Ask Fire And Ice

[Altair Din]

Altair stiffened slightly as she spoke, pausing before he took a drink. His gaze remained trained ahead of himself, an icier bearing appearing on his face. So she thought his ambitions were something recyclable? If not him, then some other idiot would do it? He was just the lesser evil because of his compassion? For some reason, it almost sounded like weakness. As if the difference between him and past Emperors would be that anyone could walk all over him. That he would always show mercy.

“I will be different,” He stated flatly, his gaze still fixed ahead. He didn’t elaborate on what that meant. But he knew in his heart it would be something that would forever set him apart from anyone before him. He would reshape the Empire in ways that hadn't been done before. He would ensure his name would be one that got passed down for generations. They sounded like silly, lofty goals. But they were promises he made to himself. Promises that felt too dangerous to share.

Altair didn’t react outwardly as Clove went on to explain about how her neutrality would intervene with things. So her leaving the Jedi ultimately made no difference. Their paths would always lead them back to that same limbo they always hovered in. One he found exhausting by this point. He inhaled deeply and exhaled softly through his nostrils, “Don’t worry,” He brought up his drink to take a sip, “I don’t think that’ll be a concern,” He said curtly, a frosty edge to his tone.

Without continuing on the topic, Altair sat there in silence for a moment, quietly sipping from his drink. He appeared to be deep in thought, his demeanor suddenly more akin to the reserved and almost terrifying poise that Holonet constantly raved about. Altair didn’t even know he was presenting as such, his thoughts a million miles away from where he was. He threw back the rest of his drink before he turned to move out of the hot tub.

“Come on, let’s grab some food.”

@LilyNion

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

Clove's confusion grew as the Tiefling grew colder and colder, becoming the man who walked away from her on that space station. And she couldn't figure out why. Didn't she tell him she'd support him, that he'd make a good emperor, and that she'd accept him even if he did some hurtful things? So why did he suddenly turn away from her?

His promise that he would be different puzzled her even more. Of course he'd be different; wasn't that why she'd supported him in the first place? Hadn't she praised him for his concern for the Imperials back at the camp, telling him that the galaxy needed more commanders like him?

It wasn't until he casually mentioned it wouldn't be a concern that she felt a dagger stab her in the chest. Why wouldn't it be a concern? Was this him declaring coldly that they wouldn't be friends in the first place? Sure, she expected that to irritate him, but he didn't even react to it, aside from pushing her away completely?

She stared at him in silence, dumbfounded by what was happening. The way he sat there, staring at nothing while sipping his drink, gave her the wrong kind of goosebumps. Was this how he looked on the battlefield? Was this how he instilled fear in the hearts of so many people? But this wasn't a battlefield. And she wasn't his enemy.

"No." She stated flatly. "What the sugar happened? You suddenly shut down the door in my face. Did I say somethin' wrong? Because if yes, we are discussin' it rather than lettin' it fester between us until we don't talk for ages again." She was more than willing to climb out of the tub and block his path. She wasn't about to let whatever it was ruin their otherwise perfect day. Not especially when they were trapped together in a ship bound for his home planet. They were so close to repairing their connection, and she refused to give up now. "Talk to me, Altair."

---

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tag @Sreeya ​

 

[Altair Din]

Altair expected the conversation to end right there, but he paused when he heard her speak. Her tone was almost stern and it was enough to give him pause. He turned to look at her and slid back into the water. Perhaps in the past he would have brushed it off, but he was not that boy anymore. There was no anger on his face when he looked at her, but it was clear he was taking this seriously.

“You make it sound like my ambitions are a joke - like it’s some revolving door and I’m just the next moron choosing to walk through it,” He said icily, “And…” He scoffed as he shook his head, “You tellin’ me you gotta be neutral and keep everythin’ with me on the downlow - How did you think I was gonna take that? Because if we were ever together I’d never hide you. But you, Clove? Once again you’re somethin’ else before you’re Clove. Back then it was Jedi first, Clove second. Now it’s Star Guardians first, Clove second.”

He rolled his eyes, “It’s always something, ain’t it?” Altair paused before he spoke again, “I ain’t doing this. We’ll be friends and there won’t be any drama if it never goes beyond that. So we'll never have concerns with your precious brand name bein' ruined or coming under fire. Does that answer your question?”

@LilyNion

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

Seeing Altair slide back into the tub was enough for her to resume breathing and clearly calm down. She, like him, didn't seem angry or upset, just incredibly confused and determined that this didn't turn into a big deal.

Then he began to speak, demonstrating how much they misunderstood each other regarding his ambitions. But then he went on, throwing in her face how she wasn't Clove first. It irritated her, especially when he rolled his eyes at her. And she couldn't keep her ears from drooping slightly with an irritated twitch. Nonetheless, she took a deep breath and began to speak.

"Your ambitions aren't a joke an' I apologize if I phrased myself incorrectly an' gave you that impression. You are not the next moron who decides to walk through it. I think your ambitions are fantastic an' I believe you can make a massive difference for the Sith, one that the entire galaxy will remember for the rest of eternity. That's what I meant when I said I'd rather it be you in a galaxy where war never ends. Because you are NOT the moron who makes his way to the throne. You have a plan, you have ambitions. You can make a change an' you can make a difference." Clove shifted in the water. "When I said the galaxy needed more commanders like you, I meant it. An' it's the same idea. The Sith needs a leader like you." She fiddled with the hem of the porg shorts ever so slightly. "Altair, I think you'd make an excellent emperor. An' it was never my intention to make you doubt that."

"That said. No, I didn't expect you to enjoy hearin' that." The irritation began to flicker in her eyes. "But you know, I am Clove an' I am a Star Guardian. It's not Star Guardians first, Clove second, or Clove first, Star Guardians second. It's both at the same time. But..." Clove let out a deep sigh, her gaze softening ever so slightly. "That's not your point, is it?" Her lips formed a faint smile. "So... how do you think we'd go about doin' that? Let's say we figure out the two of us work together an' we do it, right? Let's say I can avoid upsettin' the galaxy an' the Star Guardians aren't an issue..." Because, in theory, her love life should not interfere with her neutrality. Because, unless she marries a neutral commoner, her love life would always clash with the Star Guardians. So perhaps she should learn and demonstrate to the galaxy that her personal life and the Star Guardians are not the same. And it went deeper than just Altair. Her best friends were Jedi. Was she not allowed to be near them because her company declared neutrality? Or was it the opposite; could she be in love and friends with whoever she wanted because of her neutrality? Her eyes widened as she realized. "... Okay. You know what! Screw it! The Star Guardians shouldn't be an issue because I should be able to hang out with whoever I want as a neutral. That's the entire point! Because it's all neutral, I can love a Sith, be friends with a Jedi, an' help the New Republic! Screw all of that, you are right!" She shifted closer to him, her eyes wide with excitement.

"So... When you become Emperor, the entire galaxy will be watchin' you. An' they'll look for ways to harm you. An' when they find out they can't touch you, they'll go for the thin' you love most. That's why politicians never talk about their families an' loved ones because it's free ammunition, right?" Her brow furrowed, a worried expression on her face. Not because she was concerned about her own safety, but because she was concerned about his. "How are we goin' to do it? Let's say I'm the person you love most. How do we make sure that I don't become a weapon against you?"

---

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tag @Sreeya ​

 

[Altair Din]

Altair wasn’t surprised he misunderstood her the first time around - it was a common theme with them. However, he was surprised when she implied that Star Guardians shouldn’t get in the way of things. It was a flip from her original sentiment, but it made sense. In order to be truly neutral, she could only associate with anyone truly neutral. The old Clove would have limited herself, but she had changed since.

He listened to her question. Likely unexpectedly, he almost looked amused. Altair sighed after a moment, “Clove,” He began, an almost sad smile on his face, “I have nine siblings and my ma and pa. I have many people I love more than anythin’ in the galaxy. I’ll do the best I can to protect ‘em, but I gotta trust in them to take care of themselves too,” Altair couldn’t help but grin at her, “Why, you want me to treat you like a damsel in distress?” He teased, leaning in a bit close, "Be your knight in dark armor?"

There were a lot of hypotheticals, especially considering they were just starting on the friends thing. Altair looked at her for a moment, brows furrowing a bit as he drew back, “Can you just be friends with me, Clove?” He asked her outright. He used to avoid these topics entirely and it got him nothing but drama.

@LilyNion

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

Clove was able to relax again after witnessing his entire behavior change and the ice melt away. It was just a misunderstanding, for the most part. The Star Guardians bit wasn't, but it did give her a revelation that seemed to calm things down. Why limit herself to loving nobody when neutrality can mean loving everyone?! And, for once, instead of turning it into a fight or ignoring it entirely, they managed to talk it out right away. They'd both matured a lot since that garden, hadn't they?

"Pfsh." Clove returned his smile, leaning slightly closer to him. "Maybe I do." She raised her shoulders innocently before giggling shortly. "But no, I don't want to be treated like a damsel in distress. Worst case scenario, I'd just need some additional trainin'." She danced her gaze away for a moment, debating how to even get extra training in such a situation. "But you are right! Trust the people in your life that they can handle themselves, and help them if they need help!"

When he asked if she could just be friends, her gaze returned to his. Her own face froze, and she seemed surprised for a moment. It was an unexpected question, and she would have preferred it if he hadn't asked it so soon. But he did, and she had to answer truthfully. "Long story short, yes?"

She shifted uncomfortably, sinking a little deeper into the water. As if the water were going to shield her from what she was about to say. "I... uhm. Okay, well, we might as well be honest, right?" she sighed. "The only reason I know I can just be friends with you is because losin' you is the worst outcome. Those months when I vanished? I know that on your end, I was gone. On my end, you were there. I saw your lifeless body on Dantooine over an' over... All while unable to help you." Instead of dragging out the story and changing the tone of their conversation, she decided to leave it at that. "That's partly why I've been so... determined to get you back in my life. Because I don't want to lose you again. An' if I can't be your lover, I'd rather be friends. Because that way, I can at least catch a glimpse of your smile every now an' then. An' well, the other part is that you are a great person to be around an' I love your company!"

Her cheeks started to burn brighter and brighter, all the while sinking deeper and deeper into the pool. Come on, pure honesty! "But if you were to ask me if just a friendship is what I want, the answer is no. Every... viber in my body is tellin' me to get close to you, to crawl on your lap an' tell you sweet thin'." She lowered her gaze for a moment, before looking into his eyes again. "I'm sorry. I wish I was less selfish." Clove gave him a faint smile. "But, uhm... long story short, yes. If that's what you want, I can just be friends with you. Does... that answer your question?"

---

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tag @Sreeya ​

 

[Altair Din]

Altair listened as she explained herself, his own mind wondering what he was capable of or not. The tiefling only grinned when she joked about being damsel in distress. A part of him couldn’t deny that he liked playing that knight role, but only when it wasn’t expected. He prided himself in liking women that could fend for themselves. While her friends treated her as if she were made of glass, Altair knew Clove was as tough as they came. He had never known her to back down from a challenge, which was more than he could say for most Sith.

He had a bit of a coughing fit when she blurted out what every fiber in her body told her to do. His own face flushed a bit, but he recovered quickly enough. Why was he so hesitant about any of this? She was here right now, and there was no Jedi or Sith complication anymore. Ultimately, his position only grew more powerful by day and it meant he would always make more enemies. There was no point to living in fear. What excuse did he have left? What excuse did she have? The tiefling calmly stared at her for a moment, his tail swishing back and forth to cause little ripples in addition to the jets.

“I wish you were that bold,” Altair said at long last. He stared directly into her eyes when he said it, a glint in his own. There was no smirk, no smile, just a calm intensity in the way he looked at her right then. He lingered there for a moment before he looked away, checking the chrono on his wrist.

“All right, we should get outta here.”

@LilyNion

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

Clove's cheeks, which were already a deep violet pink, turned an even deeper pink when she noticed Altair's gaze lingering on hers and the softness and intimacy his eyes carried. And his words... they circled around her head over and over. Was it because of his coughing fit right after she admitted what she wanted to do, adding weight to his wish? Or was she seriously considering being so bold? He was clearly giving her a sign because he wouldn't look at her like that otherwise, right? But what if it wasn't a sign? What if she misunderstood him? That wouldn't be uncommon.

But... what was holding her back? The Star Guardians weren't a problem, the Sith wouldn't care all that much, the Jedi weren't her faction and the galaxy? Well. That didn't bother her. No, as long as she acted neutrally as a Star Guardian, none of this would be detrimental to her. It would only bring her happiness. Such an insane amount of happiness at that. And didn't she deserve to be happy after all these years of fighting? Couldn't she take just once after all these years of giving?

Then again, she was still unsure if it was a genuine sign or if she was seeing ghosts. What if she did it and it turned out he didn't want it? Would she just casually destroy everything they had just rebuilt? On a day when they said they'd just try to be friends? And would this be a one-time-only thing if he didn't actually want to date her? Could she live with the possibility of that?

He looked away at his chrono, stating they should go. But I instead of standing, Clove took a deep breath and moved closer to the Tiefling, her gaze fixed on him. "What if I were that bold?" she asked, trying not to sound as insecure as she felt. Her fluted ears were dancing up and down as she gave him a shy smile, her hands clearly nervously fiddling with whatever fabric they came across. Still, she drew closer, her eyes lifting to seek his violets. "Would you say no?" Her voice became almost whisper-like.

And if he didn't say no or stop her right away, Clove would take another deep breath before carefully crawling up his legs, until her knees were resting beside his hips and she was sitting on his lap.

---

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tag @Sreeya ​

 

[Altair Din]

He was preparing to once again move and get out of the tub when Clove’s demeanor changed entirely. She suddenly looked shy and nervous and he quirked a brow as if to question why. In no universe could he have predicted what was going through her mind. He remained frozen in place as she started to move towards him, his confused expression changing to one of surprise. His eyes grew wide, but he still didn’t move.

“I..” He began and trailed off. He knew he wasn’t on any hard spices this time - this was definitely happening. Altair saw the way her ears betrayed her nervousness and his tail did the same, splashing around erratically. He had to actively stop his tail from going out of control, his heart beginning to pound against his chest. He was a god damn Sith Master and Imperial Commander. How did she manage to reduce him to some boy that hadn’t even kissed a girl for the first time?

Altair felt her slide onto his lap, her face now much closer to his, her chocolate eyes meeting his own. The tiefling didn’t move initially, stiffly sitting there with his arms not budging from where they were. He actively kept from letting his gaze drop, painfully aware of how little she was wearing.

“You..” She had called his bluff and now he was caught off guard. However, he wouldn’t run from it. Altair’s arms finally moved, one of his hands tracing gingerly up her back while the other rested along the side of a leg. He stared into her eyes, his tail once again moving erratically, “Are you…sure?” He asked quietly, “You been drinkin’..” Altair reminded her. He knew she was pathetic when it came to drinking and he wouldn’t do anything if she wasn’t completely in. All of this was far bolder than he was used to from her. But then again…this is also the Clove that grabbed a mic and sang him a diss track.

@LilyNion

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

She was surprised that he let her crawl on his lap, but she was pushing through and committing. For a split second, she didn't know where to put her hands, if she was sitting comfortably, or if she should look into his eyes or take a closer look at his chest now that she could, in bright light no less. It was fair to say; Clove had no idea what the hell she was doing and she hadn't thought this far ahead. But she ended up staring into his unending violet gaze, raising her hands to cup his jawline and gently stroke his stubble with her thumbs.

"Mhmm, I'm sure." She said with a warm smile and a slight tilt of her head. "I only got one drink!"... A drink containing white rum. And she already got drunk after a few glasses of champagne. Still, despite the fact that she was possibly a little tipsy, she knew she wanted this not because of the alcohol. But because she'd been fantasizing about this moment for ages. "Are... you sure?" After all, he, too, had something to drink and had been smoking prior to their swimming session. And, well. She was interested in so much more than that; she wanted to know what this meant for him. But she also knew that bringing it up would ruin the mood, and deep down... she didn't care. No matter what his intent was, she wanted this.

Clove's gaze lingered on his for a moment longer before she shuffled closer to his chest and lowered her head, resting her cheek against his shoulder. And, as she pressed her body up against his torso, she moved her hands away from his razor-sharp jawline and down to his chest, until she was holding him by his sides. She had always imagined kissing him or doing something more dramatic the moment she could, but now that she was in a position where she could do whatever she wanted, all she wanted was to feel his body against hers, even if it was only for a few minutes. And, for the first time in a long time, she felt whole again.

"Hmmmm." She sighed happily, pressing her lips against his collarbone and kissing it lightly. "I promise I'll stop cuddlin' in a second." Her eyes were closed as she felt the warmth of his skin against hers.

---

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tag @Sreeya ​

 

[Altair Din]

Altair’s nervousness was broken when she asked if he was sure - sensing the concern about his own drinking. He actually chuckled a bit, thinking of how annoyingly quick his body filtered everything, “You ain’t gotta worry ‘bout me..” He said simply. Altair knew where he wanted this to go in more than just the physical sense. She didn’t bring it up, and neither would he. There was a sharp intake of breath from him as she leaned in close, her lips tracing along his collarbone.

“Fuck..” He muttered as his mind turned to mush. He had been here with Clove before, but he couldn’t imagine her ever taking the lead. His heart was thundering against the cage of his ribs, and his entire body was ignited on fire. The hot tub suddenly felt far too hot even for him, and he was embarrassed at how much his body was beginning to react to her doing something as simple as this.

However, when she spoke again, he scoffed a bit. Altair put his arms around her and held her close, “Didn’t your Ma ever tell you never to make promises you can’t keep?” He asked softly as buried his face against the crook of her neck. Altair exhaled softly and closed his own eyes, her smaller frame easily fitting against his rigid torso. His toned arms squeezed her tight, letting her nestle against him for as long as she desired. Despite his desires, he made it clear Clove was running the show here.

@LilyNion

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

"You are right. Cause I can't keep that promise." She burst out laughing. Because when he wrapped his arms around her, as if to take her away from the world, all she wanted to do was stay there. Right where she fit in better than anywhere else. So she decided to seize the opportunity and enjoy it for more than a second, even when she felt his body react and her own body, in return, react as well.

Still, after a minute or two, Clove began to lower her hands from his side before carefully sitting up straight again, all while trying to stay in his arms. When her gaze met his again, it was clear that this was all she needed; her eyes showed complete serenity and calm, combined with a desire for more. Her right hand reached up again, cupping his jawline, while her left hand traced down his chest, starting from his pecs and ending at his abs. "You are my entire world." She leaned in closer until their lips were almost touching. "And I've been so blessed to meet you." She closed her eyes after another second of staring into his, closed the space between them and gently brushed her lips against his. The warmth of his lips was enough to melt right away and crave more.

She leaned back slightly to look at him again after slowly removing her lips from his. Her eyes began to lower from his eyes to his jaw, neck, pecs, and abs, and then... she was met with a blurry view thanks to the water. Clove squinted briefly before looking around the pool area. And that's when she realized she wasn't as bold as she thought she was. Because an open pool area was... well, rather open. And chlorine water didn't exactly sound appealing.

Her gaze abruptly returned to Altair's, her lips curling up into a playful smile. "How about we take a shower an' wash off some of that chlorine?" She leaned forward for another, albeit shorter, kiss before crawling out of his arms and off his lap and attempting to stand as gracefully as she could. Once again, it wasn't smooth at all and she looked like she was about to topple over before she recovered. But she'd be damned if she didn't try to look graceful. She stepped over the edge of the hot tub and began to make her way over to the changing room, where she had noticed a shower cabin.

While walking ahead of Altair, the half-Annfyn reached for her bralette's hooks and unhooked the closures. She let the straps slide down her arms before allowing gravity do the rest. She gave Altair a single look over her shoulder before walking past the bralette and into the changing room.

---

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tag @Sreeya ​

 

[Altair Din]

Altair could have sat there for hours just holding her if that’s what she wanted. She fit against him perfectly and he felt a sense of ease he hadn’t felt in a very long time. His eyes were closed and his tail lazily moved to show his contentment. If he were a cat, he would be purring right then, his face happily buried against her skin. Altair was tugged out of this when she drew back a bit to look at him. He met her gaze, only to see it drop and roam over his torso. Was she…checking him out? The action was so surprising his eyes widened in shock, heat rushing to his face. It was funny - they had been intimate before, but she hadn’t actually seen him properly in the darkness and under the moon. He hadn’t thought about it then but this was the first time she was truly looking at him.

He looked at her again when she spoke, a smile gracing face, “Prolly a little cursed too..” He said teasingly before he met her lips with his own. He didn’t even realize how badly he had wanted this for so long, melting against her lips. His hand came up to gently curl into her hair, pulling her close. Altair had an almost comically dazed look on his face when she pulled away. When she suggested showering, he suddenly coughed.

“Uh…we? As in…together?” He muttered stupidly as he watched her get out of the tub. Normally Altair would have found this all funny with the shorts she was wearing, but he was entirely stunned to process everything that was happening. He followed her, his tail swishing back and forth while his eyes were wide. The moment she began to remove articles of clothing, he knew there was no ambiguity with her intentions. Altair knew exactly where this was going, and he wouldn’t get in the way of it.

–​

It was some time later, and they had ended up in his quarters. The Captain’s Quarters in this case was a luxurious suite with large windows that offered prime views of space. There was no rush or concern about getting Clove back home in time now. They took their time and Altair let Clove lead this time, giving her the chance to explore him however she wanted. He did the same in turn, letting his emotions weave into passionate lovemaking. It was exhilarating and different from their first time when they had both been different people.

He was lying on his side in the large bed, staring at Clove, the sheets messily strewn around them. Altair could only gaze into her eyes, his fingers lightly tracing along the side of her body. There was affection and tenderness in his amethyst eyes, his tail gently curled around one of her legs. He drew his hand back to grasp hers, bringing her hand up to kiss her knuckles.

“I wish it took longer to get to Bandomeer,” Altair said quietly as he gazed back into her eyes, a smile appearing on his face.

@LilyNion

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

Exploring Altair in such intimate ways was extremely new for Clove, and in some ways, it was almost scary because she had no idea what she was doing. And she loved every minute of it. And being the one who was explored and loved in return, experiencing all of these different feelings, added to the exhilaration. And, to top it all off, she actually saw Altair! It wasn't dark! Clove was blissfully happy by the time they arrived at the bed, her eyes and smile glowing radiantly.

Clove was lying on her side next to him, her head resting on one of the pillows, admiring the beautiful violet shades and small streaks of yellow in his eyes. There were so many things she wanted to tell him, to convince him that he was the most beautiful man in the galaxy and how much she adored him, but she couldn't find words strong enough to properly express her feelings. But w hile she lacked the words, every thought was clear in her soft and affectionate gaze. Her legs were curled up, Altair's tail coiled around one of them, and her hand was idly but lovingly tracing small hearts on his shoulder.

"Hmmm, I know." She spoke back quietly. "I was already thinkin' of ways to slow down the engines." While she was joking, she actually wouldn't mind staying in this room for many more days. But knowing they had at least one more night on the yacht gave them plenty of time to make up for the time they had lost together. She scooched closer to the Tiefling, pushing away some of the blankets in her path. She crawled up against his chest, tucking her head beneath his chin and resting her head against his pec.

"Can I stay here tonight?" She asked softly after letting out a comfortable sigh. "I know we still have to get dinner, but... after food!" Except for sleeping in the grass next to Xi, she'd never had a proper sleepover before. Let alone one with the man who held her heart. And the idea of not having to spend the night alone for once sounded incredible. "I don't think I snore, but mum claims I mumble in my sleep." Clove laughed softly, nestling her cheek closer against his skin.

---

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tag @Sreeya ​

 

[Altair Din]

Altair leaned in to kiss the top of Clove’s head as she drew close to nuzzle against him. She would feel the steady rhythm of his heart and feel the gentle rises and falls of his chest. It was almost enough to make her forget that this was a Sith Master that commanded thousands of Imperials and led war campaigns. He almost forgot that she was running something that meant meeting with the likes of Raze, Senators from all over the galaxy and the Grandmaster of the Jedi. It felt as if the rescue on Kashyyyk was decades ago when they were just two teens trying to get to know one another.

“You can stay as long as you want,” Altair said as he tilted her chin up so she looked at him. He leaned in to kiss her, never getting enough. He didn’t know what nonsense would pull them apart again or what would jolt him back to reality, but he wanted to prolong this moment as long as he could. Altair grinned at her, “I definitely snore sometimes,” He said. He knew he would snore with her because he was always exceptionally relaxed around her.

Altair quirked a brow as he looked at her, “I gotta say…you surprised me,” He said with a knowing smile, “I didn’t take you for the adventurous type,” He quipped, “I thought you’d be scared to even go near it,” Altair couldn’t help but snicker a bit, "Though hearin' a girl cry out "sugar" was definitely a first.." He gave her a firm squeeze before rolling over atop her. He entwined their fingers, pinning her hands by her head as he glanced down at her.

“Now I got you all to myself,” Altair said with a grin, “Don’t gotta have you home by midnight,” He flashed her a wink.

@LilyNion

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

Everything about the absolute normalcy of laying against his bare chest and hearing his heartbeat was exactly what she'd been longing for. While he was the Sith Master, Imperial Commander and Jedi killer, she couldn't help but see him as anything more than Altair. The man she loved so dearly, despite his job. No, not despite his job. His job shaped who he was. And in that moment, when everything felt so normal, so warm and perfect, she vowed to love every aspect of him, the good and bad while never losing sight of the good.

"Hmmm." Clove hummed satisfied at his response, a bright but lazy smile on her lips as Altair lifted her chin. She happily looked at him, trying to memorize every small detail of his features. The stubble, his hairline, the way his eyes had so many delicate colored stripes, each a different shade of violet or gold. She'd never want to forget him, or how beautiful he was. Once he leaned in, the half-Annfyn kissed him back, her own chest rising slightly as if her heart had wings. "Heh. You snore? That has to be cute." She laughed softly and tenderly.

That soft laugh turned into a snort when he recalled how she cried out sugar, right after 'complimenting' her boldness. She couldn't reply in time because the Tiefling rolled on top of her, lifting her hands above her head and pinning her beneath his large frame. Clove let out a sharp breath, the blush returning to her cheeks. But now, instead of feeling embarrassed or in danger, she seemed relaxed, if a little flustered. Whatever he had in mind, she trusted him completely. "I can cry out other thin' if you'd like?" She smiled amused as she tilted her head to the right, her gaze lingering on his. "But I must admit that "sugar" is my specialty."

The grin and wink, combined with his large frame on top of hers, caused her breath to hold for a moment. "Good. Because I don't want to leave." She paused, her cheeks turning a deeper violet. "I'm completely yours, Altair." Maybe it was the way he pinned her against her bed, or maybe it was because she truly wanted to be his and only his, but she meant every single word.

---

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[Altair Din]

It was Altair’s turn to get a flushed face when Clove casually remarked she could cry out other things. How Clove managed to constantly get him flustered like this was a mystery. She would see the purplish tinge to his cheeks, his tail flicking a bit. His expression warmed when she said she was completely his. He didn’t know if she was caught in the moment or meant it beyond that. Altair leaned in to capture her lips, taking his time kissing her.

His heart was racing as he drew back, staring into her eyes. He had thought about this for a long time. They had been through hell and back and now nothing stood in their way. He could become Emperor and she could pursue Star Guardians and nothing needed to get in the way. Altair smiled fondly down at her. He opened his mouth to ask her something he hadn’t asked another girl in years.

“Clove…will you be my-”

His comlinks began to beep out of control. Both his personal and work ones. The same would happen to Clove. The synchronized timing caught his attention and his brows furrowed a bit. Altair rolled off her and used the Force to pull his comlink to himself. While he normally wouldn’t allow the interruption, this sounded alarming. He looked at his screen, reading rapidly before his face fell.

“The ceasefire is officially over,” Altair said quietly. He had hoped that Mustafar was a one off attack. He knew there were random sporadic attacks and skirmishes here and there, but to have the ceasefire officially over meant that the war was back on in full force. Not only that, but multiple Alliance and New Republic worlds were also getting involved.

Altair sat on the edge of the bed, thinking about the implications of all this. All of Clove's credibility would go completely down the drain if she openly associated with him. He knew that. She knew that. The tiefling stared silently at the opposite wall for a long moment. He saw what happened to Sol. The moment his credibility was questioned, it tore him apart and he wasn’t seen since. He saw what happened to Celeste. Her credibility came into question after her former Sith affiliation was brought up on Holonet. Could he allow Clove to go through the same?

“Maybe I am Sith first…” He said very quietly after a long moment of silence.

@LilyNion

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

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As she lay beneath his frame, answering every kiss with a smoldering passion and love for the Tiefling, the words she had just spoken grew stronger in her mind. Her heart was burning for the man and only him, she was so certain of it. His warm expression, his tail flicking, even though she only saw it every few seconds between kisses, led her to believe that he, too, felt the same way. Perhaps he actually wanted her to be his.

Then Altair drew back, staring deeply into her eyes with a gaze she could drown in. She returned his stare, her lips curled into a bright and warm smile, her cheeks pushing against her eyelids. He then opened his mouth to say the words she had been dreaming of for a very long time.

Only, he never finished it.

Clove was so confused by his sudden stop that she didn't notice the datapads going off. All she could hear, sensitive as her ears were, was the blood loudly pumping. Clove didn't start to move slowly again until the Tiefling rolled off of her, at which point she became aware of the beeping from both of her datapads. With a frown, she grasped her bag through the Force and levitated it towards her, landing next to her on the bed. She took out her personal datapad and looked at what was important enough to wake her up from her dreams.

And then her stomach dropped.

Clove's body erupted in rage, strong enough for the Tiefling to sense without even trying. Her hand trembled around the datapad, the desire to smash it against the wall growing stronger. But that's exactly what broke her contact with Altair the last time. She couldn't, no, she wouldn't, lose control like that again. "Those idiots." Clove hissed loudly. Wasn't the death brought about by the Killiks bad enough? Were they so determined to fight that they couldn't wait a few months?! Clove closed her eyes and began to take deep breaths, reciting every single Jedi order mantra she was ever taught.

While it didn't work miracles, it was enough to cause the biggest rage spike to die down. If only because Altair was right there. She reopened her eyes and returned her gaze to him. The way he sat there, clearly thinking... any happiness they had felt vanished. She heard his whisper and, after another second of silence, shuffled over to sit next to him. Her gaze raised to him. "What's going through your mind..?" She had no idea where his thoughts were going, but his suggestion that he might be Sith first made her wonder if it was about the two of them. "Are you worried about the two of us now that the ceasefire has ended? Because... if yes... we can talk about it. Find a way to make it work. I want to make it work!" She extended her hand to take his. She wanted to say more, to call him silly for even suggesting he could be a Sith before Altair. He'd always be Altair first, even when he was commanding the Imperials in his armor. But she'd let it go, to give him the room to talk.

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[Altair Din]

Altair’s mind was racing and he felt a pressure in his chest. He was tugged out of his spiraling thoughts only when she grasped his hand. Altair turned to look at her, smiling sadly, “This is the part where you run away from me, Clove,” He told her, looking away again. He didn’t draw his hand away, but that weight on his chest didn’t ease off, “Alliance would pull funding and so would the Resistance,” Altair looked her in the eye, “You would lose credibility and you know it. We can’t just…do this in secret and live in shadow all the time.”

He knew it would drive him insane and he also knew it wasn’t sustainable. In the end, their work would intervene and ruin any real chance of being together. Altair was again silent, unsure of how to solve or fix this.

“There was a time where I was ready to run away with you,” Altair said quietly, remembering that night under the stars where he talked about leaving everything behind, “I don’t know if I can do that now,” He looked at her, “I don’t know if you can either,” Altair gripped her hand as if she would fade away if he let go, “How do we make it work?”

@LilyNion

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

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"No." Clove said with a more determined voice. "No. I do NOT want to run from you." She moved in closer, her gaze never leaving his. "They... they shouldn't. My relationship with you shouldn't- As long as the Star Guardians remain neutral and unbiased-" Kriff. He was right. They would pull the funding. No, the Star Guardians would not face problems per se, but those who despised the Sith would not accept Clove's personal life as such. And that'd hurt the Star Guardians enough to bring it to its knees. "I... I can show them that my personal life is not the Star Guardians! I..." Who was she kidding? They had already wined about Aezz and Celeste. Friends are one thing. Lovers? "... Kriff."

Clove's eyes closed for a second more, her chest pressing together, her lungs refusing to take deep breaths. Then he spoke again, forcing her to reopen her eyes and look him in the eyes. "We should've run away when we still could..." Clove returned his whisper. But he was right. He was committed to his mission, to become an Emperor. And she was committed to the Star Guardians. Both were fighting for dreams, both were passion projects that defined them to a T. "I know..." Her voice dropped to a whisper before she shook her head. "Surely there's a way to make it work. If we can't keep it a secret an' if we can't let go of our lives... There has to be another way. Maybe fake identities? No... No, lies will always be revealed one way or another. Hmmm. I can cut ties with the Resistance, Jedi, an' Alliance? But then the Star Guardians is basically useless..." Her voice trailed off, leaving her in silence for a moment.

"I fuckin' despise this!" Clove said in a louder tone, abruptly rising from his bed while holding onto his hand. "Why can't we just be happy!? Why couldn't the universe allow you to ask me to be your girlfriend?!" She looked at him with a clear look of anger and sadness in her eyes, while also screaming absolute panic. "Because I want to be your girlfriend! I want to walk by your side, I want to see you become an emperor. An' I don't want to let you down again! There must be some way to make it work!" She took a step closer to him, forgetting she wasn't wearing any clothes. "Maybe there's somethin' in the Sith order that can help us? Some Sith alchemy?! Or do you have any other ideas?"

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