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“I took credit for it… I’m sorry… I didn’t understand at the time.”
Something in the tone of Agent Kallus’ voice had made Zeb wonder about the imperial operative. The man clearly not as one dimensional agent as Zeb had painted him to be in his mind from all their encounters up and till now.
And yet, he was still the enemy.
After their narrow escape from the grotto monsters, the two had been huddled In the cold with the one single warming stone shared between them. The cold icy winds howling all around them, blowing snow closer towards their hardly shelter. An exposed cave hardly fit to protect the two from the elements.
“We’re not gonna last long if the storm keeps up.”
Leave it to Zeb to state the obvious, but he wasn’t wrong either. If the beacon wasn’t working, if his friends did not get to them in time… well, so many things going wrong as it was.
“I know. Are you sure the beacon is working.”
Kallus, having decided to put his trust in his enemy, this, rebel Lasat, was still not sold on them being rescued even if he hoped the Empire would come for him. But, he wasn’t as sure any more, having witnessed so many misfires done by them in regards of supposedly their own people. The numbers increasing in volume each passing day. The seed of doubt simmering somewhere deep within the Agent.
And now this. His enemy helping him, keeping him alive. Why? Guess it was a valid question after all, then again, perhaps the rebels weren’t as bad as the Empire had led them all to believe.
“Here. You can check for yourself.”
Zeb handed he device over to Kallus. Taking it from the Lasat with a huff and examining it only to find it was on and broadcasting. On all frequencies.
“It’s working.”
“Told ya.”
“So, now we just wait then?” Was it a question? “The Empire will come…” The last part more of a wistful whisper.
“My friends will be here before they do.”
“So sure are you then? That they will come for you?”
“I am. Trust me they will come.”
With that sentiment the two enemies having joined forces for their very survival fell into a silence. And this time, despite their circumstances being what they were, it was a rather comfortable one.
After all, they both wanted to survive. Even with the enemy right there at their side, the individual will to live was so much more powerful than any allegiance given to any particular cause.
But, the time was passing by them, the nature roaring around and yet there was no answer from either of their parties.
“Guess we’re in for a long wait after all.”
Kallus did surprisingly not sound as irritated as he thought the was.
“Better get comfortable then.”
Zeb, never the one to give up had already been thinking about their options.
“What do you mean?”
Kallus sounded confused of them comment, not really sure what they could do. It was a cold barren place after all. Freezing more likely.
“Well the stone is good for only so long…” Zeb glanced from the stone to Kallus, sounding perhaps a little nervous. “But shared body heat…”
Kallus got the gist of Zeb’s proposal. His thoughts on the idea only for a moment before relenting.
“Fine.”
As what was his choice? To freeze to death?
And a furry Lasat was certainly better than no heat at all. His own armour really not designed for such a climate. Inferior materials as they were made out of, even if the Empire claimed otherwise. Kallus knew better though.
Zeb opened his arms in an invite. Kallus sighing rather theatrically while rolling his eyes, before hauling himself to the warmth of Zeb’s awaiting arms.
“Better?”
Zeb’s tone sounded corse the cold getting to them both apparently, but Kallus felt already warmers as soon as the two were settled. Huddled together without much in space between their bodies.
“Yes…. Much.” Kallus closed his eyes. “Thank you.”
Kallus sounded oddly somber. Whether it was the pain in his leg or the overall fatigue of this unplanned excursion. Well, crash landing really
And if Kallus was honest with himself, he felt too good. Protected even while in the arms of this, Lasat. The deep fantasies of his having been hidden within for so long threatening to surface suddenly if he let them to. Because it felt so, so good and yet so wrong to be in the arms of the enemy.
This Rebel, this Lasat, Zeb…
Kallus felt helpless against theses feelings appearing out of the blue. But the lure of the dreamland was simply too powerful. The arms tight around the Agent. It felt so… good, so warms so… And with those thoughts, Kallus fell asleep.
Zeb only nodded to himself, letting a small smile slip on his lips. Feeling warmer too. Letting sleep claim him as well.
*
Zeb had an imperial agent in his clutches. The enemy right there. It would be so easy, simple enough to just, snuff him. Break his neck without any issue.
And yet Zeb could not. Stabbing someone when they were beaten was not his way. Besides, he had felt it too, How good it was holding this frustrating yet formidable man in his arms.
True they we’re enemies. But Zeb also knew Agent Kallus to be a cunning opponent and a worthy adversary. Someone he had met in the battlefields often enough, Kallus certainly having given the rebels the run for their money during their encounters.
And guess somewhere along the line, Zeb had wondered what would have happened if the two of them weren’t enemies. If they had met under different circumstances? Or maybe that had been part of the attraction all along?
As it certainly was that, to some extent. Attraction.
As the two huddled tougher sank ever deeper into each others arms, feeling the Agent’s body against his own, Zeb’s imagination started running rampant. Those fantasies reserved for those lone nights filling his mind suddenly. Especially those ones where this, particular imperial operative was the star of.
Zeb certainly was threading into rather dangerous territory, but they needed to stay warm after all.
*
The winds had gotten even louder around the cave the two were huddled inside of. The glowing, warming rock still working its magic as certainly was the shared body heat.
Kallus had moved impossibly close to Zeb.
Not that there had been much space between them before either. The whole point of the thing after all. But Kallus was practically seated on Zeb’s lap. Them both still very much asleep. Their vivid dreams of each other unbeknownst to the other surely having lit some simmering fires during this, interaction.
Two sets of eyes suddenly opening, gazes locking, locking into the other’s searching for some assurance there. Permission perhaps.
As to which of them made the first move was neither here nor there.
Their lips were pressed together without further thought, tongue’s duelling for dominance. The hunger present, fuelling further the heat already lighting up in both of them. The dreams having done their job, as guess it has always been there, the mutual attraction.
Hands rowing, searching , finding purchase under the clothing. Naked skin and fur it did not matter as the need was growing for a deeper touch. The overwhelming sensations from the dreams and reality blurring rapidly but neither of them was resisting.
The urge was too grave.
Their current status, the weather, not even Kallus’ broken leg mattered. They simply needed to be with the other, to connect in more ways than one. More, the more becoming key.
“Need to…”
“Lemme just…”
Their position might have been awkward as well, but neither seemed to care. Lips never leaving the others, hands never ceasing their exploration, their heated touches…
Just as the heat was becoming unbearable, the need for more upon. The two would be lovers were roused from their lust filled haze by a loud and rather annoying sound.
He proximity alert from the beacon sounded.
Both sets of eyes blowing wide, the realisation of what they were doing hitting them like a stampeding herd of banthas.
Untangling themselves from the other happening within the speed of light. The embarrassment of what they had been doing hitting suit.
“I um..,”
“Yeah… that…”
“I dunno how that… happened.”
“Guess we were… dreaming?”
“Yeah. That’s… a very good excuse… I mean reason.”
“I can certainly live with that.”
“Good then we both agree?”
“What happens on the moon if Geonosis, stays on Geonosis.”
“I can abide to that.”
Just them the Ghost landed a little farther away from them.
“That’s my ride!”
Zeb was already up and headed towards the ship, tossing the stone to Kallus.
“See you around the galaxy.” Kallus wished him after grabbing the still warm stone.
Zeb only nodded and with that he was off.
*
Kallus was back with the Empire.
They had come for him in the end. A lone patrol shuttle having recovered him from the surface before he had frozen completely. And so, without any fanfares or glad to have you backs, Kallus had returned to the fold.
The coldness felt worse since his return though. The blank, large and hollow ship, the uncaring colleagues, the dark cell they called living quarters… it felt all so, sad somehow now.
And yet thankfully, Kallus had something to keep himself warm during those lone time. A fond memory from the desolate moon of Geonosis.
*
Zeb was sleeping in his bunk on the Ghost and having a very pleasant dream.
Only this time it was more vivid, mover alive, more tangible, more of everything than it had ever been before. Almost… real.
As Zeb had gotten a taste of the real thing back on Geonosis with his… Agent Kallus. And he knew for certain now that he definitely wanted more.
Enemy or not, Zeb was totally smitten by the elusive imperial agent. And somehow, Zeb was sure they would meet again under more, pleasant circumstances.
Or so Zeb kept convincing himself while reliving the very special scene from Geonosis in his very life like dream.