Chapter Text
He knew he was being ridiculous, and yet he couldn't help it. He could only stare at the General who was being so handsy with Vader. How was it even possible? No offense but the Sith Lord had very small chances of wining the Most Handsome Man in the Galaxy Award. That was reserved for Boba. Besides Darth Vader was scary. At least he was supposed to be. He went around choking people and intimidating them with his heavy breathing. It was the threatening aura that lured the bounty hunter in. The knowledge that he was the only person that could act so freely around the Sith Lord. Apparently not anymore.
The meeting started like any other. Everybody went on about the Rebels, someone got thrown into a wall, plans were discussed and maps shown. Yet when most of the officers left, one of the remaining generals insisted on discussing an ambush strategy in private. Well, discussing it by sitting next to Vader was as private as it could get. And so it began. The 'accidental' touches over a map, leaning closer to read something. The most cliché work romance one could imagine.
What irritated Boba the most was Vader's reaction, or more precisely the lack of it. He acted as if nothing was happening. Since when did he allow his officers to be so careless? It took Boba a great deal of time and effort to get the Sith Lord to sit a meter away from him, and he used his best methods. So what did the young General have? He wasn't even Vader's type, at least that what's Boba guessed. He was the exact opposite of the said bounty hunter. Tall and skinny, while Fett was rather pocket sized with toned muscles and a wonderful butt, in Vader's opinion of course. The young officer was also unbelievably pale, his fair complexion standing out from Boba's tanned skin. So he definitely wasn't Vader's type. Or maybe that was Sith Lord's new type? Maybe he wanted to spend his days counting freckles on that kriffing transparent face.
Fett could feel his blood boiling when he saw the way the General looked at Vader. And he recognized that look immediately. He was hoping for something. Maybe for a promotion and maybe for a great night, but there was no point denying the fact that he was counting on something. And it hit Boba like a speeder. The realisation that Vader was all he had. His only friend, his only family. If that smug General took him away, he would be left with nothing. He would be alone, again. Boba felt his heart beating hard, slamming against the rib cage. He needed to think and he needed to think fast. How much time did he have left? Was Vader already warming up to the General? Was a meeting arranged?
There was only one way to find out if Vader still cared. A very effective one. He looked around the people who stayed behind. Two Generals talking in the corner of the room and one sitting lonely, three chairs away from Fett. And Boba knew him very well. Orson Krennic, not the best pick for the job, but he'll do the trick. Especially that Vader wasn't very fond of him. Boba looked back at the Sith Lord, nothing changed, despite the fact that it was getting worse. The young General stood over Vader, one hand on his shoulder as he leaned over and circled a spot on a holo map. Enough was enough.
Boba stood up and silently made his way to Krennic. The man was busy with his data pad and didn't even notice his approach, Vader did, as soon as Fett got up he could feel his eyes drilling holes in his back. Boba unceremoniously sat in a chair next to the Director.
"What's up Orson?" he asked and leaned closly to the man. He just now noticed the presence of the bounty hunter. Even if he wanted to get up and leave, he wouldn't. Nobody knew about Boba's relationship with Vader, but they knew that the Sith Lord was fond of Fett, no way Krennic was going to be rude.
"Didn't know we were on the first name terms" Director chuckled looking up from his work straight into bounty hunter's T-visor.
"We could be" Fett practically purred "So what are you up to out here, all alone?"
"I'm working"
Boba was glad that Vader couldn't hear their conversation because something told him, that the Sith Lord would rather laugh then be jealous. Still Fett could use body language. And so he did, asked Director about some details as he leaned closer, his head basically meeting with Krennic's. He decided to push his luck a bit and laid one hand on Director's shoulder.
Then he felt it, the looming presence around him. He wasn't sensitive to the Force, but he could tell when Vader was giving him a warning, informing him that he was crossing a line. Good to know that his best method was still effective, but he didn't want to make a scene, as long as Vader was still interested there was no need to.
"Nice talk General, we really need to meet sometime, but now, I will be taking an early leave" he whispered confidentially, and he could tell that Krennic was pleased with such a turn of events.
"Farewell bounty hunter, I'll make sure to contact you, will any tasks needing your help occur" he smiled and bowed his head lightly as a goodbye.
Boba got up and felt that Vader was pleased, the dark and heavy aura left Fett's surroundings. He looked at the Sith Lord. Impossible, his attention was back at the smug young man. How in the kriffing hell was that even possible? A second ago he was throwing daggers at him with his mind and now, when Boba already made his leave from the potential help, Vader chose to ignore him again? Nobody can ignore Boba Fett.
Without a word he made his way to the door, he felt it again, much lighter this time, but he could tell Vader wanted him to stay. Touché the bounty hunter wasn't planning on listening to him. He went out, the door sliding shut behind him.
Boba thought about his next move. What he did wasn't very wise, he knew that Vader loved keeping an eye on him at all possible times. He also knew that the Sith would go crazy knowing that Fett was running around the ship without his supervision. Well, he could have thought about it before he chose to let the General close. So many plans crossed his mind. He could sleep in the guest room tonight, showing Vader, that he didn't care about the luxuries he was offering. Hell, he could even sleep on his ship. He could do many things, he just needed to make up his mind. He started walking down the corridor when he heard heavy footsteps behind. It wasn't Vader, that for sure, he never run. Boba turned around sharply and saw Orson Krennic making his way towards him. Well that was interesting.
"I hoped to catch you Fett" the Director confessed and nodded towards an empty open office space. Boba followed him inside, neither of men cared about switching the light on. It was a quick meeting after all and the brightness from the corridor provided enough light. The bounty hunter sat at one of the desks, Krennic towered over him.
"Well? How can I help?"
"I just go a message, that a bounty was placed on my head among Rebel Hunters" Krennic kept his voice down clearly afraid of the conversation being overheard.
He started giving Fett some brief information on who gave him a shout but Boba couldn't really focus. Something came to his mind, and he couldn't stop processing it. He kept thinking about the Sith Lord. Boba was in no mood for fighting tonight and Krennic didn't make it easy for him. It couldn't look very well. First they talk, close in hushed tones, then Fett leaves and Krennic follows minutes after. It looked a lot like...
"So? What do you say?" Orson's voice brought him back to reality. Boba blinked mindlessly and thanked Jango's helmet for hiding his blank expression.
"What do I say?" he repeated trying to buy himself some time. There was only one thing Krennic could ask of him. Since he knew about being a target he probably wanted the assassin to die "Well yes. Sure I can do this" he said and Krennic laid a hand on his shoulder, clearly an act of gratitude as he got closer, admiring beskar armor with great interest.
"And I think, Director that you can spare my bounty hunter this useless effort" he recognized this robotic voice immediately. 'My bounty hunter'? That much of not making a scene "It won't be Rebels that will be the death of you. Fett has his own job to do. I see you talking to him once again and I'll deliver you to the Rebellion myself, in pieces" Vader barked. Krennic barely held himself together. He jumped away from Boba, shuddering.
"Yes, my Lord" he managed to say his voice trembling "It won't happen again" he promised and hurried out of the room.
Now they were alone at last, Vader's breathing was the only thing that could be heard. Boba decided he had enough of the drama. The Sith Lord could scold him tomorrow. He got on his feet, but when he took one step towards the door, he was slammed into the closest wall. Apparently this talk couldn't wait.
"Where do you think you're going?" Vader snapped holding him in place with his Force "Running after Krennic? I wasn't joking Fett" he growled and the bounty hunter almost laughed. Really? He was going to call him by his last name, that's all he had?
Vader apparently heard this thought because he let go of the bounty hunter just to slam him back again, much harder this time.
"Don't test my patience. One glance between the two of you and I'll make you watch as I rip him limb by limb with my bare hands" now that was unexpected, even for Vader.
"Jealous?" Boba teased, clearly wanting to make the whole thing worse. Then again that's kind of what he hoped for in the first place, at least Vader wasn't busy with the General of his anymore. The Sith Lord just chuckled darkly.
"If I were jealous we wouldn't be having this conversation, I would be outside watching his execution and you would be locked up in my room" he came towards Fett and stared at him "But you on the other hand... Well, you were so jealous" he started running his gloved hand over the cold metal of Boba's helmet.
"Jealous? Of that twat? No I was not"
"Of coure not and yet you were dripping with anger" he sounded almost proud of himself and for Fett it finally clicked. Of course there was no way that Darth Vader would start associating with his employees. He just wanted to rile Boba up, well it worked.
"And instead of shooting me angry glances you decided to pay me back, huh?" the bounty hunter felt Sith's hand going down his helmet and resting on his neck "Guess what, you got me" his words were barely audible. It started to get hot in the dim room, the tension still present. It was all a play and yet Boba needed to make sure.
"And you are not going to leave me for him?" out of all sudden he felt so small, so fragile. But he knew that without an answer to this question, he wouldn't get any sleep this night, or any following ones. The pressure on his neck became a little firmer, anchoring him, holding in place.
"I would snap his neck for you, no words needed" with his free hand he grabbed one of Boba's and started toying with his knuckles "You would point a finger on anyone in that room and I would bring you their head, you know that love"
"Sounds like a plan" Boba chuckled lightly and tried to move. The Sith's Force didn't hold him in place anymore, so he could do as he pleased. He lightly grabbed Vaders hand and guided it off his neck. Instead, he wrapped his hands around Vader's middle and hugged him, avoiding the chest plate. Even though the Sith Lord told him that nothing bad would happen when he touched any of the buttons, he was still anxious about this. Vader returned the hug, for a brief moment they just stood like that, basking in each other's presence, when the Sith Lord spoke again, his voice strict.
"I was serious about Krennic though. If you care about his miserable life, don't ever approach him"