Private So...About the Other Night

[Leshanna]

Naamino Zuukamano​

It had been a few days since the eye opening, and frankly life altering, night of Haro Aven 's drinking game. The night that Leshanna had watched her best friend Naamino fight another student; the same night that she, Haro and Naami had indulged in some whiskey and a game that had led to a confession from the teenage girl to both the boys.

She still smiled fondly and like a silly lovestruck girl whenever she thought back to that somewhat hazy evening under the Korribani stars, nestled close beside the two other acolytes. Something about finally being able to tell them both the truth had lifted a weight off the girl; she felt lighter, happier, and energized. Her studies took a bit of a hit, as she often found herself now daydreaming - but she was disciplined enough to pull her head from the clouds and really focus when she needed to.

For her more boring classes however? She’d much rather daydream about her time with her boys.

…time which would soon be upon her as after this next class she had a free period, and she was scheduled to meet up with Naamino for their spar practice session of the week. It would be the first time they had truly interacted in person since that night, and Leshanna was feeling both nervous and excited to see him again.

No one had really spoken about the events of that night, or what had been said. Lesh was hoping that maybe, her and Naami could chat about it a little more. She was determined to stick by what she said, that no matter how the boys felt - she would be there for them, a loyal and steadfast friend.

The bell chimed for the end of class, and she couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

The two acolytes met one another with a similar nonchalant attitude in the gym, though tension coiled just under the surface. Leshanna couldn’t help the stolen glances she gave Naamino, nor could she truly hide the faint pink blush that would color her freckled cheeks. Once their practice session started however, it was all business - or at least it was, until Naami showed off just how truly strong he was, practically lifting the girl up by one arm as she clung to him in a desperate bid to try and pin him, like some determined and angry Loth-cat.

It was a ridiculous sight and situation to behold, and Leshanna’s determined expression shattered as she sputtered and began to giggle and laugh, all sense of seriousness gone from her as mirth and warmth shined in her dark blue eyes.

“Naami - wha, are you seriously lifting me with one arm?! I…I can’t…” she sputtered again, dissolving into a fit of giggling laughter as her pent up hormones and anxiousness and excitement at being with him finally overwhelmed the teen girl.

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

The zabrak had been silently processing the events of that night, and as was his way, he'd not yet approached either of his friends to go back over what was shared. Naami had a tendency to "leave well enough alone" when it came to topics regarding emotion or really any kind of vulnerability. But he'd been thinking about it all pretty much nonstop.

So when the time came again for him to spend time with Leshanna one on one, he was a little bit nervous but mostly just excited. They went over some general reminders and refreshers about teachings regarding hand to hand combat they'd learned in class. Naami used it as an opportunity walk through the newest moves they'd been learning, and Lesh jogged his memory on more than a few. Together they focused in on the task at hand, which was something he really appreciated about his friend. She took this stuff seriously and never teased him, at least not too much, about how seriously he took it in turn.

They'd worked through several moves and holds, taking turns practicing to get them right, then spent a good portion of their time running through low intensity matches. Naami was always exceedingly careful about the placement of his horns, and Lesh was very mindful too as a sparring partner. She was also tough and fast, which meant that Naami couldn't just comm it in when they practiced. By the time they were wrapping up, Naamino was chuckling at his friend's antics and more than a little sweaty from the exertion.

"Yer peskier than a monkey-lizard," he laughed while standing fully to his normal height.

He grinned down at the girl still clinging to his arm, panting a bit from the exertion but still holding her easily. In fairness, she was also clinging with an iron grip even while giggling, which made the feat a bit easier on him. The teen carefully made to set her down, calling an end to the fruitful training session.

"Right, think that's plenty for now. We've gotten some good practice," his voice was good-natured, affectionate even.

"You definitely almost had me there with that last arm bar," he teased, sitting down crossed legged next to her in anticipation they'd stretch together for their cool down.

 

[Leshanna]

Naamino Zuukamano​

Lesh giggled more when Naami said she was pesky, and her grin was devious and playful. “Gotta keep you on your toes, Horns.” the girl said lightheartedly as she met Naami’s eyes with her own. His grin was infectious, and it made her feel warm inside just to see it.

Naami set her down and Lesh disengaged from him and sat down on the floor, sensing that their sparring session was over for the meantime, and Naami confirmed it a moment later, and as he sat himself down for a round of post-exercise stretches, his knee touching hers from how close they sat together. He lightly teased her that she almost had him in her attempt at an armbar, and she playfully rolled her eyes.

“Yeah well almost isn’t good enough. Maybe next time though I’ll get that armbar! Or maybe a rear naked choke!” she flashed him another one of her devious little smirks, her playfulness plain to see. “But I’d have to somehow need to like…jump on your back for that. You’re getting so tall Naami.” She huffed in mock frustration. “It’s not fair.”

The girl began a light stretch, one that Naami had shown to her before in their prior workout sessions together. She was quiet as she focused on her breathing and worked at slowing her heart rate back down; her hair was slightly damp from the sweat she’d accrued from their spar, and she couldn’t help but notice that Naami was a bit sweaty too. Her eyes lingered on him for a few moments, her mind whirling with thoughts and emotions. She wanted to ask him about the other night, when they all had spoken and hung out - but she suddenly felt vulnerable and shy without the liquid courage swimming in her veins.

“So uh…about the other night…how you…how you feelin? We haven’t really seen or spoken to each other since then.” She suddenly blurted, before her courage completely fled from her. “How are your hands?” she added further, showing concern for the bruises and injuries he’d sustained in his fighting match.

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

Naami straightened up a bit at mention of his newfound height, more than a little pleased she was noticing the changes he'd been going through. Giving her a smile, he too moved into a stretch, extending the leg farthest from her out and laying his torso down upon it while reaching with one arm to hold the bottom of his foot to deepen the stretch as they briefly shared amicable silence.

Slightly taken aback by her sudden blurt, the zabrak sat up and turned toward her with dark eyebrows raised. He supposed it was only a matter of time before they needed to talk about it, but her question about his hands provided a sweet assurance while buying him time to think.

"They're ok," Naami reassured as he deftly unwrapped one from his customary fabric wraps, letting the garment fall away to show her.

There were still some faint scratches but the bruising was nearly gone. Sitting as close as they were, the boy was a little head-shy about meeting her eyes but he remained close and unwrapped his other hand as he answered the real question.

"I'm really glad you were there. The best part of the night was hanging out and stargazing. I hurt like all the hells the next morning," he chuckled, remembering the hangover that Gavin had to coach him through. Not to mention the brutal hit Maiza had delivered below the belt.

"But yeah I'm good— how're you?"

His gaze finally rose to meet hers, searching her face, their cooldown all but forgotten for a time.

"You- uhm, I'm also really glad you told me— err, glad you told Haro and I about how you're feeling… about us."

The tips of his ears were a little pink as he stumbled through the last of his words.

 

[Leshanna]

Naamino Zuukamano​

Lesh was quiet, watching her friend intently as he stopped stretching and turned around to face her more directly. Though he was normally stoic, even serious around most others - with her, he seemed to be more expressive. His eyebrows were raised as he looked upon her, and he addressed her question about his hands, informing her that they were okay as he began to unwrap them.

When his hand was revealed, Lesh cast one more look at him, noticing his shyness at meeting her gaze directly before she lowered her blue eyes down to his hands and without thinking, reached up to take it in her own hands, gently inspecting the scratches and slight bruises that were still there. His hand was warm in her own, as hers were a bit on the cold side. After a brief moment of checking his hands for any remaining injuries, she released him and looked back up at him.

"I'm really glad you were there. The best part of the night was hanging out and stargazing. I hurt like all the hells the next morning," Naami said, starting off the delicate conversation with honesty that Lesh appreciated. She smirked along with his chuckle, nodding in agreement, before her smirk shifted into a more genuine and happy smile.

"But yeah I'm good— how're you?" he asked as he lifted his pale blue eyes to meet hers, searching her face.

“I’m good! And yeah! Hanging out and stargazing with you and Haro was…amazing. Best experience I’ve had in my life, really. Though the headache and grogginess that came when I woke up wasn’t all that fun…” she confessed, before she fell silent once more, content to simply sit there and let her friend look upon her. Her eyes traced the lines of his tattoos, and she idly wondered if it had hurt him to get them.

"You- uhm, I'm also really glad you told me— err, glad you told Haro and I about how you're feeling… about us."

The girl smiled more widely and huffed softly in gentle amusement as Naami stumbled his way through his statement, and she noticed the tapered tips of ears grow darker in hue - something she’d seen before. His words brought another faint blush to her cheeks and she lowered her eyes to her folded hands in her lap for a moment.

“Honestly…I’m a bit shocked I did that, and said all that…” she took a breath and exhaled slowly. “It’s stuff I wanted to tell you guys for a while. You even longer than Haro but…I I kept my feelings to myself for reasons. I guess I just couldn’t hold back the truth anymore the other night. They keep telling us that as Sith, we’re supposed to like…embrace our emotions and feelings and whatever. Acknowledge them, not bury them. So…that’s what I did. Though I'm pretty sure the whiskey helped me with all of that.” she said with a chuckle before she lifted her face back up to look at Naami and smiled back at him warmly. “That time with you guys meant so much to me. Any chance I get to hang out with you, like how we are now…or with Haro…just makes me so happy. I’d do anything for you guys…”

She trailed off for a moment, chewing her lip in thought, before she pressed onward. “How…how do you feel about all of it? Have you thought about any of it since then? I’m sure it's a bit weird…most girls only tell one person they like them, but there I was telling you both. I wasn’t sure how that would…settle with you or Haro, really…”

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

He held his breath as she took his hands. That felt good, surprisingly good. The cool, impossibly soft skin of her fingers brushing against his slightly calloused and very warm hands was enough to make him solemn and watchful. Large, icy blue eyes followed her every movement even as she released the contact between them.

Naamino listened to his friend work through her thoughts, sometimes haltingly, and paid as close attention to her as he did to his most important course work.

"I like when you're happy," he answered simply at first and with no hesitation.

That part was easy. It made sense that someone as great as Lesh should be happy. She deserved it, and she worked hard for it too.

“How…how do you feel about all of it? Have you thought about any of it since then? I’m sure it's a bit weird…most girls only tell one person they like them, but there I was telling you both. I wasn’t sure how that would…settle with you or Haro, really…”

That gave him pause. It was a more difficult and complicated topic, one that he'd already given much thought to but still had very few answers for. He tried to keep his general inexperience hidden while answering her as fully as possible, though it might be obvious to her or an outside observer just how hopelessly naive he was.

"Yeah, I've thought about it," he answered truthfully but slowly, "You, uhm you're not weird... Maybe I'm just... I dunno, maybe you know more about this stuff than I do."

He offered a reassuring smile, then seemed to remember they had been stretching. The zabrak shifted a bit and extended his other leg to reach and stretch over it as he assessed her sidelong.

"As for how I feel? Well, uhm... I'm good," his smile grew, "And just, I dunno I guess I'm grateful I get to hang out with you so much."