Trouble was drawing near.
Ahsoka was nursing her tall glass of Corsekka Brandy when she sensed him - and she was certain it was a him. Sure enough, there was a shape settling onto the barstool right beside hers. Tall and broad and overbearingly masculine, it simply couldn’t be anything other than a man. Especially since she could feel the attention coming her way.
Another admirer, come to try his luck…
Ahsoka held back a sigh. On the other side of the bar, Tip-10 and his ten pairs of arms were occupied mixing drinks. She’d get no help from him.
“I never got to apologize for bumping into you earlier.” The new arrival finally spoke. His voice was deep, slightly distorted, and familiar.
Ahsoka spared a glance. It was the armored bounty hunter from before. The mercenary with manners, she recalled. There was a part of her that wanted to smirk, the same part that spiked with a sense of pride.
One look was all it took for him, huh?
“You did, actually.” Ahsoka remembered clearly. A small moment, just minutes before. Either the man’s memory was fuzzy… or he just wanted an excuse to come chat her up. Perhaps it was both.
The armored man chuckled, the sound rumbling even deeper thanks to his helmet. The red visor gleamed under the club’s pulsing lights, like the helmet itself was winking at her.
“I never got the chance to introduce myself, then.”
Ahsoka continued to stir her drink, saying nothing. She caught movement at the corner of her eye followed by the soft clink of metal upon metal. Her curiosity getting the better of her, Ahsoka spared a look. It was the man’s helmet, now resting on the bar, the red visor darkened. From there, her eyes flicked up to the man himself.
Huh.
Ahsoka had expected a grizzled face, scarred and weathered from a life scouring the systems for bounties and loot. Instead, she was greeted with green eyes, cunning and lively, and a fresh face set with a friendly grin. He was young - younger than Ahsoka expected at least. Couldn’t have been older than twenty-five. And he wasn’t ugly. Far, far from ugly.
His features were striking, not chiseled. Straight nose, strong jaw, but not hard and rugged in the way the clone troopers had been. He had nice lips, she found. Full lips that looked good in the smile he wore now. His hair, waves of dark brown swept back, went down to his ears. Long enough that a girl could spend her time running her fingers through it.
Roguish good looks, as Ahsoka had once heard. In a better mood, she might even have called him dashing.
“I’m Kace. Kace Korodo.”
“I’m busy.” Ahsoka’s reply came with the power of the force. Nothing too strong, not like how she dealt with Vark and his boys. Just enough to send this Kace Korodo off. He’d just nod and leave and maybe find some dancer to keep him company.
“You don’t look busy.” The man said, still looking her over. His helmet remained set on the bar, his posture settled, relaxed, showing no sign that he had any intention of leaving. “In fact… you look kinda lonely.”
“Looks can be deceiving.” Ahsoka kept her tone flat. She didn’t allow the surprise to show on her face, either. It had been a while since someone had been able to resist a mind trick from her.
Kace, though, seemed to have taken her tone as one of offense.
“Hey, didn’t mean to imply anything. It’s just a curious thing, seeing a pretty lady sitting all alone.”
The man was determined. She had to give him that.
“I like it this way.” Ahsoka idly stirred her drink, watching the Brandy swirl in the tall glass. “It’s peaceful.”
She heard Kace snort. Nothing so irksome as a scoff, but it earned a look from her anyway. The man had an arched brow.
“Nothing about this moon is peaceful. Same goes for this club.” He said. As if she hadn’t already noticed.
Ahsoka said nothing. Her own look was calm, serene, and sharper than any word that might have waited on her tongue. The man noticed and noticed quickly.
“Just saying.” He defended half-heartedly, still at ease as he leaned against the bar. “If you wanted peace and quiet, you picked a bad spot.”
“They serve good drinks here.”
Ahsoka took a small sip, as if to prove her point. The Corsekka flavoring tingled in her mouth, burning faintly as it went down. She quirked her lips, almost giving him a smile. She held it back - yet the man was still eyeing her up. Not even her drab clothes and heavy cloak could dissuade him, just like it couldn’t dissuade all those other men.
But this Kace Korodo… He wasn’t like all those other men. Ahsoka could see that now. Perhaps that was why his interest no longer bothered her. Not as much, anyway.
Ahsoka set her glass down, tapping her finger along the long, thin straw. She looked Kace over again, taking her time as she did. Not bad looking. Not bad looking at all.
“I’m Tasana.” She finally offered up. Her newest alias turned the man’s grin into a smile. A handsome smile, enriched by the shine of his green eyes.
What harm was there in humoring him for an evening?
He made for better company than Vark, anyway.
- - -
He got a name out of her. That was a good sign.
Kace played it cool. He was off the clock, his helmet set aside. This was his time to loosen up. What better way than with a stunning Togruta girl?
“What are you having? Is that Corsekka?”
The girl - Tasana - glanced aside from her tall glass. That look in her eye was hard to place. Was she impressed? Annoyed?
“Sharp eye.” She finally said.
Kace grinned, leaning against the bar.
“It pays to be perceptive in my line of work.” He waved the bartender droid over, Tipper-something. “Next round’s on me.”
But Tasana let out a little sigh and shook her head.
“I can pay for my own drinks.”
“I wasn’t offering to pay.” Kace countered with a chuckle. “Tobbo gave me drinks on the house. Thought I’d share the wealth.”
The Togruta arched a brow.
“Tobbo said that did he? Never took him for the generous type.”
Kace caught the faintest change in her posture, reservation fading ever so slightly to interest. Tasana shifted on her bar stool, turning her body an inch or so more to face him. He could see her face better now, all those delicate and stunning lines that made up her beauty.
The club lights were pulsing in neon rainbow, but Kace could still make out the creamy orange of her skin and the pale markings painted upon her cheeks and brow. Under her hood, her eyes scrutinized him in cunning blue, sharp and striking. Lower, her mouth had even more appeal. Her lips were plump and full and oh so inviting. At the corners, Kace caught tiny upward curls.
Tasana lifted her chin some. Her gaze softened the tiniest bit. Another good sign.
“Sounds like you’re a popular guy around here.”
“At the moment, yeah.” Kace gave a lazy shrug. “Might change tomorrow.”
“And what will happen tomorrow?” She asked, dryly amused, slightly curious.
“Nothing in particular. It just comes with the job. I’m a bounty hunter. It doesn’t pay to pick sides.”
“Right. So you’re a ‘play all the angles’ sort of guy?”
“No. Just the angles I like.”
It was a corny line and he didn’t make it any better with the way he let his gaze sweep over her, layers of clothes and all. Tasana rolled her eyes, as any self-respecting woman would have. But there was a small victory in the sharp little smirk he saw tugging at her mouth. She was even prettier when she smiled, even if it was dry.
“That… was pretty bad.” She snorted. The Togruta made no move to leave, though, resting her chin on her palm while idly swirling her tall glass of brandy.
“Just give me some more time. They’ll get better.”
Tasana gave a soft, short hum.
“We’ll see.”
That was when Kace knew he had a real chance. All thanks to his rugged charm, no doubt. Nar Shaddaa girls weren’t nearly as patient as their core world sisters. If she wasn’t interested, she would have told Kace plainly by now. Either that or she’d have fled the club entirely.
She took a sip of her drink, slow and deliberate. She took him in the same way, her gaze scrutinizing, appraising. And if the way her lips lingered at the edge of her glass told Kace anything, it was that she was the tiniest bit more curious.
Favorable odds. More than they were five minutes ago. Kace’s spirits were brimming - though he kept a lid on them. Tasana would get a good look at his lofty mood soon enough… once he got under that hood of hers.
- - -
“So what does a girl like you do for fun on a moon like this? Besides drinking alone at the club?”
Kace had slid off his stool, leaning against the bar some inches closer now. Ahsoka allowed it. She sensed no danger from him, no ill will or intent to harm. And though the prodding questions irked as they always did, Ahsoka found the bounty hunter sent them with an odd sort of charm. Maybe it was the eyes. She always liked roguish eyes.
“A girl is entitled to her secrets. It keeps her mysterious.” She put back, gently toying with the straw of her second glass of Corsekka Brandy. What harm could there be in accepting a little of Mr. Korodo’s generosity?
Kace gave a short nod. Fair enough, his expression said. He worked his jaw a little, looking to be thinking. Weighing his words, if Ahsoka had to guess.
“You seeing anybody?” He asked next. “A boyfriend? Or girlfriend?”
Straight to the point, then. Ahsoka had to admire a man with a nerve like that.
“If I was, I wouldn’t have been drinking alone.”
“Right.” Even rueful, Kace had a rugged appeal about him. He scratched at his jaw, gloved fingers running along the faint bristles of his stubble. Dark like his hair. It was another way he reminded her of the clone troopers from her Jedi days. “And you would have told me to blast off the first chance you got.”
“I would have let you down gently.”
“So considerate. My poor heart would have thanked you.”
Ahsoka laughed. Not a belly laugh where she threw her head back, but a softer sort. A chuckle, really. But it was genuine. She hadn’t had one of those in a while, certainly not on this rock.
Look at her. Flirting with a stranger. A handsome stranger, yes, but still…
Tip-10 came wheeling up to their spot at the bar. His optics blinked bright as that friendly, mechanized voice came crackling up.
“Another brandy, doll?” He offered, one set of arms holding up a bottle, ready to pour.
“It’s still on me.” Kace reminded her.
“No, thank you.” Ahsoka politely shook her head. “Two drinks is enough for tonight.”
Tip-10 nodded - at least, Ahsoka thought he did. It was hard to tell from the odd shape of his droid chassis. So much torso to fit all those arms, but nothing resembling a head.
“Suit yourself. Till next time, doll.” The bartender scooted off, leaving her and Kace to their… whatever the two had going on.
Ahsoka took a long sip of her brandy, taking the time to enjoy the taste, the aroma. Kace just watched her. The music boomed, the lights flashed, and all those twisting, thrashing bodies were light years away.
“We don’t have to call it quits just yet.” He finally said, standing just a bit straighter. He was quite tall, Ahsoka realized then. “Come see my ship. It’s cozier than this place.”
“A bit forward…” Ahsoka murmured more to herself than to him. He really did have some nerve.
“I’m a forward guy.” He shot back, unapologetic. “Nobody gets the pretty girl by playing it safe.”
That should have vexed Ahsoka, the placing of herself as a thing to “get”, as a prize. Instead, her mind was ensnared by the thrill of his intent. He wanted her. That had been clear from the start, but now… now, it was more than just a devilish charm. Harmless flirting had given way to open craving. The way he raked his eyes over her… the lust she pretended not to see…
“Hm. And you think you’ve got me?” Ahsoka set down her glass a bit too hard. It clinked against the bar, loud enough to draw looks from others lost in their cups. They didn’t matter to her, though. They were just shadows.
“No. Not yet.” Kace cocked his head to one side, eyeing her up as if she wasn’t dressed head-to-toe in drab, dark clothes. He cracked a sharp, toothy smile. “But I like my chances.”
That was another laugh he drew out of her. This one was louder and incredulous.
He didn’t move. His expression didn’t waver. The hunger in those burning green eyes didn’t flicker out.
And Ahsoka didn’t leave.
“Offer stands.” He said, scooping up his dark silver helmet. “It’s a nice ship. Not a luxury liner or anything, but I meant what I said. It’s a cozy ride.”
Ahsoka stood from her seat. On the bar, her drink sat half-full. A trickle of condensation went down, down, down the long, frosted glass. Ahsoka licked her lips.
“I do like cozy…”
- - -
It was not her smartest decision, going back with this Korodo fellow. He wanted her in the way all the other men on this damned moon wanted her. It should have made her skin crawl - and she should have told him off right from the get go. That would have been the safe choice.
The only problem was that he was good company. He knew how to make her laugh. Somehow, against all odds, he was putting her at ease. A bounty hunter.
For the first time in a long time, Ahsoka Tano found herself relaxing. She wasn’t a Jedi or a fugitive from Imperial law. She was just a regular woman… on a somewhat regular date.
Date. The word felt strange, even just floating through her head. She couldn’t imagine saying it out loud. But what else could she call this? A man taking her back to his place, clear in his intent, clear in his desire… and she was going right along with it. Hell, she’d even let her hood down.
The ship itself was nothing pretty - far from a luxury craft, just as he had told her. Large and block-shaped, looming almost two stories tall. It looked to be a retrofitted transport barge, set with thick armor plating all along the hull, dark silver like on Kace’s suit. On each flank, there were heavy double-cannons along with smaller blaster turrets. Again, she found herself reminded of the clone troopers and their heavy gunships. Simpler days, when all she had to worry about was dying in that sprawling, pointless galactic war.
Inside Kace’s ship was a different story. His vessel might have been armed for war, but it was still his home. Thus, it had all the creature comforts that came with a man’s humble abode. Nothing at all like the stark crew quarters of the Republic Star Destroyers.
Kace was right. It was cozy.
“Not the junker you were expecting, huh?” The man bragged as he circled around the main hold’s centerpiece - a round table that doubled for his holo-entertainment system. Kace was already making himself comfortable, first tossing away his plated gauntlets, then his chest piece. Before long, he was down to his undersuit. Ahsoka couldn’t complain. Not when the black material was nicely fitted to his arms, shoulders, chest…
“It has a certain charm. In a dusty, rugged sort of way.” She admitted, not bothering to hide her blatant appreciation. He had done it to her. It was only fair.
Kace threw her a toothy smile. He didn’t seem to mind.
“I’ll take rugged. Rugged isn’t bad.”
“No. Not at all.”
Ahsoka went quiet. Her eyes lingered on him, taking in his fit, muscled figure. The lines of his face, hard yet pleasing. His eyes, green and so full of vigor. His mouth, those soft lips. Kissable lips.
Over a year since she’d last had a man. Too long.
Then Kace was moving. He seemed to take her look as an invitation. Ahsoka didn’t dissuade him. He drew closer, closer, reminding Ahsoka of just how much taller he was. Close enough that his presence warmed her, just from the heat coming off his body. Ahsoka remained still, looking up at him, not even blinking. Suddenly, she was very aware of the beating of her heart. She could hear it. She could feel it.
Kace said nothing. He just looked down at her. Down into her eyes. Down at her lips… The green of his eyes seemed to glimmer, even in the shadow.
Then he was kissing her. Not soft or tentative, but not wild or clumsy either. This was a kiss with purpose. Meant to make her head spin.
Ahsoka made a sound, but Kace swallowed it up. Her hands went to his chest, fingers flattening against the muscle there. There was so much of it, so firm and so warm that Ahsoka forgot to push him away. His hands made their own move, going to her waist. His hands were larger, stronger than hers, feeling hot even through her layers of clothes. They slid to the small of her back and Ahsoka shivered as he pulled her closer, kissing her even more deeply.
Ahsoka allowed it. Allowed it all.
Kace hadn’t been lying when he said he was a forward guy. In that moment, feeling what she was feeling… Ahsoka thought that kind of confidence ought to be rewarded.
Just when she couldn’t hold back a moan was when Kace saw fit to break away, leaving her gasping. Her legs, her damned legs, they were trembling. Her hands went to his arms, gripping his biceps just to keep herself steady. Firm muscle there, too. Lots of it. Ahsoka’s insides felt weightless.
“Wow.” She breathed. A laugh nearly came bubbling up next. She held it down. “You don’t waste any time, do you?”
“How can I do that when you look like you?” Kace stole a quick peck, grinning wolfishly as he pressed his forehead to hers. His hands continued to roam along her lower back, drifting devilishly close to her bottom.
“Yeah? And what do I look like?” Ahsoka pressed herself up to him, her body buzzing at the contact, yearning for the touch of skin through her cloak, her coat, her shirt underneath.
“A pretty lady who ought to have some attention.” Kace drawled in a low, deep, rumbling voice. One of his large hands answered her body’s demands, drifting up her flank. Closer and closer towards her well-concealed bust. “I knew you were all-woman. All these clothes couldn’t hide anything from me.”
Ahsoka let out a low hum, half in lamentation, half in delight. All these clothes she wore to make herself invisible, not a single stitch had mattered to this man. Right from the start, he knew what she had hidden away. Just like a hunter should.
No doubt he was thinking of tearing every scrap of clothing off of her. With his bare hands. He’d strip her naked so he could paw at her body freely, skin to skin with nothing between.
His mouth crashed onto her again. She grabbed at his hair, threading her fingers through those brown locks. His hair was soft. Smooth like silk. Not grimy or scruffy or oily. She liked that.
Ahsoka felt Kace’s thumb press into the underside of her breast then and it sent a jolt through her. She yelped into his mouth, spurring him to duel even more ferociously with his tongue. His groping hand kept on upward, coming upon the softness of her bosom. She wanted more of that. Her body, running hot with her nerves in a frenzy, demanded it.
A spot of incredible luck, Ahsoka thought then, to find a man on this moon who knew what he was doing.
Kace slid his tongue over hers, daring then to take a nice handful of breast. His fingers, thick and strong, pressed in, sinking into her chest. His palm flattened atop her hard, aching nipple-
That sent a blitz of feeling straight down to her gut. It was lightning, white hot, arcing all through Ahsoka’s flesh.
Too much, a voice in her head screamed. Way too much!
Sense came crashing back into her head, a wave of freezing cold rationality. She pushed Kace away, jumping back a step, wide-eyed and gasping.
“Woah. Something wrong?” Kace held up his hands, like he was a culprit caught red-handed.
It was his fault. And it was Ahsoka’s, too. The Togruta cursed herself, cursed the heat in her belly that refused to be quelled, even as reason came seeping back into her mind. Kace wasn’t helping one bit, looking so apologetic.
“No. It’s just… Maybe another time.”
Kace lowered his hands. His disappointment was obvious. Ahsoka expected anger to follow soon after, expecting a nasty look and nasty words. But they never came. The worry on his face was still there. It looked genuine.
“Alright.” He finally said. “I get it.”
There came a sharp feeling in Ahsoka’s chest. She ignored it. Just as she ignored the stirring in her core, the warmth that still threatened to bloom between her thighs.
Ahsoka forced herself to start back towards the ship’s exit ramp.
This is the smart choice, she told herself. The safe choice.
She stopped only to spare her would-be host one last glance. She couldn’t muster the nerve to meet his eyes.
“Take care of yourself, Kace Korodo.” Ahsoka quietly told him, knowing the remorse in her voice would not sate him. “It’s a dangerous galaxy out there.”
She turned and left, still fighting her own nerves.
- - -
Disappointment rarely stung like it did now. And it wasn’t just the sting that got to him. It was the torment of his own damned body.
Sitting in his ship, alone, staring at the cold, metal ceiling. Between his legs, he was hard as durasteel and completely, utterly unsatisfied.
Taking care of it himself was nothing compared to the joy of having a woman in his arms. And that woman, Tasana the Togruta, had been a diamond among jewels. He could still feel the softness of her lips, the heat of her body. Fuck, he could still feel her breast in his hand. He’d gotten her back to his place, damn it. He’d been so fucking close to sealing the deal!
It’s a dangerous galaxy out there, she’d said to him.
“A cruel galaxy, more like.” Kace muttered to himself. He blew out a long stream of air, deflating into cushioned seating around his holo-table. “Fuck me.”
He stared off into empty space, his body still brimming with unspent vigor. He could have had his hard-on buried deep in alien cunt right now, all hot and tight and wet. Kace’s hands balled into fists. His whole body was hit with that tension.
He could still see her face. Her pretty face, creamy, flawless orange skin, and those perfect lips. Made for kissing. He hadn’t gotten enough, damn it. Tasana the Togruta and her blue and white lekku… He could have held the tendrils as he fucked her…
All those lurid thoughts plagued his mind, one carnal scene after another. Her face was taunting him with what could have been.
Her face…
Kace sat up.
Her face.
Her face was familiar, he realized. He noticed her for a reason. Not just because of her looks, but because he recognized her.
Kace stood, suddenly alert, suddenly focused. He recognized her. He’d never met her before, but he’d seen her face.
He tapped the edge of his holo-table. The main hold lit up as the display filled the open air. A few swipes through his files got him to his archives. Old contacts, hotspots… and outstanding bounties.
Kace scrolled through. Scrolled through. Eyes keen and sharp. Looking at faces, faces, faces. Then…
He stopped scrolling.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”
Done up in holo lights, his Togruta beauty was staring back at him.
His woman was a wanted woman. More than that, she was a damned Jedi.
Ahsoka Tano. Wanted by the Empire. And for quite the payday, too.