Chapter Text
Thrawn sipped his drink and waited. It had been longer than normal that the young man had lingered here talking with the small group of mixed company seated at a very exposed table in the middle of the restaurant.
Their group was loud and boisterous, fueled by the two now empty bottles of wine and they showed no signs of breaking up. Thrawn sighed traced the floral pattern on the glass with this thumb for the umpteenth time.
Normally he enjoyed this more tedious side of hunting; the lying in wait getting ready to spring the trap but today it was mildly annoying to him. Thrawn had become a bounty hunter because he was uniquely suited to the work of the job; he liked challenges and was discreet, he saw things others didn't, he was fast on his feet and frankly a consummate fighter devoid of scruples but this particular job was just hitting him differently.
The target was a young human male named Eli Vanto. Eli Vanto was the only son and heir to a small but very influential shipping company based off the Wild Space planet of Lysatra which was an unremarkable place except for its proximity to the boarders of the Unknown Regions, where Thrawn himself hailed from, and apparently a hot bed of scandal. In their roles as hunters the deep details of why didn't matter. The broker had mentioned something along the lines of a 'missing doonium shipment worth more than some small planets' and someone’s strong desire to have their material or equivalent credits back.
Thrawn generally didn’t concern himself with motives of his bosses but for some reason he was finding it hard to bag and tag Eli Vanto. They had been following him for weeks and it was clear this was a being with nothing to hide. The human couldn't be much more than twenty two at the most and did not carry himself with the air of a doonium thief. It was clear if anything had been taken it hadn’t been by the boy himself.
Thrawn's reports back had reflected these findings and yet he had been told to remain on tail and here he was once again watching Eli socialize with other young beings. The job had been a lot of watching these annoyingly carefree events, following him to shops and classes, then home again at night.
Eli Vanto didn’t seem to lead a very daring or exciting life; and in the evenings as Thrawn settled on his perch opposite the window of Eli’s small flat he had a front row seat for not very much at all. Cooking, cleaning, studying, the occasional friend over to join in one of the aforementioned activities- only once had another boy spent the night and the light from the windows had gone out removing him from Thrawn's view earlier than normal .
Unlike a lot of their targets this one didn’t seem to deserve what might be coming his way. Eli laughed brightly from across the room and Thrawn’s gaze returned to him. His unruly nut brown hair which curled slightly at the tips fell over golden brown eyes sparkling at the same boy he had allowed to stay that one night. His smile came easy and was generously gifted to those around him.
There was a strange quickening in Thrawn’s chest as Eli’s glance fell on him while calling for the waiter and his check. It wasn’t fear of being caught, but delight at possibly being seen and getting to share a bit of this beautiful creature’s affection. Chiding himself silently Thrawn waited while the check was paid, good byes were said and Eli headed out into the world.
“Target on the move.” Thrawn whispered into his com and after waiting the appropriate time followed. He knew his partner had eyes on Eli until he caught up.
For once Eli didn’t head straight home or back to the campus. He left the part of the city where the markets were and was headed towards the spaceport. An unusual deviation but Thrawn was unconcerned and kept his distance.
“Where is he going?” the voice in his ear asked peevishly.
“We are going to find out I suppose,” he answered dryly knowing it caused deep aggravation.
Upon arrival at the docks Eli moved with purpose to a particular ship where he greeted the pilot with familiarity and after a few moments conversation he received a small bag which he tucked into his jacket, they shook hands and he headed out a different way than he came, his unknown shadow still on his heels.
Darting down a dark alley the boy stopped abruptly and glanced over his shoulder. Thawn was not expecting it and was caught. A flash of fear widened those brown eyes but before Eli could bolt a shot rang out and with a heartbreaking yelp he hit the grimy pavement.
It was Thrawn’s turn to glare murder at the figure behind him.
“That was unnecessary!” he snapped.
The woman stepped out of the gloom and cocked her blaster again. “I don’t believe so. There was nothing in the contract about bringing him in dead, alive or unmarked.”
Thrawn rolled his eyes, “That was because this was a surveillance mission Ziara.”
“Not any more, they’re tired of your way.” She flipped her long hair at him as she passed. “I’ve never known you to take so long….”
“And I’ve never known you to miss a shot.” Thrawn snarled as they both stood over the boy who lay on the pavement clutching his leg.
“Alive felt like better money.” Ziara smiled, her white teeth blazing in the dark.
This was a fair assessment and yet it brought Thrawn pain to see the beautiful human in agony.
Eli stared up at the red eyed monsters towering over him, “What the fuck!?” he hissed. His blood was fire hot as it spurted from between his fingers. What in the hells had father done this time?
“At least you won’t have to carry him far.” Ziara laughed shouldering her weapon.
Sighing Thrawn crouched down and was now the closest he had yet been to Eli Vanto; close enough to see the dark freckles scattered like stars across his cheeks and to catch the infrared heat rising off his honey colored skin. “We won’t hurt you further…just please come with us peacefully.”
“I don’t have a choice now do I?” Eli looked down at his leg and back at Thrawn. “I saw you…in the café…”
Thrawn said nothing more and pulled the boy to his feet doing his best to ignore the whimper of pain. Eli leaned into him briefly while trying to find his balance and Thrawn caught the scent of moonflower in his hair and for a second his heart raced.
He didn’t know what awaited Eli Vanto once they brought him back to the boss, but Thrawn was going to delay the event as long as possible; he wasn’t ready to stop studying this one.