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Boba Fett was not known for having trouble turning in bounties, and he certainly didn't let feelings get in the way.
But there's a first time for everything.
Boba could remember his first encounter with Cal well, and forever after that day, kestis stuck in his mind like a thorn. Finally the day had come, the day Boba was to find and capture this jedi. He knew kestis would put up a fight, a good one perhaps. Maybe he'd knock Boba to his knees a couple times, or throw him through the air with the force. But what Boba didn't know, was that the jedi would be so different from the others.
And so here he was. Standing on a building above Cal, watching him take out troopers. Who knows why he was here, but Boba didn't care. His eyes tracked the orange sabre as it whizzed around almost choreographically. The jedi moved swiftly, his movement strong, but graceful, and Fett couldn't help but admire his skills. He was supposed to be watching for his opportunity, his moment to strike. A moment of weakness, perhaps after the fight, when the jedi may let his guard down. But instead he continued to look. Despite Cals constant movement, Bobas eyes manage to precisely track every minor detail. He moves his eyes from the glowing blade of the lightsabre to the hilt where cals freckled hand gripped, up his forearm and over his poncho where he could assume cals upper arm would be, up his neck and to his face. His eyes, more specifically. It was what was in them that gripped Boba the most, made him freeze.
Emotion. Emotions that a jedi should not have. Rage, overconfidence and slight spark of joy every time another trooper was felled. It was like the jedi was one step away from the darkside.
Before he knew it, the fight was over and cal had frozen. It would have been a good time for Boba to make his appearance, yet still he stood atop the building staring. Boba tried to pull his gaze from cal, but that was when the jedi turned his head. Cals sharp eyes glared directly into Bobas despite his helmet blocking them, and Boba almost shivered. Fear? No. Anticipation. Boba waited for the jedi to strike. Time passed slowly, Fetts hand now on his blaster, but Kestis never struck. Instead, he shouted up at the bounty hunter, his voice confident.
"Like what you see?"
Boba kept his mouth shut and the jedi spoke again.
"I knew you were there. Felt you looking at me. Admiring me even." Kestis shot a proud smile. A way of saying 'you can't hide.' And it made Boba swallow anxiously. Why did this jedi make him lose his cool? Why had Kestis been in his mind ever since Koboh? And most importantly, why did Boba want to know more about him?
Boba regained his composure and stood for a short moment before deciding to jetpack down to Kestis' level. He expected Kestis to at least flinch a little, but he moved no muscle. Bobas hand hovered over his blaster as he spoke.
"Never met a Jetii like you before."
Kestis quickly replied
"What do you know about me?"
He started walking circles around Boba, like an animal hunting it's prey. He had gone into the bounty hunters mind, and found he had no intention of turning him in. But one can never be so sure.
Boba observed the scars on the jedis face. How does he wear them so well? And why does Boba almost want to touch them? He could almost slap himself. What has gotten into him? He hardly knows Kestis, yet something draws him in.
Fett finds himself speaking before he can think, and answers Kestis' question with words he really shouldn't be saying. Words that shock him.
"Not much, but I'd like to know more."
It has been a month since Boba uttered those foolish words. But perhaps they weren't so foolish after all, considering the fact they are now both in love. It hadn't taken long, but it was hard for them to stray to far from eachother. And everything comes out after a couple drinks does it not?
For a month, Boba has been lying. Saying he couldn't track Kestis down or the jedi got the better of him. There were jobs in the meantime of course, but Fett was lucky Vader valued him.
For a month, Boba has been happy. But he has also been battling with himself. Cal is a jedi. Bobas mind whirls constantly. Jetii. Jetii. Jetii. His sabre is orange. Yes, orange. So why does Boba swear he sees it glow purple in the corner of his eye? He hates the jedi. Hates them. So why does he love one? Hold one? Lie with one? Why does he let one see him vulnerable?
It is not only Boba who questions himself. Sometimes Cal wakes up from nightmares about the day his master died. And when greeted with a familiar voice asking if he's ok, grabs his sabre and aims it at Bobas neck. Boba has learnt to stay silent, to turn his face away until the jedi is calm.
Boba still sees the face Cal pulled when he took his helmet off for the first time.
Yet despite being a jedi hating clone and a clone hating jedi, it works.
Boba lays next to the jedi as he sleeps soundly. He can't help but to entwine his fingers in Cals hair and nuzzle up to his warm face. It's in moments like this Boba embarrasses himself. Only Cal could make him so soft. So foolish. Kestis sighs as he half wakes up and turns his face towards Boba. Boba kisses the corner of his mouth and Cal groans, his eyes fluttering open.
Boba strokes the jedis face, rough hands against smooth skin. Kestis shoots A lazy smile as he wraps his arm up behind the bounty hunters head and brings their foreheads together. Their eyes lock together and Fett whispers.
"Morning, cyar'ika."
Cal hums contently.
"Good morning. Mr Fett."
Boba chuckles as he releases the red head from his grasp. Cals hand slides down his neck as he sits up. He stretches and lets his arms flop down on the bed.
"Caf?" Boba questioned.
"You know it."
Boba flung himself from bed, the air being less cold than he expected. He spoke as he grabbed mugs.
"I still can't believe you convinced your crew to all have a day off to themselves."
Cal sat up in bed and flung his arms behind his head.
"Neither can I. But it's not often we get to spend the whole day together...Hey, if there's anything you want to do let me know. But honestly? I just want to stay in this hotel all day. Laze around."
Boba poured the boiling water into the mugs.
"More like fool around. I know you, Jetii."
Cal rolled his eyes.
"Really? A man can't even get laid without getting judged?"
They both laughed and Boba carried over the mugs of caf. Handing one to Cal, he clambered over him careful not to spill his drink and sat.
"I don't feel like going anywhere anyway. Don't want to deal with anyone trying to catch you for your bounty."
"As if you ever do anything anyway. If you did and somebody saw, you'd be in big trouble. Plus, I can handle myself."
"I know, I know. I just mean it's...annoying. One second you're having a nice walk and the next a bounty hunter is firing missiles at you. It's not so bad having days where you don't have to kill anyone."
Cal elbowed him lightly.
"Acting like you weren't one of them."
"Well, I never fought you. Did I?"
Boba took a sip of his caf before Cal grabbed him by the chin. Kestis leaned in, and kissed him deeply.
"No, and thank you for that."
It had been a while since Boba had seen Cal. But eventually the jedi found his way up the slope into the Slave I. Boba met him at the entrance. He was not one with the force, but he could tell as soon as he set eyes on Kestis that something was wrong. And he was certain of that analysis when Cal not only ignored him, but bashed his shoulder on the way in. Fett knew he probably should have left it. But how could he? There has not been any sadness of Cals of which Boba has failed to cheer him up a bit in.
"Cal?"
Cal freezes. Boba was expecting the jedi to start crying, or to run into his arms like many a time before. But no. Kestis turned, slowly. And all Boba saw on his face was an unfiltered rage. Boba spoke again, his voice softer. He had not yet realised it was him the jedi was angry with.
"Cyar'ika?"
Cal angrily muttered words under his breath.
"Shut up."
"Come again? I can not hear you."
"I said shut the kriff up!"
The jedi yelled at him with all his rage and tears started to stream down his face. Fett stood with his feet glued to the very spot. He didn't know how to feel, what to say. But it wasn't long before Cal started speaking again. His words being almost incoherent as he hissed them through his clenched teeth.
"I see the truth now Boba. And I don't know how I was blind for so long!"
Boba opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by Cal grabbing his collar. Boba craned his head away from the jedi, and wished he had his helmet. So then he could close his eyes without Cal knowing, and escape Kestis' glare.
"Cere...Cere died yesterday, Boba. And do you know who killed her?" Cal shook Boba back and forth. "To think I ignored it! Ignored who you worked for, ignored what you've done, who you really are! You would flash a quick smile at me and I would be charmed...blinded. And the way you held me so softly." Cal trailed off, his voice growing quieter. He bit his lip hard enough to make it bleed. "I can't believe I was so kriffing blind. Was so focused on your handsome fucking smile that I never thought about anything beyond it. Never thought about how many innocent people are probably dead because of you. Can't believe I've been sharing my heart with someone who works for the empire. For him...I realise now Boba, I finally realise something about you that I should have known from the start." Kestis pauses and pulls Boba in, now a mere inch from his face. He stares into Fetts eyes.
"You are not a good person Boba Fett."
Boba was used to being alone. And he was used to the aching of his heart. But it did not make it any easier.
His helmet rested in his hands and he stared down at it with empty eyes.
"Buir, I am sorry. I was foolish. I let a jetii into your ship. I let a jetii hold your armour. No more...no more."
Boba sighed as he put it back on. He flicked on his holopuck to remind himself of his next bounties face, and fired up the engines of Slave I. Bittersweet memories clouded his mind, and he realised that he would never be free of the orange sabred jedi. Perhaps they would meet again, many years from now. And maybe the next time they meet Boba will be a better person. Maybe Cal will give him another chance.
But for now, he was Vaders dog. Just as Vader was the emperors.