Not Without You

[Nikka Toren]

Dantooine
21:32
Lakeside Residence, Oranta Lake

​

She was a married woman now.

It was still a shock to think of. They had to wait for some time, before re-meeting; unexplained absences would not work, no matter how much she would try. It had been nearly a month since they had spoken their vows; she was given excused absence of leave to rest and recover after working herself to the bone within Jedha's infirmary. And it didn't particularly matter where she went; her Padawan Sam was temporarily surrendered under Horus' quality mastership until she would return, but she had a week and a half.

It was a luxury she anticipated using.

Her ring was kept on a chain around her neck until she finally made it to Dantooine. She had been extremely careful, renting a shuttlecraft under an assumed pseudonym, and only slipped the ring on when she finally made it within the treeline.

A honeymoon home away from home.

Without sight, she could pilot well enough; the thrum of life was bright enough that finding a place to land was not difficult. She had purchased a wardrobe specifically for this time; and for once, the Knight had an expectant spring to her step. The ring was a comforting weight; she was coming to a holiday.

A holiday with her husband. It was oddly sweet to hear; She wondered if he already beat her to it; unlikely, but they would see. She wanted to dress ahead; she knew she looked a sorry sight at the moment, fatigue pulling at her features. She needed a long, hot shower, a change... and to hear his voice again.

How soon, only the Force knew.

@Nefieslab

​

 

[Darth Tagus]

Dantooine had seemed like a decent place to go.

The two of them were from different factions in a war and Dantooine actually managed to be a neutral place for the two of them... and all because the Empire had so thoroughly destroyed the GA presence here right at the genesis for all of this. The war had sprung from the GA growing here and making their first few attacks from here.

They had paid the price and Dantooine had long ago decided against supporting either party in the war. Instead the farmers of Dantooine tried so very hard to be isolationists, to farm and to be left in peace.

It was a decent enough place he supposed.

Of course getting here had been something of a chore - he had hidden his personal ship in the woods after making several almost random jumps to even get here. And now he was here waiting for his wife to arrive and facing a real struggle if he was honest with himself.

He was bored.

He was also stumped.

"... I karking hate this."

He glared at the fire that refused to light. It was a wood burner that apparently had a starter that you just had to activate but he hadn't figured out how to active it. The manual had been exactly no help.

He felt Nikka approaching in the Force and called out to her.

"I don't suppose you know how to fix needlessly-high-tech fireplaces do you?" he called out to her before adding, "And glad you got here safe too!"

He was glad of it but still... kark this fireplace.

@Killa Ree

 

[Nikka Toren]

Low, silvery laughter rolled from the darkness as she slowly stepped in, mindful to at least shed her boots before stepping. Even though she was blind, she was all too aware of dust, dirt and grime, and couldn't really stand too much of it in one place if she had to. Even a former mechanic had limits. She had sensed his foul mood even before she stepped in, and she was glad. Glad to see him, glad to be in a place that was not of particular value to either side... just glad.

"I might," she grinned, kneeling beside him and holding her hand out to be handed the activator, leaning over to give a quick kiss to his cheek before turning to the maddening piece of tech. "Happy you made it too; I wasn't certain you would be here before me." But once she leaned back it seemed to be all business; the fact that he even considered such a low-tech thing high-tech was something that amused her, but she wouldn't let it show. Instead, her fingers ran over the object, brows raising slightly.

"It isn't that difficult, love..." she muttered, with a self-depreciating grin. "Well... I say that, but I can't imagine sight was the advantage," giving him a teasing nudge with her shoulder, chuckling. Unlike arrival, she could feel the tension in her shoulders melting away as she fiddled with the small device, prying up the opening panel.

She seemed to tweak a few wires, and then there was a click, a hiss... and then the fire burst to life, contained within as a sudden flash of light and warmth in the safety of transparisteel. She clicked the panel back into place, then sighed, rocking back on her heels to sit down squarely, tilting her head back.

"It's good to be away from the war, for a little while." The words were soft, but heartfelt. She knew he would see; he read her so well already, it should have been alarming but it wasn't. Not anymore.

"I hope you haven't been waiting long... I had to go a longer route."

@Nefieslab

 

[Darth Tagus]

Well she was laughing so at least one of them was having some fun dealing with this blasted fireplace. In the end he just sighed and smiled a little bit as he looked up at her from where he was crouched down in front of it. It was good to see her again and the smile that filled his face was as genuine a smile as he had ever felt before in his life. He hummed a little bit as she approached. Of course she might be able to.

He handed the activator to her and chuckled at the quick kiss.

"I fly recklessly." he answered her honestly, "Most of my time was spent making sure I hid the ship effectively enough that no one would be able to find it."

It wasn't too hard since Dantooine was hardly a hub of activity and a lot of it was still nothing but farmland and wilderness for the most part. He rolled his eyes a little bit when she mentioned the technology he was stumped on wasn't difficult. She might be an engineer but he was just a Sith.

He stabbed things for a living.

"I think it might be experience with things other than stabbing them." he joked in response, "Don't you worry - I've got other talents. Lighting weird fires is not one of them though."

Zeven clapped his hands twice when the fire activated.

"My Jedi Knight Wife, bringer of fire!" he joked as he stood up and pulled her to her feet with a hand, "I've had enough time to start some food I admit. I've been working on my cooking."

It was surprisingly easy for him to cook and rather relaxing as well.

@Killa Ree

 

[Nikka Toren]

She hummed contentedly when he helped her to her feet, melting it into a chuckle at his comment. "Yes, fixer of impossible things... but don't tell anyone." A warm smile touched her lips, and for a moment she was content to be held, to be close to him once more. In so much chaos, right here right now was a little bit of peace. She lightly kissed him once, raising up on the balls of her feet, before withdrawing with a worn smile.

She knew it had to be difficult, learning to cook with her having such a strict vegetarian diet. And she could cook, she just typically rarely had the time for any such thing. It sounded divine after working herself to pieces the last month. "Well, let me just wash off the dust of the galaxy; I'm afraid right now I must appear a mess." Her fingertips skimmed over his cheek, holding it there for a moment, before tilting her head, the smile growing.

"If you don't mind, of course...Also, I missed you." It was a very quiet admission, but it was there, accentuated by the pop and crackle of the fire next to them.

But then... what else was there to say? Obligations and titles were being temporarily packed away, boundaries relaxed slightly. She could be honest once in a while... and admitting such things was not a weakness, but a strength. She released him, and began to turn to find the shower room.

She needed a few minutes to relax under the warm spray of water, and regain her strength. She had never wanted to admit it, but after so many long shifts in the infirmary of Jedha, teaching others to heal, helping and proving and testing and discovering... she was worn to the bone. She was too tired at this exact moment to be anything but honest.

Perhaps the waters of Dantooine would help clear her head long enough to taste this food her husband had made. How... domestic.

@Nefieslab

 

[Darth Tagus]

Fixer of impossible things eh? He hoped that she wasn't talking about him with that little remark - he was perfect just the way he was, thank you very much. Or maybe she was thinking about how she was going to continue to try and make him better? Bring him to the Light or something similar?

Or maybe she was just talking about the fireplace.

Her dietary requirements were a little bit odd but he could live with only eating meat when she wasn't around. What he had been cooking was simple and something they both could eat anyway. When she mentioned going to get clean however he hummed a little bit and let her go.

Before smirking a little bit.

Ignoring the cooking, Tagus waited until she had started the shower before beginning to undress as he walked. Throwing his clothes aside, the green Sith knew that Nikka would be able to sense him as he approached so he made no effort to hide himself as he stepped in under the spray behind her, kissing the side of her neck.

"I missed you too - shall I show you how much?"

@Killa Ree

 

[Nikka Toren]

She knew he was following the moment the warm water began running down her shoulders. She groaned aloud in relief when it smoothed away all the aches and pains accrued in the last few years; her left shoulder, where the knotted scar where she was stabbed by him when they first parted ways... the lighter burns over the upper right part of her chest, shoulder and back where the Empire agent had managed to get in his first few shots... the other wound in her leg where a heavy blaster bolt had been caught when on Falleen...

All of it. She leaned her head against the cool tile, leaning back again when she felt Tagus step behind her, his lips on her throat.

She had to face reality. He was a Sith Lord, yes, and a man... a man she was falling for. A man who wanted her by his side... and if she was? She would be a traitor. But... there were so few in the Order that would even truly miss or need her. So many members, so superfluous... who would truly care about Nikka?

She leaned against him, humming contentedly before winding her fingers up, into his scalp.

"Yes, please..."

@Nefieslab

 

[Darth Tagus]

She knew he was coming and if she wanted to she could have told him to stop at any time but it seemed that she felt like she needed this just as much as he did. They had gotten married and then separated themselves with literal lightyears so he felt like there was a certain mutual longing that had built up. They deserved a chance to rest and relieve themselves of their burdens and their worries - at least he thought so.

He slowly wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Alright... just lean back..."

--

The food was burnt beyond recognition by the time they escaped the shower and Tagus had decided that the only thing for it was the only thing he didn't have to cook. So the two of them was now sat in front of the fireplace, the fire alive and well, as they just relaxed.

With Tagus occasionally throwing a mini-marshmallow up into the air for the two of them to fight over with the Force, the winner getting to eat it.

Sweets were always a binding agent in his experience.

"So..." he asked even as he threw another one up into the air, "When do you have to go back?"

@Killa Ree

 

[Nikka Toren]

She needed this. Sometimes, it was too much to feel all those eyes, those voices calling out, hands gripping her in pain or mute in their dying moments, there were so many bodies that she sometimes forgot what it meant to be held by a living man. He felt real enough. He sounded real enough. But her senses were so worn, that she was no longer certain which ground she stood on. She was anchored here, temporarily. She was not safe, that was an illusion, but she began to lean back into him...

--

She was leaning back on her elbows, legs curled up beneath her as she twisted her fingers in its' direction, leaning up suddenly to kiss him on the cheek to claim the sweet with a smile.

The smile vanished when he asked.

For a few moments, fire crackled and popped as the marshmallow was forgotten. She sat back upright slowly, humming out a sigh as she twisted towards him, weight supported on one arm while the other draped over her waist.

"A week and a half... I was more or less ordered not to come back until then." Her voice was soft, contemplative as the fire crackled on, listening to the chirrup of insects and beasts outside the walls of the house. Far off, a breeze ruffled the tops of trees, making them whisper along with the nighttime sounds. She only noted half of these things when she kept her 'sight' on him, tilting her head slightly.

"Do you have to leave soon, then?" It wasn't wistful, but it was almost nonchalantly spoken, along with her pose. She wasn't going to let herself think of the future for once; there was today, and tomorrow, and the day after that. The firelight every now and then caught the ring on her finger; she had slipped it back on after the shower. Every now and then, she let her thumb skim over it absentmindedly as she waited for his answer.

@Nefieslab

 

[Darth Tagus]

Ah it seemed that talking about life outside of these four walls was still enough to rob her of her smile - he could understand why. Their lives inside were far more simple than the lives they led outside of them. He sighed and tossed another marsmallow up into the air before spinning it around idly with the Force.

He tossed it into the fire with a flick of his hand.

"You got ordered to spend time with your Sith Lord husband?" he teased her a little bit with a deep chuckle, "Or am I distracting you from some kind of diplomatic mission? Or, perhaps, I am the diplomatic mission?"

It would be amusing if the Jedi knew about this and allowed it out of some strange belief that she could convince him to tell her Sith information or, Force forbid, defect to the Rebellion. He shook his head a little bit.

"Being Sith comes with certain freedoms." he admitted with a shrug, "We are allowed greater freedom to wander but, then again, I don't have to hide this. My Emperor knows."

@Killa Ree

 

[Nikka Toren]

She let out a soft huff of part indignant disbelief, part laughter at him teasing her. She merely perked a brow, the smile slowly returning to her lips at him considering her to think of making him a diplomatic mission. Though it was true in the past... she knew what was inevitable. He would never defect; his ambitions and pride were staunchly with the Empire.

She had tried. But it was not going to happen. He was entrenched in rage, in hatred, in climbing to get what he needed. She felt the scars on his back, had a very small taste of what he experienced... she knew almost better than most what he had to do to climb to who he was now. What he was.

Darth Tagus, Sith Lord.

Honestly, it almost sounded like a holodrama. Well, if it was she wanted her share of the credits and more screen time.

...But.

She took a deep breath, exhaled.

"No. No missions," she gave him a soft half-grin, tilting her head back slightly. "Medical leave. I... collapsed during one of my personal missions."

It was a very quiet admission, thumb still skimming over her ring. "It was necessary, I was told. They do not know I am married... yet." She tilted her face to meet his again, lips curved into a bittersweet smile. "Who knows what may happen if they do know about you... probably strip me of all Force ability. Kill me, throw me in a dark hole to be forgotten..." there was a shrug. "...Nobody knows."

A few beats of silence passed. The fire hissed and crackled for a bit before she spoke again, softly.

"...Freedom. What a strange word. We're never really free, either side. It's odd to think about."

And stranger to think the Emperor knew of her existence. Did he know they wed?

Another thought popped to mind, but now wasn't the time to dwell with that. Another time, perhaps, she would speak up...

But meantime, she wanted him with her. No Empire or Alliance, Jedi or Sith... however long this small vacation was going to be, she wanted to enjoy it to the fullest. She hummed once, then shook her head, giving him a grin.

"But. I will ask, now that you have me, whatever shall we do with such time to ourselves?"

@Nefieslab

 

[Darth Tagus]

Teasing his new wife was something he rather enjoyed, all things considered. There was never a reason not to in his opinion - especially when it worked wonders to clear the air of anything too serious. He could tell that she didn't want to laugh but he had managed to get her to show her amusement despite herself.

He would call that a small victory for now.

"You collapsed?" he asked with a raised eyebrow before chuckling, "Is this the part of the holodrama where you tell me that you're pregnant with the Emperor's child and you're really some kind of super princess of the ancient Sith or something?"

Holodramas these days were just getting beyond surreal, to the point where the show about dating the Emperor was actually something approaching normal.

What a galaxy to live in.

He chuckled.

"I think they'd use you as a trap to try and kill me or capture me." he admitted with a small shrug, "It would be sneaky and I'd almost respect them for it actually."

Almost.

They had time and they had freedom together for now so the question turned to what they would do with all of that time together. He chuckled a little bit and hummed lightly, tracing a pattern along her arm with his finger.

"I'm not sure - maybe we should go spelunking together? There used to be Jedi temples and caves around here right?" he hummed, "Or maybe you're ready to join me and the Empire?"

@Killa Ree

 

[Nikka Toren]

She snorted at that thought, which melted into a laugh. She slowly rolled upright, giving him a small smirk of amusement, a chuckle rolling past her lips one last time before she spoke. "You're forgetting the part the Emperor's secretly my cousin off to get my fortune, and that I'm the best Queen anyone has ever seen for this ancient society," she teased right back, perking a dark brow. She snagged one marshmallow from the bag, and instead of tossing it into the air popped it into her mouth, still with that shameless smile.

"No. To any of that. I simply overworked myself," came the offhand statement, with one shoulder shrug. She smiled to hear him laugh; it wasn't often. These little moments were the best they had for now, but she savored them.

But... he wasn't wrong. To lay a trap to capture a Sith Lord... the Alliance was desperate enough. They would use her if they knew. But nobody did, so far... nobody, at least, who could connect the two together. Her initial report of Tython took care of that. How long ago that was... how different, too.

She tilted her head as his finger stroked against her arm, catching it with her hand and lacing her fingers through his. "Mmm, a midnight swim would not be too terrible..." She grinned, thumb skimming against the outside of his own.

Then, the air seemed to still. She took a breath, and then tilted her face up to his.

There was a thought...

He already knew the answer.

She tugged on his hand, slowly rolling upright. "Come, the water calls and I need to stretch my legs."

Her brows raised in a teasing smile, already beginning to tug off her loose sheath dress. "If you don't hurry, I'll make you wash dishes too," before letting the fabric fall into a pile at her feet, and begin striding to the glass doors, mindful to stretch her hand out beforehand to open it before striding into the night air.

@Nefieslab