Last time: Kait and Sasha helped Cien get ready for her date with Kyr. They have a wonderful time.

Now; Sasha and Kait party. Viran and Oppie watch podracing.

Chapter 27- A Night on the Town

"You know I didn't expect this place to be so… loud," Viran said with a chuckle as he sipped his beer.

He and Oppie were at the Outlander Club, watching the latest podrace, but it seemed everyone had the same idea as it was quite crowded. They sat at a high top in the back where it had been fairly empty when they first arrived with their dates. But after enjoying a meal together, Sasha and Kait took off to a club across the street while Op and Viran remained there as they wanted to watch the race more than dance. Then the crowds shuffled in and what was a table of four became a table of two as even the other two high top chairs at their table were taken to another to accommodate a larger group nearby them.

"What?" Oppie asked with a slightly loud voice as he grinned, looking out across the crowd of other patrons. The pod racing was exciting, and the crowd cheered with every twist and turn.

"Ha ha," Viran said smiling as he took another sip. He then let out a cheer himself as one of his favorite racers moved closer to first. "Man, it has been a really long time since I've sat in a bar and watched a good podrace."

"A long time?" Oppie asked, glancing at him as he took a sip of his own. "I don't think I've ever done that, when did you?" He asked with a smirk.

"There were a couple times when Sasha used to work in canteens and bars when I would go with co-workers or got off in time to catch a few races," Viran told him as he watched the race.

"Ah," Oppie said. "And here I thought it was just because Sasha was there." He replied mischievously.

Viran blushed. "Well there was that too." He chuckled innocently.

"Ha." Oppie said, taking a sip with a grin as on the huge holo display two pod racers fought a furious battle to claim third place.

"Speaking of which, how goes everything with Kait?" Viran asked after a moment, smirking.

Oppie coughed slightly as he put his glass down. "Fine." He stated.

Viran glanced at him with a slightly raised brow. "Just fine?" He asked simply.

"Great, things are going great." Oppie said. "I think." He took a sip. "I dunno, all this is new to me so it's hard for me to tell." He said as the fourth place racer suddenly popped into second due to a brilliant maneuver that had the crowd cheering.

"Anything I can do to help?" Viran asked genuinely. "Or would you rather have dating advice from your twin brother?" He added pointedly with a smirk.

Oppie shook his head with a slight smirk. "No, Kyr's mean." He paused for a second as he took another sip. "I dunno, I just feel like I keep messing up on little things. Like when Kyr picked up that necklace, I was wondering if I should get a necklace or something for Kait, or a bracelet or some other kind of jewelry like that. I had no idea what I was looking at in that store, though." He said with an annoyed shrug.

"I don't think you are messing anything up," Viran said, honestly. "It seems Kait is happy to be with you. If you want to get her a gift like jewelry or flowers or something, then go for it. I'm sure she would love it. But you don't have to get her something because Kyr got something for his wife. When I have gotten stuff for Sasha it's because it's either an anniversary or birthday or just because I saw something she would love to have. So you are alright. Don't worry." He assured him.

"I guess it's kind of like those dark chocolates I keep around." Oppie replied. "Kait likes those so I keep a stash near me at all times."

Viran chuckled. "Smart man. I'm sure she appreciates the gesture," he said, smirking. "Especially when it comes to chocolate."

"She definitely seems to." Oppie said with a shrug and a slightly dumb grin as he took a drink.

Viran smiled at that. "That's good. But was there anything else that worries you or was it just the necklace?"

"The necklace, little things like that. It was just the latest example." Oppie said. "The order did a good job of training us to be Jedi, but a kind of bad job at training us to be normal people. Even Kyr, as a Mandalorian, as weird as a Mandalorian upbringing is, knows how to pick out jewelry and…" He thought for a moment, "zherry pitters. Little things like that. Things that don't come to mind for me until I'm thinking about it hours or days later. Kait had such an incredibly normal upbringing I just worry I keep coming across as thoughtless because I just don't think of things like that. Or missing subtle hints from her about other... things." Oppie said, and tried to hide behind his glass of ale and keep from blushing.

"Other things?" Viran asked, confused as he raised an eyebrow and Oppie just glanced away. Then smirked. "Oh." He sipped his beer trying to keep a smile at bay.

Oppie cleared his throat. "But yeah, things seem like they are going well, I'm just worried I'll mess it up." He said quietly. Then he looked down at his drink. "I'm sorry, this was supposed to be fun and here I am just grousing at you."

"It's fine," Viran said, smiling gently. "Op, you and I have been together for a long time. We have seen each other through thick and thin. And you have been nothing but supportive for Sasha and I. You've given me advice when I needed it to help support Sasha. I'm here for you through this. So let me offer you some really useful advice that I learned from being with Sasha." He took a long sip of his drink and looked from the screens to Oppie. "You rescued Kait, protected her in her time of need, and stayed at her side when she was sick. You have helped her through this transition of going from cop to Marshal. And you have been by her side all these months. That means more to a relationship than any mere trinket or bauble could do. If you want to give her a gift because you love her and want to express that to her, then do it. There is nothing wrong with that. But holding her hand. Holding her and being with her is also a way of showing love." He looked up to the screens as he tipped his drink to Oppie. "And it seems you have been doing that perfectly."

Oppie was silent for a moment, and he took a drink. "Thanks Vir." He said quietly.

"Of course. I hope that helps," Viran said as he took another sip. After a long silence between them, but definitely not in the bar itself, Viran glanced over at Oppie as he finished his beer. "So… the girls looked good earlier. I wonder how the dance club is going."

"I don't know." Oppie said. He drummed his fingers as the pod race entered its third and final loop. "Should we go see?" He asked, turning to Viran.

"I'd be interested," Viran said with a shrug. "Should we go after the race or you think this is pretty much over?" He gestured to the screen where the battle for second was more interesting than the battle for first at the moment.

Oppie shrugged, and took another drink from his mostly empty glass. "I don't know." Oppie said.

Viran looked around at the crowd that was steadily getting bigger. "I don't know either. Flip a coin and see?" He asked as he reached into his pocket and pulled out the challenge coin. "Heads we go now. Tails, we go after this lap?"

"Sure." Oppie said with a smirk. Then he frowned ever so slightly as he considered the two possibilities. "Vir, gotta ask, are you hoping for one side over the other like I am?"

Viran gave Op a strange look as if the man just read his mind as a smirk tried to not form on his face. "Yeah. Kind of."

"Should we just go then?" Oppie said with a smirk, reaching for his jacket.

"Yep, sounds good to me," Viran said smiling as he pocketed his challenge coin and then switched pockets to drop a couple of credits onto the table.

Sasha sipped her cocktail as she watched from the bar the crowd of people dancing on the dancing floor. "I admit. Doing this for fun is a bit… overwhelming," she said with a light chuckle.

"I know!" Kait said, over the loud beat of the music. "Where's J'onz when you need him to crash the party?" She asked as she took a sip of her Stargazer.

Sasha laughed. "Hopefully still in a New Republic jail cell," she said as she took a sip of her drink. "Thanks for coming with me to this. This is fun."

"You bet, it's been years since I got to do this with a girlfriend." Kait said, taking another sip of her drink. "Well, you know." She waved her hand in a slightly tipsy manner, "other than that."

"I figured," Sasha said. "I have never done this except for then. I usually just tended the bar or avoided places like this. This kind of place was never Op or Viran's kind of place."

"Yeah knowing Op I'm not surprised." She took another sip. "Man, this thing is good, not as good as when you made it at Haven though." She said in her loud voice over the music still.

"Thanks. When we get back to Haven, I'll make you one again," Sasha said loudly.

"I can't wait!" Kait said.

Sasha beamed at that. "So how are things going with you and Oppie? I feel like we haven't had a chance to talk since we got to Coruscant."

"Going great!" Kait said. "I think." She said as she swallowed. "He's so tentative about everything it's hard to get a read on him sometimes." She admitted.

"I understand," Sasha said, giving her a soft smile. "This is all new to him. He never had a chance to experience growing up as a young teen in love like Viran and I kind of did. He had to grow up at such a young age. So if he is still a little tentative about things know it has nothing to do with you, but he is trying to adjust to being… normal. And do normal things like going out with a beautiful girl and being in love."

"Yeah that and other normal things." Kait grumbled as she took a sip. "That's kinda what I figured." She said.

"Give him time," Sasha agreed with a smile. "He is getting better. I have even noticed how much he has grown since you two have been together."

"Yep." Kait replied, "some things I've had to beat him over the head with, though. It's been kind of fun having everything drawn out a little. All my other boyfriends moved things way faster, but everything about this feels a little more…" She paused, trying to think of the word, "I dunno, meaningful, earned, more weight to it." She said with a smirk. "Plus I think it's cute how befuddled Op gets with it sometimes."

Sasha smiled at that. "I admit, it is amusing. From a sister's point of view, to see him like that." She chuckled. "But I am happy that things are meaningful for you guys. And if you ever need any advice when it comes to him, never hesitate to ask." She added.

Kait thought for a moment. "Yeah, I guess I did have one question -"

"Excuse me," a young male voice shouted over the music behind them, followed by a tap to Sasha's shoulder.

Sasha turned to see a handsome, young male Pantoran standing there with an equally handsome Human male, but looked a tad older from his facial hair. The two were smiling at her and Kait with leering looks.

"Can I help you?" Sasha asked. But she was sure she knew where this was going to go. After years of working in places similar to this, she knew what that look meant. But she played coy for now.

"Yeah, me and buddy saw you two hotties from over there," the human said, gesturing with his thumb to a table on the other side of the dance floor. "And we were wondering if we could buy you a drink then maybe go dance?" He asked as he and the Pantoran got uncomfortably close to them that there was barely any room between them, the bar top, and these two guys.

Kait looked them over and recognized too much from other guys she had dated before Op. "Already got a drink, thanks though." She said, taking a sip and glancing away. Sasha did the same.

"Ah come on," the Pantoran said as he dropped an arm around Sasha. "Why can't we buy you another one?"

Sasha slowly looked down at the arm then slowly turned her gaze to look at him. "Arm off. Now. Or I'll launch you into the next galaxy." She warned through a hiss.

He and his buddy just laughed. "Yeah right. You don't scare me, sweet thang."

Sasha raised an unamused brow at that before giving him a sweet smile. Then she reached up and grabbed his wrist as if to agree to his idea of fun. But then in one swift motion, Sasha twisted the wrist sharply to one side and in the same move, hauled the Pantoran over her shoulder, slamming him down onto the bar top with a loud thud and crash. The impact startled the patrons around them as well as the bartender and the Human still near Kait. Kait just moved her glass slightly to keep it from being caught up in the crash and smirked as she took a drink.

Sasha turned to his friend next. "Do I need to repeat myself?"

He shook his head vigorously and scurried away into the crowd that seemed to return to their business as soon as he was gone. Sasha looked back to the Pantoran as a security guard came over and hauled him off of the bar top.

"Sorry about that," she apologized as she cleaned up the counter.

"It's fine." The guard said, hauling the dazed Pantoran up. "Not the first time this week." He said as he pulled the guy away.

Sasha smirked at that before returning her attention to Kait. "So anyway… you were saying before we were so rudely interrupted," she said with a giggle.

"Oh." Kait said, "I uh… never mind." She said sheepishly as she hid behind her glass.

"What?" Sasha asked, curious. "What is it? You can talk to me." She said as the bartender kindly placed a new drink in front of her as her other one had been knocked over when she slammed the man onto the counter. She nodded her thanks before taking a sip.

"I… uh guess I was…" Kait glanced down at her drink, "wondering if you guys, Jedi, had to take vows to not… uh… do… certain things." She swallowed. "I guess it's a dumb question since you have Lana." She added sheepishly.

Sasha was a bit confused on what she was referring to at first until Kait mentioned Lana then the light turned on in her mind. That caused her to blush slightly, but it was hard to tell if it was a blush or the alcohol making her cheeks red. She cleared her throat as she looked down at her own drink.

"The Jedi Order taught us to never form attachments," Sasha started. "We were allowed to be compassionate and caring, but we couldn't have relationships like we have with each other. Viran and I would have never been allowed to get married or have Lana. We would have had to leave the order. And we wouldn't have been allowed to have such a close and emotional bond with our family either." She paused for a moment. "But when it comes to… certain things, the Jedi Order never said we couldn't. There was no written law or rule or even a promise we had to make that said we had to refrain from those things."

"Huh." Kait replied, taking a sip.

"I hope that helps," Sasha said, glancing at her before taking a sip of her drink.

"It does." Kait said, "Op's very different from all the other guys I've ever been with, I'm more used to guys like the ones that just came over to chat with us." She observed with a bit of a grin. "I'm used to being the one to slow things down a little, rather than, well…" She took a sip of her drink. "Trying to push them forward a lot."

"Ah I see. That makes sense," Sasha nodded in understanding. "Well one day he will loosen up."

"Maybe I just need to get a few drinks in 'im." Kait mused with something between a chuckle and a giggle.

Sasha snorted at that. "That might work. And he is still at the bar with Viran. Maybe we can join them and buy them each a few rounds." She suggested with a tipsy sounding giggle. The alcohol of this drink was hitting her now.

"Sounds good," Kait said, snickering, "I'll get him nice and drunk then I can surprise him later with in nothi-"

"Hey guys." Oppie said as they walked up, and Kait startled and cast a glance at him and Viran as they walked up.

Sasha slapped a hand to her mouth as she tried to suppress laughter. It didn't work.

"What's so funny?" Viran asked, amused as they came to a stop beside them.

"Nothing," Sasha said, still giggling. "So, how was the bar?"

"It was good, we missed you guys though." Oppie said, "mind if we join you?" He asked, looking between a giggling Sasha and a somewhat mortified Kait.

"Sure," Sasha said, gesturing to the empty stools next to them.

Viran sat down on the other side of Sasha and smirked at her drink. "A Stargazer?"

"Of course," Sasha smiled at him. He chuckled.

Oppie sat down next to Kait. "You guys been having fun?" He asked.

"Yep." Kait said, still a little tipsy. "Sasha only had to beat up one guy."

"Ah I see you are back to your old ways," Viran joked as he nudged his wife. "I'm guessing the creep deserved it?"

"Oh yeah," Sasha said. She took a gulp of her drink. "He and his friend tried to buy us drinks and dance with us. But they were being way too forward about it."

"Then he definitely deserved it," Viran nodded as he flagged down the bartender, glad to hear the creeps were dealt with properly.

"Now that you guys are here maybe we won't get pestered anymore." Kait observed. "What's your poison, Op?" She asked him a little pointedly.

"What?" Oppie asked, confused.

"What're ya drinking?" She clarified.

"Oh, uhhh…" He said, looking around for a menu.

"Op, they've got cider," Sasha pointed out. "And the good kind too."

That made Viran's eyebrows peak in interest. "Well I know what I'm getting."

"Same." Oppie said, a little surprised it was on the menu.

"You should try something a little stronger, this Stargazer is pretty good." Kait said, taking another sip.

"Maybe I'll work my way up to that." Oppie replied, looking at her drink.

The bartender caught the order and moved away to make it. A moment later, he returned with two ciders, placing them in front of Viran and Oppie.

"Thanks," Viran said, smiling at it.

"Thank you." Oppie said, taking the glass.

"Alright, I propose a toast. To family, friends, and good times ahead for all of us," Viran said as he raised his glass.

Sasha smiled and did the same.

"Hear hear!" Kait said, lifting her glass.

Oppie lifted his glass as well and drank with everyone else.

As the night went on, the quartet eventually moved to a booth to spread out a bit more and to sit more comfortably. They socialized, enjoyed their drinks, and occasionally, Sasha and Kait would go out to the dance floor. But most of the time, they stayed in the booth telling stories and having fun. After a while, their drinks were getting low or were almost empty.

"Alright, I'm going for another," Viran said, standing from the booth. "You guys want another Stargazer or something else?"

"I'll take an ale this time. This was my third tonight," Sasha said before she shot back the rest of her drink.

"I need a refill too." Oppie said, getting out of the booth, "you want anything?" He asked Kait.

"Uhhh…" She said, thinking, "maybe a rum and coke?" She asked.

Oppie furrowed his brow. "What's coke?" He asked curiously.

"Something new from the outer rim." Kait said, "Batuu, I think? It's pretty good."

"Huh." Oppie said, "I might try one of those. Be right back then." He said as he walked off towards the bar. Viran followed after him.

Sasha scooted closer to Kait. "I admit, this is more fun with them here," she said.

"Yep." Kait agreed with a smile.

"Why hello," a man with a Coruscanti accent said as he and two others stopped before their table.

Looking up, Sasha felt herself roll her eyes as these three guys stood before them, leering at them and giving them smiles.

"Here we go again," Sasha grumbled under her breath.

"We're both here with someone, so keep moving." Kait said in a bemused tone.

"Really?" one of the other guys said. He looked around. "You mean those two at the bar?" He gestured to Viran and Oppie.

"Yes," Sasha answered sharply.

"Well I'm sure your dates won't miss ya, if we steal you two for a dance," the third guy spoke up.

"First off, they are more than just our dates," Sasha said, unwavering. "That's my husband and her boyfriend. And secondly, I recommend you three get lost before I show you to the door myself."

The three of them burst into laughter, irritating Sasha more, while Kait glared at them.

"No offense, my dear, but you should leave the heavy lifting to the security guards," the first guy said as he slipped into the booth next to Sasha while the second guy did the same with Kait. "So that dance?"

"Get. Lost," Sasha hissed as she reached for her lightsaber that was hidden in her clutch.

Kait's hand went for the hold out blaster she kept somewhere. "You three need to leave, now."

Before anything could happen, Viran cleared his throat as Oppie and he approached the table with two drinks at hand. "Are you gentlemen lost? Because I think those are our dates you are bothering." He nearly growled. Oppie's eyes narrowed as he regarded the three men, especially the ones that had scooted in close to Sasha and Kait.

"And what are you two going to do about it?" The third asked.

Viran set down the drinks and turned to regard the man. He flashed open the jacket to reveal his lightsaber. "Don't make us ask again. Now leave."

"Wait… you're all Jedi?" The second said, suddenly looking Sasha and Kait up and down in worry before looking at Oppie and Viran in fear.

"Yes, now go," Sasha hissed.

"I'm not dealing with Jedi. I'm out," the third man, the smarter of the three, said as he moved away.

"Loser," the first growled.

"You need to leave, now." Oppie growled in a low voice.

The second guy, who was sitting next to Kait, nodded as he scrambled out of the booth, practically tripping over himself. He then fled into the crowd. The first guy sighed in defeat and moved out of the booth.

"You are no fun," he seethed at Viran as he walked away.

"Jerks," Sasha grumbled.

"Yep." Kait agreed.

"You guys okay?" Oppie asked as he set the drinks down and slid into the booth next to Kait.

"Yeah." Kait said, annoyed at the creeps as they disappeared into the crowd. "Thanks." She said as Op passed her one of the rum and cokes.

"I was about ready to pull my saber on them too," Sasha said after a groan as Viran sat down next to her with her drink.

"Well I'm glad it didn't come to that," Viran said with a smirk. "Has that happened a lot tonight?"

"That makes the second time yeah," Sasha said as she took a huge swig of her drink.

"Third, but those guys turned away when I glared at them." Kait said with a smirk as she took a drink from her glass.

Oppie wasn't sure what to think of that as he looked down at his own rum and coke.

"Anyway, what were we talking about?" Viran asked, glancing at Oppie noticing his reaction.

"I think you two were trying to decide which was better, an assassin droid or commando droid," Sasha said as she relaxed against Viran, who wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

"Oh, yeah." Oppie said, taking a sip of his drink. He startled back, looking at it. "Why is this all bubbly?" He asked, looking at Kait.

Kait snickered. "It's part of the coke stuff, it's from some distant little planet apparently. I don't think it's dangerous, the bubbles are kind of fun." She said.

"I guess so." Oppie said, looking at the effervescent drink a little suspiciously.

"Op, I think it's just bubble caffeine. You will be fine," Sasha assured him.

"Trust me, you'll like it." Kait encouraged him. "Have I ever steered you wrong?" She asked him teasingly.

"No," Oppie took a deeper drink. "That is pretty good." Oppie said after a second.

"See?" Kait asked, lifting her glass in a toast. "Next time I suggest something fun, you should just do it!" She said, taking a huge gulp.

Sasha and Viran both chuckled at that as they shared a smile. They then raised their drinks up in a toast.

"Then here's to doing something fun!" Sasha cheered.

"Hear hear." Oppie said with a smirk as he raised his glass for the toast, and Kait followed suit.

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