Coruscant: 18 BBY
Feton Ralius' Stronghold
Nakoa Sen

Darkness had fallen across the city before Feton's party started. Coruscant's many lights gleamed through a few windows, lining the upper portion of a few walls. Nakoa sat in a chair, utterly bored.

Music filled the entire building. Droids and a few human servants carried around drinks and snacks. A few had tried to offer him some, but he'd turned them down. Nakoa scanned the room again. He spotted Oni in another corner, locked in conversation with one of Feton's men. There was still no sign of Feton himself or Lesia.

Where are they? Nakoa wondered again. He laced his fingers together, trying not to show his anxiety. Maybe it's better that I don't know? A door hissed open nearby. He perked up as the two stragglers finally arrived. Feton pushed Les towards the other dancers. She shot him a glare but joined them.

Nakoa's gaze flickered to Les and his mouth nearly dropped open in surprise. He managed to keep himself in check, even as she turned and met his gaze from across the room. He couldn't stop his heart from skipping a beat. She was beautiful. Despite the slight tint from his helmet, he could tell that her outfit was red.

Nakoa knit his brow, noting that. He glanced at the other dancers. They were all wearing blue. He almost groaned, realizing what Feton had done. Now I know why he asked about my favorite color, Nakoa thought.

"Enjoying the show?" Feton asked, appearing beside him. He sat down and kicked his feet up on the table.

"I'm not here for a show," Nakoa replied.

"Suit yourself." Feton shrugged and crossed his arms behind his head. "I'll just have to admire Les myself then."

"What are you getting at?"

"Nothing."

"Sure." Nakoa clenched his jaw. A droid rolled past and Feton swiped two drinks. He offered one to Nakoa. He shook his head.

"Come on." Feton rolled his eyes. "You're one of them?"

"Children of the Watch?" Feton nodded. "Not exactly," Nakoa replied. "I follow the ways of Old Mandalore, but my Clan was formed before Children of the Watch were even heard of."

"So you don't take your helmet off?" Nakoa shook his head. Feton gave him an incredulous stare, then downed both glasses. "She doesn't even know what you look like?"

"No. Neither does Oni. There's only two people alive who know what I look like, besides myself."

"Stars." Feton rubbed the back of his neck. "I'd die if I had to wear my helmet all day."

"After so many years, I'm used to it."

"Can you ever take your helmet off?"

"Yes, the rule isn't that we can't take it off. We just can't show our faces. I take it off whenever I'm by myself."

Feton appeared genuinely curious. "Under what circumstances can you show your face?"

"From what I've learned, none. If we do, we forsake the Creed and have to give up our armor. We can't even call ourselves true Mandalorians anymore."

"I don't believe that."

Nakoa glanced at him. "What do you believe?"

"I think the only time a Mandalorian is no longer a Mandalorian is when they turn their backs on their family and home." Feton pursed his lips, thinking. "In some ways, I no longer consider myself a true Mandalorian. I wear the armor. I speak the language. I contribute to this Clan's welfare. I don't serve the Mand'alor. I have no family to defend. I have no children to raise as Mandalorians."

"Your family is your men."

"In some ways, but not like that. Would you ever forsake the Creed?"

Nakoa nodded after a moment. "I would never forsake the Code, though."

"Good. You're not some religious zealot then."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Feton gave him a smirk. "It means Lesia might not be wasting her time."

Nakoa followed his pointed gaze towards the dancers. Les moved in rhythm with them, managing to keep up with their quick pace. The gold diamonds on her outfit sparkled as the light hit them. He glanced at her ankles, half afraid she would fall. She didn't. He did spy a pained look cross her face a few times.

The dance ended and Les jumped off the dais. A few people made beelines for her. She butted in between them, not bothering to answer the ones who spoke to her. She grabbed a vacant seat near Oni, to Nakoa's amazement, and began talking to her.

"I can't believe they're getting along," he murmured. Feton said nothing, despite having heard the statement.

Coruscant: 18 BBY
Feton Ralius' Stronghold
Lesia Mirri

Les grimaced and rubbed her ankle as she sat by Oni. She knew Nakoa was watching her; she'd sensed his gaze ever since she'd arrived. Still, she couldn't bring herself to go over to him after what Feton had said.

"You look nice," Oni said, as the man she'd been talking with left.

"Thanks. Feton picked it out."

"I guess he knows his fashion."

"I just wonder why he put me in red when the other girls are in blue," Les replied. She bit back a yelp of pain as she rubbed a particular sore spot on her ankle. She lifted her other foot into her lap and set to work on it.

"Are you all right?"

Les nodded. "Sometimes the pain flares up before I can catch it. It's better than it used to be, though."

Oni nodded and released a small sigh. "I hope Feton isn't wasting our time. Nakoa may just lose it if he doesn't catch Tarek this time."

"How long has he been hunting him?"

"Ever since I've known him. He used to hunt for him everyday. Shortly before you arrived, we had to take a particular difficult bounty and he pushed Tarek to the side for a while. He's been dying to get back to searching though."

"Do you think killing Tarek will help him?" Les asked. She had to admit, it was nice talking to Oni without being scoffed at for a change. She just wondered what had inspired it.

"Maybe," Oni replied with a shrug. "Then again, maybe not. I suppose we'll see. Ketei wouldn't have let him do this if she thought it would be harmful to him though."

"They seem close."

"They are."

"How are you doing since Galaar left?"

Oni crossed her arms and leaned back. For a moment, Les thought she might just ignore the question. Finally, Oni answered. "I could be doing better. I didn't realize I'd miss him so much. I feel like I have no one I can go to for advice anymore."

"What about Ketei?"

Oni shook her head. "I've never been very close with her."

"Oh." Les looked down, thinking. Galaar thought he was distancing them. Maybe he succeeded when she was younger, but I guess Oni certainly relied on him more than he thought now.

"I'll be fine. It's not like I haven't dealt with this before." Oni looked around. "You should go talk to Nakoa."

"Why?"

"Because he's only been watching you ever since you arrived."

Lesia's cheeks flushed before she could stop it. "And you're not going to be mad at me if I do?"

"I'm silently fuming these days," Oni replied. "But I'm making an effort to be civil."

"Well, I appreciate that." Les stood and headed off before Oni could change her mind. Feton was sitting next to Nakoa as she approached. Les swallowed, her mouth feeling dry. Kriff, why am I so nervous? This never happens to me. The answer followed almost immediately. Because I feel like I'm doing something wrong. She narrowed her eyes. Because of what Feton told me.

An idea began to take form in her mind. For a brief moment, she wondered how badly it would upset Oni. She pushed that thought to the side, letting her resolve take form. Les lifted her chin and breezed over to them.

She bent over the table and propped her chin up on her fists. "You put on a good show," Feton said.

"How's your ankles?" Nakoa asked.

"All right. They don't hurt as badly as they used to."

"What's wrong with your ankles?" Feton asked, furrowing his brow.

Les ignored him and focused on Nakoa. "Will you come dance with me?"

Feton immediately choked on the drink he'd just taken. "Sure," Nakoa replied. Feton slammed his cup onto the table.

"What?" Les shot him an innocent look.

"You know very well what," Feton snarled.

"Oh, that." She let a coy smile slide onto her face. Les stepped around the table and dropped her hand onto Nakoa's shoulder. She rubbed her thumb across the exposed part of his neck. "You said he couldn't touch me, not the other way around."

Feton stiffened with anger. Les pushed her senses towards him. There was no hint of danger, thankfully. His anger even felt...forced. She drew herself back in as Nakoa stood. He let her lead the way towards the other couples who were dancing. Les pulled him out of Feton's sight, breaking another one of his rules.

"He really said I couldn't touch you?" Nakoa asked.

Les nodded. "He has a list of rules for me. Technically I've only broken one, although I'm sure he counts this as another."

"What were his rules?"

"They're not important."

"They are if he'll kill us over them."

"He won't," Les promised. Still, Nakoa took half a step back from her.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure." She draped her arms around his neck. "Although I'm certain Oni will be unhappy."

"I'm getting to the point where I don't care anymore," Nakoa replied. He let his hands fall to her waist and pulled her a little closer.

"Really?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Oni's a good friend and I'm glad you two are making an effort to get along. Still, I'm getting fed up with how she's been acting. I told her she needs to get it together or she can have Ketei find her some different work."

"You told her that?" Her surprise was genuine.

Nakoa nodded. "It's hard for Oni to trust people and I understand that, but I have to draw a line somewhere."

"For the record, I don't exactly trust her either."

"I know, but you've been mostly polite to her."

"Mostly?"

"You know exactly what I mean."

"Do I? You might need to refresh my memory," Les said with a laugh. She sensed his brief panic, but it was soon gone. Something new replaced it. She couldn't quite tell what the feeling was. Nakoa didn't give her a reply. "Have you made a decision regarding Tarek?"

"If you mean I am going to kill him or not, no, I haven't. I talked to Ketei and she said I should keep my mind open. I'll know what to do in the moment."

Les inclined her head. "She's right. Some things have to be decided on a gut instinct." She grimaced, pain flashing through her ankle. Instantly, Nakoa guided her to a seat. "It's fine," Les protested. He lifted his head, meeting her gaze even through his helmet. With strong but gentle fingers, he began to massage the soreness away. She half closed her eyes, feeling immediate relief. "I just hope Feton will come through. I may know what planet Tarek is on, but that could've changed by now."

"We'll figure it out. I've been working on a backup plan in case Feton does turn on us."

Les glanced past Nakoa. Speak of the Devil, she groaned to herself. Feton was approaching. They weren't in his sight yet, but soon would be.

Nakoa followed her gaze and straightened. Lesia's breath caught as he flicked her chin with a finger. "You should see if Feton will let you keep that outfit," he murmured. "Red is my favorite color." Nakoa headed off, leaving her heart aflutter.