Secret Lives of Soldiers

[Lex Kyrst]

​

Lex wasn’t quite sure why she was here. She argued with herself multiple times and tried to talk herself out of it, but morbid curiosity had gotten the best of her. She had been on multiple missions with Bishop by now, and she also knew about his alter ego as a pit fighter. Almost all fighting rings had some ties to Hutts, and that alone could get him court martialed. However, she had risked her life enough times with him to ever sell him out. Was she a bad C.O for doing that and now even coming to one of these fights? She plugged that line of thought quickly, deciding she should simply check it out before she talked herself out of it.

The fighting pit was an underground warehouse, and she paid quite the sum to get tickets for it. Lex was adorned in regular civilian attire, except for the pistol she carried in her purse. As a military girl, she always felt naked without her sidearm. Lex snuck the weapon in after forking over some extra credits along with a few threats to shut the place down. She found herself a seat close to the ring, sitting in between two large and obnoxious men. One of them already tried to buy her a drink and she pointedly ignored him.

Her focus was the fighting ring in front of her, and the premier fight tonight was between Spider and a large man called Bonecrusher. Lex had to roll her eyes at the creativity of these names, and her curiosity was piqued when a spiked cage rose up around the fighting arena. The announcer was shouting and the crowd was going wild, people cheering for both combatants. As she looked around, she found it hard to believe people were cheering for the same Bee she constantly had misadventures with.

Lex had a box of Space Its with her, popping a few into her mouth as the announcer called for Bonecrusher. A hulking man came out wearing a skull helmet and otherwise shirtless. He was rippling with muscle and looked as if he could break most people in half. Lex shook her head, wondering exactly how Bishop intended to fight this behemoth. She grimaced as the the men next to her leapt to their feet to cheer and almost spilled their drinks on her.

“And on the other side…you know him! You’ve seen him! You love him! The one and only…SPIDDERRRRR!” The crowd went absolutely wild, though Lex remained in her seat and rolled her eyes.

 

[Bishop Cain]

Bishop waited in his own quadrant of the warehouse, away from the crowds as he stared at the ground. This was a much bigger fight that he's performed in a while, the winnings much higher then what they have been for some time. He had already suffered through a few fights to get to this round, bruises lining his body and having a cut on his cheek. Bishop wiped his nose, waiting for the introductions to begin as he heard the crowds roar loudly and infectiously. This would be the final fight before he got the big pot of winnings and he intended to spend a great deal of it tonight if he could win this one.

Hearing the announcer begin with the Bonecrusher, Bishop finally stood up from his seat and started making his way towards the ring and squeezed his hands a couple of times. The cheers nearly shook the ground and Bishop was surprised at how big the fight rings have gotten in the past few months. He certainly didn't mind it for the credits it was bringing in when he won his bouts. As the announcer finished yelling out his name, Bishop stepped forward into the light and in front of the crowd, shirtless as his well and showing his lean frame compared to the behemoth one the Bonecrusher had. His tattoos were all on display under the light with the spider standing out.

As Bonecrusher took his side and Bishop took his, he looked visibly relaxed, hopping lightly from one foot to the other. He hadn't even looked at the crowds once unlike the Bonecrusher, making a spectacle and throwing his arms up each time he turned towards the crowd. Glancing around, Bishop understood the circumstances with the cage and the spikes and it certainly added a level of danger to the event. The announcer stepped up to his platform, "Are you ready ladies and gentleman!?" The announcer threw his hands up as well and the crowd responded enthusiastically. Pointing to Bonecrusher then to Bishop, he clapped both of his hands together before shouting out loud for the whole crowd to here, "BEGIN!"

Bishop slowly stepped forward, scanning the man for anything that stood out that he could use to his advantage. The helmet could provide a problem for him and he would have to find a way to yank it off. The Bonecrusher just went forward however, throwing a feint with his left and then a hook with his right. Bishop tilted slightly towards Crusher's left for the feint but he saw the hook coming in and he ducked under that quickly. Sidestepping to the Crusher's right and away from his fresh hook, Bishop launched a few jabs into his ribs and side before giving him a swift kick and then backing up again to get ready for his counter. Speed would be his ally as Crusher no doubt beat him in strength.

 

[Lex Kyrst]

Lex clapped along with the others as Bishop finally made his appearance. Her eyes widened at the sight of seeing his tattoos on full display for the first time, and they were far more extensive than she would have guessed beneath all that armor. She quickly tore her gaze away, realizing she was staring a bit too long, even though he had no idea she was here. Kicking herself internally for acting like a teen girl, she stuffed some more Space Its into her mouth to distract herself.

At last, the fight began and already the Bonecrusher was slower but more focused with power. Lex watched as the Crusher fell for the feint and took the jabs, resulting in a chorus of “oooh”s from the crowd. However, as Bishop went to kick, the Crusher was quick to attempt to grab the leg and slam him to the ground. If the attempt was successful, he intended to bodyslam Bishop in an effort to crush him. Already the crowds began to chant “CRUSH! CRUSH! CRUSH!” and Lex watched with anticipation as the fight progressed.

All of a sudden, one of the men put his arms around her shoulders and she turned to glare at him, “Come on, you look awfully lonely here-“ He barely got any further words out before Lex elbowed him in the face. Moments later, she realized that was probably a poor decision as suddenly she was causing a bit of a scene. The man burst into obscenities and called her all sorts of names as he jumped to his feet. The crowd behind her began to complain and throwing their snacks and shouting for people to sit down.

Lex groaned to herself, trying to sneak away and find a different place to sit. She glanced up right in time for the Crusher to try and slam Bishop into one of the spikes on the sides of the arena. He intended to do this by doing pushing directly into him with his shoulder, using his body weight to slam the smaller man.

 

[Bishop Cain]

Bishop didn't expect Crusher to grab his leg like that, it getting caught between his massive arm and his body. Crusher spun that direction his kick came in from, forcing Bishop to be slammed on the ground with Crusher landing on top with all of his weight on him. The behemoth sat up before raining down a punch as it caught Bishop's cheek and he spat out blood. But Bishop caught the man's arm in his own, holding on tight as he also wrapped his legs around the arm as well. Crusher looked down at him but Bishop was quick and immediately started launching kicks right into his mask.

The Crusher used his other hand to punch Bishop right in the side but on Bishop's next kick it took his helmet off as it flew across the arena. He felt the air leave his lungs for a moment and before Crusher could punch again he gave out another kick, it hitting Crusher in the throat and forcing him to back up as he gagged softly. It allowed Bishop to find his rest and he got up slowly, wiping some blood off his face as Crusher readied himself again for another bout. He heard a commotion in the stands and he glanced to the side to see what it was, seeing a quick flash of blonde hair but he returned his gaze back to Crusher as the man came at him one more time.

Bishop could see what he was doing, trying to use his weight against him and when Crusher came at him he immediately sidestepped to the fighter's right shoulder. If Crusher didn't stop then he would have ran right into the spikes, so as he would turn around Bishop would throw a right hook to Crusher's cheek. Whether he managed to block that or not, Bishop immediately followed through with a left hook after, aimed right for his stomach. He kept his body in close, waiting for his opportunity to put this beast down.

 

[Lex Kyrst]

Crusher was getting angry. He wasn’t used to his enemies standing for so long, and the fight was getting vicious. Lex even stopped what she was doing, and she was halfway between seats, ignoring the man that was still screaming at her. Her concern was seeing Bishop getting clipped and spitting out blood. She had to remind herself they weren’t out on the field now, and he was here by choice and not in a war zone. He did this for fun, for kriff’s sake, even though it was a concept she could never understand.

After taking the solid punch to the stomach, Crusher coughed and spat out some blood. He was slowing down, but his rage was fueling him. He growled out loud, getting frustrated that Bishop was simply too quick for him. He went for a clincher, attempting to wrap his arms around Bishop’s neck before driving his knee directly up into his face. He wanted to break the little worm’s face, and his rage was blinding him. He was inching ever closer to the spikes on the edge.

Meanwhile, the commotion finally turned back to the fight and Lex found a new seat, though this was substantially closer to the fight. She kept her head down, worried about being spotted. With her capture of a Hutt operative, her name was catching on in Republic space. Lex hoped her civilian clothing and fake identity would throw off suspicion. She could tell the fight was almost at an end, the announcer and the crowds going wild. Lex didn’t know what to make of seeing something so outright violent. She hadn’t mentally prepared herself to see someone she thought she knew engage in something so brutal.

 

[Bishop Cain]

Bishop's face was certainly starting to hurt and his nose and lip were leaking blood but that wouldn't stop him. Crusher's rage seemed palpable and it was a double-edged sword for Bishop, knowing it meant that the man would lose more control over himself but also the fact that he would probably hit a lot harder than before. After landing the punch right to his stomach, Bishop tried to back up to put distance between them once more but Crusher had a different idea. Throwing his arms around Bishop's neck, he started throwing knee after knee towards his face, Bishop keeping his hands in front to eat them and push them back down each time.

But one came through and it got him right in the chin, causing him to fly backward and crash into the sand with a grunt. Crusher stayed where he was, oblivious to his surroundings except the crowd as he egged them on more. Slowly getting back up and spitting out another glob of blood, Bishop looked up before his eyes widened in shock, seeing Lex right there near the front row. She was wearing different clothes but Bishop could tell that was definitely Lex and he couldn't believe that she was here at this. "Lex?" He questioned out loud to mostly himself before the Crusher grabbed the back of his hair and lifted Bishop up by it. His reaction was quick and he launched an elbow backward, catching the man right in the nose as an explosion of blood erupted.

Bishop spun on his heel, now going on the attack while the man was dazed. He just threw punch after punch, hitting him in the arms, the stomach, the side, the head, giving Crusher no room to breathe and forcing him to back up. The fighter landed a couple counter ones against Bishop but he was still getting pushed back and the lieutenant knew what he had to do. As he pushed him closer to the spikes, Crusher throughout one last haymaker, hoping to catch Bishop with this punch that had enough power to completely knock him on his ass.

Bishop ducked under it just enough before shooting his leg out directly into Crusher's already bruised stomach, knocking the air out of him and making him stumble back right into the spikes. One of them penetrated right through his stomach and blood poured out of mouth before another went through his chest and leg. Crusher tried to stay up but he was killed instantly from the spikes and the crowd was silent for a moment before absolutely losing it about Spider winning the match. Bishop was drenched in sweat, covered in blood and dirt and breathing hard, but his gaze immediately went to the spot where he thought he saw Lex, trying to find her once more if that even was her.

 

[Lex Kyrst]

As the Crusher was thrown into the spikes, the crowd went absolutely wild. The announcer screamed about how it had been some time since they had an actual death in the pits, and this was a day to mark in history. The screaming was intense, the crowd thumping their feet and jumping up and down from excitement. Credits were being thrown all around as people cashed in their bets and fights broke out over who owed who money. Confetti flew in the air and cheering and shouting exploded all around her.

Lex didn’t miss that little moment where Bishop had looked up and she could have sworn he was looking right at her. Perhaps it was a figment of her imagination, but it was enough to be her cue to leave. She began to quickly muscle her way through the crowd, hoping to make a discreet exit without him ever realizing she had been there. She had no idea what she’d say or how she’d explain herself if he noticed she came for a fight. This was all illegal activity and it could have her in all sorts of hot water.

She kept pushing and shoving through the crowd, not realizing that Bishop was making his way over behind her. He was swarmed by fans, people showering him in credits after he already had a large bag of his prize money shoved into his arms. Women were surrounding him, rubbing their hands all up and down his sweaty and bloody torso. He was completely mobbed and Lex hoped that would keep him too occupied to follow her.

And then she made the mistake of pausing and turning around once more. As soon as she did, she met his gaze directly from across the room. Lex knew there was no way around it now, he knew she was here. She saw how mobbed he was and she simply sighed to herself, miming out to him that she was going to wait for him outside. With that, she finally squeezed her way out of the warehouse, breathing in the fresh air and far away from the sweat and grind of the pit.

Lex waited outside for a while, watching the crowds begin to leave right past her. She knew she could have left, but she also knew she’d be on future missions with him. There was no getting out of this now, she had been caught.

 

[Bishop Cain]

Bishop wasn't prepared for the cheers that followed, it feeling like the entire building was being shaken by the cheers of the people. He lost where Lex was, seeing everyone now starting to move and get closer to him but Bishop paid no heed to it. Before he could move to go search for Lex, he was stopped by the announcer, handed his winnings for the fight as other people handed him more. Pushing through the crowd to the general direction he last saw her, Bishop went forward as he felt hands go down his body and feel him up. That's when he saw another flash of blonde hair and he locked onto it, finding Lex turn around and now finally meet his gaze with hers.

There was no escape now, he knew she was there and he wouldn't stop until he caught up to her. He was glad she realized that too and when she told him through signals she'll wait outside, he gave her a nod before turning to the people around him. Bishop trusted her word and he wanted to deal with these fans first anyway, better that way to get them over with. After a few minutes of collecting credits and meeting other fight ringleaders who wanted his services for their fight, they all finally left and Bishop exited from the building.

He wore a shirt now but he still had dirt and blood mixed on his face, it swelled in some areas but it still couldn't stop the smile on his lips as he looked at her. "Should I be asking my C.O why she would be in the area and watching pit fights?" Bishop walked over to her slowly, dropping the bag of credits before sitting down with a groan as he pulled out a cigarette. "You could get in a lot of trouble for this Tuts." She could tell he was sluggish from the beating he took but he didn't voice his complaints about it. Taking a long drag of his cigarette, Bishop blew the smoke out smoothly with a content look on his face before glancing over to her, "At least tell me you earned some money off me."

 

[Lex Kyrst]

Lex didn’t know what she’d say when he finally arrived. Thankfully he was wearing a shirt this time, she wasn’t sure what she’d do if he stood there up close like he had been in the ring. When he stepped out, she simply rolled her eyes at his words. The crowds were still leaving, and they were still patting him on the back for his victory. He had become quite the celebrity overnight, even more than he had been before. From what she could tell, killing an opponent was usually reserved for the brutal arenas out in Hutt space. Would that be where he ventured next?

Lex took in sight of him, noticing his swollen face and the sweat, blood and grime on him, “Call it morbid curiosity. I had to come see if I’d need a new lieutenant on the unit or not. Looks like it came close,” She looked him up and down, “You look terrible,” As he took a cigarra drag, she didn’t even knock him on it this time. As far as she was concerned, he earned himself that damn thing after going up against Crusher in a spiked ring.

She began to walk, beckoning him to do the same. She wanted to get away from the leaving crowds as people kept stopping and asking when they’d be seeing him in Hutt space next. There were talks about the next Grand Boonta Eve tournament. The last champion had been the Sith Empress, but it was high time for a new one by now.

“I had to use a lot of credits simply to get in,” Lex informed him, “I wasn’t going to place bets. And I’d be more worried about your ass than mine when it comes to being in trouble,” She scoffed at the idea of bets. Going by looks alone, he looked smaller and less lethal than Bonecrusher. Then again, she knew Bishop to be rather vicious, “I never would have believed it if I hadn’t seen it for myself. You really do like getting beat up as a hobby,” She had to laugh, shaking her head as she came across a restaurant with outdoor seating. She sat down at one of the tables, giving them some privacy away from the fight crowds, “How long have you been doing this?”

 

[Bishop Cain]

Bishop laughed softly at her calling it morbid curiosity, "I'm touched you wanted to check in on me Tuts, it means a lot for a fighter like me." Taking another drag, "Like I said, it will take a lot more than that to get rid of me." Bishop was content with sitting down, he really was but it seemed Lex had other ideas and she beckoned him to come with. Letting out a soft sigh he got back up to his feet, storing the winnings away underneath his clothes so he wasn't a walking target. He may have been known as Spider, but a fat purse like that and it didn't matter what his name was.

As people stopped by and asked him about moving his talents to Hutt space, he always gave them an awkward chuckle before telling them he would think about it. The truth was he never thought about it before this. The fights were just supposed to be a side gig for him to do, he didn't think he would become good or well known enough to possibly make it to the legendary Hutt rings. When she commented that it was an expensive venture to get in, Bishop gave her a lopsided smirk and a playful tone, "I can't help it when I'm the main attraction, C.O" Taking another slow drag, his eyes gave a quick glance to her before he let out a chuckle, "It gets the blood flowing and it pays well. What's not to like?"

Pulling up to the restaurant, Bishop sat down across from Lex with another groan, feeling it throughout all his body the soreness. Getting comfortable in his chair he outstretched his legs between Lex's leaning his head back momentarily before answering, "This is off the record right? It would be a disappointment if it wasn't." Giving her a playful wink, Bishop sat up slightly so he could look at her before shrugging his broad shoulders, "Been at it for about half a year now. I was able to sneak it through with my training in the small fights, I wouldn't get hit too much." Bishop gestured to his face before taking another hit of his cigarette and blowing the smoke through the side of his mouth, "Now the fighters are a little better." He said with a chuckle following after, it clear with the damage he received.

 

[Lex Kyrst]

Lex chuckled as he referred to himself as the main attraction, “Well if you weren’t before, you certainly are now,” She thought about all those little nudges and pulls to go into Hutt space. She wasn’t oblivious – she knew exactly how much money he could be drowning in if he ditched his soldier life and pursued a career in fighting. From what she saw, even she began to believe he could really do well out in the galactic wide known fighting rings in Hutt space.

“I thought going on missions with me got your blood flowing,” She gave him a mock wounded look before laughing again as she took her seat. After he spoke, the waiter came outside and she ordered drinks for them both, a whiskey for herself and whatever he wanted, “Let me buy you a drink. It’s the least I can do after watching you get pummeled a few times,” She thought over his words as their drinks arrived, considering the kind of life he lived to train for fighting and then also being a soldier.

“I know the GAR doesn’t pay very well and you could easily leave it to make a fortune as a fighter,” She took a sip from her drink, eyeing him curiously, “So why don’t you? Off the record, of course. You could be filthy rich and famous and not be a grunt or have a C.O. to boss you around,” She smiled at him, “Don’t worry – I won’t rat you out. You’re one of my best soldiers as much as I hate to inflate your already big head.”

By now, the crowds finally began to die down. At first a few people came over to interrupt and take pictures with him. Lex had to grin as she sipped from her drink, still finding it bizarre to see him get this kind of treatment. There was truly a different lifestyle associated with fighting that was worlds apart from the soldier life she knew. Everything she knew was regimented and structured. What she saw in the fighting pit was completely off the cuff and improvised, and she couldn’t imagine a lifestyle like that.

 

[Bishop Cain]

"Oh they do, that's why I always look forward to them Tuts, sometimes even more than the fights.." Bishop smiled at her before the waiter came over, ready to order himself his drink before Lex took charge of that. He signaled for the same thing as her before just shaking his head, "You probably enjoyed the sight of me getting pummeled." Bishop casted a quick glance over to the purse he won before looking back to Lex, "Next items are on me, I'd hate not to be a gentleman." Flicking the cigarette out from between his fingers before pulling a new one free from his pack, he lit it again before smoke started wafting up into the air.

It was nice to just relax now and Bishop wouldn't even have minded them just sitting here in silence if they wanted, just enjoying the fact that he could get off his legs and not have to worry about getting punched as of now. When the waiter came back with drinks Bishop immediately went for his glass of whiskey, preferring that to numb the pain slightly. When Lex spoke, Bishop just sat back and waited for her to finish, smoking from his cigarette patiently as he thought over her words. There was a better life out there for him, in turns of money and celebrity status and Bishop would be lying if he hadn't thought about it during his last recent bouts against other big local fighters.

After a few seconds, Bishop took another sip from his glass before answering, "Yeah, I've thought about it, to say the least. You're right, the pay for this is way better than the shit we get, trust me. But I made an oath, to the Republic and to the brothers and sisters I fight alongside with. I would protect both no matter what the circumstances were. What kind of person am I if I went back on my word for just a few more credits?" Bishop took another drag before smirking at her, "If it's any consolation, you're the best C.O I've ever had."

Before they could continue the conversation, a couple fans came over and Bishop participated in the pictures. He was barely used to that as well but it possibly meant more money when he fought so he wasn't too against it. When that was over and the waiter came back, Bishop gave her a few credits before ordering something for them. A few moments later a long plate came out, half cut circles laying on top that resembled deviled eggs more than anything. Bishop nodded at the plate before popping one in his mouth and nodding his head in approvement, "Try one, trust me they are to die for."

 

[Lex Kyrst]

“Next items?” She queried as her eyebrows rose in surprise. She had expected them to have a quick drink and a chat, but clearly he had other ideas. In truth, she supposed she didn’t mind. Lex could tell he was still in a lot of pain. For all the things she carried with her, she didn’t have any medpacks on her. It was difficult to switch back and forth between civilian life and soldier life. Now that they weren’t officially at war, they were only deployed now and then. She knew once the inevitable war with the Hutts began, they would be spending a lot of time in Hutt space and far away from home. The thought made her take a drink, not liking the idea one bit.

As he explained his reasons for staying, Lex found herself smiling. In truth, she heard herself in that, and it was the same oath she had made. When he mentioned she was the best C.O, Lex had to laugh, “Or maybe I’m just the first one you’ve had with tats,” She gave him a playful wink as she took another drink, “Speaking of which, I had no idea you had such a canvas on you. Are they all from sitting on your ass or do they have different meanings?” Lex reached for one of the deviled eggs, marveling at the flavor. She had randomly picked the place and hadn’t realized he was a regular. A few waiters walking around gave him knowing nods, and Lex observed it silently.

“So who else knows about your little double life as a fighter? Family? Friends? Girlfriend?” She asked it all very casually, giving no indication whether there was a probe or not. Lex simply met his gaze, popping another snack into her mouth as the waiter came back to ask for their meal orders. Internally she wasn’t sure why she cared or even bothered asking. Well, it was because she was getting to know her subordinates – yeah that was it. Obviously. Lex told herself that as she made simple conversation with him, happy to have her mind far away from the battle.

It was difficult to believe that only days prior she had been on Chandrilla helping fend off an attack from the Hutts. She had helped capture one of them and he would no doubt go to trial soon. Lex knew the war was coming and moments of down time like these would become rare.

 

[Bishop Cain]

"Yeah that's true, you'd be surprised at how many inkless people are out there. It's a nice change of scenery for me." Bishop caught her wink before taking another sip of his whiskey. He chuckled when she asked about his other tattoos and the way she asked it, "They all have different meanings, parts of them just some stupid shit I believe in and others being memorable for a reason." Shrugging his shoulders at her and sitting up to lean onto the table, Bishop picked up a deviled egg after her before popping into his mouth and savoring the taste. His eyes glanced over her for a second, "Is there a whole canvas that I have yet to find out about or is it just the snake?" Bishop asked the question with a slight smirk on his lips before he took another sip from his drink.

Bishop picked up another snack from the plate, biting half of it into his mouth before looking to Lex, "No, parents could care less with me being in the GAR or what I do. Friends haven't asked about it so I don't bring it up, only you and Kyp really know. And no girlfriend as well, just my own place." Bishop laughed softly, "I'm just a simple army man trying to make an honest living Tuts." When the waiter came back, Bishop just ordered a simple meal for both of them and the waiter left them back to their privacy. "What about you Tuts? No double life as a fighter I'm assuming. But, all your friends and other family agree with your decision to join the GAR? Boyfriend?" Bishop kept his gaze level with hers before offering her a warm smile, taking another sip from his glass. He may not have sent out his own probe, calmly taking another drag of his cigarette and blowing the smoke away from her.

Bishop was surprised that Lex was actually staying down to sit with him, he thought she would leave soon after but he couldn't have been happier with her choice. He was also surprised at how easy she was to talk to, despite the revelation of him actually being in a pit fighter. With the sense of war both dawning on them, Bishop would enjoy all the little moments he could and this was one of them with Lex. It was easy to forget that they soon could be facing death's door any number of days from now, might as well enjoy while you could and Bishop intended to.

 

[Lex Kyrst]

Lex’s eyes widened at his bold question about the canvas, and she felt her face rapidly heating up. She cleared her throat, distracting herself by taking a bite of her meal and then sipping from her whiskey, “What makes you think you’ll be finding out what else I got?” She tilted her head and grinned at him, finally finding her confidence again. That question definitely threw her off, but she was back in the game now. It was a teasing grin, and she knew she was walking a line. Lex’s mind constantly reminded her that this was a soldier on her unit, but she tried to ignore it for now.

As he revealed no girlfriend and his living situation, he followed it up with his own little subtle question. Lex had to smile as he mentioned no real double life for her and he was right. She was very much tame by comparison, and she was always very regimented and focused. She led a disciplined life and it was self perpetuated. Lex shook her head at the thought of her family, “My family and I aren’t exactly on speaking terms,” She shrugged, taking another bite, “Friends are mostly people from my unit because I’ve known them since military academy,” Lex finally looked up at him with a grin, “And what if I said I had a boyfriend?”

She watched him smoke his cigarra, the wind blowing it far away so she didn’t have to smell it. The air was growing crisp, but it was still nice and peaceful. The streets were emptier now, though there was the occasional drunk yelling or singing as they left the nearby bars. This planet was always a party zone at night, and this district had a lot of activity that dipped into illegality. Lex was only focused on the man in front of her, however, and her body language betrayed her thoughts more than she’d like. She hadn’t forgotten the little moment of reprieve they had on the roof after a vicious battle. It had been a long time since she had felt this kind of peace with someone.

 

[Bishop Cain]

Bishop saw the blush come to her face and the way her eyes widen after his question. It caused him to smile as she got another bite of her meal and he did same. Taking another long sip of his drink as well, Bishop wasn't expecting her question back but he couldn't help but smirk as he caught her grin afterward. Shrugging his shoulders at her, "If you can appreciate my pieces of art, I'd at least like to be given a chance to appreciate yours." Tilting his head and grinning back, Bishop kept it simple as he also knew what line they were walking upon but he started to push that reasoning farther and farther away. His eyes never broke contact with hers, still sitting back in his chair quite relaxed.

As Bishop waited for her answer he took another bite and sip from his drink, savoring the food as it was like a treat right after a fight like that. When she talked he was surprised they were alike in a few ways, her family and others not on speaking terms and all of her friends were in the GAR as well. The only major difference between them was after he left his family, Bishop went to fighting and needed the chaos while Lex followed in the strict and hardened order of the GAR. When she countered his last question with her own, Bishop stared at her for a second before slowly scanning her and taking another long drag of his cigarette before flicking it outside.

Bishop brought his gaze back on Lex as he opened his mouth slightly, the smoke traveling up into his nose before he blew out the side of his mouth again. "Then it would seem that man would be incredibly lucky to have you. But the fact that you're still sitting here, either means that you don't have one or he's quite terrible at what he does." Bishop kept his cool gaze remaining on hers, all of his attention reined in on her and he didn't deny it one bit. "If it's the latter, I promise you I'm something different entirely." When the waiter came back and filled up their glasses Bishop finally tore his gaze off of her before thanking the man. Picking up his glass, Bishop gave it a little tilt towards Lex before taking another large sip of it.

Dark clouds suddenly started to form above and thunder roared ahead, causing Bishop to lean his head out to see how bad it looked. Glancing at Lex, it was only a few minutes later when it started to pour rain down on top of them. Bishop started getting splashed by the droplets and he sat up before moving closer to Lex's side, wiping the rainwater off of his face as it also took off some of the grime as well. "Well that's quite unfortunate, hopefully it passes quickly." Whatever people that were outside now rushed for cover, the rain coming down harder and harder and aiming to prove Bishop wrong.

 

[Lex Kyrst]

Lex smiled at his words about her tattoo, “Well, not all of us have hobbies that involve tossing off our clothes in front of a crowd,” She had nothing more to add, still feeling the heat to her face from the topic. He was unapologetic, and she liked that about him as much as she wanted to deny it to herself. He was bold not only with his actions on the field, but even in these circumstances. She noticed how he didn’t break his gaze away and she had nowhere to hide. Lex calmly sipped from her drink, letting him respond to her little tease about the boyfriend.

She barely noticed the waiter as he spoke, and she had to fight the urge to look away again. He clearly had no fear venturing into this territory, and he dropped several bolder comments that she wasn’t used to. Being a rapidly rising soldier, she normally had a rigid personality that most people found too difficult to approach. While she had dated in the past, she normally had only come across men that were very pliable and always agreed with her. She always had to make the moves. This situation was completely out of her element, and she found herself stuck between exhilaration and excitement.

“Well, Mr. Cain,” She finally spoke, her eyebrows raised slightly, “I wasn’t aware you were interested in that way,” Lex couldn’t deny they had hit it off from the very beginning. She had held herself back due to the structure of her unit. She didn’t want anyone to think any of her soldiers would get special treatment. Such was the downside of being a C.O., as she often had to force herself to have neutral opinions on everyone, “You know I can’t play favorites,” She was internally screaming that this conversation was even happening. She knew she was interested in him, but she hadn’t expected it to ever come to surface.

She was distracted from her thoughts as the rain suddenly came, and she quickly began to get soaked. Lex groaned as the waiter rushed out to try and set up an umbrella that barely prevented them from getting wet. She looked over as Bishop sat next to her, and she had to grin, “Well I guess we’re stuck here. Such a shame, isn’t it?” Lex gave him a playful wink before taking another sip, “Are you normally in the habit of dating your superiors?” She had to laugh, though she began to shiver rather quickly.

 

[Bishop Cain]

Bishop get his gaze locked on Lex the entire time, patiently sitting there and observing her reaction. When she finally spoke up and claimed she didn't know he was interested in that way, he laughed softly before taking another sip from his drink as well. He knew the struggle that was going on inside her head, her duty as C.O to the rest of the men and women in her unit against her personal needs and wants. Bishop too would have gone through this but he's already broken the rules with his ring fighting, what's one more like this added to the list of what he could be doing wrong. He wanted Lex and he didn't know why he wanted it so badly but he did.

When she mentioned she couldn't have favorites, a smile slowly crept up to Bishop's face and he gave her a nod, "I expected nothing less, all I ask is that you won't speak and tell about my outside hobbies." Instead of seeing it as another form or not, Bishop saw it as a challenge and a secret deal being struck between the two of them. With getting soaked from the rain and the waiter's umbrella coming in when it practically useless. As the waiter rushed off and left the two of them there, Bishop turned his head to gaze down at her and couldn't help but grin back at her, "Depends on how you look at it Tuts." He repeated at her before also giving a wink back.

Seeing her shiver, Bishop leaned back in his chair before sliding his arm around Lex, pulling her gently towards and giving her ample opportunity if she wanted to resist. They were both wet but he could offer whatever warmth he could even if it was a tiny amount. Hearing her question about if he dated his superiors, he chuckled softly before leaning his head down towards her ear, his lips grazing her ear lightly and murmuring softly, "Only the ones with tats." Referring back to what she said to him before.

Leaning back and turning his gaze to the open street in front of them, Bishop watched as the rain pounded against the ground. It seemed to roar louder with a proud acclaim that it intended to stay for the time being. Bishop glanced back to Lex and he couldn't the smirk forming on his lips, "Since you know about my side hobbies now, does that mean you'll come to more of my fights?" Bishop shrugged his shoulders before his eyes locked on hers, "And allow me to take you to dinner after each one like tonight?" To emphasize his point he picked up one of the remaining deviled legs before popping it into his mouth.

 

[Lex Kyrst]

Lex looked at him as he hinted at not wanting to her to reveal his side activities, “Don’t worry your secret’s safe with me,” She grinned, “I haven’t told anyone yet that you didn’t take Berserker on by yourself, have I?” She chuckled, remembering how ridiculous that story had gotten over time. Bishop had become more or less a legend ever since that battle and the woman rescued was still pining after him.

As the waiter left, Lex continued to shiver, her hair now matted to her shoulders. When he moved over, she was more than a little surprised. She didn’t move away, feeling his arm wrap around her as she felt a little nervous. There was no denying that she felt much warmer now as she was tugged closer to him, and she felt embarrassed at being so taken off guard. Lex wasn’t used to men making such bold moves with her, and she realized she didn’t mind it one bit. As he leaned in to speak into her ear, she felt a chill down her spine that had nothing to do with the weather. She could only laugh softly, her face heating up with a blush she hoped he couldn’t see.

She was thankful when he looked ahead of himself. Lex stopped shivering, still leaning into him. She kept her gaze on him, watching the way the rain gathered along his hair or dripped down his face. He seemed entirely unconcerned by it and was casually making conversation. Lex could only smile at his words, “I wouldn’t mind coming to see you get beat up,” She laughed, though her heart was pounding against her chest then. Lex quieted down for a moment, lowering her gaze slightly, “You should be proud of yourself. You’re making me nervous. That ridiculous Berserker man couldn’t even do that and here I am….completely out of my element,” She confessed at last, despising herself for feeling like this. Lex avoided even looking at him, chewing on her lip and wondering what to say. For as confident as she was in combat and leading troops, she felt absolutely pathetic right now.

 

[Bishop Cain]

"I'm glad I can I count on you, thanks, Lex." Hearing her next words, Bishop shook his head before looking at her, "You know you could have gotten credit too? I said you could tell people." Bishop still didn't understand why she hadn't told people that she was the one that actually had done the killing blow but it was too late now. His name had grown quite big and it was kinda awkward with his popularity growing from that and growing from his fights. It may have been time to take a break for a while or at least find some very underground ones. It was like an addiction to him and he didn't know if he could stop.

Bishop's arm snugged tighter around Lex's figure, pulling her in tighter as her frame formed against his. He felt the heat instantly and he relished it. This was much different then what he was used to. Bishop had never really done something like this before, most of his romances dealing with a woman in the stands of his fights and bringing them back home afterward. But Lex wasn't the same as that and this was uncharted territory for Bishop and he could feel his heart beating as well but he kept his calm. He couldn't figure out why but it was something about her that made him want her with every fiber of him and it was the first time that he's felt like this.

Bishop chuckled at her retort to viewing him fight, turning to look at her with a smirk on his face before looking back out to the rainstorm. "If I'm one of your best soldiers like you said, I'm surprised you want me to be hurt so much." He gave a short chuckle back before Lex quieted down and so did he, his gaze locked on the massive puddles forming along the street. When she spoke again he slowly brought his gaze over to her, seeing as she made no effort to look up at him and preferred a completely different direction. Bishop was surprised by her confession, never having seen her as the type to admit something like that out loud. "You should be proud, you don't realize how nervous I've been the moment I met you outside. And it wasn't because you found me at one of my fights."

Bishop didn't know what took over him but he lifted his other hand and cupped Lex's chin before tilting her gaze slowly towards him and forcing her to look up towards him. His eyes glanced down at her lips for a moment before he murmured softly, "You shouldn't bite your lip like that." Bishop's didn't let go of his gentle grip on her chin, his other arm still keeping them pressed closely together. His eyes roamed her features, his thumb gliding along her jaw as he seemed to be transfixed by her.