Private What Does It Mean?

[Naamino Zuukamano]

Korriban
Overlooking Valley of Golg
Objective:
Stargazing and Talking about Life

​

So much had occurred in such a such a short period of time— so many developments in both Naami's personal and professional life, so many new baffling emotions to explore. The zabrak had even recently added to his tattoos, with new lines tracing over shoulders, chest, and upper back.

The students of Kor'ethyr had enjoyed a brief respite in their studies for a few weeks, so Naamino and his friends had absolutely made the most of it. There'd been a handful of random excursions into the desert with vehicles of questionable provenance, slightly more time for relaxed socializing, and even a starmetal concert, wherein the zabrak had started the day as a bachelor and ended the evening with a girlfriend.

That beautiful twilight of calm, the brief lull between course and field work that would soon give way to an even more intense and time consuming curriculum was drawing to a close. Naami felt its urgency and was determined to make the absolute most of his last free time before duty and ambition called him back to the grind.

The zabrak had practically begged his buddy to allow him to borrow his speeder, going so far as to promise the peppy mechanic free rein with his personal ship in trade. Unbeknownst to Naami, Haro Aven probably would've agreed to the request simply because he was happy for Lesh and Naami but the boy earned himself a deal anyway.

On the second to last evening before their new round of courses started up, Naami picked up Leshanna Dromar for their stargazing picnic. He'd thought to pack some tasty little finger sandwiches, a few fruit pastries, and a big insulated canteen of hot tea. Naamino had of course also packed two cozy blankets and dressed for the chilly desert evening. Much to his annoyance, he needed to clear space in the luggage compartments of Haro's speeder because the perpetually scattered and messy mechanic had left them full of things that were rattling around and taking up space.

This unforeseen setback only made him three minutes late to pick up Leshanna but he was silently berating Aven for being such a clutterbug. Naami pushed those worries aside and turned to hop off the speeder as it idled, wrapping his girlfriend up in a big hug before he helped her up onto the vehicle.

"I scouted out a spot, scanned it for threats too. We should have a great view and the place all to ourselves," he shared as he got her situated.

Once safely seated and with her arms about him, Naami punched the throttle and took off into the setting sun. He lost himself in the exhilaration of it all for a time, leaning into the turns while tensing and relaxing with the momentum of the ride. They reached their destination in about half an hour, after climbing in elevation a bit to a plateau that in daylight would have a glorious view down into a dune filled valley, but more importantly had an unobstructed view of the night sky.

Naami pulled the speeder next to a small outcropping near the edge of the plateau and silently thanked the gods that it was a perfectly calm, clear night. The zabrak killed the power and made to help Lesh down, watching her curiously, hoping that she was still as thrilled about this idea as she had been before.

 

[Leshanna Dromar]

Naamino Zuukamano​

Leshanna stared at herself in the mirror of her dorm’s washroom, staring quietly at the reflection that looked back at her, ensuring that any beautifications that she had added to her face were tasteful and not overly dramatic. Over the last few months, she had truly begun to favor the more gothic appearance she had seen on some of the girls of the Academy, and while she tried to dress herself in such a manner whenever she could - tonight was not to be one of those nights.

She was going to go stargazing, finally, with her boyfriend - Naamino.

So instead of gothic attire, she was going in her fuzzy and warm sleepwear, though she made sure to add a little bit of cosmetics to her face, mostly kohl to line her eyes and make them stand out a little more, and maybe a touch of black mascara to lengthen her eyelashes and give her a mildly sultry look.

Satisfied with her appearance, Lesh took a deep breath to settle her nerves a bit more. She wasn’t nervous about going stargazing with Naami, she rather looked forward to it with barely contained excitement. But the real reason for her nerves was the fact they had been growing closer to one another since that amazing day of the concert, and she had truly started to feel stronger emotions for him, stronger desires to be closer to him, do more things with him…and just experience life. Part of her wondered if he was feeling the same strong feelings as she was…and if any of that would reveal itself while they were out on their date. The thought of the possibilities made her stomach flutter with butterflies, and she shook her hands as if in a gesture to shake away some of the excited anxiousness.

Turning away, Lesh walked back into her room and grabbed her backpack which she had stuffed with extra clothes and a cloak for just in case, and of course nestled within her clothes was her purple droid that Haro had made for her. She hardly went anywhere without her little companion, and she and the spider-like droid were forming their unique bond. Without further ado, Leshanna slipped into her travelling boots then headed for the door to go meet up with the zabrak who had so thoroughly stolen her heart, along with her other boyfriend, Haro Aven .

Lesh knew she was a very lucky gal and sharing in a very special and unique circumstance - for it wasn’t everyday that a young lady could say she had two boyfriends who both knew each other, and were best buddies themselves. They were the Trio, inseparable, and so very close to one another. And the boys worked together to ensure that she was very well taken care of and spoiled beyond belief, and in turn she did everything she could to make sure they both felt as appreciated by her as she could manage. But, it didn’t mean their circumstances didn’t have its challenges. Both young men were unique and different from one another, and Leshanna learned that she had to adjust and interact with them in different ways.

With Haro, who was more energetic and uplifting and cheerful, she was a bit more coy and flirty and carefree as he seemed to bring that out of her whenever they were together. And with Naamino, who was more reserved and stoic and warrior-like, she felt more bold and even assertive around him - and she found that she always enjoyed his reactions whenever she would surprise him with her daring nature.

She mused once more to herself as she made her way towards the meeting point that she would do anything for them. She’d fight any battle, walk the extra mile, and sacrifice of herself for them both. But she also kept her Mentor's cautionary words in mind: be free to live life and explore her passions, but take care not to let her emotions be used against her, or be too open about her attachments. It was still something she was trying to understand and wrap her mind around, if she was being honest with herself.

All of those thoughts and musings fled from her though the moment she spied her favorite Zabrak aboard what appeared to be Haro’s speeder, and a huge smile crossed her face as her eyes lit up with excitement upon seeing him. He hopped off and immediately wrapped her up in a powerful and warm embrace that made her so content and happy inside, before he released her to help her aboard the speeder, sharing that he had found the perfect spot for their excursion, before he hopped back on himself.

Soon, they were zipping off and out into the cold Korribani desert to commence their stargazing picnic date, and Lesh scooted as close as she could to his back and leaned against him as she wrapped her arms around his midsection. The ride wasn’t too long, perhaps half an hour at most, and the young man guided the craft to a plateau that gave a stunning view of the night sky above them. Naami brought the speeder to a halt by an outcropping and killed the power before turning to help Lesh hop off, watching her carefully as if trying to gauge her reactions to the special place he had chosen for them.

Awe was written all over her face as her eyes scanned the surroundings, noting just how quiet and calm it was - a rarity, especially on Korriban, whose winds normally added an extra layer of chilly discomfort.

“Wow…this is…amazing.” Lesh exclaimed softly as she cast her gaze up to look upon the trillions of glittering little gems in the sky above their heads, before she turned her happy and excited smile back to Naami. “You picked the perfect spot, Naami! Oh I am so excited for this!”

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

He'd been so focused on preparing for the evening, picking up Lesh and staying on mission that he'd failed to properly look her over. Now that Naami was observing her every little move, reading into the expressive way she emoted her excitement, the zabrak was struck by just how lovely she looked beneath the starlight.

She was dressed in a practical manner but it didn't take away from how downright adorable and gorgeous she was. For his part, Naami had also chosen practical clothing— the recently obtained Tuk'ata Tears poncho with a black base layer of joggers and long sleeve shirt beneath.

Her bright and excited words made him swell with pride. Leshanna was happy with him, he'd chosen perfectly and her eyes turned upward in awe at the natural spectacle above them.

Naami stepped closer to her, as if drawn by gravity and unable to pull his own gaze away. Large, calloused hands encircled her waist gently and the zabrak silently leaned in to steal a soft kiss. The movement was slow and deliberate, painstakingly tender, as if he was both shy and desperately wanting more. One of his hands traveled up her back and he broke the kiss only so he could hug her tightly again.

"I'm so glad," came the low murmur.

He knew he needed to get their little spot set up, and eventually broke away with an almost drunk looking smile pulling the edges of his mouth. Naami mumbled something about unpacking a few things and reluctantly moved toward the speeder again. The zabrak made quick work of tucking the rolled blankets under one arm and retrieving their picnic items with the other.

Setting up so they would have some wind protection from the rocky outcropping if needed, Naami carefully laid out the blankets and set down the pack of treats. Once satisfied that everything was neatly arranged he turned to her once more. The zabrak was still a bit stiff and sore from recent tattoo work, but a sudden exhilaration washed over him and energized his movements.

Leshanna was scooped up and spun gently beneath the stars, one strong arm supporting her back while the other hooked under her legs. Naami dipped her a bit after the spin, reveling in the glee between them, enjoying the way her hands tightened on him in the thrill of it all.

"Let's get cozy, yeah?" He asked while carrying her over to their little nest.

Carefully, he lowered himself onto his knees while still holding her close. Once settled in, Naami loosened his hold a bit so she could move however she wanted. The zabrak was both distracted by how enamored he was, but could also feel nerves creeping back. He'd been needing to talk to her, to clarify some things… and no time had felt right. Before things got busy with training again, he knew he needed to pluck up the courage.

"We've got little sandwiches, some herbal tea, and pastries," Naami pointed to the pack, "And I've uploaded some star charts onto my datapad, in case we wanna know what clusters we’re looking at."

He was stalling, he knew, afraid to get too serious too fast— worried that he would ruin the beautiful moment that was clearly making her so happy. Naami found her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, deciding at the last moment to lift it to his face so he could kiss it.

"Thanks for being here, Lesh," he murmured shyly.

 

[Leshanna Dromar]

Naamino Zuukamano​

Leshanna’s attention shifted from the stars above her head to the young Zabrak man who had stepped closer to her to settle his hands on either side of her waist, his blue eyes intent upon her face with an expression that told her exactly what he wanted - and a heartbeat later, he stole a soft and gentle kiss from her. Lesh leaned against him and enjoyed the moment of tender affection he lavished upon her, a smile curling upon her lips when the kiss ended and Naami drew her against him in an embrace, one that she returned as she wrapped her arms around him. She felt yet again that deep ache in her chest, as if the tenderness they both felt for one another was like a knife into her chest.

She inhaled deeply and exhaled in contentment when he indicated that he was glad that she approved of the spot he’d chosen for them both, closing her eyes briefly as his scent drifted across her senses, momentarily making her brain feel a little fuzzy. The hazy feeling faded away when the Zabrak finally broke away from her to begin setting up their spot for the night, ensuring that everything was perfectly laid out for maximum comfort. Lesh watched him, feeling torn between helping him or just letting him do his own thing, before she elected to let him set up their spot the way he wanted it. As he did so, she would gaze up into the night sky, eyes flickering over the various glittering stars that were laid out against the inky blackness of space.

Lesh was still looking up into the sky when Naamino suddenly wrapped his arms around her in a burst of energy and swept her up off her feet, eliciting a playfully surprised scream from her that quickly dissolved into laughter as he dipped her slightly, forcing her to grab a hold of him with a death grip with the slight fear of falling out of his strong grasp - though she knew that he would never do such a thing to her.

"Let's get cozy, yeah?" Naami said to her as he carried her over to the nest he had made for them both, and the girl was still laughing when he knelt on the blankets to release her. Lesh pondered with a wide and sweet smile on her face just how tender the warrior Acolyte was with her. She’d felt and seen his raw strength in action before, and even felt it from time to time during their spars - though she was almost positive he went “easy” on her so he wouldn’t accidentally hurt her. Just thinking about how powerful he really was, while being so incredibly gentle with her, made her feel yet another ache-like tug in her chest and belly.

Leshanna lounged on the blanket as her boyfriend pointed out all the little goodies he’d brought for them both - sandwiches, pastries, and hot tea to ward off the chill - along with some star charts to look at should they desire to learn what star constellations they were looking at. The girl, however, noticed that he seemed ever so slightly…nervous, about something. She could sense it in his aura, and it made her eyes narrow ever so slightly in curiosity. Despite his stoic warrior nature, he had moments of incredibly shyness, especially when around her. But this was beyond shyness - something was bothering him.

Naamino took hold of her hand and squeezed it with his own, before lifting it to his lips to plant a kiss upon the somewhat chilled skin on the back of her hand, and once again she felt that strange tug behind her navel, as a little bit of a tingle danced across her skin.

"Thanks for being here, Lesh,"

She smiled at him once more, genuine happiness filling her heart to the point where she felt like it might burst.

“Thank you for taking this time with me, Naami - before life gets crazy again.” she murmured back to him in her soft voice. She searched his face for a moment, before her eyes drifted over the rest of him, noticing the Tukata Tears poncho and immediately, memories of her time with both him and Haro at the concert and the following camping trip flooded her mind.

Memories she would cherish forever.

“You look so good in that Tears poncho, by the way. Really suits you…” She said with a more playful smirk, knowing that her compliments would elicit a reaction from him, and she loved to watch the way he melted to such words and praise.

“I’m…so happy to be here with you right now. Just you and me, and the stars!” the girl exclaimed as she turned over to lay on her back, resting her head against his leg. She glanced once more at the sky, then upwards at him, a playful and coy smile tugging at her lips as her dark blue eyes glittered almost mischievously.

“Alright, Naami…what’s going on with you? And don’t tell me it's nothing, I can sense a disturbance in your aura from a mile away.”

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

Still riding the high from her laughter and the grip on his shoulders, Naamino balanced the incredible sensation of just spending this time with her and solemnly accepted the weight of his uncertainty. He was temporarily pulled out of his thoughts when Lesh complimented his fit and the zabrak gave a warm grin.

He puffed up visibly after the compliment and blinked thoughtfully about the sudden rush of energy that zinged through him as she exclaimed once more how glad she was to be there. Naami would have happily veered off course to marvel in the night sky but Leshanna could tell something was going on with him and wouldn't let him off the hook so easily.

Darker blue met lighter blue and though darkness had fully enraptured them, there was enough starlight to illuminate the blush spreading across the ridge of Naami's cheekbones. He brought one large hand to rest on the side of her face, fingertips tracing smooth skin as he considered how to say what needed saying.

"Well— Lesh, you are… you're one of my best friends," his mouth twisted with uncertainty and he huffed out a nervous breath as he averted his eyes from hers.

"You're seriously so important to me, and now you're my girlfriend. Which I'm really excited about and grateful for!"

The words came soft but emphatically, his voice low and full of emotion.

"That night of the concert… it feels like everything changed, definitely for the better but also in a way that— it's like I'm just not sure what to expect now. Plus, we both know we're about to get so busy again."

Naami seemed to recognize he was rambling, his large warm hand cupped her face and he found her eyes again. Finally feeling able to take the leap and ask the question on his mind.

"Lesh, what does it mean?"

He took a steadying breath, the mild ache of freshly healing tattoos reminding him just how fast time seemed to be moving. Soon enough the concert, and even this night, would be a memory as the blur of their responsibilities consumed them once more.

"What does it mean to be a good boyfriend to you? I… honestly Lesh, I've never been more worried about messing something up in my life and it's embarrassing I even have to ask— but I need to do this right."

Naami had finally come out with it, even going so far as to admit his fears. It felt like there was a full grown tuk'ata sitting on his chest, but at least he'd finally let Lesh in on his inner thoughts.

 

[Leshanna Dromar]

Naamino Zuukamano ​

The teen girl watched Naami’s face, noticed the blush creeping across his features after she had so pointedly asked him what was bothering him. He lifted a large hand to gently cup the side of her face, running his thumb over her cheek. Despite his hands being rough, his touch was so gentle and light, and it made her smile warmly as she rested her face into his palm a little more, giving him time to say what he needed to say.

Lesh listened intently as Naami began to speak, her eyes never leaving his so he knew he had her undivided attention. He told her that she was one of his best friends, and more than that now - a girlfriend - something he was so grateful for and excited about. The young Zabrak went on to say that he felt like something changed the night of the concert, and for a very brief moment, Leshanna felt a stab of fearful uncertainty in her gut.

He…didn’t regret any of this did he?

No, if he had he wouldn’t have sent her the poem, wouldn’t have kissed her, wouldn’t have taken her out on this little stargazing date night with him.

She pushed her concerns aside to listen further, and soon the truth began to reveal itself as he explained further the thoughts in his head. He caught her eyes once more as he continued to cup her face in his hand, then asked the question that had been bothering him.

He let the question hang between them for a moment - what did it mean - before he elaborated further for her.

"What does it mean to be a good boyfriend to you? I… honestly Lesh, I've never been more worried about messing something up in my life and it's embarrassing I even have to ask— but I need to do this right."

Naamino’s nervousness was clear to her, and hearing him lay out his heart in such a way softened her in a way she didn’t expect. To mirror his own gentle touch on her face, Lesh lifted her own hand to his cheek and gently traced the tattooed marks there, her smile widening further for a moment in an effort to ease whatever anxiousness he felt.

She pulled her hand away from his face to reach for his hand, giving it a quick kiss before setting it in her lap.

“Naami…you are already doing everything that a good boyfriend does. In fact, it’s not just good, it's amazing. All I desire…is for you to be there with me, in the good and the bad times. To be my support, to have my back, kick my ass when I need it.” She paused briefly to smile wider with the touch of humor, before she continued. “I am so happy with you. More than that, I feel more confident, brave, and attractive. I hold my head higher now, because of you…and Haro.”

She lowered her eyes to their entwined hands in her lap for a moment, licking her lips to wet them as she let her thoughts roll through her mind.

“Am…am I a good girlfriend to you, for you?” she asked Naami suddenly, her voice soft and vulnerable - echoing the same anxious energy he did only a moment prior. She lifted her gaze back to his, her face open and her eyes a touch wide. “Is there anything I could do better in? Are you happy with me?”

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

When the raven haired girl sat up to face him, Naami welcomed her into his space by throwing one leg wide and gesturing for her to scoot close. Her smile put him somewhat at ease and the kiss to his hand sent a welcome chill up his arm.

Listening intently, his face was all soft stern seriousness up until she made the quip about ass kicking. Naami's eyes went wide with shock for a moment and his ears pulled back a bit as his jaw clenched. He huffed a little nervous laugh when her mischievous smile gave away that it was mostly a joke.

Suddenly her beautiful features changed, and the brave self assured girl before him seemed less than confident. Naami's brows drew together in a show of concern, it felt like his hearts were plummeting into his stomach. Before she even finished speaking he was reaching to pull her toward him more, practically pulling her into his lap so he could wrap his arms around her.

"Oh Lesh… you've been amazing, you are amazing. This isn't about you doing something wrong."

His voice nearly broke from the emotion of what he said next and he nuzzled his face into her hair.

"Lesh you make me so happy… it's kinda scary… the thought of messing that up? I can't— I won't let you down."

A promise he had no idea how to keep. But he meant it with every fiber of his being.

Naami pulled away just enough to catch her eye, still deeply uncertain but doing all he could to show her just how serious he was about this all.

"Being good to you is the most important thing in my life aside from my oath to the Order. It's… it's just as important as that. Ok? Our responsibilities and sponsors will ask a lot of us, we both know that. But— Lesh, I need you to know that I want to be at your side through it all and have your back like you said. You're…"

You're a treasure.

You're the most precious thing in my life.

No, he couldn't go there yet even though his chest ached with words withheld. In truth, he had no idea what the Order would ask of them in the coming months or years and so he withheld assumptions about how that might play out for them. If he already felt like this about her though? No telling what the future might bring. He was worried, not for the first time, that he was different than his peers in the wrong way.

Broken. Too much. Not enough.

The zabrak sighed and finally finished his thought for the time.

"You're more wonderful than I thought possible and you make me want to be my best. The best I can be for the Order… but more importantly, the best I can be for you."

Heresy by the measure of some, the kind of talk insubordinates engage in surely. He didn't care and that was the beauty of them being alone in the desert. It could be their little secret.

 

[Leshanna Dromar]

Naamino Zuukamano​

Naami drew her in closer to him, even while she was still speaking, wrapping his arms around her in a close embrace as he assured her that she had been amazing thus far, and that she hadn’t done anything wrong. It was good to hear him say such a thing and it helped ease any concerns that lingered.

"Lesh you make me so happy… it's kinda scary… the thought of messing that up? I can't— I won't let you down." Naami murmured into her hair, and the teen girl wrapped her arms around him and held on tightly. She was practically sitting in his lap, but she hardly cared about that. She found safety and comfort in being so close to him, and she exhaled a heavy breath.

The zabrak pulled away and caught her gaze with his, and she could see the serious look upon his face and in his blue eyes. The moment between them was as serious as it was connecting, and it made Leshanna love him even more for it.

"Being good to you is the most important thing in my life aside from my oath to the Order. It's… it's just as important as that. Ok? Our responsibilities and sponsors will ask a lot of us, we both know that. But— Lesh, I need you to know that I want to be at your side through it all and have your back like you said. You're…"

Lesh’s lips parted ever so slightly as she blinked in mild shock upon hearing such from him. She was just as important to him as his oath to the Order?! That…she knew was significant, especially coming from him. And then to hear him say further that he wanted to be at her side through everything and have her back? Her heart stuttered in her chest, for she knew that - at least right now - it was probably the closest thing to an I love you that she was going to get from him.

Naamino paused, as if trying to find the right words or phrasing for what he was trying to tell her. Lesh shifted ever so slightly so that she was a bit more snuggled upon his lap, and able to rest her head on the front of his shoulder, waiting patiently for him to finish. The young man sighed as he finished telling her what was on his mind. "You're more wonderful than I thought possible and you make me want to be my best. The best I can be for the Order… but more importantly, the best I can be for you."

A gentle smile curled on Leshanna’s lips as she acknowledged and absorbed what he told her. It was like he had shared a deep secret with her, one that she would treasure and hold close to her heart. For several heartbeats, the young woman was quiet, simply looking over his face that was revealed in the starlight. She couldn’t help herself, and she leaned in to give him a quick but gentle kiss.

“I know…that the future is uncertain, Naami. And I want you to know that I…cherish you. Just like you want to be the best for the Order, for me, I too want to be the best for you, for Haro…for the Order too, I guess.” She smiled slightly at that, her playfulness coming through.

Lesh shifted once more in Naami’s lap, making sure she was sitting so she was looking directly at him, her arms draped over the top of his shoulders - allowing them to be close, a hair’s breadth away from each other’s faces. Her expression was somber, though. Serious and intent, instead of flirty or coy.

“You are…one of the best things that has ever happened to me, Naami. You fill me with pride; I’d go to war for you, you know that right? I’d fist fight a whole pack of tuk’ata for you.” She smirked then, a touch playful, before she returned to being a bit more serious. “Thank you…for trusting me enough to be open about how you felt. It…makes me feel closer to you. Please…don’t be afraid to tell me what's on your mind or your hearts, Naami. I want to know, so I can be the best I can be for you, because that is important to me too.”