I don't own Star Wars, I only own my original characters and the plot of this story.

Tw: Blood. 

"You've got to be kidding." Wolffe stared at his datapad, his newest set of orders on the screen.

"What is it?" Sinker peered over his shoulder to read it, letting out a laugh. "Oh, this is going to be good!"

"It's because we're the closest," Comet reasoned, also reading over Wolffe's shoulder.

"Obviously." Wolffe sent him a sharp look, turning the device off. "But why did it have to be us?"

"Us?" Sinker snorted. "No, I think this is your problem."

"This is for all of us to do. The whole battalion needs to do this," Wolffe countered. "We're fighting Separatists! We're protecting a potential Republic planet."

"No, you're protecting someone while the rest of us take a much needed vacation. It only takes one to guard some princess," Sinker smugly said. "Unless you need help to do it?"

"She's not a princess," Wolffe grumbled, "so get that straight before we get there. And I don't need help, I'm just saying it's stupid if only I'm doing it."

"Oh come on! It'll only be like a week until her parents sign the treaty! Then we can leave and all you have to do is watch some girl for a bit," Comet pointed out.

"This isn't only my responsibility though!" Wolffe glowered at them. "It's your duty as soldiers to protect civilians."

"Yeah but she only needs one guard. And it should be you since you're the commander." Sinker smirked as Wolffe sighed in defeat.

"Fine. But I expect you all to be on your best behaviour," Wolffe sternly said, grabbing his helmet from his desk. "We have to be on our best behaviour around the leaders of a planet."

"Dictators," Comet corrected with a slight frown. "They're the dictators of the planet."

"Leaders regardless," Wolffe shot back. "It doesn't matter to us how they lead, just that no one kills them."

"I'm excited to hit the beach!" Sinker enthusiastically said, pumping his fists.

"It's an ice planet. Lots of snow, not a lot of sand," Wolffe said in amusement, watching Sinker deflate.

"Great." Sinker crossed his arms with a scowl. "Just what I want on my vacation."

"It's not a vacation!" Wolffe pinched the bridge of his nose, tired of the pointless argument. "This is an important assignment!"

"Right." Sinker winked at Comet. "It's not a vacation."

"I'm making you come with me just because you said that," Wolffe said, his lips twitching upwards slightly. "Everyone else can do whatever they want."

"Did you just smile?" Sinker gasped, turning to Comet. "Did you see that? He just smiled!"

"No, I'd consider that a maybe smile," Comet thoughtfully said. "You almost did it."

"I'll get there one day," Sinker declared.

Wolffe crossed his arms. "I smile sometimes. When something funny happens."

"So I have to do something funny to het you to smile? Challenge accepted." Sinker ran off to tell the others.

"If you need any help, I'll help out," Comet promised Wolffe.

"Thanks, but I won't need it." Wolffe ran his finger along his helmet's paint designs. "How hard can it be?"

Karina, as it turned out, unbelievably boring. Wolffe had been standing in her quarters for two hours now, and they hadn't had one word of conversation pass between the two of them. Karina had just been knitting for the whole time and knitting was about as dull as it got.

Click.

Click.

Click.

If he had to listen to the metal needles click together one more time, he was going to lose it.

"Karina!" The mother of the family glided inside, luxurious silks flowing from behind her as she moved. "I have wonderful news!"

Wolffe's shoulders relaxed by a fraction. Finally, something was going to happen besides that infernal hobby of hers.

"Yes?" Karina put the needles down so her hands rested in her lap.

"Benedict has agreed to marry you!" Karina's mother's smile was wide until her eyes flicked to Wolffe. "Oh? Who's this?" She narrowed her eyes slightly at her daughter.

"Mother, this is Commander Wolffe. You arranged for him to guard me remember?" Karina motioned between the two of them. "Commander Wolffe, this is my mother, Lady Isla."

Wolffe dipped his head. "It's a pleasure."

Isla wrinkled her nose. "I'm sure it is."

Karina smiled for a half of a second at the way Wolffe seemed to pause before her mother faced her again, and she looked politely interested again. "So I'm marrying Benedict?"

"Yes, and isn't it exciting?" Isla pinched Karina's cheeks to make them flush. "You'll be a beautiful bride. Oh, and Benedict is visiting today so you can meet him."

Wolffe's eyes widened under his helmet. 

Maybe this wouldn't be boring after all.

"I'm looking forward to it," Karina pleasantly said, fingers digging into the material of her skirt. "What time is he arriving?"

"In a couple hours, so make sure you look presentable." Isla's lip curled at Karina's dress.

"Is there something wrong with the way I look?" Karina looked down self-consciously. "This is my favourite dress..."

"It's an unflattering colour. You know you only look good in a couple shades. It's really unfortunate." Isla went into Karina's bedroom and into the closet. She riffled around before returning with a soft pink dress with pearls stitched into the materiel. "Isn't this much better?"

"I don't like that dress," Karina hesitantly said. "It makes me look like I can't do anything for myself."

"Exactly!" Isla exclaimed. "That's why it's perfect!"

"I suppose it can't hurt," Karina reluctantly said, taking the dress from her. "Excuse me."

She exited into her bedroom while Isla lifted the knitting project and laughed under her breath at it. Karina reentered with the dress on, visibly upset.

"I don't like it," Karina firmly said. "It makes me look like a toddler dressed up by her mother."

"It's fine," Isla dismissively said. She adjusted the front of the dress to show more cleavage. "There. Now make sure that Benedict doesn't back out, by doing whatever you have to do."

Karina didn't respond, staring at herself in the mirror in the corner. 

Wolffe watched them both, not quite understanding how to feel.

"It's wonderful to meet you," Karina kindly said to Benedict.

Benedict  seemed nice enough, if not a little bold. He was charming with wavy blonde hair and icy blue eyes that kept falling to her chest.

"I've been waiting to meet you for a while now. Your father has told me great things about you." Benedict held out an arm for her.

Karina looped her arm through his and let him lead her outside to the gardens with Wolffe quietly trailing behind them. "So we're getting married."

"Yes, I'm looking forward to it." Benedict leaned to examine a flower. "When I marry you, I'll be next in line to rule Twilam. Oh, and you'll be there of course."

Wolffe snorted, inaudible to both of them. 

"What do you like to do in your spare time?" Karina curiously asked.

"I like parties. They're always fun. Or sometimes I like to travel. I've visited Hoth, have you?" Benedict stood straight again and tilted his head. "It's actually pretty cold here, like Hoth. I hate the snow."

"I like snow. It's pretty." Karina shivered. "It is cold, though. Would you like to head inside soon?"

"I'm good." Benedict grinned. "My coat is warm enough."

Karina wasn't wearing a coat over her dress, as she had thought they would've remained inside. She didn't say anything though. "Alright."

"What do you like to do?" Benedict asked after a minute of silence.

"Knitting," Karina lied. In truth, her mother always told her it was a hobby proper ladies took up, and she didn't know how to say no to her mother. She actually hated knitting. She found it mind-numbingly dull. 

"I heard your parents are looking into joining the Republic." It wasn't a question, it was a statement. He glanced up at her and distractedly kicked a chunk of snow. 

"Yes, they think it might protect us," Karina responded, watching the snow he flung spray her dress. "There have been a couple threats against my life."

This caught Wolffe's attention. There hasn't been anything like that in his file, and he made a mental note to investigate it.

"That's terrible. You must be so scared," Benedict's voice dripped with sympathy. 

"Not really. This isn't the first time it's happened." Karina shrugged and traced her fingers along a flower, wiping the snow off. "Some people... don't like the way my parents rule. Some have tried to stage a coup."

"Oh, really?" Benedict quirked a brow, fully engaged now. "I don't see why. Your parents are delightful."

Karina shivered again. "Are you sure you wouldn't like to go inside? It's quite chilly."

"I'm fine," Benedict breezily answered. "Anyway, I look forward to our marriage. I can make you very happy."

He took her hand and brought it to his lips in what was supposed to be a seductive manner, but his lips were moist and saliva was now on her hand. She subtly wiped it on her dress as they walked further out into the garden.

A set of icy stairs were ahead, and Benedict easily walked down them with his shoes. Karina hesitated in her delicate slippers that her mother always insisted on, before carefully making her way down.

Until she slipped halfway.

She skidded down the rest of the steps, hitting her head on the ground. She lay there for a moment, dazed, before slowly lifting her head.

Wolffe held out a hand and she took it, letting him haul her to her feet.

"Oh my, are you okay?" Benedict worriedly asked, going woozy as blood dripped down her forehead.

"'m fine," Karina slurred, blinking away the droplets of blood that slid into her vision. 

Wolffe slung one of her arms over his shoulder. "I'll take her back inside and get her treated. She'll be fine."

"I hope to see you again soon," Karina weakly called out as Wolffe dragged her away.

"You're lucky Benedict is such a nice boy. He's still remaining engaged to you after that disaster outside. What were you thinking?" Isla scolded, flicking Karina's forehead.

Karina winced as the cut on her forehead was aggravated. "Apologies, I stumbled."

"Make sure it doesn't happen again," Isla coldly said before storming away.

Karina was once again left alone in her quarters. Her shaky hands picked up the bacta spray and she peered in the mirror to see where to put it.

Wolffe debated offering help, eventually deciding against it once she began to treat herself. He watched with a twinge of pity as she treated her own injuries.

"Tea?"

Wolffe's head snapped up from counting the threads in the carpet. "What?"

"Would you like some tea?" Karina gestured to the pot she had out with two cups.

"No, thank you," he awkwardly replied.

Karina sighed. "Then I believe I'm turning in for the night. See you tomorrow."

So she shooed him away, and Wolffe set out to explore the nearby town.