Roots

[Trextan Voidstalker]

Trextan hadn’t paid attention to his positioning before making his declaration of victory. His robe was tucked between his left knee and the ground. That stopped him from pushing that leg further out to try and stabilise himself and maintain his advantage.

Instead he managed to fall over himself. Left knee dug into Choli’s thigh as she managed to tip him off balance. It was poor planning on his part, from that position victory should have been assured. On the other hand he didn’t mind enough to fight it too much. He wasn’t fighting for his life here, just to enjoy himself for a few minutes.

Winning would - hopefully - be a bonus.

Swinging his right leg out behind him he stopped his roll. He tried to make sure she didn't throw a leg over his to pin him in return. His prosthetic hand had lost its grip. He waved it around in the dark looking for her left arm to try and use that grip as leverage to keep her down.

 

[Choli Vyn]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

[SIZE=9pt]There was a sharp jolt of pain when Trextan’s knee dug into her hip, but Choli pushed past it to try and wiggle her way to a stable position. “Unf!” came a half blow of hot air from her mouth, the girl squinting and breath hitching in the struggle. By now her own robes were starting to become a hindrance, and the further the pair wrestled in their horseplay, the worse the tangle would be. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]A swipe of his arm struck along the top of her head. She felt a tug and there was a light clatter. He’d knocked her goggles off. Loose tendrils of hair now swung free, half swaying and getting caught amidst the breathless giggles and grunts of exertion. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Just… stay… “ instead of catching her wrist, Choli felt the quick shift of the air where Trextan’s arm flew. Her own hand drew out, snatching it to try and pin it down on the ground just over his head. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]Still[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]!” the act brought her half on top of the teenager, with the tips of her hair tickling the side of his face. He prevented her from slinging her leg over him, [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]but if I could just….[/SIZE]

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Choli Vyn"]

His left foot planted on the ground. His right tried to wrap around Choli truly prevent her from pinning him down. Unfortunately he couldn't find enough purchase to complete what he had in mind to continue her roll and take back the advantage.

“Nnno!” he defied her.

But instead of his plan coming together his right arm was slammed down against the ground over his head. He prosthetic was powerful, but he didn’t have the leverage to take her entire weight pushing it down from that angle. That included a lot of muscles, many of which made out of old fashioned flesh and blood.

All he really managed was a defiant wriggle as he freed his left arm out from underneath himself. He tried to find that sensitive spot under her ribs to begin mounting his counter attack. It probably wasn’t going to last, but making a show of it was more important now.

 

[Choli Vyn]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

[SIZE=9pt]“Hah -- pinned -- [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]hey[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]!” So much for that success. Choli gave a jolt under the proding finger at her ribs, the girl curving her torso away from his hand to try and get away from him.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Stop that!” Choli managed to gasp out, prompting an attempt from her free hand to try and make a grab for that one too. The problem being that she was already committed to pinning his arm down by his head, and all she was doing was swishing and twisting on top of him. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]In the fray of this ongoing struggle, Trextan had the serendipitous opportunity to make the most out of making his fingers dance along her side. A half burst of laughter and Choli released her grip, choosing to instead try and curl back on top of Trextan to avoid further prodding. Since she didn’t quite have a secure balance, her shifting weight allowed for one to over power and roll her back down if they took advantage of it. [/SIZE]

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

His right foot - the one trying to wrap around Choli - planted against her hip. His now free prosthetic hand grabbed a fist full of her robes behind her shoulder blade. With a quiet grunt he drove his left foot into the floor.

He didn't manage to roll Choli onto her back but managed to out them both on their sides. He flung his leg leg over her, and wrapped both arms around her something close to a bear hug.

“Surrender!” he whispered slightly hopefully. Neither noticed R4’s little light wink on, then off again.

 

[Choli Vyn]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]


Trextan’s grip was snug, tight. Even his leg managed to wrap around her own to lock her in place within his embrace. While the cavern was cool, their jostling and horseplay managed to hike up their temperatures, a fine sheen of sweat beading along Choli’s temples.

By now her hair was a loose mess. It dragged on the ground, picking up fine sediment. It fell over her eyes, prompting her to flick her head to jerk the strands away from her face. It was with not lack of amused defiance that the Rogue gave a jut of her stubborn chin.

“Make me!” She dared him in a huff, refusing to give up quite yet. Never mind the way her chest and hips would shift against the Jedi. The swaths of fabric from their robes were a barrier, but they were by no means a thick one. Trextan’s arms would be able to feel the curve of her back under the androgynous robes, feel the quickening rise and fall of her chest against his.

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

He didn't really know where to go from here to make her surrender. Whilst he had a grip there wasn't much more he could do and the way she was trying to get away was somewhat distracting. To the point that if it continued he was going to have to shift his grip to put some room between them. Just to be on the safe side he pushed his right knee forwards and put a bit of space between their hips.

With no other weapons available he tightened his grip around her om upper body. He pushed his face closer until his lips were right beside her ear.

“Surrender!” he hissed again. Covering his teeth with his lips he grasped her earlobe and tugged at it. He made a silly growling noise as he shook his head from side to side.

 

[Choli Vyn]

There was a line where silly horseplay switched into something else. Something akin to that which had awoken back on the couch at Skor. Awareness shot through Choli in the midst of her struggles. The heat of his breath by her ear, followed by the husky hiss of his demand that she surrender. When that tiny flat lobe found itself lightly bitten and tugged, Choli felt an electric shudder sweep from that point of contact down her spine. It hit her low in the belly, where it spread with tiny little ripples of excitement.

Oh, hell.

That felt good. Not the sort of thing the Rogue figured she’d like, but that hadn't been the intention. At least, she figured not something Trextan had intended. Fingers curling, she half struggled, attempting to curl her head in to dislodge him from her ear. Of course, that only pressed his face a little tighter against her ear and neck, funneling his hot breath along her shawl and increasing the sensitivity to that delicate skin.

“Not...n-” she half stuttered, trying to say no. Ahh, do you really want to surrender? Or do you just want him to keep doing that?

Ahhh….Shutting her eyes tight, the young woman attempted to gather her bearings. Yet she only succeeded in losing her grip.

“Fine!” Choli finally managed to sputter out.

“O-okay you win!”

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

“Glorious victory,” he whispered as he let go. He was glad she made the admission as he had been about to let go for fear of hurting her delicate lobe. She had tasted of the desert wind. Particles stuck to her skin were grainy as he leaned away.

Both were breathing quickly. There was no hiding the startled expression on her face. Not from this close.

What next? Came the thought. Awkwardly shuffle away back to making beds. It was if the childish wallpaper had been stripped back from a wall. The atmosphere changed. There was no hiding what ran beneath.

He didn't do anything. A single second stretched out impossibly far as he deliberated over what to do next. He still had his arms around her.

The first clue came as he looked down at her lips, then back her her eyes. He didn't make the decision. Gaze flicked up and he released his hold to smooth those wayward strands back.

Coward, he told himself. It was so much easier to kiss her when he didn't think about it. Now he was thinking about it. How alone in the world they were right now. Locked away in this cave with the entrance sealed by a fierce sandstorm. Not a soul for miles.

 

[Choli Vyn]

Trextan was not the only one thinking about it. So was Choli. There they were, entangled, breathless, with their hearts jackhammering in their chests. It would be so easy, what with how the Rogue was wrapped up in the Jedi’s embrace. At this distance, all anyone had to do was incline their face in, canting it just slightly to the side before their lips would touch.

So easy…

Kiss him! Janes voice would cry in her mind. Ah, but they were still in this awkward little dance. Sure, she’d told Trextan back on Mos Ispa that if he wanted to kiss her, then he simply just should. Maybe that meant he didn’t want to kiss her?

Funny how indesions and insecuries came to a head at the most trying of situations.

“Umm,” she began. Her lips felt dry, chapped. Her tongue swept over them and tasted the acrid salt of sand and grime.

“... you should probably..” her throat gave a bob, “Get some rest. Need to meditate later right?”

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

His heartbeat kicked up another notch when she ran her tongue over her lips. He was absolutely certain they would kiss. Then she made the suggestion and he took that as a signal that she didn't want to kiss him.

Dry lips perhaps. Maybe something else he wasn't aware of. They were alone but perhaps this wasn't a sensible time to lose focus with their surroundings. Had they not done that already.

“Yeah,” he agreed. A light shuffle and he had started to extract his arm from underneath her. The sensations from both hands and arms was still subtly different, he had just become accustomed to both.

Before parting he moved closer and placed a light, affectionate kiss on her lips. It was just to be a small gesture. But she had pushed her lips back into his as if she'd been waiting for it. The colours in her eyes danced.

Oh… went a little voice of his own. He smiled and stayed where he was. Trextan had gone more than a little soft between the ears.

 

[Choli Vyn]

Maybe that was coming a little too strong? Choli had another series of doubts that went racing through her head. They were both figuring out their roles. What was okay? What was not? Each of their own companions giving one reason or another on what steps they should be taking and how fast.

Could the Rogue have come out a little too eager? Perhaps. Although it didn’t seem that Trextan minded one bit.

It wasn’t a mind-blowing kiss by any means. They had managed to press their lips together and not come away with a sense of awkwardness. They were too busy being slightly intoxicated by the mere sensation of the kiss itself. His lips were slightly gritty from the sand. This close Choli could smell the slight musk of his body, the smoke from his robes, and just underneath that, the faint scent of bantha poodoo. Yeah, that whole bit she’d warned him about when they bought his robes? It was there.

Yet Choli didn’t mind. No, her mind was too busy getting lost in the sensation of kissing Trextan. Maybe Janes was right, this could get addicting.

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

For a few seconds all sense of awkwardness had passed. Through dry mouths and cracked lips they made do and he forgot where they were and why they were here. The sound of the storm receded and all he could hear was quiet content noises from Choli as they kissed.

It returned of course. Asking him if leaving his hand around her head was right or of he should put it somewhere else. Where was acceptable to place it and where wasn't?

Now didn't feel like the time to work that out so he left it where it was. By contrast even being on their sides in a slightly awkward position that was the result of their games was much more comfortable than the way they had leaned from their chairs back at Kellan’s place.

Trextan pulled away slowly. He put no more than a few inches between their faces. He sighed. Trextan shared a private little smile with her. His expression was almost guilty for stealing those moments from her. The kiss had felt as if it had stretched out at the time but now perhaps it had only lasted a few seconds.

He tried to swallow but his lips and tongue were dry. Blasted weather conditions getting in the way.

“I really like you Choli,” he mumbled. It sounded such a silly thing to say out loud.

 

[Choli Vyn]

It was an honest confession. Then again, neither were the sort to consider saying such a thing unless they meant it. For Choli, on the other hand, there was no reason to not admit the same. Her companions at Rogue Squadron might be inclined to play games but Choli wasn’t. She did her best to try and blend in, but when push came to shove, she reacted in the only way she knew how - with honesty.

“I like you too.” she replied. Maybe it was a bit childish, confessing such a thing. Compared to what the crew on the Subversion were likely getting themselves into, saying such a thing was within the bar of innocence few likely ever saw in the SIS ship.

Nervous fingers lightly went flexing against the cloth of his robes by his upper arms. She gave a swallow, as if that alone would help her parched throat. It didn’t.

“... I got something for your lips.” the Rogue managed to say in a half whisper, intending to relay that she had a balm they could both use.

“You’re not used to the arid heat here.” there was this intense need to keep her voice low. Maybe that’s why the girl kept her voice low. Intimate. As if sharing a secret so no one else could hear. Even if they were practically alone already with only droids for company.

“Might help them feel a bit better.”

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

If he had been a more eloquent person he might have tried to express what that meant to him. It wasn't even the romantic aspect of their developing relationship.

Neither had been afforded much of a chance to enjoy a traditional childhood. Expectations had been placed on them from different directions. Yet in their time together they'd found the chance to start to be themselves. That she enjoyed his company and liked him for who he was filled him with joy.

So much that he barely heard the offer of something for his dry lips. Trextan nodded dumbly and watched his own hand as it drew across her hair behind her ear then rested against her neck. Her repeated the motion a few times. Just that light touch was a new level of physical intimacy for him.

“Yes, yes. That sounds good,” he said. He echoed her soft tone and met her eyes again. Or could they not just lie here on a tangle of bedrolls so he could look into her eyes for a little longer?

 

[Choli Vyn]

When Trextan’s fingers began stroking through her hair, across the shell of her ear, and then along her neck, the offer of lip balm seemed to be temporarily forgotten. There was just something enthralling about the light tugging sensation, the way Trextan’s blunt fingertips lightly went tracing by her ear lobe only to slip right along the curve of her neck where her pulse burst into another flutter.

“Yeah… good.” the Rogue replied in a low murmur, but the words could very well be an echo of his or a confession that what he was doing to her felt good. Choli took a deep breath, felt the slightly dusty air flow into her lungs. She could feel the tickle at the back of her nose and mouth where the dust aggravated the lining - but years of living on Tatooine provided an acclimatization to that.

Her fingers gave a twitch, unsure what to do. This level of touching was unheard of for the young teenager. She was almost like a trapped bird, flustered and uncertain at the gentle stroke of her feathers. Unsure whether to stay or go. Did he feel the same? She wondered. Should I, do that too?

So many questions and so little answers. Well, Janes would have had a few but they likely would have landed the Rogue into hot water if she dared doing anything like that.

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

A few more seconds and he realised neither of them was really saying much at all. She wasn’t moving to get whatever she had for his lips. He wasn’t letting go of her so she could do so. It was peaceful. Out here on the edge of civilisation, hiding from a rampant storm. And it was peaceful.

Trextan had started to find such moments of calm and clarity on his own. Times when he could immerse himself in the Force and shield himself from his own tempestuous emotions. He hadn’t expected to find something similar to that here.

It was the physical contact. The play fighting had led to an almost frenetic round of kissing but now they both seemed content to breathe the same and, hold each other and stay close. He shifted his grip with his pinned arm to wrap it around her more comfortably.

“But I’m fine just here a moment,” he said softly. Closing his eyes he pressed himself closer until they were cheek to cheek.

 

[Choli Vyn]

There was something just so silly about what he said then. Well, not silly as much as just strange. Topping it off with the tightening of his embrace and the press of cheek against hers, Choli wasn’t sure just what to make of it. Mentally or physically. It both made her heart skip a beat as much as brought back that fluttery sensation in the pit of her stomach, as if ants had taken over and were currently nesting in it. Tiny, little legs tickling her very insides with every word he spoke.

“Not really on the bedrolls.” it was said in a matter-of-fact tone, as if she wasn’t sure what else to say so merely added in a little tidbit. Well, more like half on and half on. They were supposed to be resting. A voice would tell her that this is resting. Ah, but she didn’t feel at all sleepy. Or tired.

Just, anxious. As if stuck in a state of constant anticipation. How did Janes or Lucy stand this? Wasn’t it exhausting?

“...and I know I don’t really smell that great.” neither did he. Lingering Bantha poodoo and all. The funny thing was, she didn’t mind.

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

Trextan felt that layer of calm almost instantly eroded away, as if it had been exposed to the raging storm outside. Clearly she wasn’t all that comfortable. He gave a sharp little nod that rolled grains of dust between their cheeks. Then he pulled away, offering a small smile as he worked his arm out from underneath her.

“We should, yeah, probably sort the bedrolls out,” he said apologetically. With one hand he drew back the messy mop of hair, causing a shower of sand that nearly fell over this own eyes.

As he pulled himself up to sitting he observed the swirlds they had drawn across the rocks with sand. He felt sorry for perhaps pushing boundaries and maybe just offending her sense of smell and comfort with where they had ended up. But he wasn’t feeling all that apologetic for their little wrestling match, nor for the bout of intimacy that had followed.

“I didn’t really realise I was trying to cuddle you half on rock and sand,” he said as he moved to stand up to sort out their bedding. To him it was an attempt to keep the conversation going to make sure he hadn’t done anything too wrong.

 

[Choli Vyn]

“That wasn't what I -“ Choli began to object, only to feel even more embarrassed as the seconds passed. Good thing for the shadows of the cavern, because her face once again was saturated with heat in an abashed expression.

“It’s fine.” She added, curling herself up into a sitting position. Her right hand came up to push the thick mass of dark hair away from her face, Little Rock’s falling away from its length with a haphazard shake of her hand. Choli felt as if she only managed to confuse things. Janes and Lucy were far better at this.

“Oh, lip balm.” She reminded herself, sliding her legs back under her to cross them again. She left her hair loose, the thick, dusty mass flowing down her shoulders and to the middle of her back. It was mused, a tousled disarray of strands that framed her olive face.

Taking her bag, she slid it over and set it down in front of her legs. Hands went searching over the smaller pockets, until she plucked a tiny soapstone jar the size of a small stone in her hand. Opening the lid, she held it out for Trextan to use. Inside was a yellow, balmy ointment with the distinct scent of lemongrass.

“Here.” She made it herself.