Bad Blood

Chapter 19 - Betting and Alcohol is Not a Good Mix

"Well, I think that went considerably better than expected."

Boba raised a judgemental eyebrow at Astéri as she sauntered back into Slave I. "You blew up half the landing pad."

Astéri slipped off the helmet and smirked. "Exactly. I was expecting to have to blow up the whole landing pad." She thrust the helmet back at Boba, who grasped it, bemused. "Anyways, you can have this back now. Seriously, I don't understand how you wear that thing all day without getting claustrophobic."

Boba shrugged, considering it. "It's not so bad. You get used to it after a time wearing it, probably a bit like that hood and mask you wear. You know?"

Astéri gave a disapproving sniff. "Um, no? It's completely different. For one thing, the mask is breathable, and for another thing, I don't practically live in it."

Boba looked at Astéri's indignant face and managed to hold in his laughter for two whole seconds before he dissolved into giggles. Astéri reluctantly smirked back.

"You have to admit I have a point, though. You wear that bucket a lot. I don't know, you could probably go for ages without taking it off."

A memory surfaced in Boba's mind and he quirked an eyebrow. "You know, I actually did do that once. I was, what, fifteen? I'll tell you about it sometime."

Astéri rolled her eyes. "Sure. I definitely believe you. Don't tell me now though, I have to go pilot this thing." She scrambled up the ladder to the cockpit.

Astéri sank down onto the bunk and sighed, raking her fingers through her hair. It had been a long day; a meteor shower had selfishly decided to cross their path and she had spent hours painstakingly navigating through it when she really could have been on autopilot.

Flopping down onto the mattress, Astéri curled into a ball and closed her eyes.

A cough disturbed her. "You know, I only put you there for while you were unconscious. It's still my bunk."

Astéri cracked open one eye to see Boba standing in front of her, an exasperated smile playing across his lips. "Oh. Shit." She started to move. Boba put out a hand to her shoulder.

"Wait, I was kidding!" He laughed. "You don't actually have to move. Tell you what, that's your bunk now. I can sleep in the cockpit until I get a second bunk installed."

Astéri smiled. "Another bunk? That sounds permanent."

"Well, you are here to stay, aren't you?" Boba frowned in alarm suddenly. "You are staying, right?"

Astéri laughed. "Yes, you idiot! Of course I'm staying. You can't get rid of me that easily." Her brows creased. "But are you sure you're ok sleeping in the cockpit?"

Boba dropped a swift kiss to her forehead. "I'm sure. I actually like doing that once in a while, the view is great. Plus, me and my dad used to do it all the time. It feels nice, you know? Some good memories for once."

Astéri hmm'd in agreement, then put out an arm as Boba was leaving. "Wait, could you stay a while?"

"Hmm?"

"Talk to me for a bit. Please? Just til I fall asleep."

Boba smiled and sat back down. "Sure."

"Tell me about that time you didn't take your helmet off for ages."

Next to her, Boba shifted nervously. "Well-"

"Go on." Astéri smirked. "If you're being awkward then it's probably funny. Spill."

Boba chuckled. "Ok. Fine." He began to tell the story, his low voice soothing Astéri as he ran his fingers through her hair. She began to drift into sleep, not really paying too much attention to what Boba was saying, though it seemed to involve Hondo Ohnaka, a bet, and a hefty amount of alcohol.

"Then-" Boba paused. "You're asleep, aren't you."

Astéri wasn't, but she was on the brink of it. Her eyes were closed as she lay snuggled under the blankets.

She heard Boba sigh before the mattress rustled and she felt him lean down. A kiss brushed across her forehead.

"Sleep well, cyar'ika."

Astéri could just about hear Boba padding across to the ladder and climbing up to the cockpit before sleep finally took her. 

_____

Filler chapter (sorry) but for some reason took ages to write. But we're getting on to some more good bits soon! 

Was gonna put some badass art of Boba fighting or something at the top but then I saw the lil baby Boba art and I was like "screw it I'm having this instead"

The next bits are barely planned, I have no ideas for chapter titles, I've changed my mind about some scenes more times than I want to bother counting and there's stuff about the world building that's honestly just best left unsaid. Can't wait, it's going to be amazing lol. 

And given that I'm a very sadistic writer, you may want to be afraid. Just saying. 

😈

Hope you all enjoyed. 

See ya in the next one! 😜