Chapter Text
Linsal had never been a morning person. Despite the preaching of all her masters about meditating with the sunrise and being one with nature as it woke for the day, Linsal always liked to sleep in. Meditating after a good night’s sleep and preferably not earlier than 9 in the morning was the way to go, in her personal opinion.
Only RV-427’s orbit around its planet and said planet’s orbit around the red sun was doing crazy things to her internal time-clock. They were only a week planet-side, hardly enough to synchronize with its time set. That is why she found herself in the kitchen, staring unseeing at the opposite wall, with a warm cup of tea in her hands.
Doc was probably still sleeping, the lucky akk-dog. And it was through Linsal’s own determination to keep their relationship quiet that she didn’t know it for sure.
Malavai entered the kitchen suddenly, startling Linsal out from her sleep-deprived musings. He looked perfectly awake and ready for the day. Linsal noted, somewhat blurrily, that he was wearing heavy work clothes, as if he was going to assist the droid outside with the farming.
He came to a stop about two paces inside the kitchen, once he noticed her. Linsal was about to greet him when he spoke stiffly, “Apologies, Master Jedi. I shall leave you to your breakfast.” And he turned to leave.
“Malavai, wait,” Linsal called after him, dismayed at his unwillingness to share the space for even a moment. “You don’t have to go just because of me.”
Malavai tensed but turned back to face her. "Is there something you require of me, Master Jedi?"
“Please, Linsal is fine, and I only meant for you not to miss your breakfast," she said, giving him a reassuring smile. She and Doc were going to spend a considerable amount of time on the moon with him and Eshosria, it made sense to try and get to know them, in her opinion.
"I am happy to wait until you are finished… Master Jedi," he seemed unimpressed by her friendliness.
Linsal blinked at him for a moment. It was too early for mind games, in her opinion. "There's plenty of room." She gestured to the empty chairs on either sides of the table.
Malavai looked undecided for a moment, then appearing to reach a decision he nodded and said, “Of course, Master Jedi.”
Linsal watched as he walked fully into the room and entered a few quick commands to the service droid. He took the seat opposite her and they sat in silence as the droid laid out his meal.
“How is Eshosria doing?” Linsal tried to break the awkward silence.
“She is... better. The treatment seems to be working well."
Linsal smiled at him. "I'm glad."
Malavai looked at her with an unbelieving expression on his face.
Linsal shook her head. "Is it so hard to believe that I wish for your wife to feel better?"
"Considering that your objective on this moon is to capture her?" he answered dryly.
Linsal chewed on her lip, trying to come up with a way to reassure the man sitting in front of her. She could understand his trepidation, his fear. Her presence was a supposed threat on his wife and unborn child. “My objective was to find the Wrath, which I have. The rest, I’m still figuring out.”
She attempted to give Malavai a reassuring smile, but he just looked levelly at her, not touching his breakfast. “My wife trusts you,” was his only reply.
Linsal frowned, “You are your own person, you can have your own opinion, you know. You don't have to default to your wife all the time."
Malavai gave her a look, as if he was trying to determine whether she was sane or not. "If you say so, Master Jedi."