AN:I know it took a while. Had a dissertation to finish and all. Currently writing on the next chapter. Please review :D
Her legs absolutely hurt as if a nerf heard had trampled over them when Boba woke her. Did she really have to get up? Groaning she tried to push her body off the mattress. If only her aching shoulders and thighs would co-operate. Disoriented she blinked into the early morning light until Boba shifted into her field of view.
"Wake up," Boba said still shaking her shoulder, "we need to get there early; everyone else will take most of the stuff away if we do not hurry."
"Hurts…" she groaned managing to finally push herself up.
Arms strained as her muscles shook under the exertion. Just as the blanket rustled when Boba threw it back. Cool air met her hurting skin. Did not help the ache! Hissing she curled into a ball on instinct. Not even her brawls with Soren had earned her that many bruises and muscles screaming in pain.
"You really look like I beat you unconscious," Boba commented suppressing a snort.
"Feels that way," she grumbled finally up and sitting.
"Right, we can go easy today. But we need food first."
Oh. Food? Actual food?!
She stumbled out of the room after Boba with her clothes for the day in her arms. Her knees shook so badly when she reached the bottom of the stairs. Felt like her bones were rattling and no skin and tendons were between them. Skin was littered with patches of blue and the occasional green ones. At least her clothes would cover them all. Yawning she walked out of the fresher with Boba waiting outside for her with a crate in his arms.
"A crate?" she asked, eyes wide in surprise.
"How else are we going to carry the groceries?" Boba deadpanned.
"Good point," she sighed rubbing her eyes.
"Still not sleeping alright?" he suddenly asked sounding concerned.
"Don't think that is the issue," she replied shaking her head.
"Any idea?" he pressed.
She shrugged walking past him to the door, "If I knew what was going on, I would be able to work around it."
"Do I need to get you sleep medication?" he asked following her to the door.
"Those can be harmful over a prolonged period," she pointed out as she opened the door for them.
He walked out before answering, "Still I cannot have that… weird gut feeling interfering too much."
"That gut feeling has a name," she retorted as she closed the door.
He threw her an annoyed side glance. No, he would not even utter the word. Fine, she would not press, but they could not keep calling the Force a gut feeling either. Felt wrong in so many ways. All in due time.
Morning dew still clung to the grass and leaves as they made their way to the grocery store. Blinding her occasionally when the sun rays hit at the right angle. Not many people were out and the ones who were blinked slowly and yawning every now and then. Good to know some people felt like her in this.
But Boba had been right. When they arrived at the grocery store, it was already filled with people browsing the shelves and bagging what they wanted.
"Is there limited food or what?" she asked in surprise.
"No, but we cannot trust some people not to bulk buy," he retorted sarcastically with a dark expression.
She snorted. Oh the bulk buyers. The bane of the shops on Teth. Good to see that some things did not change from one end of the galaxy to the next. Comforting in a way. Inside, the shop was similarly stocked too, the durables at the front and the fresh produce more towards the back where the cooling units were.
"What do we need?" she asked looking around.
Oh! They had beans! And rice!
Other products looked completely foreign to her though. What were those yellow ball-like fruits? Or those pink grapes?
"We need nerf meat, vegetables, fruit and potatoes or noodles. Whatever we can get," he listed marching over to the first aisle.
"Salt?" she held up a canister.
"Throw it in."
She tossed the canister into the crate. There was nothing really of interest for her on that shelf, unless they needed more spices. Spices she never heard of to begin with. Hopefully he would never want to see her spit fire….
They could buy so much and still run back the next day to buy the other stuff she knew some people on Teth would have loved to get their claws on.
There were packs of bread dough here! Ones that would just needed to be heated up. Those had been a luxury on Teth!
"Hey, Fett," someone behind them suddenly called out.
She turned around the pack still in her hands to see a tall and lean man approaching Boba. Who looked like he'd rather be anywhere else but here. That man… her stomach lurched the closer he got.
"Emmet," he greeted forcibly, "has the office not opened yet?"
"Not this early," Emmet laughed as he came to a stop, "I heard you were back in town and wondered what brought you back."
"You know why," Boba retorted readjusting the crate in his arms.
"Job?"
"What else?"
"You know the Arions have issued new ones… lucrative ones," Emmet suddenly whispered.
"Not surprising with what happened," Boba commented drily.
"Poor Senya, bless her soul," Emmet sighed as sadness spiked from him.
Why was he talking to them? Well to Boba really, he had not even noticed her it seems? How was it that people barely noticed her? Though, it might be best if this Emmet didn't see her. Just don't move.
"Did you just come here to tell me about the new jobs?" Boba asked sounding irritated now.
"Oh no, I meant to come to pass on a general warning. Brent operatives have been found in the other towns," Emmet said his smile now cold and dangerous.
She frowned. It felt strange. A warning should not feel like a threat in any way. As carefully as she could she slipped behind the shelves to the other aisle. But she could still hear the two talk.
"I can keep an eye out for them," Boba finally said neutrally.
"Also inform your companion about it," Emmet added.
Companion? She had just been there! Was he short sighted?
"My companion?" Boba sounded confused now.
"Tehra mentioned you had a girl with you on Huttball night?" Emmet asked now.
Boba did not speak a word, uncertainty lacing through his irritation now. They both were confused now. Great. She looked at some cereal boxes that were neatly stacked in front of her. Boba had mentioned that families lived here, but she just couldn't picture bounty hunters having kids running around here and eat the galaxy wide cereal brands. At least not quite yet.
"Well yeah, she is here though?" Boba replied finally.
"I didn't see her."
She blew out a breath. Did not see her? What was she? Invisible?!
"She was standing right next to me when you came up."
"Oh," Emmet sounded awkward now, "Well, I have to return now anyways."
"Do you want to talk to her?" Boba asked curiously.
Please no.
"Not necessary, just passing the warning along," Emmet replied cheerily.
"You are just looking for an excuse to get the ice pops," Boba deadpanned.
"They say it is going to be hot today, but the run has proven to be in my line of work regardless."
She could practically feel Boba shaking his head now.
"See you around, Emmet."
"Happy hunting, Fett."
Only when she was sure that the guy had left towards the cashier did she walk around the aisle to Boba again.
"Who was that?" she asked.
"That…," Boba sighed, "is the guy we go to for the Arion jobs."
"You have a guy for that?" she asked in disbelief.
"Yep," Boba countered looking over another set of shelves, "you need a place where records are kept who does what job and a guarantee that you'd get paid."
"Sounds so…," she grappled for words, "not what I would expect from a bounty hunter town."
He shrugged, "If it guarantees the pay, I won't complain."
"Suppose," she sighed.
"So do you want beans or carrots?" he asked suddenly now pointing at the vegetable section.
"Why not both?" she asked.
"Asking for preferences," he replied rolling his eyes.
"The only dislike I have is any sea food," she shuddered at the thought of fish or crab.
"How?" he sounded surprised.
"I don't know… it just is too slimy," she replied taking a handful of carrots and a few packages of beans from the shelves.
"Slimy?" he chortled now while shaking his head.
She shivered at the memory of the time they had to live on sea food on Teth when the local farmers had not been able to supply them in time. Apparently their livestock and crops had hit a bad year and they had to compensate with other foods. Struhn had agreed with her after the usual supply hit the grocery store again: never ever buy crab. Maybe the food poisoning had spoilt it for her forever.
"Don't you think that sea food just tastes like a wet tongue?" she argued.
This time he had to snort.
"I grew up on a water world," he finally managed to press out, "we lived on sea food."
That sounded down right horrible. Her face scrunched up in disgust.
"Don't give me that look," he teased grinning now.
She shot him a side glance. Not funny. Only it made him grin wider and even wink at her before moving along the shelves towards the dairy section.
It took them at least half an hour to put together enough to last them for a week and some essentials for a month or so. Though, they had to get a second crate she would have to carry back to their house. The Rishii at the check-out looked on bored as they packed the stuff neatly so the eggs wouldn't break or that the soft stuff was not squished under the heavier ones.
"Fett," she piped up when they moved to pick up the crates.
"Yes, Mari?" Boba asked.
"Is Monts going to be there for the Iridescent Festival?" she asked, looking hopeful.
Altharya looked over to Boba whose face looked passive as he regarded Mari.
"As far as I am aware he will be there," he finally replied.
"Oh good, remind him to bring something from the capital. We need more mural supplies," Mari said.
"You can tell him that yourself," Boba fired back.
"I lost his holo-frequency," Mari looked down, her feathers flattened on her head.
"Oh," Boba replied, "Well, I will tell him."
"Thank you. I will make sure to set aside some of the tihaar if some more gets through."
Boba's face lit up and excitement coloured his mental shields.
"That would be appreciated, Mari," he said inclining his head.
"We all know what you boys like to drink," Mari winked with her huge yellow eyes.
"We aren't exactly discreet," Boba smirked back.
"Just make sure they don't start drinking it in one sitting," Mari addressed her suddenly mischief twinkling in her eyes.
Altharya was slightly taken aback, the crate already in her arms. How was she supposed to reign in two bounty hunters? Didn't matter if one was retired. If they wanted to get black out drunk, she will not interfere. Nope. Hangovers she could deal with, not the drunken partying.
"I doubt I will be able to do much," she stuttered out her face burning up already.
"I wouldn't be too sure," Mari joked.
Why did almost everyone automatically assume they were together? Boba and she opened their mouths to protest only to be interrupted by the trampling of feet rushing into the store. Confused she looked behind to see a group of ten children. Most were Rishii with two Twi'leks and a human flocking around the sweet shelf.
"School break," Mari whispered shooing them away with a hand movement.
Relieved to not be subject to more jokes on their supposed relationship they hurried out of the shop, letting the door fall shut behind them.
"So…," she started as they walked along the road towards their house, "everyone is assuming we are…."
She couldn't quite speak the word out yet. Voicing it would make it all far too awkward. Boba turned his head to look at her briefly before sighing.
"Better than them knowing what is really going on," he replied.
So he wasn't acknowledging it either? She looked at him as he turned his eyes away. This was going so well…. Somehow it just made her want to scream. Why?
"True," she conceded and they fell back into an awkward silence.
Children and adults rushed past them, the crowd outside steadily swelling up with the sun now half way to its zenith. They really had avoided the morning rush then. More people with armour showed up the further away they got from the town center doing their routines. Some cleaned weapons, trained in the garden or talked over fences with their neighbours. A few waved at Boba in greeting before returning to what they had been doing.
The water sparkled with the sunlight when they reached the outer parts drawing closer to the house. Should she go out for a swim at some point? The lake near their town on Teth had been contaminated, so she only ever got to swim when Soren's parents dragged them to the coastal towns for a vacation.
Something small tugged suddenly at her mind when they reached the edge of the property. Stunned she stopped briefly making Boba hesitate too.
"What is it?" he asked.
She shook her head, the feeling gone as soon as it had appeared, "Nothing."
"If you are sure," Boba didn't sound convinced but walked onto the small footpath leading to the door.
Blowing out a breath quietly she followed him re-adjusting the crate in her arms. Nothing, it was nothing. The Force was weird on occasion and it had been too miniscule to be something significant. Only Boba stopped abruptly before the threshold at the door nearly making her walk into him.
"What is going on?" she asked peeking around him to see what stopped him.
She blinked.
Again.
Stunned she didn't even know what to think. A quick side glance showed her that Boba felt the same. What was there right in front of the door, wiggling slightly with its chubby legs and its tiny head bobbing around in their direction, was a tooka kit.
One that was still blind, eyes still shut, the ears still folded back and its tiny tail raised ram rod straight into the air. But she could see the pattern emerging already on its fur, brown with black stripes running along its tiny body. Frowning, she looked back. Surely there must be a mother tooka running around? They didn't just leave their kits on someone's doorstep like that.
"Uhm," Boba seemed to have found his voice, "What is this?"
"What do you think? A tooka kit," she replied immediately raising an eyebrow in his direction.
"I know what it is," he rolled his eyes at her, "but what is it doing there?"
"Do I look like a tooka mother?" she argued shifting the crate to the side in her arms to get a better look.
"Well it cannot stay here," he determined setting his crate down now and made a move to crouch down.
"We can wait until the mother comes around again."
Boba stopped and straightened back up again.
"How long?" he asked simply.
"A few hours?" she suggested with a shrug.
"Alright," he shook his head and gingerly stepped around the kit to open the door, "we can wait."
Sighing she looked back at the kit. Most likely just a few weeks old. Just then it mewled in a high pitch and her heart clenched. It was calling for its mother and she felt herself taking a few steps back at the sheer misery that pierced her skull.
"Altharya?" Boba asked noticing that she had stepped back.
She couldn't find her voice anymore, her fingers had grown clammy with how tight her grip had gotten. Something was wrong. Very wrong. Panic and fear flashed through behind her eyes and she stumbled slightly. A stone had dropped into her lungs, her breathing was so hard. Focus. In and out.
"Hey," a tight grip on her forearm made her suck in a deep breath snapping her eyes to Boba who now stood next to her.
"Is it the tooka?" he asked seriously.
She shook her head not sure if her voice was still gone. For moment he stared into her eyes, as if trying to see if she was telling the truth. Sighing, he let go of her arm to rub his forehead.
"Fine," was all he said before plucking the crate from her limp fingers and stepped into the house.
Just like that he left her standing in the middle of a courtyard, reeling from the short touch she had with the tooka's mind. Only… why did she feel like sinking to her knees and crying into the grass? Her knees shook when finally took a step towards the house.
Get a grip. This was just an animal baby's mind. Anything could have upset it, really. She was just overreacting. Breathe in. Everything was okay. They were in a safe spot. All she had to do was breathe normally and get into the house. Breathe out. Another step forward. Finally the stone in her lungs was gone, the feeling of a force dragging her down onto her knees also gone. She wobbled for a brief moment before catching her balance again. Boba leaned at the door frame, eyes solely trained on her as she made her way over to him.
"Better?" he asked pushing himself off.
"Yes," she muttered stepping over the kit into the house.
"We are going to wait a few hours," Boba sighed closing the door, "Then we will check if the mother has come back."
She stared at the grey metal of the door before she looked at Boba who was already walking away.
"What if the mother does not come back? It is still so young…" she asked quietly.
Even though it had been a quiet question, he still had heard it. His back stiffened at the question and stopped in the middle in his tracks. Slowly he turned his upper body around and gave her a long stare. Rapid flashes of… she couldn't grasp what they were. They stopped just as soon as they had started.
"We can still discuss it if it happens," he waved her off.
He didn't want to discuss it. Plain as day. What had set him off there? Nothing seemed different from what she could sense. Blowing out a breath, she looked away first and started to walk towards the living room not bothering to look back. As soon as she had collapsed on the couch, she peeled back the sleeves of her shirt. Just how black and blue were her arms? Blue, some nearly purple, splotches of colour littered her forearms and she didn't need a mirror to know that her back would probably look worse. Her eyes dropped to the floor and she drew her shoulders together as goose bumps rose along her neck. When had it gotten so cold? She rubbed her arms, wincing at the sharp strain.
The tooka. Must be. Just how? Why was she freezing, practically freezing in a warm house on a warm morning?
Boba stood behind her, she could practically feel his eyes glued to the back of her neck. Uncertainty flickered at the back of her mind, as if he was contemplating doing something. A bout of shivering shook her focus off of him and she had to stuff her hands between her knees. If this was continuing, she'd need to talk to Boba. Even if he did not believe her gut feelings on this matter, he could not deny right now it had physical effects on her. Saying it out loud would just earn her the question of why she was feeling this way and like with a few nights ago, she wouldn't be able to answer. He'd dismiss it again and she'd be alone in this shivering state of misery.
The door fell closed.
What? She turned around on the couch. Had she missed Boba leaving? Confused she stared at the spot on wall where the entrance door would be behind it. No, the air felt alight still as if he was still there. Frowning she kneeled on top of the cushions to lean over the back. Had he forgotten something outside? Goosebumps forgotten, she climbed over just as Boba rounded the corner with his hands cupped around his chest.
Frozen in her spot, she stared at his hands. Warmth started to flood her limbs, a strange tingling spreading from her fingertips to her shoulder blades. Confused she tried to search his face for any indication, but he was not even looking at her. Whatever he had in his two hands, he looked down at it with a sort of affection that thrummed so quietly she must have missed it initially.
A tiny mewl drew all breath out of her and she found her feet moving towards him as he stood there not even paying her any attention. The kit, he took it in. What had possessed him to do that? He hadn't seemed too bothered by it?
"It is too young to be left out," Boba suddenly murmured, but it sounded more like he was explaining it to himself.
Should she answer? Chewing on her bottom lip, she looked at the fingers where she now knew held the tiny body of the tooka kit. Maybe, it was best if she didn't say anything. Her fingers hovered closely near his hands wanting to pry the fingers away so she could see. In the end, he lifted one hand up shifting the baby into his other hand which fit neatly into his palm. Its head swivelled immediately to her and a slight shock ran up her spine. The fingers she had already stretched out twitched back.
"It won't bite," Boba chuckled quietly holding the hand with the kitten closer to her.
Swallowing heavily, she tentatively touched the kit's head to stroke a spot behind its still folded back ears. It stopped mid mewl, putting its head flatly on Boba's palm. What did that mean? Wide-eyed she stared at Boba who looked at her all of the sudden with a hooded expression. Heat flooded her face and she looked down, back to the kit who now curled up with its head nestled close to where the palm went over to fingers.
"We need a blanket," he broke the silence after a long moment.
She nodded, even though she made no move to grab the neatly folded up one that lied on the couch behind them. The kitten was so soft and fragile, she couldn't tear herself away.
A light tap on her nose, made her shake her head. Blinking in surprise she looked back up to Boba who sported a small smile. Wistfulness wafted over like smoke until it dissipated as if it hadn't been there to begin with.
"Blanket," he repeated his eyes crinkled in amusement.
Her mouth lifted up into a smile as well and she finally was able to retract her finger from the kitten. Right, blanket. It was probably cold and Boba couldn't hold it all the time. Quickly as she could, she grabbed the blanket shaking it out.
"Where do we keep it?" she asked.
"I thought we keep it in eyesight," he replied carefully transferring the kitten to the blanket in her arms.
"So on the table?" she nodded with her head in the table's direction.
"Yep," he replied curtly wrapping the fabric around the tiny body.
Why his fingers briefly lingered over hers, she didn't even want to think about. Overthinking again. The others around town were getting to her still. She had to take it in stride like Boba. Was he bothered? No. The kitten meowed once more in her arms before the tiny body settled down in her hands. Low purring reached her ears.
"Someone is happy," Boba commented before putting his hands on her shoulders to turn her around.
"Happy?" she asked.
"You have never seen or had a tooka?" he asked shock showing openly on his face.
"No?" she replied frowning.
"They are happy when they purr," he explained with his eyebrows raised in amusement.
"I didn't know that…," she muttered looking at the small opening where the top of the kitten's head could be seen still.
Tentatively she reached out with her senses again, bracing herself for the onslaught of coldness once she touched the kitten's mind. Though, nothing of that sort happened. Only content sleepiness splashed at her senses.
"I see," she whispered in wonder walking with Boba to the table where she carefully put the bundle on the table top.
"Now we wait," Boba said already walking into the kitchen.
Now she was able to tear herself away from the now sleeping tooka to follow Boba into the kitchen where the two crates had been put onto the countertops. Right, they'd need to unpack and store those away. They went to work in silence conscious of the small kitten that now was sleeping not a few feet away from them. Most of the food they had gotten could be put into the shelves while a few had to be put into the small freezer unit.
Breakfast was a weird affair with them manoeuvring around a blanket bundle that had a tiny patch of fur sticking out at one end.
"Today we are doing the same thing as yesterday," Boba announced after chewing on a piece of fruit.
She looked up and knew that her face showed her utter despair at the remark. Whatever her expression was, Boba chocked on the piece he was still chewing on as he tried to contain his laughter. His face turned red at his effort and she started to wonder whether she needed to start hitting his back.
After a moment he managed to swallow with great effort, his eyes already tearing up.
"Your face was priceless," he gasped out.
"Well…," she tried to think of something funny, "…nevermind."
"We cannot afford any delays," Boba turned serious now putting his bowl down.
She sighed before putting her spoon down, her appetite never being large in the morning. Another day of torture. Great.
"Dodging again," Boba smirked at her when they finally were outside.
The sun was now beating down on her exposed neck and shoulders. How Boba could stand to be in this developing heat in his armour was beyond her. Maybe it would give her some advantage?
"Like yesterday?" she asked taking a step back.
If that was the case, she might as well get ready to run. As if she would get any further than yesterday.
He nodded, "I will give you a five second head-start."
"How generous," she remarked.
"Five…," he cocked an eyebrow daring her to reply crossing his arms.
Fine… she whirled around and sprinted towards the corner house. It would buy her a few seconds more of running before he would catch up with her eventually. Which was inevitable, there was no denying it. How did he expect her to dodge an unstoppable force that was..
"Three!" Boba yelled and she cut the corner that moment.
Air rushed past her cheeks and she dove into the shadow that the house threw onto that side of the garden. She'd be half-way along the wall by the time he'd stop counting and then he'd catch up to her latest by the time she reached the next wall's half-way point. Indents in the grass around her were proof enough of their tries yesterday.
She did not hear the last number. Might be that he didn't bother yelling it out. But she did not expect how soon she felt the air behind her move suddenly. Already close behind her?! Arms wound around her waist. Her feet left the ground as they skidded across the grass. More like she felt like she was dragged with her limbs flailing while Boba kept his rather tight grip on her. Sharp pain shot up from the various bruises along her arm and hip. Hissing she sucked in a breath to keep from whimpering.
"Again," he stated drily, letting go.
Her left arm was buried underneath her chest and she had to crawl to her fours to get up. This was going to hurt by the evening. Brushing off dirt clumps from her pants, she stood up in front of Boba who seemed unaffected from the tackle.
"We are going to keep doing until you managed to cross half the house before I catch up," he determined.
She had to groan. This was going to be a long day…
By the twentieth try, her legs refused to work and get up. Lying on her back she stared up to the cloudless sky. This time she had managed to reach a few feet further than yesterday until Boba crashed into her again. Breathing out she rubbed her face. Why? They were getting nowhere! At this rate she'd break a few bones.
"Tired?" Boba asked while his tone was light with hidden laughter.
She lifted one hand away and looked up to Boba's face hovering above her with his feet near her head. Shadows hid his face, so she could not see his expression. Was he mocking her or genuinely amused at her antics? Frowning, she squinted up at him. Stars, even trying to sense his thoughts was way too much effort.
"No," she muttered, "My legs hurt."
"Already?" he kneeled down.
His face finally was visible again and she could now see how he was biting back laughter. Well, she could admit that she fell rather funny and probably had her hair sticking out of her braid too. From the feel of it she also had a streak of dirt on her cheek too. All in all, she was definitely the picture of hilarity.
"Yep," she answered pushing her elbows back so she could sit up at least.
She swore she heard a quiet chuckle and felt a faint flash of amusement as she struggled to push her upper body up. Grumbling she heaved herself up, fully expecting Boba to burst into full-blown laughter at her attempt. Except. He didn't. His hand slid between her shoulder blades and lifted her up effortlessly. Some sort of prickling started where he touched her which spread out to the lower back. That feeling started so quickly, she could not prevent the flinch away. His hand jerked away and she had to support herself on her hands.
At least he did not ask or address it. Though… she had to bite her lower lip, saying nothing was even more awkward. Ignore it. By evening, they would be back to talking again.
"We will do this exercise until you can dodge me five times. Every day," he finally interrupted the silence, tone serious.
She had to bite back a groan. Every morning, she'd be flung off her feet and be hobbling around the house for the rest of the day until she learned it. Is that how he learned it?! Was that how most people learned how to dodge?!
Finally she forced herself to nod. As if she had a choice here….
"No complaining," he warned lowly watching her struggle to her feet.
"What now?" she asked now on her feet again.
He just smirked and she felt herself shrinking away. Oh no… now it is onto the other dodging part.
Three seconds later she was back on her feet, staring at the sky with a sharp pain in her shoulder blades. It had been so long since she had practiced safe falling. Force, her stance was off too. All Boba had to do was just tap her and she would fall over. At least that was how it felt occasionally.
"Focus," Boba remarked above her, standing over her legs holding up his hand to get her up.
"On what?" she spat, rubbing her right elbow that still stung.
"Your feet," he frowned, "you almost immediately shifted backwards when you realised what I was going to do. It was easy to throw you off."
"Backwards?" she asked.
He fell back onto his heels apparently mimicking her previous stance. Oh. So… that was how he had managed to always knock her off.
"Look," she finally forced out, "Last time I had combat training was how to shoot a rifle in case a patient got rowdy."
"Saves me explaining them to you," he retorted bluntly now back in his usual stance.
She rolled her eyes in response. Was this funny to him? Though, his face showed no expression other than seriousness. Stars, it would have been better if it had been meant as a joke. Were they pressed for time?
"Would it hurt to show me once how to do it?" she asked pleadingly.
Maybe it was how pathetic she looked, dirt sticking from all kinds of places or was it the way she looked up to him, all desperate and bruised. Not a moment later his face softened slightly, his eyes dropping to her crossed arms.
"Watch," he finally said after just staring at her for a short while.
Then he shifted into a stance. One she recognised. Wide eyed she remembered from where. From the temple, back when she had had her first combat class! How had she fallen so out of practice that she could easily be thrown off her feet? Huffing, she slowly tried to imitate what he was showing her. If this was any indication, she would have made a bad Jedi. Or none at all. That option had been in the back of her head after a boy from her clan had been taken away for Dantooine.
It no longer mattered. Why was she even thinking about this? Focus.
She looked up at Boba whose face was unreadable again, the air unnaturally still around them. Weird… shouldn't she usually sense something? Not even a prickle of thought. Suddenly he shifted forward shoving at her shoulders. Surprised she opened her mouth. Whether to yell or cuss at Boba, she did not even know that moment. Whatever would have come through.
Though… she did not fall. She was still standing! Swayed backwards? Maybe a little, but she had caught herself to fall back from her heels. A smug smirk was his only reaction as he crossed his arms. A tiny spark of… pride flared up and was gone almost immediately. With mouth still open she blinked stunned at Boba whose smirk grew wider at her expression.
"Hey…," she started to exclaim audibly the giddy feeling that spread through her arms now.
Before she could even form a word though, her head flew through the air just as her arms registered another shove. What...? Her shoulders were too numb already to feel the pain from the impact. The blue sky was the only thing she could now see. She exhaled long and loudly. Great! Shifting her head on the ground, she looked over to where Boba stood. That stupid smirk was still plastered on his face and this time he oozed smugness.
"What was that all about?" she demanded angrily sitting up on her elbows.
He huffed in inaudible laughter, "You dropped your guard at this tiny success."
"So you just had to push me over," she deadpanned sarcastically.
"Yes," he now was laughing.
Grumbling she rolled over to sit up on her knees now. So funny… Certainly. At least someone was entertained by all of this. On her feet again, she waited for him to stop laughing. Lips pressed tightly together, she watched him laugh a bit more. She was ready again to be pushed around.
"Done?" she asked.
"No," he grinned.
The entire day went like this. Her failing and succeeding occasionally. At least it was a step-up from before.
The sun was already setting by the time Boba let her stumble inside the house and the shower. How he still looked like he had not even chased her around the house all day was beyond her. Did she put up so little of a fight that he barely had to expend the effort? Dirt clumps dangled from her arms and legs while grass stuck out from her braid as she finally wobbly stepped into the fresher. A strand had gotten glued to the bridge of her nose with sweat. Only lifting her arms would waste too much energy right now.
At some point the water going down the drain was muddy brown when she looked down to see how badly she was beaten up again. The previous bruises on her forearms had grown a deep dark purple. Softly she prodded them, feeling how tender the skin was. Hissing she let go. Was this how he had trained when he had been younger? Had his father, this Jango Fett, trained him like that?
The tiles under her toes were cool when she stepped out, dripping water everywhere. A miracle to feel anything through them. Tiredly she looked in the mirror, hair loose on her back as it was dried in the ensuing blast of hot air. Grey eyes stared back and she had to look away when she saw a yellow patch of skin already forming on her left cheek. How often had she fallen onto it today? Too many times to count. At this rate, every part of her will have been black and blue once or twice over before she got the hang of it all.
With a clean tunic thrown over, she walked in to the room where Boba stood in the middle of, holocom in hand. His chest armour was already off, probably lying on a chair at the tabel.
A horrified voice crackled from the com, "You say it was there all day?!"
She stopped in her tracks. Tehra? What did Boba need from her?
"Yes," he answered.
"By the plains…," Tehra exclaimed disbelievingly, "I will be right over. Two minutes."
Then a click and the call had ended. She looked at Boba who sighed.
"I told her about the tooka kitten," he explained.
Oh Force… How could she have forgotten about it!
"We did not see a mother tooka, no?" she probed embarrassed.
Boba shook his head saying, "Tehra has some experience with pets."
"Is that why she is coming over?" she asked head cocked to the side.
"Yes," he said.
She turned to walk over to where the bundle of blankets was still. Tiny flickering of… hunger rushed past her as soon as she saw the fuzzy top of the kitten's head.
"It's hungry," she said out loud.
"Of course," Boba retorted, "It was in here all day!"
"No need to snap," she shot back.
"What are you doing?" Boba questioned when she peeled back a layer to see the curled up kitten.
"Can't get that much air swaddled up like that," she explained.
"I think Tehra will bring some supplies with her," Boba said and she could feel him shaking his head even with her back turned to him.
She looked back to see Boba rubbing his face. Some sort of tiredness weighed her limbs down for a split second, resignation filling the air between them. Sighing she turned around to him.
"Will she take it with her?" she asked stroking the kitten softly.
"No," he shook his head, "cantina regulations here forbid that sort of thing."
She mouthed an oh at that. Cantina regulations? First time she ever heard of any.
"Some worlds are particular about the food and health rules," Boba shrugged seeing her stunned reaction.
"Is that often?" she asked raising an eyebrow.
Boba laughed, "No, you should see some in Hutt space."
She crinkled her nose at the thought. Teth had been at the border to Hutt space and their cantina had been accordingly aimed at a certain clientele. But even then they had some rules in regards on storing the food. Rather loose ones however.
"Have you been to many of them?" she asked curiously.
"One of the best places to pick up jobs," he stated drily looking at the door for a second.
It didn't feel like anyone was approaching. At least not in the near vicinity. A calm sense of safety shrouded them. No tingling at the edges yet. Good. For once she could fall asleep easily tonight.
"Are we keeping it then?" she asked quietly.
Boba's back twitched at her question.
"There is no us," he hissed sharply, "and I will only have it here until it is old enough to survive."
She held up one of her hands in defense. What had gotten into him? Frowning she stared at his shoulder blades that had drawn up tensely. If he had cramps later, he could deal with them himself. Just a moment ago he was laughing. Right, fine… no more referring to any type of we. What had she even been thinking to imply anything? Remember, captive and he was getting paid to hide her away. Against her will. Remember.
Looking down, she stroked the kitten's head again. It lifted its head to mewl into the stony silence. How could someone be so cold and kick it out once it was mature? The silence made her skin crawl the longer it continued. It was just wrong. Felt so wrong.
A tiny prick behind her left ear made her look towards the far corner of the house. Tehra? Should only be her. Boba noticed and shot her a dark glare as he moved to the door. Stars, she pinched her lips, he could be all sour as much as he wanted. She wouldn't engage. See if she cared! The knock came instantly after. Boba disappeared from her view and she heard the door being opened.
"Fett," Tehra greeted with an upbeat in her tone.
"Tehra," Boba said back.
She cautiously walked to the archway where Tehra now stood in.
"Ah," Tehra's face softened seeing her, "I see Boba here hasn't killed you yet."
Altharya's mouth fell open. What?! People had seen them? Her face was on fire. Hiding was no longer an option. The whole town probably knew now how bad she was. Great. Just great. Just what she needed!
"Don't look so shocked," Tehra rolled her eyes and Boba walked beside her looking sheepish for once.
"Tehra, I am just training her," Boba chuckled nervously while rubbing the back of his neck.
Tehra shot him a look that shut him up.
"I have seen the training," she said pointedly, "and I wonder how she isn't dead yet."
Boba looked exasperated now and scoffed, "You are exaggerating."
"The bruises tell another story," Altharya snarked back which made Boba throw up his hands just as Tehra burst into laughter.
"The tooka is that way," Boba growled pointing at the table.
Tehra turned around no longer laughing now.
"You should have told me in the morning, Boba," she admonished gently as she swept over to the table.
A small back-pack had been tugged under her back lekku and now was taken off.
"Thought the mother would have turned up by then," Boba explained moving over next to Tehra.
Altharya moved quietly to the table where the other two now stood with their backs to her. As if shew wasn't even there.
"Good thinking," Tehra stated drily, "but no mother means that either she is dead or abandoned it."
"So we are stuck with it?" Boba groaned loudly.
"Can't be that bad?" Altharya spoke up now.
Tehra jumped slightly, "Oh, sorry didn't you hear you there."
Altharya frowned. Hear her? She had not bothered to be quiet, though? Nevermind. Not important. Confused she looked over to Boba who now had his two hands slapped on his forehead. Tehra turned around with a bottle with a white liquid, must be milk, in her hands now.
"Well," Tehra smirked with a glint of a joke at their expense in her eyes, "Say bye to sleep for a few weeks."
Sleep? Why? Still frowning she looked back to Boba who just stared at the ceiling. Defeated.