Chapter Text
Boba Fett didn't like surprises. They were to be expected in his profession, but his attitude didn't change a one bit. When Jabba told him to drop everything he was occupied with and rush to bloody desert, just to meet with a guy the Hutt found important, he was pissed. Not that he was up to something great. He just didn't like to be bossed around. Jabba might pay him, but he is no Master of his. He didn't forget to mention that during their talk, but Hutt's arguments smashed Boba's defence.
Money. It was always about money. If that Sith Lord got angry and killed Jabba, it would be way harder for Boba to find such well paid jobs. Sometime he felt like a slave to those kriffing credits. He certainly felt like one now. His muscles struggling not to dig in the sand as he kept walking away from Slave I. The sun high in the sky, making his eyes water when he tried to look around. Whose idea was it to meet in the desert? Without coordinates. Was he supposed to just walk around until he passed out from exhaustion? Or just until Tusken Raiders take interest in him, like vultures circling a dying animal? Not that Fett planned on dying anytime soon.
The sun kept heating up his helmet, and soon Boba felt droplets of sweat going down his face. He turned around to take a last look at Slave I. If the kriffing Jawas steal something from it, he'll be sure that someone pays for that, either Jabba or that Sith friend of his.
He kept making his distance, his feet still struggling with the over dried soil. For a moment he thought about using a jetpack, but then his eyes finally spotted someone. He squinted, trying to make something out of the black figure standing in the distance. He quickened up his pace, forcing his muscles to go faster, just to have it over with. The closer he got, the more vivid the person's image was. Tall, very tall and just as broad, a piercing sound shot through the hot air and reached Fett.
"Krrsantan" Fett greeted him, getting closer to the other bounty hunter "Waiting here? Jabba gave you the exact location?"
The Wookiee growled something clearly agreeing, and Fett let out a shaky breath. Kriffing Hutt, obviously he liked some of his bounty hunters more than others. Boba couldn't help but wonder if his death out of exhaustion while trying to find the meeting place, would make Jabba even slightly distressed.
"Gave you detail about the job too?" Krrsantan shook his head eagerly. At least that much of equality.
He didn't know how long exactly they were standing out there. He felt some sort of pity for his friend, whose black fur focused the heat. The Wookiee however didn't seem to mind, trying to engage with the small talk Fett was providing.
Finally, after what seemed like years, a dark figure appeared on the horizon, causing both hunters to go stiff. They kept their eyes on the newcomer and their hands on blasters. Krrsantan gave a howl, informing Fett, that it was the man they were waiting for.
"So Jabba did give you details" he muttered, clearly offended.
The dark figure approached them. The mysterious man was making his way through the sand smoothly, almost like he was floating above the small grains. Fett couldn't help but stare. The Sith Lord, Darth Vader, as Boba found out when he pressed Jabba enough, oozed with power. His authority was making Boba want to just curl up and hide, but that's not how he was raised. That's why he tried to keep his gaze with the Sith, even though he had to tilt his head a little bit, another thing about Vader. He was tall, his height matching to Krrsantan's. He could easily look down on Boba, and maybe he was looking down on him just now. It was hard to tell since his face was covered with a black mask, matching the rest of his outfit.
Black robes snuggled his muscled arms as an equally dark cape flowed behind him. Fett kept observing the man, who was currently standing in front of the two bounty hunters. Boba could hear his breathing, loud and clear, and he was taken aback. It sounded robotic, but then again machines didn't breath, he tried to make something out of this, when he heard the Sith speak.
"I was informed, that you are the best bounty hunters, that Jabba the Hutt can provide" his voice was just as mechanic as his breathing. The low voice sent a chill down Boba's spine, but he kept his composure. Another thing struck him, not letting him focus on being intimidated. What exactly was 'provide' supposed to mean. They were no property of Jabbas, and he fought every urge to make a comment.
"I guess we are" he just spat out, his voice tight as he kept reminding himself about the credits. If he pissed the Sith enough, he will take another bounty hunter and Boba needed money. There were few to many things on his ship that needed adjustments.
Krrsantan stood silently, his arms crossed as he kept eyeing both men, clearly waiting for something to happen. They could like each other, but if the Sith Lord needed only one bounty hunter, Fett didn't suspect that the Wookiee would show him any mercy.
"You guess?" out of all sudden the Sith seemed to be so close to him, that Fett almost backed away. His eyes catched a glimpse of a lightsaber at Vader's side, and he felt a shiver of disgust. He wondered if the Sith were just as wretched as Jedi, or was that simply impossible.
The undeniable heat was making his head spin as he kept thinking about Sith's words. What did he want to hear? He looked at the Wookiee next to him, clearly his friend decided to leave all the talking to him as he stood frozen, like a carbonite statue.
"I know" he hoped that was enough of an answer. Vader still loomed above him, his hands supported at his hips. Fett briefly glanced at his fingers, trying to spot how close they were to the saber, to see wheteher the Sith was posing a threat to him.
The moment his gaze went down, he couldn't tear it away from the gloved hands. The man before him, reminded him of a Mandalorian. Dressed from head to toe, protecting his body and hiding his features. Boba felt a twich of interest at the present mystery. He couldn't help but wonder, about the other man's appearance, locked behind all those layers. He gulped and raised his head back, his visor meeting with the emotionless durasteel.
When the Sith stepped away, Boba released a breath, he didn't know he was holding. He felt nauseous out of all sudden, and something was telling him it wasn't just from the heat.