In the Aftermath

[Phoenix]

Dak made his way toward the Wookiee's Wail back on Mandalore. His arm still hurt, but with the bacta having kicked in, he was certainly feeling better than before. His gear had all been cleaned up and set back to normal after the fight and he was glad to have a bit of time for R&R. Although he had another operation he wanted to run, the few hours of sleep on the trip back had been nice. But before he got around to that, he needed food, a bit of rest, and probably a much-needed conversation about… breakfast.

Speaking of breakfast, it was breakfast time, wasn't it? He paused mid-walk, frowning at the sun above and grinding his teeth together a bit. In truth, he wasn’t sure he was very hungry with the dread of this "lovely" conversation still hanging over his head. Perhaps it was time to take action about that first. How was it that he didn't care about jumping into a temple full of Jedi, but this was what bothered him?

He rolled his eyes, turning around and heading back in the direction he came, figuring Talia would have needed to go to the infirmary as well, and given that she hadn't been there when he was, he figured that was as good a place as any to start.

It was even busier now than it had been before. Troops were still pouring in from the lingering fights on Korriban, with a new ship-ful having just landed. He pushed his way past the bustling staff, squeezing through tiny gaps between desks and stretchers. He had half a mind to com her and ask where she was, but he figured a surprise would be... better.

 

[Sreeya]

The Darksaber had been a massive pain in the ass to obtain, and she could only hope it had been worth all the effort. Her arm had taken some heavy damage, and she had been afraid to take a look at it. She was covered in blood, though most of it wasn’t her own. Saber still in hand, she made her way over to the medical bay, promptly led to a bed where her armor had to be peeled off her injuries.

By the time Dak strolled in, she had a whiskey bottle in one hand, her left arm a complete mess from all the injuries. Bacta was being applied, but even then it was obvious she took some nasty damage. Talia glanced up at him, a look that could be applied to a deer caught in headlights on her face. She managed a half grin, “Hey… you doing all right?” She took another swig from the whiskey. She wasn’t one to have awkward encounters, but even she knew she abruptly ditched without an explanation. Despite all that, he was by her side in the throes of battle as always. He had kept his cool through it all, perhaps more than she had.

“Those explosives you planted were clutch. I thought we were trapped in there for sure,” What was she doing? Talia looked away from him and towards her arm, poking at the injury absentmindedly as pain throbbed there. She didn’t know how to bring up what happened, and she couldn’t explain it either. They hadn’t exactly communicated since outside of the mission orders and planning.

 

[Phoenix]

Dak quirked an eyebrow as he saw Talia's arm and the blood that seemed to be covering more than a few areas. He was standing there a moment as the rest of the medical crew bustled about, stepping to the side as someone walked by with a bandage. He could barely keep from laughing as she looked completely shocked and almost terrified to see him.

Perhaps he had the upper hand here, not that he would have known how to use that to his advantage if he'd wanted to. A smile slipped onto his lips as he wandered forward. Better than you, from the looks of it, he said, taking the bottle of whiskey and taking a swig of his own before handing it back. How are you? Took a pretty bad blow to the arm, everything okay?

He nodded as she mentioned the explosives. Glad we weren't, that would have been bad news and would have gotten us all killed so... I guess I'm pretty awesome, he said smiling and almost laughing at himself.

As the nurse left the room, Dak took a seat across from her, wondering how to broach a topic like this. Should he just ignore it? So, you gonna keep avoiding me? Only hang out when we're shooting people? he asked with a chuckle. He'd come to no longer be upset about what had happened, but some closure or clarity would have been nice.

 

[Sreeya]

Talia could tell he wasn't simply making conversation, he was genuinely concerned for her. She smiled at the thought, looking over at her arm, "I've been through worse. Half the time I come out of these things wondering how I'm still alive," She laughed with him as he mentioned how awesome he was. She was happy he took the step to crack the ice between them, though she couldn't tell if it was constructed simply within her own mind. Talia was about to mention some other boring topic when he cut right to the chase. Her eyes widened for a moment, and she realized she wasn't wearing a helmet. He was sitting right across from her and could see every emotion on her face.

"I... am not trying to avoid you.." She trailed off slightly, knowing fully well she was fibbing and wasting time, "And hey.. most of the time we hang out is shooting people," There was truth there. Their entire friendship had come from them doing countless missions together. Talia knew there was no escaping this conversation now. The nurse was gone, he was sitting right across from her, and she was in civilian clothing without a jetpack on, "Okay, you're right. That was pretty shitty of me. Normally I'm not that... well I'm much worse usually. With that..I just was a little spooked. I don't even know why. You only wanted breakfast and nothing more, but it just sounded...more than that," Talia sheepishly ran her hand through her hair, "I guess because I stupidly thought it felt like more. I'm probably not even making sense.."

Talia grimaced after the word vomit, disappointed in herself. She had no problem leading dangerous missions and taking on Dark Lords, but this was suddenly one of the most difficult tasks ever. She couldn't find the right words or explain herself out of this, "I guess I'm trying to apologize. That was a pretty shitty thing for me to do. I just haven't had much good come from pursuing...things..." She drifted off, hoping against hope he was better at picking up hints than she was at dropping them.

 

[Phoenix]

Dak wasn't exactly amused by the situation, but he also wasn't brooding about it either. At least they were getting to sit down and hash it out rather than have this lingering uncertainty any longer. Not that their conversation made a whole world of sense. She was saying a lot without saying a ton, and he was always the eloquent type... or not.

He listened intently to what she had to say, hoping to glean some insight from it. Much worse? he said with a smile that said she wouldn't be quite living that one down. He was feeling quite a bit better after her little word vomit and decided to take it as a good sign. I'll take that as a compliment, then. And apology accepted, I... uh... probably should have been more careful about... things... Oh yes, the descriptive terms that these two used were perfectly on point.

It was a little bit cute how she seemed to fidget about this whole thing. She was certainly a commanding and terrifying woman, but she was clearly out of her element here. It was at this point that he felt he had to ask the logical next question, though he wasn't sure he wanted the answer. So... did you mean what you said that you would want to... um, do that again? he asked. That wasn't probably the best way to put that, but he also didn't want to let on that there were actually some feelings involved somewhere in there.

I mean, I didn't think it went that poorly, he said with a weak chuckle, trying to deflect his own discomfort with humor as he often did. He couldn't just come out and say that he had feelings for her when she couldn't even handle getting breakfast. She probably would have taken a shot of ketamine right then and there.

I still think we make a pretty good team, I guess is what I'm saying, he said, now hoping that she would be able to appreciate not just what he was saying but the tone with which he said it.

 

[Sreeya]

He was seemingly just as bad at this as she was. He fumbled over his words, and it oddly made her feel better that she wasn't the only one unsure about everything. As he asked about doing whatever again, Talia chewed on her lip. She was nervous, but she quickly laughed it off, "I had a lot of fun, so I'm always game," She grinned at him coyly, though her mind was elsewhere. He had looked at her in a particular way that was forever seared into her mind. It was something she couldn't shake off, and it was only amplified by him jokingly accusing her of looking at him the same. Why was she so hung up on it? Why did it bother her so much?

Talia applied some more bacta to her arm, "We do make a good team. You've always had my back," She glanced up at him, "I know I've jokingly said it a few times, but I really do trust you with my life. I can walk into any battle blindly without worrying when you're with me," Talia rolled her eyes, "I'm not trying to kiss ass here, but I mean it. You were there for me despite me...abandoning you on a kriffing roof," She had a hard time keeping the grin from her face.

She fidgeted uncomfortably for a moment before finally managing a smile, "Why don't I make it up to you by getting breakfast with you now?" This all felt different. She knew things weren't exactly the same as they had been between them. Something was off, something had changed, and she couldn't place what it was. She had run from emotions and feelings for as long as she could remember. Ral had changed that for her, but even then there had been something missing. She had always considered Dak nothing more than just a good friend, and in the past she had been able to have intimate relationships with people that never ventured out of the realm of friendship. Dak, on the other hand, was straddling this obscure line she hadn't even known existed for her. With him, things weren't so binary and that fact made her both curious and uncomfortable.

 

[Phoenix]

Dak gave her an "angry" glare as she laughed about leaving him on a rooftop. Yeah, and I didn't have a jetpack either. I had to break into the building and walk down all those stairs... he complained. He could tell in her demeanor that this was making her uncomfortable as well, so the best thing he could think to do was treat this like he would have any other time. He shrugged. I've always got your back, he reassured. He wasn't going to be all love-dovey with her or anything of the sort so that was about all there was to say.

So, he nodded at her suggestion of breakfast with a lopsided grin on his face. Alright, sounds good then. I was heading to the Wailing Wookiee, unless you had another suggestion. It was a local restaurant frequented by many of the soldiers in the Dominion and they actually had a relatively decent breakfast.

When he was satisfied that she had dealt with her injuries properly, he set off toward the restaurant. So you got all cut up back there, I don't suppose you'd have it in you to head out to Korriban with me? he asked, that typical mischievous tone in his voice that he always got before they got shot at. I figure there're still a lot of ops being run out there and you know how I hate just sitting around.

The door to the "restaurant" slid open and they were greeted by a location that actually wasn't as terrible as its name. Large windows lined the entrance wall with a balcony and small bar area off to the right. Orders were taken at the counter and the food was brought out. Dak ordered a plate of eggs, bacon, and potatoes and waited for Talia to order before taking a seat. Don't you want something a little less whiskey this early in the morning? he asked as he took a seat and thought back to the whiskey. Not that I'm opposed to drinking that... is how I got in bed with you in the first place ...well, anyway, probably should get something more proper for morning drinking now that we're not taking shots to suppress pain, he said with a grin.

 

[Sreeya]

Talia followed him to the restaurant, simply grinning at his words without offering much in return. Truth was that her mind was still elsewhere, and she didn’t want to let it simply slide. She ordered a plate of biscuits and Bantha sausage gravy, moving to sit across the table from him, “I’m always up for a fight, you know that. I’d love to be involved in Korriban. Ever since Ral died, we’re kind of operating without any real direction….not that we had much with him,” She shrugged. Despite her own history with him, she couldn’t deny that he had been a poor leader.

She laughed at his comment about the whisky, ordering herself a mimosa, probably one of the few times she drank something girly. Talia thought for a long moment before looking at him, “Dak…I really am sorry for what I did. I know you seem fine with it, but I can’t explain why that came over me,” She drummed her fingers on the table, looking down, “I suppose things have somewhat changed between us. Changed in a way I didn’t anticipate..”

Was it his turn to bail? She knew when people said these kinds of things to her, her first thought was to run for the hills. She had never known Dak to be someone that ever really meddled with feelings. He was private about his love life thus far, though she knew he had the occasional fling here and there, “I sometimes wonder if there’s more to life than just fighting and going into battles until one of them kills us. What happens when the Sith are finally defeated and we have nothing to fight?”

 

[Phoenix]

Dak ordered a screwdriver for himself as the food arrived and he took a bite, pausing and chewing tensely as she returned the conversation to what had happened between them. He had thought she wouldn't want to talk about it anymore, and he felt like he was walking on eggshells. But then, maybe it was best to figure out this stuff now.

His face turned a bit more sober, as well as his voice, lacking the typical dismissive and joking tone he usually had on serious topics. It was a defense mechanism and he hoped that letting it down wasn't going to get him shot through the heart. It's okay, Talia, he said, reaching up to scratch his head. I've had some flings before, but... I don't know, this didn't really... feel like that. We've got a history together, which makes it different. But I don't want to ruin our... dynamic, you know? But I also... ...what could he even say? He had feelings for her? ...I don't know, you're probably my closest person in my life, he admitted, hoping that wasn't going to get him into any sort of trouble for saying it. I didn't mean to freak you out or anything like that, though.

He turned his thoughts to the future and shook his head, eyes staring off into the distance and obviously a million miles away. He brought his mind back, shrugging. I don't know, fighting was the only thing I was ever good at, he snort-laughed, even before I came into the Mandalorians, my dad found me fighting... almost got killed, he said, cutting himself off and realizing he was rambling.

Anyway, I don't know, I'm not sure I can really "settle down." Probably bounty hunt or contract after the war's over until I get too old or I run out of luck. What about you? You gonna find somewhere to settle down? He kept moving through his food as they talked, listening to her comments on both topics.

 

[Sreeya]

“Closest?” She gave him a grin, “Sometimes I feel like I’m the only person in your life. You hide out from people,” She took the time to eat while he spoke, internally marveling at how delicious it all was. Talia nodded at his words, “Right, we shouldn’t let our dynamic be changed at all. It might mess things up on the battlefield,” She missed reading him entirely, only going by what he told her. Subtlety wasn’t her forte.

As he talked about settling down, Talia shrugged, “I did for a little bit when I wasn’t Mand’alor anymore. Even then, I was very restless. I don’t think I could ever be a farmer like my father, but I also don’t know how much longer I want to keep risking my life,” She recalled back to when Dak had helped rescue her father. He had been with her for many moments in time where she had been truly afraid.

“You’re an incredible friend, Dak,” She smiled as she took another sip of her drink, “I don’t want to lose that just because of the occasional….post battle celebration,” Talia laughed then, much more light-hearted than she was before. Talia finished her meal and put down a stash of credits on the table, “On me. I have a debt to pay off for leaving you on the roof like that,” She glanced at him, “What do you want to do on Korriban?”

 

[Phoenix]

Dak naturally began to get offended by her insinuating that he had no friends and then had to stop short. It was actually relatively true. He didn't like people all that much, so he had few that he spoke to outside the battlefield. Except Talia, it seemed. Okay, fair... he conceded begrudgingly. He realized as she continued on that she might not have picked up on what he had meant. Still, the comment about their friendship managed to make his heart skip a little.

Battlefield... yeah, but also, well you're my only friend as you so generously pointed out. So I don't want that to end. But I also really... um... care for you? So don't go out getting killed on me or running into hordes of Jedi, because I'm the one that's going to have to drag your sorry butt out, he said, trying to lighten the thoughts a little bit.

He ate up and finished his drink with a smile and made no objection when she offered to pay. You better not leave me on a rooftop ever again, he shot her a humorous "glare" as he said it, standing up to head out. Well, with all the operations being run out there, I kept my ear to the communications. Apparently a group of Dominion troops were caught out there, held up by some of the last Sith still on world. They retreated into some catacombs or some crap like that... caves or I don't know. Anyway, it's a combination seek and destroy and rescue mission. I thought about heading out there and seeing if I could organize an operation to flush them out. Maybe get my hands dirty, he explained.

Anyway Artee got the Revenge prepped if you want to come with me, he said. He'd had Artee, the astromech get everything ready while he'd been puttering around the medbay and now at breakfast. You game? he asked, already knowing the answer and heading to the ship.