Claimed by the Hunter

The Hunter's Serenade:>>EP3

As he drew the curtain gently aside, a woman came into view, her appearance giving the impression that she was unclothed beneath a loosely draped blanket. Her disheveled, pixie-bobbed black hair gracefully framed her face, and her lips were softly parted in the midst of tranquil slumber.

"How the hell does she sleep through all of that?" Kira wondered aloud in reference to the turbulent journey their vessel had undergone, escaping from Abogon's atmosphere and jolting into jump space.

"How am I supposed to know? She's always been a heavy sleeper," Sev remarked, scratching the top of his helmet.

"Right, and how sure are you that you want to go through with this?" Kira asked, alluding to something unstated. "Will she even accept your offer? I know you've known her for a long time but, well, she doesn't really seem like that type of girl. Are you really that into her?"

"I'm certain. She is one of a kind..." Sev replied, his tone filled with deep sincerity as he cast a glance at the peacefully slumbering woman.

"Huh, whatever you say, boss. This is a tradition of your people, so I'll support you no matter what," Kira assured him. Sev nodded, taking a moment to gaze at the sleeping woman beneath him and appreciate her beauty and elegance.

Sev had always been a lone wolf, and he rarely sought out partnerships with others. He preferred to operate solo, relying mainly on his trusted companion, Kira. This had been his confirmed mode of operation for a long time. However, everything had changed the moment he first crossed paths with Serina, the woman who now slumbered serenely aboard his vessel.

Sev had been well aware of Serina long before they had ever become properly acquainted. Both were renowned as among the top independent bounty hunters in the galaxy, and their reputations often preceded them. Sev's path had crossed with Serina's on numerous occasions during various jobs. However, their respective employers had typically found themselves on opposing ends of the spectrum, leading to a professional rivalry between the two. Despite the conflicts, a deep-seated mutual respect had developed over time.

Their encounters took a turn for the better when a job that Sev had undertaken resulted in the demise of most of Serina's employers. While she wasn't thrilled to find out that she had been involuntarily unemployed, she had at least been spared from sharing their fate as she had been engaged in a different assignment at the time. When Serina was left with no other options and nowhere to go, Sev extended a kind gesture as a way of making amends, recommending her proficient services to his own employers. Serina, though initially skeptical, ultimately accepted the offer, forging a new partnership that would alter the course of their bounty-hunting careers.

In the wake of their alliance, Sev and Serina started collaborating on various jobs, and this shared experience deepened their connection. Sev found himself acknowledging the benefits of working alongside another professional, despite his previous dedication to operating solo. Admittedly, they had to weather some initial tension due to their differing approaches and techniques but, with time, they had managed to overcome these disparities. As they adapted to each other's strengths and methods, a natural synergy developed, transforming them into a formidable and highly effective bounty-hunting duo.

Over the course of their partnership, there were inevitably moments of downtime between missions. However, they tended to gravitate back to each other's company. Eventually, one thing led to another, and they found themselves sharing an intimate connection. Sev wasn't one to actively seek out romantic involvements, especially with someone he considered a professional companion. But Serina was different: he was attracted to her determination and self-assuredness. In fact, it was she who took the initiative; it was a bit awkward, at first, given their professional history. Yet, as they continued to spend time together during their moments of respite, it became clear that their bond extended beyond the professional sphere.

As Sev continued to gaze upon Serina's peacefully sleeping form from behind his visor, he failed to realize that her piercing amber eyes were now wide open and mirroring his stare right back at him. "Whatcha staring at, tiger?" Serina playfully quipped in a raspy voice.

As she slowly sat up, the blanket loosely draped across her chest slipped down and her perky D-cup breasts sprang out of cover. Still shaded by his helmet, Sev's eyes were naturally drawn to her alluring mammaries. Reaching over, he plucked up the blanket and raised it back over her chest.

"Oops! Hmm, thank you. You are such a gentleman," Serina chuckled warmly as she took the blanket into her own grip. Scanning her surroundings, she scratched her head as if she were not yet fully awake. "Hmm, what's going on? Where are we?" she wondered, as she yawned.

"I had to pick up a bounty from Abogon. We just took off from there and we're currently in jump space," Sev informed, deliberately withholding their destination for now. Serina's eyes shot open in surprise.

"Abogon?? How long have I been out?" the pixie-haired bounty hunter exclaimed, sounding a bit bemused.

"Hm... you've been in bed since we left Novus..." he responded, his gloved hand idly rubbing the chin of his helmet. "I'll never figure out how you manage to sleep through all this," Sev continued, his voice carrying a quiet chuckle.

"Hey, if you grow up on Terminus, you can sleep through anything. And after what you put me through last night, you can't blame a girl for sleeping in," Serina chuckled, teasingly. Sev shook his head at her brashness. "But let's not dwell on that," she said. "How did things go with King Gornu? It's been quite some time since my last visit to that wretched planet," she inquired, curious about the outcome of Sev's recent mission.

"It actually went surprisingly well," Sev replied as he took a seat on the side of the bunk. However, his thoughts quickly turned to a particular encounter that made him quietly chuckle.

"What's so amusing?" Serina inquired, moving closer to her armored companion and idly fiddling with his chest plate.

"Remember Emma? 'The Autumn Fox'?" Sev asked.

"Yeah, of course I do. What about her?" Serina responded, growing more curious.

"It might sound kind of crazy, but she's now one of Gornu's slave girls," Sev revealed. Serina's amber eyes widened in surprise.

"No way..." Serina exclaimed, her tone reflecting her astonishment. "Heh, she had it coming to her. That arrogant bitch... well, it's a shame I couldn't get to her before that fat bastard. Hm, but I guess her current fate is rather befitting," she voiced her thoughts aloud, her grip inadvertently tightening on one of Sev's harnesses. Serina had her own history with Emma. As with Sev, Serina and Emma's employment had often led to them working against each other. However, unlike Sev, Serina had developed no mutual respect for Emma.