Déjà vu

[Hol Horse]

Athir's eyes had a glassy look in them as he looked out of the cockpit at the streaking lights and colors of hyperspace.

Even now Lightspeed never ceased to amaze him. It was beautiful almost, the feeling of flying through space as fast as light itself, watching as the world passed you by. The red skinned zabrak looked down at the deathstick in his hand, eyeing its orange liquid contents with that same glazed over look in his eyes. He hadn't told Ocean he had started using them here and there, sure he and she would sometimes smoke some Spice here and there, but he never took Deathsticks when she was traveling with him- he just, he, he didn't think he could do it if she was watching him. Hell, there were a lot of things he did these days that he didn't know if Ocean would be proud of. Perhaps it was for the best that she took these 'getaways' as he saw them, taking some time away from the ship, exploring some exotic jungle planet, getting up to no good, whatever it was she did- maybe look for more jedi, though there weren't many left these days it seemed.

The zabrak raised the opened tube of liquid and moved it towards his mouth, though he hesitated before he could drink it. After a brief feeling of something in his gut telling him to stop, he downed the Deathstick to the last drop, his glazed eyes drooping downwards as he felt its immediate effects. His mind grew warm, body slouching down in his pilot's seat, a small and uninhibited grin creeping up onto his face. God, he could never get over how good this stuff made him feel. It had been 5 years since Athir had picked up Ocean and agreed to let her travel with him. 5 years since the fall of the Republic, 5 years since he had made his breakthrough as a smuggler with Damon Cross by completing the Kessel Run with the largest freighter ever, 5 years since he had been exiled from his family's fortune. Life was harder now, more dangerous, more violent. The Republic had been corrupt and weak in its final days, the perfect storm for a smuggler like Athir, he ran goods without so much as a whiff of troubled, it was a Golden Age. Once the Sith took control, and the damned Mandalorians, everything went south. Borders got tighter, there was a crackdown on all crime, smugglers were captured in raids, cities and systems were patrolled by soldiers. The jobs were getting riskier.

Athir's Deathstick addled mind grinned a little wider. He was going to die at this rate, smugglers like him were a dying breed these days- people were choosing sides, drifters, wanderers like him and ocean were pariahs, outcasted by all with no safe harbor to turn to. Sure he kept on a steady pay, working for Nibezza the Hutt saw to that, but the stress and anxiety of it all was eating him alive, bit by bit, day by day. He had amassed a small fortune, perhaps a modest one in reality but it felt small to him, and had gotten a new ship as well as prestige. He was paid twice, sometimes thrice, what he had been paid in his early days, by all accounts he was living a successful life as a 'free trader'. Still, despite the credits he earned, Athir couldn't help but feel tired. The Spice helped him keep a level head and deal with his anxiety, but he needed stronger stuff these days to really settle in, Deathsticks were just the thing the metaphorical doctor ordered.

Athir's glassy eyes slowly drifted down to the coordinates in his navigation system. He didn't know where it was he was going exactly, he had just given Ocean a comm link and a beacon to give her his position when she needed it, either if she needed him to pick her up or just needed him period. She was a good woman, probably too good to stay around with the likes of himself. Even after nearly half-a-decade with her, she still managed to outwit and surprise him with ease, for better or for worse. The streaking lights and colors of hyperspace continued to barrage Athir's blitzed eyes as he looked out into the galaxy passing him by. He could feel it sometimes, that pulling sensation, that feeling of flying, of breathing in and out with the universe itself, it was hard to explain- Ocean claimed to feel it as well in her own way, though Athir didn't talk about it that much.

Sometimes, when he wasn't completely blitzed, he'd drop himself off on some ocean planet and sit in a beach chair, his feet in the water, and just close his eyes. Breathing in and out, his heart and mind in tune with the waves and the tropical breezes, he felt a part of something bigger, something higher than him that stretched throughout the entire galaxy and beyond. The rays of the sun would feel like a warm blanket, the water gently washing against his red reed like a caressing touch, the sound of the grass and trees singing as wind brushed them. It was a song, a song that only he could hear, and when he was alone, he could hear it best. He couldd never understand the words, but everywhere he looked he could hear that chorus of life all around him, on his little tropical planet as well as stretching beyond out into the galaxy. His mind would slip away like it was now, flying out of his body up into the stars above, he felt whole again, he'd feel happy. He always felt like there was something just over the horizon, calling his name, waiting for him to answer and just reach out and-

No. He was a smuggler, he was high from drinking Deathsticks, he was dirt, he could never fly, he could never see what lay beyond the horizon.

Still, having Ocean around gave him a similar feeling to his little getaways. Sure there was the obvious, the two of them may have been strikingly different but they were both wanderers at their core, similar things. It helped she was beautiful, with a body that made women internally scream in jealousy. Heh, those nights of red and white colliding and gyrating together were still some of his best ones- albeit resulting in some ruined pillows due to his pointed horns. Still, that feeling of being pulled, that satisfying warmth of having her around, like sitting next to a lit fireplace almost, it was irreplacable to him. Hah, god if she heard him say something that cheesy she'd never let him live it down. Athir grinned a bit, closing his eyes as his ship continued to travel through hyperspace to whatever planet it was that Ocean was on.

It was hard to think how different things were 5 years ago, and how close he had been to turning her away for good. Still, the events felt as fresh as yesterday, all coming back to that damned job he had signed up for with the Rakatti and that Twi'lek to steal droids in return for safe passage. If only he knew what that fateful night would lead to, how that fountain girl would stick with him like glue through thick and thin for so long now...

~~~~~
Five Years Ago in Theed
​

Athir closed his eyes for a moment, sighing and exhaling a larger than normal puff of smoke through his cigara as he contemplated which droids to take. Hangar or mouse droids were worthless for a job like this in terms of payoff, the former was only useful for fairly elite spaceports and the latter could be bought on the cheap from any telemarketer. No, they were here for the big fish. Considering these options, the zabrak opened his eyes and settled his green gaze on Ocean, "Protocol Droids, everyone needs 'em, but they're expsensive for most people save the rich bastards" he said, "Grab a few, not too many or we won't carry them all back to the ship. I'll keep that security droid busy". With that, Athir turned away from the two street dancers and started walking deeper into the smuggler's den, remembering the path he took in-between the rows or droids and shelves as he began looking for the biggest threat to their operation.

Sure enough, he didn't have to walk very far from Ocean and Sage to find the droid in question. The thing must have heard the sound of the door opening as well as Athir and Ocean talking, it's metallic footstepts could be heard stalking the aisles, moving closer and closer to where Athir was. The thing sounded roughly the size of a humanoid, it's weight seemed to reflect that in the 'thud' like sounds it made when it walked. Athir puffed on his cigara, his nerves calm as ever as he decided on a course of action. He could see the silhouette of the security droid stomping down the aisle next to his, coming closer and closer to where he was hiding behind some of the taller models of droids. Puffing his cigara again, Athir spat it out, causing it to fly a few feet in front of him from in-between the doids onto the floor of the adjacent aisle, causing the security droid to stop. The bucket of bolts quietly and cautiously stepped forwards, leaning a tad and looking down at the cigara, no doubt calculating the fact that where there was a cigara, there was a cigara smoker.

A quick flourish of dexterity occurred as Athir pulled out his blaster and fired off a quick point-blank shot at the head of the security droid, shooting from in-between the tall droids separating the two aisles. The blaster bolt struck true, the glowing eyes of the droid went dark, it's body slumping over to a halt as the CPU was no doubt destroyed. The zabrak grinned a tad, he would carry this thing back to the Otho too, a security droid would fetch a pretty penny after all. With this in mind, he quickly picked up the heavy droid, placing it onto his shoulders fireman-style and sauntering back to Ocean and Sage, feeling like the conquering anti-hero he found himself to be. "Ladies, let's make some money" he said, more to himself, as metaphorical dollar signs appeared in his eyes, the prospect of the modest haul he'd make off this deal becoming more clear to him by the minute.

@Undine

 

[Undine]

It was the first time Ocean had come back to Naboo since that horrible day. It was still the early hours of night and the sun was setting low across the ocean's distance. The memory of everything that had happened came back to her in bits and pieces. The cold that came after blaster fire pierced skin. Ocean had always thought it'd burn, and it did, the energy damaging the nerve endings so quickly that it just left her right shoulder with a cold bleeding hole. Even now five years later the similar feeling of her eyes sinking into her skull caused her to develop a mild migraine. She wasn't sure if it was due to the memory of it or if she'd just forgotten to drink something.

The anxiety she felt, standing in front of the small apartment building made the warm air feel more coarse than usual. Despite the humidity her tongue was dry and her arms began to feel cold. Her body was reacting as if it had been injured somehow, and it had, five years ago Ocean's heart had broken itself. It wasn't even Yangchen's death that hurt her so, it was the fact that in the end Ocean hadn't have the personal strength to step up. She'd ran, leaving the son of her best friend to grow up in the world as an orphan. He hadn't had to grow up in the same manner as she had, or worse yet his mother's childhood, Ocean was thankful for that at least.

The light of a holovid running came through the green tinted glass of one of the windows, and there was music playing faintly from one of the upstairs bedrooms. The apartment wasn't very large, maybe three bedrooms, but Ocean had known far less growing up, the knowledge that this was where Cahya had been given a home warmed her heart. She'd never thought she'd get the chance to have children of her own, not with her illness slowly killing her. She'd known years ago she was barren, she'd made peace with that. Now it was the thought of a child grasping at her robes for comfort that scared her. How was she suppose to support a child? She loved Athir, even if they weren't really a couple, but she didn't want to raise a young boy on a smuggling ship, and Athir's line of work was simply too dangerous.

Lost in thought, Ocean hadn't even heard the woman walking up behind her, it was a Nautolan woman, one of the girls she use to dance with. Her dark teal skin seemed darker in the growing shadows of the sunset, but she seemed pleased to see Ocean. The two smiled upon seeing each other, Ocean offering to take one of the large bags of groceries off her hands as she was welcomed inside the small apartment. Inside she saw that the holovid was actually just the news, an elderly gugan man sat slumped in a chair, asleep. The music she'd heard outside was louder, Ocean expected to see the boy come down the stairs and greet the women, but the sound of footsteps remained in whatever room they were in upstairs. Quan, the Nautolan had moved into the kitchen, prepping to cook dinner when she looked up to see Ocean watching the floorboards above her. "Before you meet him, we need to talk." Ocean cast a silent gaze at the black eyed woman, before unwrapping her robes and placing them on the coatrack.

As the two of them discussed the recent arrest of Quan's wife and the coming child in her belly, it grew ever more obvious that with one parent in prison for a couple years and the other a single working mother, Ocean would need to take Cahya because money was just too tight. Ocean had started to help the woman prepare dinner without speaking much herself, taking only a moment to congratulate her on the pregnancy and ask how the old gungan was doing. Ocean had heard he'd retired a few years ago, but she hadn't heard of the liver failure. It was almost amazing how much of a difference five years made. Ocean couldn't help it, just as Qaun placed the roast in the oven and shut the door Ocean finally said it. "I'm sorry." Quan paused, just looking at her. It hadn't been a secret that Ocean and Yangchen had been lovers, though Ocean had never told this to Athir.

The Nautolan sighed, turning around and pouring herself a glass of some dark green wine. "I know. Cahya is a good boy, Yangchen would have wanted you to have him. We tried to find you, but when that old pond-goat in there-" Quan pointed toward the living room. "-told us you'd jumped planet, we didn't know what to do. Ashara and I have made a home for him here but it's just not where he belongs. With everything happening now, we can't afford it. You and Yangchen, hell me and Ashara all grew up in the streets or worse. It'll hurt him, leaving us, but we won't raise our child the way we grew up, not when your still able to be there for him. Despite everything." Her words held no anger, but Ocean knew what Quan thought of her, even agreed with her too. She stood silently, tears running down her cheek as Quan looked away from her, taking another sip of her wine. Ocean followed her gaze to see an orange skinned Twi'lek boy watching them from behind the railing. Seeing him took Ocean's breath away, it was like staring into the face of Yangchen, his gaze made her shiver and feel cold as her tears slowed.

~

Ocean and Yangchen pushed the repulsor lift through the door as Athir walked in front, the smile on the Twi'lek's face matched her own. This had all been so much easier than they'd expected and Athir seemed to be a fairly good shot. Yangchen saw them first, drawing her own small blaster as the first couple shots flew past them. Abandoning the lift, Ocean ran for cover, having no weapon of her own. She didn't see Athir but she could hear him shooting. The sound of a body hitting the floor and the clanking of metal behind her caused Ocean to turn. Yangchen had been thrown by a droid but seemed fine for the most part, having ripped the rifle from it and blasting a hole through it's chest once she regained her bearings.

The cold fire of a blaster bolt ripped it's way through the muscle of Ocean's shoulder, forcing her to let out a scream as she hit the floor. In moments Yangchen was next to her again, crouching beside her as she shot at their attackers. Ocean hadn't seen how many there were but the sound of blaster fire had lessoned. She didn't know if Athir was dead or not, or even see him. A flashbang went off somewhere and Ocean was blinded. The ringing in her ears parallel to the fear as something warm started spreading over her legs. It took another moment for her to feel the weight of her, Yangchen had been knocked over by something as was on top of her legs.

Thinking she had peed herself, the warmth of Yangchen's blood went unnoticed until Ocean saw the blood coming from her mouth. Pulling the woman closer, Ocean saw the large wound in her stomach, flesh and cloth shredded entirely. The first thing she heard as her hearing started to return was the sound of Yangchen choking, followed by the last few bouts of gunfire. The pain and fear flowing off of the orange skinned woman made Ocean's heart stop. For years she had loved this woman, even planned to make a life together once she was healed by the Jedi. Yangchen never said it, but somehow Ocean had heard the dying woman's thoughts. Cahya

As Ocean began to gasp for air through her sobs, Athir appeared by her side. She looked at him, grasping his arm like a small child after skinning their knee. It was as she looked back, a mere second later that she saw Yangchen's hollow eyes watching her. It was almost as if Ocean had felt the last beat of her heart that drew her attention back. The momentary silence was quickly followed by screams of pain as Ocean refused to accept it, kneeling at the body of her friend as if it was a shrine with which one could bring back the dead with prayer and threats to whatever god would hear her. A few minutes later, Ocean had calmed down, though tears still haunted her face. She stood, turned to Athir and calmly said, "Get me off this planet." Before walking back to the repulsorlift, stopping only to pick up one of the blasters that their attackers had dropped. She saw the beggar from earlier watching her and had half a mind to kill them for ratting them out. Instead she through the weapon down and began walking away from the scene of the fight.​

 

[Hol Horse]

Athir had parked the Otho II at the spaceport, his protocol droid was looking after it while he ventured through Theed to find where it was that Ocean exactly was. It had been some time since he had come here, his last memory of this place hadn't been that fond in all honesty. The fact that Ocean had called for him to come to Naboo felt rather troubling. He knew how much this place meant to her, as well as how painful it had become ever since that fateful night. Things had been so much easier before that job, so much more fun and free. A part of the smuggler regreted going through with the gig in the first place, maybe if he had turned her offer down things would have been different and their lives would have all been off for the better. Gah, there was no point in trying to play out ideas like this, sooner or later they'd all die, he just had to keep telling himself that to avoid going soft.

Still, it was hard to avoid getting soft when he was in this city, after all that he had heard about it from his... Hell, what exactly were they? The two never really were a couple per se, they were both a little too free for that probably, some habits died hard. Yet, on the other side of that coin, Athir couldn't deny the fact that he loved Ocean more than any other woman in this miserable galaxy, and that when he felt utterly miserable she somehow managed to make things not seem so bad. Now, that may have seemed overly sentimental, but wasn't it healthy to have a healthy dose of sentimentality to retain one's humanity? Athir liked to think so, even though normally such thoughts got people like him killed. Maybe that was the secret to why he had, miraculously, stayed loyal to the Dathomiri all these years, she made him feel safe. It was a strange relationship, to say the least, one that was made all the more complicated on days like this.

Athir continued to walk the streets of Theed, making his way to wherever it was his 'partner' was laying low.

~~​

It all went so wrong so fast.

Athir had been carrying out the security droid when he heard the first few bolts of blasterfire. The sound had taken him by surprise, he hadn't expected there to be anyone else in this warehouse save for the trio and their recently captured droids. Still, the zabrak lept behind a crate for cover and whippe out his pistol. The sound of a barrage of blasterfire filled the warehouse as the one-sided battle ensued. As an opening appeared in the firing, Athir spun around and rested his extended arms atop a nearby crate, aiming for their attacker. A short burst of pistol-fire flew out of his gun at the target, yet no cigar. He couldn't tell what was going on with Ocean or the other gypsy, they weren't in his field of vision at the moment. All the smuggler could do now was keep firing and take out their assailants so they could escape.

The shootout ensued for about five or so minutes, swiftly coming to an end when Athir landed a lucky shot on the attacker's foot, causing him to double over in pain and reveal his head. A quick shot later and the owner of the droid warehouse was dead. Panting, his adrenaline still pumping, Athir slowly got back up to his feet, his gun still tightly in his hand in case any other enemies might appear out of the blue. They needed to leave, now. Someone will have heard the fighting, in a few minutes this place would be swarmed by the city guards.

The smuggler hustled back to the two gypsies only to find a sobering scene. Ocean was fine, but her partner wasn't. The zabrak arrived just as the woman's last breath of life flowed from her. She had given up the ghost. A part of the zabrak grieved, but the prgamatist in him knew that now was not the time for such things. They had to get out of here and fast, they could still take the droids with them back to the spaceport and get off this planet if they hurried. Still, that hurriedness faded away as he felt Ocean grab his arm in fear and despair, like a child asking with her eyes if everything was going to be alright. Athir hesitated, unsure of what to do, he was ill fit for council for something like this. Thankfully, Ocean's next words were something he could do.

It didn't take long to get the droid back to the Otho I and take off from the hidden spaceport. Athir was strong enough to muscle his way through without any cargo droids, a result of years of loading and unloading cargo. Once the two were in the thick of hyperspace, the smuggler fell silent, unsure of what to say or do. They were headed now for Nar Shaddah, the smuggler's paradise, her they could sell their droids at a premium and part ways. Sure enough, a few hours later, the two would be standing in some neon lit nightclub in the smuggling city. Athir had his credits, and Ocean had her ticket off the planet, their contract was almost completed.

 

[Undine]

The sounds of the vegetables sizzling in the frying pan on the stove as well as the homey feel of the small overstuffed space made Ocean feel at home. She knew that if she asked, Quan would let her stay and make the home her own with her, Cahya, and the old pond-goat in sleeping in the living room. But Ocean also knew she just couldn't live on Naboo again, as beautiful as the planet was it simply held too many memories for her to stay. In theory, the idea of raising Cahya on a beautiful world surrounded by people that loved and adored him was a pleasant thought, but Ocean was torn. On the one hand she'd be willing to suck it up for Cahya's sake and on the other she couldn't Athir agreeing to stay with her. It would be so very selfish of her to take Cahya away from everything he'd ever known, but Ocean was jaded enough to shrug off the selfishness and do it anyway. It wasn't like she'd live forever, and she wanted to spend what little time she had exploring the galaxy with Athir if he'd have her.

They weren't in love exactly, though they did share a sort of love between them. Both enjoyed the other's company, in more ways than one. There was also something deeper, it wasn't like they'd spent the last five years together for the sake of it. If she was forced to Ocean knew she'd say she loved him, but something inside her told her it was a lie. She was never jealous when Athir slept with another woman, or even that one time he'd slept with a man. Ocean actually recalled getting drunk and cheering them on from outside the door. Still, there were nights when her arms would ache for his touch, mornings where she'd wake up reaching for his warmth. Ocean couldn't deny the joy she'd felt in those moments when he was there, and the slow dissatisfaction when he hadn't been. Were they in love? Yes. Were they lovers? Not really. It didn't matter though, it had never mattered, at least to them. But now it kind of did. Ocean didn't want to lose him, but she knew she couldn't turn Cahya away. Her heart ached every time she looked at the boy, both for Yangchen as well as Athir.

The three of them sat there at the dining table, occasionally Quan would get up to check the food, and in these small moments Cahya would stop to watch Ocean intensely. He wasn't shy, not really, but he did his best to ignore the pale skinned woman. Whenever Ocean spoke he'd go quiet, and whenever Quan tried to get him to talk to her he'd just focus on the cards in his hands. The only time he actually seemed to acknowledge her was when he was dealing the cards or trying to see if she had won or lost the round. They sat there playing penny poker until the food was nearly done and it was time to get ready to eat. Quan sent the boy into the living room to wake Geed, the elderly gungan, and as he moved to obey, Ocean moved toward her old friend, whispering so as not to be heard by the boy. "I can't believe you taught him how to cheat at cards, he's good for his age but I hope he doesn't think I didn't notice." Quan just laughed and said something about how it'd help him know who to trust before the sound of knocking was heard on the front door.

Without missing a beat, Quan moved to answer the door, before telling the grumpy old gungan to shush up about being woken or he could just not eat supper. Cahya though walked back into the kitchen to watch Ocean as she spoke just loud enough to be heard above all the banter, while returning the small boy's gaze. "That should be Athir-" She was cut off by Geed shouting something about there being to many people in the house before he noticed just who the pale skinned woman was standing in his kitchen. "Athir? What an odd name for a woman-" Quan said, laughing, as she opened the door to reveal a dark skinned and horned man she'd likely recognize from the day Yangchen died and Ocean had vanished. Her smile faded for the briefest of moments as recollection came to her before her smile returned, forced as it was.

Ocean put the wooden cooking utensil down before stepping up to embrace Athir, now with both Cahya and Quan watching her every mood, the boy out of curiosity, the woman on the other hand seemed rather upset. Geed simply walked into the kitchen and started making himself a plate, he'd be halfway back to his chair without a word if it hadn't been for Quan snatching him by the ear and redirecting him to the dining table. Cahya went ahead and started making everyone else a plate, moving one of the chairs over so he could reach the food without burning himself while the adults did whatever it was they thought was more important than food. Ocean offered Athir a quick hug before turning back to Quan, introducing the two of them. "Athir this is Quan, she was one of the girls I use to dance with if you remember, and Quan this is Athir, he's the one that got me off Naboo." Quan kept polite, but she seemed more shocked than angry. Ocean had never stopped to think she'd most likely blamed Athir for Yangchen's death.

Cahya on the other hand seemed to take much more of a shine to the cheeky devil than he had to Ocean, though Ocean had a growing suspicion Quan had already told him who she was. If the boy knew she was gonna be taking him away it'd explain why he'd been so reluctant to acknowledge her. Instead, the young shirtless Twi'lek was busy pulling the black and crimson man toward the dining table by the hand, demanding that he sat next to him and between him and Ocean. Quan laughed, giving Ocean a much more cheerful look that said the exact same thing she had been thinking. Being raised in a house full of women, other than the old fart who rarely left the living room, it was no wonder Cahya was excited at having another male around.​

 

[Hol Horse]

It was a surprisingly more suburban area that Athir now found himself following the pulsating tracker that would lead him to Ocean. The buildings and sights droned on around him as his half asleep eyes were glazed over by now. His black hair was rufled a tad, his facial hair unshaven that morning, his general appearance more a B+ than A. Still, he knew that Ocean didn't exactly hang around him for such things, hell he didn't even know why she stuck with him like glue in the first place. Days turned into months, and those into years, and they had ended up here. This cat and mouse game wasn't knew to him, Ocean was her own woman and he his own man, their paths just happened to run side by side- though not quite one in the same. Athir had slept with more women than he could count all truth be told, yet no matter what, it was Ocean's warm touch that he valued most above any other creature- the Twi'leks, the humans, they all felt hollow compared to her, good for a quick one night stand to blow off steam but nothing more. With Ocean, he felt no inhibition, even when bedding another man that one time in a drunken stupor- life felt more 'in the moment' when she was around. Did that amount to love? Athir had been asking himself that question since the moment he metthat fountain dancer.

These thoughts began to fade though as the zabrak approached the building from where the tracker was pulsing, it was surprisingly nice. The smuggler pressed the doorbell, waiting for a moment and wiping some of the sleep out of his eyes as he heard footsteps approach. A few moments later, the familiar face of his white partner was smiling softly back at him, accompanied by a stranger. Despite the long trip, Athir let a small smile on his face as well as he stepped in for a short hug, placing a small kiss on the shorter Dathomirian's forehead. "Miss me?" he teased before looking past Ocean to the other woman, "Thank you for opening up your home to us both, I would have brought some champagne but all the stalls were close at the market" Athir stated, taking off his bomber jacket and placing it on the rack, revealing his white t-shite underneath.

Quan, as the gungan was known, seemed to force out a smile directed towards Athir. The smuggler didn't recognize the name nor the face, though despite this the person sounded familiar. Before the zabrak could speak though, he felt a tugging sensation on his right hand. Looking down, he spotted a Twi'lek boy, young enough to be in the springtime of youth but with enough curiosity to exceed that standard. Athir had never dealt that much with children, he had alway sbeen the youngst in his family and growing up had seen his fellow classmates more as adversaries to overcome than anything else. Ocean was always more empathetic to youngling in his opinion, though the two could never have them together- despite their supposed racial compatability as Dathomiri and zabrak. There were some wounds so deep and scarring that no healing could ever change them. It wasn't as if Athir had ever wanted kids though, Ocean was his partner but they weren't married after all. The horned alien mustered up a small smile and a tired chuckle as he was gently tugged down the hall to the kitchen to sit inbetween himself and Ocean at the dinner table.

Athir was still somewhat out of his element however, as upon sitting he found that Quan and Ocean had begun to chuckle and laugh somewhat. Shaking off these outbursts though, the smuggler turned his attention to the child, "So kid, how old are you? Whatt'ya wanna do when you grow up?" he asked as he began munching on his dinner. He was particularly tired, but didn't plan on staying the night truthfully, he felt safer sleeping on the ship with his security systems- hopefully he and Ocean could head back after this meal. Athir placed his right hand, his free one, on Ocean's left leg as he looked down at the child, a comforting and reassuring presence more than anything. He liked knowing she was nearby, there may have been a whore born every minute in this filthy rotten galaxy, but not a single one of them or all of them combined could hold a candle to the mysterious yet euphoric way that Ocean managed to make him feel. That special halfway between soulmate and lover.

 

[Undine]

Ocean watched as Athir interacted with the Twi'lek child, placing her hand over his on her leg. There was something about the little mindless gesture that forced a smile to crack over her pale face. There was something to be said about them being a couple, perhaps it was the homey atmosphere, or maybe it was Cahya that brought it out of her. Her pale white skin clashed against the deep crimson and black tattoos of Athir's own body, for a split second Ocean imagined herself standing next to Athir in a deep crimson dress and he in a pale white suit, smiles on both of their faces. It was the first time Ocean had ever really thought about marriage, growing up it always seemed to be just one of the things foolish or weak willed woman did so someone would come along to protect them. SHe couldn't shake the thought though, which caused her heart to skip a beat as the overwhelming urge to kiss Athir swept across her senses.

Her thoughts were broken though by Cahya's words, "I want to be a referee, because then I can make up all my own rules." The boy was completely serious in this, despite the fact that everyone started laughing at his words, including Ocean. The rest of the meal went along smoothly, and once they had finished Quan sent the young boy upstairs to prepare for bed while the Geed went back into his living room to fall asleep watching whatever boring show he choose to spend his retirement watching. As Quan poured herself a glass of gungan wine, she offered a glass to both Ocean and Athir, Ocean refused due to drinking alcohol earlier. She wanted a clear head for the conversation she would be having with Athir on the way back to the ship. After a few more minutes, Ocean turned to Athir with a weary grin before heading off to get his jacket.

Just as the two old friends made to say their goodbyes before heading out, Cahya returned to say his goodbyes as well. "Bye bye Athir, goodbye Ocean." It was quite obvious the small boy was going to pass out in a few minutes time and that he was holding on only to see them off.

Ocean smiled as she helped Athir put his jacket on, before walking over to give Quan a kiss and Cahya a one armed hug. "I'll see you in the morning Cahya, first we all need a good night's sleep." Her smile faded as she noticed Cahya's spirits drop at her words.

The small boy didn't cry or argue, but he already knew, most likely overhearing her and Quan speaking earlier before dinner. "You're going to take me with you tomorrow aren't you?" Before she, or anyone, could offer an answer the young Twi'lek ran back up the stairs, Quan calling after him. Ocean turned to Athir, hoping to see him more confused than angry. Ocean knew she could talk to him if he was simply confused, but she doubted she would be able to handle it if he ended up getting angry with her.

There seemed little more to do before leaving, Quan offered them one less goodbye before running up the stairs to calm Cahya down and Ocean opened the front door to leave before offering any explanation to Athir about what had just happened. She wanted to wait until they were at least outside before any arguing could take place. She only made it a few houses down before her chest began to flutter and she started crying. It all hit her at once, how was she going to convince Athir to help her raise a child that wasn't theirs? How would she be a good mother? How would she keep Athir from simply leaving her? That last thought hurt her more then anything, and the earlier thought of crimson dresses and white suits shattered her heart all over again. She knew Athir would be right behind her, waiting for some sort of explanation but all she could do was fall to her knees and sob. It felt like she was losing Yangchen all over again, only this time she felt like she was losing Athir instead.​

 

[Hol Horse]

"Let me tell you one thing kid, the first rule is there are no rules" the smuggler said with a small nod before placing a forkfull of food into his mouth and chewing thoughtfully. At least Cahya had a pretty sharp head on his shoulders, maybe he'd put it to use and make something of his life. Though, the zabrak laughed a bit like the rest of the people at the table, enjoying the mild respite he was getting, a welcome change compared to the belly of a cold and unforgiving ship. The night unfolded fairly uneventful from there. A few minor travelers tales were told, some sobering memories were shared, and at the end of it all Athir found himself sipping on a glass of superbly aged red wine. The smuggler closed his eyes as he sipped on the red elixer, its sharp taste waking him up a bit. That was good, he could use a good perk up before he began walking across the city back to the hangar with Ocean. He wasn't sure where they'd head next himself really, he'd leave it up to her for now.

The man slipped into his pilot's jacket silently as Ocean held it for him. He gave his goodbyes to the two hosts and watched as the Ratattki gave her farewells to the child who now stood on the stairs, looking at them. Athir's gaze was half asleep by now though, the warm red wine dulling his senses, so when Cahya said what he did it more confused him than anything. What was the kid going on about? Athir's mind slowly began to work backwards, his eyes widening as he started to see the bigger picture. Ocean wanted to bring Cahya with them? Aboard the Otho? Had she gone mad? The zabrak's confusion morphed into a deep frown as his initial reaction became one of disapproval. They had bedded together many times, but Ocean was as barren as a desert- although he had originally thought this to be for the better given her condition and their free spirited habits. Now though, the smuggler found himself looking at his partner with a mixture of confusion and scorn as, for the first time in years, he didn't know what was going on in his other's head.

Athir bid Quan farewell before stepping out into the night sky of Naboo, he zipped up his jacket as the brisk wind picked up a tad. The two of them had a lot to discuss. Still, the solemn and silent cloud that hung to Ocean unsettled him a bit, he hadn't seen the woman this in thought before. After the door closed, he spoke though, "No children. The boy would be dragged into danger and death" he started. Had she not thought of the bigger picture? If Cahya were to come with them both their entire lives would change, not to mention become more dangerous. Sure he could supply for all three of them in spades, his line of work was a fortuitous one, but with that wealth came great risk and danger. The Twi'lek would only be in the center of the crosshairs if he came. Athir wouldn't let such a target exist for him or for the boy. No matter what Ocean thought.

Still, the sight of his other half crumpling down into a sobbing mess on the cobblestone floor changed that feeling almost entirely. The man was surprised at the pitiful sight, how the white skinned Ratattki was a far cry form her original nature. After a minute or so of letting her wollow there in misery, Athir sighed, knowing that he couldn't let her suffer like this. "You've got too big a heart, you know that?" he stated, walking forward and taking off his jacket before placing it over her shoulders to warm her up. Naboo could get chilly at night after all. Ocean would feel a warm embrace enveloping her, the feeling of the zabrak's double hearts pumping rhythmically against her white skin, the feeling of his nose burrowing into the crack of her neck. Athir closed his eyes as he gave the woman a deep hug, pausing as he pulled Ocean into the warm embrace. Slowly, he would stand up, holding the white skinned woman tightly but gently as he did so until the two were standing alone in the dark streets once again. The zabrak for a time would stay like this without speaking, holding the woman in a deep embrace and feeling her tears on his shoulder.

"5 years we've been partners, and I've trusted you every step of the way. Lo and behold, neither of us are dead yet" he said with a small smile, softly speaking into her ear. They had been on a hell of a ride. "I know you better than anyone in the galaxy maybe, I could describe you to anyone just from memory. Both with and without clothes" he said with a small smirk before continuing, "I'm sure that whatever this is you've got a good reason for it, and if this is really what you want, I'll be with you every step of the way. Just tell me what this is all about. Okay?" he spoke calmly, trying to sift through his feelings and find his inner middle ground. Athir pulled his head away from the crack of Ocean's neck and gave her a slow kiss on the lips, holding it for just a touch longer than usual, before pulling away to let the woman give her side of this rather complicated story.

 

[Undine]

He didn't understand, Ocean knew he wouldn't, for all the love her heart had for him Athir was still a child in some ways. Still, he had a point and it wasn't like Ocean hadn't expected this, quite the opposite really, she had expected this exact situation. Cahya was her son, far more so than the son of the fat bastard that had paid double just for Yangchen to agree not to use a rubber. Ocean had expected more of a fight though, expected Athir to push and argue the issue, but he didn't. Instead, all he asked for was an explanation, and as Ocean wiped away her tears and turned to face the cheeky devil, she'd give him just that. "I loved her you know, before I was with you, she and I were lovers. That boy is as much my son as he was her's by birth." Five years had come and gone and Ocean had barely even spoken about Yangchen, never even mentioning the boy. "I abandoned him and ran Athir, how am I supposed to be a mother when I abandoned my child?" She turned away from him, it felt wrong to be seen, her skin felt unclean. Her voice even cracked as she spoke, the words echoing her own broken heart.

She would never be worthy of a beautiful son like Cahya, part of her even wished Yangchen would haunt her for her crimes. Athir had shown more honor in a few mere sentences than she had in the last five sentences. He was not bound to this child, this child that was not his responsibility and to whom he'd been lied about. Ocean didn't understand, how was it the man before her wielded such a heart. "Aithr, you are a good man, I won't pretend like I don't need you, even though I know I would survive, because I want you by my side. It's selfish I know-" She continued to speak as tears began streaming from her eyes once more. "-but I love you. Cahya is my son, I won't leave him. I'm sorry I never told you, I'm sorry I lied to you, please forgive me." The pale skinned woman held onto the Zabrak's jacket with a death grip, each word pleading him to listen, to stay, even if he didn't forgive her. Ocean needed him, she needed him in a way she'd never needed anyone else. She felt like she'd gone without oxygen for too long and had started to become lightheaded, as if the shame and fear had begun to physically weigh down upon her.

She cast her gaze to the cold stone of the walkway beneath her robe, relinquishing her grip on Athir's jacket before she stood up and turned from him. She wouldn't wait ti here what he'd say, in truth she wasn't sure if she could bare it, the stress of everything had made her heart hurt and she felt week in the knees. Perhaps it was just her nerves, but she took a couple steps away from Athir before falling to her hands and knees and vomiting everything she'd just eaten. She knew Athir would attempt to help her and she put up a hand to stop him, the last thing she needed was more of his kindness when she already owned him so much she'd never be worthy enough to repay. It wasn't that she was mad at him, if anything she was in awe, but she didn't want him to look at her, meeting his gaze would only cause her to burst into tears all over again. She was already making enough of a mess of herself as it was. Instead Ocean pulled herself together and stood once more, content to stand silent by Athir's side till he refused her outright.

For the most part Ocean didn't want to talk anymore, but she couldn't help herself. Finally turning to face him her lungs shivered as if all the air inside them had fanished and she'd been left breathless. Her stomach flipped again but had nothing left within to send her two her knees reaching once more. She finally said it after about fifteen seconds after the tears began anew. "Athir, I'm so sorry." And that was it, she managed to remain standing this time, but there was nothing left of hr emotional fortitude to pretend like she knew what she was doing. She was scared of motherhood, scared that Cahya would hate her, still scared that Athir would leave her or worse yet force her to choose between him and the boy. As much as she told herself she'd choose Cahya, that she owned that and so much more to Yangchen, Ocean honestly wasn't sure if she could choose her own son over Athir and that scared her most of all.​

 

[Hol Horse]

Well, his assumption had been right, the whole situation was complicated to say the least. There was a tumult of emotions that throttled the zabrak as he considered what he was being told, he wasn't sure how to describe them in all honesty. He had always known Ocean to be a free spirit, as comfortable with a woman's touch as with a man's. That had never bothered him, she was her own woman and he his own man. In a galaxy where free spirits like her seemed all the more exceedingly rare, he always held a profound respect for the white skinned woman. Still, learning that the child, Cahya, was Ocean's made him feel a bit queasy. She had never told him of her history with Yangchen nor her pregnancy before the two departed naboo. Ocean was desperate for answers to questions that Athir himself didn't even know how to deal with. He wasn't a father figure, in fact he had been anything but for most of his life. All he had cared about was getting rich or dying in the process, sure it had worked but he hadn't changed all that much in the 5 past years as a result, save for being more tired and dead inside.

"I-I don't know, okay? I don't know what I'm supposed to say" he said as she turned away from him. Everything had changed now that he knew the child was hers. He still stood by his earlier statement, that bringing him would sooner put him in an early grave than give him a long and happy life. Hell, how could he make some kid happy when he couldn't even do that for himself? Money wasn't a problem, he made more than enough off contracts for that, but the life of fear and always looking over your shoulder- it took years off your life, it had for him at least. Could he really knowingly let a child like Cahya into that world? As much as the man's head said no, but the zabrak's two hearts beat to an opposite drum, one that only grew as Ocean spoke again, commending his 'honor'. For all his doubt and mounting fear about himself and the prospect of a foster child, the sight of Ocean breaking down into a sobbing mess made him feel even more torn up inside. Her usually calm or smiling mouth, her eyes of excitement and optimism, all of it now seemed contorted into a hollow and truly despairing face as she sobbed in front of him. "I'm not good" was all he could stammer out, it wasn't exactly poetic, but truthfully he couldn't think of anything else to say, he still felt in shock as he had a few minutes ago.

She gripped his pilot's jacket like a woman posessed, a streak of desperation and utter misery piercing deep through his eyes into his soul as she sunk down to her knees. Throwing up their dinner onto the cobblestone streets of naboo, the zabrak felt as though he were in a surreal and horrifying dream. What was he supposed to do? What could he do? What should he say? It was a tumultuous storm of moral and emotional questions that ran rampant in his head, causing him to stand there still somewhat with a stunned look on his face as he watched Ocean meekly turn into a wretched shade of her former self. His green eyes were trained on the woman as she stood there next to him. Completely silent, still as a grave, she looked more like a marble statue than a living being. It broke his heart, more than any spice addiction ever could. After the two stood there for a long time, simply letting the chirping crickets be the only sound, she finally spoke four simple words.

Athir closed his eyes and sighed, breathing in the warm nabooian air as he let his mind settle. After what might have seemed like a second eternity, he spoke again. "Do you remember the day we met? In the market? I had just finished a deal and was wandering the streets when I felt something pulling me as I walked" he said, still keeping his eyes closed as he spoke, his mind's eye recreating the fateful day. "As I walked, I felt it grow stronger and stronger, I had to know what was around the corner and, when I finally reached its source, I saw you for the first time" he said with a faint smile as he paused for a moment. "Even though that marketplace might've been crowded, and hundreds of people around us. It only felt like the people there were you and me. From the moment I laid eyes on you, I felt something I hadn't in years: I felt home" he said, finally opening to gaze back down at the Rattakki woman who had been his other half for nearly five years now.

"The only thing that mattered more to me from then on than getting rich, was being with you- I know it sounds kriffing ridiculous but, even if I just knew you were around, I suddenly felt warm and happy. It was like sitting or being with you was a warm blanket. Sure the sex was a good motivator early on, but, over time, things changed..." he started, gently tracing his ndex finger down her collarbone to help soothe her a tad and calm her heartbeat. "For all the deals gone wrong, the gunfights, the risky escapes- nothing was more important to me than being able to make it home, sit down next to you, and just talk. Just being near you made me feel alive, unlike out there, in the real world. Slowly, over time, I did more than fall in love with the fountain dancer known as Ocean, I fell in love with the amazing woman who is my second half from this life to the next" he said with a small smile. Such sentimentality was uncommon for him, it was a good thing he had been saving it up for moments such as this that demanded it.

Still, he was belaboring the point. It was cold out here, and they had a walk home to make. "Ocean, I love you. I'm not leaving you, I never have and never will. You don't need to ask for my forgiveness, you already had it from the start. I don't know the first thing about being a foster dad, but for you, I'll learn quick. I could be the richest man in this kriffing galaxy and it wouldn't mean a damn if you weren't happy. Let's bring you-" he started before catching himself and rephrasing his words as he tried to get used to the idea of Cahya, "Let's bring our son home with us tommorow morning" he said, stepping in to wrap his arms around Ocean and, perhaps in the heat of the moment, passionately kissed her with as much emotion, love, and care as one could possibly muster in a single display of affection. His arms tightened around her waist as he deepened the kiss, the action sealing his decision and resolve on the issue... Even if it got her puke smeared on both their faces...

 

[Undine]

The white skinned woman stood there in the undercast glow of the faded streetlight on the corner just in front of her best friend's home. She listened to every word the Zabrak spoke, intently waiting for his words to fail her heart and for his touch to fade from her body. It never came, instead a new sensation of warmth spread throughout her body. Ocean looked up into the eyes of the man so intimately close to her, allowing all of her fears fade into his gaze as he moved to sooth her with his touch, his embrace, and lastly his kiss. She met him with the same level of passion and hunger he pushed against her with. They broke from each other as thunder shattered the skies overhead, a light rain in it's wake. Ocean could have swore Athir hadn't even blinked at the flash of lightning, even though she knew he must have done so at the same time she had. She finally spoke his name, but this time it felt different somehow, must be love, she thought, the idea of it causing her heart to beat harder. "Let's go home Athir." She spoke softly, but even as the rain threatened to drown out her words she clung to him as if he'd keep her from growing cold during the trip back.

For the most part the rest of the walk back to the starport was uneventful, though they did pass through the same street that housed the market place they'd first met in. While neither of them made to stop due to the rain, Ocean turned to look towards the fountain she'd danced on that day. Autumn days filled with the warmth of the Naboo sun and summer nights cooled with the ocean's breeze filled her memories with images of girls dancing all up and down the streets, friends old and forgotten, since remembered, and the music that drowned out everything else. Ocean nearly swooned to the rhythm of a faraway song she no longer knew the words to, then, through it all, the sound of someone laughing rang out above it all, the joy of Yangchen's voice finally made the dying woman stop, her drying tears mixing with the rain as she was drawn back into reality. She pulled herself deeper into Athir's embrace, letting the sound of Yangchen's voice ring through her memories as she continued walking with Athir, refusing to stop or be delayed. For some reason, the song she remembered Yangchen singing was one where the singer sang of watching the troops march off to war and the betrayal of lovers, and yet, she felt almost as if Yangchen was happy with her.

Once they finally made it back to the ship, Ocean wasted no time peeling off her wet clothes, revealing herself to Athir as she moved to remove his jacket as she kissed him. They made their way into the bedroom where they'd spend the next few hours enjoying each other's embrace. Ocean would eventually sit back down on the bed in a dark blue silk robe, looking over at Athir ready to say just how much she loved him. She hesitated, the words never came, she'd already told him just how much she loved him and she knew she needed to say something else now more than ever. "Thank you." She reached for his hand, allowing herself to fall back over the bed as she laid on his legs with her right arm, holding him hand with her left. She didn't say anything else, there was nothing else to say. Everything she could have wished for had come true.​