Witness Protection Program

[Sage Bane]

The Jedi temple on Ession was a sight to behold. Not only was it a testament to the quiet beauty of Ession architecture representing a rediscovered sense of nature and harmony, but it was also a veritable fortress, containing monolithic chambers that were patrolled at all times of day by powerful Jedi knights. The Ession temple was the sanctuary where Sage Bane took his new friend Bael, more famously known around the galaxy as [member="The Cartographer"]. It was Sage's idea of witness protection program for biologists who had messed with the wrong Yuuzhan Vong overlord. He thought if there was any place in the galaxy that Bael would be safe from the Yuuzhan Vong it was Formation space.

Ushering Bael through the ornate temple halls and lush gardens, Sage bowed his head in respect to the Jedi Knights he passed. He had only begun training here with his Master Rexus and barely knew the temple's other residents, but he supposed he would in time. He still wasn't sure how he felt about all of this Jedi business, but now was not the time to reflect on that. He had a dangerously handsome man to get to safety.

Sage's bedroom was pretty no-frills, but the former slave wasn't used to living in the lap of luxury so it suited him just fine. As they entered, the young man smiled sheepishly at Bael.

"I know the digs probably aren't what you're used to. But it's safe. There is no way Dredge would be able to bring his Yuuzhan Vong armies here." Then he raised an eyebrow as he gave the other man a crooked grin. "So Bael, how did you get tangled up with my brother anyway?"

 

[The Cartographer]

It wasn't a lavish place, that was for sure. Or a very public one. But Bael wasn't a complainer. He was just thankful that he had somewhere to lay low for a while. He followed [member="Sage Bane"] into the small room. "I invited him to a party, and he actually decided to show up. The rest is history," Bael replied with a smile. There was the other thing that he didn't have to complain about. Gorgeous company. He took a seat on the bed and glanced around. "It isn't half bad here, actually. Cozy and secluded. A lot like a vacation."​

 

[Sage Bane]

"I'm not sure what you know about my brother, but he's not what he seems," Sage warned. "He's a cold, calculating man, out to save his own skin above all else. In fact, lately, he's starting to remind me of our father."

As the day began to fade into evening, Sage crossed to the other side of the room and lit a candle so that the flame flickered light into the darkening room. "Cozy is a good way to put it," said the younger Bane, letting his eyes linger over the other man over with a smile. Then he put his hand on his chest in mock chivalry. "I promise I'll do as much as I can to make it comfortable for you while you're here. I know we barely know each other, but anything I can do to make this situation less awkward I'll do."

Sage then rifled around in a cabinet, coming up with a bottle of whiskey and some glasses. "My Master won't like that I snuck these in here, but what he won't know won't hurt him." He poured some whiskey into a glass, trying to hide his shaky hands, telltale signs of glitterstim addiction, and then offered a drink to Bael. "So what's your story? We have a whole lot of time to kill, so we might as well get to know each other, eh?" He flopped cross-legged on the bed and raised his glass with an arched brow.

[member="The Cartographer"]

 

[The Cartographer]

Bael accepted the glass, taking a sip before he responded. "Well, I come from the Lenasin family. Being the sole heir, my parents thought it would be best if they 'molded me into the family's image'. I wasn't so keen on that idea, though. They wanted a politician." He smirked, amused at the memory. His parents were always so perturbed with him whenever he argued or went against their wishes. It did nothing but make him smile. Bael glanced over at Sage, taking a moment to absorb how attractive he was.​

[member="Sage Bane"]​

 

[Sage Bane]

Sage carefully watched the other man's lips as Bael took a sip from his glass. Then he drained the rest of his drink and poured another. "I take it you're from a noble family then?" he asked. Not that it mattered much to him. He had no idea how the other half lived so he was merely curious. "That must have been an interesting upbringing." Sage noticed how Bael was looking at him and it made him blush much like his brother. "You're not human are you?" he said tilting his head coyly. Then he playfully tried to guess the species. "Let me guess...Morellian? No wait, Hapan. You're way too beautiful to be human, Bael."

[member="The Cartographer"]

 

[The Cartographer]

Bael's smile was practically mystical. He jiggled his glass slightly, mixing the small bit of whiskey in it. "So observant. I'm Epicanthrix, actually. 83, and still young. My given name is Baelfire Jareth Lenasin." He chuckled at this. Of all the names he could've received, his had to be Baelfire. It was easy to understand why he just kept it as Bael.​

He smiled wider when he noticed Sage's blush. "So bashful. It's adorable to look at."​

​

[member="Sage Bane"]​

 

[Sage Bane]

"Epicanthrix, huh? That's a shame. You'll be resistant to all of my Force mind tricks," Sage said to Bael mischievously. Then he tilted his head and pursed his lips. "Well have to see if you're immune to other, uh tricks of mine, Baelfire." He put a bit of emphasis on the man's full name, letting the name roll slowly and seductively off of his tongue.

Then he laughed. "I'm not human either, but I didn't get any of my father's Chiss features for what it's worth. The only thing that I share with good old Cryax is this." At that, Sage concentrated for a moment and his brown eyes suddenly flashed to translucent red, then back again. At Bael's statement about his bashfulness, Sage simply stood and quickly crossed the room to the other man.

He moved in closer, lay a hand on the Epicanthrix's shoulder and leaned his head in to let his lips gently graze Bael's earlobe. Then he whispered, "Bashful? Hardly. Would a bashful man do this?" Reaching his hand up to gently intertwine with a few strands of the other man's hair, he tilted his head in and kissed Bael on the lips.

[member="The Cartographer"]

 

[The Cartographer]

The way Sage said his name made Bael feel all tingly inside. But what seriously surprised him was when the man came over and kissed him. His eyes widened immensely, a tiny blush even forming on his cheeks. When all was said and done he had to take a moment to comprehend what had just happened. Sage had just... They had... And it was... wonderful. A tiny grin formed as Bael's eyes changed for the briefest instant to their golden slit-pupil glory. "Ooh, you shouldn't have done that, [member="Sage Bane"] ..." His hands came to rest on Sage's cheeks as he caused their lips to meet again.​

 

[Sage Bane]

When the other man's eyes turned cat-like for a moment, it was enthralling. Worse than a craving for any drug, he wanted to get lost in those amber eyes. Sage yielded to Bael's kisses, and then returned them with more ferocity the second time around, running his hands through the Epicanthrix's hair and biting his earlobe with a pleasant growl. Then Sage pulled away breathlessly, teasing. "I shouldn't have done what, Bael? Did I get in trouble?" Sage bit his lip coyly. "I am a Bane after all. We're not known to be choir boys."

Chuckling softly, Sage crossed over to his dresser. Under his Jedi robe was hidden a small vial wrapped in a dark cloth. He took removed it from the dresser and taking the cloth away, held it up to the flame. The crystal rocks of glitterstim in the vial started to brighten and he turned to Bael with a grin. "I just need a little fix. Then I can demonstrate how bashful I am again."

[member="The Cartographer"]

 

[The Cartographer]

Bael was almost sad to let Sage go. His eyes followed the half-Chiss as he walked over to the dresser to get his glitterstim. There was a new-found hunger in his gaze. "I quite dislike choir boys. Dreadfully dull. That and the robes look much too stuffy." He downed the last of his whiskey and got up to set the glass on the nightstand. He was still wearing the outfit he had on the night the bounty was placed on his head. Changing hadn't been on his priority list when they left the casino for Ession.​

Casually, Bael reclined onto the bed, combing his long-ish bangs with his fingers.​

[member="Sage Bane"]​

 

[Sage Bane]

As Sage let the candle flame activate the crystals until they were ready for ingestion, he kept his gaze trained on Bael. The younger Bane raised an eyebrow and sensually bit his lip again as the Epicanthrix lay on his bed. Then once his drugs were ready, the half Chiss opened up the vial and tossed a few crystals of glitterstim into his mouth, the tiny rocks making a crackling sound on his tongue. The drug hit his bloodstream like a freighter crash. Eyelids fluttering for a moment, Sage felt his hands finally stop shaking, and he let out a long sigh. The young man wasn't quite sure exactly what was going to happen when he ran out of the stuff as Jedi Master Rexus certainly wasn't about to let him go out for more. But that was a problem for another day. Right now Sage had more attractive problems. Like what to do with the beautiful Epicanthrix now lounging on his bed. This was a problem he could get used to.

His eyes glazed, Sage crossed over to the edge of the bed and took a seat there, letting his hand rest gently on Bael's thigh. For a minute he smiled coyly, just enjoying the view. He had alcohol, drugs, and a beautiful man in his room. Sure his idiot half-brother's life and the lives of everyone around him were in grave danger, but Sage couldn't get himself to care too much about that right now. So he made a suggestion. "Speaking of stuffy, you must be ready for a change of clothing. I don't have much in the way of nice outfits, I'm afraid, but I have a few extra Padawan robes that you're welcome to use. I can go out and get something for you tomorrow."

Then moving his hand slowly up the other man's thigh, Sage's mouth slowly spread into a very wide smile. "Or you could just go commando. I certainly won't complain. Although if you do, I must warn you I might have trouble keeping my hands off you, Baelfire."

[member="The Cartographer"]

 

[The Cartographer]

Bael gave Sage a seductive smile. He placed his hand on the half-Chiss's wrist, guiding Sage's fingers to the top of his button-up shirt. "On the contrary, I don't want you to keep your hands off me, [member="Sage Bane"] ." Bael playfully used the other man's fingers to slowly expose his muscled chest, inch-by-inch, button-by-button. Wearing padawan robes for a while actually sounded kind of fun. Seeing as how he had a little Force power, he could pull off the student persona for the time being. But that wasn't his top priority at the moment. Right now, all he wanted was the Bane sitting oh so closely beside him.​

 

[Sage Bane]

Sage's heart raced when his hands were guided over the buttons on the other man's shirt, and eagerly he started unbuttoning Bael's shirt very slowly, with deliberate gestures. Finding it hard to comfortably reach him, Sage crawled over him on the bed, teasingly, then smiling mischievously, took a place next to the other man on the bed. Then he continued removing Bael's shirt, playing with each button for a few moments, so that it took forever. Once he got the the beautiful biologist's shirt open, Sage bit his lip and brushed his hands up underneath it and traced his fingers down his torso. "Fun fact about me," he said with a smirk. "I used to be a former slave. And it was pretty awful," He had a huge smile on his face as he talked, the drugs numbing any pain he'd normally feel at recalling the experience. "But its only saving grace was that I learned alot of tricks." Sage raised his eyebrow timed with the last word in his sentence.

Then as his pulse raced a mile a minute, Sage moved one hand up to the back of Bael's head, grabbing a fistful of hair, and roughly pulling his head back, ran his tongue up the other man's neck. Pulling back with a smile, he finished removing Bael's shirt and then took a very long look at the man. "How can someone as good looking as you even exist?" he said with an appreciative growl.

[member="The Cartographer"]

 

[The Cartographer]

Bael closed his eyes, sighing contently as Sage's tongue trailed up his neck. He chuckled lightly. "Well, when a mommy Epicanthrix and a daddy Epicanthrix feel a special feeling, they decide to make a baby..." He teased. He slid his hand underneath Sage's shirt, first caressing his chest and then moving to his back. Bael pulled him closer this way. "Well, I'm a famous playboy with extensive knowledge of human anatomy. I just happen to have a few tricks of my own." As he murmured this, the hand on the other man's back began to slink downward.​

[member="Sage Bane"]​

 

[Sage Bane]

Sage moaned softly as Bael slipped his hands underneath his shirt. "A playboy, eh?" he said in a low, breathless whisper. "So you're the love 'em and leave 'em type huh, Baelfire. I will try not to get my heart too broken, darling." Then he wrapped his arms around the Epicanthrix, pressing his body closer to the other man's. His own hands began to wander down Bael's back and as he closed his eyes, leaning in for another long, lingering kiss on the lips, he gently raked his nails across the Epicanthrix's flesh.

Then Sage bit his lip flirtatiously and ran his lips up the other man's neck again purring in Bael's ear. "Now show me some of those tricks."

[member="The Cartographer"]

 

[The Cartographer]

((Oo-lala.... :wub: ))​

​

*the following morning*​

​

Bael's eyes opened to the light of the early morning. The candle had burned to a useless pulp. No one had blown it out because they were a bit too busy to do so. He turned his gaze to the young man lying underneath the covers beside him. Sage had certainly had a few tricks up his sleeve, that was for sure. Bael hadn't felt that satisfied in decades. His lips curled into a small, sleepy smirk and he lightly brushed a tendril of hair from the half-Chiss's face. He was peaceful when he was sleeping. Almost innocent-looking.​

[member="Sage Bane"]​

 

[Sage Bane]

The waking light coupled with a figure stirring in his bed slowly roused Sage from a deep and satisfying sleep. For a disorienting second, the half-Chiss felt the familiar drug-induced sensation of waking up in a complete haze, but once the memories of the night before washed over him, he felt a smile creep up on his face. Baelfire Lenasin was much more intoxicating than any spice, of that Sage was sure. Perhaps it was his age or experience, but Bael knew how to do things that even during Sage's times as a slave or a whore, the half-Chiss hadn't encountered. I could get used to this, thought the young man. However he was painfully aware that the alluring Epicanthrix was a nobleman, and his own standing was a more lower caste. The more likely scenario was that Bael would stay with him for a while until he found richer and more powerful friends to help protect him, then Sage would be on his own again. Still, he couldn't help entertaining the fantasy that maybe he could be Bael's kept man for a while, given the off-chance that Baelfire was open to the idea of adopting a stray such as a troublesome Bane.

Sage felt gentle fingers brushing his hair, the other man's touch just as hypnotic as during their unrestrained night of passion. He opened his eyes and drowsily absorbed the beauty of Bael's face and body. Then he draped an arm lazily around the man and pulled him closer. His voice low and gravelly, Sage whispered, "Last night was really something, Mr. Lenasin. Remind me to rescue beautiful Epicanthrix noblemen more often." Nuzzling his face into Bael's neck, Sage lay kisses along the other man's skin and then lifted his head to ask, "Is there anything I can get you this morning? Some food or uh, any other needs?"

[member="The Cartographer"]

 

[The Cartographer]

Bael chuckled lightly. "My needs have been thoroughly met, Mr. Bane. Remind me to let an irresistible Chiss hybrid rescue me more often." He purred, turning so that he could drape his arm around Sage's waist. He stroked the small of the other man's back, planting a small kiss on his lips. "Food sounds nice. But even after I eat, I'll still be hungry...." His eyes flashed again to their gold origins.​

[member="Sage Bane"]​

 

[Sage Bane]

Sage closed his eyes and hitched a breath when Bael brushed his hand up the small of his back. "I wouldn't want you going hungry, Mr. Lenasin. I'm sure I can find some things to satiate you," Sage said with a chuckle. Holding the Epicanthrix in his lanky arms, the Chiss hybrid tilted his head down to gently lay kisses across the other man's well-built chest, teasing his lips down to below Bael's navel then trailing them back up again. Sage raised his head to gaze into Bael's beautiful dark eyes, which soon flashed to golden slitted pupils, the transformation putting Sage under a spell for a moment.

In the back of his mind, Sage knew he had some lessons scheduled with Rexus today, but there was no way he was leaving the gorgeous man in his bed. He gave Bael a crooked grin. "I bet you've got alot of boyfriends back home that miss you, huh, Baelfire? Hope I'm not making anyone angry by keeping you here with me."

[member="The Cartographer"]

 

[The Cartographer]

Bael let out a very soft moan as Sage trailed down his torso. When he came back up, Bael smiled wider. "You would think that surrounding myself with gorgeous boys and girls would eventually end up with me choosing one to keep. But that actually never happened. Sure, I went through a series of complicated relationships. None of them ever ended well, however." He gently caressed Sage's cheek. He lost himself in his features for a moment. So perfect and soft. If it did come down to a choice, Bael was beginning to think that this one may be the one worth keeping.​

[member="Sage Bane"]​