Stolen

Mandalorian Embassy Residences, Theed, Naboo

She had to admit, the dress did look nice and it wasn’t as uncomfortable as she had claimed in the fittings for it. Not that Adelle would tell Aurelian that, the man would take credit for the tailors’ hard work as if it was his craftsmanship. And even if told he had no hand in it, he’d find a way to spin it so that the entire operation hinged on his decisions alone. Adelle finished fastening the dress in place and grabbed a brush to run through her short brown hair. Keeping it cut close to the scalp made it easier to wear the buy’ce of her armor but for the fancy affairs that were slowly becoming regular events, she often wished she could do something nicer with it.

Her datapad on the vanity chimed with an alert. Adelle set the brush down and looked at the message. A guest alert. Aselia Verd. Adelle couldn’t help the small smile as she sent a message back, telling Security to let her through to the Embassy residences. It was a surprise, to hear Aselia was here, especially when the joint mission with Republic forces was slated to begin the same time as the fundraiser in Coronet City.

A knock sounded on the door to her room as Adelle was finishing her make-up.

“Come in,” she called. The air shifted with the opening and closing of the doors. “Almost done, I’ll be out in two seconds!”

While the make-up didn’t quite cover her scars entirely, it did smooth out their appearance to be less harsh. It would have to do. Adelle left the refresher and found Aselia standing in the middle of the room in gleaming red and black armor, looking around. Probably mapping sightlines and exits.

“Hey stranger,” Adelle said, but the rest of her greeting caught in her throat when she saw Aselia do a double-take and stare. It was the first time Adelle had worn any of the Aurelian-dictated wardrobe around Mandalorians she knew on a personal level, aside from Kael. She wondered if Aselia stared because she liked it or because something was wrong. Adelle started to nervously straighten the dress.

“I know it’s a little much but— I thought— Maybe I should change,” she said haltingly.

Aselia closed the distance between them in a few quick strides, her gauntleted hands catching Adelle’s fidgeting ones.

“You look amazing,” she said quietly.

Warmth flushed her cheeks as Adelle managed to get out a murmured “Thank you.”

She stared at their hands, remembering a moment only a few months ago where they stood like this. She missed the feel of Aselia’s bare hands, the skin beneath her thumbs. Adelle was pulled from the memory by Aselia shifting, moving closer still. Adelle could feel the cool beskar through the fine fabric of her dress as fire now flooded her veins. Aselia slid a hand around Adelle’s waist while the other guided Adelle’s hand to an armored shoulder. Adelle caught the flicker of movement as Aselia glanced down at her lips and leaned in. Now her ears burned as well as her cheeks, even as her own hands wrapped around Aselia’s shoulders.

Aselia stopped a scant inch away. Adelle resisted the urge to pull her in.

“I’m sorry, I’ve never— I don’t—” Aselia’s quiet words faltered.

“I do.” Adelle leaned forward and pressed her lips gently against Aselia’s. A fire roared inside her chest but she made herself pull away, if only to let Aselia breathe.

She hadn’t expected Aselia to chase, to kiss her more firmly, more sure of herself. Thrills ran down her spine as one of Aselia’s hands cupped the side of her face, fingers sliding through her hair. The hand at her waist made sure there was no gap between them. Adelle returned each kiss with desire of her own. There was a fire in her bones and in her heart, and Aselia was both water to quench and kessoline to fuel the flames.

“Ten minutes,” Adelle gasped quietly in between kisses. “The shuttle leaves in ten minutes and I’ll need to fix what you undo.”

That gave Aselia pause and Adelle had the distinct privilege of watching the Verd blush before she pulled her in for another kiss.