AN: Finally realised I said I would update soon enough. Guess I got side-tracked again. Chapter 16 is not being done yet either. The only time I can really write is doing the evening when I am done with my work.

Beta: SapphiraBlue (AO3)

Reviews are always welcome.

Love . Fiction . 2018: Thank you.

They finally made it to the house as complete darkness set in, the yellowish light from the living room a beacon to follow. Was this what moths felt when they flew straight into a lamp? Once inside and with the door locked Boba brushed past her., not even sparing her a glance as left her in the hallway. Rubbing her arms, she followed him to the living room where the cleaning droid had curled up on itself again, deactivated. Frowning, she looked around. Had it even cleaned?

No dust layer on the table. The couch cushions looked like they had been cleaned, same with the blanket- it was even neatly folded. Its program probably told it to shut down once done; that, or the energy cells ran out.

Boba's footsteps diverted her attention back to him as he stepped out of the kitchen area.

"Did you look for something?" she asked, purely out of instinct.

"A holo-comm," he held one up, the tiny disk glinting in the light.

"For me?" she asked back.

Wouldn't it be foolish to give her a holo-comm? This was slightly confusing.

"Yep," he held it out to her before noticing her confusion, his posture faltering slightly. "There is only one holo-frequency on it and can only reach me if I am on planet. Mine alone, and nothing else can be added or done with it."

His tone made it clear he was done talking about it. He forcefully shoved it in her direction. What had gotten into him? Even more confused, she took it and turned it in her fingers. These things were supposed to go into bracers, right? An exasperated groan made her jerk her head up. Boba was suddenly standing right in front of her, impatient and grumpy while holding his hand out.

"You put them on," he said and grabbed her right wrist, " like this."

Her braces were old ones and she wasn't sure if the holo-comm even fit in there. But to her amazement, he only pressed it into the small pouch made for it. It actually fit. As soon as the device was tight enough, he dropped her wrist as if he had burned himself. She flexed her right hand, to see if it felt any different now. Not really a difference. Weird.

"Why?" she asked.

"Given what we just heard," Boba didn't even bother to address the bantha in the room.

She crossed her arms. Fine. Two could play this game.

"It might be the case I will need to leave for a few days," he explained.

"Why?" she demanded to know.

His face scrunched up in annoyance, "Because, believe it or not, war is coming, and we both need to know when to get out before they decide to draft us into it."

That was unexpected. Them, being drafted for a war?

"I don't think…" she started, but Boba wouldn't let her continue.

"The Arions are the same as the Brents," he held her eyes, almost like he was pleading with her. "Don't think for a second they will not use you for their gain."

There was no point in arguing with him. Lorena had seemed different; there had been an undercurrent of sincerity when they had interacted.

"But Lorena…" she started to argue back only this time Boba grabbed her by both her shoulders, his gauntlets digging into her skin.

"Lorena is not running this system. Eric Arion is, and you and I better be on our toes with him," Boba hissed and she waited for him to start shaking her.

"So…" she sounded lost and trailed off as soon as no words came to her.

Boba still looked at her intensely, however his grip finally loosened up.

"I understand," she sighed and finally he let her go.

He stepped back, the previous closeness suddenly feeling almost an eternity ago.

Rubbing his face he muttered, "We both need sleep."

"No kidding," she mumbled back, earning her a sharp glance.

At least he didn't retort with anything sarcastic or they'd both be standing here until the morning hours. What time was it even? Shaking her head, she tried to see if the holo-vision had a small display. There was none. Boba cleared his throat behind her which drew her attention away from her search.

What did he want now?

He pointed up the stairs. Sending her to bed? Really? Like a child? She wanted to shake her head in protest. Even if she was tired, he did not get to punt her around like he wanted. Just then her body betrayed her. A yawn slipped past her conscious control and Boba's knowing smirk wiped out any resistance she might have mustered. Fine. His win this time. Huffing, she walked past him and up the stairs. Just as she reached the top the rumbling of closing shutters could be heard and then Boba's footsteps coming up behind her.

"What about our stuff?" she asked once he had caught up with her.

"We are getting it now," he held up a hand as if to appease her and walked past her towards the roof latch.

"Why didn't we get it down before leaving for food?" she wondered.

He rolled his eyes as he was fiddling with the latch locks, "And have the droid mess with it? No."

"How would a droid mess up our stuff if it isn't unpacked yet?" she wondered

"That droid has a programmed routine, one that we haven't reprogrammed yet. And I am not keen on searching for my shit and waste time," he said, pressing his hands flat on the latch and lifting it up.

Then he was up on the roof and she stepped towards the ladder. It was like a black hole in the middle of the ceiling. Crossing her arms, she waited for Boba to come back with two bags. She had been surprised when he had pulled out a rather large Thranta-leather bag from somewhere under his bunk. Thranta-leather! Struhn had something similar once, a backpack made of that same leather. He'd said that it was mostly used for military grade gear because of its toughness. When she had asked where he had gotten it from, Struhn had shushed her with an ice pop. Her thirteen year old self had been sufficiently distracted by that and Soren had started babbling about his parents' recent run in with pirates in some system.

Had Boba been in the military at one point? Most of what had been told to her before the Purge was gone from her memory. Though, he would have been thirteen when it happened, still too young to join. His father maybe had been and then Boba got it after his death? She winced. Maybe she should not ask that, given how aggressive he had been about it when she broached it when they- Oh Force, her cheeks were on fire- had been crammed in that closet.

A muffled clang signaled Boba coming back and she blew out the breath she had been holding. For once could she control herself? No? Yes?

No, apparently, her face still warm when Boba climbed down and closed the latch behind him, the two bags dangling from his back. Then he hopped down, taking her bag off to hand it to her. She hesitated before taking it. After all, Lorena gave it to her, along with all the clothes inside.

"Those two rooms are Monts' and Kertan's," Boba said pointing towards the two closest doors to them.

"So… we are sleeping in the same room?" she asked.

Somehow she had hoped to have at least a room to herself, since neither Monts nor Kertan were here to begin with.

"No other choice. I don't have the keys to them," he shrugged and moved towards their room's door.

"This is such a weird arrangement," slipped out of her before she could rein it in.

Boba snorted as he opened the door.

"You were not planned," he joked and flipped on the light.

It was not a small room, but not large either. There were two beds on opposite sides of the room with a few cupboards and a desk underneath a window that was opposite the door. Like the rest of the house, there were few personal items, excepting a small Y-wing model on the desk.

"Probably should have planned better," she shot back.

Boba laughed briefly at her quip as he threw his bag on the bed to the right.

"Well, we did plan for short-stay guests," he answered.

Whatever humour there had been was now sucked out of the air and she felt her face fall. Of course he had to remind her that she was only here because Vader wanted an apprentice and they needed to lay low for Force only knew how long.

Boba turned around when she didn't respond and sighed when he saw her face.

"It will be a long while before Vader wants me to bring you to him," he said, trying to sound reassuring.

He failed miserably, and she lowered her eyes to the floor. Had she seriously expected that the whole mess with the Arions would have changed anything? Her chest tightened. Had any of the girl's family been there when the doctors terminated life support?

The bag she had been given fit nicely underneath the the bed. At least Lorena had kept practicality in mind when she had scrounged for clothes.

She and Boba got changed in stony silence. There was this want to broach the subject just dancing around the edges of every move they did. Stars, they both really could be stubborn.

The Force was rather clear for once tonight. Even if Boba's thoughts were muted and fizzling in and out around her ears, she could feel the electrical charges and the calm around the house. It was safe where they were. Just her gut twisted and there was a pull on her lungs as soon as she tried to press further.

Why was she trying? Her head snapped up, her hands stilling over the bed sheets. Instincts? Since when had she had instincts?

"Is something wrong?" Boba asked as she whirled around.

He was already sitting on his bed, elbows on his knees and hands folded underneath his chin. Would he even understand what she was feeling? How did one explain the Force to the Force-blind and what it made those who were sensitive to it do?

"No… nothing," she muttered turning around again.

"Doesn't sound like nothing," he argued, the bed creaking as if he was laying down.

"Why do you care?" slipped from her, turning her head slightly over the shoulder.

"I am supposed to look after you," he countered almost immediately.

"Isn't looking after me just limited to physical well-being?" she asked and for a heartbeat nothing moved.

"It is what I deem it to be," he answered.

It sounded as if he had chewed over each word before slowly answering her. How was she supposed to argue against that? Well, if he really wanted to look after her, he might as well delve right into the enigma that was the Force. See if he knew more than she did. It would be a miracle at this point. Not that it would be unwelcome if he did have some advice.

"It is the…," she turned around to wave with her hands around, "the Force."

He was laying on the bed facing her. At her rather short explanation, he raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"The Force?" he asked, sounding unsure whether to laugh or to take her seriously.

"How else am I supposed to explain?" she fired back.

"So that I can understand?" he deadpanned.

She groaned. Back to her original problem: How did one describe the Force?!

"It is like a gut feeling," she said.

"I suspect a rather strong case of gut feeling?" he asked and she swore there was a sarcastic undertone.

"Well, yeah," she admitted.

"And what is that gut feeling telling you?" he asked.

The sarcasm was gone, replaced with seriousness.

"As if something was out there," she said.

Boba frowned now and then asked, "Anything more specific?"

"No," she replied shaking her head.

Boba sighed, "Not much to go on."

"Well, the Force does not just say 'Hey, there's this happening'," she shot back.

"Then why are you so tense?" he asked.

"Would you be calm if you knew there was something out there?" she asked.

"No, but then again, think of where you are," he said.

Right, they were in a town where people weren't exactly law-abiding. Had Teth felt the same when she had been there the first couple of months? It had been ten years! How was she supposed to remember? Struhn had given her sleep medication for months too.

"You really aren't worried?" she asked again.

"No," he answered, "this is, strangely enough, a safe spot. Everyone who lives here will kill for that."

"Kill?" she asked while sitting down on the bed.

"A safe place with a powerful family protecting us. The only condition we have is to never disturb the peace here," he said, sounding grave.

"What?" she asked.

A bounty hunter nest with rules? What a paradox.

"We have some immunity here, as long as we follow that rule."

"What if someone does break the rules?"

"They would have the Arions and a whole town of bounty hunters going after them, as well as one of the most well-known Rishii hunters out there, with nowhere safe to go," he stated nonchalantly.

She nodded. It was a reason, she supposed. A safe space where bounty hunters did not have to fear being apprehended as long as they did the odd job for the Arions or being offed by other bounty hunters. It sounded almost too ideal, but she could see why they would defend the peace of what she could only describe as a home for some of them.

"Sleep. Tomorrow we're starting," Boba disrupted her thoughts.

"Starting what?" she asked curious of what he had in mind.

"I did say I would train you," Boba reminded her, before turning his back on her.

Her mouth fell open. He had been serious?

"Uhm…" she closed her mouth.

"You really want to do that?" she blurted out.

"Have I made you think I would go back on my word?" he asked grumpily.

"Well…," she started.

"Don't want to know. Sleep. Don't complain if you can't keep up tomorrow if you don't," came another grumpy remark just as the lights shut off, dousing them in relative darkness.

She blew out the breath she would have used to answer. So not the fact that they had gone from prisoner and kidnapper to something else pretty fast? He probably knew that as well and… she had to smile. He just didn't want it to be said out loud. Yet. They'd get there at some point.

The sheets were cool and smooth when she laid down on her back. Sleep, right. Maybe there was some hope for her after all. Lifting her hand to her face she felt the corners of her mouth tilting upwards. She let that hand fall down to her stomach where she bunched up the fabric of her shirt.

Whatever she had felt out there, it was real. The Force was trying to tell her something. Just as she told Boba, the Force was never direct in its messages. Master Renstan had said so before he'd left. Back then she hadn't understood why he'd spoken so quickly and urgently, making her repeat some things back to him until he was satisfied. He had known already he wouldn't return for a long while.

She released a breath. Why was she just realizing this now? There was no way she would ever see Master Renstan again, or Dr. Struhn. Rubbing her cheek, she briefly looked over to Boba's bed. His back was still turned to her and most of him was covered by a blanket. She could feel his even breaths ghosting around the room. He had already fallen asleep. Good. Finally he would get some sufficient time to sleep after the last couple of days of sheer and utter chaos. She loosened her grip on her shirt.

Senya died. Not surprising, but… now it was final. All the deaths in the clinic on Teth hadn't felt so ominous. Maybe that was what she was sensing. Her dread of something real. War was brewing, they'd said, that it was inevitable. One that would blow up in their faces one way or another, she just knew it. Hopefully Lorena lost Boba's contact frequency or otherwise- her gut lurched at the thought- she might ask them to participate. Well, not them both, but Boba and by extension her, most likely.

When she finally fell asleep she didn't quite know, her sleep dreamless again. It was a mercy, given what all had happened.

A rough shaking of her shoulders nearly threw her out of the bed and onto the floor.

"I told you to sleep," Boba remarked when she blinked questioningly at him.

Blearily, she propped herself up on an elbow and looked around the room. Bright sunlight filtered through the window, illuminating the beige floorboards and the blue-grey shirt Boba wore. For once he wasn't in armour. Somehow even that felt strange.

"I did?" she protested weakly before the blankets were torn off of her.

Cool morning air hit her bare feet and she curled them in towards her body.

"I know you stayed up longer than I did," he remarked drily with a raised eyebrow.

Curling her toes inwards she swung herself upright, rubbing her eyes in the process, and grumbled, "I'm up. Happy now?"

"Yep," he replied, smirking down at her, "We've got some work to do today."

She groaned, "What work?"

"There is no time to waste to train you," he explained, suppressed laughter dancing behind his tone.

"There were precious sleep hours to waste," she argued and now he was not holding back with his laughter.

"If you'd listened to me and just slept, you would be more awake," he teased and crossed his arms in front of her.

"I didn't fall asleep as fast as you did," she argued now craning her neck to look back at him.

He looked better, the dark circles underneath his eyes gone now. His eyes were more alive. Somehow she was glad about it.

"Trouble falling asleep? You didn't have any problems with the Arions," he stated.

"I just had this gut feeling," she explained.

"Like you mentioned?" he asked.

"Yeah," she said.

He looked pensive for a moment, looking at her intently.

"I suppose talking about it would help?" he tentatively offered, taking a step back so she could stand up.

She pushed herself off the bed and onto her feet before replying. These things were better discussed from equal standing. Up close she smelled soap on his skin. How long had he been up already? Speaking of which, she needed a shower, desperately

"I think we both know that it will be a lengthy talk," she said.

He quirked an eyebrow in response.

"Then I suppose we get some caf, have food and during that we talk," he conceded and motioned for the door leading to the hallway.

"Right," she said and followed him down.

It took her a few minutes before she had a cup of caf ready. Unfortunately for the both of them, there were only nutrient bars for food.

"We need better food," she commented when they sat down around the table.

He shot her a look that told her he knew it. Carefully she took a sip of the caf and ouch- it was still burning hot. Hastily, she set down the cup and winced at the burnt tip of her tongue. Maybe it was best to use the cup as a hand warmer for now.

"So…," she started but stopped.

How was she to even word this?

"Is it about Senya's death?" Boba cut to the chase, taking a sip from his cup.

How did he not burn his tongue?

"Yes... they said that war was inevitable now," she said.

"It has been inevitable for years," Boba said drily, "but war will be more likely to happen in the next few years now."

"I am sensing things here that…," she gesticulated, "I don't know. It is as if there's something waiting to happen."

"Something?" Boba sounded skeptical.

"Like something bad pending," she said.

He sighed, "That can mean a number of things. Altharya, the jobs we do for the Arions are not exactly what you would call good."

"Still," she protested, "there has to be a connection to what happened with Senya."

"Are you absolutely sure?" he asked.

Was she?

"As sure as I can be?" she shrugged and took a careful sip of caf.

It was better than the swill that they had on Teth.

"What does that mean?" Boba asked.

"Just that it feels like it's connected," she winced at the explanation.

"Feels?" Boba deadpanned, eyebrows raised in uncertainty.

He doubted her on that. She couldn't really blame him, because the Force was weird by definition.

"Gut feeling," she supplied.

"Gut feelings can be valid," Boba said slowly, as if he was weighing his words carefully.

"But you still don't trust it?" she asked.

"No," he shook his head decidedly.

"Why?" she probed.

"Because what do I have to go on? Just your gut feeling?"

"Didn't you just say gut feelings are valid?"

"Can be valid, not always," he countered, "You yourself sound uncertain about it, and it could mean a number of things!"

"Because I can't pin it down?" she asked disbelievingly.

"Yes," Boba said, "As I said, this side of town harbours nobody innocent. If it's true about it being connected with Senya, then it's probably the Arions giving out a few jobs in relation to it."

Well… he could be right. Maybe. She didn't really know.

"So you are saying that it is related to where we are," she said.

"Definitely," Boba sighed, "We will most likely get contracted too, at some point."

"How likely is that?" she asked.

"Very likely," he confirmed.

She stayed silent. After all, his point was as valid as hers in this matter. It could be something waiting to happen to them or something waiting to happen to someone else. Who knew? Not her for sure. Then again, why would she sense that feeling of impending doom?

"Can't we keep an eye out for anything suspicious though?" she asked.

Boba blew out a breath and looked towards the ceiling for a moment.

"I suppose we could," he conceded, still keeping his eyes to the ceiling.

"You'd rather not," she observed.

"Yep," he confirmed and finally looked back at her, "However, I can't disregard the possibility of the Brents planning something here either, especially after they killed Senya."

"So you trust my gut feeling?" she asked, now confused.

Could he please make up his mind?

"No, I don't," he sounded annoyed, "But it is a possibility alongside the others. Not really narrowing it down, is it?"

"No," she agreed.

"Good," Boba said before finishing his cup, "Just eat and then I want you outside."

She rolled her eyes at him which earned her an annoyed side glance. Looking back to her caf, she bit the tip of her poor tongue. It should have cooled off enough to drink by now. Carefully she took another sip and thankfully didn't burn her tongue again. Training was going to be torture.

It was relatively warm outside when she was finally ready. Boba was waiting for her impatiently with crossed arms. Well, he could stuff it. She had to wait for him to be ready before using the fresher!

"I suppose you had some sort of combat training in the temple?" Boba asked, disgruntled, as soon as she stopped in front of him.

All Younglings had to go through combat training, but that been ten years ago, nearly eleven. After that she had mostly been in a clinic, with the occasional sessions with a rifle when Soren's parents had taken pity on her.

"Yes, but I doubt I remember most of it," she answered, raising an eyebrow in question.

"So it would be better if we start from zero?" Boba asked.

"Eh, I suppose?" she shrugged in response.

"Osik…," Boba muttered pinching the bridge of his nose, "I guess we have a lot of work before us."

She crossed her arms. What did he expect, really? That she'd remember every single nuance of 'saber combat after ten years of an enforced break?

"Right," Boba continued, "Do you remember the stance?"

"Stance?" she asked.

Which one did he mean?!

"Hand-to-hand stance," he snapped back.

Ohh, he could have said so from the beginning! Though, it might be best to keep her sarcasm to herself for now, with how annoyed he looked already. Hesitantly she slipped her feet into the position she remembered. Couldn't be too much different from the stance she had to use while using a rifle, right?

She didn't see the hand coming from her left. Suddenly she was just on her right foot and then her head whistled through the air. Her right shoulder impacted hard on solid ground, rattling her teeth, and her nose burned. What. Just. Happened?

"Feet too far apart," Boba said as he knelt down to her eye level.

"Couldn't you have just told me and not thrown me off balance?" she grumbled.

She pushed herself off the ground and onto her knees.

"It's best to learn from mistakes," he argued while straightening up.

"Directions would be appreciated," she fired back.

"You had the right idea, but your feet were not far apart enough to be stable sideways," he pointed out, "Try again."

After seven more tries and being shoved to the ground each time, she finally got the stance he wanted. Now she only stumbled slightly when he pushed.

"I suppose it's sufficient," Boba said after his third attempt failed to make her fall.

"Now what?" she asked.

"Now? Now you run," he commented.

"Run?" she asked surprised.

What did he mean, run? Run around the house?

"Exactly what I mean. A good stance means nothing if your feet can't keep up with your movements," he explained.

"And where exactly am I supposed to run?" she questioned.

"For now, around the house," he said.

"And that's supposed to help me?" she asked.

"Do you want to survive Vader or not?" he hissed back.

She shut her mouth immediately at that. What was up with him today? So touchy…. Fine, she wouldn't question him for a while. Maybe that would cool him off.

They trained for the remainder of the day, if one could call it training. It felt like she was back to being a Youngling again. The basics were chewed through and stars, she needed that! Who would have thought that ten years would erode even the basics? She certainly hadn't thought so, and her body was punishing her for it now. The only thing she wished Boba would do was actually tell her how to do it correctly before throwing her around. She certainly caught more punches than ducking or evading them, even after more than a fair amount of tries. Her reaction time was always a tad too late.

Only when the sun had set did they stop. She stumbled back into the house while Boba looked like he hadn't even exerted himself at all. Sitting down on the couch made her wince,her thighs sore.

"We need to go out tomorrow for food," Boba commented from the kitchen.

"Why didn't we go today?" she called back.

Seriously, grocery shopping would have been preferable to the punishment she'd received today. Not sure how Boba would describe it, but that had been punishment. Nothing could convince her otherwise!

"Because," Boba appeared in the living room with four nutrient bars in his hands, "the shopkeep has his day off today."

"Oh," she frowned.

"They don't like us crossing the boundaries on the weekend," he supplied while sitting down next to her.

"The Rishii?" she asked.

"Who else?"

Fair point. Who else other than the locals?

"Here," he offered her two of the bars, which she took.

Actual food would be good. Nutrient bars tasted like paper at best, wet paper at worst. Just who would cook food, though? Not her, for certain. There was no way she could hold a pan if her arms kept becoming jelly after each session!

"And who will cook if we are both going to be busy beating the living daylights out of each other?" she asked, throwing him a wink.

He laughed into the nutrient bar at the question.

"Fair point," he finished chewing, "then again, at the moment it only applies to you."

"Good, you cook then!" she teased, tucking her legs under.

That couch was comfortable and she just wanted to melt into it right now. Though… a shower was mandatory before bed. There was no way she'd rub her sweat into the bedsheets. Ugh, the smell would a nightmare to get out.

"I will," Boba now looked positively mischievous. "but no complaining about it!"

"I promise," she put her hand on her chest while rolling her eyes.

"I saw that!" he protested.

"I still promised!"

"That eye roll invalidated it!" he pointed at her face now.

It was so ridiculous she started laugh. Ouch! Her ribs were not thanking her. She had to clutch at her waist. It would be yellow by now and blue by tomorrow. The shower later would probably show the extent of the damage.

"Hurts?" Boba asked, leaning over on the couch.

She nodded, wincing as another stab went through her sides. Now he was hovering above her, his fingers reaching out hesitantly. Her eyes were glued to his hands. What did he want?

"Can I see?" he asked.

"Dunno what there is to see other than forming bruises," she wheezed out.

"I know a thing or two about bruises," he countered carefully.

"What could you do?" she asked now curious.

His fingers twitched and she swallowed. So close! Was he seriously asking her to push up her shirt to see? The hand that was clutching her side curled into the fabric. Her throat was dry suddenly and she had to swallow heavily. So did Boba. A strange warmth flimmered between them now, and she couldn't quite figure out why her stomach felt like fluttering, or why his face seemed to have grown darker.

"Well…" he hesitated before his voice broke, fingers curling away now, "Nevermind."

She frowned, sitting up as he sat back and poked, "What?"

"I said nevermind," he grumbled and grabbed a remote for the holo-vision.

What had gotten into him? At first he wanted to do something for the bruises and now he had closed off again. The holo-vision sputtered to life.

"The win of the Snapping Thrantas yesterday…" a man in a studio fizzled into view.

Boba's eyes were glued to the hologram and she had to roll her eyes. Of course, don't even talk about what crossed him now. Fine. She needed a shower anyways. Huffing, she pushed herself off the couch and shuffled over to the fresher.

"Where are you going?" he asked before she could close the door behind her.

"I need a shower," she answered sighing audibly.

"Ah," he already sounded disinterested.

She clenched her hand on the door handle. It was not her responsibility to look after him. No. Once had been enough! But somehow her chest felt heavy just closing the door . Though… not everything could be chewed through either. Not her responsibility. Nope. All she had to concentrate on was why her stomach was doing weird shit in his proximity.

Cold water was a pure relief on her aching muscles and she stood in the water stream for a solid felt eternity. Right- bruises. She looked down to where she had hit the ground most often. Shoulders, side and knees. All three regions were definitely blue already. Somehow she doubted they had any ice packs around to slap on all or them.

The match recap was still running when she walked out of the fresher, hair hanging down to her waist, still damp. Boba only glanced at her briefly before immediately looking back at the screen. A question hung around him only to dispersed as soon as she stepped around the side to sit down next to him.

"After the recap, there's another match," Boba informed her as soon as she had sat down with her feet curled up, pointing towards Boba.

"Which one?" she asked while leaning with an elbow on the couch rest.

"Ord Mantell against Nar Shaddaa," he answered not even bothering to look at her.

The match began five minutes later and… stars, the anthem for Nar Shaddaa was tear-jerkingly boring. Her eyelids were fluttering by the third verse of glorifying whatever Hutt was now the big boss of the moon.

By the time the match kicked off she was fast asleep.

A slight jostle brought her to a state of half-sleep, half-awake. Her head felt so light, as if stuffed with cotton. Yeah, she was asleep- mostly. She could not really prevent an eyelid cracking open.

It was dark around her. How late was it?

Another jostle. She turned her head and her cheek hit soft fabric with something hard beneath it. A face materialized above her.

Boba?

She felt herself frowning and tried to lift a hand. Force… her hand was heavy with how it was hanging below her. Her feet were hanging in the air too. It felt like there was an arm underneath her neck….

Yeah, Boba was carrying her up the stairs by how he was moving. That meant… her cheeks flamed now, her face was practically squished against his chest. This was embarrassing. At least he couldn't see it with how dark it was.

A steady thumping could be heard suddenly… not really, it had been there, but… it hadn't registered in her mind.

So… soothing. She could listen to it for the rest of time.