A Good Thing
They walked silently. Laura's face showing indifference as Carmilla's showed frustration. They had been doing odd jobs all day for the local law enforcement, and not once had they spoken to each other.
"I'm sorry, alright?!" the brunette finally caved. Laura stopped walking and slowly turned to look at her.
"Okay? Is that supposed to be enough to make it all better? Because it isn't for me."
"Hey, I was hurt too."
"I was trying to understand something. You were trying to make me feel bad," Laura explained simply.
"Because I suck. This is old news, princess. Ex-dark Jedi, remember?"
Images of the memory she had dreamed flashed before her eyes. Meaningless violence. Hate. Anger. "Yeah, that's kinda hard to forget right now," the blonde answered as she crossed her arms over her chest; hugging herself in discomfort.
"It was a long time ago."
"Would you do it again?"
"What?" Carmilla replied, taken off guard.
"Would you kill all of those people again?"
"That's... a complicated question," she reluctantly answered. The Jedi huffed and shook her head as she turned to continue walking.
Carmilla jogged to catch up to her. "I know it was wrong! But-"
"But what?!"
"Laura," she said much softer than the blonde anticipated; a hand grabbing her wrist to stop her from moving any further. A shiver secretly ran up the Jedi's spine. Their eyes locked intensely. "You know me. You might be a little misguided with your expectations, but if I say it's complicated, even as the person I am now, you gotta know there's a reason," she explained gently; almost desperately.
"Then tell me," Laura urged without her previous aggression.
Carmilla opened her mouth to respond.
"Miss Hollis! What a lovely coincidence! Are you enjoying the exceptional weather as well, or am I impeding on important business?" Vordenburg asked simply.
Carmilla pulled away immediately. Laura frowned. The pilot wasn't a polite person in general, but they were in the middle of having a conversation. To completely disconnect seemed odd. And knowing Carmilla's confusing dislike for Vordenburg, Laura was even more aware of the atmosphere.
"Just seeing the sights, Supreme Chancellor," she answered with a polite smile.
"Did I interrupt something? Your companion seems distraught..." he questioned with more intuition than the Jedi expected.
"What? No! She's just tired. We've had a long day."
Carmilla scoffed as she crossed her arms over her chest. Vordenburg eyed her suspiciously.
"Is there anything I can do for you, Supreme Chancellor?" Laura pressed with a forced smile.
"No, my dear. Just seeing you has brightened this already delightful day," he charmed.
"Vordie, this is the last time I'm paying the check for at least a month. Stop being so stingy, you old-" the woman mocked as she exited the restaurant. She paused when her eyes locked on Laura and Carmilla.
The Jedi was in awe of her fabulous attire. She spoke and carried herself as if she was on a completely different level than everyone else. And as far as Laura knew, she could be. She had an air of confidence about her that took over the atmosphere and she had only appeared mere seconds ago. Her dark eyes analyzed Laura first; taking in her full appearance and making clear judgment. Then, she glanced at Carmilla.
Laura caught the flash that occurred within the mysterious woman's eyes. Something strange had happened. Laura was sure of it when she felt a spike of some unreadable emotion run through the bond. The blonde peeked at the pilot to see furrowed brows, but for half a second, she thought she saw the corner of Carmilla's lips twitch.
The woman quickly looked back at Laura and put on an outstanding smile. She held her hand out. "Matska Belmonde."
The Jedi's eyes widened. "Belmonde? You're-"
"The one who properly runs this government," she stated bluntly.
Vordenburg huffed. "Ms. Belmonde, as charming as you are, your manners could use some work."
"Manners deal with opinions. I'm stating facts, Vordie," she replied as suavely as it was bitterly.
"Uh," the blonde interrupted uncomfortably. "I'm Laura Hollis."
"Mm," Matska hummed as she looked her up and down again. "The Jedi. Your name has been brought up in passing."
"Good things, I hope?" she replied with a hesitant laugh.
"Well Jedi are known for being good," she answered before facing the pilot. "And you are?"
"Carmilla."
The politician lifted a brow before looking her up and down as well. "And are you a Jedi? You seem more like the smuggling-type."
"Well you seem more like a gold digger than a politician."
"Carm!" Laura exclaimed with wide eyes. To her surprise, Matska began to laugh.
"The two can be one in the same, darling," the extravagant woman replied with a grin.
The pilot was now smirking. "Not a Jedi. Was smuggler."
Matska gave another laugh. "And this one has turned you into a do-gooder?" she asked curiously with a nod toward Laura.
Carmilla scoffed. "She certainly tries."
Laura looked between the two in utter confusion. "What is happening right now?"
The brunette's eyes remained on the politician as they maintained eye contact. "Friendly conversation," Carmilla answered.
"O-kay..." Laura answered.
"Miss Hollis, I mean no offense, but you keep strange company," Vordenburg commented.
"You too, Chancellor," she mumbled as she looked at Matska again.
"Well, we should be on our way," the old man finalized.
"It was a pleasure meeting you," Laura said toward the woman.
She grinned. "The pleasure was all mine, darling," she answered before glancing at Carmilla and strutting after Vordenburg. Their guards followed after them.
"What was that about?" Laura asked urgently, spinning toward the pilot.
"What?"
"You just had a weirdly pleasant, despite insulting, conversation with someone!"
Carmilla rolled her eyes. "Why do you have to make a big deal over everything?"
"Why do you have to keep secrets, which then makes everything a big deal?"
The pilot sighed. "Fine. You're right. It's probably better that you know anyway." She ran a hand through her hair before glancing around the area. "Mattie was kinda like a big sister to me."
"Excuse me?"
"She's not Force-sensitive, but Maman had her around well before she took Will and I in."
"And you didn't think to tell me that your sister was second in command of the Galactic Senate?!"
Carmilla cringed slightly. "Would you believe me if I said I didn't know?"
"How could you be that ignorant?!"
The brunette lifted her hands to try and signal for Laura to calm down. She glanced at their surroundings again. "You know I don't pay attention to things I don't care about," she hissed.
"Really? So you've never walked by a holo vid in a cantina and saw the news?" The Jedi pressed incredulously.
"The news is depressing."
"Oh my God," Laura groaned as she began walking away. Carmilla walked after her.
"You're missing the point here," the pilot pushed as they continued walking. "Mattie hated most of my mother's orders, but she still listened. If you didn't listen, you were punished. And from last I remember, she was still listening to orders. Meaning if she is holding an important seat in the Senate, that's not Mattie's doing."
Laura stopped walking to stare at Carmilla in alarm. "You're telling me your mother has power in the Senate."
"Mattie wouldn't volunteer to put herself there."
The Jedi gave a swift nod before turning to walk again. "Great."
They walked for a few seconds in silence. "That's all you have to say?" Carmilla asked suspiciously.
"What? Is it really necessary for me to say that we're completely doomed?" she answered with her voice slightly cracking.
"Um, no... It's just... very unlike you," the pilot answered hesitantly.
"And how would I have normally reacted?" Laura asked in annoyance.
"I don't know. Something like, 'We have to tell the Council immediately!', or, 'We have to warn Vordenburg!', or maybe, 'If we're all doomed, might as well make out with Carmilla!'."
Laura glared. "This isn't the time to talk about us getting frisky."
Carmilla smirked. "Frisky? I feel like that implies more than making out, princess."
The blonde groaned. "We are going to tell the Council. We're headed back to the Lustig to call them."
Laura stood with her hands folded behind her back. The holo projection of the Council was present in her quarters.
"This is ludicrous! She must have known her sister was practically leading the Senate!" Master Ereshkigal exclaimed. The blonde flared her nostrils, but tried to remain calm.
"We can't jump to that kind of conclusion," Enki replied gently.
"Why? She's a Dark Jedi. Her entire family is apparently taking down the galaxy right in front of our eyes and we're all doing nothing about it!" another Master commented.
"Or maybe Carmilla lied. Maybe Matska Belmonde isn't her sister. Why should we trust her?" a different Master asked.
"Why would she lie about that?" Laura asked with a tad irritation slipping through.
"Misdirection."
"Or maybe she is telling the truth to gain favor. Carmilla could have been a distraction this whole time," Ereshkigal added.
"Carm didn't know," Laura pushed firmly. She took a deep breath to make sure she didn't lose her cool.
"Carm?" Ereshkigal questioned with a raised brow.
"Carmilla," the blonde explained simply.
"You have nicknames for each other?" another Master asked in alarm.
"I've been with her for months. Did you expect me not to try and be friends with her?" Laura asked in confusion.
"The familiarity is just surprising," Hastur interjected to make light of the situation.
"And why is that surprising?" the Jedi Knight asked with her frustration growing.
"Because she was corrupted by the Darkside and trained under an apparent Sith Lord!" Ereshkigal answered bitterly.
"She isn't that person anymore!" Laura finally let go of her restraint.
"I believe that is most likely the case, Laura," Enki agreed calmly. "But such familiarity is something to be cautious about. Especially with your bond."
"Most likely the case?" Laura repeated incredulously. "This woman might be rude, and selfish, and completely inappropriate, but I have seen the good in her. Maybe you don't see it. God, she doesn't even see it! But I do. I feel it."
"That's precisely the reason why we can't believe you," Ereshkigal answered in bitter amusement.
"Your emotions are controlling you, Laura," Hastur added with a saddened look.
"Perhaps you are feeling too much, young Jedi. Your judgment is too clouded," Enki explained evenly.
Laura stood there with her shoulders slumped in defeat. "So none of you trust me now?" she asked quietly.
"We believe you're trying to do the right thing, Laura. That's never been put into question. But you're speaking with a potential blind spot. We need to approach this with a safe amount of doubt," Hastur spoke gently.
"Approach this?" Laura let out a disgusted chuckle. "You aren't doing anything! You're all sitting around passing judgment without any idea of what's really happening. Everyone looks to the Jedi for safety and guidance, but the ones who are supposed to be the prime examples of the good of the galaxy sit back and do nothing!"
"Control yourself, Jedi!" Ereshkigal demanded.
"Until I see what the infamous Masters are capable of, I'll trust my own judgment," she spat back.
"Laura, please. There's no need-" Enki began before Laura disconnected the call.
The blonde took a few deep breaths. Her jaw clenched as her eyes remained shut. The rush of anger made her body shake. She reached out with her bond and felt Carmilla's presence within the ship. She frowned before heading firmly toward the brunette. She stepped into the pilot's quarters without asking permission.
Carmilla had just finished removing the collar from her neck. Her head lifted in surprise. Then, a frown appeared. "Are you okay?" she asked softer than expected.
"Everyone on the Council is an asshole," Laura answered roughly with furrowed brows as she stood in the middle of the room.
"Whoa," the pilot said with eyebrows shooting toward her hairline. "I'm not gonna disagree, but that opinion is usually coming from my mouth. Not yours," she stated as she tossed the collar aside and turned to face the blonde.
"They make all these decisions, but they're the ones sitting around doing nothing! They don't get their hands dirty. They don't see what's happening firsthand!"
"Okay, what happened?" Carmilla asked calmly.
"They said I'm too emotional!" she exclaimed with a rush running through the bond. It slammed into Carmilla.
"Yikes," the pilot responded after clearing her throat. "Yeah, couldn't imagine why they'd think that..."
"They think you're responsible!"
Carmilla scoffed. "For what exactly?"
"For- Well- Everything!" Laura stumbled with her words before groaning.
The pilot started to laugh before shaking her head and walking toward the blonde. She placed her hands on the Jedi's shoulders to try and calm her down. "It's not surprising they feel that way about me," she answered lazily.
Laura looked at her in confusion. "Why do you seem okay with it?"
Carmilla gave a slight smile and shrugged. "I'm the logical choice for Bad Guy. They'd be stupid to ignore it."
"But you're not the Bad Guy," Laura said weakly.
"Yeah, well they have no reason to believe that," she replied with a kind smile. Her dark eyes were still as penetrating as ever. Her hands fell from Laura's shoulders and back to her sides.
"And I have reason?" the blonde asked quietly. She searched the pilot's face. Carmilla was so beautiful. Her attractiveness was never a question to Laura, but seeing her up close with her guard down, caring; it took her breath away.
Carmilla tilted her head to the side slightly and smiled sweetly. "You tell me, princess."
Laura took a deep breath. "I will only ask you one more time. So please, tell me the truth." She forced a swallow as Carmilla's stare somehow grew more powerful. "Did you know about your sister?"
Carmilla stared deeply into honey eyes. Her heart ached getting lost in her gaze. Even if she wanted to lie to Laura, she didn't think she'd be able to.
"No. I had no idea."
The blonde nodded slowly a few times before whispering, "Okay." And then, she lifted her hands to cup the pilot's face before bringing their lips together.
Any air that had been in Carmilla's lungs immediately evaporated from the contact. A shock seemingly ran up her spine and her body went weak. But for only a second. After that second, her strength came back in full force. She pulled Laura tighter against her body and kissed her as if Laura was going to come to her senses at any moment.
But the Jedi didn't.
Laura got lost in the feeling of eager lips. Carmilla's hands clutched onto her, but it wasn't rough. It wasn't forceful. It was a welcoming touch; a hopeful one. And when the pilot's tongue slipped through her lips, Laura felt the predicted desire. But she didn't expect to feel the rush of adoration through the bond. She didn't expect to feel... this much.
The blonde then gripped on to the leather vest and pulled it off the pilot. Carmilla pulled back from her lips only a hair width's away. Her heavy breaths fell on Laura's slightly parted lips.
"Laura," she breathed out. "Do you know what you're doing?"
The Jedi let out a single chuckle. "Technically, no, but I figured you'd be able to help me out with that."
Carmilla then laughed quietly, subconsciously leaning her forehead against the blonde's. "I mean, are you sure you want to be doing... this."
Laura pulled back to lock eyes with her. "Do you want me to stop?" she asked with the fear of rejection creeping in.
The brunette smiled sadly. "I just... I don't want you regretting anything."
Laura's chest expanded. Maybe that fear of rejection she felt wasn't her own. "And why would me regretting anything bother you?" she asked softly.
Carmilla forced a swallow. Honey eyes twinkled back at her, putting her heart in disarray. "Because I... You're not like other girls."
"Because I'm a Jedi?" she asked innocently.
"No," the pilot shook her head. "Because you're you," she said simply.
Laura stared at her suspiciously with the hint of a smile. "Is that a good thing?"
Carmilla then smirked. "You're always a good thing." And then, they were kissing. Their hands fumbled with each other's clothing. Lips moved from jawlines to necks. Emotions were running wild.
Feeling emotions from yourself was one thing; adding the same strength of emotions from someone else into the mix? It was beyond words. They could literally feel how the other was feeling. It heightened desire. It intoxicated them more. Every shiver, every gasp for breath was intensified. Fingers slid across skin unhurriedly, leaving goosebumps in their trail.
They laid in bed wearing only undergarments. Carmilla's lips took their time on the cleavage of Laura's breasts. The Jedi's fingernails bit into the pilot's back as their hips slowly moved against each other in perfect rhythm.
*Beep*
"Ugh!" Laura groaned as she reached up and yanked the comlink from her ear. She tossed it on the floor beside Carmilla's bed. The brunette couldn't hold back the grin she pressed against the Jedi's skin.
Carmilla then began to kiss back up Laura's neck.
*Beep*
The two turned to glare at the device on the floor.
"How urgent do you think that is?" Laura asked without removing her eyes from the comlink; her hands held Carmilla's hips close.
"Not urgent enough for me," the pilot answered as she bowed her head back down to nip at the blonde's neck. Laura closed her eyes and got lost in the feeling.
*Beep*
"I'm gonna kill someone," Carmilla growled against Laura's skin.
The Jedi then pushed the brunette away as she leaned down to grab the device. She popped it back into her ear. "Hollis." Carmilla flipped over onto her back next to the blonde, who smiled sadly at her.
"Laura! You need to come to quarantine!" Laf yelled. "Kirsch is fighting Carmilla's creepy brother!"
The blonde sat up immediately. "What?"