Private Through Leaves and Legends

[Aiden Rennek]

Aiden’s smirk softened as he caught the tension in Kinsey’s stance, the way her fists curled tight at her sides and the sharp edge to her voice when she blurted out her protest. Despite her attempt to play it cool, there was an underlying unease she couldn’t quite hide. It was enough to make him dial back the teasing, just a little.

His eyes flicked toward the murky water, then back to her. He let out a low sigh, running a hand through his hair as he considered their options. “Alright,” he began, his voice quieter now, tinged with just enough seriousness to cut through the moment’s awkwardness. “If we’re going to do this together, there’s really only one way.”

He gestured toward the water with a tilt of his head before looking back at her. “You’re going to have to ride along on my back.” He paused, letting the words sink in, his lips twitching again at the inevitable reaction he was about to get. “I’ll need my arms and legs free to swim, and unless you’ve got a better plan, it’s the safest option.”

Aiden shifted his weight slightly, his hands slipping into his pockets as he gave her a pointed look, though his tone remained light. “I know it’s not exactly ideal — But unless you’ve got some hidden water-walking ability, this is how we get to the artifact.”

This was going to be awkward.

Kinsey Starchaser ​

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

Kinsey frowned. Arms crossed stiffly beneath her chest. "It's not funny," she repeated as she saw the corners of his mouth twitching. A huff as she tore her eyes away from his own and glanced around. A look down at Pibs.

"Well?" She was asking for better ideas. Any better idea.

Pibs offered another bemoaning sound.

A sharp cant of her head back up at Soldier Boy. For Kriff sake. Brows furrowed again as she tried to think of any other way. If it wasn't too deep, it wouldn't have been a problem. She could've figured it out. Maybe sent Pibs in to scout, first.

"Okay," it sounded more like she was trying to convince herself than respond to him. "Alright," she followed up, this time trying to rally herself. A small, quiet statement next. Her tone vulnerable.

"Just try not to laugh too much, okay?" Standing next to him, she'd begin wading into the water with him. After they got out a little past her thighs, she'd motion for him to wait and turn. For a long moment, she'd stare at his back and that waist she was about to straddle.

"Promise me you won't drown us?" There was a nervous edge in her tone even though the question was an attempt at humor. Pibs was already wheeling in the water, disappearing beneath the murky depths. Kinsey shifted her bag and would step forward, arms curling tightly around his neck, legs winding around his middle. Trying to keep any of the pointy things in her tool belt from jabbing into his back as she pressed against him. The water began to glow more brightly around them. Something was activating those runes. She took a breath of air and whispered against him.

"Okay. Ready whenever you are."

And to think? They didn't even know each other's names and here she was putting her life right in his hands.

 

[Aiden Rennek]

Aiden’s smirk faded slightly as he caught the nervous edge in Kinsey’s tone. Her vulnerability wasn’t lost on him, and for once, he decided to rein in his teasing. “I won’t laugh,” he promised quietly, his voice low and sincere. “And I won’t let us drown, either. You’re in good hands.”

He set his backpack down and knelt to rummage through it. After a moment, he pulled out two rebreathers, holding one up with a small smile. “Figured these might come in handy. You won’t have to worry about breathing once we’re under.” He handed one to her before slipping his own into place, the compact device fitting snugly over his mouth and nose.

When she climbed onto his back, her arms and legs wrapping tightly around him, Aiden took a steadying breath. He could feel the tension in her grip, her unease clear, and he adjusted his stance slightly to make sure she was as secure and comfortable as possible. “You good back there?” he asked, his tone steady but warm.

As he stepped carefully into the glowing water, the runes began to brighten around them, casting an ethereal light that danced along the surface. He paused just before they went deeper, glancing over his shoulder with a faint grin. “You know,” he began, his tone lighter now, “I don’t even know your name yet.”

Before she could respond, Aiden moved forward, stepping further into the water until it reached his waist, then his chest. Slowly, he allowed himself to sink into the depths, making sure to keep his movements smooth and steady so Kinsey could adjust. The water was cool and thick with an almost electric energy, the runes pulsing faintly as they descended.

Aiden’s focus remained sharp as they moved deeper, but a part of him couldn’t help but admire the trust she was placing in him. He wasn’t going to let her down.

As... strange as this was.

Kinsey Starchaser
​

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

Heart thundered in her chest as they sunk lower. The rebreather was as secure as syrup on a pancake but her own nerves kept her on that vibroblade's edge. Didn't keep her from loosening her cling to the man. Grateful he was turning out to be as capable as he let on. Pibs zoomed by, bubbles interrupting the water as her droid went deeper.

Squinting in that glowing water, Kinsey could make out what looked like an underground cave entrance. And by the way the runes lined up, that was where they were being lead. Blonde hair streamed behind her in the water. With her head on a swivel, she looked for other entrances but didn't readily see anything.

Risking one arm free from her safety to Soldier Boy, she pointed ahead, knowing he'd see her finger jut out in his line of vision for that entrance.

Maybe it wasn't so bad down here. As long as she had a rebreather. And someone who could swim. It reminded her a little bit like being weightless in space. But for some reason, space never scared her. And as they went deeper and to that cave entrance, the runes shifted their glow from blue to a soft orange. And instead of swimming down they were swimming up, just as their head broke the surface of the underwater pool opening to a wide set of stairs carved in the rock.

 

[Aiden Rennek]

Aiden followed the direction of Kinsey's pointed finger, his sharp eyes locking onto the glowing entrance she indicated. The faint orange hue of the runes shifting color drew his focus, and he adjusted their course smoothly, angling them toward the entrance with steady, deliberate strokes. Her trust in him was palpable, and he wasn't about to do anything to break it.

As they swam up toward the break in the surface, Aiden's grip on her remained firm but reassuring, ensuring she felt secure. The change in the water pressure and the faint sound of droplets echoing in the cavern signaled their arrival. The soft glow of the runes illuminated the pool they emerged from, casting long shadows on the rocky walls.

Breaking the surface, Aiden took a deep breath through the rebreather and moved them toward the edge. The moment they reached solid ground, he carefully shifted her weight, climbing out of the water with ease and stepping onto the smooth, carved stone. Once he was sure they were safe, he gently patted her thigh with one hand, smirking as he removed his rebreather and let out a quiet laugh.

"Except for the fact that we're wet, that wasn't too bad, right?" he teased, his tone light but carrying a trace of warmth. His smirk widened slightly as he glanced down at her, amused by the way her hair was plastered to her face and shoulders.

He set her down carefully, making sure she had her footing before stepping back slightly. Aiden ran a hand through his own soaked hair, ruffling it into a damp mess, and then tugged at the fabric of his shirt, which clung uncomfortably to his skin. The chill from the water was starting to set in, and he exhaled a sharp breath, shaking off the cold.

"Definitely worth it, though," he added, glancing up the carved staircase ahead. The faint glow of the runes lining the walls cast the cavern in an eerie but captivating light. "Guess the only way is up. You ready?" His sharp gray eyes flicked to hers, and for a moment, his smirk softened into something more genuine.

He appreciated the trust she put in him.

Kinsey Starchaser
​

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

A protest was on the tip of her tongue as he carried them out of the water and up the stairs. She could certainly get down now. Even if the fear of the water was still very much palpable. But that's where the protest died. It never made it past her mouth, realizing she didn't know if she'd be able to release him so quickly. Will her stiff and locked joints to relax.

So, instead, she was grateful.

That he gave her the extra time she needed. Boots hit the ground behind him in a soft squelch of water. Taking off the rebreather, she stuffed it in her satchel. She'd give it back to him. But experience taught her better than for them both to keep each, in case something happened to one of them.

Those blue eyes of hers flecked with tiny starbursts lifted and she caught herself studying the way his wet clothes clung to the contours of his muscles. That shiver in his voice. She quickly looked away and up those stairs. Then back to Mister Muscles. Eyes meeting his own.

"Thanks for," she rubbed the back of her neck, hand slipping beneath the wet hair that clung to her. "Anyway, thanks," she gruffly mumbled. "Yeah, we should go up. Just...stay close. I'm pretty sure those are sith runes. Darksiders usually like to set traps in places like these." And with none of the fear that she held for the water, she began ascending those stone stairs.

Pibs warbled behind them as her droid propelled itself onto the rock next to them and out of the water. It booped and beeped.

"Yeah, you too buddy," Kins called without turning around. "Keep your sensors alert and let us know if there are any other life signs, yeah?"

Pibs warbled an affirmative. They'd have to take care of their wet clothes sooner rather than later if the temperature didn't get warmer. But for now, Kinsey decided to forge ahead. But she paused at the top of the stairs and looked to Mister Muscles. As if whispering a secret. A word that held a lot of weight. A word that could cause trouble and betrayal. She offered her name quietly. Something that wasn't offered lightly or freely.

"And I'm Kinsey."

That top of the staircase opened into a wider passage. Those orange runes glowing on down the corridor and lighting their way.

Something just felt...off.

 

[Aiden Rennek]

Aiden followed closely behind Kinsey, his eyes tracing the glowing runes as they ascended the slick stone staircase. His soaked shirt clung to him like a second skin, and he felt every chilling drip of water as it slid down his back. But despite the cold, his focus shifted to Kinsey, watching the way her hair framed her face, droplets catching the faint orange glow of the runes. The starbursts in her blue eyes reflected the eerie light, holding his attention longer than he'd realized.

She turned her gaze on him, and for a moment, Aiden's breath caught. The way her eyes met his wasn't just piercing — it was disarming. But as quickly as she'd looked at him, she turned away, rubbing the back of her neck. He quickly averted his gaze as well, clearing his throat in a subtle attempt to mask the tension creeping into his chest. The corners of his mouth tugged upward slightly despite himself.

"Yeah, good idea," he murmured in agreement as she mentioned the Sith runes. "You know more about this Force stuff than I ever will. Can you neutralize these things? Or at least shield us from whatever traps might be waiting?" His tone was steady, but there was a quiet vulnerability in it — an admission that her knowledge and abilities were something he didn't have. Aiden had faced plenty of dangers before, but the unseen, the mystical… that wasn't his arena. He was a soldier, not a Force user.

As Pibs warbled its response and Kinsey moved ahead, Aiden's focus remained split between the glowing runes, the strange sensation prickling the back of his neck, and her. He'd worked with plenty of different people before, but there was something different about this — a connection forming, unspoken but present.

When they reached the top of the staircase, she paused. Her voice lowered, and the word she offered hit him like a secret being entrusted to him alone.

Kinsey.

Aiden stopped walking, the faintest smile breaking through his usual composed expression. He tipped his head slightly, letting the moment linger before he spoke.

"Aiden," he said simply, his voice softer than before, as if matching the gravity of her offering. For a moment, everything else faded—the glowing runes, the chilling dampness of their clothes, even the lingering unease of the passage ahead. It was just her name, his name, and the weight of the trust that came with it.

But the tension returned swiftly as they looked ahead into the corridor. The runes' glow seemed to pulse faintly, almost like a heartbeat, and the air grew heavier. Aiden's hand brushed instinctively against the hilt of his knife, his muscles tensing.

"Something feels... wrong," he said, his voice low and wary. He glanced at her, his gray eyes steady but searching. "You uh, mind if I let you take the lead? I know better than to mess with Sith runes."

Kinsey Starchaser
​

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

Aiden.

She rolled that name around in her mind like she was testing it out. And the way it landed. A small dip of her chin as she held his gaze for a moment after he said it. There was an intimacy there. Even just a small, quick, casual moment. She took a breath and tore her gaze away before her mind wandered down a path she wasn't ready for it to go.

"Yeah," she said, studying the floor closely in that orange-yellow glow of those runes.

Thumb switched on her energy shield on her left wrist. The air hummed to life in a blue-tinted circular shield as she stepped forward. Pibs wheeled ahead of them. "Eyes on your feet," she whispered, peering at the stones they stepped on. "If you see any runes or markings, don't step on 'em. You too, Pibs!"

Her droid warbled an affirmative as Kinsey crept after her droid and down that corridor.

Those orange runes began to shift their color turning a crimson red.

Kinsey frowned but kept going forward. Even as a misty fog began to seep up from the floor around them. She turned back to Aiden. "Stay as close as you can. Not a good idea to get separated right now. Keep your hand on my shoulder if you need to. I can't tell you this will be safe or easy but we can do this together, yeah?"

She was trying to make him feel more at ease. She'd caught his nerves earlier. How he'd asked if she could shield them from whatever those sith runes would do. Kinsey hadn't answered right away because she didn't know. She still didn't know. Sometimes using the force around these things triggered something. And Kins wasn't too keen on doing that.

Pibs whistled a warning just as Kinsey heard the rock slide open in the walls around them before small darts flew through the air.

 

[Aiden Rennek]

Aiden felt the weight of her gaze linger on him for that fleeting, intimate moment. It wasn't just her voice when she said his name — it was how she looked at him, like she was testing the waters of trust, or maybe something deeper. He felt it too, that unspoken connection, but before his thoughts could wander too far, he forced himself to focus. They were in dangerous territory, and letting his guard down wasn't an option.

Still, as Kinsey stepped forward, her energy shield humming to life, Aiden couldn't stop himself from stealing another glance. The way her jaw tightened in determination, how her starburst eyes scanned the glowing runes ahead with sharp focus — her presence was a strange mix of reassuring and grounding, even with the foreboding atmosphere pressing down on them. She seemed calm, even as those runes shifted from orange to a deep, menacing crimson.

He, on the other hand, wasn't so calm. He'd seen what Sith runes could do before — terrifying, grotesque things he'd never been able to unsee. The thought of triggering one by accident sent a faint shiver down his spine.

When she offered, Aiden reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. The warmth of her through the damp fabric sent a different kind of shiver through him, but he kept his grip gentle, steady. "Got it," he murmured, his voice quieter than usual. "We've got this."

The mist rising around their feet made his stomach churn. Something felt off, and his nervousness began to show when he noticed the crimson glow of the runes starting to pulse. He swallowed hard, his hand tightening slightly on her shoulder without thinking.

And then the trap sprung.

The sound of grinding stone gave him only a split second of warning before darts whistled through the air. Acting on instinct, Aiden let out a sharp, "Get down!" and shoved Kinsey low, his bulky frame moving over hers like a shield. He had hoped to dodge the dart this way, but one struck him square in the back, sending a sharp sting radiating through his muscles.

"Shit!" he hissed, yanking the dart out as quickly as he could. "I'm hit," he said, his voice tight with panic. "I don't know if it's poisoned or—" His breathing grew a little faster, his gray eyes wild as they searched hers. "Kins, I—"

He stopped himself, trying to rein in the surge of panic. He stayed low, his body still partially shielding hers, but his hand clenched the dart as though it was the only thing tethering him to reason. Then, he realized how close he was, and forced himself to roll off of her, allowing her to get up or get away.

"Fuck," he muttered, as he sat upright, "I'm hit, and we've barely even entered this place..."

Kinsey Starchaser
​

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

It was strange how the weight and warmth of his hand felt familiar when it should feel foreign. Very few men in the 'verse could put Kinsey at ease and it seemed like Aiden was becoming one of them. And for a brief moment, her thoughts drifted to a glacial blue-eyes glass-jawed Geist. She swallowed, her step wavering as she felt Aiden's heat at her back.

His encouragement.

Her senses stretched around them in the force. Just a passive thing for now. Enough to give her an invisible nudge of warning as those walls lowered and the darts came flying. But Aiden was already moving. With a shove she was on the ground and he was on top of her.

"Aiden," she warned.

The force flared out from her a little too late. The air tinged with a blue-glow as her force bubble erected around them - its soft hum in the air. And now he knew she was a force user. Something she preferred to keep hidden. A small shift beneath Aiden's hulking form and a glance over her shoulder to look at him. Even as that bubble of energy remained firmly in place around them.

Wide blue eyes locked with his own. She could see the rising panic. As he rolled off her she sat up and placed a hand over his forearm. "It's okay." Her force bubble still glowed protectively around them. "If it makes you feel better I've been shot by more poisonous barbs and things than I can keep track of."

A lopsided grin that was disarming in nature. The spacer gave his arm a reassuring squeeze before moving to her wrist cuff that held an antidote synthesizer. "Sorry but this is going to hurt and I kinda have to get close and personal." She'd snake around his hip and brace one hand against his side before going in with her wrist cuff to stab him in one of his butt cheeks.

 

[Aiden Rennek]

The moment the shimmering energy wrapped around them, Aiden felt his stomach twist — not in pain from the dart, but from realization. The Force bubble hummed softly around them, shielding them from whatever else this damned temple had in store. He'd seen Jedi do things like this before, but Kinsey? He wasn't so sure.

Jedi? No… Not quite.

His mind worked fast, analyzing, but his thoughts came to a screeching halt when Kinsey's hand landed on his forearm. His muscles tensed under her touch, his pulse spiking. Maybe it was the adrenaline. Maybe it was something else entirely. But Maker help him, when those bright, starburst eyes locked onto his, he forgot for half a second that they were deep in Sith rune-infested ruins, one poisoned dart away from death.

Focus, Aiden.

Her grin — lopsided and easy — didn't match the tension in the air, but damn if it didn't disarm him just a little. She wasn't panicking. Not even close.

When she spoke, Aiden blinked, his mouth opening slightly. "That… actually doesn't make me feel better, Kins." His lips twitched, almost smiling despite himself. Then she shifted, her body pressing a little closer as she reached for the antidote on her wrist cuff. Aiden barely had time to process that before he saw the glint of the injector in her hand.

"Sorry, but this is going to hurt, and I kinda have to get close and personal."

Oh, hell no.

"Wait, no—no, no, wait—"

Stab.

Aiden flinched, his entire body jerking as pain shot through his backside. His hand slammed against the stone floor, fingers curling into a fist. "Son of a—! Kins, what the hell—" He twisted slightly, throwing her an incredulous look, but there was no real anger in it — just a lot of wounded pride.

At least the antidote was kicking in fast. His breathing steadied, the heat from the poison fading from his skin. Aiden exhaled, rolling his shoulders before reluctantly muttering, "Thanks..." He let his gaze flick around the glowing bubble surrounding them, brow raising slightly. "Nice trick," he admitted, rubbing his leg before finally pushing himself up. He extended a hand to her, fingers still tingling from whatever venom had been in that dart.

He really shouldn't have tanked that, but it felt good? He had wanted to shield her.

"Come on," he smirked, ignoring the fact that his ass still hurt. "Let's see what other death traps this place wants to throw at us."

Kinsey Starchaser
​

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

"What?"

She flicked a switch on her wrist synthesizer. She gave him a look that was anything but innocent. "Better if you don't see the prick coming, y'know? Besides, didn't take Mister Big Bad Soldier Boy to be someone a little squeamish of needles."

Then her smile turned apologetic.

Sorry

But at least he wasn't about to lose his arm. Or his life. The energy of the force still flickered around them in a low, protective hum. A small look of relief crossed her face as he offered her a hand up. And she took it, popping back to her feet. Her clothes were still wet and stuck to her in odd places. She released his hand and smoothed tangled wet strands of hair back behind her ears and took the lead once more. The rest of the way seemed uneventful. The trap already sprung. Pibs warbled ahead of them as the ducked through a dark archway that opened into a large cavern. But the strangest thing was there were trees and grass lit by...floating lights.

"Wow," she breathed. Wonder glinting in her star-flecked eyes.

 

[Aiden Rennek]

Aiden arched a brow at her as she flicked the switch on her wrist synthesizer, her expression anything but innocent.

"Mister Big Bad Soldier Boy?"

He had a lot of material to fire back at her — starting with her fondness of water — but he bit his tongue. Resisting the urge to poke fun at her fear of water was painful, but he showed remarkable restraint.

For now.

Instead, he just exhaled sharply, shaking his head as he grabbed her hand and pulled her up. She popped to her feet effortlessly, but Aiden caught the way her damp clothes clung to her frame, how the loose strands of wet hair framed her face just so, how those starburst eyes caught the light—

Nope.

Clearing his throat, he tore his gaze away before it lingered too long on places that'd earn him a slap. He stuffed his hands into his belt like he had something important to fiddle with. He didn't. So, instead, he focused on the cavern they stepped into.

The air was cool, crisp in a way that sent a strange feeling through his chest. Trees stretched upward toward the floating orbs of light, casting shimmering glows across the lush grass. It was nothing like the suffocating darkness of the halls they had just come through — this place breathed.

And when he glanced at Kinsey, he could see it. That wonder. The way her breath hitched ever so slightly. The way those flecks of gold in her irises glimmered as they caught the ethereal glow around them. Aiden smirked, his voice quiet, amused. "This is why you do this stuff, huh?" It wasn't really a question. He could see it in her, plain as day. The thrill, the curiosity, the need to uncover the mysteries left behind.

His gaze drifted toward the runes still carved into the cavern walls, his expression shifting slightly. "Strange, though," he murmured. "A place like this, but with all those traps? The runes?"

His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked deeper into the space. "What the hell were they trying to keep out?"

Kinsey Starchaser
​

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

That shimmering force bubble around them dropped. Even with the sith runes glowing on the cavern walls above them, she didn't feel any immediate danger. A glance at Aiden. She knew he could see it in her eyes. That thrill of discovery at seeing things like this. The freedom to follow her curiosity. She'd never been able to sit still in a place for very long. Because she always wondered what was still out there.

She didn't correct him when he guessed why she did it. There was, perhaps, more to it than what he said. But in that moment he'd seen her. Really seen who she was at her core. Another secret shared between them in a space so hidden and wondrous.

She managed to look away as Pibs warbled at them by one of the large trees nestled in the grass.

"I dunno," she said quietly as she followed her droid. "Sometimes it's about keeping something in but...I"m not sure." Pibs paused and warbled at them both. Kinsey frowned and realized she was shivering. The temperature in here was...cold.

"Pibs thinks we'll get hypothermia soon if we don't get our clothes dried. I think this is as good a place as any to rest a bit and see if PIbs' heater can take care of our," she looked down at her soaked jacket and undershirt. Fingers tugging at the wet material around the collar of her neck. Without any hint of shyness, she stripped off her jacket and began peeling that wet shirt over her head. Only, she found one elbow stuck as her arm snagged ont he wet fabric, her face and head still hidden inside.

Pale midriff exposed. A small grunt of annoyance escaped the wet fabric. She paused and had to wonder at how the material had wound her arms so thoroughly. She tried again, to get that shirt free from her head. But again, it didn't budge.

"Chit," she swore inside the fabric of her shirt.

This was...embarrassing.

As if anticipating Aiden's comment even though she couldn't see him she said, "No, I'm fine and do not need any help."

 

[Aiden Rennek]

​

Aiden had definitely seen some things in his time. Firefights. Bloodied battlefields. Smugglers pulling blasters on him in backwater cantinas. But nothing could have prepared him for the moment Kinsey shrugged off her jacket and reached for the hem of her soaked shirt. His breath caught and his cheeks burned bright red.

Oh.

He watched, maybe a little too closely, as she peeled the clinging fabric up, her skin bare beneath the dim glow of the cavern's floating lights. His gaze swept down from her bra, and traced the curve of her waist, the dip of her toned stomach, the way droplets of water caught against her skin. And then—

She got stuck.

Aiden blinked.

A small grunt of annoyance escaped from the tangled mess of fabric over her face, and suddenly, this was something else entirely. She was standing in front of him — half undressed, absolutely trapped in her own clothing — and he?

He was staring.

But she couldn't see him staring, which only made it worse.

A slow, knowing smirk tugged at his lips, heat still lingering at the tips of his ears as she muttered something inside the fabric. Aiden huffed a quiet chuckle in response. "Uh-huh."

Stepping forward, he closed the distance between them, warmth brushing against warmth as he reached up, fingers ghosting along the fabric now twisted around her arms. "You're stuck," he murmured, his voice lower, quieter, as he carefully worked the shirt free.

His knuckles brushed against her ribs, feeling the way her breath hitched, the warmth of her skin beneath his fingertips. For just a second — just long enough to be dangerous — her head was still obscured, leaving him to take in every small detail of her. Then—

The shirt slipped free, and their eyes met.

Aiden's fingers lingered against her wrist, the space between them charged, the air feeling suddenly, stupidly thick. He didn't move. Neither did she. Then he smirked.

"My turn."

Without hesitation, he grabbed the hem of his own soaked shirt and pulled it over his head in one smooth motion, tossing it aside.

His chest — broad, lean, and undeniably sculpted — was marred with old battle scars, some deep, some faded, each one a quiet testament to a past he didn't talk much about. Water glistened against his skin, catching in the faint light of the cavern, the sharp lines of his muscles tensing just slightly as he exhaled.

He tilted his head, watching her reaction, a glint of mischief in his gaze.

"Now, let's warm up, shall we?" he teased, his voice edged with something warm, something playfu — something more.

Kinsey Starchaser
​

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

"I said...I can...handle it," she groused still very much stuck and still very much NOT being able to handle it.

But she stilled as she felt his fingers slide up her skin, then her wet shirt as they detangled her limbs from fabric. Head popped free and she took a breath that stuttered in her chest at his nearness. That smolder and hint of devilry in his eyes. She didn't move away as his fingers lingered on her wrist.

And that...surprised her. Mabe scared her a little. She swallowed.

And then his shirt was off.

She couldn't help the shift of her eyes across his skin and the curves and dips of his muscles. The scars and marks that she could see that told a story. She had them, too. A few burn marks from blaster bolts. A lightsaber scar near the curve of her right hip that angled slightly up her torso. The fingers of her free hand twitched at her side with the sudden urge to trail her fingers along the edges of one of his old scars.

Stars, what was she doing?

"Aiden," she said. It was a warning and perhaps lament in one word. She took a step back. Out of his grasp. "We should rest while we can," Another shiver, her arms wrapping around her torso as she sat and began taking off her boots. Then, against her better judgement her pants. Undergarments remained firmly on. It just so happened her underwear was black with a pattern of tiny ships decorating the fabric. Pibs rolled around, gathering up their wet garments to dry them with the right protocol.

Chit, it was cold. Pibs had made the right call.

"So, tell me about those," she pointed to those scars on his skin and couldn't help but scooch a little closer to him. To the warmth his body provided. It was hard to believe they'd just met a few hours ago when it felt like she'd known him a lot longer. She kept her gaze very intentionally not dropping beneath the planes of his stomach.

 

[Aiden Rennek]

​

The moment she said his name, Aiden swore he forgot how to breathe. Stars help him. Kinsey had barely managed to free herself, barely taken a breath, and yet in that heartbeat between his fingers brushing her skin and the sharp way she said Aiden — something in him burned.

And she stepped back.

Aiden exhaled, sharp and slow, forcing the air from his lungs as she pulled herself free of his grasp. He didn't say anything — couldn't say anything—but the heat in his body was unmistakable, running through his veins like fire. So he sat down and tried to recollect himself. The cavern air was cool, biting at his skin as he dropped down beside her, but it didn't do nearly enough to chase away the warmth still thrumming under the surface. It only got worse when he realized — he was still watching her.

Boots. Gone.

Then her hands went to her pants.

Aiden's throat went dry as the fabric slid down, revealing the smooth lines of her thighs, the curve of her hips — and then — the little starships decorating her underwear. His breath caught. His gaze snapped away, jaw tightening as he definitely wasn't looking anymore and focused on getting his own soaked pants off.

It was only when he caught her shifting closer that he allowed himself to look again. And damn if she wasn't pleasing on the eyes. His gaze roamed, tracing the lines of her body — not just the dips and curves that had already scrambled his brain, but the scars. Small burns, old wounds, the faint remnants of a life that wasn't soft or easy. An adventurer. He was glad she kept her eyes up a little more.

His own told a different story. A soldier. A fighter. Aiden sucked in a breath and leaned back slightly, just enough to shift closer. Not too close — but close enough that warmth met warmth. Close enough that he could feel the way her body radiated heat, even as she hugged her arms around herself.

Then, her voice.

His gaze flicked up, locking onto hers. For a second, he hesitated. Then, quietly, his voice lower than before, he asked, "You ever heard of a Devourer?" He watched her reaction.

"This one ambushed me on a mission," he continued, his voice smooth, but quieter. "Almost tore me apart." His fingers absently ghosted over the longest scar cutting across his ribs, the memory of pain flickering at the edges of his mind. "If my companion at the time hadn't stepped in..." He smirked slightly, humorless. "I wouldn't be here, sitting half-naked, talking to you."

A beat passed.

Then his gaze dropped down from her eyes, slow and deliberate.

His fingers curled against his knee, eyes tracing the marks on her skin. "You're not primarily a fighter," he murmured, tilting his head just slightly. "So where'd yours come from?"

Tension hummed between them, thick as the cavern air.

Aiden wanted to look lower — Maker, he wanted to — but instead, he dragged his gaze back up, locking onto her starburst eyes with something unreadable, something tense with emotion.

Something that wasn't going away.

Kinsey Starchaser
​

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

His attention was like a furnace even in that cold cavern. Eyes widened as he spoke of that creature. Sure, she'd heard of one. And she'd run into her fair share of nasty monsters. But not that. Eyes lingered on that scar over his ribs and side.

"How-when did you run into one?"

And where? He'd said on a mission. She still didn't know whic galactic power he worked for. Or if he as an independent hire.

The outside of her arm brushed against his own. The outside of her hip and leg. Her body still subconsciously drawing closer to what offered heat in this place. And for a moment, she drowned in his eyes. She couldn't look away until his eyes moved across her skin. Heart quickened in her chest as her gaze followed his.

There were stories behind her marks. Ones that would probably be shared with another over time. Ones that would need that kind of space to retell. So, she reached for the easier ones.

"These two?" Her fingers trailed on her own skin stopped at a mark just below her right shoulder. A second along her left ribs. "A blaster botl to the shoulder and a slug to the ribs. Wrong place wrong time. In my line of work there are a lot of greedy folk out there after different artifacts and sometimes, when you're unlucky to run into one of 'em it doesn't always end well."

Lips pressed into a thin line.

"This one," fingers dropped to that lightsaber slash. "From a sith," her tone was clipped. This was one of those stories that would take a long time over time to share. It wasn't one she was ready to part with so quickly. It was complicated and there were a lot of feelings, betrayal, hurt,and perhaps a little shame tied there. Knees drew up and her arms circled them, resting her chin on its surface as she peered at Aiden.

"I don't think we'll have to wait long for our clothes to be ready," she said quietly in the small space between them. "Are you still feeling okay?"

After that dart.

 

[Aiden Rennek]

​

Aiden let out a slow breath, his gaze dropping to the scar along his ribs as memories stirred just beneath the surface. He hadn't thought about that mission in a while — hadn't thought about her since the amnesia. "I was a soldier," he said finally, voice low, steady. "Fighting for the Alliance. We were deep in enemy territory — hot jungle, no backup, no extraction. A Jedi and I were running recon when we got ambushed by a pair of Devourers."

His fingers ghosted over the long, jagged scar.

"Fast. Relentless. One of them took me down — pinned me before I could even raise my rifle." He smirked, but it was humorless. "Would've torn me apart if she hadn't been there." His gaze flicked up, watching her carefully. He could see it — the way she listened, the way her fingers trailed absently over her own scars as she considered her own past.

She had lived.

Not just wandered from place to place, not just adventured. She had survived. And she carried it with her, the way he did. Not in the way she walked, not in the way she talked, but in the moments like these — when the air was still, when there was nothing to distract from the weight of what had come before.

He didn't pry. Didn't push for details.

He just understood.

And maybe that was why he shifted just a little closer, his side brushing against hers, the heat of her bare skin seeping through the chilled air between them. He wasn't even sure if he did it consciously — if it was instinct, or if he just wanted to. Her voice pulled him back, quiet, gentle.

Aiden's gaze lifted, locking onto hers. And damn if she wasn't mesmerizing. "I'm fine," he murmured, his lips curving into a slow, crooked smile. "Thanks to you." He paused, eyes glinting with mischief. "Though my ass still stings from that antidote injection, by the way." A beat. Then, a deep chuckle rumbled in his chest.

His eyes flicked toward the droid, watching as it diligently worked on drying their clothes. He exhaled, stretching slightly before rolling his head to glance back at her.

"You know," he mused, his grin widening, "We also have to swim to get back out of this place again." A slow smirk tugged at his lips as he watched realization dawn on her face.

They were going to get wet again.

He shifted slightly, rolling his shoulders, stretching his legs out a little to get comfortable. "Guess that means we're doing this all over again." He let his head tilt slightly toward her, his voice dipping lower, teasing. "Hope you're not getting too attached to dry clothes." His smirk lingered, but his heart was still pounding a little harder than it should've been.

"Hey buddy?" he asked her droid to distract himself from her starburst eyes, "You almost ready?"

Kinsey Starchaser
​

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

Kinsey felt the weight of his words as he recounted the story that matched his scar. And there was hurt that went beyond the physical of the devourers with whoever that jedi was. She felt that invisible pull toward him. Like the tides of the ocean. Nothing could resist the tides.

She, too, didn't push for details or pry.

The intrepid adventurer just shared the space with him as if sharing the space of a long-time friend.

"Though my ass still stings from that antidote injection, by the way."

That roguish grin of hers returned on her lips as she gave a nonchalant shrug. Completely and wholly unapologetic.

"Guess that means we're doing this all over again." He let his head tilt slightly toward her, his voice dipping lower, teasing. "Hope you're not getting too attached to dry clothes."

As he shifted, she couldn't help the small flicker of her eyes downward. Over those bumps and planes of his body. Nine level of hells she was in trouble. Eyes locked back onto his own. That infuriating smirk because it was slightly charming. That were small things that reminded her of how she felt around Rune. Things she never thought she'd feel again. But here she was. Shivering in this underwater sith cave with a stranger who was making her feel like she wasn't with a stranger anymore. Someone who was making her think she might be able to trust someone again.

The thought of swimming again, though, made that old fear creep in.

A nervous smile that wobbled as she looked at him. Then a roll of her eyes and a huff. "Hope you're not getting attached to dry clothes," she quipped as Pibs warbled a few boops back to Aiden's question.

"Pibs said they're almost ready," hands moved up and down her arms to try and warm herself up. It wouldn't be long, now. Soon enough she'd be warm. Head tilted to the side as she looked back at Aiden. "So you're not a soldier anymore? With the Alliance?"