As the Wanderer and Mari locked their lips, they could feel the pent-up tension and passion within themselves start to dissipate. Tasting each other for the first time, both girls found themselves feeling as if the world around the ceased to exist. It was as if the universe around them had paused, yet they were somehow transcending time itself within their own bubble.
With both hands, Mari caressed the Wanderer's face, feeling her defined jawline and smooth skin for the first time. She longed for this, to finally touch the Wanderer in such an intimate way, to finally let her lips speak her sonnet of passionate yearning without words.
Meanwhile, the Wanderer's hand was gently running its fingers through Mari's silver hair. At this moment, she experience the touch of another woman's lips for the first time, something she'd once yearned for, yet never achieved. Mari's lips were soft, feeling like clouds. The way Mari's gentle lips would kiss the Wanderer's, suckling on them with a tender touch, was something out of a dream.
Mari's kissing started to get more passionate as she started going for the Wanderer's cheek, delicately pecking her, compelling her to moan softly, a surprising sound coming from the hardened warrior. Mari went even lower, going for the Wanderer's sharp jaw, suckling it gently with her tongue and lips.
"Mm~!" the Wanderer soughed once more, her hand still running itself through Mari's hair. Mari's lips continued getting lower, reaching the Wanderer's neck, continuing to pleasure her. Mari's hands then started to stroke the Wanderer's body, sliding from her cheek, down past her chin, and to her neck.
Meanwhile, Mari started to caress the Wanderer's collarbone with her lips as her hands continued lower, reaching for the Wanderer's breast. The Wanderer found herself feeling vulnerable as Mari explored her body, a feeling she was loving quite well. However, as Mari's hands began reaching through the binding tape on her chest, the Wanderer quickly grabbed Mari by the wrist, stopping her.
"Hold on." the Wanderer told her. Mari had a soft smile on her face, looking at the Wanderer with lust-filled eyes as if she could devour her on the spot. She didn't want to stop, she wanted to explore the Wanderer's entire body with her mouth, but she restrained herself. "What's wrong? Am I being too rough?" Mari asked, which made the Wanderer smile slightly while shaking her head. "It's not that... I'm just not sure if this is a good idea."
Mari leaned over, wrapping her arms around the seat behind the Wanderer before asking, "Why not?", She seemed disappointed, having to stop right when things were heating up.
"I'm not good for you." the Wanderer told her, looking up at her with a gentle eye.
Mari, with her face still close to the Wanderer's chuckled slightly. "Why not?" she asked. "I think you're great for me." Mari placed her hand on the Wanderer's cheek, but once again, her advances were denied by the Wanderer's hand. "I'm serious, Mari. I'm bad news."
"What if that's what I like about you?" Mari told her, looking into her eye with intensity.
The Wanderer shook her head. "This ain't a Holo-drama. I'm serious. You're a good girl, Mari. You deserve someone who can take care of you."
"You're the most powerful Force user on the planet. I think you're taking very good care of me." Mari assumed that she was talking about physically taking care of her and protecting her against those who mean harm, but that wasn't the point.
The Wanderer shook her head. "That's not what I mean. Let's say you and I... Let's say we forget all about this prince stuff and we skip town..."
"That sounds great to me." Mari added.
The Wanderer gave her a look of playful annoyance before continuing. "Where would we go, Mari? We don't have a home or jobs. Sure, I take bounties, but I only take the ones that align with my values, which are few and far between. I barely get by on my own and I'm homeless."
Mari thought about it for a second, her eyes rolling playfully. "Hmm... So, you're saying we would be living how we are now? Moving from place to place, town to town, sleeping in our speeder? I wouldn't mind." Mari told her.
"And I got enemies. Lots of em. And a bounty on my head." the Wanderer added.
"And you'll just have to keep fighting." Mari rebutted.
"And what if they come after you?" the Wanderer asked.
"Then I guess you'll have to train me to fight. I'll do whatever it takes." Mari told her, having a look of determination on her face. The Wanderer shook her head. "One: I am not capable of training you. Two: even if I was, It takes years."
"I'll do whatever it takes, then. I don't care how long it takes." Mari told her, but the Wanderer didn't want to hear it.
"And when I lose you, then what?" the Wanderer told her with a shakey voice and a trembling eye. As Mari looked her in the eye, she realized what it was that the Wanderer was afraid of.
"It happened before... is that why?" Mari asked her.
The Wanderer nodded. "Remember when I told you where the kyber crystals on my ears came from?"
"You said they were from a Sith you killed." Mari told her, recalling their prior conversation back when they first met.
"And do you want to know who she was?" the Wanderer asked.
"She was you, wasn't she?" Mari hoped this wasn't so, but the Wanderer's slow nod confirmed it.
"These two kyber crystals are mine." the Wanderer confessed, making Mari the only one who knew of the true origins of the Wanderer's kyber crystals. The myth around her spoke of her collecting kyber crystals and using them as jewelry as a warning not to mess with her, but in reality, she wore them for another reason.
She wore them to remind herself of the past she vowed to never repeat.
"I lost someone important to me, someone I loved more than anything else on Coruscant. When that happened, I became filled with rage. I was then tempted by the dark side of the Force and I joined the Sith Empire, hoping that through power, that pain would go away. But it didn't. It still hasn't." the Wanderer's eye started to become glassy as tears began welling up in it. She hadn't wept in years, but she also hadn't reflected on her past in just as long.
"He spoke to me. I swear it, I don't know how, but I heard his voice. I felt his presence in the Force. And when I did, it snapped me out of it. I ran away, I came back home to Inskako, and I stayed here for a while 'til I met a warrior who reminded me who I was.
So instead of hiding, I went to Ilum and reconnected myself to the Force. There, I found the very kyber crystal I use now, a colorless one. Dependin' on who you ask, a colorless lightsaber means many things, but to me, it represented a blank slate. A fresh start, one where I could right my wrongs.
So I dedicated myself to protectin' people who couldn't protect themselves. And I made the promise to never let myself be tempted by darkness ever again. If I lose you... If I lose anyone, Mari, I might go back."
Mari had tears in her eyes, feeling empathetic as she listened to the Wanderer's story. She could tell that the Wanderer was committed to the road she walked. She knew that she was being selfish in expecting her to do all of these things to accommodate her into her dangerous life. She knew she had to let her go.
"I meditate every day because that darkness is still inside of me.
Always calling to me.
Always tempting me.
Always trying to reel me back in.
But I can't let that happen." The Wanderer then placed her hand on Mari's cheek, rubbing it gently with her thumb. "I want this. I want you, but I can't have it, Mari. You're the only one to make me smile and laugh in years. Back at the festival, I forgot that I was the 'Nameless Wanderer' or the 'Grey Ronin' or whatever other names they call me. When I wrote my name on that lantern and watched it float away... It was like I was brought back to life."
Mari was touched by the Wanderer's words. She wanted to tell her how much she wanted to be with her, she wanted to tell her that she can make her smile and laugh every single day, but she refrained. She just let the Wanderer finish.
"Regardless of how happy I've been with you these last few days, there's a reason why the Jedi forbid relationships. I didn't understand it before, but I understand it now.
I can't let that darkness get back it.
I'm sorry."
Mari's tearful gaze trembled as she looked the Wanderer in the eye, shaking her head slowly. "But that's unfair. You don't deserve to be alone for the rest of your life." Mari told her.
"I do deserve it. I killed innocent people. I deserve worse." the Wanderer hated herself for her past. She wanted redemption, but she herself felt that it was undeserved, despite her efforts.
Mari rested her head on the Wanderer's chest, holding on to her tightly. "I understand." Mari whispered. "Can we at least... stay like this? Just for tonight." she asked, wanting to at least be able to cuddle with her for a night just a single time before they'd eventually never see each other again.
"Please. I need you here. Just for tonight." The Wanderer whispered, stroking Mari's hair. She didn't want to let go of her, knowing she'd never have this ever again.
"Just for tonight." Mari repeated.
And so, the two of them held each other, watching the glowing waves crash beside them. Neither of them spoke, they just watched the waves together silently until the Wanderer was the first to fall asleep. Mari watched her sleep for a while, admiring her face until her eyes began to shut, and she too found herself lost in slumber.