Private Ruck March

[Haro Aven]

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LOCATION:...KORRIBAN > KOR'ETHYR ACADEMY > HARO'S DORM​

OBJECTIVE: RUCK MARCH AT DAWN WITH Naamino Zuukamano ​

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It was the wee hours of the morning on this side of Korriban and Horset had just begun to creep up over the horizon line. Slowly but steadily, the dull red star began to warm the frosty shadows and bathe the academy grounds of Kor'eythr in a rich red glow. The campus was mostly empty, cradled in the silence of those few chaste hours before students and staff would fill it's sprawling ever-shifting corridors, classrooms and common rooms in earnest. Like most reasonable folk at this hour, Haro Aven was fast asleep in his bed after a frustratingly restless night, sprawled unceremoniously on his stomach, long lanky limbs mostly uncovered by his blanket. Despite his exhaustion, events from the previous day had left the youth feeling decidedly broody which was even more frustrating considering the relative mundanity of it all. It's not like his life had been in danger. Well... not really. It was just that the way things had been left after his workout with Naamino, Lesh's interference, even some of what he'd discussed with the girl after had weighed on Haro's mind late into the night. The fact that Naami had personally returned the belongings Haro had forgotten in the locker room to his dorm had helped him feel a bit better but it was really the note the zabrak had left that had made a real difference. It was certainly not an apology and the tone was expectedly gruff but the kindness of the gesture was not lost on Haro. Naami had made it clear in his own surly way that he still wanted to train with Haro and, despite the tension between them, Haro found he still wanted that too. That said, Naami's note had not specified exactly when or where this "leg workout" would take place and Haro certainly did not expect it to happen before class...​

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

A stout and surly shadow entered the dark dorm room, moving quietly though not for secrecy so much as respect for Haro's roommate. The twi'lek boy still gave a terrified squeak before he blearily recognized the horned figure from a dozen or so hours prior. Naamino set down a backpack beside Haro's bed and gazed down at the boy as he startled awake. In an uncharacteristically soft voice, the zabrak explained.

"Time for that leg workout."

More than a little mystified by the glittering blink of the boy’s glowing eyes, Naami waited with unusual patience as Haro Aven regained his bearings a bit. The zabrak waited for the boy to sit up, calmly brushing away any of his own annoyance at perceived whining or protest. That the boy was still willing to workout with him was made clear and it appeased Naami enough to maintain a calm sense of composure. He remembered his own initial irritation at frequent summons by Darth Thaliax for training in the middle of the night. This was different of course but he made the attempt at empathy while he watched on in silence.

Eventually as Haro started to get dressed, the zabrak provided feedback.

"You need more layers, yeah- cold as kark out there."

And

"Got bantha wool socks? I brought extra. Trust me you wanna wear the best socks and shoes you have."

When he realized he hadn't yet explained the specifics of their workout, Naami clarified.

"Gonna take a little march, loaded your pack for you- promise I'm keeping it reasonable for your first ruck."

Once he made sure the teen was properly dressed, he helped him set the straps on his pack. It wasn't the first time Naami had gotten so close but it was the most gentle. He continued practicing care and patience as he adjusted the pack straps to fit Haro's tall, lean frame. Leshanna's words never far from his mind as he worked.

"Don't worry, packed us plenty of food and water" he added as if to forestall complaints about a lack of breakfast.
"And believe me, it's not worth the cramps to eat before we start."

Naami was also a firm believer that exerting oneself while fasting was a good way to build up one's constituent for difficult times. Once satisfied that his companion was as well prepared as he could be, the pair set out. They walked off campus and struck out from there, Naami directing their sun protected gazes to a spire in the distance.

"Few miles there, few miles back and our bodies will thank us later" he assured in a flat tone as he set a steady pace.

 

[Haro Aven]

Ever the light sleeper, particularly in the morning, Haro did indeed startle awake as some subconscious part of him perceived someone approaching his bed and he heard the soft rustle of movement. He pushed himself up onto an elbow with a pained groan. His arms ached terribly and felt like they weighed ten times more than they should. Still, he managed to wipe the drool from his lip, then blinked blearily up at the intruder.
​

"...Naami? What're you--"​

"Time for that leg workout."​

Haro squinted, scrunching his face up in tired confusion. ​

"Wha... ri'now? Seriously?" He asked, his words slurred with fatigue as he glanced around, trying to get his bearings.​

Haro proceeded to sit up and rub his eyes, mumbling an inquiry about the time before he reached for his data pad, suddenly worried he'd overslept. He groaned again and made a comment about how it was barely even morning. But it soon became clear that, yes, Naami was in fact very serious. Haro's yawn turned into a begrudging acceptance before he pulled himself out of bed and shuffled over to his dresser. He dressed in a daze, blindly taking Naami's advise and gingerly pulling on more layers without thinking to ask why since his brain hadn't fully come online yet. Eventually, Naami clarified that they were going to take "a little march" and Haro idly wondered what a "ruck" was. It wasn't until he was being outfitted with the pack that Haro started to register how patient and diligent, even kind, Naami was being with him. The other boy's close proximity seemed to sober Haro and he watched Naami's stern expression as he clipped Haro in and pulled the straps taught. The effort straightened up Haro's normally slouched posture and rolled his shoulders back. Pain shot through his pectorals, shoulders and upper arms and a truly pathetic whimper escaped him before he could stop it. He glanced away and cleared his throat, fighting down the blush rising up his neck while he grumbled something about being sore from yesterday. Thankfully, Naami didn't make any snide remarks, he just soldiered on, explaining that he packed them plenty of food and water, and Haro began to wonder just how "little" this march was going to be.

By the time they got off campus, the chill of the early morning air and the steady movement had brought Haro out of his sleepy haze but he was still exhausted and sore. And maybe still a little miffed at Naami from the day before... and from waking him up so damn early then having the nerve to be sweet about it. When Naami pointed out the spire that looked like it was miles away then confirmed that it was indeed the plan to hike to it, in sandy terrain no less, Haro stopped in his tracks and looked at his buddy like he was a mad man. Naami just walked on like it was the most casual thing in the world. Haro threw up his hands and marched after him.
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"Oh, yeah, sure. Just a little eight mile march through the dunes at the butt crack of dawn. That's totally normal." Sarcasm dripped from his tone. He shook his head and sighed dramatically as he trudged on.​

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"How often do you do this?" He asked, as if something was wrong with the zabrak for wanting to do it at all.​

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

Ever the stoic presence, Naami merely marched on even when Haro paused to protest at him. The zabrak looked sidelong over his shoulder without losing his pace and raised one dark eyebrow at the subtle sass of his lanky companion.

"It's normal for someone who wants to get stronger," he retorted flatly before turning back to look ahead as he soldiered on.

"Once a week or every few weeks when I've been busy."

He considered for a moment, then decided to ask even if it might be considered rude.

"How'd you not lose your mind on Coruscant with it being so… duracrete and people everywhere? I'd take a really long walk through a desert or across a savanna, over crowded corridors any day."

 

[Haro Aven]

Haro rolled his eyes at Naami's initial sassy retort, but he had to admit it was a good point. If Haro wanted to be even half as strong as the zabrak boy, he would really have to push himself. In that light, an eight mile hike once a week seemed almost reasonable, especially when Haro had been worried Naami was going to answer with "everyday" or something ridiculous.

He hesitated after the question about his homeworld though. He didn't take offense to it. In fact, he saw it as veiled curiosity about Coruscant but, more importantly, about Haro. It was the second time Naami had brought up where Haro had come from as well as his aversion to the idea of such a densely populated place. It also gave Haro further insight into what the other boy's experiences and preferences were and that excited him.

"Eh, it's not that bad," he shrugged. "It can actually be kinda cool, being around so many different kinds of people from all over the galaxy. Everybody's got their stories and cultures, all mixed up together. Guess it helps when it's all you know though."

"I had only seen places like this on the Holonet. If I'd known just how beautiful it really was in person..." He trailed off as he looked out over the open landscape before them–Horuset rising over miles and miles of red dunes speckled with megalithic rock formations and ancient ruins jutting up out of the sand, bathing the capital city of Vardin to the East of them in its crimson light. Haro took a moment to take it in, letting himself slip into that awe he still felt since arriving here.

"Well, the Loth-cat's out of the bag now. I can't wait to see more parts of the galaxy!" His bright smile and enthusiasm had found its way through his fussy mood with talk of adventure.

"What's a savanna?"​

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

At first, Naami just grunted in acknowledgment, blue eyes focused ahead save for the occasional glance sideways. He particularly appreciated the brief moment of awed silence that Haro slipped into, and not for any mean spirited reason either, but because he saw just a little bit of himself in the boy at that moment.

Empathy had been hard to find for Haro during Ozzuk because of the nature of the competition. And afterwards, once the boy started at the academy, it had been only natural for the zabrak to feel a sense of competition. Especially because the quick witted chatterbox seemed so interested in getting close to all Naami's friends in particular. For the first time though, Naami felt able to set aside all personal grievance or minor sense of being put off by the boy's over the top charm and near constant peppy attitude.

"Yeah, I look forward to all the travel too," he eventually agreed before answering the boy's question.

"Uhm— grasslands mostly. Think the actual biome is characterized by 'scattered trees and numerous grasses with distinct wet and dry seasons' but yeah… beautiful like the desert in a lot of ways."

At first his explanation sounded directly out of an educational holovideo. In fact if Haro had put credits on it, he would've won. Then the zabrak genuinely acknowledged the awe they both seemed to feel when presented with natural landscapes. Though gruff and matter of fact, it was perhaps the closest Naami had come to discussing something less concrete and more emotional with Haro.

 

[Haro Aven]

Clearly thrilled to have found common ground with Naami in something as exciting as traveling the galaxy, Haro glanced over at him with a warm smile. He wondered if that was why Naami wanted to be a pilot too and almost asked, but then he suddenly remembered what he'd promised himself the day before. He wouldn't let himself get caught up in that feeling of camaraderie again and let his guard down. Not until he got an actual apology from the stubborn Zabrak for the stunt he pulled in the gym, or at least an explanation. Though his concern was tempered by the fresh memories of how Naami had shown up for him this morning, he needed to be careful and stay vigilant, especially out here in the desert with no one else around. So he pushed down the initial urge to enthusiastically engage the other boy in talk of other biomes and travel, instead slipping back into a more pensive mood.

"Hm. Didn't realize you were such an expert on biomes," Haro muttered distractedly with an uncharacteristic dryness that may have seemed out of place, especially given the tone of the conversation just moments before.

"So..." he began in a more serious tone, "this ruck march..." He wasn't sure what Naami would do if he directly confronted him with his suspicions so he decided to start by fishing for more information.

"Have you done this with other people before?"​

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

Glancing sidelong, Naami made note of the dry somewhat sarcastic sounding response. Though he'd been making a focused effort to be kinder to his new peer, the sudden shift of tone had him feeling more cautious again. He didn't immediately respond, Haro's sass not warranting even a grunt. Then the boy continued on tentatively like the topic he addressed next might somehow be weighty.

Naami raised an eyebrow at the question and took a moment to consider. He found the answer somewhat surprising upon reflection, but he kept his tone stoic and matter of fact while responding.

"No, not really. Micah and I have traveled for days through the desert though-" he saved my life out here, Naami almost added.
"And I first met Gavin at the spot I'm taking you to, where he and Reign were having a lesson of sorts."

The boy trudged on, but let curiosity get the better of him.

"Do you miss the city planet, like have you been homesick?"

He sounded a little skeptical even as he asked, but the genuine curiosity was clear.

 

[Haro Aven]

Listening carefully, Haro studied Naami's body language for any tells that he might be lying or fabricating some placating story to lure Haro into a false sense of security. He found no such signs and, in fact, he found himself admittedly surprised by what he heard. As far as he could tell, Naami gave him a guileless and unexpectedly touching answer to a question that had secretly been steeped in suspicion and Haro was suddenly moved to guilt despite himself. Even in the short time he'd known Naami, it was made undeniably clear that Micah and Gavin were among the most important and closest people in his life. To be placed in the same category as those two, even in this small way, warmed Haro's heart and effectively quelled his suspicions, at least for now. It did not, however, forgive Naami's bully behavior from the day before.

Haro hadn't realized he'd been too lost in thought to offer much in the way of a response until Naami followed up with a question about Haro's home world and if he had been homesick. The answer came more quickly than he'd expected it to.

"Honestly, no, not really. I mean, I miss some of the people, like Mrs. Khaal and my friends," he said a bit wistfully, watching the path ahead of his feet.

"But getting out of the Undercity is the best thing that's ever happened to me." There was a depth of truth and feeling behind the words that even Haro hadn't expected until he spoke them aloud. It wasn't that he was ungrateful to Mrs. Khaal and all that she had done to give him a good life, but at this point he truly couldn't imagine what his life would've been like if he'd never met Niynx or seen the stars or experienced hyperspace or come to Korriban.

"What about you? You ever miss Wistril?"​

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

His companion seemed thoughtful, more solemn than usual, and Naami found that he rather enjoyed the boy's company more when there was some clear depth to his personality being displayed. Naami was of course none the wiser to the fact that Haro was so heavily impacted by the incident the day prior. It certainly hadn't left the zabrak's mind, but he was the one who'd been chastised so thoroughly.

Naami found himself nodding when the boy answered, relating to the idea that getting off-world from the place one grew up was the start of the grandest adventure. There was also no hesitation when the question came back to him.

"No, not at all. I think about my cousin Viv sometimes— but she's fine, happy studying urban planning."

He gave a half shrug. Again, the response was unusually mellow and straightforward. It seemed that the surly zabrak was decidedly less uptight and gruff when he was being active outside, getting fresh air and doing something simple but purposeful.

"Who's uh—" he almost thought better of asking, suddenly aware that they were drawing very near to subjects that could dive into the deeply personal.

"Who's Mrs. Khaal?"

He decided to press ahead. Curiosity and the words of Leshanna echoing once more in the back of his mind. "Treat him as one of your own…" and he figured she meant "one of our own", one of the tight knit squad that was forming amongst the students at Kor'ethyr. So he allowed himself the question and hoped Haro would focus more on talking about himself rather than turning too much curiosity back onto him.

 

[Haro Aven]

Once again, Haro noted that Naami failed to mention parents when he spoke of home, only an aunt, an uncle, and now a cousin. Haro had tried imagining countless times what it might be like to have cousins or siblings, how fun it would be to always have someone that was close to his own age to talk to and hang out with. He wondered why Naami hadn't mentioned his parents though. Did he have a bad relationship with them? Perhaps they weren't around anymore.

For the first time since the two boys had met, their conversation actually seemed to flow with ease. Much of the tension that so often existed between them fell away in the wake of their scenic early-morning march and talk of home. Haro found that he similarly rather enjoyed Naami's company more when he was calm and straightforward as opposed to being so uptight or posturing. He took a deep breath, consciously letting go of some of the tightness he'd been holding in his shoulders. Thankfully, his body was feeling better and better by the moment as they marched on, and he found himself grateful that Naami had strapped him in so well and outfitted him to be comfortable for the journey. Haro was unaccustomed to having someone take care of him like that, and he found that he quite liked it.

"Oh uh, she's my mentor. She runs the shipyard I worked at back on Coruscant." It was a safe answer, vague and shallow. He wanted to share more but he hesitated. Ultimately, he went with his gut feeling.

"She's a friend of my mom's. Took me in after mom passed." The lightness of his tone was a thinly veil over the deeper grief that still lingered after all these years.

"She looked after me, gave me something to do, kept me out of trouble... mostly." A slight smirk curled his lip, the little quip an unspoken permission to keep it light after sharing potentially heavy news. Haro fell into a thoughtful silence for another long moment as they walked side by side.

"What about your parents?" There was clearly some uncertainty behind the question as he steered them deeper into uncharted and potentially vulnerable territory but Haro hoped he'd laid enough groundwork with his decision to share about his mom in case his suspicions about Naami's parents were true. "You haven't mentioned them, only your aunt and uncle, and Viv..."​

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

It was with heavy silence that Naami registered the weight of what Haro shared, and the zabrak's chest tightened despite the boy's easygoing demeanor. His jaw clenched and he set his eyes forward on the path ahead, determined to keep their pace without falter or pause. Naami gave only a small nod into the silence between them, wondering if he should offer some kind of condolence.

Then came the question he'd known would be asked eventually but he felt ill prepared for nonetheless. Only two people aside from his family really knew the full details from his early childhood, both of whom had learned on accident rather than through open communication. Diarch Reign had unlocked more memories than Naami previously had, pulling them forth with subtle Darkside manipulation. While Gavin had been by his side on the planet Nathema, where they'd both undergone a test of the psyche and their connection to the Force as they sought to make crystals for their sabers. He otherwise never spoke about the circumstances of his upbringing and people generally didn't ask.

"Dead," he answered flatly, his tone tight like his clenched jaw.
"Killed by the Galactic Alliance when I was an infant."

He made a conscious effort to school his emotions, to simmer newly riled memories back down to store them with longstanding hurt. It did no good to linger on that which was long gone— instead that pain would be fuel for his ambitions. Naami finally managed to look sidelong at Haro, adding the condolence after all. His voice was soft and sincere.

"Sorry about your mom."

 

[Haro Aven]

Naami's flat one word response hit Haro harder than he'd expected. He'd suspected that was the case but it still made him ache with empathy, an ache he'd known since he was nine years old. He studied the boy's profile as the marched with wide sympathetic eyes, surprised to hear that the Galactic Alliance had been the reason for their death. Assumptions that he wouldn't dare speak aloud to the Zabrak arose to defend his confusion and he looked away, suddenly feeling guilty and distant. Naami's unexpectedly soft sincerity cut through Haro's contemplation and he met his icy blue eyes in a moment that commanded a vulnerability neither of them seemed prepared for but were subject to nonetheless. Even if he wasn't fully aware of it, the exchange touched on something that Haro deeply craved and that allowed him to see Naamino differently than he had before. It was like peering into a pool, expecting to see the bottom and finding the depth of an ocean instead.

"Thanks," Haro said with a somber but warm smile, matching the sincerity of Naami's condolence with a genuine gratitude of his own.

"I'm sorry about your parents." Unbeknownst to Naami, there was perhaps more of a personal nature to the apology stemming from that guilt that still weighed on him. A moment of silence stretched out between them, the morning breeze brushing the dunes and the soft crunch of their feet on cold sand the only sounds. Finally, Haro's curiosity won out as he asked.

"Were they military?"​

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

The boy merely nodded at Haro's condolences, clearing his throat faintly in the intervening silence. Naami thought maybe that would be the end of it, didn't want his peer to suddenly think him soft or pity him, but part of him also felt just a little better talking to someone who understood.

"Were they military?"

The question kind of surprised him, but he'd talked about it often enough with his family to know the details.

"Uh no, militia though— like any primarily zabrak community. Father was a rancher, and mother helped but also did bookkeeping, according to Uncle Zev."

Naami paused, allowing the crunch of their footsteps to fill his mind and tamp down the rising emotion. He gained nothing by allowing the hurt to overtake him; retribution against the GA was still far from his grasp. After a huff of breath, Naami added in a dry, gruff tone.

"Had the nerve to be prosperous on Iridonia, GA couldn't have that though. Law, order, and prosperity? Not if it's under Sith rule— it must be evil."

Deftly the boy reached behind him to unhook a canteen of water from the side of his pack, never slowing their march as he took a swig before offering it to Haro.

 

[Haro Aven]

The guilt and confusion only grew in Haro as Naamino spoke. He frowned, brow furrowing in thought. It just didn’t make sense that the Galactic Alliance would kill an innocent rancher and bookkeeper. It did, however, make sense that they’d left their baby alive— a mercy he was sure the Sith would not have extended to infant if roles were reversed, but clearly the other boy didn’t see it that way. Perhaps his Uncle Zev had not been entirely honest with him, or perhaps just simply didn’t know the whole story but needed something to tell his nephew about what had happened to his parents. Suddenly, a lot more about Naami made sense but a lot more questions arose too.

Haro just looked at the offered canteen for a moment, his face a mask of contemplation, before he accepted it.

“Right…” he pretended to agree, then took a drink of the bland liquid, making a mental note to look up Iridonia and the recent conflicts there later.

“Thanks.” He handed the canteen back to Naami, keeping pace with him. They were making steady progress out into the dunes and the loose ground required more work to march through so Haro was starting to feel his heart rate increase.

“So… is that what drives you then? Vengeance for your people?” He asked, trying to keep any emotion from his voice. It was a question he thought a Sith might appreciate and that might also give him further insight into the boy’s motivations.​

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

"Sure," Naami answered with little conviction, taking the canteen back and stowing it.

Truth was, he wasn't foolish enough to think it could be so simple as that. He sought retribution against something so much larger and less concrete than action against a single person. No, he sought an end to the chaos inflicted by the Galactic Alliance and their ilk. He felt certain that by training with the Sith Order, by rising in their ranks, he could help bring an end to the constant churn of conflict. He felt certain that with proper law, organization, and structure, the galaxy would be a far better place.

Something just wouldn't simmer down within the boy, and his offhanded answer wasn't fully honest. Emotions already rioted by resurrected memories and talk of childhoods that could have been, Naami's eyes gleamed with cold determination.

"More like a drive to put an end to the GA's clamoring nonsense, that there is somehow peace to be found in disjointed governance, and their bantha-chit theatrics where they play at moral superiority," he suddenly growled.

"For being the good guys they sure drop a lot of bombs on civilians and send troopers into communities merely seeking to defend their homes."

He fell quiet again, having unconsciously picked up the pace of their march a bit. He was breathing harder through clenched teeth and flared nostrils. Eventually he ended the somewhat rambling and rather revealing diatribe.

"So yeah, guess I'm looking to play my part in restoring order."

 

[Haro Aven]

At first, Haro thought the terse "sure" was all that would be forthcoming, but Naami soon launched into a rather revealing tirade that sounded suspiciously similar to some of the propaganda Haro had been picking up on since being in Sith space. Some talking heads within the Sith Order seemed to push the narrative that the Galactic Alliance was disordered and incompetent in their governance to the point of being unable to provide safety and security to their people, and that their "moral superiority" was apparently a fallacy used to oppress anything and anyone who didn't align with their Jedi dogma. Haro couldn't help but find irony in Naami's desire to play his part in "restoring order" as a Sith when the Sith were notorious for terrorizing communities and dropping bombs on civilians. He didn't dare make those observations aloud though. Instead he just nodded thoughtfully.

"Hm, alright," Haro offered eventually, "makes sense." He tried to incorporate a sense of contemplative solidarity. Although he didn't agree, it did make sense how someone like Naami would be susceptible to such indoctrination, especially given what he'd been through and what he'd been told. He fell into a thoughtful silence, stewing over Naami's words as they marched on through the dunes and toward the spire that grew ever closer. Eventually, after realizing he'd forgotten to grab his earphones, he began humming a little toon to keep himself entertained and help motivate him. The humming soon became full on singing, revealing that the half-Kage boy actually had a pleasant singing voice and could carry a tune quite well.​

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

The teens lapsed into silence, their trudging feet and the occasional bird-song or insect noise filling the early morning air. That was... Until Haro decided to fill the quietude with his own tunes.

Naami would generally be annoyed. He valued silence and the way it allowed him to focus on his thoughts, to organize his mind and push himself closer to his goals. However, Lesh's edict that the zabrak ought to treat Haro as one of their own still lingered. Plus, Haro had a surprisingly nice singing voice. The thought made Naami even more contemplative, perhaps even a bit reserved. Rather than make a fuss, the zabrak merely focused on keeping the tempo of their march consistent.

The taller boy had such an easy way about him when it came to being bright and social, as if he enjoyed making a bit of a fool of himself for the benefit of others. There was perhaps a small and secret part of Naami that envied how free Haro seemed, how he often acted without thought but somehow pulled it off anyway.

The last half a mile of their journey to the lookout point was grueling. Though the temperature had risen somewhat and it was a beautiful day, no amount of perfect conditions could remediate the punishing grade they had to hike up. Naami was quietly reassuring Haro throughout the experience and pointedly ignored complaints. Mercifully, he let them take two breaks on their way to the top of the small spire, and was very insistent that Haro drink plenty of water.

Finally, they completed the first half of their round-trip trek. Naami was breathing a little harder than normal but not by much. With a gruff sigh he unhooked the back from his shoulders after first making sure Haro could set his down easily. For a moment, azure eyes swept over the landscape with calm appreciation. This place was also situated above an underground darkside nexus and he felt it passively empowering him, making him feel almost exhilarated even after so much exertion.

He allowed himself only a brief moment of respectful awe before turning back to dig into not his own, but Haro's pack. Naami needn't rifle through, as he'd stacked everything neatly and precisely so the weight was evenly distributed. When the zabrak straightened up he had a slight smirk on his face and he underhand tossed a large, wrapped sandwich to his companion. The thing was loaded and when Haro unwrapped it he'd see that it sported an impressive variety of several types of sliced meats, numerous vegetables, and a creamy, savory spread.

Naami retrieved his own comically large sandwich and a big canteen of ice cold juice from the pack, then walked over near the edge of the lookout plateau where he sat so they could eat with a view. The zabrak placed the canteen between them so Haro knew it was for sharing, and the boy wasted no time digging in to his meal. He even smiled early on in the experience, after washing down a big bite of sandwhich and commenting in an uncharicteristically happy tone.

"Man, I love food."

He said it emphatically too, like this right here, eating a huge meal after a lot of hard work was the ultimate meaning of life.

 

[Haro Aven]

From afar, the last stretch of their hike hadn't looked nearly as brutal as it turned out to be, and there was no shortage of complaints from Haro about it while they trudged up the incline. What started out as passing comments about how steep it was and the burn in his leg muscles soon became full on moaning and groaning through labored breath about how Naami was surely trying to kill him, and reminding the Sith acolyte that Haro was not built like him nor could he use the Force to help him climb karking mountains first thing in the morning. Needless to say, he was grateful for the two breaks his oh so merciful slave driver allowed, but he did attempt to coerce Naami into allowing a couple more.

By the time they made it to the top, Haro was breathing hard and dramatically emoting his lethargy. He’d finally lapsed into silence at the very end to prioritize breathing, having given up on getting sympathy or even a rise from the stoic Zabrak. He accepted help with removing his pack, then joined Naami in appreciating the view.

“Wow…” he breathed. It was truly spectacular. The red dunes stretched out for miles beneath the clear sky, the sprawling campus of Kor’ethyr and the city of Vardin like giant slumbering creatures in the distance.

Haro was still taking in the view when he caught sight of Naami holding a wrapped something he’d pulled from the pack Haro had been carrying. Haro caught it, recognizing it as what must be lunch. As if on queue, his stomach growled with anticipation and he grinned at Naami. Suddenly animated with energy again, Haro practically bounded out onto the lookout plateau.

“This is awesome!” He exclaimed, trotting up to peer out over the edge before he plopped down beside Naami. Haro similarly dug in eagerly to his food, just realizing how hungry when he smelled the loaded sandwich. He’d never eaten anything quite like it before, with the variety of meats and fresh vegetables, and somehow it tasted even better than he looked. Haro had been impressed by the school meals since he’d been at Kor’ethyr but this? This was probably the best meal he’d ever had. He gave Naami a look of pure disbelief as he chewed his first bite, the flavors suffusing his senses.

“Holy mother of meteors, this is delicious. You made this?” He asked through a mouthful.

Haro practically inhaled his sandwich, humming rapturously with every other bite, occasionally chasing it down with the fruit juice Naami provided. He silently regretted not having grabbed a soda pop or energy drink before he left but he was grateful for the cold refreshment nonetheless.

With a belly stuffed with amazing food, Haro leaned back on his hands, his long legs dangling over the edge of the platform, and sighed contentedly. He found he couldn’t fully sink into the bliss of the moment though with the events from yesterday still weighing on him. He glanced sidelong at Naami, feeling conflicted. The boy had treated him suspiciously well today. He’d been patient with him, helped him prepare, packed them lunch even. Maybe whatever Lesh had told him really had an impact on him. Gathering his thoughts, Haro pulled one foot up and sat up again, slouching as he fidgeted with the zipper on his boot. He really didn’t like conflict like this but letting it fester seemed like it would be worse.

“So… about yesterday,” he began, trying and failing to keep the lingering frustration from his tone. “We didn’t get a chance to talk after Lesh showed up.”

He looked pointedly at Naami. “Care to explain what that was about?”​

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

Stoic as ever, Haro might never have guessed that Naami found some of his antics amusing. He was a bit snappy when the boy pushed for more breaks, insisting they keep their heart rates up but aside from brief annoyance at the complaints, Naami thought it was pretty funny the way the lean guy made everything so much more dramatic than it actually was.

Haro's excitement was contagious, and his zabrak companion visibly puffed up at the compliment about the food he'd prepared. He prided himself on this lunch in particular, having gone all out getting his hands on many fresh ingredients after bribing the cook's assistant to obtain a list of items. With a smirk, Naami answered proudly through a mouthful of food.

"That's'a perfectly balanced meal ri'there."

Easygoing body language and companionable energy shifted to something more reserved as Haro asked his question. Calm, calculating eyes slid over the half-kage's face and Naami allowed a silence to gather between them before answering in a matter of fact tone.

"What's there to explain? I wasn't gonna let you get hurt and you're stronger than you think you are."

Naami crumpled what remained of the sandwich wrapping, with not a crumb having gone to waste. Rather bullishly he maintained eye contact with Haro, as if in challenge to the boy's perfectly reasonable question.