Reconnect - Part 1
The two headed back across the rocky plains, the orb-like scouter droids buzzed and whistled. Informing them that there was a ship approaching.
"Hm. I expected them to abandon us." Zaiya let out a little chuckle.
"Faith, my master. Bane is not foolish." She smiled, not noticing the look flashed to her by the Zabrak. "I never doubted for a moment."
"Bounty hunters are loyal to money and nothing else." He warned.
"I know… hence why I knew he would come back, how can he get paid otherwise?" She shrugged with a small laugh. Soon enough the ship came into view, and they were able to board.
"You seem quiet." Bane spoke to her when the Sith had boarded. "I see he did kill her as he claimed." There was no emotion behind his words, simply stating facts. Zaiya let out a little sigh. "One might think you lost a friend with that look on your face."
"Not quite… but I am left feeling… like it was a waste…" She sighed again.
"Don't worry about it, it's not the first time you had a target." He shrugged, looking her over, always managing to see more than the surface with those red eyes of his.
"True."
"Is he as unstable as he looks?" Bane muttered with a subtle head tilt toward her master. Her expression changed and a frown crossed her features.
"Do not disrespect my master, Bane." Her tone was serious as she looked up at him.
"Master? Since when did you believe in such a thing? You are a good bounty hunter, don't lose your head over some… boy." His voice held unabashed distaste, he was disappointed in her.
"You may disagree with my choices, but I have my own methods and my own reasons, Bane. You would also be wise not to anger him." They stared at each other for a long time, finally he backed off.
"As you wish." He turned away, but she was sure she had seen something akin to worry on his blue face. Why would he be worried about her?
"The money is transferred." Aurra called from the other side of the main deck.
"Good." Her master spoke in his regular smooth and calm tone. "Come apprentice, we will be departing shortly." Zaiya looked up with surprise.
"We are leaving? Do we not need to return to Coruscant?" She asked with a frown.
"Not yet…" There was a smirk on his lips. "I have one more debt to repay." Zaiya nodded, realising he had to cover his tracks.
"I look forward to assisting you, master." She smiled.
These were not deaths she found to be in vain, strangely, the death to come did not cause her unease. The master and apprentice were dropped off at the space station they had previously escaped, finding themselves in a nearly empty hangar. It seemed to be that the rest of the bounty hunters had all departed, and the station was devoid of all but the minimum staff. That was good. They would have little trouble.
The scout droids moved ahead, relaying their findings of life forms to the Dathomirians. They moved through the station swiftly as one, each at the other's back, both wielding sabers. The Jedi's saber felt strange in her hands. She struck down one of the attendants that pulled a blaster on her, and turned.
Damn. Her master had not deemed to replace his torn garments and had been walking around without a shirt the entire time. As much as she wanted to stay focused… the way his tattoos shifted across his back as he moved was… distracting. After a few steps he turned to face her, a curious expression on his face.
"Something bothering you, apprentice?" He asked, though his smirk told her he already knew.
"No." She replied too quickly, looking away. Suddenly he was right before her, she let out a soft gasp, meeting his golden gaze with her sapphire one.
"Is that so?" He chuckled, instinctively she stepped away and was met with a cold metal wall at her back.
"Yes master…" She breathed, her hearts suddenly racing. This was not the time for this…! And yet… she found herself helpless to turn away.
"Your thoughts betray you, apprentice…" He replied in a low tone, leaning closer. She could feel the heat from his skin and feel his hot breath against her neck. Winged Goddess save her.
"My thoughts…?" She whispered shakily, pretending to not know what he was talking about.
"Yes…" He was almost purring. "Do you often suffer from a wandering gaze?"
"No-"
"No…? So, is it just for me then? Should I be flattered?" For some reason she felt unable to respond, her voice had left her completely and she just stared at him with wide eyes. Her body dared not move while he was so close to her. "Is this what you were hoping for…?" He asked leaning even closer, she felt her knees weakening, a heat forming in her belly as he held her there with his gaze, both hands reaching out to press on the wall on either side of her head. "Remember who your master is, my sweet apprentice… Remember that if your loyalty fades, I have one choice before me." The edge to his voice returned… and made her shiver.
"I will always be loyal to you, Master." She breathed, did he not believe her? Had her show of compassion weakened her resolve in his eyes?! Instinctively, she reached out. "Master I-" And her hand met the bare flesh of his chest. Her eyes flicked down… then back up to his smug face. "Um…" Was all she could manage.
He moved to speak, but suddenly turned his head; a staff member appeared at the end of the corridor. With a grunt he extended his hand, pulling the human forward with the force. Just as he was about to reach the Sith's gloved hand, a flash of blue and the human fell limp. The lightsaber in her hand cutting the attendant down. A second later she was pinned to the wall again, and his mouth crashed into hers.
In truth he had only intended to tease her a little, seeing her so flustered was always amusing… He had felt her eyes on him sporadically during the fight with the Jedi, and as she walked behind him to the ship…and on the ship... and while they made their way through the station. He could not help but feel pleased that she enjoyed watching him, he'd almost felt her eyes roaming across his tattooed skin. He had planned to pull away, but the way she looked at him while he had her pinned… the soft hand to his skin, her touch was cool, and yet it scorched his aching soul… and the power that flared in her as she struck at her foes… it proved too much.
One hand grasped the back of her neck, the other slid around her waist. He felt her utterly melt under his grip and it just made him want more. She was his own apprentice, and while there was much to learn for her, she still held great power… but for him to be able to make her tremble so easily… It was a rush. Almost as much as the gentle touches themselves. Her hands slid up his chest, making his skin tingle, her touch was cool against his heated skin, yet soothing compared to the frigid air of the space station. He found himself craving that feeling. He could not recall feeling a gentle touch before… all he knew was pain… until her. Her arms wrapped around him as she returned his kisses, for all her hesitation her passion was intense. Rough, needy, and when he slid his tongue against hers the sound that escaped her was sinful. He felt his stomach clench pleasurably, dominating her mouth. He was breathless, he'd never felt anything like this… the soothing cool of her hands and comfort he received from her was unique… the Sith part of him warned against it… but another part of him was greedy for her. For something he had not had… knowing that she was loyal to him… and by the way her eyes lingered on him, by the way she kissed him back like this… she wanted him too.
They parted, the way her teeth had clung to his lower lip when he pulled away just increased the burning within him. He left her panting, some colour in her pale face, and she was blushing. A tinge of colour to her otherwise pale face. Sometimes she was too naive… too innocent… hunger grew in his eyes as he looked at her. She looked at him like that and he wanted to devour her entirely. He let out a little growl, wrapped in her arms and pressed against her soft, curvaceous form, how was he supposed to resist this?
No… no he'd come here for a reason… to wipe out all witnesses of his appearance. There was more he needed to do. He couldn't just- he made the mistake of looking down into her endless eyes again, by all the Sith. He gripped her tighter, his breathing heavy. Never before had patience been so painful.
He pulled away suddenly, the cold air rushed in where her warm body had been. She looked sad for a moment as he did and it forced him to look away. Her expressions were far too addicting to watch, he could not allow himself to be distracted further. He had to finish what he started first. There would be time for this later… and by the Sith he planned to make time for it. The ache that had formed within him was driving him utterly mad.
Instead of doing terrible things to his apprentice, he decided to take out his frustration on every being he saw. He felt every racing beat of her heart, the heat ebb from her body even as she tried to focus. He only felt his frustration grow as he witnessed her almost dancing as she took out a set of droids to his right. She was graceful… and distracting.
Finally they reached the main observation deck, they had one more opponent, of which he was bristling to take care of. She would not sneer at them after he was done with her.
They heard her voice echo from the door ahead, something about wine. "...servants listening?" There was irritation in her voice, though the Sith moved quietly, neither could be bothered to chase her if she ran. "I asked for more wine! I expect a response." Too perfect.
"You will not get one." He replied calmly as he entered. "They're all dead."
Xrexus did not turn to face them, "Ah. Of course." She was strangely calm, though one did not get to her position without expecting death at some point. "If I had known I had so little time left, I would have requested a better vintage." She sipped the remaining mouthful from her glass. "I don't suppose I could barter for my life?" She asked, and he heard the witch beside him chuckle softly. "Let me live and I'll make it worth your while."
"Your money is useless to me." He replied, what an insult.
"This is vengeance then? For the girl? For the Padawan?" She asked, still refusing to face them, was she afraid to face her death after all? He glared at her, pathetic, why would he wish to avenge the Jedi? The Padawan he had killed… He had no reason to do so, his teeth grit, stupid woman! Dare she insult him like this?!
"And if we were?" Zaiya spoke beside him, and he whipped about to look at her. "Speculating does you no favours, does it? You trifle in things you do not understand, Xev Xrexus." Was she under the delusion they were avenging the Twi'lek? No… she knew better than that.
"I know more than you think." Xrexus turned her head slightly. Oh… now he saw it. Good.
"You know what we are." Zaiya responded with a slight smile, it was not a question.
"Yes." Xrexus responded. Good, he thought, let her say it… let her give him a reason to strike… "Although I thought you all died off long ago…" A wicked grin crossed his face. Say it. Say it…! "Sith…" A moment later she was on the floor in pieces. He let out a soft laugh. With that… all trace of his appearance was gone.
"We will have to crash this station into the moon." Zaiya spoke up, he turned to face her. "We don't want anyone seeing too many lightsaber marks… or the security footage." She gestured to him, his appearance obvious. He smirked at the obvious way she tore her eyes away.
"Very well my apprentice, then I will leave that to you, while I procure us a ship." He watched her turn away.
"Yes master." Her voice was breathy. By the Sith she was testing him. But for now she was right… they needed to return to Coruscant.
He headed back to the hangar, looking for a ship he preferred, the Scimitar was still where he had left it, and so he would need to return in it so his master would not know he had diverted his course. He chose the sturdiest looking ship, though it seems in his haste he had not thought to spare a droid to pilot the ship for him… Damn.
It seemed there was no time to debate, the station rumbled beneath his feet, nearly shaking him off balance. A few moments later, his apprentice appeared, a flash of her dark robes and she was by his side once more.
[Warning… Warning…] Blared the voice over the speakers. [Gravity… failing… self-destruct… imminent.]
With a nod, he turned and they both hurried to start up the ship. He watched her slide into the pilot's seat, her nimble fingers flying across the panel. She knew what she was doing and this time he chose not to deny her.
"Who taught you to fly?" He asked, curiosity getting the better of him. He slid into the seat beside her.
"A Mandalorian Warrior… I also got tips from a Pirate and… well Bane, actually." She shrugged, not looking up from her initiation sequence. A dark look crossed his features. Why did he feel angry?
"You do know him well, then." He retorted in a low hiss.
"Partly. As I said, we ran some missions together for my training beyond Dathomir." She replied calmly. "He taught me much when I was learning to be a bounty hunter." His lip curled.
"You wish to be a mere bounty hunter…?" He asked.
"Of course not Master." She shook her head, taking the controls, the engines roared and they achieved lift off, hovering as the station shook violently, and explosions began in the bowels of the station.
Time to go.
She pushed forward and they made it out into free space. "I wanted to learn the way of the Galaxy before I came for you…" She sighed, and looked down. "I knew I would find you on Coruscant, but not until the right time. It… hurt to wait, but I also needed to gain more skills, to learn more than what I could learn from my Sisters… to be… to be worthy of you, master." He was silent. He could feel her sincerity, yet he still felt surprised. She wanted to be worthy of him. So long had he spent proving his worth to his master, and all this while she had wanted to prove herself to him, even though they were apart. It was… He just watched her for a long while, piloting the ship away, as Xrexus' station began to explode and fall toward the gravity of the nearby moon. With a few more buttons and switches, they jumped to light speed.
"Come here." He stated, she looked over with a surprised expression, for a moment his hearts jumped, though he willed himself not to think of it. She turned, the little metal beads in her snowy hair glinting in the light of the console. "Come. Here." He repeated and the look that crossed her face made his fingers flex. She stood, and approached, cautiously, but as soon as she was close enough, he reached out and then she was on his lap… straddling him. The little squeak she made was too adorable. He squeezed her thighs and looked up, she was wide-eyed… and holding her breath. He could feel her hearts racing, feel her fingers trembling as they rested on his arms. He shifted, and removed his gloves, his tattooed hands sliding over her legs.
"Master…?" She breathed, those eyes… She leant closer, but unexpectedly she did not kiss him again as he thought, instead, she rested her forehead on his, her soft hand slid up his shoulder and to the back of his neck, resting at the back of his head. He returned the gesture on instinct. How did he know-?
It was the sign of a promise. He pulled away, looking at the young face before him. She was smaller… but then, so was he.
"You can't break it now that you swore on it!" She stated proudly, beaming at him, that bright smile he knew so well.
"I don't break promises!" He retorted hotly. His grey-blue eyes flashing, his fists clenched beside him. His anger flared for a moment… but it abated at once when she laughed. "When we are old enough… we will be able to see everything… together." He nodded a determined expression crossing his little face. Her expression softened to the one that made his face heat up.
"If it comes to it… then when I have to choose a Shi'kaa… I will choose you." She nodded. His face flushed even hotter. He didn't know what it meant exactly to have a mate, but he knew it involved being close and… and then babies... happened… somehow. Of course this was before he knew what being a Nightsister's Shi'kaa meant. He looked at the girl before him, white hair like ash, pale soft skin decorated with the dark greyish blue tattoos of the Sisters, big blue eyes that went on forever and seemed to know everything he was thinking. She… would choose him… no matter what happened. Then he would become the strongest of the Nightbrothers so she would never regret that choice. He would become strong, to show his mother just what he could do… so his brothers could look up to him… and so that he could protect her… his Zaiya.
Notes:
Ohhh I am so pleased! Not only are there smooches! But he unlocked a memory! How much of a memory? Weelllll... that will be answered next week in Reconnect part 2!
The chapter beyond that is called Enslaved.
As always thank you to all the likes and comments, if you wish to leace a comment don't hesitate to do so! I love them, I love you all. I hope you are enjoying yourselves because I sure am!
