken bow staff' as Scarlett called it. While Shadow's form, feet placement and martial arts fighting all showed the skills and training of a Mandalorian, the way she used her bow staffs was like that of Jar'kai, the fighting style of the Jedi that uses two lightsabers. She had watched Jedi fighting and Holos of the fighting style, adopting it into her training to give her an edge.
They were out on the airfield once again, long after the others had gone to sleep for the night. They were both sweating and panting. They had been out their training for well over an hour, just none stop pushing each other to the brink. Shadow smiled in the dark as she striked, the sound of her iron staff slamming into Scarlett's, the metallic ring filling the still night air.
"Come on Scar, are you even trying?" She teased. She stood tall, her legs shoulder width apart as her body was turned slightly to the left. Her skin tight black tank top framed her body and curves. A small sliver of skin showed about the waist of her black flight suit pants. She had her hands down at her sides, the poles pointing outwards slightly as she tormented her sister. Scarlett gave her a small half grin as she held her long staff in front of her. She had on a red crop top, her black flight suit pants low on her hips that tucked into black combat boots. She blew some of her hair out of her face as she challenged her sister.
"Are you even trying?" She challenged. The twins stared each other down for a moment or two before Shadow advanced, her bow staffs striking against the long staff. The metallic ring filled the night air as they kept up a fast pace battle, their skills so evenly matched. Sweat dropped from their faces, their breathing labored but they kept pushing on. Each crack, each metallic ring of their poles drove them harder and harder, wanting to best the other twin. The moon rose higher into the night, the shadows danced around the Republic base, as though they were doing a dance to the beat of the clashing staffs, following the rhythm of their footfalls and panting breaths.
Scarlett was pushing Shadow backwards slowly, closer and closer to the crates that boarded the runway. Shadow went low, swiping out her foot as she turned on her other knee, trying to kick out her sister's legs but the twin easily jumped over her. Shadow went into a back handspring, landing silently on her feet before striking another blow with her rod. They both push against each other, their groans and heavy panting the only sound to fill the night. Back and forth they went, clashing poles in the dark. Shadow did a roundhouse kick, her leg kicking her twin's staff aside, her own staff coming around to slam into her sister's shoulder, before doing a backflip onto the crates behind her. She towered over Scarlett, a grin on her lips.
"I have the high ground. You lose." She taunted as she pointed one of her poles down at her sister, the other one pointed back behind her back. She looked like Ahsoka standing there, the way she held her bow staffs in her hands.
"Wanna bet?" Scarlett hissed before taking her pole and vaulting up onto the crate next to Shadow. She gave Shadow a shit eating grin before taking her long pole and swinging it out, smacking it against Shadow's outreached pole, knocking it from her hand. A look of shock spread across her face for a second before Shadow jumped, leaping over her sister and grabbing her pole, using it to pull her twin backwards, letting her back slam into the wood crate behind her. Turning quickly she used the other pole she had left and pushed it into her chest, kicking the long pole onto the ground with a clatter. Scarlett huffed in defeat, rolling her eyes as she laid there.
"I told you. I have the high ground and you lose."
"Yeah, yeah. Help me up."
Shadow reached down and grabbed Scarlett's hand, pulling her up to her feet. She patted her on the shoulder, giving her a soft smile before jumping down from the crates. She grabbed the long pole and tossed it up to her twin before grabbing her own pole she had lost during the sparring match. She reached for the pole, only to see a movement in the shadows around them. Going into a dive she grabbed her pole on the ground, she did a diving role and held one pole in the air, the other at the neck of the person standing near the crates. Her eyes wild, her hair falling from its braid, she looked wild and dangerous with the light of the moon lighting up her face.
"Easy Lieutenant."
Hunter's smokey voice spoke gruffly. Shadow huffed and pulled away her pole from his throat and tossed him a look over her shoulder before she slinked off back to her sister.
"You always lurk in the night Sergeant?"
"No more than you and Scarlett."
"Ha, cute." Shadow sassed before throwing her poles to Scarlett who caught them easily. Shadow turned to face the Sergeant. She put her hand on her hip and leaned against the crate beside her, letting her body relax. "What are you doing out here anyways? You don't have a patrol tonight."
Hunter ran a hand through his hair, letting the slight breeze blow through the locks as he answered "I could hear you guys sparring. Sensitive hearing, it makes you wake up to the slightest sounds." The moon hit his hair just right, making it seem like it had sparks of deep purple in the black locks. He leaned against a different crate, his back to it as he turned his head to face the twins. "Do you always train in the middle of the night?"
"You learn to control your body and hearing more when you can't really see what's all around you. You learn to depend on more than just your eyes to see what's going." Shadow explained softly. She looked into his deep honey brown eyes and watched as the moonlight reflected off them, making them seem lighter than they really were. She knew she was staring so she looked away, putting her head down a bit and to the side. Hunter picked up on her sudden shyness and softly smiled to himself. Scarlett watched as they silently flirted with each other and rolled her eyes in disguise.
"I'm out. You two can stand and stare at each other in the moonlight but I'm going for a shower." She snapped as she started to walk away from them. Shadow raised an eyebrow at her twin, who only gave her a gagging face behind Hunter's back before stalking off into the darkness. Shadow sighed and rolled her eyes, a soft smile on her face as her twin's uncomfortableness around anything remotely romantic or cheesy. Like standing in the moonlight staring into someone's eyes.
Hunter ducked his head and looked away from the lieutenant, looking up at the full moon above them instead. Shadow cast a glance at him, looking at the tattoo on his face, wondering if the pattern followed down the rest of his body or just on his face. He turned his head and caught her staring, to which she blushed and fucked her head.
Clearing his throat he spoke up "So Lieutenant…"
"Shadow. No need for Lieutenant or all the formal nonsense."
"So Shadow" he smirked slightly as he spoke "How did two Mandalorian warriors end up fighting for the Republic?"
Shadow looked down at the ground, letting a long sigh slip past her lips before running a tired hand over her face.
"Our mother was next in line to lead Clan Rook. On the day she was to become clan leader, Death Watch was formed. Our people wanted to follow, to follow the old ways and not stand beside the Duchess. My mother still believed in the peace that the Duchess had worked so hard to build and she refused to follow. She was killed because of her choice." She paused for a moment, trying to keep her voice level, to not show the emotions that have been lying in the back of her mind for years. Clearing her throat she continued, "Being the way Scarlett and I are, Clan Rook saw us as outsiders. With my mother dead I was technically the rightful leader of Rook, but I wasn't about to lead them into Death Watch, I stood by my mother's beliefs. So we left, wanted to find a way to honor her, and bring peace to Mandalore. The Republic could offer just that."
Hunter seemed to take in every word she said, like it was the most important thing he had ever heard. His eyes never left her, watching her as she spoke. He could feel her heart speed up talking about her mother, he could feel the pain of her loss. He watched as she stared out into the darkness, the moon making her black to white hair shine brightly in its light.
"So why do you have a different last name then?"
"Kline is my father's last name. Rook was my mother's maiden name. Her father was Clan leader, then she was. Now I'm supposed to lead but my Aunt sits on the throne now." She looked back over at him and took a step closer to him, watching as his eyes followed her every move. "You and I are not so different Hunter. We both share the blood of many yet our own people look at us as though we don't belong. We both know what it's like to be different from the rest of the Galaxy."
She was standing only inches from him now, watching as his Adams apple bobbed in his throat as he breathed in her scent. She smelled like wildflowers and pine, like a spring morning. His woody, musky scent filled her lungs as well, making her think of the deep forest of Naboo. They stood there for a moment before Shadow stepped back, letting the breeze that started to float around them cool her still sweaty skin. She closed her eyes, letting the night air bath her. She took a deep breath, then opened her eyes, finding him once more. The gray of her eyes seemed to glow in the dark, almost unnatural, yet beautifully different. They were a stormy sea to get lost in, to drown yourself in as they looked into your soul.
The sound of Convorees Owls filled the air, breaking the silence around them. They both broke eye contact and cleared their throats, letting the moment pass.
"So, do you think this mission Rex is trying to get us to do, this rescue mission…. Do you think it's worth it to chase after a ghost?"
"Let me put it this way" She answered "If it was one of the Batch you heard on the other end of that radio, saying their CT number over and over, wouldn't you chase that ghost to bring them home?"
Hunter took in her words for a moment, letting them roll around in his mind before he cocked an eyebrow and looked her in the eyes. "Would you?"
Shadow looked him dead in the eyes and without hesitation replied "If it were Scarlett or someone I loved, in a heartbeat. No matter the cost."
Scarlett made her way to the barracks, wanting to wash the sweat and dirt from her body. The night air was cool on her warm skin, her red and black hair blowing in the slight breeze. Her footfalls were silent as she walked, not a sound coming from her and she moved through the night like a phantom. She rounded the corner and slammed head to chest with another human. Two hands grabbed her hips to keep her upright, as her own hands grabbed the shirt of the person in front of her.
"What the kriff?! Watch it!" She snapped as she regained her balance. Looking up she found the honey eyes of Crosshair staring down at her. The toothpick in his mouth was clamped between his teeth, a small scowl on his lips. "Oh it's you." She bit before pushing back from him. He huffed and moved the toothpick from one corner of his mouth to another in a slow movement.
"Easy Princess. You ran into me." His rough and gritty voice filled the night around them. He crossed his long arms and looked down at her, moving the toothpick once more. She made a noise in her throat, like a soft growl and rolled her eyes at the tall sniper before pushing past him. "You need a shower sweetheart."
Scarlett stopped in her tracks and turned around to glare at him. "What are you even doing out here?" Came a snappy response.
"I could be asking you the same thing."
"I don't answer to you."
"And I don't to you either."
Scarlett growled in frustration and marched back up to the sniper, who didn't even blink. She stood close to him, their faces inches apart as she stared him right in the eyes. He gave a smirk as he flipped the toothpick around in his mouth, waiting for her next move. Her eyes flicked down to his lips and back up, before a smirk started to break out across her pink lips.
"You got an attitude, Clone."
"And you don't?" Crosshair snapped back, his gruff voice sending shivers down her body. She saw him smirk, meaning he noticed as well. This was not something she was going to let him have over her.
"What about I help you with that shower Sweetheart?" He growled in her ear as he inched closer to her, his breath now fanning across her face. She tilted her head and smirked at him, her eyes dancing with mischief.
"Oh you'd like that wouldn't, Sniper. To share a hot steamy shower with me?" Her voice was sensual as she spoke, slowly moving closer to him. Her hands rested on his chest, and he slowly moved a hand back to her hip as she smiled sweetly up at him. He smiled down at her, thinking he had won, but before he could blink she had rose up onto her tiptoes, her teeth biting down on the toothpick in his mouth and pulling it free from his lips. She smiled up at him, toothpick between her pinkish lips as she put a hand on her hip.
"Why don't you dream about it instead?" She said in a sweet and sensual voice before rolling the toothpick from one side of her plump lips to another. She saw him swallow hard, his right hand curling into a fist. The sight of her with his toothpick in between her lips and the tone of her voice went straight to his cock and he had no control over it. With a chuckle she turned and began to walk away, letting her hips sway as she moved. "Thanks for the toothpick Handsome!" She called over her shoulder before disappearing into the shadows. Crosshair groaned and felt his abs tighten as she disappeared, his cock having spron to life with her little act.
"Oh just you wait Princess." He said into the night air before he turned and walked back to his own barracks, each step harder than the last. He ran a hand over his face and came up to his barracks, opening the door and going inside. He walked into the fresher and banged his fist onto the sink, looking at himself in the mirror. He growled before walking to the shower, stripping off his blacks and turning the shower into cold. Very very cold.
Scarlett made her way inside her shared room with Shadow with a smile on her slips. The Sniper definitely worked on her nerves, his smart mouth and comebacks equal to hers. She found him insufferable, yet he held something over her she couldn't quite understand. When she had taken the toothpick from his mouth all she could think about was the feeling of his hands on her hips and how close his lips had been to hers. She groaned and threw herself into her cot, sinking into it as she replayed it over and over in her mind.
"What have I gotten myself into?"