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The bar is more upper class than Zeb usually goes for, the patrons are dressed in what could be considered casual finery. There's gaudy jewels glittering from cheap chandeliers and instead of an old alcohol soaked wooden floor, there's plush carpet. It didn't matter to him, really, what the bar looked like. He just needed a break from the Ghost. Zeb knew Ezra was a teenager, n
who needed his own space - especially after suffering so many years on the streets. But sharing a bunk with a kit was absolutely not what he signed up for. Zeb wanted to sit and drink the cheap Hosnian beer he'd smuggled past Hera on the last mission, and if he was being really honest, have some alone time. Honestly, a good night's sleep would do for him at this point. He and Ezra had gotten into an argument, another argument, which had left Ezra stomping off to Kanan and Zeb leaving the Ghost in search of some time to be on his own. Honestly, if Zeb could choose how he ended the night, he'd fall comfortably into the bed of a stranger. After all, he knew it was better not facing the combined rath of Hera and Kanan tonight. He loved them like they were his siblings, but he knew Ezra just needed some space. They both needed time to cool off, and all would be fine.
Zeb had ordered himself a decent Correlian whiskey, ignoring the side eye the bartender gave him. He assumed she was judging because he didn't fit in with the usual clientele's dress code, and not that he was a lasat. The Ghost had docked in an inner-Rim planet, but one enough on the outskirts that there was not just simply a human population. Last thing Zeb wanted was to get in a fight with a xenophobe. He didn't nurse the whiskey, like he usually would when out drinking with Kanan. Instead he wanted to get drunk, drunk enough to approach the first attractive stranger he laid his eyes on.
The attractive stranger he decided on was a pale, human woman in a dark purple dress. The front was cut low, giving an ample view of her chest and it was short enough to give a good view of her long legs. Her face was angled away from him, and although she had glanced over at him at one point, Zeb couldn't really see her face. Of course, that hardly mattered to him. He was on his third whiskey, and all it took to get her attention was a hand on her arm when she finally stood and walked past him. The woman shot him a surprised look, something Zeb couldn't quite figure out flashing through her eyes for a second before he felt himself get pulled up by the arm. Zeb couldn't help but smirk, clearly she had the same idea as him. It wasn't until she had him pushed up against a secluded alcove, and pulled out a vibroblade than his brain caught up with his horny, drunk thoughts.
"Garazeb Orrelios." She hissed in a low voice, eyes narrowing.
Her blonde hair, curled and twisted into an elaborate looking crown on her head glistened in the dim lights of the bar. Her full lips, painted a dark crimson gave way to bared teeth. Her lashes were long, eyes decorated with smokey violet. There was something oddly familiar about her. Besides, she knew his name? Zeb thought for a moment and then let out a disbelieving laugh.
What the absolute kriff was Kallus of all people doing here? He hadn't expected to hear from her again since they got stranded together. He'd hoped that their uneasy alliance had instilled some doubts. Clearly, she was just as involved with the ISB as she had ever been. Karabast, he certainly wasn't drunk enough for this.
"Agent Kallus." He said, looking her up and down. Her apparent 'bad-leg' looked better, had it all been a farce?
"You and your rebels-" She spat the word, a look of sheer fury on her face. "You better not be trying to interfere."
Zeb looked around, careful to keep his neck firmly out of the way of the weapon she had at his throat. "No rebels here, I'm out for a drink and a fuck."
Kallus gasped out a surprised laugh, finally (thankfully) pulling the knife away. She took a step back, oddly graceful in the tall strappy shoes she wore. There was no limp, so sign of a broken leg. She looked pale though, somehow paler than she had on the ice moon. Zeb was able to study her face better from this angle. He could just about make out a bruise on her cheek that had been covered in makeup. He frowned, that hadn't been there when they had been stranded together.
"Your leg seems better." Zeb had no idea why he had decided to chat to Imperial like she hadn't just tried to cut his throat.
"I'm not interested in talking." She snapped, raising an eyebrow. "You stink of alcohol. How drunk are you?"
"Not drunk enough." Zeb muttered under his breath.
Okay, so his first plan had failed. There was plenty more beings in the bar, he could just try one of those, couldn't he? But he couldn't shake the feeling of Kallus pressed up against him. She had moved back now, but they were still in close proximity. If he leant in just enough... No. No he was absolutely not going to degrade himself as low as sleeping with an Imperial. Even if her lips did look entirely kissable.
Zeb's thoughts were broken when Kallus suddenly stiffened, taking another two steps back from him like he'd said something insulting. Her eyes darted to a man in a dark blue suit with grey hair slicked back and a small hand-blaster hanging at his waist. She coughed, as if to get his attention. Zeb realised then that she was working. Of course she was, clearly she hadn't come to this bar for own enjoyment.
"What's he do?" Zeb asked, suddenly feeling chatty again. He almost wanted to laugh when Kallus gave him an incredulous look. For a high up Imperial agent, she was allowing him to throw her off more than he would have expected.
"He's my target. He has information I need." She hissed, suddenly grabbing the front of his jumpsuit and dragging him out of the alcove. "Since you won't leave me alone..." She muttered, and shoved him against the wall.
Zeb stumbled, in his slightly drunken state. To the man in blue's credit, the stranger seemed to notice the ruckus and approached them. Kallus jabbed a finger into Zeb's chest, eyes wide with an anger that hadn't been there a moment ago.
"You've got a cheek if you think I'm going to accept an offer that low for something like that." Kallus was up in his face, Zeb couldn't help but be aroused. Kark his traitorous drunk brain. She was acting, but her usual accent had slipped into something more soft.
"Is this being bothering you, miss?" The man in blue interrupted their moment.
Kallus turned to look at him, as if she had only just noticed he was there. She then preceded to ignore him and carried on at Zeb. He had to admit, he was enjoying the show. She was a good actor, he had to give her that. He pushed away the thoughts that she could have been faking her sincerity and cooperation on the ice moon too before the small part of his brain that was still sober could overthink anything
"You gave me twenty, said you wanted oral. That's all you're getting." Alexsandr raised her voice, she was drawing attention. Zeb assumed that was what she wanted, but he couldn't do more than stand there, slightly gobsmacked. It had just dawned on him what he supposedly had been paying for. Heh, in another universe, he wouldn't have said no.
"A little more couldn't hurt, could it?" He asked, cheeky grin. Zeb had no idea whether he was supposed to be playing along. His traitorous horny, drunk brain had decided it was fun.
Kallus raised up her hand, as if she was going to hit him. Zeb wanted to laugh, as if that would do any harm to him. Before she could land a blow, however, the man in blue snatched her wrist and dragged her back.
"You're causing a scene." He said, and Alexsandr turned to him. A flash of fear, instantly replaced by a coy smile. Zeb had no idea whether it was real. He assumed not.
"Bad for business?" She asked, seemingly forgetting Zeb was even there.
The man raised an eyebrow, looking over at the crowd who had fixed their attention on the 'scene'. With a casual shrug, he spoke towards the bar's patrons. "Go back to your drinks, I'll make sure this whore gets dealt with for disturbing your night."
Zeb wasn't sure how Kallus didn't plant a fist into the man's jaw instantly at the comment. Perhaps it was all part of her plan. He continued to stand there, feeling the familiar rush of reckless anger when the man in blue leant close enough to Kallus and whispered in her ear. No way a human bystander could have heard it, but Zeb wasn't a human bystander.
"How's about you give me a taste of the goods and we forget about this little ruckus, huh? Or, I could turn you into the authorities, and they can deal with you however they like?"
Karabast, why were humans so vile.
Kallus acted like she was a lothcat who'd been caught in speeder lights. She turned towards Zeb, and back to the man in blue who was still gripping her arm tightly. She nodded at him, eyes settling on the floor. The man in blue smirked, but he didn't release her arm.
"That's a good girl."
Kallus met Zeb's eye again. "I've got a better offer," she said, loud enough that it would be obvious he could hear what she was saying. "If you're still here later, I'll think about it. Meet me in the alley round back."
And just like that, she allowed herself to get escorted off by the man in blue. Zeb shook his head and walked away, taking his seat again at the bar. This wasn't how he expected his night to go. He certainly didn't expect Kallus to have asked him to stay. Or was he reading into it too much? Probably, but he had nothing better to do. Even despite their staged scene, Zeb got seen to at the bar quickly enough. He ordered another whiskey, and when he passed his credits to the bartender, the young woman leaned in conspiratorially.
"That was the boss himself," she whispered. "He doesn't come in very often, she was unlucky. Normally folks here turn a blind eye to soliciting." Her expression turned hesitant. "Do you think she'll be okay?"
Zeb shrugged, slightly confused why this stranger was showing Kallus any sympathy. "If I know her as well as I think I do, she'll just be just fine."
The girl nodded, biting her lip. "I've heard others say he's notorious for this, Mr Wentworth is, hiring dancing girls. She's nice, gave me a big tip."
Dancing girls. Zeb shook his head. If Kallus really had been a sex worker, they'd be doing more than dancing. He suspected, however, that the man would be meeting a grim end. Kallus was a Imp. An attractive Imp, but one capable of monstrous things. She wouldn't let an enemy of the Empire go lightly. Mr Wentworth, all in blue, would be lucky if he was left alive.
Zeb was on his fifth whiskey by the time the bar declared closing time, looking at the crono on the wall it was almost 3am. The night had been filled with less sex than he wanted, but the drinks had been good. True to his word, Zeb headed for the back alley. True to her word, there was Kallus - sporting a bloodied lip.
"I didn't expect you to actually come." Was all she said, not moving from her position leaning against the wall.
She was holding a lit cigarette. Zeb was impressed, smoking was illegal for officers of the Empire. Sabine had told him that once, when they'd crept out under Kanan's watch years ago when Sabine had newly joined them. Zeb let her try it just for fun, neither of them were particularly taken.
"I thought we were on decent terms. You asked me to, so I did. How long have yer been waitin'?" Zeb approached her, uncertain of where this was going to end.
Kallus' lips quirked, she blew a puff of smoke. "Long enough."
"You make a habit of seducing rich men and smoking in alleys? Would'a thought the Empire had better things to do."
Kallus threw down the cigarette, stamping it out under her heel. "Sounds like you're concerned."
Zeb couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"Knocked him out before he could put his hands anywhere too inappropriate, Garazeb. He was fabricating chain codes, that's bad for business.' Kallus took a few steps forward, her bloody lip more visible now. As if she could sense his eyes on the wound, she carried on. "Asserted his dominance through his fists."
Zeb hated the Empire, but more than anything he hated beings - usually male - who thought they could take anything that they wanted. Riches, power, sex. He was selling chain codes and going against the Empire, he may have even called himself a rebel. A rebel who was violent, and crass and an abuser of his status.
"And yer got the information yer needed?" Zeb wasn't even sure why he was asking. He should have been stealing the chain codes back, getting them back to families and fugitives who needed them in order to escape the Empire's tyranny.
"I did." Kallus said, looking at Zeb warily.
Perhaps she was getting ready for an altercation. He watched out for the vibroblade getting pulled out again. It never came.
"You still owe me for those credits." Zeb smirked, realising Kallus' uncertainty. Decided a joke would be best. Rational, sober Zeb wasn't in charge here. This woman was his enemy, but by the Ashla she was attractive.
Her lips twitched. "Those fake credits for my fake backstory?"
Zeb nodded, earnestly. "Yeah," He said. "Those credits."
Alexsandr raised an eyebrow, "I think we may have come to an understanding on Baryhn, Orrelios. A truce, perhaps. I owe you a favour for saving my life, after all."
"A favour?" Zeb swallowed. Kallus nodded, something coquettish about her smile.
And just like that, Zeb couldn’t help himself. He had her pinned between the brick wall and himself. He could feel her chest heaving, watched as her her pupils dilated. She seemed on guard though, even then. He wanted her to melt. She wouldn't touch him, her hands staying awkwardly stiff at her sides. Zeb leant forward, their lips almost touching. Her breathing was loud in his ears, her skin soft under his touch. He could hear her heart hammering in her chest, hear the blood rushing through his own ears. Watched as she parted her lips, tongue darting out to wet her lower lips. Their eyes met, Zeb leaned impossibly closer. He was a breath away from tasting her mouth, satisfaction buzzing through him when he felt Kallus' legs part, as if inviting him to rut against her. They were so close, so close but just a little too far. She gazed up at him, mouth falling open as she no doubt felt his hardness against her body. A gasp fell from her lips, then a groan. Zeb's hand was halfway up her skirt. Hers were still trapped at her sides. He had half a mind to turn her over, and rut against her backside when footsteps disturbed them.
"Oh kriff off!" Zeb groaned, hand clasped on Kallus' thigh only inches away from her underwear.
"What do you think you are doing, citizens?"
It was a modulated voice. A stormtrooper.
Zeb shot back, and Kallus slipped back into a cold, Imperial officer. Any emotion in her eyes shut down as she stepped towards the 'trooper.
"This is ISB-021, I am cleared on the orders of Colonel Yularen." She snapped. "How about you turn around and leave, or you're going to face trouble contacting the Colonel at this hour."
"It is an offence against the Emperor to solicit such behaviours, Agent." The trooper glanced between the two. "Especially with a non-human."
Zeb heard Kallus swear, rather colourfully, he thought with a grin. It seemed that her deal with Mr Wentworth hadn't gone the way she wanted. He had contacted the authorities, after all.
"How dare you speak in such a way to a superior officer!" Kallus said, curling her left hand into a fist.
Before Zeb could blink, Kallus had surged forward, wrapping her arm around the Stormtrooper's neck. He struggled, but she seemed knowledgeable about the armour, and exactly where to put the pressure. The trooper stopped struggling, going limp in Kallus' arms. He fell to the group, slumping into a heap. Kallus scoffed and rolled her eyes, grabbing his comm device.
"This is ISB-021. Stormtrooper designation T8890 investigated a tip off from a local, who has since turned out to be a rebel gang leader. I have dealt with the threat adequately, and will be reporting the trooper for reconditioning. Long live the Empire."
She could think on her feet, Zeb had to give Kallus that. He watched her throw down the comm and drag the Stormtrooper over to the wall. She turned to notice his stare, and shrugged.
"He's unconscious."
"You didn't report me." Zeb said, "Yer could'a reported me, but yer didn't."
Kallus gave him a small, calculated smile. "I rather enjoyed your groping, rebel."
Zeb could have died a happy man right there, Ashla, he was desperate.
"I should get back. Goodnight, Garazeb Orrelios. Better luck next time with finding a bed partner."
Zeb watched her slip out of the alley and into the night. Maybe he had sparked some doubts, after all? He doubted though, what impact his words could have in the scheme of things. He was mostly drunk, almost got a kiss from an enemy and nearly got his hands the whole way up her skirt. The night hadn't been totally unsuccessful.
Heh. Kanan and Hera would never believe this