Work Text:
Aubin has been staring at the unusual Mirialan for what seemed like half an hour now. His gaze is vacant for the most part, a mildly annoyed twitch of his thin eyebrows washing over his features whenever the stranger turns to his companion - a tall Chiss man - and starts gossiping a bit too loudly.
The two come and go, mingling with the crowd and disappearing into it before reappearing minutes later. The cycle repeats itself several times, and each and every single time Aubin will look.
Needless to say, Talos is intrigued. Do the two share some history? Looking at the much taller Twi’lek, he has to admit he didn't strike the man to be one to associate with such- flamboyant personalities.
As that thought crosses his mind, the Mirialan twirls a bit too dramatically towards a nearby waiter, plucking a glass of champagne off their tray with a playful smirk before turning back to his companion, feigning a stumble as to fall right into the considerably larger man's arms.
He watches with curiosity as the Mirialan, without missing a beat, leans up to peck the Chiss’ neck, then shoves the glass into his hands, not so subtly squeezing the man's biceps before vanishing back into the crowd. A mischievous giggle follows the couple's disappearance and Talos is sure it would've been sweeter if it hadn't come from what he assumes to be a Sith Lord's lips.
Talos returns his gaze to Aubin the second an irritated aura washes over him, the Twi’lek taking a sip from his wine, a slight blush darkening his cheeks.
Curious.
Talos knows for a fact that alcohol has no effect on the Sith Lord. More than once he has wondered why he even resorted to drinking it, there were more preferable flavors out there. Yet- as the blush could have impossibly been caused by the wine-
Who the frick is that Mirialan?
He sees a flash of green in the crowd and Aubin’s eyes are quick to follow. The Twi’lek lifts his glass up to his lips again, then frowns as the stranger- to Talos at least- looks his way and waves.
“My Lord, do you know him?” Talos attempts politely.
Aubin scoffs, then reluctantly waves back, a relieved groan passing past his lips as the stranger grins and turns away again.
“Unfortunately,” the Sith Lord downs the rest of his wine, then - after a moment of hesitation- continues, “We used to- help each other out back as Acolytes.”
Talos almost drops his glass in surprise.
“He doesn't strike me as-” Talos waves his hand around as he tries to find the right words, “someone you'd acquaint yourself with, my Lord.”
Aubin huffs out a laugh.
“Hence the ‘ unfortunately’, ” he shifts awkwardly before adding, “I guess Tami is just kind of my type.”
There's a moment of silence between them that makes Talos wish he'd never asked about the Mirialan at all. Yet as the night continues, he and Aubin returning to their quiet conversations about some artifacts they saw on their travels, he finds himself keeping an eye on the stranger as well. If he really is Aubin’s type-
What about this man could possibly be interesting to Aubin?
Reducing him to his looks seems almost uncharacteristic for the Twi’lek. But the Mirialan is quite nice to look at, he has to admit. There's an angelic air to the man, a word Talos had never thought he'd use to describe a Sith. But as he observes him make his way through the crowd, it's hard to ignore the subtle bounce of his dark waves, the slight spring in his step and the soft layer of fat left on his cheeks.
Perpetual babyface, comes to Talos’ mind and he grimaces as he lifts one hand to pat at his own face, kinda like me.
Next to him Aubin studies him curiously, his free hand twitching by his side and Talos pretends he's just scratching his cheek, trying to avoid any more uncomfortable situations but his face feels hot.
“Is everything alright?” Aubin leans a bit closer as he asks and Talos pretends he doesn't notice the deepening blush on his master's cheeks.
“I need some fresh air,” Talos shoots the Twi'lek a sheepish smile, embarrassed to admit how he's been observing the Mirialan for a while now as well, “Would you mind joining me, my Lord?”
Aubin gives him a short nod, then follows as Talos makes his way past the growing crowd.
Out of the corner of his eye he notices a blur of green and blue and for a second he thinks the Mirialan is walking towards them, before the man pulls the Chiss towards the bathrooms.
Interesting.
He wonders if Aubin used to do the same with the man- or was it the other way around? The Mirialan seems rather dominant after all.
“Careful-,” Aubin’s voice tears him out of his thoughts and Talos realizes he was about to walk into a glass door.
“Ah- thank you,” Talos blushes when he notices Aubin's hand on his shoulder, “I must've had too much to drink.”
The Twi'lek gives a thoughtful hum, then opens the door for them. He walks them towards a small bench, sitting down with Talos only for a moment before pushing himself up again.
“I will get you some water,” Aubin says, a soft smile grazing his lips, “Don't move okay?”
Talos nods, nervously plays with the hem of his robe. He didn't think this- newfound knowledge would keep his thoughts this busy. But it did, still does , he admits to himself as he tugs on a loose thread on his pants.
He watches Aubin squeeze back into the building, follows his tall silhouette for a bit before lowering his gaze again and closing his eyes. What started out as simple admiration back on Hoth has slowly morphed into a futile crush and now-
Talos never expected to actually feel jealous of someone else-
“Hey!” The voice is too soft , way too cheery to be Aubin's, “You're Aub’s little friend!”
Talos looks up in surprise and a shiver runs up his spine as he recognizes the figure.
“I-,” his words get stuck in his throat as his eyes meet the deranged yellow glow of the Sith Lord's in front of him.
Of course out of all the people at the event it would have to be him who finds him.
“Isn't he here with you?” The Mirialan seems unbothered, absentmindedly pets his companions arm as he looks around.
“He left to get me some water-”
“Sounds like him,” the man says with a laugh and Talos shoots a look at the Chiss next to him. He hasn't seen him talk all evening and he's sweating, a nervous look on his face. Talos decides not to think about it too much.
Being around this many Sith is exhausting, he has to admit.
“So-,” the Mirialan continues, pulling his companion along him to sit next to Talos, “Are you two like? Fucking?”
The Chiss lets out an annoyed groan and Talos tries not to laugh at the exasperated face he's giving the Sith.
“It's a fair question babe!” The Mirialan lightly slaps the Chiss’ arm, a pout forming on his lips.
It's hard to believe that this man used to have a thing with Aubin. He's so-
His next sentence he regrets almost immediately.
“Aubin mentioned you and him used to-” Talos gulps, his master's actual name oddly intimate and strange on his lips, “have sexual relations with each other-”
“Ya, we did, you're dodging my question.”
Why are Sith so complicated??
He takes a deep breath, then looks the man in the eyes again. The bright gold is warm at first glance, yet his eyes seem indefinitely colder than Aubin's could ever be. Talos doesn't know how powerful this Sith is, but he knows he's long fallen victim to insanity.
“We're just friends,” Talos says and as the other raises a perfect brow in doubt, he feels something prod at his mind, “Maybe- I wouldn't mind if that changed though-”
The Sith hits his back hard, a wide grin on his face and Talos flinches a little, not used to such casual touch.
“Actually-” he swallows and decides this conversation can't be ruined any further anyways, “Can I ask you how you managed to- get him interested?”
“A h -,” the man giggles , “All I had to do was pretend I actually care about archaeology-”
The Chiss says something but Talos can't focus, his brain repeating the Sith’s words over and over again.
“Did Aubin ever find out you don't actually-”
“Never had to, his nerding was so cute I ended up getting invested,” he replies with a shrug, then yawns, nonchalantly getting up, “We're gonna be heading out, good luck with Aub, tell him I said hi.”
The two are gone before he can say goodbye.
He doesn't really mind too much either but he still wanted to learn more-
“You look distressed- did something happen?”
Aubin .
He looks up, the Twi'lek appears worried, his hand hesitantly taking his own to give him the bottle he's holding.
“No- your Academy friend passed by, he says hello.”
He likes people who like archaeology-
“ Tami? Huh. I hope he wasn't too nosy.”
I'm Aubin's type-
“A bit strange maybe?”
Aubin shoots him a fond smile and Talos feels like it's actually directed towards him . Not any worryingly pretty Mirialans with zero respect for personal boundaries. Just for him.
Maybe this crush of his isn’t so doomed after all?
Tami grins as he entirely by accident walks into the tall Twi’lek.
“Can you not-” Aubin catches the bottle he was holding onto mid-air, stopping what he was saying as he recognizes Tami, “It's you- ”
“Your little friend is cute,” he tells Aubin, stepping to the side and turning to face him as he keeps walking towards the main exit, Saker looking increasingly uncomfortable by his side, “don't leave him out for too long, it's getting cold.”
He twirls around again and sprints , dragging his lover behind him.
Hopefully those nerds will realize.