Private Above the Horizon

[Lady Falentra]

It had been weeks since she'd seen Bale. Even if they were now a couple since the cruise where they'd finally admitted their feelings for the other, their different lives meant that they still spent the same time apart as they did as friends. She hadn't imagined that being in a relationship could be so distracting even when they were half a galaxy apart. They holocalled almost every evening unless Falentra was occupied with her work from her apprenticeship. Her datapad was filled with hours of text with him. Although, lately she had gotten busier.

Until he had asked her out on a small trip to naboo, she couldn’t turn it down, especially if it meant seeing her boyfriend again.

After a joyful reunion, they’d gotten into the Varykino resort before heading out on their ship to travel around the planet. They had travelled around the city markets, the historic buildings, then to the underwater city of Otoh Gunga. Now they were back on the surface, watching as the sunset across the gorgeous lake country.

Falentra’s head rested on his lap as they laid on the vast prairie, looking up at the orange skies and at Balun. “Should we head back soon,love? Get some dinner at the restaurant. Or we could get some takeout.” She proposed.

Balun Dashiell

 

[Balun Dashiell]

"Hmm, takeout sounds good to me," Balun Dashiell said with a soft smile, his voice warm and easy as he stretched out on the grass. His elbows propped him up just enough to catch the last glow of the evening sky, while Nouqai Veil rested against his right side. "It's been a long day—awesome, sure—but I like the idea of chilling in our room, eating something simple, and kicking back together."

This trip was exactly what they both needed. Balun had thrown himself headfirst into running Dashiell Retrofit, his growing company, while Nouqai had returned to Sith Space to continue her training. The time they spent apart often felt like it stretched on far longer than it should, leaving Balun with too much time to wonder. He frequently found himself questioning what Nouqai was learning, what she was doing—and dreading the answers. Part of him preferred ignorance, clinging to the illusion that her time among the Sith was far removed from the darkness and cruelty they were known for. Pretending, after all, was easier than facing a truth that might splinter the life they'd begun to build together.

But when they were here, side by side, none of that mattered. The galaxy seemed to align in moments like these, and for Balun, everything just felt right. Nouqai's presence grounded him, filling a space he hadn't realized was so empty. Years ago, he would never have imagined them like this, their lives entwined in a way that felt both inevitable and surprising. Their journey to becoming something more than best friends had snuck up on them, culminating in that first kiss—a moment that lingered in his mind as a turning point. Now, he couldn't imagine life any other way, nor did he want to.

"What'd you think of Otoh Gunga, by the way?" he asked, tilting his head toward her, his tone light but genuinely curious. "I figured you'd enjoy it, given it's underwater and all. The Gungans might be a little... unusual-looking, sure, but the way they live off the land and honor the nature around them—it felt like the perfect place for us to visit." He paused, watching her reaction, content just to share the moment.

Lady Falentra

 

[Lady Falentra]

Falentra liked the idea of crashing back at the suite, days back at Alvaria was exhausting. Trainings were relentless and back to back, her body was usually sore from all the physical strain at the end of the day, but it was only preparing her for the work to come once she was knighted. “Yeah, I could use the rest. An early evening, sleeping in?” She said as she stared up, seeing the gorgeous canvas of colours of the skies above.

“You and I have very different impressions of ‘unusual-looking’, Honey,” Compared to her freakish features, the duckbilled sentinoids could almost be considered normal. The sithspawn had even gotten many weird glances when she was in the underwater city, she never fit in anywhere. “But I enjoyed it a lot. For an aquatic, I’ve never seen many underwater cities,” She spent much more time she did on land than she did water. Falentra had long since adapted to being on land.

“What about you? Would you ever imagine living somewhere like Otoh? You’re a ridiculously slow swimmer, by the way.” She laughed. She had gotten tired of waiting to keep up on the tour that she’d started dragged him along.

 

[Balun Dashiell]

Balun chuckled softly at her playful critique of his swimming. "Hey, it's not nearly as easy when you don't have webbed feet, you know," he teased, a wry grin tugging at his lips. "I can't breathe underwater like you, nor do I have fins to help me glide through it. You make it look effortless—majestic, even. The way you take off beneath the surface... it must feel so free. And fun," he added, his tone carrying a hint of admiration.

As her laughter settled and she referred to him by the pet name Honey, Balun felt a warm grin spread across his face. There was something intimate and grounding about the way she said it, like an anchor pulling him firmly into the present. He tilted his head skyward, watching the soft hues of Naboo's evening sky, the stars just beginning to shimmer above them. She rested easily against his side, her head a comforting weight on his shoulder. For this moment, all the complications of their lives—Jedi, Sith, Imperials, the Coalition—ceased to matter. Here, in the quiet beauty of Naboo, there was no conflict, no worry. Just them.

"Well, sounds like it's settled then," he said after a pause, his voice gentle but sure. "A night in with takeout it is. We can order from the room." The idea of kicking back with her, eating something easy, and maybe watching a few holovids felt perfect. Simple. Comfortable. He let the thought linger, imagining the evening ahead as another peaceful chapter in this rare and precious time they had together.

Lady Falentra

 

[Lady Falentra]

Being in the water was always freeing, it was her natural domain, she wished the could spend every minute underwater. “Remember the speed-endurance training when we were younglings? I was always behind— could never keep up with the other kids.” She laughed remembering the times back in the Jedi temple at coruscant where they both grew up. It was particularly tough for her then as an aquatic in competition with those non.

The night was beautiful, the sound of the wind against the grass and the crickets within made it especially serene. There wasn’t a lot of times where she could truly relax and take her mind of the harsh reality that was her life with the sith. She loved her time with him, and moments just like this, but she knew that at the end of the day she would have to return back to sith space to continue on with the apprenticeship.

“We could stay here for a while more.” She whispered, tilting her head towards him, planting gentle kisses again his jawline. Although she could not help but find his next statement a little too oblivious. She sat up, turning towards him. “Balun. What does a night in with takeout mean to you?” Her question was gentle, more inquisitive than anything.

 

[Balun Dashiell]

Balun blinked, surprise flickering across his features as he turned his head to face Lady Falentra . She remained leaning against him, her proximity drawing them so close their noses nearly brushed. His confusion was etched plainly on his face, his brows furrowing slightly as he asked, "What do you mean?" His tone was laced with genuine puzzlement, clearly not grasping the intent behind her words.

Gesturing faintly, he elaborated, his voice steady but uncertain. "Like… getting comfortable together. You know, just this—us—relaxing in the suite, watching a holovid with some good food? The room is incredible, worth every credit. Doesn't that sound nice to you?" His gaze searched hers for understanding, oblivious to the nuance of what she was implying.

The mention of endurance training at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant stirred memories in Balun. He recalled the relentless morning routines—on-ground sprints and grueling marathons before the sun had fully risen. Physical fitness was an uncompromising requirement for Jedi, and students were pushed through rigorous exercises before diving into the day's classes and lessons. Discipline and order were the hallmarks of Jedi student life, leaving little room for socializing outside the small circle of dormmates and classmates.

A soft grin tugged at Balun's lips as he looked back on those days. "You struggled at first," he teased lightly, "but you wouldn't know it now. And in water, you wiped the floor with the rest of us. No competition there." His tone held a warm admiration, his expression briefly distant as he relived their shared past.

Nouqai had come far since those days. Now a skilled combatant, she had grown into her own strength and abilities, something Balun had seen firsthand during their training sessions at The Nest on Maldra IV. He had been taken aback by how much her lightsaber form had evolved since joining the Sith. Then again, perhaps he shouldn't have been. Their reputation for pushing boundaries was well-earned, and she was a testament to that transformation.

 

[Lady Falentra]

What do you mean? Balun didn’t get it, there was much confusion plastered on his face as he elaborated, but it wasn't what she had expected. He had invited her out all the way here to naboo, to a resort in all its grandeur, to stay for the weekend. "I just thought with you inviting me here, with the hotel and all, maybe you wanted us to go all the way?" She wondered if he was being deliberately obtuse in understanding, but that wasn't like Balun at all. Although her cyan eyes softened as he searched them, she could get lost in them.

Only then did it occurred to her. She knew Balun had only been in one other relationship years back, and it hadn't lasted too long. "Oh, you and Cordelia never..." The question lingered and fell short before she finished. A tinge of indigo flushing at her cheeks as realisation dawn upon her. Balun was in fact utterly clueless. For some reason, she felt silly asking, the last thing she wanted to do was make her boyfriend uncomfortable, or worse, for him to pry into her own past partners. While she had expected more for this little trip, she could wait.

With their face close, she smiled softly and gave him a brief peck on the lips. "You know what, that does sound really nice." She found herself standing from the grass they laid on, wanting to avoid elaborating more on what she meant. "Come on, I'm famished. Lets head back before it gets too dark." She started towards the rented sleek speeder parked not too far away.

Balun Dashiell

 

[Balun Dashiell]

Balun hesitated, struggling to find the right response. Her suggestion caught him off guard—not just because of its boldness, but because of the implication that this trip might carry motives beyond what he'd intended. The thought felt both surprising and, if he were honest, a little insulting. He hadn't brought her to Naboo for that. He'd wanted to give her something meaningful, a glimpse of a world as beautiful and serene as the way he saw her. This was meant to be a gift—a holiday where they could leave behind the burdens of their roles, their duties, and the uncomfortable truths that loomed between them: she, a Sith, and he, a lightsider.

This newfound relationship with Nouqai was already a whirlwind of new feelings and uncharted territory, but he hadn't anticipated things moving so quickly. It was still too fresh, too fragile for such leaps. Or was it? The question gnawed at him, mingling with the confusion she'd stirred.

As she rose to her feet, Balun instinctively followed, pushing himself upright with a quiet exhale. Her suggestion that they head back and get the food they'd been talking about seemed like a lifeline—something simple, something grounding. He mumbled his agreement, his voice unsteady, still caught in a daze as he tried to process her words and the feelings they had stirred within him.

Lady Falentra

 

[Lady Falentra]

Falentra regretted bringing it up, the topic clearly causing a sense of awkwardness and tension to envelope the air between them, making for quite the silent ride back to the hotel as she drove. The resort was only a short distance away, as soon as they arrived outside of the hotel lobby, the chaffuer arrived to greet them, taking the speeder to park.

She seized this opportunity to address the silence between them before they head back up to the room. "Hey Bale. I'm sorry if I made things awkward between us bringing that up. Look, lets just forget I've mentioned it at all. " She told him casually as they walked into the grand hotel lobby. She just wanted to them to have a nice comfortable evening ahead.

Balun Dashiell

 

[Balun Dashiell]

Balun didn't feel awkward as they returned to the suite. Instead, his mind raced, replaying the moment and the realization that this had been something Lady Falentra had anticipated. He hadn't brought it up again after she'd told him to let it go, but when she revisited the topic once they were back in the privacy of their room, he felt a strange sense of relief. At least now, he could respond—say what had been circling in his thoughts since the moment she'd first mentioned it.

"Honestly, you don't have to apologize," he began, his voice calm and warm, as it so often was when he spoke to her. He looked at her with a small, reassuring smile, trying to convey his sincerity. "It just surprised me. I had no idea you were open to that." His tone remained casual, though there was a slight edge of vulnerability in his words. He paused, exhaling as he collected his thoughts, wanting to tread carefully.

"I mean... I've thought about it," he admitted, his gaze shifting momentarily as a faint flush crept to his cheeks. "Figured maybe we'd get to that point eventually, but…" He hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck, clearly a little embarrassed by what he was about to say. "I don't know kark all when it comes to being in a relationship. Honestly. I've only ever kissed someone before. I never want you to feel like I'm expecting more or trying to rush you into anything."

His words were earnest, laced with a nervous honesty as he looked back at her. "I'm happy just being with you. That's all I need. When you said what you said, it hadn't even crossed my mind that you'd think I brought you to Naboo specifically for… that. I just wanted us to have a good time together, to get away from everything for a while. You know? To just… be. But I'm not saying I wouldn't want to either. If there's anyone I'd want to share myself with, it's you".

He smiled again, softer this time, and his shoulders relaxed slightly, as though a weight had lifted just from saying it aloud.

 

[Lady Falentra]

Falentra moved to sit on the couch, beckoning Bale to join her. “I am very open to it.” She wondered if it was because of their past, the more conservative upbringing within the Jedi temple that made him assume that she wasn’t. It wasn’t too long ago when the Jedi code forbade attachments. But also Falentra with her generally serious demeanour didn’t seem like the type.

It would not be her first time at all. But for Balun, that was different. “You thought about us?” she tilted her head, a playful smirk tugging at her lips hearing him admit it.

Falentra sighed as she assumed a more relaxed position on the couch, leaned up against him with her head once again resting on his shoulder. “No Balun, I would never think you’re one to bring a lady to a hotel across the galaxy just for sex. But maybe I was hoping it would be in the itinerary too.” She elaborated with a small chuckle.

“That was before I realised you’ve never done anything like that. I don’t want to rush you into anything or make you feel like you’re pressured to take the leap.” she was glad that they had broached on the topic now. It was a slow night in with takeout and holo movies they had agreed on that was on the agenda now.

“So about dinner? I’m thinking steak snd lobster?”

 

[Balun Dashiell]

Balun grinned sheepishly, his expression softening as he moved to join Lady Falentra on the sofa. Sliding into the seat beside her, he leaned in slightly, resting his arm casually along the back of the couch behind her. Despite years of Jedi training, Balun was still just a young man—a human with all the thoughts and urges that came with it. Those instincts, once overwhelming in his teenage years, had tempered somewhat as he matured. At eighteen, he was far more grounded, though the presence of his girlfriend naturally brought such private thoughts to mind.

"Yeah, I thought about it," he admitted, his tone light but sincere as he glanced at her. "I figured it'd happen eventually, but it's not like I need it to be happy in a relationship or anything." His words were candid, delivered in the quiet of the suite they shared. It was true—Balun had never experienced that kind of intimacy before, but he saw it as something meaningful, not just a casual act. To him, it symbolized trust and deep connection, something reserved for someone he truly loved. When he looked at Nouqai, there was no question in his mind that she fit that description. They had a history that spanned their entire lives, and the trust between them was unparalleled.

"I think it's cool we can talk about stuff like this, honestly," he continued, his voice softening as he met her gaze. "It's not exactly something I'd discuss with anyone else, but with you? I don't feel weird about it. You and I are close enough to just… talk, you know? Without worrying about feeling embarrassed or anything." He smiled warmly, tilting his head slightly as his adoration for her shone in his expression. "If there's ever anything you need to say or ask, I hope you know you can come to me with it. I want you to feel comfortable, always."

He paused, his brow furrowing slightly as he chose his next words carefully. "It wasn't something I'd planned for this trip, but not because I wouldn't want to. I just…" He hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck, aware of how delicate the conversation was. "I guess I didn't think we'd get that serious so soon. But then again, this isn't exactly your average relationship, is it? Most people are still figuring each other out, but you and I? We've known each other for eighteen years. There's not much we don't already know." He chuckled softly, though the weight of the topic still lingered. This was uncharted territory for him—exciting, yes, but also daunting.

When Nouqai shifted the conversation to dinner, Balun blinked, momentarily caught off guard. He leaned back slightly, an incredulous half-smirk playing on his lips. "You want to talk about dinner now?" he teased, his tone playful as he looked at her with an arched brow. "After that conversation?"

 

[Lady Falentra]

There was no doubt that she felt comfortable with Balun. While it was true that they know a lot about the other, Falentra knew that her life with the Sith was kept away from their relationship, she rarely divulged on the happens and on the details of her training. She didn't think Balun, would like to hear of it. But she returned a nod.

She gave a light laugh. "Sex or not, I'm hungry." She said was a slight playful pout. "We can still talk more about sex." She said with a shrug of her shoulders, joking lightly. Clearly, Falentra was quite open with the topic. "Do you feel its too soon?" She asked. While they knew each other for their whole lives, they had only started this romance barely a few weeks ago.

 

[Balun Dashiell]

"Fair enough, I could definitely eat," Balun agreed with an easy smile, his voice carrying a warm note of shared contentment.

Rising to his feet, he brushed off his pants before offering his hand to Nouqai, his grin softening into something more intimate as their fingers intertwined. The late afternoon light bathed the surrounding landscape in a golden hue, casting a serene glow over the grassy fields and reflecting off the flowing waters of Naboo's pristine rivers.

The walk back to Theed City stretched ahead, the peaceful ambience of the countryside making the journey feel more like an extension of their retreat rather than a trek. Balun had ensured every detail of their getaway was perfect, right down to the elegant suite waiting for them in the city—a place chosen with care to ensure their escape from the weight of their daily lives felt special.

As they strolled together, his thumb gently brushed against hers, a small gesture of affection as they moved in step. The distant spires of Theed came into view, their white and gold architecture standing proud against the horizon. Yet, Balun's gaze was fixed on Nouqai, his grin broadening with a quiet happiness that seemed to radiate from within.

The moment wasn't just about the destination or the meal they were about to enjoy—it was about the simplicity of walking hand in hand, savouring the rare and precious time they had together.

The suite was more than just a place to sleep; it was a luxurious sanctuary. It featured a spacious living area, a cozy bedroom, a fully equipped kitchen, and an outdoor balcony with a stunning view of Theed's cascading waterfalls. Each detail spoke to comfort and refinement, from the elegant décor to the ambient lighting that bathed the space in a warm, inviting glow.

As they stepped inside, Balun's gaze landed on the plush sofa dominating the living area. Without hesitation, he unclipped his datapad from his belt, letting it rest in his hand as he turned and sank into the cushions. The soft embrace of the upholstery made him sigh in satisfaction, his body melting into the seat after the long day.

Glancing up at Nouqai with a playful grin, he tilted his head slightly. "What'd you say you were craving again? Something with seafood, right?" he teased, his voice warm and light with amusement.

He began scrolling through the menu on his datapad, fingers gliding over the sleek interface as he prepared to place their order. For himself, he already had a clear idea—medium-rare steak with a crisp, fresh salad to balance it out. It was a meal that promised to satisfy without overloading, the perfect end to their day.

"Alright, let's get this sorted," he said, half to himself, as he finalized their selections, his lips quirking in a contented smile at the thought of the meal soon to arrive.

Lady Falentra