Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Several months have passed since the pirate attack on At Attin. Captain Silvo, aka Jod Na Nawood escaped the clutches of the New Republic only to be later captured attempting to stow away on an outgoing vessel. Having never had to deal with a criminal of his scale on the peaceful planet, Jod has been placed under house arrest and constant surveillance while his fate is decided…

Every morning the lights came on at the same time. Jod awoke to their familiar soft glow. He had been given a small one bedroom apartment with a kitchenette and dining area. There were holo-tapes and data pads for entertainment and enrichment. Most about the history of the planet, learning a trade and self-help books. The latter he had flipped through once and tossed down the garbage chute. There were workout tapes to keep him active. On his wrist was a thin silver bracelet with pulsing lights, tracking his location and vitals. He had been given a small monthly allowance that was still more than he had ever owned, and once a week the safety droid accompanied him to the shops to purchase anything he needed. Every room had a conspicuous security camera tracking him at all times. It was a nice cell, but a cell nonetheless.

"Morning S-498, anything new with you?"

The safety droid stood as always in a corner of the dining room, next to the exit. It turned to him as he approached.

"Good morning Jod. As a matter of fact, yes. Congratulations are in order. You have been deemed sufficiently reformed as to move on to the next level of your reintegration program. Your continued attempts to socialize with me have been considered symptomatic of lack of companionship. As such, you have been assigned to work under the supervision of an old friend."

Jod frowned. He didn't have any friends, not here on At Attin. His confusion turned to horror as the familiar sound of heavy metallic footsteps approached. The door whooshed open, revealing a fully repaired and tuned-up SM-33. He had two feet now that more or less matched, and the once empty eye socket glowed with a red light. His steel chassis had been buffed and polished and gleamed in the morning light. On his chest was a badge showing his status and he was armed with a stun rod strapped to his leg.

"Well, well… looks like I'm on babysitting duty again."

Jod grabbed the security guard by the shoulders. "No, not him! He's dangerous! I don't know what he'll do to me!"

"SM-33 has been deemed a safe and productive member of At Attin society, having aided in the rescue of-"

"No, no, no. Keep it away!"

"-children of At Attin and having resided on the planet for over one hundred years without incident."

"You hear that, an upstanding citizen!" Thirty-Three guffawed, "oh my! The way you're holding on to that droid I'm liable to get jealous."

The safety droid continued in a calm voice even as Jod tried to climb it, "despite past harmful actions against it, this unit has expressed an interest in your journey of self-improvement and will accompany you as your personal security escort."

From behind the security droid Jod looked up at Thirty-Three nervously. "Journey? What's that then?"

Thirty-Three tossed Jod a pair of work gloves. "Community service."

Clad in workman's white coveralls, Jod pushed a cart of cleaning supplies down the sidewalk. Thirty-Three followed him. "Oy, this is the place." He led Jod to where a wall had been tagged with graffiti.

"Why do I have to clean it up? What do these people have against culture? "

"You gotta because you gotta. Now get to work."

Jod scrubbed away with a soapy sponge. After what felt like ages the paint started to fade in one small area. He looked up the wall, this was going to take all day. He could feel Thirty-Three's eyes on him.

Jod looked over his shoulder. "So, you convinced them to let you join up with the rest of the droids did you?"

"Aye, I guess so."

"Even though you're a former member of the most feared pirate crew in all the galaxy?"

"Yep. Funny innit?"

Thirty-Three was not playing along. Jod pushed harder, turning to face him. "You're a pirate , not some overblown security guard."

"Aye. I do miss it." Thirty-Three admitted with a wistful tone. "But it be worth it to keep a close eye on me dear old friend. "

Jod leaned in close, his tone hushed. "Come on. Join me. Together we can find a way off this cursed planet. Be pirates again! Be free again!"

Thirty-Three tutted and pointed to his left eye. Where once there was an empty hole, he had been fitted with a black lens with a red light at its center. "I answer to At Attin security now. You see this? A wee camera. Everything you do gets sent off to security headquarters. So you best be mindin' your behaviour."

"Right…" Jod made note of that. "So, what happened to the rat?"

"Oh, Snowball be living out a life of rat luxury under the care of young Neel and family. I visit once in a while to make sure they ain't over-feeding her. She be happy as a puffer pig in the mud."

Defeated, Jod sat down on a concrete road barrier and opened his thermos. He sipped at his tea, lost in thought. He looked up at Thirty-Three, "do you hate me?"

Thirty-Three sat down next to the man and gave him an appraising look. "Yes."

Jod sighed. "That's fair."

"You did cut me head off."

"Yeah."

"Schemed against me captain."

"Hmph."

"And all around be a right pile of-"

"All right, I get it."

"Still…" the droid gave Jod a playful pat on the shoulder, "all's well that ends well, eh?"

Did it? It could have been worse, Jod supposed. He wasn't wealthy beyond his dreams, but he was alive. That was always a minor miracle. He was relieved to hear that all of the children had made it out all right. And he had Thirty-Three to thank for that.

The two sat for a moment. Around them were the now regular sounds of construction as the city rebuilt what had been destroyed in the pirate's attack and added infrastructure to support the new influx of space travel. Birds chirped, children laughed, there was the steady zoom of distant traffic. The air was warm and clear, a light breeze played through his hair. When he closed his eyes, Jod could feel the vitality of the place.

Jod looked at the little progress he had made. "Isn't this what we have droids for?" he grumbled.

"Droids and convicts!" Thirty-Three pointed out merrily.

Jod set back to work scrubbing the wall. He had been neglecting the exercise tapes and his arms were already sore. He glanced over at the sound of a hover bike coming to a stop on the nearby road.

A teenage boy's voice rang out. "Hey look guys! It's the pirate!" His friends joined in the heckling and jeering. Jod glared at them then went back to his work. The kid did not want to be ignored. "Hey pirate! You like cleaning? Clean this up!" The boy threw a candy wrapper that landed at Jod's feet.

Jod grit his teeth, and stared at the wall. Another piece of trash flew towards him and he snapped.

Jod was about to prove the safety droid completely wrong about how safe he was when Thirty-Three stepped forward. He stood up straight to his full intimidating height. "You kiddies move along now before I report you to security for interfering with a dangerous criminal. And littering."

"Oh, you gonna tattle on us?" The boy's bravado was faltering and one of his friends urged him to go.

"That is, unless you force me to deal with you meself." Thirty-Three lit the stun rod with sadistic relish.

"Fine, we're going!" The boy took off, yelling over his shoulder. "Have fun cleaning, pirate!"

Jod glowered after them, seething from having to be rescued from children by a droid. "I hate this."

Thirty-Three nudged the candy wrapper with his toe. "Well, clean it up."

Jod fell into his new routine. Most of the week was scheduled for working. They had him cleaning, gardening, fixing roads, filing old documents… Some of the tasks he took to better than others. He had just about driven the old librarian to short-circuit with his utter half-assed sorting. But it was with a hint of pride that he passed the flowers he had planted and watched them thriving. Then, on his day off, he would go to the market. Thirty-Three had replaced his safety droid on these outings and Jod found him a much more interesting companion. Better at catching him stealing too (old habits died hard), but it was a fair enough trade off. The droid would gladly share tales of piratical adventure and Jod would share his own stories. And every once in a while at the end of the day Thirty-Three would pull an eye-patch over the camera in his eye and a blanket over the bedroom surveillance camera so they could have some time together in private.

Jod had made a habit of getting himself a hot drink first thing on his day off. Bound to a schedule as he was, he had become a bit of a regular at a cozy little cafe he was fond of. Thirty-Three waited at the door while Jod went up to the counter. The woman behind the counter cheerfully greeted him by name. Apparently he really was becoming a known face, as she had his spiced milk tea ready before he could place his order.

"She has a thing for you," Thirty-Three teased as they walked down the street. Jod sipping his drink.

"What? The tea girl? Nah."

"She definitely does."

"Hmm… Not my type."

"What's your type then?"

"You know exactly what my type is. Tall, ruggedly handsome, strong enough to pick me up and shove me against the wall… Or a cute girl with big round eyes, no inbetween really."

"Well I am pretty cute, an' I got round eyes."

Jod laughed. "You just check all the boxes don't you!"

"Pretty much perfect, yep." Thirty-Three stopped and turned to Jod. "I lost the ring you gave me. From Rennod's hoard. Your old crew stripped me of all the treasure when I were captured."

"Oh. Yeah, too bad that."

"My answer still stands nonetheless."

Jod took a moment to remember. So much had happened that day and he'd been a bit delirious at the time. Within the caverns of Skull Ridge Mountain they had narrowly escaped pursuit from Jod's former crew who were out for his blood. The children had disappeared down a trap door to what Thirty-Three had assured him were tunnels leading to the base of the mountain. So, alone with his new first mate and sometimes lover in a room full to the brim with treasure, Jod had done what any pirate would have and had himself a little happy dance. Thirty-Three led Jod to a chest overflowing with riches and disabled the booby traps. Laughing and hugging, the two grabbed handfuls and stuffed Jod's pockets full. Thirty-Three and Jod had draped each other in gold and pearls and jewels and Jod had, jokingly, slipped a ring on Thirty-Three's finger. Thirty-Three hadn't seen it as a joke though.

"You really want to get married?" Jod asked. "You want to get married to me ?"

"Aye."

"You don't hate me?"

"I'm over it."

Jod looked appraisingly at the droid. "Are you really sure? I did decapitate you."

"Eh, these things happen."

"Wouldn't there be some sort of conflict of interest issue if you were my parole officer and my husband?"

Thirty-Three's internals whirred. "Hm, seems me old memory just ain't what it used to be. I'm coming up blank."

"Ah, I see. But… well a droid and a human, is that even…"

"What, legal? Since when would a detail such as that stop you?"

Thirty-Three had a point, still Jod couldn't believe it.

Thirty-Three slipped his hand into Jod's and leaned in close, speaking softly. "I like you Jod. Me old circuits were not really built for such a thing, but I think as much as I can, I love you."

Jod looked into the warm light of Thirty-Three's eye. The droid's face offered no expression, but his emotion came through in his voice and Jod had learned to read volumes in the way he held himself. He was standing taller these days. His body was cold steel, but there was a warmth in his closeness and the gentle touch of his hand. In the slight tilt of his head as he waited for Jod's answer.

There were many Jod had loved. Friends, crewmates, friends with benefits. But marriage - tying himself down to one person, to love and trust - had never been a thought to him. Whenever he had trusted someone they had betrayed him or, as soon as it was in his advantage to, he had abandoned or betrayed them. Not since his jedi master had Jod loved and trusted someone completely. She had been the mother he never had, and a mentor and a friend. And she had been cruelly ripped from him. The thought of letting himself love someone like that and more, it was frightening.

"Well?" the droid prompted. "You were the one what proposed t' me, don't tell me you be gettin' cold feet."

Could he love a droid? To his surprise Jod realised he already did.

Jod pulled at his lover's hand, leading him away from the main street where their tender moment was drawing curious and scandalized looks. Tucked away in an alley, he placed a kiss square on the droid's nose.

"The treasure all got taken by the New Republic. Who knows where it is right now. I'm afraid your ring is long gone. But! I happen to know some fine pieces made their way into a private collection. And! That collection is on display at a museum with the most basic security you could imagine…"

"Then what?" Thirty-Three sounded unimpressed, "I can't right well wear stolen jewelry out on the street."

"Oh yeah…"

"Enough of this, remember…" Thirty-Three tapped his camera eye.

"What? But I thought you said it was visual only?"

"Aye but the security computer can read lips, so maybe don't be showing me your m-mouth while you be show-showing me your arse! A heist sounds like a lovely time, but you be on thin ice as it is. How am I meant to take care of you if they haul you off to some off-planet prison? Jod, I love you but you be a miserable pirate."

Jod deflated a little at this.

"'Tain't about the ring, idiot. It be about the promise."

"I didn't ask you to take care of me," Jod grumbled. "You're as uptight as the safety droids."

"Oh yeah?" Thirty-Three shoved Jod away, sticking an accusatory finger in his face. "You think they would put up with all the shite I have just to k-keep you safe? To keep you fed and dressed and here, with m-me ? To keep you from running off to stick your foot up yer own arse again?"

"You don't have to coddle me like a child!"

"Then stop acting like one!"

Thirty-Three realised he had been towering over Jod at his full height and slouched down, retracting his limbs. "Just promise me," he requested sadly, "promise you'll try to take care of yourself. Life be too short and it be a lonely affair to live longer than me love."

The old pirate had always spoken lightheartedly about his former crew. All dusty skeletons now. To the droid their reign of terror over the skies had been like yesterday when he awoke. One moment he was plummeting to his death with the rest of his crew, the next he was alone and confused. Thirty-Three always spoke of Rennod with such fondness. It was clear that there had been something between him and his captain but it hadn't occurred to Jod that the old droid missed Rennod dearly.

Jod slumped back against the wall and sipped his tea. Thirty-Three leant back next to him and Jod rested his head on Thirty-Three's shoulder.

"All right. I promise no heists." Jod brought his paper cup up to his lips, "for now."

"Aye, that be fair enough for me."

Chapter Text

Jod put away the day's shopping, listening to a holo-tape documentary about pergill as he puttered about. There was a knock at the door. Jod froze, he wasn't due for a check-in already was he?

"You have a visitor," the safety droid announced.

Jod answered the door to two people he was pretty sure had a restraining order on him.

"Hi Jod!" Wim waved.

"Wim, stay here for a minute," his father said sternly. "I'll talk to him first."

"Be that me old crewmate? Wim me boy!" Thirty-Three pushed his way past Jod and Wendle.

"So, um. Sorry about the, you know." Jod waffled.

"Threatening my son and I with a lightsaber?" By the anger in his voice Wendle had not forgiven him. "I'm only here because of Wim. He wants to know how you're doing. If you do anything to hurt my boy-"

"Too good for this cruel old galaxy he is. I'd say tell him to give up on me, but you're here now so I guess you might as well come in," Jod gestured them in but Wendle still looked uneasy. "I've got security breathing down my neck all hours of the day. I'm not trying anything," Jod assured him.

Jod and Thirty-Three sat on one side of the table. Wendle and the safety droid stood by the door. Wim sat across from Jod and Thirty-Three, the boy was practically buzzing.

"Go ahead Wim," Jod encouraged.

"So you're living with Thirty-Three now? That's so wizard! I heard that he's like, your security guard? But KB says you're boyfriends, so-"

"WIM!" Wendle interjected.

Jod stifled a smirk. "Yeah, he's looking after me, keeping me out of trouble. As for the other thing…"

Wendle glared at him.

"That's adult business, all right? Private." He hurriedly changed the subject, "but what about you, how have you been?"

"Well, I failed my assessment." Wim's shoulders slumped. "But I'm retaking the year and I know I'll pass this time! I know what I want to be now. After helping KB fix her augs I realised that medicine is actually really wicked! And if I study and work real hard maybe I can even…" Wim slowed down, a sadness in his voice, "Maybe I can even find a cure for people who get sick like mom."

Jod couldn't help but feel a reluctant fondness. "You're really going to be helping people. That's good. I'm proud of you."

"And what about you, are you, you know, making the life you want to live?"

"You know, I think I'm still trying to figure out what that means," Jod admitted.

"You'll figure it out. Sometimes you think you want to be one thing, but it turns out you want to be something else. Like I wanted to be a Jedi, but I guess you have to be born with an apit- atiptitude- being good at the Force to train it. But what I really wanted to do was help people."

"Got it all figured out, have you? We should all be so lucky." There was an edge of bitterness in Jod's voice.

Wendle cut in, "all right kiddo, you have homework don't you?"

"Aww," Wim complained, "but I barely even got to talk to Thirty-Three!"

"You best be off to your studies. I'll be around when you want to swap stories of your adventures," Thirty-Three assured him.

"I've had enough adventures for now, maybe once I've graduated. But I'll be back as soon as my dad lets me!" Wim promised. "Bye Jod, bye Thirty-Three."

Wendle ushered his son out the door and paused, turning to Jod stiffly. "Thank you for your time."

Jod watched Wim leave. "He's a good boy, if… energetic. I wish my master had been able to meet him. If you want to come back some time I'd like to tell him about her. You know, stories of a real Jedi. I haven't told anyone else." He smiled at Wendle's discomfort. "Her name was Nina, and she was nothing like me. My master was a real Jedi."

"Well, I'm sure you're busy…"

"Weeble, was it?"

"Wendle."

"Wendle. I'm under house arrest, I'm bored out of my mind most days. Just let me know when and we can do story time."

"I don't know," Wendle squirmed. He was not enthusiastic about the prospect of letting his son spend any more time with the criminal. "He's getting a bit old for story time…"

"Hoy now," Thirty-Three piped up. "Stories are how we pass on history! Tradition! Fables to teach and grand tales to inspire! You're never too old for stories."

Wim, who had been wandering towards the lift, ran back down the hallway, "I want to hear stories!"

Wendle sighed. "Maybe. Maybe we can meet up again. But it's going to be in a public place and it's going to have to be on a day when I can supervise."

"Good," Jod agreed. "I need an excuse to get out of the house."

Jod stood and watched his dinner cook, mulling over the conversation. As a pirate had followed Captain Rennod's example and sought to take what he wanted and to have the strength and cunning to do so. Now he wasn't so sure that life was as great as it sounded. Like Rennod, he had been bested at the cusp of victory. His lover hadn't stabbed him, but he had socked him a good one right in the head. And constantly watching his back, it was exhausting. Maybe a bit of trust, if he was smart about it, could be nice.

The days went by and Wim and Wendle organised a time to meet at a park. The park was a neatly trimmed field of grass, wound through with walking paths and dotted with trees and shrubs. Jod had spent his share of time upkeeping parks just like it by now. It was a nice change to get to sit and relax on a bench, Thirty-Three next to him. Wim and his father sat on the grass in front of them.

Jod told Wim all about how he had met his master. It was painful to remember, but not as painful as he thought it would be. And Wim was enraptured, eyes sparkling as Jod recounted every detail, even those he thought he had forgotten.

Next time Neel came along and, instead of Wendle, Neel's father Nol supervised. Along with him were two toddlers and a baby in a carriage. Jod wasn't looking forward to dealing with even younger children, but it was clear that by the fourth child Nol was an expert at baby wrangling. The twins ran off to climb and play on the nearby playground. Nol sat on Thirty-Three's other side and rocked the carriage, calming the little one with food or attention before she could so much as sniffle.

Neel had brought Snowball too, on a tiny leash. The bilge rat scurried off towards her old home in Thirty-Three's eye and, finding her access barred, settled in on his shoulder. Not that she would have fit anyway. She was clearly thriving under Neel's care. She had grown since last Jod had seen her, both larger and more plump. Her fur was fluffy and clean and her four bulging red eyes were bright and alert.

Jod knew a story the boys would like, how he had learned to use a lightsaber. He had sparred with his master first with wooden poles, then with stun rods, then finally his master had let him use her lightsaber while she fought back with a vibro-blade. He told them of how they had followed rumors of kyber crystals in the hopes of constructing his own. Jod mimed the fights with a stick (Thirty-Three wouldn't let him have the stun rod) to the delight of Wim and Neel. He bemoaned his current lack of lightsaber, hoping Wim might give him a little clue as to what happened to the one they had found in Rennod's lair. But the boy had evidently learned how to keep a secret since then. Thirty-Three made sure his camera eye got plenty of footage of Jod surrounded by the children. It would look good at his defense, if it came to that.

It turned out that Thirty-Three had struck up a friendship with Nol on his rat-related visits. And after Jod had told his story the two caught up and talked about tools and sports. There wasn't nearly enough blood sport for Thirty-Three's liking, but he enjoyed slap ball well enough. And he had opinions about their favourite team's lineup. Who knows how long they would have gone on if the twins hadn't started to tug at their father's pant legs.

Part of Jod had hoped he would never see Fern again. Wim and Neel had forgiven him, but he doubted Fern ever would. And Jod could go on letting the guilt of what he had done to her fade into the background of his mind. As for KB, he didn't know if he could handle seeing her again after he had thought for so long she was dead because of him. But Wim, as it turned out, had told all his little friends about story time. And finally Fern and KB had decided to join them.

The reunion went about as well as Jod had been expecting. He told the girls that it was good to see them both safe and Fern had replied with a snide "no thanks to you," and assured him that they were there to see Thirty-Three, not him. Jod's heart rose to see KB alive and well, then plummeted as she told him about the prison his crew were being held in. The message was clear, one slip would be all it would take for him to be shipped off to join them.

It was not, as Jod had been expecting, Fara or one of KB's mothers who joined them but rather an old man in a hoverchair. Something about him caught Jod and Thirty-Three's attention immediately. A hardness none of the soft citizens of the peaceful planet possessed. A grit the former pirates recognised immediately. His wrinkled skin showed wear from work and weather and his grey eyes were sharp and cunning. A glint of metal shone at his side, his right hand ended in a hook. He smiled as he approached, a crooked smile dotted with gold teeth. Jod was not big on respect for authority, elders, anyone… But something about this man had him stand straighter.

Thirty-Three took a step forward.

"Smee!" the old man greeted him, "there's a face I thought I'd never see again."

Jod and the kids looked between the two, baffled.

"Aye, likewise," Thirty-Three said gravely. "The years may have changed you but I'd recognise that hook anywhere. The hook what drove a knife through me captain's heart."

"What?? You? You stabbed Tak Rennod??" Jod couldn't believe it.

"Huh?" Neel cut in, "but I thought Rennod was stabbed by his concubine?"

"Aye, this be him. The captain's concubine: Fenk Ferrik."

Jod laughed. "Waitwaitwait… Ferrik? Like…" He caught himself before he could continue that thought in front of the children.

"How do you hold a knife with a hook?" Wim asked.

"Grandpa?!" Fern looked wide-eyed at the old man.

Fenk smiled but his eyes were fierce, "oh what have you been telling these young ones? You and I were more than just the old man's lovers." He held up his hook. "We were his right and left hands."

"Oh, is that what a concubine is? They were, like, boyfriends?" Wim turned to Neel.

"Sort of. More like unofficial husbands…? I think…?" Neel trailed off.

Thirty-Three took another step forward, he stood tall over the thin old man. "And when a hand goes rotten, you amputate."

"I see you agree." Fenk stood. Age had stooped his posture, but he held the droid's gaze with one just as steely. "But it weren't the hands that went rotten. It was the head."

Thirty-Three's hand shot to his hip. He brandished the stun rod, it crackled with electricity. Fenk grabbed the rod with his mechanical hand, absorbing the shock. The hook split into two many-jointed tendrils which coiled around the rod. He yanked the weapon from Thirty-Three's grasp and took the hilt in his own hand, thrusting the crackling rod to but a hair away from the droid's face.

A couple of ever-present safety droids turned towards them. Fenk smiled and waved, deactivating the weapon. "Good day! Not trying to cause a fuss, just a couple old friends having a little tussle."

He handed the stun rod back to Thirty-Three and sank back into his chair with a grunt of effort. "I did what I had to do. I'm sure you did what you had to do. I hope all can be forgiven."

Thirty-Three slowly returned his weapon to its holster. "Suppose it be in the past now…"

"You may have brought the ship down, but you were loyal to the end, weren't you Smee? I respect that. And from what I've heard you took good care of my granddaughter and her friends. For that, I consider all debts paid."

"Your girl be quite the captain in her own right. It were me honour to sail under her command. I'd do it again at a moment’s notice."

"I'll keep that in mind." Fenk sat back, "now why don't you tell me all about it? I'd like to hear your version of events."

It was Thirty-Three's turn to tell the story, with plenty of help from the kids. Fenk had heard of Fern's adventure from her but, as he put it "a tale gains much in its retelling." Notably, parts that Fern may have glossed over with her mother nearby.

Fern had a lot of questions for her grandfather. He answered that yes, he had been on Captain Rennod's crew, and yes he had been the Captain's lover. "This was before I met your grandmother," he assured Fern. KB wanted to know how he escaped the crash, so he told them about how he had managed to slip into the escape pod before SM-33 could shut down the ship. He had buried the ship with thoughts of coming back for it later, but never did. Upon landing he had spun a tale for the locals of how he had been set adrift in the escape pod before finally crashing into the planet. "And they fed me and housed me and set me up with a job I took to better than pirating, so I had no reason to leave. I met your grandmother and that settled it. Who would have known my own granddaughter would dig the ship back up?"

The boys and Jod wanted to know more about his pirating adventures and Fern wanted to know why he stabbed the Captain. Fenk dodged the barrage of questions by playing the "your old grandpa's getting tired," card.

Nooma arrived to pick up the boys. Fenk called a cab and offered to take Fern and KB home, but they insisted they had other plans.

"Up to mischief no doubt," Fenk mused with a hint of pride in his voice. "You two," he turned to Jod and Thirty-Three, "come join me for a drink. There's much to talk about."

In the cab Thirty-Three flipped on his communicator to check in with the safety droid. "Ey roommate. Just so ye know, we ran into an old friend, we'll be back late… No, I don't know precisely when we'll be back… Listen just because you don't have a social life don't mean I can't… Yeah, Jod's with me. Right. We'll see you when we see you."

They arrived at a grand house and were greeted by a shiny cream and gold butler droid who took their coats and reminded them to wipe their feet at the door. The spacious rooms had been designed for easy access by hoverchair. Fenk had an eye for luxury, the rooms were decorated with expensive trinkets and the walls hung with fine tapestries. Jod felt his respect for the man grow, and his fingers twitch with avarice.

They all sat on the plush carpet around a low table in the middle of the living room. Droids waited on them, bringing hors d'oeuvres and refreshments. Jod ran his finger along the edge of the table. It was inlaid with New Republic credits, worthless on At Attin.

"You've done well for yourself I see." Jod observed, "Rennod's treasure I take it?"

"It didn't hurt that I kept a few valuables on my person when I arrived. But it was my dear late wife and her business savvy that really brought in the credits. She was an ambitious woman, just like her daughter. We made a good life for our family together."

Thirty-Three took Fenk's hook in his hand. Fenk coiled the hook around Thirty-Three's hand.

Jod asked the question that had been on his mind. "There’s something I have to know. What did you do to get your name as a curse?"

"What's that now?" Fenk looked puzzled.

"Dank farrik. It's a curse, like 'blast' or 'stars damn it'. Some relation to you, or…?"

A mischievous grin spread over Fenk's wrinkled face. "Eh heh heh, isn't that something! Oh what didn't I do? Couldn't tell you the exact incident, but I could hazard a few guesses, eh Smee?"

"You were quite infamous all right," Thirty-Three agreed. "If I recall rightly, you were going by Denk on Mon Cala."

"Ahh... That little incident, with the…" Fenk wiggled his fingers in front of his face. "Hmm…"

"What little incident?" Jod begged for context.

"Wouldn't call it 'little'," Thirty-Three pointed out. "More like 'catastrophic'."

"It was a bit of a mess wasn't it? But you got the most of the crew out in the end. I can see how there may have been some hard feelings on the end of bounty hunters we pulled into the con. Oh, this brings me back! Ah, it's good to see you again Smee."

Fenk traced his hooked hand down Thirty-Three's face. The droid leaned into the touch, his eye flickered.

Something twisted in Jod's stomach. He stood, muttering about having to use the refresher. Fenk whistled and the butler droid came to show Jod the way.

Jod stared into the mirror, facing the dawning realisation that it was not an upset stomach that was twisting in his belly but good old fashioned jealousy. So what? He'd known he wasn't Thirty-Three's first lover, not by a long shot. But knowing it, it turned out, was something entirely different from having it right there in front of him. And what was he afraid of? Thirty-Three rekindling the passion with the old man?

Yes. That was exactly what he was afraid of.

Jealousy was something his master had warned him about. But Jod could never quite shake it. How could he when there was always someone who had it better than him? He should be happy for Thirty-Three. The droid was making friends, meeting old lovers... But Jod only had Thirty-Three, and they were only together as much as they were because it was Thirty-Three's job. The droid would leave at a moment’s notice if he had the chance, that's what he had said. As soon as he could join 'Captain' Fern.

"You're a damn idiot," Jod told his reflection.

His stomach feeling no better, Jod crept quietly back through the house.

Thirty-Three's voice carried down the hallway. "Oh he be a right mess. Wants to have it all, he does, and he'll throw it all away for the promise of a bigger score. Reminds me of the captain." The two laughed. "Ah, can't help but love the man despite it all." His voice took a conspiratorial tone, "we be betrothed, you know."

Mirth sparkled in Fenk's voice. "So when's the wedding?"

"Arr, I wish I knew! He went and proposed then forgot all about it!"

"The rat! Here's what you do. You say 'we're getting married,' then you do!"

"We're getting married?" Jod stepped back into the room before the two could get too far into planning his future without him. 

"Aye! That's what I keep telling you! Starting to think I damaged yer memory circuits when I clobbered ya. Or were you not in your right mind when you put a ring on me finger?"

Jod shrugged sheepishly, "not really, no."

"Fine. Get over here you slippery bastard." Jod sat next to Thirty-Three, who took Jod's hands in his own. "I be pleased as can be to live with you. To love you and care for you, as you love and care for me. And I want to be by your side, not because I serve you with you as my captain. Not because I'm watching you as yer jailer. But because you be the stars in me sky, and I love you with every circuit in me body. Jod Na Nawood, or whatever yer name is, will you be my husband?"

Jod felt his heart flutter, but he hesitated.

Thirty-Three looked steadily into Jod's eyes. "I know you have commitment issues." Jod started to argue but Thirty-Three cut him off, "you do. But I'm not expecting you to change your programming, I'm saying I'm going to love you and stick with you despite it. All I ask is for you to do the same."

Jod cast his gaze down and thought for a long moment, then nodded. "Okay."

Thirty-Three cupped Jod's head in his hands and pressed his face to Jod's forehead.

"Well!" Fenk clapped his hands together, "that settles it then. Follow me you lovebirds." Fenk pulled himself into his hoverchair. "I spent a lifetime working up to my position, so I can pull a few strings when I want to. I've something to show you, I think you’ll like this."

Fenk led them through a tunnel round the back of the house. It opened up into a hangar. And there was the Onyx Cinder.

"As the last living member of the crew that flew her here, I think I have claim to this ship. I'm not planning to fly her, just fixing her up and such. Holding it until Fern is old enough to inherit it, then it's hers to do with as she wishes. But I have the feeling she'll make a fine captain."

"That she will," Thirty-Three agreed. "I suppose Fern has every right to me as well. If she can buy me from the government."

Jod bristled, "so you are going to up and leave me? Go fly off with Captain Fern?"

"So be a good boy and work off your sentence and you can join us," Thirty-Three snapped back. "Or wait here and I'll be back to visit. She's only a child, you have time."

"...so how much to buy you?"

"Not for sale, and not to you. But if I were…" Thirty-Three quoted a number that made Jod's head spin.

Fenk watched the two bicker. "Smee are you sure about this? There's plenty of fish in the sea you know."

"Aye. Alas, he be the one."

Fenk shrugged. He gestured to the ship. "Won't you join me aboard?"

The familiar ship was looking much better. It had been given some much needed cleaning and maintenance. The lights had been replaced and the ship was brighter and more inviting for it. Fenk made sure all the little touches his crew had added to make the ship a home we're left intact. The hammocks where the children had slept. The stove where Jod had cooked for them. The captain's quarters where Jod and Thirty-Three had spent their first nights together.

"I had our crewmates buried. I can show you where if you would like. You can pay your regards sometime."

Thirty-Three nodded solemnly, "thank you."

Fenk led them to the helm, he turned his chair to face the two. The hangar lights streaming in through the window behind him cast his face in shadow. Jod could see in him the young pirate who had once flown aboard this very ship. "This is my ship, and I am its captain. Do you agree?"

"Aye," Thirty-Three agreed. "Until such a time as it be passed to young Fern, you are rightful captain of this vessel."

Jod had been captain of the Onyx Cinder for a shining moment - two shining moments - but he decided to hold his tongue. He had no claim next to the other two. Not like he wanted the ship anyway… Of course if he could take it…

"Jod. Answer the captain." Thirty-Three punched him in the arm.

"Ow. Aye. This is your ship."

"Good! Then as captain and with you aboard my vessel I pronounce you, SM-33 and you Jod Na Nawood to be bound in marriage."

Jod was taken off guard. He started to stammer an objection but Thirty-Three shushed him.

"SM-33, do you agree to this?"

"Aye."

"Jod Na Nawood, do you?"

Jod looked into Thirty-Three's eye. "Well, I guess we're doing this. Yes. Thirty-Three I would be happy to be your husband."

"Go on then, give him a kiss Smee!"

Thirty-Three drew Jod in for a long kiss.

Fenk clapped his hands together. "There we are, that's all there is to it! It's a hard galaxy, you two take care of each other now."

"Here, give me yer hand, Love."

Thirty-Three cradled Jod's hand in his own. He reached to the pouch on his holster where he kept a few things on his person. He slipped a simple ring on Jod's finger.

"When they fixed me up I had them take off a little extra metal. Maybe it's sappy but, well I thought I might like to have a bit of me always with you."

Jod admired the ring, it was the same steel grey as Thirty-Three himself and polished to a pleasing shine. He smiled up at his husband.

"I love it. I'll have to get you one now."

"Right, just don't do anything stupid."

"Now young man, as a wedding gift, how about I give you a few pointers on how to really please this old droid?" Fenk stroked Thirty-Three's arm. He and Thirty-Three turned to Jod.

"I can please him just fine," Jod scoffed.

"Ehhh…" Thirty-Three didn't sound like he agreed.

"Are you suggesting I'm bad in bed?"

"Well, you have to admit there's always room to be better…" Fenk reasoned.

"Aye, like fuckin' a limp fish."

Jod gave Thirty-Three a hurt look.

"Don't give me them big sad eyes. If I were just in it for the sex I'd be gone long ago. But what say you to swallowin' yer pride an' learnin' something?"

Fenk ushered Jod in close and put a hand on his shoulder, leaning in conspiratorially. "Listen carefully young man, you have a lot to learn about droids."

Chapter Text

"Do you mind if I take some of these home for my husband? If Jod hears Nooma made cookies and I didn't swipe him none he'll have me head. Again." Thirty-Three laughed. There were several things Jod was never going to live down, and cutting his now husband's head off was one of them.

My husband . Thirty-Three liked the sound of that. His. No one else's. There were scarce few things a droid could call its own, not that Thirty-Three needed much. The stun rod he carried at his hip belonged to At Attin security. The harness he kept it in was his. He kept the eyepatch stashed in there too, not that he needed it anymore. There was a toolkit and some spare parts for tuneups and repairs he could handle on his own or with some assistance from Jod. Jod, my husband. There were his earnings too, and that was it. He didn't even own himself, he was property of the government of At Attin. That was part of the deal.

"Of course Dear," Nooma gave Thirty-Three a plastic box filled with baking. "I made sure to set some aside for you to take home."

A group of Nol and Nooma's friends were gathered in their living room with wine and snacks. Along with them and Thirty-Three, there was a human couple and a fellow Myykian with dark blue hair. Wendle as usual had declined, saying he was too busy.

"Do you think Jod would like to join us sometime?" Nooma asked Thirty-Three.

Nol exhaled sharply through his trunk. "Meeting in view of security is one thing, but I don't think I'm ready to have him in our home."

The Myykian man trumpeted in agreement. "I don't know how he managed to worm his way out of being sent off with the rest of that scum."

Nooma gave her husband a disapproving look. "Now, now. Jod's shown a lot of improvement, hasn't he Thirty-Three? We have to put our trust in the justice system to reform such wayward souls."

"Well he's given up on ruling the planet at least." Thirty-Three chuckled.

Nooma's ears drooped a little, she had been looking for a more definitively positive answer. "But you think it would be all right to have him over for tea sometime?" she asked uncertainly.

"Sure, why not," Thirty-Three answered. "If he steals anything I'll kick his ass."

"Oh my goodness!" Nooma exclaimed. "I'm quite sure it won't come to that!"

Nol shot Nooma a look that said I told you so .

Thirty-Three stood, box of cookies in hand. "Pleasure catching up with you folks, but I must be off. Got to pick up me husband."

"Enjoy yourself," Nol gave him a conspiratorial wink.

"Aye, I think I shall." Thirty-Three turned to the dark-haired Myykian, "enjoy the game, I look forward to collecting me winnings."

"Not a chance! Stromsky is on a roll."

"Stromsky be a better actor than shooter," Thirty-Three shot back.

Before leaving, Thirty-Three poked a finger through the bars of Snowball's cage to give her head a little pet. "Good girl. You take care."

Thirty-Three had decided he had enough of his every move being streamed to the head of security. After strictly promising to report on Jod's behaviour it was agreed that he could remove his personal camera. A few trips to a specialty repair shop later, and at last he had two matching eyes.

So without worry as to who else might be watching, Thirty-Three stood and admired the view: Jod's ass sticking out of a shrubbery. The man was dirty and sweaty from the day's work, and his light cream shirt clung to his back.

The beautiful sight was blocked by the approach of one of the safety droids. "Thank you for your ever-punctual arrival. You may take the felon into your custody."

Thirty-Three pushed the droid aside with one arm. It gave a little indignant buzz but moved aside. Then, deciding its duty was done, strode off to its next assignment. Jod pulled himself out of the bush, landing on his lovely backside. He brushed himself off and pushed his hair out of his face. He had been letting it grow out and it was at that awkward length where it was too long to stay put and too short to style. It softened his look and a few patches of grey had started to show, it was cute.

"Hi. Just give me a minute. If I don't get these pruned before the first frost they aren't going to bloom in the spring."

"Take all the time you need, love. I do enjoy watching you work."

Jod looked Thirty-Three over and smirked, "getting an eyeful were you? Here, do me a favour." Jod pointed out a thorny plant which had been partially dug out. "Damn thing's got roots in deep, give it a yank would you?"

Thirty-Three gripped the plant with one hand and easily pulled it free.

"Thanks," Jod tossed the plant in a big bag with other weeds and trimmings. He filled the hole and went back to his work.

Jod had just about finished pruning the bushes when a familiar foursome showed up.

"Hey look, it's Thirty-Three and Jod. Hi Thirty-Three! Hi Jod!" Wim ran up to give Thirty-Three a big hug. Thirty-Three tousled his hair with his unoccupied hand. Neel joined Wim, wrapping his arms around the droid's leg and the girls gathered around them.

Jod felt a pang of jealousy at the sight of them all gathered around while he stood apart. The feeling evaporated as Wim gave Jod a squeeze round the middle. His head nearly came up to Jod's collar now. Foolish, naive, obnoxious, wonderful Wim. The boy beamed up at him.

"I heard you guys got married! Jod, you're so lucky. If I ever get married I hope it's to someone as cool as Thirty-Three."

Jod was enjoying having his secret little marriage. But he had of course overestimated the capacity of anyone on this blasted planet to keep a secret.

"Who told you about that?"

"Thirty-Three told Neel's dad and Neel's dad told Neel and Neel told me! So now that you're married are you going to have kids?"

There was a blessed few seconds of quiet while Wim thought about the words that had come out of his mouth.

"Actually, maybe you shouldn't have kids."

Jod ground his teeth in familiar irritation. He wasn't exactly father material he knew that, but he didn't need this child telling him.

"No, no kids."

"Hey now Love, never say never," Thirty-Three piped up.

Jod gave him an incredulous look. "Didn't realise you were interested in fatherhood."

"Maybe. You never know what the universe is going to throw at you."

"Well you're free to keep trying, I suppose," Jod muttered.

Wim stood on tiptoe and leaned in close to Thirty-Three's ear, shielding his mouth with a hand. "You would be a good dad, but I don't know about Jod," he whispered, too loudly.

"Worse than a droid. That's almost impressive," Fern smirked.

"I really hate you," Jod glared at Fern.

"Good. If it were up to me you wouldn't be on this planet and I would never have to see you again. You're only allowed out because my first mate is taking care of you."

"Aye," Thirty-Three agreed. "I go where me husband goes."

Fern turned to the droid. "So you really did marry Jod?"

Jod pulled off his glove and showed his wedding band.

Fern bit back a remark about how the only person who would marry Jod was a droid. After all Wim was right, Thirty-Three was a catch. Instead she turned to Thirty-Three with pity in her voice, "did he trick you into it? You could do so much better, you know."

"Nah. I like him."

"Thank you." Jod kissed Thirty-Three's cheek with a big cartoonish "mwah!"

KB giggled and Neel blushed. Wim and Fern looked grossed out.

"If you lot are done pestering us, I have to get back to smooching my husband." Jod kissed Thirty-Three on the nose. "Mwah!"

"Behave yourself in front of the kids," Thirty-Three chastised him in a low voice.

"I can't help it, you're just so handsome." Jod swooned, draping himself dramatically over a confused Thirty-Three. "Kiss me you sexy beast!"

"Needy all of a sudden, my pretty?" Thirty-Three pressed his face to Jod's. He took Jod by the chin and gently pushed him away. "Patience, Love. There will be plenty of time for that tonight."

Fern looked like she had eaten something particularly sour. "Eugh, fine. Let's go guys." She looked at KB who had flipped up her visor and was staring at the men with a grin. "KB, come onnnn."

"I told you," KB whispered.

"Um," Neel wrung his hands together, blushing even harder. "Actually you guys go ahead. I'm going to go study with Roona."

"Okay, I can study too," said Wim.

"You're not even in the same grade any more." KB pointed out, "why don't you come with me and Fern?"

Fern took the clueless boy by the shoulder. "Come on, my grandpa said he'd show me how to put a turbo-booster in my hoverbike. Sounds pretty wizard, right?" She reluctantly turned back to Jod. "Oh yeah, Grandpa wanted you to know his flowers are looking better since he switched fertilizers."

"You can tell him I was glad to help. It's nothing next to the excellent advice he's given me. Your grandfather is a wise and worldly man." Still hanging off of Thirty-Three, Jod's eyes twinkled.

Fern squinted suspiciously, anything that was making Jod that happy had to be suspect. "Yeah, way smarter than you. See you later Thirty-Three, and keep your eyes on him ."

"Oh I shall! It be a pleasure to me optics to observe such a lovely man."

"I meant…" Fern looked deeply pained, "make sure he behaves."

"Oh aye, I be doing that too."

Thirty-Three watched the children run off. Fern, KB and Wim in one direction, Neel in another. "Ah, young love."

"Gross. What's in the box?"

Thirty-Three handed Jod the box. "Here, courtesy of Nooma."

Jod opened the box and inspected the spoils. He tucked his gloves under his arm and took a cookie. "Mmm," he kissed Thirty-Three's cheek showering him in crumbs, "you're the best."

The first cookie still hanging from his mouth, Jod went for another. Thirty-Three snapped the box back out of his hands.

Jod made a noise of protest through a mouth full of cookie.

"You'll ruin your appetite."

Back at their apartment, Jod hung up his cloak by the door, next to where the safety droid stood. "What's cookin', S?"

"Nothing is cooking," the droid answered. "And my designation is S-498."

"Shame," Jod stretched his aching back and headed for the fridge.

"You go on ahead and get cleaned up," Thirty-Three encouraged, "I'll handle dinner."

"I won't argue with that!"

Even more so than organic beings, droids were creatures of habit. Thirty-Three had never cooked for him before so Jod wasn't expecting this but he was too sore and tired to think further into it. It had been a hard day of physical work and his knees and back ached. He took a long hot shower and wrapped himself up in a soft bathrobe.

There was no food waiting for him and the only one in the dining room was the ever-present safety droid. There was a clattering coming from the bedroom. Thirty-Three was pulling clothes from the closet, tossing them on the bed.

"Whoa, whoa! What are you doing?"

"Trying to find you something to wear. Do you not own any nice clothing?"

That wasn’t entirely fair. Most of his wardrobe tended towards the functional but stylish. He knew how to make them last too, and several of his clothes were patched or altered by himself. Jod wasn't a big fan of the brown coveralls that were in fashion with At Attin's men, but he owned a pair for when he felt like blending in. As much as he could do with Thirty-Three or a safety droid with him at all times. He didn't have any ball gowns, if that’s what the droid was talking about, but he didn't exactly need to dress up. Which brought him to the question, what was Thirty-Three up to that he needed to now?

"Are we going out to eat?"

"Aye, didn’t think I were cooking for you did you?"

"I trusted you could work out the cooker, yeah."

Thirty-Three waved a hand dismissively. "I'm getting you some real food. It be a special occasion!"

Jod looked at him blankly.

"Our anniversary? Really, I have to do everything in this relationship."

"Already?" Jod mused. "Guess I didn't know you cared about these things." He fished a loose white shirt with a deep v-neck from the pile, "this one's nice."

"I were thinkin' more o' dressy nice, not showin' off yer tits nice. Ah, we'll figure it out in a minute. Sit," Thirty-Three commanded, pointing to the bed. "I'll get you tidied up."

Thirty-Three grabbed a chair from the dining room.

"Where are you taking that?" the security droid protested.

"Bedroom."

"Why are you taking the chair to the bedroom?"

"I want to sit. In the bedroom."

"Why-"

"Ey now sprog, what did I tell you about asking what I be doing in there?"

Jod sat on the bed and Thirty-Three sat across from him. Thirty-Three's powerful limbs were meant for a rough battle-ready life but he could be very precise when he wanted to be, he took a moment to calibrate his hands for fine movement. He dabbed shaving cream on Jod's face and went to work with a straight razor. As he worked he hummed an old shanty.

Jod sat very, very still. It quickly became clear that Thirty-Three knew what he was doing and he relaxed and closed his eyes. It felt nice to let Thirty-Three take care of him. Jod wondered if this was how Thirty-Three felt when he was doing maintenance on him.

Jod recognized the tune. The legend of the pirate queens was a popular subject of artwork, tales and songs. Two fellow sailors and lovers had a falling out, each tale gave a different reason. They separately became renowned pirate captains and fought each other over many battles, finally dying in each other's arms.

As Thirty-Three paused to clean his razor, Jod asked him to sing the song. It had been many years since he heard it. The song was a favourite of love-sick sailors, yearning for the loves they had lost or left at port. In the song one pirate queen sits upon her throne, dressed in finest jewels, a fleet at her command. But all the riches and power cannot fill the hole in her heart. The other queen mirrors her, victorious in battle and surrounded by crew but with an unshakable loneliness.

Jod listened to Thirty-Three's voice, resisting the urge to sing along until the shaving was done. Some of the words had changed and there was an extra verse that had been lost to time. They sang the old song together as Thirty-Three brushed Jod's hair. Both knew loss and longing and the tune tugged at heartstrings and circuits alike.

"Ah, an old classic even in my time." Thirty-Three patted Jod's knee, "hurry and get dressed, the cab will be here soon."

Jod's mouth watered at the rich smell of sizzling meat. In the center of the restaurant a chef turned skewers of meat and vegetables over a grill. Screens hung from the ceiling played news or sports. Groups of beings sat around tables, eating, drinking and talking. Cheers and boos erupted periodically, evidently there was a big game on.

Jod leaned into Thirty-Three's ear. "You know, when you said we were going somewhere nice this isn't what I expected."

"Do you not like it?"

Jod took a big whiff of heavily seasoned meat, his stomach rumbling. "I love it."

They found a table and Thirty-Three waved down a server.

"Can you get the game on this screen for us, darlin'?"

The Rodian's antennae twitched with irritation at being called 'darlin'' but he fished a remote from his apron and turned the channel on the nearest screen.

"Just a shot of your hardest liquor for me!" Thirty-Three said.

"Whatever beer you've got on tap."

Jod mulled over the menu while the server left to get their drinks.

"You said you were handling the bill?"

"Aye."

"So they are paying you."

"Aye. Unlike you I be employed."

"You just watch me."

"Find work doing something you love, they say."

"Hmph, fair enough. They should be paying me for all the work I do. What do you even need money for?"

Thirty-Three spread his arms. "It's not cheap to look this good, you know. I'm a custom model, and that means custom parts." He touched his fingers to Jod's cheek, "and once in a while it be nice to treat me husband to a night of feasting and drinking."

Jod took Thirty-Three's hand in his own, pressing the steel fingers against his cheek. "Thank you."

Soon Jod had before him a bowl of rice overflowing with meat and vegetables, all drowned in a sticky sweet sauce. He went at it with such fervor that Thirty-Three pulled his gaze from slap ball to take in the spectacle.

"You'd think you were starving."

"Ivbbemma loda ungy," Jod said through a mouthful of greens. He swallowed and took a big swig of his drink. "It's been a long day and I'm hungry," he repeated. "I hadn't realized how much I missed unprocessed foods. We can come here again, yeah?"

"Aye. I'll tell Nol it were to yer liking." Thirty-Tree brought his shot glass to his mouth, letting the liquor touch the mouthpiece. He raised the glass, "cheers to us, eh Sweetheart!"

Jod raised his own glass. "Cheers!"

Thirty-Three led Jod through the streets. It was getting late but street lights illuminated their way. 

"Now we've had food and drink. There's one more thing we need."

"What's that?"

"Music! And more drinking!"

Even the stringent planet of At Attin had places to cater to its citizens' vices, it just took a little more work to find them than the pirates were used to. There were no neon lights to grab their attention, but rather simple, tasteful signs coyly alluding to what the shops and clubs had to offer.

In stark contrast to the tasteful exterior, the inside of the club was awash in light and colour. Many-coloured lights played over the room, reflected by mirrored ornaments. The band was putting on a show, dancing across the stage. They were dressed in shimmering silver fabric and sequins and playing bedazzled instruments.

Music on the planet had moved along without the rest of the galaxy, and the scene had become a sort of time capsule. But as they slowly started to open their spaceports the biggest hits were already creeping their way into the popular lineup. Old hits or new, the band knew what they were there to do and that was play music you could dance to.

The club was full of all types, gathered in couples or groups to drink and dance. There were hard-working, hard-partying beings who had clearly been there since their office shift had ended. Young adults donned brightly coloured outfits for the night. There were even a few off-duty droids.

"See," Jod gestured to a group of revellers, "they're showing off way more chest than me."

Thirty-Three didn't hear him, he was already at the bar. Jod joined him.

A many-armed bartender droid worked behind the counter. Even it had a sequined bowtie. Its spidery arms darted around the shelf, pulling down bottles while other arms mixed drinks.

"Check this out." Thirty-Three showed Jod a bottle labeled 'nepenthe'. "Get you tipsy but it's good for you? What'll they come up with next?" He plugged the bottle into his chest. "Oh yeah, fellow could get hooked on this."

Jod got started downing cocktails, making no attempt to pace himself.

Thirty-Three set down his bottle. It was still partly full but the remaining amber liquid had taken on a muddy grey pallor. He nodded towards the dance floor. "Well?"

Jod had been watching the crowd. A few coordinated dances would break out from time to time but mostly folks moved however the music moved them. Time to see if he still had it.

It took a few false starts and damaged toes on Jod's part, but the two were able to more or less dance to the beat.

"I thought you said you could dance?" Jod winced.

"Aye, and I be dancing. Made no claims of my skill. Here, stop trying to lead and follow me."

Thirty-Three shook his shoulders and swayed his hips to the beat. He pulled Jod along, twirling and dipping him, extending his arms to maneuver his partner with thrilling dynamism. Jod had only seen Thirty-Three move this fluidly when he was fighting. Jod couldn't keep his eyes off of him. And he could see the droid's gaze follow him right back.

Jod let the rhythm flow through him, moving his body and putting on a show just for his husband. Thirty-Three watched him, then matched him. The two moved in sync as if they were tied to one another by invisible thread. The song ended and Thirty-Three picked his husband up and spun round with him.

"Whoa!" Jod laughed. He wrapped his arms around Thirty-Three's neck and kissed his cheek. "I love when you do that," he purred.

The next song was a slow one. Dancers who didn't have a partner flooded to the bar while couples swayed together. Jod leaned on Thirty-Three's chest, his arms around his husband's neck while Thirty-Three held him by the hips. They were the oddest couple there, but Jod didn't feel like caring and Thirty-Three certainly didn't.

They danced on through the next song and the next, only stopping for Jod to catch his breath and have another drink. Thirty-Three leaned up against the bar next to him, his arm casually around Jod's waist.

"Aye?" Thirty-Three put his finger to his ear. "Yeah, I said we would be back around midnight, not on the dot. Oh, it's that time already? Well all right then, I guess we'll head back."

"Our friend back home says it be past our curfew."

"Oh, come on," Jod cuddled into Thirty-Three's chest, "one more little drink?"

It was early in the morning by the time the two stumbled out of a cab in front of the apartment complex. Drink and drowsiness had taken their toll on Jod's ability to stand upright and he leaned heavily on Thirty-Three. After a few stumbling steps Thirty-Three picked the man up and carried him to the lift.

Jod cuddled sleepily into Thirty-Three's shoulder. "You jus' pickin' me up like nothing. So strong," he mumbled. "Strong an' handsome. I'm the luckiest kriffin' bastard in the whole galaxy."

Thirty-Three gazed lovingly at the man in his arms. Jod traced the outline of Thirty-Three's nose with a finger. Then poked it. "Boop!" Jod giggled.

"Boop yerself." Thirty-Three nuzzled his face against Jod's.

He carried Jod into their room. The safety droid was waiting at the door impatiently.

"Sorry, matey. Lost track of time! Looks like I wore the poor boy out."

"We went dancing!" Jod slurred.

"Aye, that we did. Now I'm going to put you to bed."

"Please do," Jod smirked, flirtily.

As he headed to the bedroom with Jod in his arms, Thirty-Three turned to the safety droid. "Can't you get a hobby or something?"

"Regrettably I cannot," it answered, but the two were already locked in the bedroom.

The safety droid opened a direct channel to the head of district security. This is unit S-498 inquiring about an update on my request for reassignment.

Camera three has been obscured. Is your charge once again engaged in intimate activity with his parole officer?

YES. LOUDLY.

lol.

SAVE ME

My team will review the case. You have permission to shut down audio input for the time being. Have a pleasant night.

After some time the safety droid left all surveillance to Thirty-Three, only coming in for a monthly interrogation. The security cameras in the bathroom and bedroom were removed, leaving only the one in the main room.

Jod had been tucking away a portion of his money. For a time it had kept him going to plan to make a run for it with as much as he could pocket. Now he counted out the money from the hiding place and dumped it into his wallet.

Thirty-Three was plugged in and switched off for the night. Good. Jod focused on the arm supporting the security camera, reaching out with the force. The pin securing the hinge rattled and fell away, the camera slumping down to face the floor. Jod checked to make sure Thirty-Three hadn't woken up from the noise. The droid remained motionless. There was nothing he could do about the tracking bracelet but calm his vitals and hope his deviation in position was considered within acceptable parameters. Security would realize the camera was filming the floor before too long and come to repair it. He had to work quickly.

Hiding his face under a cloak, Jod strode down the street. The air was cool with an early winter chill and he blended in with the throng of beings hiding their faces behind hats and scarves.

"Ah, good. I was just about to close up, your order is ready." The silver furred Vazooan clerk was locking up display cases as Jod entered the shop. "I must say, I have tailored all sorts of specialty fits for different beings, but this one is quite unique. Might I inquire who it is for?"

"It is a bit special isn't it. My husband, he's been through a lot, has a robotic hand." Jod didn't bother to mention that the rest of him was robotic as well.

"Oh, how thoughtful of you! I'm sure he'll love it." The jeweler counted out his pay and handed over a small engraved wooden box. "Do come by anytime if he needs any adjustments!"

Jod crept back through the front door and froze as the lights came on. With two long strides Thirty-Three was on him, he pushed Jod to the wall and pinned him there.

"Just where were you off to?"

"Thirty-Three, I can explain…"

"You had bet-better do it then! What were you thinking creepin' off? Just when people had started to trust you. Even took your little stash, don't think I didn't notice. I thought you w-weren't coming back!"

"Oh no, I wasn't going anywhere." Gently, he pushed Thirty-Three back. "I wasn't going to leave you. I just had to run a little errand," Jod slipped the box out from under his cloak and handed it to the droid. "It was going to be a surprise, but well…"

"What's this?" Thirty-Three grunted suspiciously. He opened the little box and took out the square ring. It was gold with a single glimmering oval-cut ruby.

"Let me." Jod took the ring and slid it onto the droid's finger. Having been made for him, it fit perfectly. "There."

Thirty-Three grabbed Jod around the waist and lifted him into the air. "Oho, you really went and did it! No harm in a bit of sneaking around if it's for something really important."

Jod wrapped his arms and legs around Thirty-Three, kissing him. So wrapped up were the two in each other they didn't hear the polite knock on the door. Only turning their heads when the door whooshed open and a safety droid walked in.

"A security camera has been damaged in this unit." The safety droid looked from the two to the security camera and back. "I see. Please refrain from damaging security devices in the future. A technician will be by to make repairs in the morning." The droid turned around and left without waiting for an answer.

Thirty-Three's grip loosened, placing Jod's feet back on the floor. The two looked at each other and laughed at the ridiculousness of the situation.

Jod and Thirty-Three stood on the balcony, looking up at the stars. Each with an arm around the other's waist, Jod's head resting on Thirty-Three's broad chest.

"Where do you think we'll go, after this?" Jod wondered aloud.

"Wherever we want! That's the joy of being a pirate. Ah, we'll be back out there soon. Just be patient, me love."

"Stealing a ship is still off the table then?"

"Yes it is! Honestly, you scallywag. I mean to leave on amenable terms so I can be welcomed back. And there be the issue of the restraining device they installed."

There wasn't a restraining bolt on Thirty-Three's chest. "What device?"

Thirty-Three opened the circular compartment on his chest. A box thrummed with energy, wires of all sizes spilled from it into his chest. His beating heart. And clamped to the side like a parasite was a thumb-sized device.

Jod reached towards it, "so remove it."

"It ain't that simple," Thirty-Three batted Jod's hand away. "Don't touch! Tamper with it and you may well short out me p-power."

It had taken about a dozen burly pirates to get Jod into restraints, he couldn't imagine what they had to do to subdue Thirty-Three.

"Them were the conditions. These cozy little accommodations were only meant to be temporary until they sorted out what prison they were to send you off to. I had a few words with security and convinced them you were worth giving another chance. They says all right, but you were to be sent away at the first hint of trouble. An' I know how you find trouble. So I had to keep you in line meself. The only way they would let me do that is if I worked for them, and any droids what work fer the government be property of the government an' fitted with trackers."

Thirty-Three pushed the compartment closed. "So that's how it is."

Jod was stunned, he hadn't realised how much Thirty-Three had sacrificed for him. But his story made everything make sense. He had assumed at first that Thirty-Three had volunteered as some sort of sick revenge, to torment him. But, while he did push him around, the droid had always had Jod's best interests at heart, despite Jod's own attempts to foil him.

"You're stuck here then? Until Fe- someone buys you."

"Oh, I mean to move things along sooner than that. I be setting aside me earnings, and be making a little extra on the side betting on the Slap Cup. It will take time, but I mean to be a free droid."

Jod smirked, Thirty-Three really was one-of-a-kind. "I think that would suit you." He sighed, "too bad I can't buy my freedom."

"You know it don't work like that. You want them to let you free, you have to do the time."

"I know." Jod didn't like dealing with people he couldn't charm or buy, one reason he didn't like droids. Although… He stood straight, a mischievous grin on his face. "Let's go for a walk."

"What are we looking for?"

"It's a big stack of rocks, you can't miss it." Jod was less convinced of this than when they first started out. The forest was dense with huge trees and picking their way through the underbrush in the dark was slow going. Thirty-Three trudged onward, flashlight in hand, branches breaking against his steel body. Jod was having a lot more trouble, sticks kept scratching his skin and sticking in his clothes and hair.

Thirty-Three stopped abruptly. "Something like that?"

"Yes, that's it!"

Jod was right, it was hard to miss. Through the foliage they could see a stack of boulders balanced one on top of the other. Jod hurried up to the megalith, and was satisfied to see that it had not been tampered with.

Jod cracked his knuckles and held out a hand. He stared at the topmost boulder, visualising the force moving around it. Slowly, the rock raised and floated gently to the ground. He began to take apart the stack one boulder at a time. By the halfway point he was sweating and shaking. No longer taking the time to gently lower the rocks, they fell to the ground with a thud. He stopped, they were deep in the forest, but he was still wary of making too much noise.

"Took me all day to get them up, thought getting them down would be easier," he panted.

"Need a hand?" Thirty-Three offered.

"Be my guest." Jod doubled over, breathing heavily.

The droid pushed his shoulder into the pile, the stack moved, bit by bit until finally reaching the tipping point. The topmost boulder teetered and fell back towards Thirty-Three.

"Look out!" Jod reached out with both hands, holding the rock in place. His hands clawed at the air with the strain of holding the heavy rock aloft. Thirty-Three moved aside and Jod dropped the rock to the ground, clattering in the pile.

"That was a close one," Thirty-Three said with only mild surprise. 

"Yeah," Jod panted.

Together the two pushed the final rock aside and Jod started digging. All that garden work was finally paying off and soon he hit metal. They hauled up a crate and cracked open the lid. Inside freshly minted credits glimmered in the beam of their flashlights, and laid on top of the gold was Rennod's knife. Jod slipped the knife into his belt.

"I thought they confiscated all that when they caught you."

"They confiscated one crate of credits! I could only safely sneak off with the one. Or, thought I could…"

Thirty-Three laughed, "made off with two crates full, you were busy."

"Three, but never mind what happened to the third." Jod stroked the credits lovingly, "ah, I missed you, thank you for waiting for me my lovelies." He turned to Thirty-Three, "what's that put your freedom fund at?"

The droid ran a finger over the credits, making a count. "Aye, that just about ought to do it."

"So you buy your freedom, I lay low and enjoy the quiet life for a little longer. Then we're free to go wherever we want." Jod grinned up at his husband, "so… where do you want to go first?"