Implacable

At his answer to her question, she let out a quiet sigh of relief. This man was calming, comforting, protective. He understood her, respected her, and valued her abilities. No belittling, no lecturing. Acceptance. Kai Leng was exactly what she needed. A kindred spirit, and a good friend. It hadn’t really crossed her mind that she was the only person he’d allow to see this side of him; she hadn’t seen him interact with many others. But she did know his reputation, and he seemed to treat her with a warmth not often extended. It pleased her in a way that prodded her possessive nature. 

Even the kiss she placed against his cheek, the brief nuzzle against his temple, it was acceptable- even comforting- coming from her. Arms tightened around his small companion, and he made a soft content sound. 

When Leng tugged her into his lap, her cheeks flushed a soft pink, and she squirmed slightly as she got comfortable. “N-no…” she began softly, clearly embarrassed. Then she gave a short little huff, chin tilting up. She could tease, too. “But this seat is much better.” 

Safe? Him? He almost laughed at the notion, but thinking back on what they’d gotten into together, he had protected her - and she had protected him. He could go with that. But only from her. 

He slid arms around her waist and settled her more comfortably, resting his chin on the top of her head. Again. Only for her. 

When he confirmed her suspicions - they were intending to kill their target - she let out a sound of delight. Almost an excited squeal. This was going to be very exciting. Much better than idly handing off a data stick. As he explained their mission, she nodded along in understanding. She didn’t care for the prosthetics, but she liked dressing up, and she rather liked dancing. She hummed softly as they climbed on board the ship. “It sounds fun. I liked playing that. Mm, and the dancing, too. …. You made it easy.”  

He liked working alone. For the most part, he did his best work when alone. Nothing held him back, and he didn’t have to try to tone down his methods for those with weak stomachs or delicate morals. 

Nisha was none of those. She had an odd set of morals that he had yet to truly figure out, but they worked in his favour. She certainly didn’t have a delicate stomach, only a skittishness that reared its head around Krogan- something they didn’t deal with often enough that it wasn’t an issue. 

It was an odd, but enjoyable difference, working with Nisha as compared to working alone. 

“There will be more dancing,” he told her as he sat in his chair, entering their course. 

He saw her lingering, not sitting. Unsure. He made a soft sound so she’d know where he was, a warning, before he slid a hand over the small of her back and gently tugged her closer, pulling her into his lap. 

“Individualism is a disease. “

Independent RP blog for General Brendol Hux.

Semi Selective

OC/AU/SWEU friendly. 

Mun/Muse 21+ with more than a decade of RP experience, 5+ on tumblr.

“Take him out?” Her eyes grew wide with excitement as she processed the words, and she scurried in closer, long fingers reaching for and wrapping around his arm as she spoke in a conspiratorial whisper. “You mean, we get to kill him?”

“Indeed,” he replied, a smile tingeing his voice with amusement. 

His stride didn’t falter as her questions assailed him. He made soft sounds of affirmation to the simple yes or no questions, waiting until she was done to give more complete answers. 

“Yes. I have arranged for Rahna to do your hair, makeup and prosthetics again, and an ensemble has been purchased for you. This is actually an engagement party for our target’s nice, so there will be dancing and music. And yes, we will be taking the same roles as last time,” he explained, helping her onto his ship as they reached the hatch, and putting her bag away, knowing she could find her way to the co-pilot’s seat on her own. 

“We’re heading to Benkenstein again, so you should be familiar with the area. I know you will do well, Nisha- I am looking forward to this mission.”

The excitement couldn’t be entirely hidden, however. As soon as she heard him call her name, she brightened - shoulders straightened, eyes big and round behind her glasses, head turning toward the sound of approaching footsteps. And it wasn’t just seeing him again. There was the mission he’d called her back for. A chance to work alongside him, to learn, and to be of use. 

“Kai.” His name was sweetly spoken, a greeting from a friend. “Of course. I, ah…I am excited. To work with you again. What will we be doing?”

He could sense the excitement practically vibrating through her small frame, and mentally, he smiled. Her eagerness to work with him, to learn, to adapt and grow was one of the things he liked most about her- something he liked indulging her in. 

“We have a very important target to go after. He has resources that Cerberus can make use of, but he refuses to cooperate. So we are going to take him out at his dinner party.”

A small smile finally curled his mouth.

[Msg: -redacted-] Nisha. I am back.

As the familiar voice played over her omni-tool, Nisha’s face lit up. Kai Leng had finished whatever mission he’d been on, and returned to Cronos. That he’d contacted her meant she might have a few days with him before he had to run off again. It wasn’t much, but at least she wouldn’t be lonely. And she’d sleep better next to him, warm and safe. She replied quickly.

[Msg: Nisha] Can I come?

[Mgs: -redacted-] Yes. I have a job for us. I have made the usual arrangements. 

[Mgs: Nisha] OK!

She couldn’t help sounding excited, and she blushed slightly, imagining a rare, low chuckle briefly rumbling in his throat. The ‘usual arrangements’ meant transportation, and she knew exactly what to do. She was off the sofa in an instant, half sipped tea left forgotten on the coffee table. The faster she packed the few things she’d need, the sooner she could be down at the docks and meeting the contact that would take her to Leng. She barely stopped long enough to make sure the android that came with her apartment was alert and ready to take care of her cat while she was away, and she only remembered because the creature had nearly caused her to trip and fall twice as she hurried about. 

She didn’t even bother to let anyone know she was leaving. How could she be bothered, when she was going to meet Kai, and he had an important mission for them to do together? The last one had been fun, pretending to be someone else, and going to a fancy party. Maybe it would be something like that again. Or maybe they’d get to kill something. She was out the door and on a shuttle within an hour.

They had an ambitious plan to carry out, and after how well Nisha had handled their last round of espionage, it was time for something a bit more challenging, and Leng had faith in her abilities in this matter.

“Nisha,” he greeted her, striding forward as she came closer. He didn’t take her hand, or seek to help her away from the shuttle- he knew she was more than capable of handling herself. He might have been more delicate with her before, but he knew better now. 

“You seem so eager to have things in common with me for someone who hates the few similarities we have. Well, you’re welcome to go back in time and make it to where I wasn’t made into a human weapon when I was barely hitting puberty. Take away that then we’d be a lot closer to match up with your own thoughts.” Her hand fell away from her head and she flexed her fingers. Nothing felt entirely right since being packed full of cybernetics and having her brain operated on to give her a better port. 

“We have our similarities, ja, but there is also that point in the road where you veered off left and I went right. And that is why I’m alone on the mountaintop. We are not on equal footing and we never have been. At least not when it comes to what I am. You haven’t had the same shit done to you as has been done to me and amazingly enough I wouldn’t wish it on even you. But I’ll be damned if that’s erased because you want to drag me down so you can feel better about all the changes you’ve had done to keep up with me and the galaxy as a whole.”

There was a pause then before shifting her weight. She could feel the beginning of a migraine coming on, but she also refused to show any weakness at all.

“If you want us on the same level with the implication no one else is on it, too, then getting rid of me would get rid of any kind of equal or near-equal like you seem to need.” The one thing she generally needed was a reason to keep herself in prime shape, to keep improving. But their encounters had only told her one thing– it was never on entirely neutral ground with only themselves. Which was about the only reason she had avoided any killshots. She needed to know she could take him down on her own, without either having a crutch or a team to back them up. Wolves were better in packs, but sometimes she had to do things the awfully human way. The almost conceited way.

He tilted his head, letting her prattle, his expression placid. He knew to let the wolf howl and paw the ground, raise her hackles and posture. He knew just how long to taunt her before she finally lunged with parted jowls. 

“Are you done, yet?” He asked after she trailed off. 

“I will fully admit the galaxy would be equal parts less frustrating and far more boring without you in it. If you were not interfering with Cerberus’s plans, I would be more than happy to continue pitting myself against you. No point in sharpening a blade if you are not going to use it.”

He flicked his visor between his fingers.