Private So...About the Other Night

[Leshanna Dromar]

Naamino Zuukamano​

It had been a few days since the eye opening, and frankly life altering, night of Haro Aven 's drinking game. The night that Leshanna had watched her best friend Naamino fight another student; the same night that she, Haro and Naami had indulged in some whiskey and a game that had led to a confession from the teenage girl to both the boys.

She still smiled fondly and like a silly lovestruck girl whenever she thought back to that somewhat hazy evening under the Korribani stars, nestled close beside the two other acolytes. Something about finally being able to tell them both the truth had lifted a weight off the girl; she felt lighter, happier, and energized. Her studies took a bit of a hit, as she often found herself now daydreaming - but she was disciplined enough to pull her head from the clouds and really focus when she needed to.

For her more boring classes however? She’d much rather daydream about her time with her boys.

…time which would soon be upon her as after this next class she had a free period, and she was scheduled to meet up with Naamino for their spar practice session of the week. It would be the first time they had truly interacted in person since that night, and Leshanna was feeling both nervous and excited to see him again.

No one had really spoken about the events of that night, or what had been said. Lesh was hoping that maybe, her and Naami could chat about it a little more. She was determined to stick by what she said, that no matter how the boys felt - she would be there for them, a loyal and steadfast friend.

The bell chimed for the end of class, and she couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

The two acolytes met one another with a similar nonchalant attitude in the gym, though tension coiled just under the surface. Leshanna couldn’t help the stolen glances she gave Naamino, nor could she truly hide the faint pink blush that would color her freckled cheeks. Once their practice session started however, it was all business - or at least it was, until Naami showed off just how truly strong he was, practically lifting the girl up by one arm as she clung to him in a desperate bid to try and pin him, like some determined and angry Loth-cat.

It was a ridiculous sight and situation to behold, and Leshanna’s determined expression shattered as she sputtered and began to giggle and laugh, all sense of seriousness gone from her as mirth and warmth shined in her dark blue eyes.

“Naami - wha, are you seriously lifting me with one arm?! I…I can’t…” she sputtered again, dissolving into a fit of giggling laughter as her pent up hormones and anxiousness and excitement at being with him finally overwhelmed the teen girl.

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

The zabrak had been silently processing the events of that night, and as was his way, he'd not yet approached either of his friends to go back over what was shared. Naami had a tendency to "leave well enough alone" when it came to topics regarding emotion or really any kind of vulnerability. But he'd been thinking about it all pretty much nonstop.

So when the time came again for him to spend time with Leshanna Dromar one on one, he was a little bit nervous but mostly just excited. They went over some general reminders and refreshers about teachings regarding hand to hand combat they'd learned in class. Naami used it as an opportunity walk through the newest moves they'd been learning, and Lesh jogged his memory on more than a few. Together they focused in on the task at hand, which was something he really appreciated about his friend. She took this stuff seriously and never teased him, at least not too much, about how seriously he took it in turn.

They'd worked through several moves and holds, taking turns practicing to get them right, then spent a good portion of their time running through low intensity matches. Naami was always exceedingly careful about the placement of his horns, and Lesh was very mindful too as a sparring partner. She was also tough and fast, which meant that Naami couldn't just comm it in when they practiced. By the time they were wrapping up, Naamino was chuckling at his friend's antics and more than a little sweaty from the exertion.

"Yer peskier than a monkey-lizard," he laughed while standing fully to his normal height.

He grinned down at the girl still clinging to his arm, panting a bit from the exertion but still holding her easily. In fairness, she was also clinging with an iron grip even while giggling, which made the feat a bit easier on him. The teen carefully made to set her down, calling an end to the fruitful training session.

"Right, think that's plenty for now. We've gotten some good practice," his voice was good-natured, affectionate even.

"You definitely almost had me there with that last arm bar," he teased, sitting down crossed legged next to her in anticipation they'd stretch together for their cool down.

 

[Leshanna Dromar]

Naamino Zuukamano​

Lesh giggled more when Naami said she was pesky, and her grin was devious and playful. “Gotta keep you on your toes, Horns.” the girl said lightheartedly as she met Naami’s eyes with her own. His grin was infectious, and it made her feel warm inside just to see it.

Naami set her down and Lesh disengaged from him and sat down on the floor, sensing that their sparring session was over for the meantime, and Naami confirmed it a moment later, and as he sat himself down for a round of post-exercise stretches, his knee touching hers from how close they sat together. He lightly teased her that she almost had him in her attempt at an armbar, and she playfully rolled her eyes.

“Yeah well almost isn’t good enough. Maybe next time though I’ll get that armbar! Or maybe a rear naked choke!” she flashed him another one of her devious little smirks, her playfulness plain to see. “But I’d have to somehow need to like…jump on your back for that. You’re getting so tall Naami.” She huffed in mock frustration. “It’s not fair.”

The girl began a light stretch, one that Naami had shown to her before in their prior workout sessions together. She was quiet as she focused on her breathing and worked at slowing her heart rate back down; her hair was slightly damp from the sweat she’d accrued from their spar, and she couldn’t help but notice that Naami was a bit sweaty too. Her eyes lingered on him for a few moments, her mind whirling with thoughts and emotions. She wanted to ask him about the other night, when they all had spoken and hung out - but she suddenly felt vulnerable and shy without the liquid courage swimming in her veins.

“So uh…about the other night…how you…how you feelin? We haven’t really seen or spoken to each other since then.” She suddenly blurted, before her courage completely fled from her. “How are your hands?” she added further, showing concern for the bruises and injuries he’d sustained in his fighting match.

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

Naami straightened up a bit at mention of his newfound height, more than a little pleased she was noticing the changes he'd been going through. Giving her a smile, he too moved into a stretch, extending the leg farthest from her out and laying his torso down upon it while reaching with one arm to hold the bottom of his foot to deepen the stretch as they briefly shared amicable silence.

Slightly taken aback by her sudden blurt, the zabrak sat up and turned toward her with dark eyebrows raised. He supposed it was only a matter of time before they needed to talk about it, but her question about his hands provided a sweet assurance while buying him time to think.

"They're ok," Naami reassured as he deftly unwrapped one from his customary fabric wraps, letting the garment fall away to show her.

There were still some faint scratches but the bruising was nearly gone. Sitting as close as they were, the boy was a little head-shy about meeting her eyes but he remained close and unwrapped his other hand as he answered the real question.

"I'm really glad you were there. The best part of the night was hanging out and stargazing. I hurt like all the hells the next morning," he chuckled, remembering the hangover that Gavin had to coach him through. Not to mention the brutal hit Maiza had delivered below the belt.

"But yeah I'm good— how're you?"

His gaze finally rose to meet hers, searching her face, their cooldown all but forgotten for a time.

"You- uhm, I'm also really glad you told me— err, glad you told Haro and I about how you're feeling… about us."

The tips of his ears were a little pink as he stumbled through the last of his words.

 

[Leshanna Dromar]

Naamino Zuukamano​

Lesh was quiet, watching her friend intently as he stopped stretching and turned around to face her more directly. Though he was normally stoic, even serious around most others - with her, he seemed to be more expressive. His eyebrows were raised as he looked upon her, and he addressed her question about his hands, informing her that they were okay as he began to unwrap them.

When his hand was revealed, Lesh cast one more look at him, noticing his shyness at meeting her gaze directly before she lowered her blue eyes down to his hands and without thinking, reached up to take it in her own hands, gently inspecting the scratches and slight bruises that were still there. His hand was warm in her own, as hers were a bit on the cold side. After a brief moment of checking his hands for any remaining injuries, she released him and looked back up at him.

"I'm really glad you were there. The best part of the night was hanging out and stargazing. I hurt like all the hells the next morning," Naami said, starting off the delicate conversation with honesty that Lesh appreciated. She smirked along with his chuckle, nodding in agreement, before her smirk shifted into a more genuine and happy smile.

"But yeah I'm good— how're you?" he asked as he lifted his pale blue eyes to meet hers, searching her face.

“I’m good! And yeah! Hanging out and stargazing with you and Haro was…amazing. Best experience I’ve had in my life, really. Though the headache and grogginess that came when I woke up wasn’t all that fun…” she confessed, before she fell silent once more, content to simply sit there and let her friend look upon her. Her eyes traced the lines of his tattoos, and she idly wondered if it had hurt him to get them.

"You- uhm, I'm also really glad you told me— err, glad you told Haro and I about how you're feeling… about us."

The girl smiled more widely and huffed softly in gentle amusement as Naami stumbled his way through his statement, and she noticed the tapered tips of ears grow darker in hue - something she’d seen before. His words brought another faint blush to her cheeks and she lowered her eyes to her folded hands in her lap for a moment.

“Honestly…I’m a bit shocked I did that, and said all that…” she took a breath and exhaled slowly. “It’s stuff I wanted to tell you guys for a while. You even longer than Haro but…I I kept my feelings to myself for reasons. I guess I just couldn’t hold back the truth anymore the other night. They keep telling us that as Sith, we’re supposed to like…embrace our emotions and feelings and whatever. Acknowledge them, not bury them. So…that’s what I did. Though I'm pretty sure the whiskey helped me with all of that.” she said with a chuckle before she lifted her face back up to look at Naami and smiled back at him warmly. “That time with you guys meant so much to me. Any chance I get to hang out with you, like how we are now…or with Haro…just makes me so happy. I’d do anything for you guys…”

She trailed off for a moment, chewing her lip in thought, before she pressed onward. “How…how do you feel about all of it? Have you thought about any of it since then? I’m sure it's a bit weird…most girls only tell one person they like them, but there I was telling you both. I wasn’t sure how that would…settle with you or Haro, really…”

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

He held his breath as she took his hands. That felt good, surprisingly good. The cool, impossibly soft skin of her fingers brushing against his slightly calloused and very warm hands was enough to make him solemn and watchful. Large, icy blue eyes followed her every movement even as she released the contact between them.

Naamino listened to his friend work through her thoughts, sometimes haltingly, and paid as close attention to her as he did to his most important course work.

"I like when you're happy," he answered simply at first and with no hesitation.

That part was easy. It made sense that someone as great as Lesh should be happy. She deserved it, and she worked hard for it too.

“How…how do you feel about all of it? Have you thought about any of it since then? I’m sure it's a bit weird…most girls only tell one person they like them, but there I was telling you both. I wasn’t sure how that would…settle with you or Haro, really…”

That gave him pause. It was a more difficult and complicated topic, one that he'd already given much thought to but still had very few answers for. He tried to keep his general inexperience hidden while answering her as fully as possible, though it might be obvious to her or an outside observer just how hopelessly naive he was.

"Yeah, I've thought about it," he answered truthfully but slowly, "You, uhm you're not weird... Maybe I'm just... I dunno, maybe you know more about this stuff than I do."

He offered a reassuring smile, then seemed to remember they had been stretching. The zabrak shifted a bit and extended his other leg to reach and stretch over it as he assessed her sidelong.

"As for how I feel? Well, uhm... I'm good," his smile grew, "And just, I dunno I guess I'm grateful I get to hang out with you so much."

 

[Leshanna Dromar]

Naamino Zuukamano​

Naami listened intently to her, as he always did. He and Haro both would always give her their full attention whenever she spoke to them; it was something she adored about them both, and it made her feel like she was worth something to them both. He remarked that he liked it when she was happy, and she smiled at him, a little blush creeping its way into her cheeks once more as she continued on with her trying to share what was on her mind as best she could.

Then, she gave him space to respond to her questions and probing about how he felt about, and if he’d given that night and what she had admitted to him and Haro, some thought. Naami was quiet for a few moments, trying to work out a way to respond back, no doubt. Talking about feelings, especially with another, was no easy thing.

"Yeah, I've thought about it. You, uhm you're not weird... Maybe I'm just... I dunno, maybe you know more about this stuff than I do."

Leshanna huffed softly in mild amusement and raised an eyebrow as she glanced at her folded hands in her lap for a moment. Truthfully, she was fairly clueless about all of it as well - though she did feel a stronger urge or need to be open and honest with him.

Naami shifted and began stretching, glancing at her sideways as he did so. She in turn shifted and began her own stretches, trying to work out any lingering soreness in her muscles.

"As for how I feel? Well, uhm... I'm good. And just, I dunno I guess I'm grateful I get to hang out with you so much."

The girl chuckled and glanced at him sidelong as well, meeting his gaze with her own. “It’s uh…all new for me, Naami. I feel…so much better after opening up to you and Haro…especially you. I don’t know I just…” she paused and moved to stretch her other leg, reaching out towards her toes as she did so. “...I feel really lucky to have you in my corner. I guess…I just realized I needed to come clean and tell you the truth, about how I was feeling.”

After a few seconds of stretching, she sat back up and folded her legs underneath her once more. “It makes me happy to hear that you are feeling good about it all. Really.” She then tore her eyes away from his and looked back at her hands, falling silent as she struggled to open up more with her companion and friend.

“I…I had never done that before, by the way…” her cheeks flamed red once more and she turned shy, “-cuddle with someone, like that. It…was nice. Really nice. That…was the best night of my life. The headache the next morning sucked…but, I don’t regret any of it.”

She glanced back at him, a playful and almost devious smirk danced across her face. “I’d do it again in a heartbeat, though!”

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

Eyes widening in surprise, Naami felt a wave of relief wash over him at learning that she was new to all of this too. In much the same way it put him at ease to learn that he was doing alright at making his friend happy, the zabrak was glad to know that Lesh was learning how to handle all these emotions as she went. The boy stretched to his other side as he continued to listen.

The smile remained, rarely observed dimples becoming more familiar by the moment as Naami stayed at ease in that quiet moment of reflection on recent revelations. He sat fully up and reached an arm across his body to stretch his shoulder, eyes rarely straying from Lesh's lovely face. A faint look of surprise came over him as she flushed, as her cheeks became rosy and her voice became shy. Naami paused his stretch to once more turn his full attention on her, actually reaching with one of his hands to take hers for a moment.

"Yeah?" His voice was soft and curious.

"I haven't either— and I…"

It was his turn to blush a little bit, though he managed to keep his words calm despite the roiling warm felling at his center.

The best night of her whole life? Wow…

"I'm so glad you enjoyed that because I— well, it was the best night for me too," he punctuated his point with a faint squeeze of her hand and his eyes traveled up across her face, glancing at her long dark hair.

"I'd really like more time together like that if… uhm, maybe we can go stargazing again soon?"

What he didn't add but wanted desperately to ask was if he could play with her hair again. But there'd be time later if she accepted. He also supposed he should specify that he'd like to stargaze with just her, but that was another leap he would have to take when the time arose.

 

[Leshanna Dromar]

Naamino Zuukamano
​

Naami gently took her hand in his as she blushed and stumbled her way shyly through her thoughts. Her blue eyes landed on his hand wrapped around hers and she was quiet for a moment - as if the physical contact had suddenly stolen her voice. Though his hand was rough and warm, it was welcome and as her cheeks colored up a bit more from the gesture, she couldn’t help the smile that filled her face. Leshanna searched her friend’s eyes, eyed the cute dimples that had formed there, and she felt another flush of warmth bloom in her chest.

It was moments like this that connected her more closely with her friend. Her best friend.

Naami then responded to her, admitting that he had never really cuddled with anyone before either - and then he too blushed, the tips of his tapered ears coloring up. Lesh silently mused to herself that, though he was every bit the warrior and even looked the part, he could be so dang cute when he was like this. She refrained from saying as such, however. She knew his pride could only handle being called cute so much.

Lesh huffed softly in happy surprise and lowered her eyes when he admitted that it had been the best night for him too, and to reinforce that he gave her hand a gentle squeeze - one she returned with a fairly strong grip, even if it was brief.

"I'd really like more time together like that if… uhm, maybe we can go stargazing again soon?"

Leshanna glanced back up at him and searched his face and nodded with an eager smile. “Stargazing with you? Heck yeah, I’m down! And…I’d really like more time with you too.” She admitted as she kept a hold of his hand, not willing to release the contact just yet. "...Part of the reason why I asked you to work out with me and spar with me is because I...wanted to be closer to you. I feel safe with you, and you've helped me build my self confidence."

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

Her enthusiasm made his spine straighten and his mouth pull into a wider smile. Naami reached for her other hand since she didn't seem to want to drop the contact and more squarely faced her, with his legs now crisscrossed.

"Can I uh… can I share a secret with you?"

He leaned in a bit conspiratorially, his voice low and those shockingly blue eyes twinkling with a hint of humor.

"I'm really relieved it's not just me that this is new for. You really make me feel better about that— more calm. Well, usually," he added with the realization of just how much he was sharing, what a fool he probably sounded like.

"Sometimes you're like five cups of caf," he teased good naturedly as he interwove his fingers a bit with hers, enjoying how her strong and cool little hands felt in his.

 

[Leshanna Dromar]

Naamino Zuukamano​

Naami straightened and smiled wider upon hearing her and, seeming brave enough, he reached for her other hand so that he was now holding both of them as he turned to face her more, folding his legs under him as well. Leshanna couldn’t help the wandering of her blue eyes as her gaze flickered over his face and along the muscular lines of his arms and chest. She absent mindedly thought back to the first time she’d ever seen him, that day at their initiation trials. How he had grown since then, and filled out.

He really was becoming quite the warrior, and the thought of this made her heart race a bit faster in her chest. It wasn’t something she could quite explain, as it made her feelings swell. It was all so new and foreign to her, that she didn’t quite know what to do with it all.

The Zabrak boy asked if he could share a secret with her, and as she nodded in eagerness he leaned in towards her so he could speak in a lower tone of voice into her ear. The lower baritone of his voice only made her pulse spike higher, for she found she rather liked how deep his voice could get. It made her skin tingly - but she was too nervous or shy to tell him the truth…yet.

That was until he revealed his secret to her.

"I'm really relieved it's not just me that this is new for. You really make me feel better about that— more calm. Well, usually," He paused, just for a moment, before adding on in a lightly teasing manner - "Sometimes you're like five cups of caf,"

Leshanna’s eyes brightened as he interlaced his fingers with hers and she smirked playfully at him, chuckling softly. “I’m like five cups of caf?! How do you think I feel when you’re around me?!” she teased back. “Every time you look at me or talk to me, I feel like my heart is going to race out of my chest and never come back to me.”

She fell silent for a moment, searching his face, her eyes tracing the lines of his tattoos once more. With some hesitation, but more bravery than she usually felt, Leshanna lifted a hand and traced one of the bold tribal lines along his cheek.

“What was it like…getting these? Did it hurt at all?” she asked softly, curiously. “I’ve seen others with similar marks…is it…something your kind does? Sorry if that is a rude question…I’m just curious is all.” she finished, her cheeks blushing once more when she realized she had actually touched his face and began to withdraw her hand.

“Sorry that was…a bit of a breach of personal space.” she muttered with a half-grin, trying to stay lighthearted despite suddenly feeling vulnerable and nervous about exposing so much of the care and her deeper emotions she felt for her friend.

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

Something shifted in his bearing, a kind of intense focus but also softening into the moment. Naami's dark eyelashes fluttered as he considered her, he couldn't believe this was real life. Her heart raced like his did when she thought of him? He'd previously believed that surely it was just something he was going through. He wondered if her palms got sweaty and her mouth went dry too.

There was a long pause, a moment of soft silence and it felt like nothing else in the entire world existed. Naami's expression, already at ease and somewhat smiley, suddenly melted into a soft awe as Leshanna reached up to stroke his cheek. Despite looking more and more like a man with each passing day, in that brief moment he looked very young indeed.

The zabrak considered her words even as he felt breathless about the way she traced his face. Lesh was beginning to pull away as Naami brought his own hand up to keep hers in place.

"No," he murmured insistently, "Don't apologize."

He took a deep breath in, the intensity of his focus not having waned despite how wide eyed and awestruck he'd become.

"Yeah," he answered finally, nuzzling his face into her hand as he answered slowly.

"Promise you won't tell anyone though?"

He didn't wait for her answer.

"It hurt a lot. But it was also… funny to say it maybe but like, it was almost spiritual too."

 

[Leshanna Dromar]

Naamino Zuukamano​

Surprisingly, Naamino seemed rather open and receptive to the touch she placed upon his cheek, and when she went to move her hand away he was quick to take a hold of it and keep it against his face. His demeanor changed, softening to the moment that was transpiring, and the energy between them shifted subtly as well into something warm and connecting.

He murmured that she shouldn’t apologize for her actions, and she relented without an ounce of fuss and scooted even closer to him, so as to better trace the patterns along his face, taking the moment to just feel and further connect with him. His focus on her was intense, but she felt no discomfort under that awed gaze of his.

To her questions, he spoke honestly - asking her to promise not to tell anyone before admitting that getting the tattoos had hurt him - but that it had been more of a spiritual kind of pain. Leshanna blinked in her own moment of awe when he nuzzled into her hand, and she felt a strange ache bloom in her chest. Her smile to him was soft, warm and gentle - something meant just for him.

“I love how they look on you, Naami. They…well, you look like a warrior, a handsome warrior at that.” she said softly, a blush coloring her cheeks once again, highlighting her freckles as she realized she was admitting to him that she found him to be handsome. She had, for a long time. And the longer they spent time together the more she felt attracted to him. It was a slow blooming process, but one she could deny no longer.

Something else she could not deny either was her curiosity about him, and his Zabraki culture. She wanted to know more about him, more about who he was, his identity.

“Is…this something that is a part of your culture? I think it’s really cool! Will you be getting more of them, or is it just these?” she asked, her blue eyes bright with her curiosity, even as she continued to trace the lines across his face, as if she was memorizing them and committing them to memory.

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

Naami's hand fell away slowly, as he relaxed into her touch. His eyelids fluttered again and his gaze grew unfocused while she spoke sweetly to him. The boy hummed softly as Leshanna asked more questions about him and his culture. The hand still loosely holding one of hers squeezed faintly. Despite how relaxed and calm he felt, his cheeks began to dust red the moment the word "handsome" left her mouth. A brief silence fell between them as he considered how to answer and he blinked, eyes refocusing again on hers.

"Yes, we zabrak tattoo ourselves to mark successes and honor our tribal history— there are different styles and preferences, most of us choose symmetry for instance."

His eyes opened a bit wider, as if coming out of the reverie she'd put him in with her gentle touches.

"This is just the start, I'm gunna schedule more soon after I'm a little more flush with credits. Traditionally we tattoo our whole bodies— I started a little later, since I was determined to make sure I was on track to serve the Order before I officially celebrated becoming a man…"

He smiled a little self consciously, feeling a bit weird talking so much about himself. But she had asked and he was very proud of all he'd accomplished so far.

"I started with my face to honor my mother and father, using designs from both their tribes of origin. The jagged symbols by my eyes are paternal, the flowing lines on my cheeks are maternal."

He paused to see if she wanted to say anything or ask more questions. He was still silently reeling from her compliment and was buying time on how to address it.

 

[Leshanna Dromar]

Naamino Zuukamano​

Lesh watched her friend practically melt from her gentle touch and tracing of his inked skin, his eyelids fluttering as his blue eyes turned a bit unfocused, and she couldn’t help but smile in awe and it made her feel really good, to know that she could make him feel so relaxed and comfortable.

There was silence after she asked her questions of him again, though not one of discomfort or awkwardness. Both were simply content to enjoy the moment, that tenderness that came with heartfelt expression. Eventually, however, Naamino seemed to pull himself together enough to begin divulging a bit of his culture with her. Lesh lowered her hand from his face and gently placed it on his knee, her attention solely upon him and her expression eager to hear more.

The girl’s eyes widened the more she heard, as her curiosity and fascination deepened even further the more he shared. “Your whole body?! Wow…I…” she paused and suddenly felt a knot in her throat as her eyes unconsciously flickered over the rest of him, as she imagined what he might look like, with more tattoos than what he had currently.

Something about it, the idea of it, made her heart race faster in her chest - though she couldn’t exactly understand why that was.

“I think that would be so cool.” She finished with a near whisper as he smiled, though he seemed a bit self-conscious about sharing all the information with her, but he continued on despite that fact, explaining that he had gotten the facial tattoos to honor his mother and his father, using designs from their own respective tribes, and pointing out that the jagged lines by his eyes were for his father, and the lines down his cheeks were for his mother.

To hear the truth about it, made Leshanna’s chest ache even further. How beautiful, she thought to herself - that he would feel so close to his parents as to mark himself in their honor. The whole tribal aspect of the Zabraki culture too truly fascinated the teenage girl, and she felt a hunger to learn more - everything she could.

When Naami paused, Lesh didn’t speak immediately; all she could do was just study his face and let his words sink into her mind. “Wow…that is…so special, Naami. I…honestly it's hard for me to put words to how I feel about hearing all this. It’s just so amazing and -” She took a deep breath and exhaled a bit shakily. “-I am so fascinated by your culture. I want to know everything I can, because it's a part of you and who you are…and you’re special to me.” Her eyes then lit up more with her growing curiosity.

“...what more can you tell me? What are other traditions that your kind follow? Do the women tattoo themselves too? You said you started a bit later than others…is this something that starts early on?” she asked him, peppering him with her questions before she felt her cheeks flush and she shyly lowered her eyes for a moment. “Sorry - that was a lot of questions all at once. Just me getting all excited about this, I suppose.”

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

The awe in her voice paired with the wonderment in her eyes was enough to steal his breath for a moment. He'd rarely ever been so thoroughly the center of someone's attention, and it was as intense as it was enjoyable. His eyes searched her face as she spoke with curious excitement and not for the first time that day, felt grateful the dojo was unusually quiet. It was like they had the whole world to themselves for this brief moment in time and Naami couldn't help but cling to it, wishing he could freeze time.

"It's really sweet you want to know so much," the zabrak murmured, bringing bruised knuckles up to lift her chin and raise shy eyes if she'd let him.

"Really... I'm really lucky you feel that way," his face grew a bit more solemn but it was just because he was processing how special the moment was.

Naami tentatively raised his hand higher to trace her cheek, his larger somewhat rougher fingers delicately brushing impossibly soft skin.

"I'll tell you anything you wanna know. So... uhm, well Iridonian and Dathomirian zabrak have a lot of similarities but I'll answer for my heritage, because there are some differences and my family line goes back strictly through the Motherland."

His hand dropped back to lay atop hers on his knee as he continued.

"We consider coming of age when our horns are fully developed, and usually tattooing begins at that time. My horns came in pretty early though and took a long time to grow, plus I really wanted to feel as if I'd earned my first markings. Tattooing is a personal choice but it is not limited by gender. Clothing and how robes are cut or worn can sometimes be gendered, but more accurately clothing stylization indicates social status and marital availability."

He gave a small lopsided smile, eyes wandering as he searched for more easy tid-bits to share about his culture.

"Uhm, it's also pretty normal for everyone to serve in a militia or military structure. So most zabrak learn to fight and defend themselves from a young age. Combat is sacred, necessary for survival of course but also a way for warriors to bond in peaceful times. I started late on that too actually... My aunt and uncle insisted I focus on my studies first and foremost. Any free-time I had outside of that went to ranch chores, but the school I attended did make sure we exercised and I usually did calisthenics when I first woke up."

Realizing he'd strayed a bit from answering about his culture, Naami's mouth twisted in a little uncertain expression before he continued back on track.

"As for my species, some things that set us apart from other near-humans: we have two hearts, we're carnivorous- but not obligate like cathar are. I could survive without meat for a while if I needed. Uhm... Yeah our horns, the way they grow in depends a lot on lineage, and girls- err, women tend to have smaller horns. Supposedly our pain tolerance and endurance is a lot higher than a lot of other species, and our musculoskeletal system is denser too."

 

[Leshanna Dromar]

Naamino Zuukamano​

Naami brought his hand to her chin and gently lifted her head so that her eyes were level with him once more, as he told her how he felt about her curious inquiries and desire to know more about him and his culture. The boy grew a bit solemn, but not in a negative way from what Lesh could tell. He appeared thoughtful as he seemed to consider her questions, and she sat still and quiet as he began to share a bit more with her.

He explained that the Zabraks, though they had similarities, could be separated into two different types - Iridonian and Dathomirian - and he indicated that his own lineage went all the way back to what he referred to as their ‘Motherland’, and Leshanna was quick to piece together that he hailed more from the Iridonians than the Dathomirians.

He laid his hand over hers, the one she still had resting on his knee, and divulged a bit more about the customs of his culture and a bit more about his own personal experiences as a youngling and his desires and thoughts in regards to tattooing, and Leshanna’s eyes grew wide as she drank it all in, her fascination just growing deeper and deeper. Already she was feeling her connection with him becoming stronger, and warmth bloomed through her chest as she welcomed and embraced the stronger feelings she was experiencing for him.

Naami smiled as his eyes drifted a bit as he seemed to further process his thoughts. Next he shared how it was common for his people to serve in a militia at some point in their life, and that learning to fight from an early age was an accepted part of their way of life, and how combat was sacred for them - though he had started late in regards to all of that, explaining how his uncle and aunt had desired he pursue his other studies first. Leshanna nodded along, keeping her attention and focus on him as she continued to soak in everything she could - noting his mention about an aunt and uncle, but not about a father and mother.

She kept her observation about that to herself, however, for she had a feeling that such a topic might be a bit…sensitive for him, and as an orphan she knew all about how sensitive the parental topic could be.

Naami paused for a moment as his mouth twisted into an uncertain expression, before he seemed to find another topic on the subject to share with her - like the fact that his kind had not one but two hearts, a fact that made Leshanna blink in surprise. He explained further that while they were mostly carnivorous, they could go without meat for some time. Both guys and gals had horns, but the horns on females were apparently smaller. Naami finished by saying that their pain tolerance and endurance was higher than most other humans or near-humans, and that their bodies in general were denser with muscles and bones. Lesh waited a few moments to make sure she wouldn’t cut him off, before she spoke in response to everything.

“Wow…Naami this is all just…so cool! You have two hearts?!” she asked, her amazement clear on her face - and before she could really think, she was lifting a hand and placing it against his chest as if to see if she could actually feel the rhythm of both his hearts. Her eyes drifted to her hand, and there was a moment where she thought about taking it away, but she chose to leave it there. He had clearly enjoyed her touch earlier, so surely he would like or be okay with this too.

That, and she actually enjoyed how she felt when she felt his warmth underneath her hand. Touching him helped solidify those strong emotions she was feeling for him.

She lifted her gaze back to his face, a curious but solemn frown on her face. “What…what happens if one of your hearts is…damaged? Can you survive through that? Sorry if that’s a sort of grim question, I guess I just…well, I’m curious and so fascinated. Everything about you and who you are and where you come from is just so fascinating for me.”

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

His eyes widened some in surprise as she lifted her hand to rest it on his chest, but Naami leaned into the contact and listened intently. He grew contemplative but nothing about his expression would lead Lesh to believe he was upset with the question. He gave it some thought before answering, as he made a slow circling motion on her knee with his palm.

"Mm, suppose it really depends," he murmured honestly, "A friend of my uncle, one of the ranch hands, he got gored by a young bantha in a freak accident. The horn tore up his lower heart-"

With his free hand, the boy reached to guide her hand down his sternum a bit and to the left of his body to show her where he was talking about.

"The guy lived, but had trouble with some things, if I recall. i imagine endurance would be limited, and general cardiovascular health would be minimized."

He blinked, as if coming back from the memory. That had been a long time ago and he hadn't thought about it in years. Naami gave her a small smile and thought to ask in turn.

"What about you, Lesh? Do humans have any cool traits or cultural practices I might now know? Or are you just an extra amazing human."

The way he said the last few words probably made it clear that it was a statement that of course she had an edge on other humans, but his smile grew a bit as he awaited her thoughts on the matter.

 

[Leshanna Dromar]

Naamino Zuukamano​

Much to her pleasant and happy surprise, Naami seemed to enjoy the touch against his chest and actually leaned into it a bit, and though her question was a bit grim he didn’t seem to mind it at all. He became a bit contemplative as he tried to find a good way of answering her questions, and in the silence he rubbed a circular pattern on her knee - a gesture that she found really distracted her and made her skin feel extra sensitive, but in a good way.

A few moments later, he began to elaborate further about how the two hearts functioned in his kind, and Lesh listened as closely as she could, despite the mild distraction of his touch on her knee. Awe bloomed across her face when she learned that just because one heart was damaged, didn’t necessarily mean death for the Zabrak - something that she found gave her immense relief, especially in regards to her best friend who sat so close to her.

She couldn’t imagine what life would be like without him there, and quite suddenly she felt a spike of dread and anxiety at the mere thought of it. It was yet another indicator, at least to her, on just how much the boy meant to her. Her feelings for him went deeper, beyond what it meant to simply be friends.

"What about you, Lesh? Do humans have any cool traits or cultural practices I might now know? Or are you just an extra amazing human."

Naamino’s question pulled Lesh from her more grim thoughts and feelings about losing him and she blinked a few times as she pushed aside those worries and fears to properly answer his question. She chuckled softly at first and ran a hand through her black hair, pushing it out of her face.

“Oh well you know, I’m just a badass.” she said with a mock air of importance before she tried to give him a more proper response as she pulled her hand away from his chest gently to rest it on his knee. “Uh…well humans are pretty diverse so there isn’t any one particular trait or practice…not like with Zabraks, anyway. I think that’s a small part of why I’m so fascinated by your culture - we don’t have anything like that really, so it's novel and really cool to learn about and explore.”

She paused in thought, biting her lip as she did so, her eyes shifting as she tried to find more things to say. “Humans have all sorts of cultures and traits…we adopt such things from others too. I think that’s what has made us so successful in the galaxy. We adapt to change and make things work for us.”

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

Naami's eyes strayed to where she ran a hand through her hair, a bright bloom of warmth filling his chest as he remembered how soft it was. He brought himself back from the brink of distraction though so he could properly pay attention to her answer.

Her response about being a badass made Naami grin brightly and he leaned into their contact. This new closeness between them made him feel like he was floating amongst the stars. There was a moment where his breath even caught in his throat, when she bit her lip and the Korriban itself seemed to stop spinning.

It took him a moment to fully return to the moment, blinking a bit and trying to figure out what to say. Eventually he realized that what he wanted most in the world was more time to just talk with and listen to his best friend, Leshanna Dromar .

"Hey uh- Lesh?"

He made sure to gather her gaze before continuing, icy blue eyes seeking to mingle with soulful azure.

"I need to shower and change but... Can I take you to lunch? Somewhere in Vardin maybe, and we can compare schedules for a good time to star gaze."

Naami paused, clearly a bit nervous and very outside his comfort zone.

"How's that sound?"