Growing Pains

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Choli Vyn"]

He'd never seen her eyes turn such a vibrant indigo before. It was only when they swirled through several other colours that he realised it. With the fervour she'd kissed him back with and the noises he made it wasn't hard to guess what it showed.

“A bit,” he admitted. “Don't worry, I won't drop you,” he chuckled. Humour always seemed to help smooth over any situation the pair ended up in, but the chuckle was cut short. He was trying not to imagine what it would be like to feel her pressed to him like that with nothing between them.

I would always catch you, he thought to himself as he went back to those hazy memories of Skor. Something shifted in his expression then. His skin felt almost uncomfortably hot but he took a deep breath and managed to calm his nerves a little bit.

He let go of her hands and took her waist. He tugged her closer, but not too close. Hips awkwardly shifted to ensure they didn't touch below the belt. In a few strides he took her to the chairs that sat facing the view. The glass that swept back from floor to ceiling gave the impression that this part of the ship was far more spacious than it really was. In the cramped stealth frigate it made quite a change.

As long as she didn’t protest he’d sit her next to him, with her numb leg on his side. With an arm around her he gently leaned her against his chest for support.

“Maybe we should sit and chill out for a few until you can feel it again?” he asked. His right hand was already stroking her hair against her back again. “I promise I’ll still get your reward!” he added. It was an offer of a few minutes of calm after they had both got swept up. Next time, he thought to himself, they could follow that mechanic’s advice and get caught up behind a locked door and see where they went.

 

[Choli Vyn]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

[SIZE=9pt]Well it was one way to cool off. Choli was still reeling, nerves a flutter and well, more than a little warm. That was more footwork than she had to do in a while since her recovery after Mustafar, and by all accounts she was still on light duty. The biochemical gas used on her had done a number to her lungs and exposed skin. The time in the bacta tank had done it’s best to heal her, but there were still remnants of the injury left on her person. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Yeah, don’t forget.” Choli added, taking in a deep breath of recycled air through her nose and into her lungs. Her chest rose. A hand came up to pluck at the zipper along her collar so as to tug it down. It was just a few inches but it was added ventilation. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Don’t look down. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“I’ll need to eat it in front of you.” She tossed her words back at the Jedi, giving a heavy sigh, a half laugh following. A turn of her head and she looked back at the observation room deck. While Trextan had forgotten, she hadn’t [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“I don’t think Master Yvette would be all too happy finding out that her training sabers were left on the ground.” Her rueful tone went sailing over to Trextan, the girl looking back to study her numb leg with mild exasperation. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“For all your talking of cheating you still did the same.” She teased, attempting to rub her affected thigh. Yeah, nothing. This was going to take a while. [/SIZE]

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Choli Vyn"]

Don’t look down, he also thought when she dropped that zip a few inches. He nibbled at his top lip in guilt. “Yes, but you did cheat first,” he added. He couldn’t bump her elbow from her so he gave a slight jostle knee to knee. She rubbed her thigh and didn’t seem too pleased with the result. He did feel a surge of guilt for having done that.

“Sorry again,” he added. Holding on to Choli with his right arm he twisted at the waist and held out his left hand. The two sabers skipped off the floor and came to him. He placed them down on the chair next to them. Several sofas were placed facing the windows, and more individual chairs opposite them. The one next to them would, in a few nights, witness another apology that came with a couple of beers. Those beers were currently hidden in a cold storage locker down in engineering.

“I will take my punishment stoically,” he replied. He wasn’t planning on doing that. Not at all. He was already thinking he could smush the filling into her face and run away.

“I like being with you,” he said suddenly. “It makes me feel more like...being myself. A person and not just, I don’t know, a responsibility.” He placed his cheek against the top of her head briefly and gave a little squeeze. His heart was only just starting to slow down.

 

[Choli Vyn]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

[SIZE=9pt]Choli’s expression twisted to one of amused bemusement. Her right eyebrow rose as if to suggest he was being silly. For his apology at least. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Why are you sorry? You were just using what was available to you. No different than what I was doing.” Honestly, Choli figured that Trextan hadn’t quite really taken a slight competition seriously. She knew that she wasn’t the best at saber fighting, and perhaps she had gone off the track on what type of spar the Jedi had intended. They did have training sabers after all for the spar. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Besides… It isn’t the first time I’ve had to deal with a numb limb.” She explained, feeling him tug her close after collecting the training sabers with little difficulty. He made using the Force look so easy. With what the Rogue could gather and from what she’d seen with personal experience, Trextan was fairly gifted with the Force. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Arr Four has paddle beamers inside his chassis that he can pull out to defend himself. When I salvaged him, there was more than one occasion where he accidentally zapped me. Or so he says.” The last was said rather wryly with a twist of her lips. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Hearing him admit that he enjoyed her company made a rush of pleasure drift over Choli. Blunt as she was, she still couldn’t help the additional warmth on her cheeks at the admission. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]An elbow nudges gently to his ribs and a, “Yeah, you’re not too bad yourself.” Humor again to try and relax the waning tension and her mild embarrassment. His word usage, however, did prompt a frown. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“What do you mean not like a responsibility?”[/SIZE]

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Choli Vyn"]


“I try,” he chuckled. “And that doesn’t surprise me at all I’m sure it was entirely accidental.” It was just another reply tinged with humour to put some space before the more serious response he would have to come up with.

“I guess sometimes, well it just feels like things are expected of me. My dad used to push me hard to study. Then the Sith saw a use for me and I got to realise that a bit of homework was nothing to complain about. Now I’m a Jedi and there’s always another job. Putting others before yourself.

“It’s all alright you know,” he said with a shrug. “But it’s like I haven't always been able to just, I don’t know, enjoy being me? I guess.”

It wasn’t the most clear answer. Given time he might have been able to compose it as less of a ramble, but he hoped Choli would get the idea. Perhaps it would sound like a complaint. He hoped he didn’t keep coming across as a moaner. He knew he could be negative at times. And there was Choli he had been plucked out of her life and placed in a completely different one and just seemed to put her head down and get on with it.

“But it feels like I get to when we get to spend time together,” he replied. “Maybe the imperials block out hyperlane back and we have to sit around in deep space for another week,” he jested. “Wouldn’t be so bad.” He didn’t know that they were literally going to get re-routed for an urgent mission and kept out in imperial space for days beyond their original intention.

 

[Choli Vyn]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]


It made sense. To a degree, Choli could also understand it. There was little time to think let alone room to breathe when on the carrier or at the base. It all would depend on the situation.

A deep breath and the teenager gave a slow nod. A wry twist of her mouth and she added, “With our luck anything could happen.” In regards to a change in mission plan. Things could change from one plan to the next with the snap of fingers; the ongoing tensions between First Order and the Galactic Alliance was more than enough proof of that.

“It can get pretty boring around here.” As evidenced by the gossiping mynocks. Mulling through all of this, the girl brought up her hands and sent her fingers combing through her hair, pushing the heavy strands away from her face and behind her shoulders. She’d lost the hair tie so now she’ll have to find another one - once she was able to walk again that is.

Feeling a little bit more herself and further grasping into a somewhat balanced set of bearings, Choli twisted her attention back up to Trextan.

Here came another reminder at just how blunt Choli could be.

“I thought attachments or relations were commonly said to lead to the Dark Side?” Her expression was that of mild confusion. She wasn’t mocking him. Choli just simply didn’t understand.

“It’s obvious that well… “ she glanced away, embarrassed for a moment. He had mentioned that there were married individuals in the Jedi Order, but how did that make sense?

“Well, Im sure you’ve heard what the others have said. The monk parts.” It was such a strange, likely mortifying conversation for the Jedi, but Jan had explained how things had been for the Jedi Order in the Republic.

“I mean. Are Jedi allowed to….”. At least she had the foresight to not be too forthright about it, but her hand gesture towards him and then back to her seemed to indicate a reference about what had just gone on between them both and were still semi winding down over.

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Choli Vyn"]

“Are you worried that if we… went all the way that I'd turn to evil?” He asked rhetorically. The laugh that followed was particularly weak. Another warm flush reached his cheeks. Of course she'd been aware of what had happened to him just then. How couldn't she be. He wanted to run away from this conversation but he knew how blunt she could be. Perhaps it was best to just get it all out in the open?

Just don't say it that way, he told himself.

“Jacen knows about us and hasn't told me to stop. And I'm guessing Master Eden didn't have an immaculate conception,” he replied. “It's not that clear, not where I am anyway. We're told that the well-being of the many comes before ourselves. I don't think they generally take that to live as lonely hermits with no worldly possessions at all.”

He thought on this for a moment. Would he out other people at risk for Choli? It was an interesting question, one he would have to think about more. Maybe he could talk to his sister about it. Jacen would probably be overjoyed if he tried to talk to him about Choli and what she meant to him, but he didn't think he was ready to face that.

“I guess with it getting boring…” a thought struck him. A question he hadn't asked earlier. “What was it Omar said to you?” He asked.

 

[Choli Vyn]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

[SIZE=9pt]Now it was Choli’s turn to be embarrassed, but not because of the topic at hand. More due to Trextan making her feel as if her inquiry about the Darkside was silly. Her face twisted into a half frown, brows furrowing further. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“No, not what I meant.” She added, trying to figure out how to explain it without making herself seem like an idiot. This only made her even more blunt. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Jan said the Jedi Order didn’t allow any attachments and frowned on any emotion of worth that wasn’t compassion or sympathy. And what I’ve read and heard also referenced that Jedi aren’t prone at feeling any desire to have sex because of the emotions that go along with it. The whole passion and the Darkside and all that comes with the old Jedi Code.” Hand made a small gesture in emphasis. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Of course, having Trextan end up turning the tables on her to inquire on what Omar said made her fluster a bit, annoyance growing over her expression.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Part of her didn’t want to tell him. Another said that it didn’t matter. As it was, it was likely going to get around anyways since Janes made him apologize. Choli cheeks soon puffed out as she blew a heavy breath. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“It’s stupid. He was just being his typical self. Commenting that he was there to give me advice or training for whenever we --” her nose gave a scrunch in distaste. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Well, that was about when i told him to shut up and stop. LIkely why Captain Janes had him come down to apologize for it.”[/SIZE]

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Choli Vyn"]

“Yeah,” Trextan said with a nod. “I suppose he did come and apologise.” He mentally let go of the issue. Given their current discussion it occurred to him that getting angry because of those comments was probably exactly the kind of thing that wasn't acceptable to a Jedi. It was still obvious how repugnant he found what the Zeltron had said. He supposed it was just a different culture.

The topic was clearly important to Choli and he supposed he could see why. They were really just starting in this relationship. It was only fair he told her what borders there were. He had brought up the topic of his responsibilities.

“Being a Jedi…” he said. He altered his position on the chair so he could face her more easily. “I suppose what I said earlier isn't quite right. It's not like if I want to be a Jedi I stop being one when I'm with you.

“I can't put you or my feelings before the duty to the Order. But the Jedi organisation at Sullust have given me no orders or rules that I can't have a relationship and anything that goes with that. There are Jedi there with families, I think some kind of step back from their main responsibilities to live with them. Does that make sense?” He asked. “Perhaps they just don't stick quite to the old codes as they were.”

 

[Choli Vyn]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

[SIZE=9pt]All the while, Choli's absorbed what Trextan said. It sort of made sense. It was still a bit confusing, but it shone a light a little better on the whole topic. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“I see.” She replied, mulling over this a bit more, sinking back along the backrest of her seat, one hand running through her hair again. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Glancing at him from her peripheral, she explained,”Some things are still a bit confusing to me. Not just the Jedi, but as a whole,” she added, trying to help clarify where she was coming from. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Chloe has dozens of datacrons and holocrons with so many different Masters and shamans of the past from across the galaxy. And they all seem to have their own twist to things. Then we get to what we have now and it can get a bit confusing. What, we have the Silver Jedi… a while back there were the Levantines. I think in Commonenor there is another Jedi Order. Chloe and Jan spoke of the Academy,” hazel green eyes shot to her peripheral to look at Trextan,”That’s where Jan and Chloe ended up spending most of their time afterwards -- at least they did until the one time where we came to fuel up on Sullust and I ended up staying while they left.” [/SIZE]

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

“It's alright,” he replied. “You can ask anything you want really and I'll try and answer it. Best I can anyway. It's not like I was raised from a young age with Jedi you know?” Trextan was watching her carefully. He wondered what she was thinking now he had laid it all out for her. Did it reassure her? Or was it disconcerting that he might try to take things further? Was that what was on her mind after what just happened.

She would just ask, he thought to himself. He didn't think he could be quite as direct as her, but now they were into it they might as well talk it through.

“There are lots of them. Jacen went to a meeting I think a while back and it didn't go all that well apparently. Lots of different views on what it means to be a Jedi is probably why. Sith just care about the opinion of who has the most power. Maybe that's easier to organise.”

Now came the question. “Does it bother you? Anything about the Jedi. About me I mean. Or I suppose us.” There was clearly a touch of apprehension in his expression. He knew there were going to be things they would learn about each other that weren't quite perfect, but he hoped this wasn't going to be an impossible obstacle at this point.

 

[Choli Vyn]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

[SIZE=9pt]“Hmm?” Trextan’s query drew her from her introspective mull, drawing her attention and swiveling her head to face him again. For a moment her eyes would reflect the gray-green hue of confusion only to darken back to their normal hazel as she understood. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Oh, no.” She replied, scrunching her brows a bit at how his thick brows drew together under the flop of his hair. The apprehension in his expression relaxed at her answer, but Choli still thought it was an odd thing to ask. Granted, in hindsight, her entire series of questions likely would have made anyone uneasy. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“I was just wondering.” Although the part about asking specifically about himself or them both was rather telling. Was there anything that bothered her about him? No. About where they were? Just that her leg was numb and that was more of an annoyance due to the risk involved in winning their bet. She shook her head. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“No, I’d tell you if there was.” For the most part, it was just nice to have this unexpected time with Trextan. They were barely getting to know more about one another, although she could count on one hand the number of times since they met that they’ve been together. Perhaps later, when the distance and the brief periods of being able to see one another as they grew closer might bring other troubles to the fore, but not now. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]At the moment they were just two teenagers with an avid interest in one another. They met in the strangest of situations, but managed to become friends from it. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Maybe there was [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]one[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] good thing that came out of having a month of her life completely missing and waking up at that Polis Massa hospital after the Battle of Kaeshana.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Trextan. [/SIZE]

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Choli Vyn"]

“Okay,” he said. With a smile he held her gaze longer than was necessary. “I started the topic too,” he added. In more ways than one he supposed. The oddly timed comment on being himself combined with the other thing that probably had her questioning the Jedi code.

She probably would tell him if there was anything bothering her too. Her opinion of him mattered a lot.

“I like that you're honest. Where I was for a long time, with the Sith, there wasn't much honesty. Everyone seemed to have an agenda and schemes. More than a few acolytes were murdered by those they thought were friends. Just so they could get up another rung of the ladder.”

Rather than a casual nudge he gave a gentle squeeze. “The questions are probably going to get worse for the few days right after I go I bet,” he said. He could easily imagine the nosey squadron members gathering around after he had gone.

“You alright to sit on your own?” He asked. “I have a bet to come good on when you want,” he chuckled.

 

[Choli Vyn]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

[SIZE=9pt]“Yeah well I can take care of myself. If they take it too far I can always start twisting arms behind their backs.” The half grin she wore couldn't quite allow someone to discern if she was being serious or not. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]The complement made the teenager flush, her nose scrunching up a bit in a mild grimace. She did have a tendency to say what was on her mind. Some had commented that maybe she should pause a bit before saying what came to her head, but unless it was to bluff for barter, Choli didn't see a reason to filter her words.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]To a degree, she could understand what Trextan meant, so she gave a nod, following with a, “yeah I doubt I'll go sliding off the chair. I still have my right leg.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]This time her eyes shone with mirth,” Besides I do need to eat that dessert in front of you.” She appeared to pleased with herself, leaning back against the chair and drawing her arms up so her fingers would lace together behind her head. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Yup, [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]smug. [/SIZE]

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

As he stepped away he kept facing her. Eyes were narrowed at her smug expression. “You sure you're fine there? Not gonna slip off and ruin that smug expression?” He grinned and gave a twitch of his left hand and Choli would feel a warning tug on her legs.

With a grin he turned for the door. “Cream filled, cherry on top,” he could be heard murmuring to himself as he left the room. As he headed back through the decks he couldn't keep the smile away. He was enjoying himself. There had been truth in his ineloquent explanation. He didn't take enough time to enjoy himself and he did around her.

He arrived in a suitable humble manner. Paper takeaway plate held deferentially in both hands. There was a bottle of water tucked into his top.

“Your winnings, he said with a bow, as he came to stand before the chair and held it out for her.

 

[Choli Vyn]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]


[SIZE=9pt]He was lucky that he hadn't tugged her further. He'd have found out just what else Choli could do with his prosthetic. Thankfully, the dessert tribute was brought over and presented with the deference it so deserved, the Rogues broad grin ever splitting her face in two. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Hmm,” she made a great show of it, unlocking her fingers from behind her head and leaning forward. A critical inspection of the pudding ensued. Oh she was milking this for what it was worth. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“It will do.” Choli finally said, moving forward to take the takeaway plate with her delicious victory treat. There was a giddy flush to her face. [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]Yup, numb leg well worth it![/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]No one could argue that Choli took food rather seriously. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Didn't have any trouble?” She asked, settling in on her seat. Wait, did he have a utensil? [/SIZE]

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Choli Vyn"]

Trextan did have a plastic fork in his pocket, but it was kept out of sight for now. If this was how much she lorded over the victory of one dessert how much would she milk a victory if they upped the stakes? What was the next escalation from this? A full meal or a supply of snacks for many days? Was there enough food around here to keep up a healthy competition.

“No trouble,” he replied. He took the seat next to her and pulled the bottle of water free. He was a little thirsty after their training.

He could have gone for another few rounds of sparring, but Yvette had been right. If Choli hadn't been practising swordplay it was best to take small steps until she was used to it. Or at least until he had got used to that smug expression anyway. The Sith training in him wanted him to rise up to the challenge. They could have a little fun but there was practical benefit to working with her. If she crashed again next time, she might stand a better chance of getting back to an Alliance pick up with a lightsaber. She was resourceful and determined already.

 

[Choli Vyn]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

[SIZE=9pt]Guess not. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Not that it mattered. There were no utensils in the Wastes save the two hands one had to eat. With a shrug, Choli adjusted the plate onto her left hand and began to take bits of the crumble and pudding with her fingers. They were free of grease now anyways. She brought them up to her mouth, where with wanton, smug infused pleasure, began to eat the desert with finger licking salaciousness. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]A throaty hum and Choli leaned back in her chair, eyes glittering a vibrant jade in self-satisfaction. One forefinger gave a deliberate slow drag from the warmth of her mouth, peering up at Trextan with devilish glee. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Yup,” there was a tiny popping sounds as she smacked her lips with continued licks. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Tastes like [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]victory.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Oh she was [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]evil. [/SIZE]

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

She was going to draw this out as much as she could, but there was a reason he had 'forgotten ’the fork. He had the bottle of water up, taking a long drink and pretending to not be bothered by her gloating. Next time they drew sabers she was going to get it. No, he reminded himself, she wasn't. He was going to work on her form properly. Now was the moment she got it.

“Oh?” His fingers barely even moved. That cream filling suddenly squirted out of the side of the pastry across her cheek. His lips twisted up as he pulled the fork from his pocket.

“Here, you're clearly struggling with that…” he said as he offered it. Trextan tried not to take any satisfaction from the silly trap.

“Good though?” He asked sweetly.

 

[Choli Vyn]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

[SIZE=9pt]Oh[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] so he wanted to play like that??![/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Choli's eyes went narrowing at the Jedi Knight. There might not have been a visible cue that Trextan was at fault, but Choli could read between the lines of false sugary inquiry. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]You little…[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Choli's lips went twisting into a tight purse, the flat of her tongue sliding over the front of her teeth under her lips in growing determination. Her right hand came up, fingers wiping the blob of yellow pudding off of her cheek. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Oh I don't know,” she began, ignoring the offered fork as she studied the sticky sweet goop on her finger pads. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“You tell me!” She was fast, flicking the pudding right for his face. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]He started it. She'll end it. [/SIZE]