#karrde

Karrde pulled away, his arm snapping taught behind him with a soft metallic clink. A metal circlet taught around his wrist. He stared, stern face slack in disappointment, as his gaze followed the chain connecting him to the other man.

"Oops." Lando held his arm out, relaxed, to allow Karrde's arm more movement.

Karrde frowned. "Calrissian."

Lando offered him a warm smile, his sharp brown eyes softened into a playful smile. "Don’t worry, don’t worry! I have a spare key."

Karrde's shoulders squared as Lando patted his sky-blue slacks, searching for a key. He continued upward, patting his sides and bright yellow tunic. Lando's megawatt smile faltered, just slightly, just at the corners of his eyes.

Karrde lifted an eyebrow. "Is there a problem, Calrissian?"

"Ahh…"

"You don't have a key, do you."

"Mara must have taken it."

The ever-patient veneer of Talon Karrde's stony face cracked. Lando could hear the puzzle pieces clicking into place. Lando, in all his boisterous glory, felt small under the cold glare of an angered father-figure.

"Now hold on just a minute."

"Don’t."

"She said you knew."

"I don't want to know."