Chapter Summary: Vestra and Lana are on Vaiken Spacedock for Council business. But not every reunion is theirs alone.
Or: no fuk only horny
[Pre-SoR. Established relationship. Force bond exists, but Lana isn't aware ;) ]
To be back on Vaiken Spacedock was a luxury, after a prolonged campaign on the frontlines. Lana had never considered herself pampered, even with her privileged upbringing as a child, but found herself gladly trading hard cots and field rations for a softer bed, hot meals, and the security of a fleet's protection that allowed her to rest easier at night. Though the price to pay for these comforts was utterly dreary – endless paperwork and holocalls in preparation for the upcoming Council meetings – it was one Lana paid willingly. Pleasant as they were, simple luxuries were not her most coveted reward for remaining on the spacedock.
Darth Avriss stood opposite Darth Arkous and Lana, separated from them by a conference table and a series of holo-projections. Among the information on display were troop deployment plans for the Empire's upcoming campaigns, and updates on experimental tech that chosen soldiers would be supplied with – courtesy of the Sphere of Technology.
Lana followed the discussion quietly, reading the holo-projected data to keep her focus. But Arkous and Avriss spoke of nothing she had not foreseen, and she had memorised the data well enough to recite it. It was safe for her mind to wander across the table, to where Darth Avriss stood, speaking with a frown and a sharp edge in those striking yellow eyes.
So beautiful, so flawless. Such utter perfection she wore in public, that it gave Lana a deep thrill each time the Dark Lord was pinned beneath her; thick black hair an unruly mess about her head, a fierce flush on her cheeks and neck, as her nails tore red lines over Lana's skin, parted lips moaning pleas for more. To tear down a goddess…sacrilege that Lana had committed a dozen times over, and would commit a dozen times more, unrepentant.
"Lana."
She blinked when Arkous called her name, and emerged from her accidental reverie quickly enough to catch the tail end of his question. Thankfully, it pertained to details they'd discussed privately before this meeting with Avriss, and Lana delivered a smooth reply. Though Arkous seemed not to doubt her unruffled demeanour, Lana felt keenly the weight of Avriss' eyes upon her.
When she was done, she met Avriss' gaze over the blue glow of the holoprojections, watching a corner of her dark-painted lips quirk in subtle amusement. As if her eyes had pierced right through Lana, to perceive the…immodest thoughts she harboured within. Memories from months ago that should not have distracted her, not here.
Lana pushed down her chagrin and stood firm, meeting Avriss' eyes with steady composure. She sensed no attempts to probe her mind, and was certain she'd given nothing away. It was mere paranoia that set her nerves on edge, while she held fast under a predator's gaze.
The stare lasted a few precarious seconds longer, before Avriss broke away and turned back to Arkous.
"I can commit nothing to your request as of yet, Arkous. Darth Marr has been incredibly demanding of late, and our numbers are stretched much too thin supporting his strategies."
"Of course." Arkous shared a sympathetic sigh, from the similar weight upon his shoulders. "His hand is heavy on my Sphere as well. But what I propose is a worthwhile endeavour, and will greatly benefit us both. Perhaps in the future?"
"I will consider it."
Arkous inclined his head. "That is all I…"
His voice drifted off as he shot an irritated glance at the doors, which had slid open without warning or permission. But the reason for his guards' error was immediately clear – Darth Vowrawn, who strolled in with a smirk on his lips, which turned coquettish as his crimson eyes wandered from Arkous to Avriss.
"Vowrawn!" Arkous spoke, hiding his displeasure with ease, while Lana stood straighter beside her master. "Have you just arrived?"
"Only just." Vowrawn regarded him coolly with that unwavering smile. "You are looking well, Arkous, Beniko." He bowed his head courteously, even as his hand extended towards Avriss, who laid her hand in his palm in a familiar song and dance.
"And the most exquisite rose in our council of thorns. Avriss, my dear, you look as lovely as ever." He made a show of bending down to kiss her gloved knuckles, and she put on a smile. But her eyes were not on Vowrawn in his own distraction, no – they met Lana's gaze, bringing to her awareness the flame that had sprouted to life in her chest, and the slight twist in her gut.
Warmth crept up to her collar, but Avriss broke eye contact in an act of mercy.
"Vowrawn, the sun's caress on my cheeks," Avriss crooned. "How I've missed your silver tongue."
"How much do you miss it?" Vowrawn's tone turned silky, and Arkous' head fell into his hand.
"Is this why you barged into my office, Vowrawn?" Arkous rumbled, still good-natured – though Lana could hear the strain in his voice. "Was the private lounge occupied?"
Vowrawn laughed, indifferent to Arkous' thinning patience, and clasped Avriss' hand in both of his. Lana fancied that she could feel Avriss cringing behind her cordial mask at the prolonged contact. Even Lana was careful not to linger too long, unless it was desired.
Sure enough, when she stole a discreet glance at Avriss' face, she found yellow eyes drained of mirth, propped up only by the practised smile on her lips. Lana's fingers itched to reach out and relieve Avriss of this discomfort, but Vowrawn had turned his attention back to Arkous, allowing Avriss to slip from his grasp.
"Of course not, Arkous. I came for you. We need to talk about Ravage." Vowrawn shared a glance with Avriss. "Mortis, Acina, and Rictus have agreed to side with us."
"Good to know," Avriss replied drily, while Arkous cocked his head, curious. "I shall leave you to it, then. I have other matters to attend to."
Vowrawn nodded, and turned back to Arkous. As Lana's ears were tuned towards a blunt disparagement of Darth Ravage's recent power plays, her eyes were drawn back to Avriss – whose gaze lingered on her for a fraction of a second. Just enough to make her intent clear, before she left the room with a fluid sweep of her dark crimson robes.
Lana watched her go, and found herself swallowing against a throat gone dry.
Darth Ravage had been astonishingly, clumsily bold of late, and it was natural that none of his peers wished his progress to continue. But the matter was a mere trifle in the grander web of the Dark Council's myriad political schemes, and an agreement was quickly reached between two Councilors against another. Lana nodded when Arkous assigned her one last task on the matter, and took her leave with a polite bow.
Intending to tackle the mountain of work awaiting her, she made for Arkous' ship first, striding through the station's overwhelmingly grey, austere corridors. But her pace started to slow as she walked past the cantina; her superficial plan eroded under the upbeat strands of jazz teasing her ears, exposing the singular desire she'd tried to bury deep beneath a professional veneer.
It was a conclusion long drawn since those eyes had set upon her in a silent edict, and she recognised the futility of fighting against it. Against what her heart craved in defiance of reason. So she turned on her heels, drawn towards that magnetic presence like a bee to sweetest nectar, a prey to plump bait.
Lana found Darth Avriss' office easily, just two corridors down from Arkous'. She nodded at Khem Val, ever the silent sentry for his master, and was allowed entry without question. That he was posted by the doors, instead of within the office itself was…telling.
She found Avriss knocking back the last of her drink in a chrome-coloured cup. Yellow eyes turned sharp over its rim at the unannounced arrival, then relaxed in silent recognition. An infuriating, knowing smirk played over Avriss' lips as she set the cup down, watching Lana march across the room without a word. She turned her high-backed chair lazily to meet Lana, who had circled the edge of her long desk.
Avriss didn't bother to get up, and Lana didn't care. Her hand darted out to clamp Avriss by the jaw, causing her to stiffen before lips collided carelessly together, the sting of teeth on flesh holding back Lana's ravenous hunger by just a thread. And it seemed Avriss did not care for her restraint, snapping it effortlessly with a nimble tongue slipping into her mouth, as two hands gripped Lana's hips and yanked her down into Avriss' lap.
Lana felt a deep purr against her mouth as Avriss leaned forward, forcing her to tilt back – and relinquish control. But Lana would not have it, heaving her weight forward so that Avriss's shoulders hit the back of her chair. Only faint sense turned Lana's hand away from Avriss' hair in its meticulous updo, and she clamped onto the back of Avriss' neck instead.
A sigh left Avriss' moist lips as Lana seared a path down her jaw, possessive, branding her with kisses. Lana paused beneath the edge of Avriss' jaw, lingering to suck lightly at that sensitive spot on her neck.
Avriss' fingers slid into her hair and tightened in warning. "Lana," she intoned – a flick of oil into the fire burning low in her gut, and impulse flared.
In that moment, she could do anything she wanted, to the throat bared to her so recklessly. She could leave her mark on Darth Avriss, Lord of the Dark Council, high on her neck where it couldn't be hidden by her tall collar. She could leave it for all to see, to wonder who had the audacity to claim that which should be untouchable; who had the privilege to survive the act, the luxury of having their mark paraded in plain sight. Because she knew Avriss would do so, in spite and in challenge, with that crooked little smirk that was both taunt and bait to lure Lana back, so inevitably that she would wonder who wielded true power in their exchange.
And Lana revelled in the possibility that it might not be her, after all.
Lana teased the skin of Avriss' neck with the tip of her tongue, an enticing taste before the feast, eliciting a quiet swallow in Avriss' throat. Despite the intense urge to bite down, Lana relented with a gentle nip of teeth on skin, before pulling back to meet yellow eyes simmering with thinly-veiled heat.
Avriss regarded her quietly, mouth quirked in a corner, before she leaned in and shared a gentler kiss than Lana expected.
"So close," she whispered against Lana's lips.
Lana wondered if she was disappointed, before Avriss laid another kiss on her, driving the question from her mind. It was slow at first, a soft reacquaintance of two hearts kept apart, growing heated as hands roamed the surface of their robes, over what was sorely missed and still kept from their naked touch despite their intimate proximity.
Avriss bit her bottom lip with a growl, just hard enough that Lana wondered if it would swell. She licked at the spot, then held onto Avriss' shoulders when her partner stood, half-carrying her. Lana found her footing in a haze as she was walked backwards, trapped in another kiss, and her heart leapt to her throat when she felt Avriss pulling off her gloves between their bodies.
Her back hit the wall, and she broke free of Avriss' lips for a second, glimpsing the black gloves dropped carelessly on the floor. Fingertips cradled her jaw and guided her gaze up, so their eyes met as Avriss moved even closer, until Lana was sandwiched between her body and solid durasteel. Lana silently cursed the jut of armour over her sternum, but it did not dissuade Avriss from pressing her chest against Lana, body heat impossibly radiating through her crimson robes.
Or was that just Lana? She didn't know, and didn't care when Avriss cupped her face in bare hands, sliding her palms down the sides of Lana's neck.
Lana's eyes fluttered shut when Avriss kissed her again. She locked her arms around Avriss' neck, feeling hands travel down the front of her robes with deliberate slowness, moving down to her sides. Avriss' boot nudged against hers, shifting her feet wider apart as one hand slid over the back of her thigh. Fingers dug hard into the thick fabric of her pants, and dragged its way up, a traitorous groan leaving Lana's lips when Avriss grasped firmly between her thighs.
"Did you miss me?" Avriss murmured into her ear.
"Why don't you find out?" Lana breathed, feeling Avriss' smile, and turned her head to catch Avriss' lips with her own.
Avriss purred against her, pushing Lana ever tighter against the wall. Her tongue slipped into Lana's mouth, breaking the last threads of Lana's restraint with a single swipe, leaving her open for the taking. Lana's fingers dug into the back of Avriss' robes in anticipation, her ears filled with panted breaths, hushed moans, and the double-tone beep of the holoterminal.
The holoterminal.
Avriss growled into their kiss, then broke away, anger flashing in her eyes. Lana laid a calming hand on her chest, feeling it rise and fall as Avriss took a deep breath, glancing over her shoulder, then back at Lana.
"Don't let me stop you."
"And if I want you to?"
"Then who am I to deny my Dark Lord?"
"Yours, hm?" Avriss' lips curled into a smirk as she waited for the holoterminal to grow silent. Dipping down, she met Lana in another soft kiss, more to savour their closeness than prolong a heat starting to cool.
As if she knew better than to rekindle the flame just before the holoterminal came alive again.
Avriss pulled back, hissing a curse under her breath that drew a quiet laugh from Lana. She stepped away and moved to the desk, giving Lana space to straighten herself from where she'd been pressed up against the wall.
Releasing a deep breath, Lana expelled the pent-up energy in her chest, shifting her legs slightly apart to relieve the warmth Avriss had coaxed from her. The way Lana had been ready to give herself for Avriss' taking, right there in the Dark Lord's office, with all the restraint of a brash, hormonal teenager. She would have felt embarrassed, if they had not done this before. More times than Lana wanted to count.
Her eyes fell to Avriss' hips, the curve of it visible through her robes, beneath the cinch of her leather belt. She hadn't forgotten how it felt gripped between her hands, pinned and bent over the desk…
The slap of Avriss' palm against the holoterminal's controls broke Lana from her reverie, and she shook herself from her preoccupation with a silent chide.
"What is it," Avriss snapped when the audio channel was connected. She leaned back against the desk, and held out a hand to Lana – who stared uncertainly, before setting her own in it. Avriss curled her fingers over Lana's, pulling her close, so that she could circle both arms around Lana's waist.
"Apologies, my lord," Talos said, picking up on his Sith master's obvious irritation. "But there is an incoming call for you – from Darth Marr."
Avriss' eye twitched, and Lana had to bite down a smile. The one Sith on the Dark Council whom Avriss could not deny, even if Lana knew she dearly wished to do so.
As if to stave off the inevitable, Avriss kept silent, reaching up with one hand to play with the tips of Lana's short blonde locks.
"What does he want?"
"He asked to speak with you immediately, my lord. He did not share further details."
Avriss sighed sharply. "Fine. Put him through."
Lana started to move back, but Avriss' arms around her grew firm as Talos closed the channel. She looked at Avriss in question, and was answered with a deep, comfortingly warm kiss. Lana was taken aback, but lost herself in the unexpected embrace, and was overcome with a sudden refusal to let go when Avriss parted carefully from her.
Avriss smiled, as if in understanding, and soothed her terrible reluctance with another gentle peck on her lips.
"I'll see you later," Avriss said, as the holoterminal's signal light started to blink – Darth Marr was waiting.
"Yes." Lana stepped back, straightening Avriss' robes. "Now, go on. No one keeps Darth Marr waiting."
Avriss rolled her eyes, exasperated, but she took her place behind the desk nonetheless, choosing to stand instead of sitting in her chair. She spared Lana one last glance, before tapping a button to patch Darth Marr through, the Sith Lord's imposing stature appearing above her desk.
Lana lingered for a moment, gazing at Avriss longer – watching that severity harden her features in the presence of another – then turned to leave before hearing anything not meant for her ears.
As it turned out, they did get to see each other many times after – but never in a personal capacity, as they had wished. Council matters dominated their every waking moment, and when it came time to rest – precious little as it was – they could only collapse in their personal quarters, exchanging short messages or calls before they fell asleep.
The Dark Council was forced into an interminable series of meetings, over matters that threatened to prove irreconcilable between Spheres, and soon the long days had bled into a week. Darth Arkous grew weary of his peers' arguments, and tasked Lana to leave the spacedock where he was trapped, to take charge of a campaign in his stead.
Lana was grateful for the excuse to leave the station as soon as possible, though her heart dragged behind her even as she slung her duffel bag over a shoulder, and strode to the ship assigned for her journey. A uniformed officer met her at the airlock, saluting as the ship's droid relieved Lana of her luggage.
"My lord, it is an honour to have you aboard," he gushed, eager to impress with quick words and a spine so ramrod straight it threatened to snap in half.
Lana nodded curtly and started to move past him, but paused when he moved alongside her. She frowned at him, and he rushed to spill his report.
"A package arrived for you just forty minutes earlier, my lord. It was delivered by Lieutenant Drellik, on behalf of Darth Avriss. We had it delivered to your quarters."
"Thank you, Lieutenant."
The short gratitude was enough to make the young officer beam, and move aside.
No one dared bother her while she made her way to the crew's quarters, and found the private room assigned to her. Locking the door behind her, Lana found her duffel bag already set at the foot of the bed in the corner, and a discreet grey case sitting on an otherwise empty desk by the wall.
Curious, Lana laid a hand on the case, and found it warm to the touch. Head cocked, she lifted its lid to find a usual array of gifts from Vestra. There was a neat stack of data cards in the corner – no doubt more ancient writings that Vestra thought relevant to Lana's studies of the Force. Beside it was a pristine focus crystal, still clear and colourless, despite having been cut and polished by Vestra – a pastime of hers.
Finally, there was a rectangular steel box, with a fork and knife packed beside it. Lana grew incredulous, guessing its contents, and picked up the flimsi note that had been placed over the box.
'You've lost weight. Remember to take care of yourself. Or, at least, give me a time and place so I can do it for you.
Yours, heart and soul - V'
Lana smiled, heart growing immeasurably soft as she read the note once more, before setting it down. She picked up the steel box – the source of warmth she'd felt in the larger case – and opened it to find a seared striploin steak, neatly sliced to show its juicy pink centre. With it came a generous portion of roasted potatoes, and a salad of crispy lettuce, red cherry tomatoes and crumbles of cheese.
Her stomach did a dance at the sight – and Lana realised she hadn't eaten after the single cup of caf that was breakfast. Her morning had passed in a blur, so busy was she tying up a dozen loose ends on the spacedock and packing her belongings for the journey ahead.
So Lana took off her cloak and gloves, and took a seat at the desk, spearing a slice of steak on her fork for a bite. While her tongue relished its rich flavour, she wondered just how Vestra had made the time to prepare the meal, with the Council howling and breathing down her neck. An impossible task, surely; but this was a woman who fought through impossible odds to sit on the ruling council of the Sith Empire. This was the woman who'd chosen to love her, despite life making her bleed for every time she'd loved before.
Lana took another bite, picturing in her mind's eye Vestra making this meal at the stove, stubbornly ignoring the holocom that chirped non-stop in a demand for her attention. With a small smile, she mentally reviewed the obligations she had in the months to come. They were so numerous, it truly left little room to breathe. But breathe Lana would – and with that breath she would lay a kiss on her love's war-bruised knuckles, and offer in her arms precious solace from the troubles of the galaxy.
A/N: So. This chapter took longer cos my brain shut down after 5 plot-related chapters lmao. Will do a few lighter chapters like this while The Brain™ recovers.