Private When Its Over

[Holly Starstorm]

The tiny café clung to the edge of one of Coruscant's countless skywalks, its outdoor tables overlooking an endless sea of towers bathed in neon and perpetual twilight. Holly Starstorm sat alone beneath a crimson awning, one boot tapping an impatient rhythm against the durasteel floor.

She checked the time.

Again.

Then pretended she hadn't.

"This was a mistake," she muttered to herself.

It wasn't the café. It wasn't even the idea of meeting someone. It was the fact that she'd somehow let the producers back at Holo News Network wear her down.

"Just one date, Holly."

"You spend more time interviewing senators than talking to actual people."

"You'll thank us."

She already didn't.

Journalism had never left much room for relationships. Chasing leads, verifying sources, dodging government censors, and trying to uncover stories the Sith Covenant preferred to keep buried tended to consume every waking hour. Romance was messy. Deadlines were predictable.

Mostly.

She wrapped both hands around her caf, more for something to do than because she intended to drink it. Every few seconds her gaze drifted toward the crowds flowing along the promenade, wondering if every approaching stranger was her date...and secretly hoping they weren't.

Beyond the rail, Coruscant stretched to the horizon.

She remembered when the city had shimmered with possibility. Loud, crowded, chaotic, but alive. Now the endless skyline seemed swallowed by darker architecture, harsher lighting, and an atmosphere of quiet suspicion. Sith banners hung where Republic symbols once stood. Security patrols stalked the streets with the confidence of predators, and ordinary citizens kept their heads down, speaking in hushed voices.

The city hadn't become silent.

It had become careful.

Sometimes Holly thought Coruscant had transformed into one giant noir holo-drama, a place where every alley promised trouble, every shadow hid a secret, and justice was something people reminisced about instead of expecting. Gotham, if someone had built it a thousand levels high and given everyone speeders instead of streets.

She sighed and stole another glance at the chrono.

Maybe she'd get lucky.

Maybe her blind date wouldn't show up.

Adonis Angelis IV

 

[Adonis Angelis IV]

Coruscant reminded Adonis that cities could be just as intimidating as war.

The planet had changed since the last time the Mandalorian had stepped foot here. Where once the Alliance proudly flew its banners, Sith colors now decorated the alleyways and establishments. They were a constant reminder that complacency is never rewarded in the galaxy. Though tonight, Adonis hadn't come to Coruscant to ponder the state of the galaxy or broker a deal. No, nothing as easy. Instead, he was here on a blind date.

Lys, his personal assistant and friend, had set him up. She had a friend who worked at Holo News Network and knew Holly. So when Adonis made an offhand comment about thinking the reporter was cute, Lys had jumped at the opportunity to play matchmaker. It was a welcome reprieve from the day-to-day responsibilities of being Warden. It wasn't often he found himself with an evening that didn't revolve around politics, war, or business.

There was a voice in the back of his mind that questioned whether going on a date with a journalist was a good idea. He would've been lying if he said he hadn't looked into her beforehand. Holly Starstorm had built a reputation for asking difficult questions, but she asked them fairly. From live coverage of unfolding events to high profile interviews, she'd earned the respect of more than just her viewers.

Hopefully the Warden could keep up.

Turning the corner to where the directions had told him to go, Adonis stepped onto the open promenade. The towering buildings gave way to a rare opening in Coruscant's unending skyline. Towers stretched forever in every direction while only thin shafts of natural light managed to reach the levels below, replaced instead by harsh neon signs that did little to make the evening feel romantic.

For once, Adonis looked less like the Warden of Vaal and more like the man beneath the armor. An ivory henley softened the broad frame usually hidden by layers of beskar, its sleeves rolled to his forearms, while dark trousers and polished boots completed the outfit. The only piece of home he carried was the small gold eight-pointed star hanging from a chain around his neck.

In his right hand rested a single flower. Its petals went from white into soft pink, surrounding a long golden stamen. It had been wrapped in cream paper and tied neatly with a navy ribbon. He made no attempt to hide it as he walked.

His eyes found her almost immediately. She sat beneath the crimson awning just as Lys had described. A cup of caf rested between her hands, though she didn't seem very interested in drinking it. Every so often her gaze wandered toward the passing crowds before drifting back to the chrono on the table.

Adonis couldn't help but smile. Good. She looked just as nervous as he felt.

Crossing the last few meters, he stopped beside her table and waited until she looked up.

"Holly Starstorm?"

A polite smile found its way onto his face.

"I'm Adonis."

His eyes flicked toward the flower before offering it to her.

"I wasn't entirely sure what the etiquette was on Coruscant," he admitted with a quiet chuckle. "On Vaal, showing up empty-handed would've earned me a lecture."

​

 

[Holly Starstorm]

​

Holly looked up as the broad-shouldered man approached her table, and immediately felt a little flutter of nerves in her stomach. He was attractive, and obviously some kind of warrior. Or, at the very least, he was certainly built like one.

When he held out a flower to her, some of the tension left her shoulders. She blinked in surprise before accepting it, a genuine smile spreading across her face.

"Um, hi, Adonis. It's nice to meet you. Thank you." She brought the flower closer and breathed in its scent, grateful for the momentary excuse to collect herself. "This is lovely."

She motioned toward the empty seat across from her, then tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she offered him a slightly awkward smile.

"I'm sorry about all this. I know blind dates can be a little awkward." She gave a small, nervous laugh. "My friend can be pretty pushy, so I hope she didn't bother you too much."

Before she could stumble her way into another apology, the waitress appeared beside the table and turned her attention to Adonis, asking if he would like some caf as well.

Adonis Angelis IV