Never Talk to Strangers...

I own nothing in the Star Wars universe, and I make no money from these writings.

Chapter 9

“Another round, A’zael?” Aislynn asked the scantily clad woman seated at the bar before her. The woman laughed and nodded, motioning to her companion.

“One for each of us. And for you, if you like.”

Aislynn shook her head, “Negative. Too early for me to drink. Especially with the two of you. You must have had a good night.”

“Great night,” the woman purred, examining her carefully manicured nails. “Trooper boy, fresh out of the Academy. All that extra cash from an off world bonus just waiting for me. Fine lad. Fine ass. Good tipper.”

Aislynn snorted.

The other woman - Aislynn thought her name was Tara - leaned forward conspiratorially. “The imps are fine for what they’re worth, but nothing compared to a hunter. They’re worth big money.”

A’zael flashed a knowing glance at Aislynn, who smiled and turned to pour the drinks.

“So, young’un, you know you’re just dying to give us the details,” Azael teased. “You know how much I adore juicy gossip.”

The younger whore smiled as she examined her finely manicured nails, and announced, “I spent last night with the Fett.”

A’zael choked on her drink.

Aislynn said nothing as she set the shots down in front of the two hookers. The other woman continued her story. “The most violent of men often make the best lovers.”

“So what is the Fett like between the sheets, Tara?” A’zael asked, grinning.

“A most tender and gentle lover...”

Aislynn started laughing. “Now I know she’s lying.”

The hooker looked at her in shock.

A’zael, who was a regular at Kip’s joined in her laughter. “Girl, you picked the wrong bar to tell that story in. This here,” she jerked her finger at Aislynn, “is Fett’s girl. Everyone around these parts knows it.”

The other woman stammered an apology.

Aislynn just laughed and poured them three shots. “I’m used to it, sweetie. If that man had slept with half the woman that come in here running their mouths, he wouldn’t have time to do anything else. Cheers,” she said, downing the shot.

“I thought you weren’t drinking this early,” A’zael said.

“Changed my mind,” handing the empty shot glasses to a droid.

“You should be careful though, Aislynn, dearling. Bounty hunters are not known for their fidelity. And men love fiercely but their love burns out quicker than a woman’s. And his career choice is...terribly dangerous.”

“I know. I’ve heard, and ignored, all this advice before.”

“So, how is he, really?” A’zael purred.

“Hell on wheels. Fire and fury...”

“You wouldn’t, by chance be talking about me, would you?” a smooth voice interjected, from over her left shoulder.

All three of the women jumped. The young girl - Tara - nearly fell off of her barstool, knocking a half full drink across the bar.

“How in the seven hells do you do that?” Aislynn snapped at him. “I never hear you coming. What did you do, walk through the damn door?”

“It’s my job,” he turned to the two hookers. “Ladies, if you would excuse us for a few moments...”

“We were just leaving, Master Fett,” A’zael said, pulling her thoroughly embarrassed companion to her feet. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Aislynn.”

They left quickly.

“Do you mind locking the door?” he asked, and she could hear the weariness in his voice.

She did so, as he leaned his signature rifle against the wall, pulled off his helmet and sank into a chair. His eyes had huge black circles beneath them, but the corners of his mouth lifted as she reached down to rub the back of his neck. The hint of a smile drove her crazy.

“Rough job?”

“You could say that.”

“Want to talk about it?”

“Not really.” He grasped her hand and drew it to his lips. “I’d rather talk about you.”

She flushed. “I’m not really all that interesting...”

“I find you quite interesting,” he returned, a wicked gleam returning to his eyes. He reached for her waist, but she slipped away from him. He groaned in mock irritation and rose slowly from the chair. “Ash-love, I’m too tired for chasing games.”

He stepped towards her and she took a step back, matching him. He dropped into a low stalking stance and growled playfully. She tried to duck past him, but he intercepted her, lifting her off her feet and into a sitting position on the edge of the bar. She plucked at his chest armor, “Damn all this metal, no fun at all,” pretending to pout.

“The whole keeping-me-alive issue sort of overrules the ‘fun’, but I could get out of it easily enough...”

The storeroom door slammed open loudly. “Dammit you two, not ON my fucking bar! Upstairs with you! Now!” Kip shouted, as he waddled towards them waving a bar towel threateningly.

Aislynn dove off the bar and darted past him up the back stairs, with Boba close behind her.

“I’ll just put your things behind the bar then, right boy?” Kip shouted up the stairs as the door banged shut behind them.

~ ~ ~

A few hours later, Aislynn snuggled next to him with her head pressed against his shoulder, one leg draped across his. She listened to the sound of his breathing in the darkened room, soft and steady. Idly she traced the latticework of scars on his chest, old and new. Each time he returned there were more. She never asked him about them, but sometimes he would tell her the tale, if he was proud of the hunt. Usually, he said nothing, his silence adding to the mysterious divide between them. She felt, rather than heard him sigh.

“Are you asleep?” she asked softly.

“No. You?”

She laughed and sat up, reaching for the balled up blankets at the end of the bed. He moved with her, wrapping his strong arms around her, pulling her close to him. “You have a show tonight?” he asked, nuzzling the back of her neck. She shivered as his unshaven chin scraped against her skin.

“S’posed to.”

He made a displeased sound deep in his chest and tightened his grip.

“If you would let me know when you were on your way...”

“You know I can’t,” he tried to pull her back down on the bed.

“Do you ever get tired?” she asked, pushing his arms away gently, and rolled over, propping herself up on her elbows. “I need a short break at least.” She dropped her head to his chest and slipped her arms around him. “Tell me a story.”

“What?”

“A story.”

Shaking his head, he asked, “What kind of story?”

“A love story.”

He took a deep breath, and thought for a moment in silence. She wriggled closer to him, pressing the length of her body against his side. “You have to start with ‘Once upon a time...’”

“OK. Once upon a time...”

“..In a faraway land...”

“Am I telling this story, or would you like to take over?”

“No. Sorry. Continue.”

“All right then,” He cleared his throat theatrically. “Once upon a time in a faraway land, there lived a beautiful maiden. Her family was poor in goods, but rich in spirit. Her parents taught her how to love the land, and those around her. They were happy. Time passed and the maiden’s parents died, and she mourned their loss. But even after her parents had traveled to the Shining Lands, she continued to live as they had taught her and after a time, she learned to smile again.

Then one day, a stranger fell from the sky. The maiden, and the good people of that land took the stranger in and treated him like one of their own. But the stranger did not know how to love as they did, and he brought great evil to the land. The stranger thought to leave, and take the evil following him far away, but he could not bring himself to leave. By his selfishness, he caused the destruction of the maiden’s home. To protect her and to make amends, he carried her away to his home in the stars. But in his heart, he knew the evil would follow him.

So he left the girl, and traveled far from her into the night sky, telling himself she would be safe, and trying to forget her. But the harder he tried to forget, the more he longed to see her, to touch her, to know if she found her smile again...” He stopped, staring past her into the darkness.

“I think I know this story,” she said softly. “The maiden knew that she should forget the dark stranger, and make her a new home in this land beyond the stars. But secretly, she longed for him to return...” she paused.

He turned to look into her eyes. “And return he did, and they were happy for a time.” He stopped again. “I don’t remember how it ends. Do you?”

“Stories must end happily ever after,” she said, without lifting her head from his chest..

“Ah. Well, then, they fall hopelessly, desperately in love. He returns one day to carry her away to his castle in the sky and they do. Live happily ever after. The end.”

“It is a good story.”

“Aislynn...”

She silenced him with a kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck, feeling the warmth of his body against hers.

And they were happy, for a time.