The Palace Interior

The hour was late and most people would be in bed or headed that way. But Fiora knew her Father would still be some time away from getting rest of his own, and Jin seemed to at least finally have gotten some sleep. Meaning this meeting between the two would be a little less strained then earlier
Of course...
Fiora uncurled from the seat and lead the way through the living quarters and down to the office she knew her Father (Nicademus Delvardus IV) would still be working in. She paid no mind or heed to the guards at the doors, as she pushed one side open and walked in, motioning for Jin to follow
Father...

Jin's feet drug the whole way, she didn't like the thought of accepting anything from the Empire, let alone the Emperor. But the words of Ryath and her knowing how badly Fiora needed a friend had made it the seem the right thing to do. But now that she stood before the man again, she felt a knot in her stomach. As she averted her eyes at his friendly greeting, despite her harsh words before. She half mumbled her response. Uh, yeah... And sorry for my out burst earlier... It'd been a long day.

Things had opened well so far. She felt that her hopes for a less tense meeting were somewhat premature. But she would do her best to assist it as much as she could. She was beaming with joy that Jin had decided to stay and was trying to let that joy flow out from her through the Force. Though her success was likely to be minimal at best given her age and lack of skill.

Her attention shifted from her Father to Jin, as her friend mumbled her response. But any intercession on her part was cut off as her Father seemed to hear Jin's response just fine. She watched as her Father moved over and laid his hands upon their shoulders, offering a smile back up to him before he once again moved away
Well, the important thing is that she has agreed to stay!

It had been a long time since Nem had walked the streets of Yuuzhan'tar, or as the infidel races more commonly referred to it as, Coruscant. In truth he preferred their name for it, as he remembered the Yuuzhan Vong homeworld with some level of fondness. It had never felt right to call this planet by that name, especially given that it was practically comprised entirely of artificial mechanical constructs. As though such a polluted duracrete landscape could ever be considered their home. Mind you, even at the height of their conquest of the known galaxy, the Intendant had never actually set foot in this area of the planet. His duties had required his attention elsewhere, thus nothing was quite familiar to him, despite his familiarity with other locations within Imperial City.

As he approached the front entrance to the palace, the folds of his crimson and gold merchants apparel swayed gently in the breeze, concealing somewhat the lithe vision he struck. Even garbed in a layer of exterior flesh known as an ooglith cloaker, one designed to mimic the appearance of the human merchant Venrik Azzameen, he cut a lean figure. To all outwards appearances he was just another blonde haired blue eyed human. Usually there was more of a swagger to his step, but today he walked with a certain level of composure, straight and slow as he neared the large portal that led into the palace interior. He came to a halt before the entrance, which was no doubt guarded from intrusion by anyone without an invitation. Though he technically had one, he was hesitant to play that card right off the cuff. Beneath his disguise, Nem triggered a reflex in the cloakers facial features, forcing a smile onto his false face.

It had taken a lot of practice to get it to do that, but now it was as easy as blinking, which was another trick he had learned. Now to see if his Coruscant accent sounded as legitimate as he thought it was. He'd only been able to try it out on a few individuals so far.

"Good afternoon, gentlemen." He spoke in semi-accented Coruscanti basic to the entrance guards. "I believe I have an audience with the Emperor."

He pulled aside the folds of his attire to show he had no blaster on his hip, then raised his naked hands, palms displayed to show that they too were empty.

There was no way Fiora could have mistaken that sound as coming from anyone else as Jin seemed to appear out of thin air next to her bed. Her Best Friend, her Knight in... well not quite shining armour, but still her Knight. She could still very vividly remember the night she'd slipped out of the Palace and ended up being saved by Jin from some unsavoury characters. Since then, they'd been almost inseparable. Even when they'd not physically been together, the pair had kept in close contact through calls and chats. But such times were behind them, and the more time they spent together, the more Fiora could not shake this feeling that she felt more about Jin than as just a friend. Something which, in truth, she was still very inexperienced with.

Which was likely why since that moment on Prakith things had been, to put it simply, complicated. She wanted tell Jin how she felt, but she hadn't ever really been sure what that was. Maybe what she felt was just the close bond one makes with a good friend that was forged from years spent together. Perhaps what they'd done, and what she wanted to do were just pretty normal things to do with your friend and nothing more. Such topics hadn't really... come up during her study and training. She wasn't completely oblivious, but there were things she definitely had little knowledge of. Meaning she was just having to discover things as she went along.

As Jin sat down on the bed, Fiora shifted her position around to better be able to rest her head in Jin's lap while her arms slipped around her friend's waist. There was a very comforting feeling that bloomed within her. She gently squeezed Jin's waist, tears still flowing down across her cheeks
I just... I wanted to be strong... To stay there... But... I couldn't...
She buried her face into Jin's leg, trying to calm herself as she tried to focus upon the feel of Jin's hand upon her head. Despite how much she'd grown up over the years, sometimes she still felt like that little girl Jin had saved years ago
Oh Jin... Thank you... Just having you here is all I could ever want or need...
She kept her arms locked around Jin's waist, but let up the pressure a little as she calmed down a little and felt more certain she wasn't going to lose Jin as well in that moment
I've felt and seen him go so many times in my dreams... Watched as he said he loved us... I knew it was coming... I can't imagine what it must have been like for you...

Fiora was likewise too caught up in the moment to really think too much about where her head and face were currently burying themselves. It was calming to just be curled up against Jin's side as her friend stroked her hair. The rate at which her tears flowed had started to lessen already. She gave Jin's waist another squeeze, recharging her own strength from that provided by her best friend
Fiiiine...
She unlinked her arms and turned slightly onto her back, her face now looking up toward the fabric that hung above her bed. Her hair stuck about her face in a mess, held in place by the tear streaks that marred her cheeks
You would think it would make it worse, but honestly... no. I mean... The first time I saw it happen in my visions it was scary. But that was only because I had never watched it happen before. But the other times? I knew it was coming. I must have said goodbye to my father... hundreds of times. I'd sit by his bed as he told us how proud he was, and we'd sit and do our best to smile and we'd say goodbye back. It's strangely comforting, knowing what is going to happen...
Her eyes shifted to a pair of deep black orbs, her skills having come along way since her first mishaps
The future is like the black void of space, filled with a billion lights...
Little white spots soon sparkled across her eyes like a small pair of galaxies
Each one a potential future and path forward. Many of them I can peer into them and see what could or will be... Events could be minutes and hours into the future or years down the path... But I know they're going to happen. I can take comfort in the knowledge of what is yet to come...
As she blinked her eyes, they returned to their usual hazel colour as she shifted her focus upon Jin's face
It's the things I can't see, that truly scare me Jin... I could see my Father's death years before, I could see his decline... But you...
She lifted her left hand up and place it against her friend's cheek, the contact relaxing
I don't know what will happen. I've tried to see it, believe me I have tried... But... I can never focus...
She hesitantly moved her hand from Jin's cheek then, but left it hovering close by
Seeing my Father laying there on his deathbed in person was different to just seeing it as a vision. But that wasn't... It wasn't why I faltered. It was what was about to happen... If it has not already happened, it will soon: everyone but Faina will be dismissed, and he'll spend his final moments with her. And I couldn't help but feel alone... My Father took a chance with someone he cared deeply about without hesitation, despite having no ability to see what the future held for them... And I... I've spent so much time comforted by knowing what the outcome was for a lot of things, except for you... I don't know when I might lose you, or what might happen next... But I don't want to ever be without you...
Now she blushed hard, her face becoming redder by the moment

As soon as Jin's hand cupped the back of her own, her heart beat bolted faster like a run hearing the starting gun. As their hands came down upon her chest, she did her best to suppress the sudden and sharp intake of breath as her thoughts were no longer distracted and were focused more upon the here and now. Her heart was beating hard against one side of her hand, while Jin's comforting grip rested upon the other. She did her best not to break her gaze from staring up at Jin, even as the blush crept further up when her friend's smile turned to a small frown. She almost wanted to yell out an apology, but was stopped by the squeeze of her hand that silenced her before she began.

She tried to return the smile as normally as she could, but the mix of embarrassment and apprehension she felt did her no favours. Her thoughts were soon thrown into chaos as Jin leaned over and kissed her. Her eyes shot wide open and she let out a startled gasp, surprised by the sudden action which caused her heart to skip several beats. But just as soon as it began, it was over and Jin was already apologising for it. She lifted her free left hand up and pressed a finger against Jin's lips then
No... no apologies today... No regrets...
Cupping Jin's cheek with her hand, she pulled her friend's face down, as she pushed her self up and their lips met halfway. Her eyes closed over as she embraced the moment and for once did not worry about what the future might hold. She held the kiss for as long as she dared, before slowly pulling back at last. A giant grin growing across her pale features as her eye lids fluttered half open
Jin, you are who I want to be with. We've been through so much together and this too I want to do together...
Perhaps it certainly wasn't the ideal timing for this, but if she was honest, when would be? They'd spent so much time dancing around the topic, each one putting it off for fear of their friendship or wanting the perfect moment. But this was the moment they had and she didn't want to regret this

There was a comfort she took as she felt Jin's fingers entwine with her own. But she would be lying if she didn't also sense the hesitation in Jin, something she had felt many times before. Her fingers ran a trail across Jin's cheek, and slipped down to cupping along her friends lower jaw. Sure, today she could understand the mixture of feelings, but she felt like if she pulled back from this now, it would be over
My Father was many things... complicated being forefront amongst them. But also busy... always so very busy... He said you had to make time for the things that mattered most, no matter what else was going on...
She let out a soft sigh, curling up a little tighter to Jin's side as she did so. Her gaze never breaking from Jin's
Nothing in this universe could ever make me regret this moment... It hurts to see him go, but he is finally at rest. His energy returned once more to the Living Force... And I will be reminded of that fact for many of the days to come. He was the Emperor after all, and his funeral and all of the associated events will remind me of what I have lost...
Her hand upon her chest curled slightly into a ball, not wanting to let Jin's hand escape
But right now... I want to focus on what we have, and take strength from that...
Not to mention, that as weird as this situation may have seemed, she was sure he would be absolutely ok with it. He didn't want anything to hold his children back from happiness or their goals. And this moment of happiness would help her get through the days and weeks to come