"Wow," she murmured, "You really know how to hold a grudge."
He turned to her just slightly. She was stood to his right, so the long, deep scar which ran down his face from above his eye through his lips and over his chin was painfully visible, as was the twist of darkness which had colored his right eye ever since the assassination attempt.
"I'm learning." He stated, and the quiet tone of his voice did nothing to dispel its menace.
They walked on in silence, Mara having nothing to say against that, on edge in a way she associated far more with being around the Emperor than with Skywalker.
She didn't mind it particularly; in fact she rather liked it. She was used to being around men of power and Skywalker was becoming just that, slowly beginning to take his place, flexing his authoritative muscles as he worked to reinforce- to earn his position as the Emperor's second-in-command. He was becoming a force to be reckoned with, both in Court and in the military arena, and she was fascinated by the gradual shift; drawn in rather than intimidated by the man he was becoming.
It occurred to her for the first time to wonder where she fit into all this- from Skywalker's perspective, rather than the Emperor's. Yes, she was here by the Emperor's command, but she'd seen many times what Skywalker did to those he didn't wish close, whether the Emperor approved or not. No; more and more lately, she realised that she was here by Skywalker's sanction as much as Palpatine's - and she wanted to know why.
Because she was realising just how important that was to her; that she wanted to remain right where she was. In fact... she wanted to get closer.
They stepped into the turbolift and Luke keyed for the bridge, staring ahead blankly, thoughts obviously elsewhere.
"Quiet?" Mara said at last, bringing his head round to her.
"Hm?"
"You're quiet."
He seemed to consider that for a moment, then turned to look straight ahead again without reply.
"Know what your problem is... you need to get out more." Mara said casually without looking round.
"Thank-you," he replied dryly, "I'll bear that in mind."
"Maybe a little company." she elaborated, steadfastly refusing to take the hint. "Not one of those airhead little fripps who hang around in Court batting their carefully-curled eyelashes at you, you understand. They're just a waste of space."
"You're all heart." Luke said, the slightest hint of amusement coloring his voice now, knowing she was trying to draw him out, though he didn't look round.
"Please," Mara dismissed, "You wouldn't look twice at them. You don't; I've watched you."
"Really?" He turned at that, affecting a suddenly-interested air at her claim, "And that would be because...?"
Mara ignored his teasing tone, "They're decorative, I guess. But I don't think you go for that. I think you like the type that has a little something between her ears - which basically puts all of them out of the running. Too much inbreeding in the Royal Houses if you ask me. Plus they're a little too eager; kinda like shooting fish in a barrel."
Luke glared at her, eyes widening slightly in mock offense to hide his amusement, but it only egged her on. "Oh come on- half the women in Court would climb over their dead grandmother to make you notice them."
"That's not actually a selling point." Luke said, "And anyway, they'd climb over their dead grandmother to get The Heir to notice them. I just happen to inhabit the same space."
"What you need is a challenge." Mara continued, flashing a sideways grin without meeting his eye.
He glanced away, but she knew that he was trying hard to disguise the half-smile that was turning the edge of his scarred lips up. "I'm flattered you've put so much thought into it."
"What are friends for." Mara said with an elaborate shrug, carefully not looking round as she saw his head turn to her at the categorization.
He held silent for long seconds, then looked forward again, "I didn't know they were for this."
"Well you don't seem to be getting very far on your own." Mara countered, enjoying the banter now, very much aware of the fact that they were suddenly charting new territory.
"I didn't know I was being judged, either." Luke countered easily, eyes on the turbolift display.
Mara turned, arching her eyebrows, "I haven't seen anything to judge yet."
"Maybe if you'd clarified that you were waiting..."
"Maybe if you'd..."
Without a second's warning, the lights in the turbolift all fell to darkness and it lurched to an instant stop, Luke reaching forward to steady Mara as she put her own hands out, her heart skipping a beat, her equilibrium lost at the rapid deceleration.
For a moment they remained still, eyes struggling uselessly to adjust to the absolute black of the enclosed space, Luke's hand still to Mara's arm, one of her hands against the wall, the other clutching Skywalker's outstretched arm. Luke moved slightly in the darkness, so close that Mara could feel his breath rustle her hair as he began to speak, then she felt his other hand brush lightly against her waist, touching on her hip-
"Now w..." Luke's words were lost beneath Mara's lips as she leaned in from the darkness, one hand to his cheek...
And kissed him.
Chapter 14
On impulse, given a reckless daring by his sudden closeness and the anonymity of the pitch black within the stilled turbolift, Mara stood on tip-toe, reaching up to touch his face, raising her chin to his, his breath warm against her as she leaned in... and kissed him.
For a second - just a moment - he leaned in toward her and the radiant burst which coursed through her in the darkness was brighter than anything mere light could conjure...
Then he pulled away, hand still to her shoulder though he didn't step back - and his tone when he spoke seemed laced with genuine surprise. "What are you doing?!"
"Couldn't you tell?" Mara teased, still flush with courage by the cloak of absolute dark and by his apparent actions.
There were several long seconds of silence in which Mara could practically hear Skywalker trying to pull words and thoughts together...
"...Now?!..." was all he could finally muster.
She leaned back just slightly, a terrible thought occurring, making her stomach churn; "You didn't turn the lights off and stop the turbolift...?"
Another long silence; "....No."
Mara's lips made an 'ohhh' shape in the dark. In the silence that followed, she realized that they were still stood very close and she was still holding his arm... and he was still holding hers.
"Well then where was your hand?"
"On your arm... where did you think it was?"
"The other one." Mara said flatly, unamused.
There was another short silence in which Mara knew Luke was putting it all together; "I was reaching for your comlink... on your belt."
She shook her head slowly in the darkness - of course! He never carried a comlink; always used someone else's... "Ah."
They remained silent for a few more seconds before something occurred to her; "Why are you still holding my arm then?"
He let go quickly and she heard a rustle of movement as he took a step back.
"Your com's not working." He said, sidestepping the question completely.
Though the very fact that he had it proved he wasn't making all this up, she knew. Small comfort. She felt- sensed- that distant attunement in the back of her mind which she'd come to recognize as his reaching into the Force.
"This is shipwide." There was an edge in his voice now, everything else forgotten, and Mara again glanced pointlessly around in the pitch black.