Private The Shi’ido in the Mirror

[Natima Vando]

Location: Naboo
TAG: Leliana
Gear: Casual attire, vibro-knives

It was raining in Theed today, which wasn’t uncommon really. It had done this several times as far as Natima was aware, though the red head seemed particularly troubled this evening as she walked. Her gaze followed along the canals, ignoring the groups of people that milled about past her.

Times like this reminded her of her days in the academy, as an acolyte. Before the old Sith Empire fell apart. Before she had lost everyone.

Now it was just her it seemed. She had managed to get by, her abilities were still sharp, the augmentations done upon her by Darth Insatious had their uses; though a fair share of nightmares to be had as well.

She tugged the small poncho over her head, staring down into the ground, thinking back to her first mission with Leliana. Her footfalls led her down a set of stairs, as she would now walk alongside the water canals of the capital city.

She did this often. Or perhaps too much, donning her old identity and roaming about, hoping that perhaps a particular woman would stop her and be reunited with her again.

She supposed she watched too many romantic holos. The chances of that occurring were rather slim.

So she continued on, ruminating on the past and trudging down the canals of Theed, reliving the memories as a form of coping.

 

[Leliana]

Natima Vando.

She was one of the very few people Leliana truly held close to her heart. She had been an assassin alongside her during the days of the last Sith Empire. Never really interacting much until they were put together on a mission to test their respective abilities.

It hadn’t taken long for the sparks to fly.

And for Leliana to reflect on what she was actually feeling. Not just towards Natima, but what in hindsight had been her feelings towards Quinn Varanin too. With Nat there had been an instant connection, an attraction, Leliana felt at ease around the redhead.

It had made her wonder if everything with Quinn had just been a type of game between them. At the time Leliana was unsure, but then again it wasn’t as though the dark-haired assassin was a particular focus for the Echani Princess anymore.

Emotions have a tendency to make things messy.

And yet when the time came for Leliana to disappear for a while, Natima was the only one she told. Something had compelled her to do so, it felt wrong to just vanish on her without a word.

Natima even seemed to understand, when Leliana had explained her reasons. With the Sith Empire collapsing, she needed to go away to find herself. But despite all that, Leliana knew her actions had stung all the same.

It hadn’t ultimately stopped her from leaving, but it meant Natima never truly left Leliana’s heart.

Fast forward to now, and the dark-haired assassin was intent on reconnecting. The problem was the fact Natima was a Shi’ido, meaning she could literally be anyone in the galaxy. But Leliana hedged her bet that if Natima had felt the same as her, then at some point she’d try and retrace old memories they had together.

That was what led to Naboo.

Leliana had dispatched a number of her ‘crows’ to the different planets they had been on together. It was a long shot, but Leliana was also betting that Nat would also take on that familiar redhead visage too.

And sure enough, one of her little birdies had found her. To which, Leliana did not hesitate a moment to use her shadows to appear on Naboo. And maybe, just maybe…she’d have a little fun.

Just as Natima was approaching a corner, a figure seemed to separate from the crowd. A visage that would be awfully familiar to the redhead, as it was the same guise Leliana had worn on their first ever mission together.

The figure didn’t look back, and walked out of sight a second later.

Natima Vando​

 

[Natima Vando]

Location: Naboo
TAG: Leliana
Gear: Casual attire, vibro-knives

Natima had felt the shift in the air before she saw anything, that subtle prickle of awareness along her skin, the way the crowd seemed to part just enough to let a shadow slip through. And then, for a moment, Natima felt as if she had seen a ghost. It was Leliana's old guise, the one she had worn back when they were nothing more than acolytes of the Sith Empire, testing their skills and going on info gathering missions.

Natima didn't follow immediately. She wasn't reckless, nor was she going to let herself be led like some love-struck fool chasing a ghost. But oh, how her heart clenched at the sight of that familiar figure. Her mind working out the possibility of such things, questions coming to her mind.

Leliana was here?

After all this time?

Or…was she just being foolish?

The Shi'ido let a slow, almost amused smile tug at her lips. If Leliana wanted to play, Natima was more than willing to oblige.

Assuming Leliana was here…

She adjusted her coat, taking a measured step forward before slipping into the shadowed alleyway Leliana had disappeared into.

"Always were a tease, weren't you?" Natima murmured, her voice just loud enough to carry into the darkness. Natima set off, intent on following the curious figure, augmenting her senses to fixate on that familiar presence, hoping that she was indeed not vexing herself.

 

[Leliana]

Leliana had to be certain.

She was like ninety-nine percent sure that this was actually Natima, but there was a small part of her that held a measure of doubt. Maybe all that time within the shadows had made her a little paranoid.

Or perhaps she was more afraid of getting her hopes up.

But the moment Natima stepped into the alleyway, her voice, her presence, her warmth. It completely washed away the last lingering doubt that was held in Leliana’s mind. And while she didn’t initially reply to the redhead’s words, the shadows around her seemed to echo, almost like a chuckle.

Around the corner the shadows shifted properly, and as Natima walked around it, she would see Leliana standing there, one of her crows propped up on her arm, while the dark-haired assassin stroked its head.

“Only for you Nat, only for you.”

Natima Vando​

 

[Natima Vando]

Location: Naboo
TAG: Leliana
Gear: Casual attire, vibro-knives

Natima paused for just a moment, taking in the scene before her. The dim alleyway, the ever-present shadows curling at Leliana's feet, the casual way she cradled the tiny creature in her arms like it was the most natural thing in the galaxy.


A soft breath of amusement escaped her lips, a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth.


"I feel honored," She murmured, stepping fully into the space between them.


Her eyes flicked over Leliana—assessing, as always, but this was different. Not scanning for threats, not watching for tells. Just… making sure. Making sure Leliana was really here, that she was whole.


That she was still hers.


Natima let the quiet settle between them for a moment, then nodded toward the crow nestled in Leliana's arms.


"You gonna introduce me to your new friend?"

Part of her was uncertain if this was a dream, and as she slowly inched closer, she fully expected to wake up. For Leliana to just vanish before her eyes.

Please don't be a dream.

She quietly thought to herself.

 

[Leliana]

She stared at Natima unabashedly, taking in everything about the redhead. Most especially those emerald green eyes of hers. That once mesmerized Leliana when they first met, and seemed to still have that effect now.

And within those eyes as a look of gleaning hope, a silent question of whether the raven-haired assassin was truly standing before her.

“Oh, this is just one of my creations…I haven’t really named them.” Leliana replied, gently stroking the crow’s head. “One of many that I had sent out across the galaxy.” Her eyes fell upon Natima again.

To find you.

She watched as Natima stepped closer, just a little bit further. Leliana raised her arm, silently ordering her avian companion to fly up and dissipate into a cloud of black smoke. She then lowered her arm, but stopped to gently place her hand against Natima’s cheek.

“It’s me Nat, I’m really here.”

Natima Vando​

 

[Natima Vando]

Location: Naboo
TAG: Leliana
Gear: Casual attire, vibro-knives

Natima's breath caught for a moment, the warmth of Leliana's hand on her cheek pulling her deeper into the surreal weight of the moment. Her emerald eyes flicked between Leliana's face and where the crow had vanished in a plume of shadow—like something out of a dream she'd never dared believe would come true.

Her voice was quiet, laced with emotion she hadn't yet figured out how to tame.

"I thought I'd lost you in the dark forever…"

She leaned into the touch, her own hand coming up slowly to rest over Leliana's.

"And now you just—show up with a bird made of smoke...and a gaze that still knocks the air out of my lungs."

A soft, breathless laugh escaped her, half in disbelief, half in relief.

"If this is a trick…it's a cruel one." Her voice faltered, but her eyes never left Leliana's. "But if it's real…then don't ever vanish like that again."

She stepped in that last inch between them, letting her forehead rest gently against Leliana's. She had given up and moved so many times in her life, families, children, the like. So many times she had been willing to just cast it aside, and try to move on.

But Leliana was different. So, so, different.

"I missed you so damn much."

That was the understatement of the century.

 

[Leliana]

“I did say I wouldn't stay within the shadows forever…” Leliana replied, her voice soft and betraying an edge of emotion in her tone. Old habits were hard to kick, and even in that moment Leliana found it difficult to display the emotions she was feeling.

Assassin’s weren’t meant to do that, not unless it was to manipulate a target into making themselves vulnerable. Of which, Natima was the furthest thing from Leliana's mind.

But the words were hollow in a way. No matter what was spoken, what promises were made back then. She had still disappeared from the redhead’s life. Someone who had spent more than one lifetime watching loved ones vanish from her life.

The comment about her gaze had Leliana smiling, and blushing a little. “I promise you I’m real, and I’m not going anywhere again.”

Leliana let out a content sigh as Natima stepped closer, gently resting her forehead against hers. It was something they’d always done in the past, a habit introduced by Natima, just to absorb those peaceful moments.

“I missed you too, so very much.”

She pulled her head back slightly, just enough so she could look into the redhead’s eyes searching for several moments.

Before pulling Natima closer, kissing her on the lips.

Natima Vando​