DEFECTED | cal kestis ✔️

xvii. who says we have to?

As TN slept in his arms, Cal ran his fingers through her and gently brushed them against her skin. The girl stirred in her sleep, but she only moved to drape her arm over his chest and breathe deeply. Cal moved too, tightening his hold on the girl and pressing his lips to her forehead.

Years ago, I wouldn't believe myself if I was told I'd call a former stormtrooper my friend and the girl I love. Cal thought in slight humor, a small amused grin on his face.

TN started to open her eyes as she looked up at him, a her brows scrunched together and squinting. She quickly went back to sleep and rolled over, her back now facing Cal rather than the wall. Her shirt shifted, revealing part of a jagged scar which peeked out from her collar. He reached forward, gently moving her shirt and touching it. The scar looked like it was from a lightsaber.

He sat up quickly and quietly, glancing over his shoulder to make sure TN did not wake up or show any signs of stirring. He stood up, stretched out his arms and back, and retrieved his belongings on her nightstand. He clipped his lightsaber to his belt and slid his poncho back on.

TN hummed in her sleep before mumbling incoherently. He watched in amusement as the girl dreamed. He leaned down, gently kissing her cheek before leaving her room.

Cere and Greez were chatting in the cockpit, BD-1 with them. Cal walked over and sat in his cockpit chair.

"Where's TN?" Cere asked.

"She's sleeping, but I'm letting her stay Ike that. She needs it."

"I agree." The woman replied before turning to face him. "We received a transmission from Mari on Kashyyyk. She found Tarfful and he's willing to talk."

Cal grinned, happy that something out of this mission was working in his favor.

"All right, then let's to Kashyyyk."

+ + +

TN woke up in a panic, her breathing heavy and sweat beading on her forehead. The other scar on her back tingled as the girl thought about her dream.

Why do I keep seeing Cal as an Inquisitor? Is...Is the Force trying to tell me something?

She shook her head, scoffing at the idea. She did not believe in Force, even if there were two users of it with her. Speaking of Force sensitives...

She looked to where Cal was, but she was met with an empty space. The blankets were a bit rumpled from him and she could faintly smell what he smelled like: leather, oil, and a hint of something minty. She got out of bed, adjusting her shirt and fixing her hair before walking out. She rubbed her eyes and yawned as she poured herself a glass of blue milk and grabbed a muffin.

"Hello, TN." Cere greeted as she walked back into the ship. The girl turned around, eyeing the outside and recognizing it as Kashyyyk.

"Hi. Where's Cal?" She asked and bit into her muffin.

"He's with Tafful. He should be back soon, hopefully."

She nodded and walked past her, slipping on her discarded boots and going outside. The landing pad was no longer blazing and on fire, but it was smoldering and smokey. TN walked out to the grassy area and sat in the shade, the coolness of the breeze making her sigh in relief. For a moment, she felt at peace and relaxed. The other she felt like this was when she kissed Cal.

The kiss...

A blush surfaced on the teenager's face as she thought about Cal's lips how soft they were; his strong hands gripping her hips and lightly touching her skin; the feeling of his hair in her fingers...

Yup, I'm a dork...

"Hey, T!"

Cal ran up to her, smiling and a light blush was on his cheeks.

"Hey, Cal. Did you find anything useful so we can finally be done with this?"

"I did. The Astrium, a device to get the holocron out of the Vault, is on Dathomir. I had to fight the Ninth Sister to learn that."

TN stood up, a grin on her face. "You fought the Ninth Sister? I'm guessing you won?"

"Yeah, I did."

Walking closer to her, he leaned in and kissed her so gently it was as if she would break. TN placed her hand on his face, fingertips tracing his scars. Cal traced hers too, making her retract slightly.

"I saw another one on your back." He said to her softly as he pulled away.

TN tensed as the memories of receiving not one but two lightsaber slashes on her back. It was an accident when the marks were given to her. She angered the Ninth Sister by getting in the way and messing up her kill.

"There's two. As the Ninth Sister said, 'I earned them'. I got in the way, and she kept swinging anyway."

Cal shook his head. "No, you didn't. You didn't deserve that at all."

TN chuckled wryly. "Kind of did. We were after a couple Jedi when it happened."

The two stayed silent, Cal holding her hand and TN remembering her days as a stormtrooper.

"We should get going if we're going to Dathomir." She said and let go of his hand. Cal nodded and followed her, his brows furrowing when a thought came to him.

"Hey, um, since we're together, what are we going to tell Cere and Greez?"

She turned around, a goofy grin on her face. This made him laugh in amusement as she shrugged and shoved the rest of her muffing in her mouth.

"Who says we have to?"