𝑯𝑬𝑹 𝑽𝑶𝑰𝑪𝑬 ~Kix~

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓢𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓮𝓷

{ A/N : there is a very slight NSFW warning for the end of this chapter. It's nothing major just somethings are implied 👀}

Shouts rang out. Chaos bloomed and thrived in the ballroom. Amidst the panic, Courtney could feel herself tumble backwards as people ebbed and flowed to try to avoid the death by blaster which seemed to hunt them down like deer. The brunette let out a shriek as she tripped on the edge of her skirt and she fell with her back to the marble floor. She prepared to make impact and feel pain course through her, that is until she felt a pair of strong hands catch her just in time. "Princess," the woman looked up and to her surprise and fortune, Fives had come to her rescue when she needed him the most. The prince she had danced with seemed to be long gone, leaving her, his future wife, behind to fend for herself. "I would think someone of your status would be a little bit more graceful." Fives added as he helped her back up to her feet. "Fives," she breathed as she looked at the man who now wore his bucket once more. A small smile formed on her lips. "You have no idea the felicityI feel in your presence at this moment." Fives grinned underneath his helmet. "It's always a pleasure to see you as well, miss." He replied before shooting a droid that threatened to shoot Courtney. "Now if you don't mind I think it would be in your best interest to come with me so we can get you somewhere safe."

"This palace is crawling with clankers!" Fives complained as he led the princess clothed in blue, matching the accents on his armor, down a corridor. The clone fired another shot at a droid at the other end of the hallway, clearing a path for the two. "Fives look out!" Courtney shouted and Fives turned to see a droid right behind him, preparing to blast him straight to hell. Courtney knew she had to do something and she did the only thing she could think of in that very moment. She reached into her skirt pocket and grabbed the dagger that stayed tied to her waist incase of emergencies. She unsheathed it, tossing The sheath to the side. The dagger instantly made contact with the droid's circuits and a mix of sparks rained from the impaired blade before she pulled it out and the useless creature of metal fell to the ground. "Where the hell did you learn to do that?" Fives asked as watched in pure bewilderment at the princess as she held her dagger at her side, her fingers wrapped tightly around the golden intricate hilt. Similar to Calypso's blade, Courtney's also had the design of flowers on it except instead of lavender it was the pattern of roses. "I have a few tricks up my sleeve my dear, a princess must." She said before the sound of more droids coming to find the pair echoed throughout the corridor. Courtney looked up at the clone. "I know a place we can go where we'll be safe. Most people forget it's even there so no one will think to look for us there." She reached down and instantly grabbed his gloved hand in hers before taking off down the hallway, dragging the clone along behind her. "C'mon. This way!"

Courtney closed the double doors they squeaked when they moved, a signal off their disregard and unkept state. She sighed softly, glad to be out of the chaos before turning to the clone. "This is a place you come to a lot, isn't it?" He asked as Courtney moved to stand at his side. The clone had removed his helmet and Courtney was now graced with his lovely face once more. His words hit a certain place in her heart as she breathed in the smell of old books. Around them were shelves and shelves of the finest litterateur the galaxy had to offer. The palace library. "It is my escape." Courtney replied softly. "I come her to get away from life when I need to and like I said, not many people know it's hear anymore so it's a good place to go if one does not wish to be bothered." She added and an emotion washed over her face as she remembered the things that had happened that night, and emotion of grief of what was yet to come of her life. She was bound to a man who only valued her for her beauty and nothing else. Fives noticed the distress. "Courtney, your majesty," the clone began, quick to correct himself, "if I may, you seem upset and I feel like it's not because of the droids. Something else is bothering you. What's wrong?" Courtney sighed as she looked away from him for a moment but Fives was persistent. He reached his gloved hand down to hers and gently entangled his fingers with hers. "What's bothering you, princess?" Courtney looked down at his hand holding hers and a thin blush spread on her face as she looked up at him. "When I told you I had royal business to attend to, those words held double meaning." She began hand Fives raised a brow at her. "The reason for this banquet tonight was for the future of the princesses of Alta to be arranged and set in stone." "What are you getting at?" "Fives," the princess hesitated, "I'm betrothed."

A flash of cold swept through Fives' body and he instantly let go of the princess's dainty hand and took a step back. "You're what?" "I'm engaged to a man I despise." "Then why are you engaged to him?" The soldier asked, Courtney looked up at him and she could see the genuine curiosity behind his amber eyes. "Fives I don't have a choice. It's arranged against my will. It's politics." Fives could feel the shame rise in his chest. If only he had known that she was engaged to someone, he wouldn't have perused her relentlessly. "But you know what I noticed tonight," Courtney continued to speak. "The man I am supposed to be giving my life to left me for dead when complete and utter discord broke loose tonight." She took several steps toward the clone, becoming very close to him. "But you didn't." Fives raised a brow. "What are you saying?" "You did what my future husband didn't," her blue eyes flickered to his lips for a moment before she looked back up at his eyes. "I owe you my life." Fives could sense the tension rising from her body. It was impossible to miss. "Courtney... please don't say anything you'll regret." "I'm saying nothing but the truth, my dear." Courtney continued. It was as if a dam of her thoughts broke and nothing was holding her back from releasing her most honest thoughts among the man, even if they were wrong or immoral. She was going to let him know what she thought of him whether he liked it or not. "If you're only speaking the truth," Fives said as he looked down at her, "then continue." Suddenly he was interested in what she had to say. "You saved me tonight. You said tonight you admired me not for my looks but for my wit. You have flattered me beyond what I even thought possible. And now, I am alone in the library with the man I have begun to fall hopelessly for since the day he offered to escort me through the garden." Fives bit his lip. "Be careful with your words, mesh'la, you don't know what it does to me." "But I do," Courtney replied, her tone was intimately hushed as she stood chest to chest with the clone. "I see what you desire with my skin pressed to yours, my breath on your chest, the way your composure has faultered in my presence combined with our proximity. I see it in your eyes, the dull flickering flame of desire. And I desire as well." Fives groaned faintly. Courtney's words were like the sound of sharp and refined notes played from the ivory keys of a piano by a trained musician who put every emotion into every dynamic and motion of their craft. "And what is that?" He asked, wanting to hear the words come from her prestige and proper lips. "I want you to kiss me." Among finally hearing the words from her mouth Fives finally gave in. He grasped one hand to her hip, pulling her closer to him until she was practically straddling his thigh. His other hand gently held her cheek, caressing the soft silk like skin as his fingers grazed the hairline, small whisps of dark hair met his gloved fingers. His thumb lazily rubbed circles into her skin as his lips met hers in a ferociously procrastinated embrace. The tension dissolved as Courtney reciprocated his kiss, her arms wrapped around his neck as she inhaled his warm scent. Lips, tongue, and even teeth moved together in an exchange that was unavoidable at this point. And the embrace between the two, starved for attention, didn't end there. It didn't end for quite some time, but when it did, Courtney found herself fast asleep in the arms of the strong ARC trooper who had proved himself to be better then the man she was betrothed to in more ways then one.