Ask Corpo-heist

[Connor Vance]

Connor sat across from Nash on the floor of the ship and just listened as he casually sipped his beer. Nash talked about how she was lost in what to do and her own insecurities. Connor wasn't really sure what to tell her, she wasn't stupid. He'd met beings on Nar Shadda that made Monkey Lizards look like geniuses and he wouldn't have thrown her in that category at all. But he also knew that insecurities weren't that easy to overcome and she'd have to shift that perspective herself.

"Aight, I won't gas you up about it if you don't want me to." He replied with a shrug, his ears dipped slightly. The comment alone would let her know he disagreed without pushing the envelope.

Connor fell silent again as Nash started talking about how his skillset could be useful in stomping some slugs. That made Connor's ears perk back up. He was interested in raiding some Hutt's shit. After all, the Hutts were just as guilty for his friends dying as the Empire was. Making someone pay for that pain would feel good.

"It sounds like you got a plan to me Thumps." Connor teased as he stood up and offered her a hand to help her to her feet with. "I actually gotta handle some shit on Shadda, so I'm in." He told her with a shrug. "Who we hitting?" He asked as he walked over to his bag and unzipped it. "And do you got somebody we can flip this with to get the job done?" He continued as he nodded towards the Arkanian Dragon's horde of peggats.

They were fucking rich now. They could probably hire someone like Apex to do this shit and still have peggats left over for whatever they needed to do.

@Sreeya

 

[Nash]

Nash rolled her eyes as he called it a plan, though she couldn’t keep the smile off her face, “All right, but it’s a Nash plan, which means it’ll go sideways two minutes into it,” She let him help her up to her feet, the anxiety slowly beginning to wear off. She took another swig from the beer, glancing over at their loot, “Yeah I know a fence that gives solid margins,” Nash said, recalling one of the trafficked girls she busted out in the past, “Though she knew me as a dude so this could.. Be interesting,” She said, musing about having to put the original Nash role back on.

“She operates out of Mon Calamari,” Nash explained, knowing the detail would likely catch him by surprise. The fence in question grew big since she was liberated and moved her enterprises to the Quarren leaning districts of Mon Calamari. It was an ISC world which meant they absolutely couldn’t project they were Sith or even really display the Force without rousing suspicion.

“I know how to get us there,” Nash said as she made her way towards the cockpit, “You ever been there? I’ve only heard of it and the oceans,” She said, “I’ve dreamed of seeing huge oceans and this is the perfect excuse,” Nash said with a grin. She had only seen the pictures her friend posted on social media and had always been jealous.

@Apollyon

 

[Connor Vance]

Connor's lips slightly parted at her description of her own plans. It was funny, he'd give her that. "That's fine, we'll reinforce it with Connor planning. It'll be sink proof that way." He gave her a slightly flirtatious wink. Connor would listen as Nash told him about the fence she knew. An eyebrow arched when she said that this chick knew her back when she posed as a dude. That could complicate things.

When Nash started headed towards the cockpit and talking of Mon Calamari, Connor couldn't help but picture Nash in a bikini for a second. That'd be fun. Connor was largely in the same boat as Nash, he'd never left the Nar Shadda-Hutta area until he tried to go and fight in the Hutt and Imperial war. His ears were perked and he was clearly excited at the prospect of seeing the oceans.

"The only waters I've seen are the bogs of Hutta when I was running scrap for the clique." Connor replied. "Does this mean we're going on a vacation?" Connor asked, an actual grin spreading on his lips. Connor followed Nash to the cockpit but before he took his seat he'd stop her from sitting. "Oh, I forgot one thing before we leave." He told Nash and then he would lean forward to kiss her.

No more meekness. They had just robbed a casino together. They could have died or gone to prison for a long time. He decided before they took that plunge another time, he'd at least taste her again. Then he'd take his seat in the co-pilot's chair.

"Aight Nash, let's go see this fence..." He said. "...and those oceans."

@Sreeya

 

[Nash]

The thought of vacation hadn’t even crossed her mind. She was entirely focused on work and the fence to realize that they were going to a world that had spectacular beaches and resorts. She began to daydream about turquoise waters and white sands, “I think we’ve earned some vacation days, don’t you?” She asked with a grin.

She was about to take a seat when he stopped her to steal a kiss. Nash was left standing there afterwards with a slightly dazed look on her face. If there was one thing that got her engines going it was a man that took initiative. Her gaze followed him as he sat down, but they were still in the busy spaceport. She said nothing, only smirking as she plopped down in her seat to start up the ship and get them into the air. Nash popped a cigarra between her lips, igniting it and offering Connor one if he wanted.

“I haven’t seen her in a few years so I don’t want to bother with the whole Nash is actually girl story,” She explained as she eased out of the bay and lifted off, still in disbelief that they got away with this. It wasn’t long before they made it out of the airspace and popped into hyperspace. Nash eased back in her seat, staring at the vortex for a moment, blowing out a few smoke rings before she put out the cigarra.

Wordlessly she rose from her seat and walked right over to the copilot chair, swinging a leg over to sit right down on Connor’s lap, her dress hiking up along her thighs. She grabbed him by the tie, yanking him closer, “Now, where were we?” She asked with a grin before leaning in to capture his lips.

@Apollyon

 

[Connor Vance]

Connor's mood only brightened when Nash mentioned them having earned some vacation days. Had he ever actually taken a vacation before? No. But there was a first time for everything! And Connor was ready to just relax, something he hadn't been able to do since he'd been conscripted into joining the Sith.

"I'd say more than a few." He replied.

After their kiss, Connor sat down and glanced up at Nash, he caught her gaze pulling away from him as she took her seat. Connor would help her with the take off, his ears twitching with anticipation. He'd seen that smirk on her face before and knew exactly what it led to. When she lit up her cigarra and took a drag before offering it to Connor, he gingerly plucked it from between her fingers and took a hit of his own. After a second, he'd pass it back over and begin the final check before they were out of there.

Connor had always liked space, it was quiet out here, unlike Shadda. There was no shouts, no sirens, no echoes of blaster fire. It was just the eternal void of space and whatever you made of it. This was freedom. His gaze pulled from the starlit expanse and to Nash as they slipped from real space and into the corona of light that was hyperspace.

"So who was Nash before she got to throw away that mask?" Connor asked, he knew it was important that he knew to maintain that cover.

Smoke rings rolled from her lips as she ashed her smoke. Connor watched as she got up from her chair and straddled him in his. Unlike the night before, there was no hint of anxiety in his eyes. No shudder in his hands. No tremble in his legs. Just a steady passion that was building to a crescendo. One that broke when Nash grabbed his tie and pulled him into a hungry kiss. Her question echoed through his mind as their lips locked and instinct took over. Connor's hands gripped her waist and pulled her in close to him. He'd never wanted to see a dress crumpled on the floor as badly as he did right now.

"Bed. Now." The words came out as a hungry demand rather than a request. He'd carry her there if need be. This was something he didn't just want, he craved and he wouldn't hide either.

@Sreeya

 

[Nash]

Nash briefly forgot about the question, too focused on kissing him and letting the stresses of the day melt away. He wasn’t shy this time and it only made her desire him more, hunger lacing into the way she kissed him. She grinded her hips against his, making no move to mask how urgently she wanted this. Nash was already unbuttoning his shirt when he mentioned the bed. She only smirked at him, “Then take me there, prettyboy,” She said simply. Her dense, muscled frame wasn’t exactly the lightest to cart around, so she hoped he could manage.

Regardless of how they got there, Nash couldn’t get enough of him, especially enticed by him in that suit. She purposely left their clothing at least partially on for parts of it to get that ‘fancy’ experience before everything was tossed off. The adrenaline rush from the heist, the near misses they had, the improvising, all of it came out in the frenzied way they gave into passion.

After a while, Nash was lying next to him, body lined with sweat and her chest rising and falling in a rhythm. She used the Force to float over a pack of cigarra, lighting one. Nash took a drag, exhaled, and handed him the cigarra.

“On Nal Hutta,” Nash began, still steadying her breathing, “My mother, a slave, taught me it was better to pose as a male to avoid getting sold as a sex slave. So I filed my teeth and lived life as a boy for most of my life. It wasn’t till just a year or two ago that I felt safe enough to stop doing that,” Nash tilted her head to look at him, “I felt like I could fight my way out of most scenarios. I knew I had the Force. But there were many that I connected with while posing as a guy and I pick and choose who to come clean with,” Nash took another drag, “This one…she developed feelings. As shitty as it sounds, I have to use that to get what I need from her,” She admitted, despising the thought. At the end of the day, both of them were in a shady line of business and if she had another card to play, she would.

Nash turned to face Connor, tracing her fingers absentmindedly across his chest with her head propped up on an elbow, “I’m still grappling with this whole…being a Sith thing. Sometimes I wonder if it’s really me.”

@Apollyon

 

[Connor Vance]

Her taste, the way she teased, the way she looked and smirked at him, even her voice it all added fuel to his building fire. Connor wrapped his arms beneath her and stood, he was no behemoth of a man but he still worked out. Nash might feel a momentary waver in Connor’s legs, he’d give a small laugh but he carried her and he wouldn’t fall or drop her. He continued their frenzied kissing as he kicked at the door to her room. It took a few attempts but eventually he did get it open.

Connor didn’t strip himself first, instead he focused solely on her. Dropping her muscular body onto the bed before beginning to kiss up the inside one of her legs. He wanted to taste her, hear her moan in pleasure, and feel her fingers kneading in his hair. Tonight, he’d show her how much he’d payed attention the night before. Going for the spots he knew of and that would get reactions, sending shivers down her body. At the end of the frenzy of their outlet, the covers were a tangled mess. The pair of them lying sweaty and breathless beside one another. Connor slid his arm beneath Nash’s head and looked down at her while she called the smokes to them and began her story. Truly opening up to him for the first time.

Connor listened to what she said, he didn’t judge her, how could he? She’d worked to protect herself and others that she barely knew. There was something noble to that and he respected it. Connor hadn’t done anything like that for strangers. He’d always looked out for his family and himself first. Maybe that’s why there are so many names to be added to his mural.

As she spoke, Connor would pass the cigarra between them. Taking drags while hearing what Nash had to say. He wanted to understand everything. His eyes only flickered from hers to watch her hand as she delicately followed the line work of one of his tattoos.

“You did what you had to in order to survive.” Connor told her gently. “And you gave others an opportunity to thrive and find freedom.” He continued. “That’s real bravery.” A small smirk touched his lips.

When Nash told him about having to use this woman to get what she needed and how it made her feel, Connor understood to a degree. He’d been on both sides of that coin. He knew the pain it caused no matter how it panned out.

“You can’t think of how it’ll impact her.” Connor replied. “You enabled her to flourish and it sounds like that’s exactly what we’re about to do for another group of people.” He continued. “You have to think of them and not her.” It sounded a little harsh, but it was true. What was the manipulation of one girl when faced with the enslavement of countless more?

Eventually, he rolled to face her. His eyes focused on her silhouette that was carved out by the flowing of hyperspace in the window behind her. She was beautiful. And he was beginning to see that was a reflection of who she was on the inside as well. His hand rested on her side and he slowly dragged his hand up and down her flank while he thought. Her last statement resonated with him as well.

“Why do you think that?” Connor asked. “What caused you to question the Sith?” He was genuinely curious.

@Sreeya

 

[Nash]

Nash was still coming down from the high of their encounter earlier, replayng memories of his mouth against the most sensitive parts of her, the way he made her squirm and tremble and the way she completely surrendered herself to him. It was very different from what she was used to and it showed her entirely new sides of him. Nash’s fingers traced over both tattoos and little love bruises she originally didn’t realize she left on him. Fortunately none of them were anywhere visible if he put on clothing.

When he asked his question, she had a faraway look in her eyes. His touch was comfortable and familiar, and she was surprised at how much she simply wanted to laze around like this for the rest of the day. Nash took the cigarra from him and took a long drag, blowing the smoke away from him.

“Because I don’t feel this passion or whatever that keeps being taught to us,” Nash said with a shrug, “I see it as a place to have meals and a place to stay while learning how to clobber people. It’s not an idealogy I’m totally bought into where I believe in it,” Nash sighed, “Maybe it’s because I haven’t been picked up by a Master yet. Just makes me wonder if I just can’t cut it, you know?” It felt cheesy to share her vulnerabilities like this, but it came easy around Connor. He may have been more of a ray of sunshine with his positivity, but she could tell he wasn’t just blowing smoke up her ass. For someone like him to grow up in the armpits of the galaxy and still have some positive outlooks was truly impressive.

“Why are you with the Sith?” Nash asked, “You don’t seem the typical broody Sith type,” She said with a smirk, finally putting out the cigarra once they were done with it.

@Apollyon

 

[Connor Vance]

Connor’s eyes pulled from her fingers as they continued to lightly drag across his skin. He listened to Nash as she told him her insecurities and vulnerabilities. She doubted their dogmatic and domineering ideology, Connor didn’t blame her.

“When do you feel most alive Nash?” Connor asked. “Because maybe that’s what will make you a great Sith.” He mused. “Focus on what pushes you, if that’s not with the Sith, then it’s not with them.” He replied with a shrug. “But I think you’ll be a great Sith if that’s what you want to be.” He told her.

When she asked him why he was a Sith, Connor’s ears dipped slightly. He didn’t want to be a Sith, at least not initially but it was that or the pens back then. So here he was. Connor laid on his back once more and nodded towards her.

“Come here.” He told her, he wanted to feel her head on his chest again. He wanted his arm around her.

Regardless of if she did or not, Connor would begin. “I got picked up by Zygerrians on my way to fight Imperials.” He told her. “They slapped collars on everyone they didn’t shoot but this Pureblood chick stopped em from throwing me in the pens.” His eyes pulled themselves from the ceiling and back to her. “She said I had potential, whatever that means.” He scoffed. “They tossed me in the Umbaran Academy, but I’m sticking around to learn once my shit is taken care of.” He told her. “They keep saying their way can give freedom…” His voice wavered for a second. “…I want to be free Nash.” He nodded. “No gangs or cliques. I want the power to make my own choices and protect my people.” He admitted.

That was his insecurity. That was his secret. His life had been a series of robbed choices that had been forced on him. He was choosing to stay around in the Sith. He was choosing to eventually be free.

@Sreeya

 

[Nash]

“Alive?” Nash asked, pondering briefly, “When I’m fighting…when I’m near a Huttball arena..” She shrugged vaguely, “It’s stupid shit, but fighting really does get me amped. What we did today with the heist made me feel pretty alive from that rush and that thrill of wondering if we were gonna make it out alive,” Now that she calmed down, she realized the entire experience was a thrill and made her want to do it again. Nash smirked as she gazed at him, “You should do some DET talks. You make a great motivational speaker.”

She moved in to snuggle against him when he asked her to come closer, resting her head against his chest. For a moment she simply listened to the rhythm of his heartbeat which grew slightly more erratic while she was on it. Nash closed her eyes, quietly listening as he spoke and shared his own story.

She glanced up at him after he admitted his vulnerabilities, “Nothing is free, Connor,” Nash said quietly, “The Sith will teach us how to train our powers, but they will always demand something in return. We can’t just take what we need from it and walk away. I already feel…different when I use the Force the way they teach us at the academy. I feel like a different person each time. I think bit by bit whatever they teach only trades one set of chains for another,” Nash shrugged, “But I figured it was worth it to me since I don’t really have anywhere else to go.”

She wasn’t keen on returning to Nal Hutta and living in poverty again. Using the Force willy nilly to get her way wasn’t going to work when she was alone. She believed true strength lied in a network or a gang of your own, “I think the Sith is for people that have nothing to lose,” Nash said with a sigh, “Like me.”

@Apollyon

 

[Connor Vance]

Connor listened to Nash’s reply in the same perfect stoic silence as he had everytime before. A small smile touched his lips when she spoke about Huttball, fighting, and the heist.

“That’s not stupid Nash.” He whispered. “That’s who you are.” He pointed out. “I live for that thrill too.” He admitted with a smirk. “The moments right before a plan comes together. The sound of a sliced lock clicking open. The feeling of that first piece of loot in your hands.” Connor’s voice, for once, reflected the passion he felt towards his art form. “What you love is never stupid.” He told her.

Connor’s heart picked up when Nash slid close to him. He swallowed hard when her head rested on his chest and her eyes closed. His natural arm wrapped around her back and rested there. His fingertips lightly dragged up and down the small of her back as he spoke.

Why did this feel so natural?

At the end of his tale, Nash pointed out something he knew. He’d seen some of the other student slowly change from kind and scared kids into hardened killers. Part of him was afraid of becoming that as well, maybe that was the real reason he skipped like he did.

“What if you did?” The question left Connor’s lips before he could stop it. “What if you did have some place else to go?” He clarified. “Would you go there? Instead of trading pieces of who you are?” Connor asked.

“I don’t think the Sith are for people who have nothing Nash…” He whispered. “…I think they are for people who are still hurting…”

It was corny and maybe melodramatic, but Connor believed it to be true. The Sith taught to use pain and hate to gain power and revenge. That’s what hurt people like him did, use pain and hate to justify burning the world around them.

“I have two half siblings. Five and Eight.” Connor muttered to her. “My aunt has them. I took them to her two years ago. She lives in the upper cities. I pay her ten thousand credits a month to keep them.” He continued. “I wanted them to live free of the life our mom gave me…” His ears dipped. “…she still hasn’t noticed they’re gone.”

“I understand hurting too.” He told her.

@Sreeya

 

[Nash]

Nash blinked in surprise when he asked if she had a place to go. Honestly she hadn’t even considered it because it never felt like a luxury she could afford. Nash went to the same Order that produced the likes of Darth Raze to keep some semblance of routine and consistent meals in her life. She went there to hone her powers and not be restricted by the doctrines and principles of the Jedi.

“Everything has a price,” Nash repeated, her tone darker now. No sanctuary or magical reality existed where she could envision living free and content without giving something up. Life simply didn’t work that way based on what she witnessed, “And I never want to live wondering what I could have become if I trained the powers I was born with,” As much as she wanted to deny the lure of the Sith, ultimately that lust for power existed within her as well. She daydreamed about having the power to influence minds, make people break, ignite them on fire and other dark thoughts she never shared. Because she had seen what weakness looked like. She had seen what being pathetic and defenseless looked like. She had experienced trauma in her own life even while posing as a boy, mental scars left behind that would never heal.

Nash listened to him describe about his siblings, realizing he definitely had things to lose and people depending on him, “That’s why you can’t leave..the Sith have means of getting to you if they want,” She said. What did they have on her? Her mother? Nash may have sent the woman money, but she hardly had any kind of relationship with her. The woman lived by her own rules and barely recognized she had a daughter.

When Connor mentioned he understood hurting, that was when he touched a nerve without intending. Nash drew back from him to sit up on the edge of the bed, her feet sliding off to plant on the floor. She didn’t stand up yet, but she sat facing away from him, “I’m not hurting,” She said curtly, “I’m not broken and I didn’t come to the Sith to be fixed,” Nash said firmly. Curiously, she wasn’t sure if she was saying that out loud to Connor or herself.

@Apollyon

 

[Connor Vance]

There it was.

Connor’s heart panged when Nash uncoiled herself from him. Had he seen and said too much? No apology escaped his lips. He hadn’t apologized for anything he’d done in the past and he couldn’t start here. Instead, he simply sat up and looked at her, his green eyes still soft, his ears dipped further still.

Connor recognized bitterness and suffering. He knew the tastes of them because that is what had nurtured him. It had pushed Connor to make decisions that he otherwise likely wouldn’t have made. It had been what, unknowingly, led him to the Sith and what pushed him forward.

He’d lost a limb. He’d seen friends die. He’d killed and robbed. If there was one thing Connor understood, it was pain. And despite his gentleness here, Connor was no gentle man. He didn’t hide who he was or deny the parts of him that were ugly and cruel. They existed and co-mingled with every other one of his qualities. That was just his nature.

“I never said you needed to be.” Connor told her.

His voice was even. As if what he was saying was so obvious and simple and true. And then he would slide to the edge of the bed to sit with her. His eyes stayed on her, the same calm that was in his voice was in them.

“Our scars show what makes us strong and beautiful.” He told her calmly with a nod. “You’re perfect just the way you are.” He whispered.

She didn’t have to acknowledge her own pain and hurt. Connor saw it. But he didn’t feel the need to fix her. He didn’t want to rescue her. Those things were a part of who Nash was, the same way his prosthetic was a part of who he was. Instead, Connor saw these scars the same way as he saw the ones on her body, beautiful. There was no shame in their existence. They were a part of her story, they told of her perseverance and tenacity. In his eyes, there was nothing to be saved from.

Connor reached back and plucked up a cigarra. His hand searched the bed until he found the lighter and lit it. Took a single drag from it and then offered it to Nash.

“And we don’t have to talk about them if you don’t want.” He offered as he exhaled the smoke and looked to ceiling.

@Sreeya

 

[Nash]

Nash was silent for a long moment even after Connor spoke and reassured her she was perfect the way she was. People only said those things in Holomovies. She knew she wasn’t perfect, but she was more than okay being imperfect. She glanced over her shoulder to regard Connor for a moment. The tattoos, the cybernetic arm and the way it was taken right by the shoulder. Her eyes lingered briefly where the twisted remnants of his flesh lingered. He suffered through that, he still carried the burden of his family and still managed to have such a positive outlook on everything.

She took a drag from the cigarra before handing it back, “I don’t wanna talk about it,” She confirmed, blowing out a cloud of smoke, “I’m…not even sure why I shared as much as I did. Makes me sound like a fucking basket case,” She said gruffly before handing the cigarra back to him. Without another word, she walked away and stepped into the refresher. Nash took her time in the shower, taking a long time to decompress and be alone with her thoughts. She exhaled and slid down to sit on the floor of the shower, burying her face into her hands.

By the time she emerged again, Nash was back to normal with a towel around her body. She shrugged it off to change into a simple tank top and sweatpants. It was clear that talking about any ‘deep shit’ was tough to navigate with Nash. She was very cut and dry with several walls around her. It was how she was taught to survive because doing anything else meant getting exploited.

“You game, Gears?” She asked with a tilt of her head and a smirk, “Wouldn’t mind kicking your ass in a retro game like Mortal Battle.”

@Apollyon

 

[Connor Vance]

Connor sat there in silence after he got done talking. He felt Nash’s eyes on him, he didn’t flinch at the gaze. He’d gotten used to people looking at his arm a long time ago. It wasn’t until she spoke that he glanced back down in her direction and simply nodded, his ears still dipped. He wasn’t going to force her to talk about anything, if she wanted to, she would.

When she got up and walked away to shower, Connor lingered for a moment more. There alone with his thoughts, that mask finally slipped just a hair. Nash was right, he’d never be free. The thought ate him alive on the inside. It burned through his core until he was able to wrestle into submission. He forced the mask in place again.

He stood to his feet and gave Nash her space. Instead he went into the kitchen, tossed pizza pockets in the oven and put on a pair of The Beagles pajama pants. Connor dug through Dalon’s things and interestingly found a vintage music collection.

“Shit. Didn’t expect this.” Connor muttered as he looked through the holo tapes for anything worth keeping.

Around the same time Nash came out in her towel. The oven dinged. Connor watched as she shrugged it off and got changed. His ears flicked but didn’t pinken. He got up to go grab their dinner from the oven but pointed at the two piles of holo tapes.

“Sure.” He replied as he headed towards the door. “But first check that shit out Thumps. See if there’s anything you like there. Our boy had quite the collection.” Connor stated, pausing to finish what he was saying before rounding the door frame and out of her sight.

He’d be gone for several minutes before re-emerging with two plates of rolls and a carrot in his mouth. He handed one off to her and plopped down in front of the tapes. “He’s got some good shit here. Some old shit too.” Connor told her while talking around his carrot.

He wouldn’t linger much longer on the tapes though. Instead he’d dig up Dalon’s retro gaming system and get it hooked up. He’d extend his hand for the Mortal Battle game and then he’d boot it up.

“Time see if my slicing skills will beat out your punching ones.” Connor said, his ears perked with interest.

@Sreeya

 

[Nash]

“Are you serious?!” Nash practically yelped when she saw the old tapes. She began digging through them, but not before she did a double take at Connor’s pajamas, “Pfft. Everyone knows Rolling Pebbles is where it’s at,” Nash said with a smirk, decisively taking a side on the age old fan rivalry between the two bands.

She forgot about everything else while sorting through the tapes before finding one. She popped it in and about squealed in delight when it started playing a song. Nash quickly grabbed a nearby remote and used it as a makeshift mic before singing along. Her voice was offkey but she clearly didn’t care because she was singing to her heart’s content and acting like she was on stage.

“Don’t question why she needs to be so free,
She’ll tell you it’s the only way to be,
She just can’t be chained,
To a life where nothing’s gained,
And nothing’s lost, at such a cost!”

Nash blew a kiss to the ceiling before she belted out, “Gooooodbye, Ruby Tuesday! Who can hang a name on you?”

She kept singing the song with her offkey voice, circling around Connor while she sang and pretending she was a star. Nash playfully nudged him with a shoulder before she continued her little performance, belting out the chorus and dancing around in the kitchen.

Nash was all smiles by the time the song ended, and she used that remote to switch on the Holo, “I love that song!” She said excitedly, grabbing some of the snacks while Connor set up the gaming system. Of course it was the first thing she had spotted when she walked into the ship.

When the shitty 8bit music began to play, Nash burst out laughing, “That’s how you know this is gonna be good.”

@Apollyon

 

[Connor Vance]

Connor still had both plates his in hands and a carrot in his mouth when he walked back in. He’d heard her squeal in excitedly at something she’d found. Connor was about to tell Nash that it was okay to be wrong sometimes, when the music started. And he heard Nash’s off key voice being belted out at the top of her lungs.

For the second time since they’d met, Nash got a genuine smile out of Connor.

He watched as Nash danced out of the room singing into a remote. His ears were perked, a smile stuck to his face, a carrot still in his mouth. He tried to sing along with her as she danced around but his voice was muffled and thrown off by the vegetable. When she nudged him playfully, he rolled his eyes, paused for a second, and the spat the carrot out onto his plate. He followed Nash into the kitchen, plates held above his head as he sang along with her and danced as best he could.

As the song came to an end, Connor leaned slightly against Nash. He lowered her plate for her to take. “You know, it’s been a while since I’ve had that much fun.” The words came out smoothly and with an airy half chuckle. But Connor’s smile slowly faded to a grin, and then a smirk, and then faded entirely. His ears however remained perfectly perked. “Thanks for that.” He said with a nod. “Now come on, let’s play Mortal Battle!” Connor practically shouted. “Last one in gets player two side of the screen!” He yelled out only after he’d started running.

Connor bolted for the room, and stumbled into the doorframe as he ran. It would give Nash a split second opportunity to catch him. Regardless of who won, Connor would get the game set up and toss Nash a remote. While the game loaded up he gave Nash a mischievous glance. “How’s about a little bet Thumps?” He asked. “Best two out of three, you can set what happens to the loser.” He told her. “Cuz you’ll never beat me!” His ears flicked excitedly.

@Sreeya

 

[Nash]

And for the second time, a real smile on his face gave her pause. It was one of those smiles that made her feel all tingly inside. It didn’t matter if they slept together multiple times, things like that smile were the things that gave her pause and left her staring in his direction far longer than needed. She recovered quickly enough, gasping when he declared a race.

“Oh hell naw!” She called after him, deciding to cheat. She coiled the Force around him and yanked, successfully making him trip and eat shit. Nash leaped right over him, but not before giving him a playful peace sign. She planted a hand on the spine of the couch, vaulting herself over it to plop down to have a seat, “You triiiied,” She called back at Connor while joining her fingers together in a heart symbol.

Nash picked Ronny Cage and started clobbering away. She was button smashing like crazy and using all the right moves, “COME ON! WHAT’RE YOU DOING?!” Nash yelled at the top of her lungs, but to no avail. Connor kicked her ass. She groaned in frustration, “Whatever, you just got lucky,” She said with a smirk.

The stupid victory music played. At some point, Nash leaned her head to rest against Connor’s shoulder while the animations played to herald the next round.

@Apollyon

 

[Connor Vance]

Connor’s gaze didn’t meet Nash’s until his smile had almost completely faded from his lips. He’d been too busy singing with her, dancing, and losing himself to the moment. He almost missed that look on her face when she looked at him. It made him feel like anything was possible, even real happiness for street kids like them.

He wanted to linger in that look for just a moment longer. Then he issued his challenge and bolted out of the room. Except he didn’t make it far, Nash tripped him using a brain power. He hit the ground with an audible OOF.

“That’s cheating!” Connor called out from the ground. “It was really cool but it’s still cheating!” He repeated as he stood to his feet.

Connor’s ears perked at Nash’s little finger heart. He shook his head as he set up the game and then slid next to her on the couch. The game booted up and they both made a mad dash for their characters.

Connor picked Boro, a massive four-armed abomination. He glanced over at Nash and gave her an innocent “What?” Before glancing down at his prosthetic and trying not to chuckle.

As it turned out, Boro could and did defeat Ronny and his stupid sunglasses. Connor’s arms shot up as he claimed victory. He settled back into the couch and felt Nash’s head rest against his shoulder.

Connor’s heart skipped a beat. His green gaze fell down to her as she rested her head on him. Winning the game suddenly mattered way less than just soaking this moment in. In fact, Connor missed most of the initial count down to lock in his fighter. It wasn’t until heard the announcer’s voice shout THREE that he pulled his gaze from Nash and back to the game.

This time he hurriedly picked Kax, a sector ranger with cybernetic legs.

The fight started and Connor immediately knew he wasn’t in a good spot. He didn’t really play much Kax and was unfamiliar with his combos. “NO THE TRIPLE KICK LEG CANON BLAST IS XBBXY LEFT DOWN JUMP!” He shouted at the screen. “WHY DIDN’T IT GO OFF?” He grumbled as Nash absolutely bodied him in round two. “You must have gotten the good controller.” Connor teased. “Wanna trade?”

Connor would scoot a little closer to Nash. He wrapped the arm not holding the controller around her. There was no awkward stretch this time, just one smooth comfortable motion. Connor would leave his arm around her until the next round of fighter selection started.

@Sreeya

 

[Nash]

“The good controller?” Nash asked, chuckling as she gave him a playful shove, “Whatever, you did some bullshit cheating with your cybernetic last round,” She accused him, knowing it was silly and ridiculous. Nash watched him pick Kax, quirking a brow, “Kindred spirits, eh?” She teased before she selected Rao Kahn as her option.

She breezed through the round, laughing as Connor started yelling about the buttons for the moves that didn’t pan out. She went with various natural jumps and high blocks to stay alive and beat him, “Awww yeah, SUCK IT!” Nash cheered, doing a little victory dance. She initially tensed slightly when he put his arm around her, but it passed soon enough. She glanced towards him, realizing that her heart was suddenly pounding rapidly and it had nothing to do with the game.

The last round she picked Tonya Blade and that also ended in victory with lots of cursing and shouting at the Holoscreen from both. Nash was still laughing by the end of it and listening to cheesy music. She set her controller down and let the laughter slowly trail off as she looked at Connor.

“I really like your smile,” Nash blurted out before she could stop herself. She looked immediately alarmed and began to fiddle with a lekku nervously, “I… Just let me say that, okay? Don’t tell me I’m great or whatever or some positive comment. I just..I just really like your smile…and I wanna…” Find more excuses to cause it, is what she wanted to say, “-get more snacks!” Nash said cheerfully before getting up to do just that.

@Apollyon