Ask Mandalore There is Always Time

[Nox Solus]

The two had arrived in secret at their destination and it was practically a paradise compared to what Nox was used to. A nice room had been given to them, a balcony connected to it that allowed them to overlook the serenity that befallen the planet. Both Nox and Shale were out of their armor, her much more comfortable than him as they had stayed in the room for a majority of their time so far because of him. When she would ask the first couple of times, Nox would just make some sort of sound that resembled the start of a sentence before just closing his mouth. What followed after was him either shrugging his shoulders or turning on the Holo and creating another subject.

Shale caught on and more told him they were going to leave the room even if he didn't want to. Catching her words, Nox exhaled softly before just shutting off the holo and standing up from the bed. He made his way over to the door that led to the balcony, halting underneath the frame before extending his arms above him to grip it, stretching out his lean muscle as his gaze locked back on Shale.

She would catch him drinking her in without shame, the sun reflecting off the black plates of his arm and making his amber eyes nearly glimmer gold. It wasn't often he got to see Shale without her beskar'gam, especially with the way the sunlight struck off her, highlighting her features even more. She was beautiful and it was clear Nox was fine about not moving from his spot, "You sure? I could admire you all day right here." The Basic came out crisp as he got quite proficient with it over his bounty-hunting years.

While he spoke the truth, it was also another attempt to not leave. Presently on the island, it shook his courage to just roam freely without his helmet. Like her and more, it was clear that he was conditioned for war as well. His marks were even harder to hide, his black cybernetic limbs, the scar across his eye, and many more that were hidden by his tank top and swimsuit.

 

[Shale Vizsla]

Shale caught his gaze roaming over her entire body and it brought a faint flush to her cheeks. However, she smiled at him, reaching a hand out to grasp his cybernetic one to tug him close. By now she was used to the cool touch of the prosthetics on him. Shale traced a lone finger down his chest, grazing between his pecs as she looked up at him, “Maybe I wanna show off my man to the world every now and then,” She flashed him a grin as she leaned up to kiss him.

Shale didn’t linger there long, walking around him and grasping him by the hand to drag him with her, “Come on, let’s go to the beach,” She called out as she led the way to the exit.

The beach below was full of people, music resounding all around and the drinks flowing. It was unnerving even for her to be in such little clothing out in the open. She kept thinking everyone would stare at her or judge her, but no such thing happened. Over time, she began to ease up, feeling the sand between her toes and the salty breeze on her skin.

Shale kept her grip on Nox’s hand the entire time, glancing over to see how he was faring. Her smile changed to a grimace, “Ugh, will you stop making that face? No one cares that you’re out here. In fact, if you keep being so awkward, that’ll draw even more attention.”

 

[Nox Solus]

Nox's eyes tracked her silently as she stepped to him, one of her hands first pulling down his metal one before interlocking their fingers as she pulled him in. The finger that dragged down his chest earned the reaction of his eyes shutting for a moment, Shale able to feel his heart beat slightly faster at her touch and the prospect of heading out. When they opened again, he gave her a half grin as well before they kissed, eagerly taking the opportunity to clear his mind.

Before she could pull away, Shale would feel his prosthetic fingers slip out of hers and his arm smoothly snake around the arch of her back. She was pulled back into him, their bodies pressed together fully as she would then feel his other hand travel up the length of her arm. Nox's real hand would end past her shoulder and cupped her face gently before he leaned down once more and captured her lips, kissing with a contained hunger. He kissed passionately and breathed her in as if taking his last breath from an oxygen tank before taking a dive.

The moment only lasted for a moment before he slowly separated, his robotic fingers once more returning to her as he smirked and replied, "I'm pretty sure I'm the one who is showing you off." Abruptly though, he would be dragged by her to the exit, cutting off any chance of schmoozing her to stay inside. Nox murmured out with a chuckle as he followed her, "Yes ma'am..." Before they left the room, he snatched their bag from the table.

Unlike Shale, the further they went, the tenser Nox got. Instantly after they left the hotel, a pair of shades covered his eyes as kept his gaze averted from others or only focused on Shale. As a way to hide, the bag he held in his free hand was thrown over his shoulder and held there, covering a majority of his face from a certain angle naturally. Shale's grasp and the bag were the only factors that were preventing him from crawling out of his own skin.

When he glanced back over to Shale and saw her smile turn into a grimace, he arched his eyebrow at her. Nox couldn't help but laugh softly after her request, the words in a playful tone, "You get quite bossy on vacation." A scan of their immediate vicinity would be taken before he focused back on her and offered her the fakest smile he could muster, "Better?" The word forced through the smile and came out slightly muffled.

 

[Shale Vizsla]

Shale laughed in return to his suggestions that she was being bossy, “Of course,” She quipped back, “Normally you’re always the boss after all. Figure we could switch it up here,” She gave him a wink. She wondered what it was like to always be in charge and have the weight of an entire people on his shoulders. They seldom talked about it and she rarely brought it up because she knew it kept him up at night. She had spent enough time sleeping next to him to feel him tossing and turning. Something always weighed on his mind for one reason or another.

She took one glance at his fake smile and quirked a brow, “You look like you’ve been constipated for a week,” She remarked on the smile. However, she wasn’t fazed by it, leading him over to some beach lounges. She stretched out on one of them, easing back as she grabbed a fruity drink from a droid that was going around serving them. Shale exhaled as she gazed up at the sun, feeling the warmth on her skin.

“Thanks for coming out here,” She said after a moment as she tilted her head to look at him, “It means the galaxy to me that you did this. I know it’s…not as critical as taking a planet or leading our people to victory or all the big stuff you have to shoulder,” Shale smiled at him as she gave his hand a squeeze, “But these moments with you trump all of it for me.”

 

[Nox Solus]

Nox smirked at her retort that they could switch it up to her being in charge. The break would certainly be appreciated, even if it would only be in this small window of paradise they would eventually leave behind.

With the comment about his constipated look, he let out a hearty chuckle that time with an actual smile before he just gave a shrug, "Good. That means people will know to stay away. The blast radius could be devastating." Nox would rather suffer the misinformation of being constipated than having a group of people surround him, freely able to lay eyes upon whatever part of him.

A set of lounges was discovered and the pair deviated towards them, Nox letting himself be taken where she wanted. As Shale laid down and claimed her space, he on the other hand would just join her as he sat down between her legs. The sun was angled high enough that the rays could strike them both easily. Tossing the bag to the side, Nox just sat at the edge of the lounge between her feet as his gaze locked on the ocean. Because of his cybernetics directly exposed, they reflected the sun vibrantly, the gold inlays shimmering brightly while the black metal was practically a void. Pairs of eyes were attracted to the combination and he either completely directed his gaze to the water or to the sand between his toes to avoid contact.

Shale spoke up after a few seconds and he shifted so that he could gaze back at her. He felt the squeeze from her hand and returned one back before he lifted her hand and planted a kiss on top of it. "Anything," he murmured softly against her skin before just returning his gaze back to the water. His reply had been short and sweet but she would be able to piece together why. Nox's grip around her own was constrictive but not painful, beads of sweat already dripping down his skin even though they had only been outside for minutes. It felt as if his lungs were half full and he slowly inhaled and exhaled through his nose while he watched the waves lap onto the shore.