Bad Omens

[Nikka Toren]

She arrived to Ord Mantell hours in advance, in a new freighter. She wasn't going to let him have an edge above her as far as knowing when she would be arriving, or in what. But the SS Oberon was a fine craft, faster even than the Alpherys. She hated selling the old girl, but she needed her freedom above all else. It had not even taken an hour to remove her things and pack them into her new home.

Or... as close to a home as she was going to get.

She had carefully washed, and dried her hair en route; otherwise, even with the shortened lengths it would have taken an age. It was braided in a thick braid that landed to just above the ends of her shoulder-blades, capped with a gold-colored hair wrap. She took great pains with the dress, as well. The bloodstains from the events of Falleen were removed and patched so well even an expert could not tell where the patching had been. The collar was snug to the neck, cleaved down the front to her collarbones, and just slightly beyond. The sleeves were narrow, coming to a point over her middle fingers, and the cloth itself gradiented down from black to dark green from her shoulders to her ankles. The edges were bordered in gold, and the veil matched. The hood was thin, sheer fabric that draped over the top of her head, and went with the detachable cape that drifted over slim shoulders.

With the split skirt design, none would tell that she still carried her blaster and vibrodagger. The boots worn were much nicer even than the ones she regularly sported, and paired well with the leggings beneath.

She wore no other accessories, apart from a side pouch on her outfit. She could not apply make-up, but she hoped her appearance would be well enough...

This was for the holocron. She squared her shoulders firmly, ignoring Tippy's disgruntled remarks about the last time she had gone off without consulting him...

She gave one last tug to the fabric, to ensure the dress suitably covered.

She hoped that whatever happened, she wouldn't have to face listening to a seamstress moan about the ungratefulness of plebeians and their woeful abuse of fine fabric. She'd had enough of that grief... now it was time to face the music.

She descended from the Oberon and drew the hood over her head, and drew her braid over her shoulder. She would wander the markets a spell, and wait until fifteen minutes before.

She suppressed her signature, and stepped into the throng. This could be a long night.

@Nefieslab

 

[Darth Tagus]

The hell was he even doing here?

Zeven had asked a woman out on a dinner date and that? That was fine. It was a little bit unexpected for someone of his disposition but it was to be expected from time to time. What was not expected was for him to ask a Jedi to be his date. Of course he hadn't actually called it a date but, well, it was a date.

He had asked her for a date in exchange for a Jedi holocron.

As a Sith, he had absolutely no idea what was inside the holocron and he had no way of actually opening it to find out and yet he had promised it to Nikka should she have a dinner date with him. He really hoped that no one in the Empire found out about that but if they did he was sure that would be the least of his problems.

Dressed in some formal wear that he had never really had the occasion to wear, Zeven made his way to the restaurant. His lightsaber was hidden within his formal wear but he was still armed, just in case. The only downside was that this formal wear, naturally, had absolutely no armour on it.

Maybe he was being too hard on himself? Maybe all he needed to do was wine and dine the Jedi and the weird emotional connection he had been feeling would leave?

Of course when he saw her for the first time that evening at the entrance to the restaurant he knew that it was going to be far more complicated than that.

"... you look amazing."

She did.

@Killa Ree

 

[Nikka Toren]

She had taken the time before arriving to browse the few shops that even catered jewelry; all she had found were an earring set she was told matched her fine dress, and a delicate gold bangle she was certain she would never wear again. Why go through all this trouble? Why not simply show up in her usual, and have him take her as she was?

...Because then, all that hard work would be done for.

She must have a reward for biggest idiot in the galaxy at this point. No information about them would ever be leaked... but still. Under the pseudonym she employed, it only meant another small-town trader had made it out to the galaxy at large. And somehow, had gotten an evening with someone of rank in the Old Empire. It would have been an honor, had situations not been the way they were... but here they were.

And it was strange already.

She hoped after this night, they would part ways and resume the fold of what they were meant to be; enemies. Or at least without this odd feeling between them; she refused to believe it was a bond of any kind. Misguided curiosity on his behalf... misguided want to bring him to her side of the rebellion. All in all... impossible odds were about to be broken, or developed. She was uncertain what she wanted from him. But at least for now... they had tonight.

She smiled up at him, inclining her head. "I'm sure my memory doesn't do you justice," she demurred, not quite sure how to take his compliment. "But I'm sure you look absolutely handsome."

Wait.

Where the blue blazes had that come from?!

She was acutely aware of how tall he was, what he smelled like. She resisted the urge to compare to others. Instead, she stepped closer to him, sliding his arm in hers, and leaning in to whisper.

"Do you mind leading the way? I'm not as easy to navigate here as you are. Consider your vision a blessing here." But the smile remained, nearly unguarded, warm. It didn't betray the tug of war she felt between obligation and necessity, or the battle of code loyalty. But that wasn't going to be brought up, tonight. He had something she needed, and she would oblige him. And that was all.

...

...Wasn't it?

@Nefieslab

 

[Darth Tagus]

They were beginning to hold up traffic getting to the restaurant but he couldn't really bring himself to care all that much. He was still busy taking in the sight of his Jedi. She was dressed in such a way that he couldn't help but look over every inch of her, his eyes not slowing down at all as he desperately tried to look at all of her at the same time. If she was sighted he wouldn't have been able to do this without embarrassing himself but since she wasn't, he felt only some slight shame in drinking in the sight of her before him in such dress.

Swallowing against a small lump in his throat, Zeven did his best to ignore the implications of referring to her as "his Jedi" even in the privacy of his own thoughts. He felt his cheeks heat up and did his best to stomp down on the reaction immediately, using his control of the Force to control his emotional response.

The fact that he had had such a powerful emotional response to her simply calling him handsome was... telling.

"Thank you." he smiled a little bit, "If you like you can touch me again."

... abort!

Retreat!

"I mean... you know... to See me."

... that was a terrible save but it would do for now. Of course she then started to lean into him and suddenly he found that he was already fumbling over words he hadn't even said yet. He swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded, guiding the two of them into the restaurant to the table that he had reserved for them.

"I know you're only here for one thing." he told her quietly as he helped her into her seat, "I'm not a fool - I know you don't really enjoy my company all that much. If you'd like you can take the holocron and go. I won't hold it against you."

@Killa Ree

 

[Nikka Toren]

She felt her cheeks tinge somewhat as he continued staring. She barely restrained the urge to run her fingers over her face to make sure there was no hint of grease or grime, or if her hair was undone. She could almost feel his gaze over her, and she stood only that much taller. It was a shame she couldn't really do much the same; but a hint of amusement played at the corner of her lips when she heard him swallow. Was he... nervous? And if so, why?

It was so touchingly out of character she laid her right hand gently atop his arm. It seemed her companion was not a speaking man tonight... and she was relieved. She didn't want to lose that slight illusion yet, that this was not a dinner simply for something she needed. Oddly... she wished he would be doing this just to see her. She aggressively tamped that thought out, but the grin turned into a more private one.

For the span of three heartbeats, he was the only one she could sense.

Her laughter was light and silvery, coming from her throat suddenly at his comment. "I wouldn't object..." she chuckled, arching an unseen brow beneath her veil, "but perhaps not while withholding others from their meal. Later, maybe?" She could have kicked herself for this. What was she doing? If she had even a span of sense, she should have retreated, holocron or not.

But when she was about to set down, she heard his voice against her ear. She paused mid-movement, hands bunching up the fabric of her skirt as if to do that very thing, take up his offer and run.

But she didn't.

She slowly lowered into her seat, smoothing the fabric of her outfit. She was outwardly poised and calm, and giving him a radiant smile over her shoulder. "Good. Because... I don't mind your company. And not tonight." She gave the most infinitesimal shake of her head.

"I'll stay."

When he would seat himself, she would lean forward, right hand curling under her chin and face tilted towards him as if with a steady gaze. "I wish I knew what to do..." she finally exhaled, a slightly wistful note drifting in her voice. "But just for tonight... let's just be two people meeting for dinner. Please." The smile remained. He could see her as a weakness... but just for tonight, she wanted to understand this draw between them.

Just long enough to understand why they felt this way, before shutting it off for good. She had to, for her own sake... and the sake of her Order.

@Nefieslab

 

[Darth Tagus]

He was making a fool out of himself.

What in the name of the Force was he doing? He was having dinner with someone he should, by all rights, be trying to either kill or capture right now. He had spent too long staring at her and yet he still couldn't accurately say if she was armed or not. There was nothing more to be said - he was going mad. Well, it was either madness or something else that ran deep inside of him when he thought about her.

He wasn't sure if he didn't prefer the idea that he was going mad because it already felt crazy. Why was he here doing this and why was it that he found that he couldn't bare to think of himself being anywhere but here right now?

He didn't know.

All he knew was that he was, when he relaxed and didn't think about it, happy with what was happening right now. He was happy to be here like this. He smiled a little bit at the rejection of his offer. He had offered it as something of a gamble - a gamble because he actually would have been devastated had she elected to leave him there by himself.

Instead she stayed.

"Thank you." he told her quietly, "I must admit that I... have been looking forward to this."

Not so long ago that would have burned him to admit and yet now he was freely, openly, admitting it. Still, if anyone asked him if he had said it he would tear out their throats.

He had a reputation to uphold after all.

"I think I can do that." he agreed with a small smile as he held out a hand for her to take, "It's been an age since I could... switch off. Be the man I am and not the Sith I am, you know? If it's not strange to say... thank you."

Zeven shrugged as he smiled.

"Thank you for letting me open up like this."

@Killa Ree

 

[Nikka Toren]

She was a fool.

Here was a man that she should be dragging off to deposit at Hugo Ion's feet, or taking his lightsaber and reporting him defeated. But she felt... like if she had, she would regret it for the rest of her years. She didn't know why she felt this, but it was a strength. It gave her clarity, but the perspectives were all wrong. Weren't all Sith meant to aggressively pursue anything to elevate their status? Wasn't it their ambition to bury those like her in the endless foundations of their split organizations?

Nikka sat here, a woman torn between righteousness and humility.

She was at peace, happy, content even, to sit here before Zeven and be nothing more than a woman with a man. For just one night, she wanted to relax boundaries. They were permitted to bond... but still she hesitated a beat, two beats longer. She almost couldn't believe his next words, but she dipped her head slightly, holding back a grin that was only now slightly contained. He had been looking forward... to seeing her? To being here?

She took a deep breath, then let out a faint chuckle. "Actually... I have as well." She hadn't thought, but when she heard him lifting his arm and resting his hand upon the table, she lifted her left hand and placed it in his. A gesture done unconsciously, but she forgot in that span of time what had happened since they last met... and nearly stopped the motion. But instead, she rested her hand in his, and tilted her head slightly.

The hood slipped off, revealing the rest of the thick cable of dark hair. She tilted her head slightly, and her shoulders lifted with another single, barely audible chuckle. "Somehow... I know just what you mean. It's nice to be a woman in my own right... once in a while." The smile turned private for him, and she gave a light squeeze, her voice almost a murmur.

"Anytime, Zeven...Anytime."

Until they were interrupted... she was unaware of anything or anyone else, even their immediate surroundings. It was just the two of them, and then a waiter droid appeared. And though she didn't release him... she was reluctant to break this single moment. Something about it was a pleasant ache in her chest... and she wasn't quite ready to let it go just yet.

@Nefieslab

 

[Darth Tagus]

Zeven would forever dispute, if anyone asked, that his smile grew larger when she admitted that she had been looking forward to this as well. It was just a little thing but it made him feel more accepted - as though he hadn't been alone in the little squirming feeling in his gut that he had tried to classify as unpleasant but actually been unable to do so because it was based around such an exciting, such an anticipated, moment.

Meeting her again in this setting had been something that had kept him up the night before - although only some of the time had been worrying about it in the same way a man worried about a date with a woman. Most of the worrying had been about whether or not she would have gotten some of her rebel friends to set up and ambush.

He wouldn't have been surprised but he was rather intrigued to find that he would have been genuinely hurt had she done that.

It wasn't as though she owed him anything and yet...

He squeezed her hand back gently.

"Is it strange that I think I'm beginning to see you more as that woman and less like the Jedi I know you are?" he asked with a little chuckle, running his thumb across the back of her hand without really meaning to, "And I think... I think I need to get to know that woman better. If you'll let me."

He ordered a drink, a sour cocktail that used a local whiskey, and some food from the droid but he never really took his attention off of Nikka.

"How's the finger?"

@Killa Ree

 

[Nikka Toren]

He hadn't released her, nor she him. But she could hear the smile in his voice. And oddly, she felt... at peace. As though for once this was right, and that the man before her wasn't here to strike her down when she was unguarded, or take her captive when she was willing to let down some of her barriers. Only some. Others remained tightly locked, and hidden from even those most intimate to her. She had to admit... there was a warmth in her chest.

She couldn't have imagined being anywhere else in that exact moment. She had worried he would try something while she was unprepared for battle, take her off her guard and try to tug information out of her. She was intrigued with him; a dangerous fascination, if accounts were correct, but...

She would have been more than disappointed if he was here to trap her, and that thought was a surprise to her mind.

She shifted backwards slightly when he gave a return squeeze. They had not once broken physical contact when she ordered in return a simple glass of a local wine. She didn't want to be muddled by too much drink tonight... she had the feeling that every experience here had to be as clear as possible, and as long-lasting in her memory as she could be able.

Is the man behind the Sith a lonely one, she wondered idly, as her order paired with a local vegetarian dish. She was relieved of it; not many places catered to a palate like hers or her kind's.

Ah.

There was still a residual ache, apart from where his thumb drifted over her knuckles, and yet... such a strangely tender gesture. She chuckled a little bit, and raised a wry brow again. So he wanted to bring that up, did he? Very well... better that than other unsafe topics.

Including the reminder of what they were.

"It's dangerous to know me," she murmured, with no threat in her tone. "To know the woman that lies beneath... to understand that a man and woman can be close, with so many differences is a danger within itself." But with those cryptic words, her smile turned wry. "But don't mind me. My finger is fine and relatively healed," she flexed her hand lightly for emphasis, "as you can see. And what of your chest?"

She inquired this innocently, but there was a telltale quirk to her cheeks and lips, a hint of mischief behind the voice. Whatever they shared tonight... she was willing to figure it out until the night was over.

Afterwards was always later.

@Nefieslab

 

[Darth Tagus]

The food was beginning to arrive and Zeven was kind of annoyed that it did if he was honest - it kind of felt like it was an interruption of something. Considering they had barely actually spoken to one another he supposed that might have been an overreaction all things considered. It was just food and this was, at the end of the day, supposed to be him taking her out for dinner and it was hard to do that if you didn't, in fact, have dinner.

Still, he didn't want to let go of her hand and he didn't have to. Instead he took a small bite of his food off his fork with his other hand, finding the food to be... acceptable? He was a former slave - he honestly didn't have the most refined of palates. He could tell when food was rotting and when it wasn't ripe yet but that was about it.

The food wasn't rotting and it tasted better than anything he'd eaten in a long time but that was to be expected considering he had grown accustomed to the nutrient bars that slaves were fed to keep them alive. He smirked a little bit at the response.

It was dangerous to know her?

"Dangerous to know you hmm?" He smirked a little bit wider, "Why Nikka... that sounds like fun. Are you trying to tempt me to get to know you better? Well too late if not; you already have."

He raised an eyebrow at the question he received in return before chuckling deeply.

"Are you asking to see my chest on the first date? Forward." he joked before answering her truthfully, "There's marks and there always will be. It's like someone has dragged their nails across clay and left groves in my skin... you could probably run your fingers through the scars."

...

Why the hells did that sound appealing? Why in the name of the Force did he actually kind of want that to happen?

@Killa Ree

 

[Nikka Toren]

She was somewhat surprised he still hadn't let go; it was the longest she had kept this close skin-to-skin contact since... an age ago. Another lifetime, even. One on Ord Mantell, perhaps... but even that paled in comparison. It was dangerous to feel this safe here, with him. Safety was an illusion, no matter how well-intended it was. She should have withdrawn, and given them some space.

But... she didn't.

Instead she grinned, her fingers skimming from his palm to his wrist in the lightest of caresses, maintaining the innocent smile. "Don't mock me, Zeven. I don't mind you knowing the woman; but the Order I am is also a part of me, whether you may like it or not. I will admit, though..." She picked up her fork carefully, using it to stab idly at one piece of stir-fried vegetable, "...I am curious about you, as well." This was spoken almost wistfully, as if it couldn't happen. This shouldn't be happening anyways. She was still clear-headed, but even she wasn't immune to the feeling of peace around the two of them.

She let out a slight laugh, leaning forward slightly. "I'm tempting you? Please, you're curious already." Teasing, her smile tilted into a slight smirk, as she took a few delicate bites. Nothing else was said, until he brought up the scars on his chest.

She paused, considering something. It felt like another divergence in the Path she had taken before; accept, and there would be answers... or Deny, and still have questions left, along with her prize. The smile was gone, but in its' place was a look of consideration. She was thinking, planning something. Those dreams that haunted her of late; were they of him?

But most poignant of all.

Would he be content, if they had just the one night? Or would he break his promise and pursue her? The future had many paths to take... and many places led to the Dark Side. But what of lo--?

She shut off that thought suddenly. There was nothing like that here. Perhaps he just found her to be a diversion, a puzzle to figure out. But now she was caught. There were personal feelings in the mix... and they were bound to become entangled.

Finally, she sighed, then gave his hand another light squeeze, her voice very quiet.

"You know... I might just need to See that, to sense what I was capable of." She picked up another piece of food, then smiled up at him, tilting her head to the right slightly. "If that isn't too forward... I'm rather curious. After all... we have tonight."

And then again... this road had only two ways to go. And she had a feeling they both would end in pain. He would have her just for tonight.

Tonight, and then she would part ways. For both their safety.

@Nefieslab

 

[Darth Tagus]

She was right about one thing; he was already curious. He had made no secret of this and he would continue not to make any pretense that it was a secret. He knew it and she knew it - though he was happy enough that no one else seemed to know this at all. If anyone else were to discover what was going on here, between the two of them, then Zeven was certain that it would do no good for anyone involved.

And there would be pain involved he could just tell.

He chuckled a little bit.

"I will know more of the Order as it steps out from the shadows it has hidden in, in time. I can wait for that. What I can't wait for is more of the woman, more of Nikka Toren." he smiled before he ate some more of his food, "There isn't much to me I'm afraid. Tragedy and the like - a dry, dark, sense of humour."

They ate and drank in comfortable silence until she seemingly began to ponder just what was happening between the two of them and just how far she was willing to take this night with him. He was surprised when she seemed to imply that the date would extend to the night as a whole.

He thought about it for a moment himself.

What did he want out of the night?

She was his enemy.

He wanted her regardless.

Taking her by the hand, Zeven rose from his seat, leaving some credits on the table to pay for what they had ordered. Leading her through the restaurant onto a balcony that had been set up as a dance floor, Zeven bowed his head slightly to her as the band began to play and others began to arrive at the dancefloor.

"Would you dance with me?"

@Killa Ree

 

[Nikka Toren]

At the sound of his laugh, it brought a grin back to her lips. This was easy, light conversation, far better than the times they had met before. If this was going to be the last time... she didn't want to waste a moment. Their dichotomy was... interesting. Dark, and Light. Sith, Jedi. Nothing new, yet, wholly interesting. Though no one else was to know... it would be a secret to her. A treasured one, of one small taste of something that bonded her for such a short span of time.

And yet, there was a twist in her gut at the thought of this being the last time.

"You have her," came the answering smile, "and all I ask is for the man, Zeven Visz," the name was spoken lightly, almost caressing in tone, "dark, dry humor, tragedy and all."

She was glad he didn't press or pry. That he didn't try subtle flattery to get into her head or persuade her to join him. But still... the contact was not broken. But when they had finished, nothing surprised her more than when he had wordlessly taken her from her seat and led her away, the soft clink of credits on the table the only real indication they were there at all.

Perhaps...

She could sense the air difference when they entered the balcony. Other couples walked around to find their places, laughter and conversation light as it eddied around them. She felt uncertain what they were doing in this open-air place, but it felt... good. Right.

The music was slow, when he asked her to dance. At first surprise robbed her of speech; she simply stood before him, head tilted up. Almost as if she could see him... then, the smile broke on her lips. She stepped closer, and gave his hand a light squeeze.

"You know... I'd love to."

@Nefieslab

 

[Darth Tagus]

Well if she wanted the man behind the Sith then he was going to make sure he gave him to her. He wanted to make sure that she saw him for who he was because he was enjoying seeing her for who she was. Maybe it was foolish to get to know her at all but he couldn't bring himself to care all that much.

Instead he just allowed himself a moment to feel like it wasn't impossible.

She seemed surprised by the fact that he wanted to dance with her and he was a little bit surprised as well. But when the music started he gather her up in his arms and held her close.

He wrapped an arm around her lower back and held her hand in his free hand and they began to dance.

"I took dance lessons." he told her quietly, "Keep it a secret, yeah?"

@Killa Ree

 

[Nikka Toren]

She tilted her face up towards him, the answering smile gentle. When she was gathered close, she was all the more aware of so many things at once. But most of it was simply... him. Was it wrong to feel this way? Perhaps. Again, her Master's warning rang in her ears... beware being close to those tainted with the Dark Side. But despite everything he did... there was surely something good in him. It was something about him... something they both had. Not just emotions. No. It wasn't emotions. Even now, as safe as she felt, she could be objective. She knew this was wrong, that something like this threatened both the Rebellion and the Empire. This was... something different. A halfway point. And yet even there, he had his side... and she had hers.

Yes, she could put her feelings aside. She could think objectively, and even from here, strategize and prepare the eventual moment where they would return to the same fold as enemies.

But...

She didn't want to. Not yet.

When he wrapped his arm about her lower back and drew her closer, she shifted her arm so that her hand rested upon his shoulder. She chuckled softly, the only indication a slight raise to her own shoulders.

"Don't worry," she murmured, playfulness light in her tone. "I won't breathe it to a soul. So long as you don't tell anyone I've never had a lesson in my life." Her lips curled into a mischievous grin.

She hadn't taken a lesson in her life, but thank the Gods for her good balance. She could easily keep in step with him, but... there was no time for words right now. Right now, in this moment, she was happy. Words would have spoiled it. So instead, she allowed everything else to fall away in her senses. If he moved her, she would follow. Leading and being led, a balance of back and forth.

Like combat, but so much more refined. Give and take... and when the song ended, it was too soon. So she stood there, face tilted up at his as if to ask... what now?

Was he going to give her what she came here for now?

Or was the night going to last all the longer?

@Nefieslab

 

[Darth Tagus]

If she had never had any dance lessons in her life, he would be happy to report that it didn't show. Indeed, she seemed to have no rust on her at all. Instead she was as fluid and graceful in her motions as if she was a professional dancer - a result from both his own skill at dancing and her natural grace due to her connection to the Force. So instead of them acting like some of the other couples out on the dance floor, they were actually rather poised.

They flowed across the dance floor as though they were floating inches above the ground.

As they twirled, Zeven had a flashed where he realized that there were others around them who were doing exactly what they were doing right now. The other couples were people who cared for one another and they were just enjoying each other's company... not that he would call the two of them a couple.

Not really.

He hadn't put a name to the feelings that were swirling around inside of him and he didn't plan on it either. Giving them a name gave them power and he detested the very idea of that. He still had hope that this feeling... was temporary. That it was simply an urge that he could satisfy.

They slowed to a natural stop, their bodies close together.

"Nikka..."

If this was an urge, he would satisfy it.

He leaned in slowly, giving her the agency even as he brought his lips closer to her own.

@Killa Ree

 

[Nikka Toren]

It was just a few minutes where time had stilled.

There were others that danced around them, some in equally intimate embraces, others not quite, but stiff, formal. Yet her Sight was occupied by one male alone. He wasn't hard to dance with; on the contrary, she hadn't realized she was breathing lightly until they coasted to a gradual stop. She could feel it in his posture; he was contemplating something. Thinking of something... and then her name.

She had never heard her name said in such a way.

An ache tugged her heartstrings. Bittersweet. She tilted her head to the right slightly, the smile from before still a ghost on her lips. When he started to shift... she then suddenly knew what he was waiting for.

She should have pulled away. She should have turned her head away, and left him. Left the holocron behind, gone on her ship, left. But... she didn't. Instead, she did the one thing that she never expected even herself to do. She lifted up slightly onto the balls of her feet. She met him halfway, her lips lightly skimming over his own. If what he was giving was a question, she was giving the answer. A whisper hovered on the edge of a breath between them. "Yes, Zeven," she whispered, then closed the distance between them, her arm wrapping about his neck.

She had given her word, after all. Just one night as the woman she was. One night... and then perhaps, these odd relentless feelings would fade.

@Nefieslab

 

[Darth Tagus]

Their lips touched and suddenly it was as though the feelings that had been welling up inside of his were fuel and this kiss was the single spark that it needed to be set alight.

His arms moved on their own and suddenly he had them wrapped around her and he didn't rightly remember how or when he had moved them. Instead everything just seemed to melt away until there was nothing but himself and Nikka. His arms shifted and suddenly he broke away from the kiss.

Because he had swept the Jedi up off of her feet and into his arms.

"Nikka..."

His voice was deeper and huskier as he felt it rasp in his throat. He held her close to him as he began to walk, carrying her with him, using the Force to call the holocron to where it could hang from his belt.

"I have a room upstairs."

There was an unspoken question, a search for what she wanted and what he would do. He would comply if she said no but he prayed she said yes.

@Killa Ree

 

[Nikka Toren]

She hadn't expected the sudden rush of emotion that nearly overwhelmed her.

They were trained against this; she fought mentally to rise above it. Tenderness. Compassion. Need. These, and others, suddenly flared to life when he crushed her closer. She didn't expect that such a simple action could have such results. But here she was, in his arms. And in that scant few seconds, she had forgotten who and what she was.

For one moment, she was pierced with the need to see his face as others did. She knew others looked at the pair of them; perhaps some of them wondered at the two strangers. Perhaps some of them had more wisdom about this than she did. But even she didn't have a name for the sudden yearning her heart held.

She hadn't anticipated being swept up into his arms. She gasped, her arms both now around his neck. Again, that voice... the rasp sent an odd tingle down her spine. Did he feel how she felt? Just how far was this going to go, before both of them had to go their separate ways?

...Just how far was she willing to go?

She was oddly breathless, but the grin widened. Her left palm spanned his jaw, the lightest of touches, as if to See him. Her thumb skimmed over his cheek, her voice a soft whisper once more. "I said yes... do I have to repeat myself?" She arched her brows playfully, even though they were unseen, and leaned her head against his shoulder.

"Yes. Take me with you."

It was too late to turn back now; even though the future would hold nothing but pain for Nikka Toren, she was willing to accept it, just for him to have one night of peace.

Oh, how the mind could lie so beautifully.

@Nefieslab

 

[Darth Tagus]

Well it turned out that she did need to repeat herself but only once.

With her so close to him and with her giving him that last indication that she wanted this as much as he did, Zeven knew that he didn't have to hold back any of his passion. As a Sith, Zeven knew that letting go and giving into your passions was the key to strength so he didn't hesitate.

He began to tug at her clothes even as he carried her up to his room, his lips pressing urgently against her own before kissing down the side of her jawline.

He dipped his head to suck on her collarbone as he exposed it, tumbling into the hotel room he had paid for. Using the Force, he didn't even take his eyes off of her as he closed the door behind them. They could have been exposed as Force Users in that moment and he honestly couldn't have cared less.

His hands began to peel her clothes away piece by piece, unraveling her to reveal inch after inch of her smooth skin and tantalizing body. He pulled back from her neck to gently pull her veil away from her face. He took in the sight of her scarred eye-sockets... before deciding that it was still better to see all of her bared before him.

Laying her nude form on the bed, he looked down at her before pulling his own clothes off hastily and taking one of her hands. He gently laid her hand on his chest.

"Feel me, Nikka."

@Killa Ree