Reflections

[Raz Solus]

It was done - they had forged an alliance. She didn’t quite know what it meant just yet. She had made an alliance with people that still hid in the shadows. Not too long before that, she found out Jedi existed again for the first time. Her world had been turned upside down and everything was moving at a pace she could barely keep up with. She still had an uneasy feeling about the alliance - mainly because she half expected them to use her clan as the meat shields. Raz made it clear if that began to happen, they would turn on the rebels. As of now, the commander couldn’t afford to do her or her clan wrong.

After the meeting, she had left on a positive note. She respected the Commander, despite him being an alien species. Raz found herself on Tatooine, wandering through some of the spaces where rebels frequented. The vast deserts reminded her a bit of parts of Concord Dawn, and she found the heat welcoming. Raz took in sight of the various species around here, having to look past her own prejudice. More and more she had to push those thoughts behind, especially as the clan was coming out of its shell and out into the galaxy.

Raz made her way over to a cantina, lively music playing. Several patrons looked up at her curiously, not accustomed to seeing full Mandalorian beskar’gam. Bounty hunters passed here now and then, but her armor was striking and prominent. She took a seat at the bar, ordering a local drink. Thoughts of the alliance were still on her mind, and she thought of the different attacks she could lead with rebellion help.

A bright blue drink slid her way and she lifted the visor just enough to sip at it. Raz felt uneasy being here alone, not accustomed to going places without her clan anymore. Back during her bounty hunting days, she had been alone almost all the time. Being without her clan reminded her a bit too much of what it felt like to have her village wiped out. Raz took another big drink, grimacing at how strong it was.

 

[The Eternal (?)]

Valentine didn't think he would be on Tattooine but here he was. With the Rebels recently acquiring it, he was tasked with blending in with the local populace and making sure the transaction went smoothly. Pirate attacks have been quite frequent across the galaxy, more than they already were, and Val wanted to play it extra safe as a hand on deck. There were Rebel sympathizers hidden amongst the small town, working out small deals with merchants or even underground deals to continue supplying their soldiers across the front.

Val just walked down through the streets of the sand city, his hood drawn as he just glanced around at each passing inhabitant. He was relatively relaxed, no reports of Imperials as of late and no pirates brazen enough to attack a city like this head on without serious firepower. Recently, the Mandalorians and the Galactic Alliance had become sword friends, partners in crime against the Empire as they worked together. It was good overall and Val was happy for it but it complicated things. What would that mean with him and Raz? Even he had heard the stories of Raz being called to be Mandalore of her people. The way they had left things off wasn't perfectly clear on what would happen in the future if there ever was one. It seemed a daunting task but if he knew someone could take it, it was Raz. Speaking of her, Val halted in his tracks as he felt a familiar presence not too far out.

Hearing the raucous from the cantina, Val wasn't surprised to find her there, a smirk touching his lips. Without much pause, he made his way to the cantina, seeing no reason with nobody under attack. Entering the establishment, it didn't take Val long to find her, standing out easily with her armor. He even noticed her signature seemed to be even brighter than the others in the bar, making him wonder what was the cause of that. Either way, Val made his way over to her, cutting through the light crowd to reach her. He stopped right behind, seeing her gulp down the liquid before catching the side of a grimace.

Val pulled the chair out next to her before sitting down, gazing forward as he spoke, "For how many times this happens, I'm starting to believe it's no longer coincidence Pip." He couldn't help but chuckle softly then, finally looking at her as his amber eyes locked where her eyes would be behind the mask. Whatever was making them meet randomly on different planets, he wasn't going to argue against it. Val then shot his eyes toward the glass before bringing them back to her, "If it's too strong you can tell them to put some pop in it." He shrugged his shoulders slightly before chuckling again, pleasantly surprised to see her again and what was becoming a reoccurring feeling.

 

[Raz Solus]

Raz was deep in her thoughts when someone came by to sit next to her. At first she thought nothing of it, but the familiar voice almost made her choke on her drink. She set the glass down and turned to look at Val, seeing that familiar shit-eating grin. Raz rolled her eyes and went back to drinking from her glass, “Nice try. You knew I was here this time,” It was he who brokered the meeting between Hugo and herself, and she had no doubts that the Commander had reconvened with Val after her meeting with him.

She finally took her helmet off, deciding there was no point in hiding her face. As he suggested diluting her drink more, Raz purposely ignored the comment. She didn’t know how she felt about him, and it frustrated her. Raz wasn’t used to being caught off guard like this. She had expected him to suffer through it too, but he seemed perfectly normal and his usual smug self. Perhaps it had all been in her head. She had seen him put on quite the show with that woman from by the embassy, so she wouldn’t put it past him to think nothing of whatever happened between them. She had been foolish to ever think otherwise.

Raz finished her drink and ordered another one, her expression difficult to read. She didn’t exactly smile, nor did she look annoyed. For a moment she said nothing, the only sounds around them the music in the background. Her finger tapped against her glass before she finally spoke up, “How did you know you could risk telling me about the rebels?” She finally turned to look at him, “You knew it could cost you everything.”

 

[The Eternal (?)]

Valentine laughed softly at her calling him out, turning his eyes to look at the bartender before signaling him over. "Alright, you may have caught me." When the bartender came over Val ordered a similar drink, it only a few moments before he got a similar looking drink but a lighter shade. Val was glad that Hugo had worked it out with her. He heard from the Commander himself that the both of them seemed to start off on the right foot. He hoped it would be a prosperous relationship, it already slightly strained on just what happened in the past between their people. They couldn't afford to have any significant problems, the whole thing could crumble on top of itself.

Raz wasn't playful like before, her face neutral as she ignored his comment. Val wondered what was on her mind, having seen her like this only a few times. He reached out with the force and he could sense that she was frustrated but he couldn't tell about what. Was it him? Val had no clue. Usually, he would be a wreck seeing her since the last time they saw each other, his heart picking upbeat and his emotions out of control and unrecognizable. But with time he had managed to regain control, realizing that he had gone too far last time in his actions with her and that he shouldn't have done what he did. Val's mind was still plagued by her but he had returned to his old self when they first met before that moment happened, hoping it would make whatever was between them easier.

As Val took a drink from his glass, his eyes glancing over to Raz as the tapping she did against her glass seemed to stand out amongst all the other noise. Her face still hadn't changed, now knowing something was seriously on her mind as he couldn't sense what was going on with her in the force as well. When she finally spoke, Val took another gulp from his drink before putting it down gently, "I didn't know. I didn't know at all, I was desperate and I saw that we both had the same goal and the same reasons to achieve our goal. For all I knew, you could have sold us out to the Empire and I signed the death warrant of my people." Like always he spoke with the truth lingering in his words, unable not to with her as he said before.

Val finally brought his gaze back over, his eyes drinking in her features with her helmet finally off. The helmet had helped before but now seeing her, he had to pause for a moment before answering, "And to me, the rewards were enough to outweigh the risk." Whether his words had deeper meaning she wouldn't be able to tell. Val then arched his eyebrow at her slightly, "Why are you asking me this now?"

 

[Raz Solus]

Raz heard him out, still processing the sequence of events. Despite the topic at hand, it was as if there were sharp and abrupt flashbacks to the moment back on the ship. It would suddenly interject into her line of thought, leaving her lost and directionless. She could still remember the stunned silence as she told him to drop her off, the look of surprise, horror and even a hint of pain in his eyes. She could remember the heavy silence that hung the entire ride back to leave her behind and the way they only shared a few parting words. That had been it, nothing else, and yet it all came flooding back to her to cause her more unease than it should.

She had to grasp the string of the balloon of her thoughts that was rapidly floating away. She yanked it back and returned to the topic at hand, taking another sip, “Because I realized how truly small you are. Hugo didn’t reveal anything, of course, but I could tell. I’ve been there with my clan and I can tell when people are backed into a corner,” She swirled her drink for a moment, looking ahead of herself again, “You have a good thing going. They seem like good people. I had my reservations at first but…. I could learn to trust your Commander and your band of hippies,” It was the first time a smile graced her face.

“And I think you know I’d rather kill myself than ever sell anyone out to the Empire,” Raz looked at him again, “But I did make it clear that if the rebels try to use us to do all their bidding, it’d be us they need to worry about,” Val, of all people, knew she wasn’t one to make idle threats. There was a moment of silence, and she looked away again. She didn’t know how to act around him, suddenly finding complexities that didn’t exist before. She had fought and bled with him multiple times, and yet everything was so bizarre now. Raz repeatedly tried to snap herself out of it, only nervously drinking some more.

“What’re you doing here?” She couldn’t imagine there was much going on here that required Jedi business. In fact, the planet looked dreadfully boring so far. The fact that ‘moisture farming’ was a career field was all that Raz needed to learn to decide this planet could be a solid pass in terms of visiting again.

 

[The Eternal (?)]

Well Raz was going to find out soon enough. They couldn't keep an appearance of being an expansive network of armed soldiers at the ready for whatever situation that arises. They were in their infancy, their moves still carefully planned and acted out. It was slightly infuriating to Val but he understood the purpose of it enough. Raz would know how it would feel and he wasn't surprised she could sniff it out with her personal experience. That was another aspect of this alliance, the Mandalorians were more trained in this aspect as they were always outnumbered. Their knowledge would be invaluable and he hoped that each side was willing to learn from each other.

Val smiled at her words as he glanced down at his drink, "Yeah, Ion is a good man. He has a calm and cautious head on him and he knows what he's doing. We're lucky he's with us." As much as he cared for the order, the Rebels were an extension of them and the progress they were making couldn't have been done without the Commander. With her band of hippies comment, Val chuckled softly as he lifted the cup into his mouth before speaking into it, "Don't forget about my pet chipmunk Pip." He took another gulp of his drink, glad to see a smile touch her face as he appreciated the sight of it more than nothing. Val looked back to her, glad to hear that she would never sell them out to the Empire and he fully believed her. What they had committed to both of them couldn't be undone and not something you could come back from. Val could hear the threat loud and clear if the Rebels didn't take care of this alliance or put an equal foot forward. The challenge was there, trying to remain hidden but to also participate to look like they weren't just using the Mandorlians. It was a tricky situation and Val knew all about it.

Val noted the silence and he didn't break it, just staring at his drink as he didn't know what to really say before taking another sip. This was different and he wasn't used to it. Before there was at least an "ease" when they were around each other but now it just felt like something was missing out of the equation and he couldn't process what to do. Val was thankful however for her to break her silence as he let out a sigh before spinning around his chair, his back leaning against the counter while his drink was still in hand. "Well, well we recently have established a base on the planet. I'm just here to make sure everything goes smoothly." Val shrugged scoffed as he took another drink. Going smoothly meant that it would be boring at least for him, just being a vigilant spectator at that point.

The live band in the cantina pick up a new song, it having a jazzy type beat. Val did actually have plans and he didn't see what the problem of a new addition was. He glanced over to her before asking, "Are you a big fan of racing?" Before she could open her mouth, Val put up both his hands defensively, "And I won't be the one behind the controls." The event was going on nearby and it was something to at least past the time. And if nothing else, it gave them something to watch that was entertaining and not them staring at the wall of the bar together.

 

[Raz Solus]

Raz nodded at his response, finishing up her drink. As she set the glass down, she heard him swivel around in his seat. She glanced up, hearing him ask if she were a fan of racing. Raz quirked an eyebrow, much more expressive now without her helmet. She had to grin as he quickly followed up with clarifying that he didn’t mean himself. The brief memories of the ship whizzing around on Kashyyyk was almost enough to make her queasy right here. Raz shrugged in response, “I suppose, it can be exhilarating. I didn’t think there was anything interesting going on in this planet.”

She forked over the credits she owed for her drinks and nodded for Val to lead the way. Raz had almost declined, not sure about spending more time with him. She couldn’t deny a small part of her looked forward to the idea, and she felt a strange mix of emotions. Raz wasn’t used to actually wanting to spend time with anyone, and she had to wonder where he was going with this. Then again, she reminded herself, he was simply just trying to build up a good relationship between the Mandalorians and the rebels.

As they stepped out under the hot sun, they only needed to walk for half a mile before the roar of a crowd began to erupt. Raz could see a tall seating areas overlooking a valley that had the racers preparing to start. She hadn’t witnessed podracing in person ever, only catching it on Holonet. This planet was infamous for it, and she grew more than a little curious. By now, she was back in her helmet, so he couldn’t see her childish wonder as she took in sight of the crowds and the excitement surrounding it.

There was a ticketing booth up front and a bored Devaronian manning it. He was looking through a datapad, minutes from falling asleep despite all the commotion going on around him. He perked up when he saw Raz and Val, his eyes lingering for a moment longer on her armor. He spoke after a moment, “Four hundred credits a pop if ya wanna see the races.”

Raz's eyes widened, “Outrageous, you’re bullshitting me.”

“Damn right I am,” The Devaronian replied, unabashed, “I could instead announce to the arena that there’s a lady with a pretty little badger on her arm. There’d be a fair amount of bounty hunters that’d love to come pay you a visit then. So I suggest you pay up or get lost, princess,” He sneered, challenging Raz to say anything. In the end, she sighed and shook her head, preparing to turn and walk away.

 

[The Eternal (?)]

Valentine didn't know why but it his heart beat slightly faster after the question. It bothered him but when Raz gave her answer that she would join him the beating died down. "There's always something interesting, sometimes you just have to look harder to find it." Val wondered if she knew about the podraces or not, thinking that Tattooine was quite well known for the sport. It was about the only thing that brought this planet unless people loved sand and being left alone. Val placed some credits on the bar for his own drink as he downed it quickly before putting the glass down on the counter. He pushed off the counter before heading out, hearing Raz fall in behind and thankful for that at least.

He didn't really know what prompted him to ask, never even knowing if Raz was into this type of stuff but it was starting to prove clear she didn't know much about it. Val thought after what happened on the ship it would be completely awkward between them, which it was slightly, but it wasn't enough to make them not want to stop seeing each other. He realized he was starting to overthink and pushed the thoughts from his head, just ready to enjoy the moment and have something to do the pass the time. As they drew closer to the track, the roar of the crowd seemed to like it was shaking the ground, clearly, the people loving what they were seeing. Despite her helmet on, Val could see her head glancing at different things randomly and feeling her emotions fluctuate as well. He sensed some feeling close to amazement and it made him grin to himself.

They approached the ticket booth and the Devaronian was fixed on her armor and Val knew something was up. When the man gave the prices, both of his eyebrows arched as he looked at Raz and the Devaronian. When he told of them that he could have easily called the bounty hunters down on her. Val offered the man a smile, "There's no need for that." He started to lead Raz out of the crowds and away from the booth before laughing softly as he looked over to her, "I did not think you were the type to pay for tickets. Surprise me every day Pip." Without adding much more explanation, Raz would start to see that he was leading them around the side, through the alley of some buildings before arriving at one of the walls in the corner and out of sight from anybody else.

Val reached over to Raz, pulling her close suddenly as he looked at her with a stern look, "Trust me this time, no jetpack." He gave her a look that was slightly sarcastic but serious at the same time, remembering the shards of glass that pierced him. Val then looked up to where they needed to go, the force now building around him before he leaped up in the air with her. It was much more silent then a jetpack and it wouldn't take the Devaronian to put two in two together on rejecting a Mandalorian. Val held onto her tightly as they quickly soared in the air before gently landing at the top of the wall, above the crowds below them as they could see the track and podracers zooming by. Val let go of her before walking past her and nodding his head towards the nearby stairs, "Follow me." Heading up the stairs, the two could still hear the roar of the crowds and the sound of the engines as they were pushed to the limit.

They eventually reached a hallway, Val navigating through the place like he had been here before. They arrived at a door and he quickly waved his hand over the lock, audible clicks sounding inside of the mechanism before it clicked green and slid open. It was clearly a VIP room, the front wall made of entire glass to watch the race below. There was a sofa in the middle of the room with their own bar in the corner and other commodities. Val gestured into the room to let Raz go first, "VIP access." He entered in after her before closing the door behind him, appearing unconcerned with their trespassing as he could sense anyone approaching from far off if he paid attention. Val made his way to the glass wall, his eyes following the vehicles as they flew by before glancing over to her, "So, what you think of the view?"

 

[Raz Solus]

Raz was a walking tank, but despite that, she had no desire to start a huge commotion in front of so many people. This was a rebel planet, and she wasn’t in any rush to start causing problems right off the bat. Thus, when the Devaronian challenged her, she began to walk away. To her surprise, Val fell into step with her, and he still looked as amused as ever. She quirked an eyebrow as he mentioned surprise at her paying for tickets, “Contrary to whatever preconceived notions you have about Mandalorians, I’m not uncivilized trash,” She muttered, and it was clear she was more than a little irritated at his little quip. The galaxy at large had a low opinion of Mandalorians, considering them to be meatheads that were above the every day rules of citizens. In many ways, her predecessors didn’t exactly help that image, but she tried her best to set herself apart.

She had been blindly following him, trusting him to lead her back out of this place. That was when she realized he was cutting to the side and into some alley. Raz eyed him suspiciously, pausing where she stood. She wanted some explanations, but he didn’t give her the chance. He quickly pulled her to himself, and she scowled at him, “Wait, let’s discu-” Too late. Like before, he was springing off before she could even understand what was happening. Unlike before, she decided not to activate her jetpack as much as she wanted to. She gripped onto him tightly, once more extremely uncomfortable at this mode of travel.

“I don’t like this,” She said through gritted teeth, her eyes closed as he jumped a few times. She was relieved when they finally landed, and she was surprised to find herself atop the wall. Raz looked over the edge, seeing the entire race track below, watching the different terrains and obstacles they had to maneuver around. It was breathtaking, and she paused to take it all in. She almost missed Val motioning for them to keep going, very much fascinated by the sight before her. Raz followed him, surprised to find herself in a box that overlooked the race. She stepped forward, marveling at the view from here. There were countless people on the stands, all cheering for the racers. Neon signs and massive Holoscreens projected the racers and the announcer’s voice boomed over the valley.

Raz’s face was almost pressed against the glass, her helmet actually lightly touching it. She pulled back after a moment, looking over at Val, “I did not think you were the type not to pay for tickets,” She finally spoke, “Isn’t trespassing against the Jedi code?” Amusement replaced her anger from earlier. Raz didn’t want to admit this was exciting to her - she had never experienced anything like this before. Despite her bounty hunting career, something like this was far beyond her paygrade.

Below them, the racers were lining up to begin. Raz finally took off her helmet, letting her hair fall to her shoulders and back. She watched the action eagerly, caught up in the moment, “This...is incredible..” She spoke barely above a whisper.

 

[The Eternal (?)]

Valentine was surprised by the burst of anger that Raz showed, not intending for his words to come out across like that. She was adorned with battle armor and most of all had a jetpack. If he had one of those and wasn't force sensitive then he would be flying everywhere to get his own views on events. But either way, he kept silent on it, seeing no point to having an argument so tiny when they were supposed to be at least enjoying themselves.

Val didn't fail to see her amazement as they wandered through the building to the room, glad he could show her something that she found amazing. He could see her helmet nearly pressed the glass as she watched in eager he assumed, causing a smile to come upon Val's face again. The Jedi had never seen her like this before and he was gonna relish the sight of it because he didn't when the next time would be. Val heard the amusement in her tone and he laughed softly, bringing his gaze back to the racers as they begin refueling and relining for the next rance. "Shit, if you had the force wouldn't you want to have some fun with it too?" He glanced back over to her as he gave a grin before making his way to the couch, plopping down as he spread his arms out on the spine of it. "When I checked our complementary rulebook, I never saw anything about using powers to watch podracing for free." Val shrugged his shoulders, "So I assume I'm in the clear." There was amusement in his tone as well as they both knew it probably wasn't following the rules.

Val's eyes went back to her, seeing her take her helmet off as her black hair spilled out. It took his attention for a few moments, unable to peel his eyes away for some reason before eventually bringing it back to the racers. They could see the mechanics down below doing their last checks of the racer's vehicles, making sure everything was in order. When that was done, they fled from the track and each podracer started up, the vehicles roaring with their impressive engines as they levitated in the air. The crowd couldn't contain their excitement and the two of them could see screens that actively showed the bets on each racer that was participating. The announcer for the race riled up the crowd, even more, sounding off each of the names of the racer as the crowd gave their appreciation to the racers that placed money on them. That's when that countdown began, a large screen with neon numbers that started at three, red lights on the track for the racers to see. The crowd followed the countdown, shouting out the number in unison until it finally hit zero, the lights on the track now flipping to green as the podracers shot off like darts. Sand was kicked up in volumes, showing the power of the engines as they went down the lengthy straight.

The box gave them a good enough view but if they wanted an even closer one, multiple holo screens came out of the walls and ceiling, providing every angle of the race that they wanted in perfect clarity. Val heard her whisper despite the nose pounding outside, his gaze locked on the back of her head. "This was one of the big reasons I love to fly," He then chuckled, "Or at least go fast. The only thing I could do at my camp when I was young were either chores or training. The races helped past the time." Val paused for a few moments, thinking to himself before speaking again, "You should keep your helmet off more, I like seeing Pip underneath." His heart picked up slightly again at just the simple comment and it frustrated Val that it happened every time. The armor was sacred to Mandalorian culture and he didn't have a disrespectful tone in his voice.

 

[Raz Solus]

Raz was clinging onto every word from the announcer, her eyes wide as she took in sight of the racers and their vehicles. It was surreal to see all this happening directly below her, the crowds going wild and cheering below. At once, the racers were off, and she watched in wonder as the exhilaration could be felt throughout the entire arena. She barely heard Val talk, rolling her eyes at his comment of wanting to fly fast. In many ways, she enjoyed it too, but only when she was in control. The incident on the ship made her queasy just thinking about it, and she had to push the thought from her mind.

She stepped back for a moment, walking over to help herself to one of the fine liquors that adorned the interiors of the box. Raz poured herself a drink, taking a sip and looking up as he mentioned keeping her helmet off. For a moment, she simply stared at him, blinking curiously as she tucked back a strand of hair. She didn’t exactly know how to react to the comment, and it was clear he kind of just blurted it and was also confused by his own words. In the end, she felt a smile creep across her face.

“What duties are you ignoring to be here with me?” She muttered, taking another sip of her drink. For a moment, she forgot all about the race, her gaze fixed on his. Raz may have been oblivious, but she wasn’t exactly stupid. She began to think about the entire circumstance of their visit so far - how he approached her in the cantina, how he made time to bring her here and then even broke some rules to do it. Was this all part of some elaborate act or attempt to butter her up for the alliance? As much as she wanted to believe that, her mind was conflicted with seeing his actions and trying to analyze them.

Raz took a few steps forth, stopping only a few feet away, “Am I still just Pip to you?” She asked, her voice quieter now. She recalled when they first met, when she had been a defiant young woman and he was some rebel commander that was somehow in charge. They had started as enemies, and they had ended as little more than acquaintances. They had been strangers and had given each other nicknames to follow the theme of being part of the same unit. Was that still true today? Or was it something else? For now, the sounds of the race began to blend into the background.

 

[The Eternal (?)]

While Raz made her way over to the bar, Valentine took a peek at the race on one of the holoscreens, seeing who was in first as the announcer's voice was still slightly muted from outside. It was like he needed a break, something else that wasn't in the vicinity of her so he could focus his thoughts. She was his ultimate distraction and not in a bad way at least from what he could tell. It was that he just couldn't focus on anything else if Raz was near. But his break didn't last long, returning his gaze to hers as Raz asked what duties he ignored for her. With their gazes locked, Val zoned in on her, the extra noise and rumble of the race seemed to just slip by his ears.

"Most likely a few that consist of watch duty but nothing has happened the past few days. The risk seemed worth it." There was no shit eating grin this time or the casual smirk he usually cast. Something was different in the air and he felt it, not able to narrow down exactly what it was but it was there. In his mind, it wasn't even that much of a risk, with Raz being a heavy armed Mandalorian who certainly help if an attack did arise on this planet. But him abandoning his post would still probably be looked down upon by his superiors if he was caught or snitched on. But like he told Raz, he thought it would be worth the risk. Val didn't have a beverage like her and he sort of regretted it, being completely sober and feeling his body start to react, the blood in his veins seeming to burn hotter for some reason as they just gazed at each other.

Raz strolled toward him, Val's eyes never leaving hers as the race and everything else outside was completely pushed from his mind at this point. She asked him another question and it took him by surprise as he didn't expect it, triggering a flash of the past as he also recounted back when they first met. So much time has passed since then, Val a Jedi now of all things and Raz now to be considered Mandalore if she accepted it. He certainly didn't expect that outcome when they first met, nearly being a corpse in the ground if she hadn't saved him and his men. They had a lot of history and it was quite complex. Breaking from his thoughts, Val spoke with the truth laced in his words, "No, you're more than that but I don't know to what extent. The name just has a ring to it." It was true, he didn't know what she meant to him, nobody caused him to feel what he did like her. It was unknown territory but Val remembered last time what happened when they tried to go down it. He knew what he did was out of bounds last time and he wouldn't do it again.

But now Val's curiosity was peaked, recalling how both of them left with such few words last time they met. It wasn't the best terms and did she secretly despise him for doing it? However, she did follow him to the VIP box and it just confused him more at that point. Either way, Val had to ask and know, "Am I still just Mud to you?" The nickname she gave him made the sentence sound worse then what it was but she understood what he meant. But his sentence touched back to what happened back on the ship, it still fresh in his mind despite how long ago it was. Val's focus was completely on her now and nothing else could break it now.

 

[Raz Solus]

She could tell she put him on the spot, and he was working hard to keep it cool still. Raz didn’t make it any easier, simply staring at him and sipping from her drink. She wasn’t any more confident, but she focused on him to distract from her own thoughts. He confused her at every turn, just as he confused her those years back. He confused her when she ran into him again and rescued him, and then again when he escaped from her camp. He had grown in his own way, just as she had. She could tell Hugo respected and believed in him quite a bit, and it wasn’t some snobby boy standing before her today.

Raz noticed he didn’t have his usual cocky grin then, his tone more serious. She didn’t look away from him, taking in his words as he uttered them. She had to laugh softly as he admitted he didn’t know what she was. They were on the same boat in many ways, and both were entirely too uncomfortable to address it head on. Raz was usually the type to take on problems head on, and all of this threw her for a loop. She gazed into his eyes, knowing they were the same from years ago. Back then, she didn’t look into them as much. She had been more focused on Tin and Val was just the leader they all followed, the one that was several levels above them. Now she saw him entirely differently, now they crossed a line they couldn’t come back from.

She stepped forth even closer, reaching a hand out and almost hesitating. In the end, she touched the side of his face, her fingers just barely grazing along his cheek as she looked up at him, “You’re Valentine,” She said quietly, “But you’re still as clear as mud to me,” Raz managed a faint smile. For a moment she said nothing, her eyes staring into his as her heart pounded against her chest. She felt a rush of adrenaline coursing through her body, and for a moment she felt as if she were one of those racers below. Raz kept her hand against his face, feeling his warm skin, remembering all those thoughts from the ship. She had drawn back from it, had left him confused and possibly hurt, and here she was preparing to cross those boundaries again. Jedi and Mandalorian could never work, and her mind screamed at her again. All those alarm bells from before shrilly cried out in her mind.

“I’m glad you can’t read my thoughts,” She spoke barely above a whisper, her face growing hot. Raz’s gaze lowered from his eyes and slowly down to his lips, where it lingered. Did she want to try this again? Did she want to push past her own mental blocks?

As she was focused on this and weighing her options, Val would sense people rapidly approaching the box. The ticketholders were finally coming by to claim their spot, having purposely showed up late to join in for the highlights of the race. It was a big group, all of them talking and laughing as they made their way towards the door.

 

[The Eternal (?)]

Raz staring at him didn't help either, Valentine subtly gripping into the fabric of the couch so it would prevent him from nervously bouncing somewhere else. His words caused her to laugh and he couldn't fault her, it was the type of situation where you could only laugh. Both of them were confused and that was self-evident to each of them. It was strange how they started out, completely comrades through and through in the beginning but it was funny how time could change a lot of things. Raz started to step towards him and Val was locked on the couch, unable to move except for his eyes as they continuously followed her. She reached out with her hand, hesitating slightly before extending it out further to touch him.

Val locked up, not knowing if she could continue this and play it safe for both of them. Their people were forming an alliance, this could complicate everything between them and could possibly ruin it. But Val still couldn't move his head with the sirens blaring, her fingers grazing his cheek as he closed his eyes momentarily. He couldn't help but tilting his head slightly so it pushed into her palm more Val welcoming her touch, appreciating it's warmth as it blossomed through his cheek. Raz's words made him open his eyes, staring up at her as her answer was clear enough with this. It was his turn to laugh softly this time before murmuring, "I never claimed I wasn't Raz." Despite what happened last time, remembering the hurt from the rejection, he couldn't help but feel the charge between them once more. It lit up his nerves and it was hard for him to just sit there patiently.

When she said he was glad he couldn't read her thoughts, Val could also feel the adrenaline rush through his system with no sign to stop. He didn't fail to catch her gaze lingering on his lips and now his own couldn't help doing the same, remembering the sensation of them against his and now feeling a craving for it like never before. It was starting to somewhat become unbearable but through all of this, the presence of new signature sliced through it like butter. Val turned his head toward them but instead of freaking out from it, he flicked his hand and the locks of the door slid in place, the light on both sides of the door becoming red. His gaze still hadn't left from Raz, it lingering on her lips for a few more seconds before returning to her eyes.

They both could hear the group approach outside, trying to enter the door before beating on it softly, "Hey, what the hell?" Multiple voices began speaking to each other before another hit against the door, "Do we have the wrong room or something?" It was a few seconds before another voice answered, "I don't know, let's check another room before heading back to the booth." Through it all Val paid no heed to any of it, his face still pressed into her hand slightly as he asked her the question, murmuring softly, "What are your thoughts? His heart beat against his rib cage, threatening to break it if it lasted any longer, his breathing becoming deeper slightly. They could hear the footsteps from the group outside leave and give them their peace again.

 

[Raz Solus]

She wanted to move back as soon as she could hear the noises outside, but Val was having none of it. He rose up, not allowing her hand to fall away. She wanted to step back, but he casually locked the doors to keep anyone from barging in. His gaze fell back on hers, and she was stuck in the moment, her heart pounding. Despite the confidence in his actions, she could tell he was going through this all with her. His eyes betrayed him, and she caught the hints of fear, the same mixture of thoughts, excitement and doubts that were reflected in her own eyes. He may have been a Jedi, but he was still human, and so was she. There were things that could be read that didn’t need words.

As he asked what was on her mind, Raz opened her mouth to speak, hearing the people behind the door give up and check the other boxes. She was stunned into silence, her hand still against his face, her eyes locked with his. The sounds of the race blurred into the background, and she completely missed the completion of the first lap and the rambunctious roar of the crowd below. People there thumping and clapping all around, entire sections of crowds calling out the names of the local favorite. None of that mattered as she looked into his eyes, into the eyes she had seen several times before, into the eyes she saw so differently now. She knew he wouldn’t move forward, and she knew he would remain where he was. It was on her now, as she had run from it before.

Raz was afraid in a way she wasn’t normally afraid. It was a different kind of fear, and it sat at the pit of her stomach. All her beliefs and principles began to wrestle all over again. There was no influence of alcohol, no concussion, nothing to make her ease up. This was all her, her thoughts clear and jumbled all at once. She chewed on her lip, the precious moments lasting forever as if they were frozen in time. Seconds ticked by and she knew she had to say something, and she exhaled slowly, ignoring the thoughts her mind was screeching at her.

“Do you really need the Force to be able to tell?” She didn’t stop there, leaning in to kiss him. She initiated it this time, letting him know he hadn’t crossed any boundaries or made any mistakes before. This was her, and she was pulling him into this with her. Raz pulled him close, savoring the kiss and ignoring the situation they were in. She gave into the moment fully, selfishly drawing from him everything she wanted, everything she desired, and she fell into the strange yearning she had ever since the ship. Raz didn’t think about her upbringing, didn’t think about his Jedi background, none of it mattered. She didn’t think about the aftermath or where it might lead, she didn’t think about anything at all but the taste of his lips and feeling of exhilaration he brought her.

Raz pulled back after a moment, opening her eyes to gaze at him again. She didn’t let him recover entirely from the kiss before she spoke again, “I….I’m going deep into Imperial space tomorrow. I’m going into Corellia,” She whispered quietly, “I might not come back, Val” There was no fear in her voice, only the tone of finality. Why was she telling him this? This was a secret operation, and it was meant to surprise the Imperials. Raz couldn’t help it, the words spilling out before she could stop herself. Her hand was still against his face, and it was the thought of not seeing him again that now overwhelmed her mind.

 

[The Eternal (?)]

Valentine didn't move it all, thinking that if he did it would shatter this near dream-like sequence for him. His feet were locked in place, staring down at Raz as the footsteps receded from outside and left them in peace. She didn't speak for a while and neither did Val, unable to as his gaze was still on hers as his emotions fluctuated just the same. The fear from both of them was palpable, not terror but just fear of the unknown as this was something completely different for them. The hunger that had been crawling up inside him begun to rampage against him now, it took all his willpower to not do anything while her hand still remained on his cheek. But it was clear what happened last time and he knew what he wanted, Raz had to give her answer. Val also knew that this would be heavily frowned upon if openly discovered and it could risk anything but surprisingly he didn't care. He did last time but that was gone now, only caring about what Raz thought and nothing else.

When she asked if he needed the force to tell, his mouth parted slightly because he didn't know what to say but Raz closed the distance immediately afterward and kissed him. Val froze for a second, unable to process what to do but then Raz would feel him pull her in tighter, his arm slipping around her hip. The invisible restraints he put on himself now fell off easily, Val breathing her in as they kissed while his other hand slid deep into her black hair. The funny thing was that he couldn't sense her emotions if he wanted to, his own crazily bouncing around that he couldn't even tell what her's was. Everything vanished from his mind, all his worries and fears, it was easily pushed out by Raz's help. The moment she kissed him relief flooded through him and both her kiss and that was bliss to him that he hadn't experienced before. Val was glad to know that he hadn't scared her off, that's the fear that had plagued the back of his mind since he had first seen her on Tatooine and now it was finally squashed.

Val couldn't get enough of her but Raz pulled away from him slightly, causing his eyes to open as well as he stared at her with a questioning look. He couldn't process anything at the moment as he was taken back by her kiss and then she suddenly told Val that she planned on going to Corellia, shaking him out of his trance as he gave her a look, "What?" She might not come back? Why was she going that deep into Imperial space? Was she planning a sort of suicide run? Val cupped her face with both of his hands, "Why are you saying that? What are you planning to do?" His tone turned serious, clearly worry in his voice as his forehead pressed against hers.

His mind went through what could be on Corellia, noting that there was nothing of interest there really for her people or his. Then he remembered something, scraping the back of his mind to find it, now Val pulling back slightly as he looked at her, "Capitol Tower, that's it isn't it?" That was the only thing he could think of and he knew when Raz liked to do something she liked to do it big. The tower certainly checked that box but he wanted an answer from her to confirm it.

 

[Raz Solus]

Raz wasn’t even sure why she had told him about Corellia to begin with, and now she was unsure of how to answer his questions. She shifted uncomfortably, gazing up at his eyes and seeing the concern there. She didn’t think this far ahead, and she wasn’t quite sure what she was expecting by telling him that. Val kept going on his own, stepping back before she could stop him and drawing his own conclusion. As he asked about the tower, Raz could only stare at him, confirming his suspicion.

“It’s just who I am, Val,” She spoke quietly, almost helplessly. It was a testament to the complications that could arise if they ever tried to be together. The thought hadn’t even crossed her mind. She had kissed him a few times now, but what did that mean? Where could this even go? Raz’s past had involved a fling here and there, but she hadn’t felt this way about anyone before. The feelings she had for him were deeper, and they were laced with vulnerabilities she didn’t even know she had. He had managed to peel off all the armor she had beyond just her physical beskar’gam. He had taken it off bit by bit, and she was terrified of letting him in. At the same time, she had been wanting it removed, despite never having expected it from him.

How had she never noticed this before? How had she never noticed his honeyed eyes, the way he looked at her, the sharp lines of his face, the way he carried himself and the way he smiled. How did she miss all of these details before? How did she miss how he always fought to protect her? How did she miss how he inspired his people? How did she miss how much faith the rebel Commander placed in him? How did she miss when she began to fall into this downward spiral with him, down a slope where she couldn’t see the bottom?

“It’ll be my clansmen and I. We will hit the same time as the Kaggath,” She explained, “It will be right as the galaxy watches the fight between the Empress and Emperor,” Raz looked away from him, “We will never get another chance like this. That’s why I must go,” She bit her lip. It had been so much easier when she felt as if she had nothing to lose, “I don’t even know why I’m telling you all this. I guess….” Her voice was barely audible, “I guess because I’m afraid…”

 

[The Eternal (?)]

Raz's nonanswer was the best answer he could receive, telling him all he needed to know and that the tower was her target. She told him it was just who she was, the Raz he knew wasn't one to being taken down so lightly. A strange feeling came over Valentine, a certain worry for her he hadn't experienced with anyone else. The closest thing he could resemble it was when either Rabbit or one of the men nearly got killed. But this was different, it was deeper and Val could feel it. Without even knowing it for long he could see the damage this could do to him if something happened to Raz. The only thing they had done was fight together and kiss but still, it was powerful and he could feel it wrenching at his heart at the possibility of her not coming back.

Val wasn't one for forming relationships like these. During his time with the Rebels, they moved from planet to planet, letting him mingle with girls from time to time before moving on. But this was different now, he didn't have an escape route in his back pocket for this and he was surprisingly glad for it. Whatever was happening it fueled him, giving a new fire that lit inside him as Raz continued to speak. Val committed every word to memory, remembering the details. He knew what he was thinking would be despised by her but he didn't care. It only took him a few moments to come to the easy conclusion that he was going to be there too, in secret of course so she couldn't fully object to it. Val wasn't going to let her fight off on her own, the idea of it made his blood burn now and he didn't know how to react with the feeling of his chips being on the table like this. But he was committed now and he wanted his own action, he had been sitting on the sidelines too long and it was time for the Empire and everybody in the galaxy to wake up.

Val could possibly be disowned for what he was thinking at the moment, going against direct orders of his council and the Commander. But in his mind it had to be done, the Kaggoth was taking place and the galaxy was a dreary place. People have heard of the attacks but they haven't committed to the cause yet. Val would need to give them a reason to commit to what they were trying to do, to what they were trying to achieve, even if it meant he would have to take a few licks for it. It had been on his mind for a while now but with her going now, it was unquestionable that he was going. Raz looked away from him and his hands turned her head back so she could look at him in the eyes, Val leaning down to connect their forehead once more as he spoke softly. "I understand, I'm not going to stop you. I'm glad you told me." As he said this his mind was rushing with thoughts on he would sneak into Corellia and he was glad she couldn't read her thoughts.

"...Don't be afraid." Val murmured softly, seeming to talk to both of them then just her. To not be afraid of what was going to happen in the future. To just embrace what was happening between them now. That was all Val could do, barely able to process the rest of it. Val couldn't wait any longer, the fact that she muttered she may not come back spiking his desire for some reason and his lips claimed her own once more. Raz would be able to feel his own fear and emotions in the kiss but she would at least know she was in it together with him. His hands slipped into her hair, pulling her in more and deepening the kiss as she could feel it's passion. He could barely control his actions now, his mind and body just wanting her as he walked them towards the counter until her back pressed against it. His other arm came back around her body, pulling her in so they're bodies were physical touching everywhere they could. After a few moments, he pulled his lips back again, only a few inches separating between the two of them as he chuckled softly, "What are you doing to me?"

 

[Raz Solus]

Raz wasn’t given the luxury of knowing that he would be on Corellia. That was a decision Val silently made on his own and didn’t tell her. In her mind, she was envisioning going into Corellia as a last hail mary and being gunned down by Imperials after blowing up the tower. Would it be worth it? In her mind it was. She couldn’t think of anything else that would make a bigger statement. Raz was deep in her thoughts, feeling ashamed to even admit that she was afraid. Badgers weren’t afraid. It wasn’t like a Solus to be afraid, and here she was being like this around someone that wasn’t a Mandalorian. An aruetii, as her people would call him.

He distracted her with his words, and she found herself mildly surprised. Raz heaved a sigh of relief, “I was afraid you’d try to come,” She managed a smile, “Don’t worry, I’m not going there to die, but the odds aren’t so great. I’m….glad I got to see you,” Raz muttered quietly. She was nervous and it was in her voice. She thought of more words to say, and she was coming up short. Thankfully, he removed that problem by once again leaning in to kiss her. There was more passion and a sense of urgency in it, and she wanted nothing more than to keep going and fall deeper into this spiral.

She didn’t fight it as he pushed her back into the counter. This was closer to the glass and the race exploded behind them as the crowds cheered and marked the third lap’s completion. Raz didn’t pay any attention to it, focusing solely on kissing Val. She gasped against his lips as he pressed closer against her, and she could feel the heat from their bodies despite her armor. Raz pushed back even further into the counter so she was sitting atop it, pulling him closer as her legs were on either side of him. She was lost and caught up in the moment, drawing back from the kiss to begin tracing them along the side of his jawline and down his neck. She was breathless, her gestures impassioned and filled with an ache she couldn’t even place.

Her left hand slid up to grasp at his hair, while her right slid down his body and pulled him closer. Raz bit down gently into the crook of his neck, tasting his skin and more of him than she ever had before. There was a wild urge to keep going, and he pulled back just then, and she was glad for it. Raz felt a sense of exhilaration, and it almost felt juvenile. She had no idea she wanted him like this, not having felt anything like this in a long time. He was sparking desires in her that set all her cylinders on fire at the same time, whether that meant the way he tugged at her heart or the way he made her entire body feel hot. She had to grin at his words, and she could tell he was out of his element too, “I think… I’m doing a lot of things to you,” Raz gave him a teasing grin, tugging him even closer and squeezing her thighs into his sides. She said nothing more, not wanting to think about any of this.

She didn’t want to think about the fact that they were on display by the glass overlooking the races. She didn’t want to think about her being Mandalorian and him Jedi. She didn’t want to think about them trespassing on someone else’s box. She didn’t want to think about where she would be tomorrow and whether she’d see him again. All she could focus on was the taste of him, the way she could feel his heartbeat as her hand slid down his chest, the way her fingers flirted with his clothing to begin tugging away at them.

 

[The Eternal (?)]

Hearing her words made Valentine feel slightly guilty, this being one of the times he would have lied to her if she considered it that by just withholding his answer. He didn't like doing it to her but he fully believed in his reason for doing it so he kept his mouth shut, refusing to tell her his plan even though a part of him wanted to. Raz would instantly reject the notion and he couldn't let that happen. Why was she talking like this though? Val wished he could assure her that he would be there for her to protect her if anything happened. It tore at the insides of him but even if he wanted to provide an answer he couldn't, his mind pulled into a lull again by Raz's actions as they completely took them over. If Val tried to put a thought together it was quickly washed away as fast as it came, only driven by his desire and hunger for her and it consuming him entirely.

Raz slid onto the counter and equaled out their heights, his body connected against hers as she pulled him into her. They were closer to the glass and at the view of people who would look into their box but it was the furthest thing from his mind at the moment. Her legs were around his hips and he felt her lips kiss along his jawline and neck, it blocking everything from his mind. Val had to close his eyes before reaching out to the counter with his hand, gripping onto it tightly for support as she had her fun with his neck. His hands slid down to her legs while she continued, gripping onto them as he pulled her into him so their hips were pressed against each other. Wherever her hands went his nerves lit up, her touch like fire against his skin and only craving and wanting more of it. It was like she tapped into some secret part of him he didn't know about and the only thing that it ever wanted all this time was her.

Raz's words couldn't help but make him smile before laughing softly, unable to deny her claim and catching him red handed. It was an honest laugh and he was surprised that Raz's comment triggered it. Val's hand cupped her cheek once more, pulling her in as he kissed her passionately once more. He felt her hands slide over his chest and he swore she would about to feel it burst out of his chest. Things were progressing fast and he started to feel Raz start to tug away his clothing, causing Val's mind to become a blur as he leaned in again to capture her lips. It was the first time he felt something like this in a while, a sort of happiness that wasn't common to him. It was strange but he felt content, despite the fact that she was planning a mini-invasion.

But as it was about to progress further and his heart beating faster, Val suddenly sensed the signatures of the ticketholders before with a new accompanying them. He stepped back from Raz suddenly before snapping his head in their direction, judging how far off they were for a few seconds in his head. Val then looked back to Raz, "We need to head out, now." Raz would be able to tell he was referring to the people before. He adjusted his clothing before making his way to the door, using the force to readjust the small things they messed with so it looked unbothered. When they were both ready Val opened the door and peeked down the hallway before leading Raz out into the hallway and back the way they came. As they walked down the stairs, Val couldn't help but giving Raz a nudge in her arm before giving her a shit-eating grin as always, "So, did you enjoy VIP access to the races Pip?"