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galacticgraffiti · 2 years ago

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☽⭒ Above the Skies (2) ⭒☾

Summary: How did Hanto get to join Minnie's crew? What was she like before? Well, you see-

Featured Characters: Hanto (f!Duros OC), Minnie (f!Togruta OC), Antilya (one-off f!human OC) Rating: Mature (for some ugly themes) Wordcount: 3.1k Warnings: toxic relationship, ugly verbal fights but it gets better, allusions to sexual themes/very vague allusions to the possibility assault (not within the relationship), picking apart personal insecurities, breakup. A/N: All the thanks in the world and many kisses to my beautiful beta readers @cyarbika and @baba-fett I appreciate your encouragement and input more than I can say! ❥

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Chapter 2: Coming Home

Canto Bight, Cantonica. 23 BBY

Hanto hates these rich people. She hates the way their perfume is always so strong that it lays over her pores like a second skin, hates the too-loud laughter and the air of superiority that surrounds them.

Sometimes, even though she tries not to think about it too much, she hates Antilya for dragging her with her. This may be Antilya’s scene, but it is certainly not Hanto’s. She bears it, though, for the sake of the sponsors and for the sake of harmony in their small, shared home.

Antilya is nudging Hanto’s arm, flirting with another sponsor - a fat, blue Twi’lek who strokes his lekku and licks his lips as he looks Hanto’s girlfriend up and down.

We can’t tell them we’re together, Hanto hears the faint echo of Antilya’s voice in her head. They can’t know. We’ll get more sponsors that way.

It sounded sensible at the time - nearly two years ago, when they barely had enough money to eat, when Hanto came home from another rotten shift for corrupt bosses who would have looked at her as an object of desire and not a capable employee if it were not for her bald head and unsettling red eyes.

There aren’t many species who consider Duros to be attractive, not even in the diversity of this galaxy. Back then, Hanto was happier for it. Back then it meant security in a sleazy town; it meant jobs that were fixing things and not dancing for crimelords or worse. Back then, it meant safety on her way home from another nightshift. Canto Bight is not safe for pretty girls. Not safe for Antilya, but she refuses to leave. It’s her home, and Hanto understands that. She does not feel the same way about Canto Bight, but then again, she was not born here. So she does not blame Antilya for wanting to stay. Hanto hides in her too tall, too bony frame, hides behind her hairless head and unsettling eyes while men lust after Antilya. Hanto once did not care that people might regard her as ugly. Back then, Antilya used to tell her that neither did she. Hanto has not heard her say that in a long time.

By now… now, it feels like another burden. Another thing to fight about in their messy relationship. They fight, they kiss, they do the races, they make up. Hanto never forgets Antilya’s ugly words, and she never forgets her own. Fights between lovers bring out the worst in people.

“...but Hanto has made so many improvements on the racer since the last race, isn’t that right?” Antilya’s voice interrupts Hanto’s spiraling thoughts.

Hanto nods, feeling the ridiculous fake hair Antilya makes her put on whenever they go on the hunt for new sponsors tickle her arm with the movement. The only other option is to stay at home alone though, and to let Antilya walk home by herself, and Hanto refuses to do that. It’s not safe.

The event’s not gonna last forever, just tonight, just a few hours, she tells herself every time. And every time she hates it more.

Antilya squeezes Hanto’s arm and leans over to whisper in her ear just as the blue Twi’lek turns away from the conversation.

“I think I see someone over there. I’ll just go say hi… Would you mind getting us a few drinks, babe?”

Hanto flinches.

“I’ve told you not to call me that!” She calls after Antilya, but she has already vanished in the crowd. Hanto sighs.

She elbows her way through the crowded halls of the casino, not much caring whose toes she steps on. The wait at the bar is going to be long, she can feel it. Currently, that feels like a better option than sucking up to a rich smuggler or an even richer senator with a preference for petite female podracers.

What? They like the thrill, Antilya had once shrugged when Hanto had gone on another rant about how disgusting she found this whole business.

They like the fact that you are pretty, and that your ass looks good with their logo on it, Hanto had said. They like that you’re a pretty little investment, and the fact that they have all the power, and if brake comes to throttle, it’s you that dies, and not them.

Antilya hadn’t spoken to her for a week after that fight.

Hanto tries not to sigh too deeply as she leans against the bar counter. The air is clogged with alcohol, a faint whiff of spice and smoke, and way too much body odour for her skin to breathe comfortably.

Hanto’s eyes search for the bartender, but instead they fixate on… a familiar Togruta woman. It’s the same woman Hanto has seen around for the last few weeks. She was never here at the casino before, but she comes to watch the races. Hanto has noticed her. Hanto notices everyone, especially when they look like that. The Togruta has the eyes of a hawk, and more than once Hanto has caught herself daydreaming that the woman might be watching her. But the Togruta has never given any sign of interest aside from watching the races. She sits in the shade of the VIP booths in her light coloured gowns and watches the races. She is always alone. Hanto has never seen her speak to anyone. Something about her feels different.

It shouldn’t, but it does. She doesn’t feel like the rest of the crowd: eager for a gruesome accident, less interested in the sport than in who wins because it’ll make them money. This Togruta woman watches the races with an intensity Hanto has rarely seen before.

Hanto has wondered if she might be a scout, looking for pilots to recruit, or a sponsor trying to keep anonymous. If the latter, she is not doing a very good job of it. Everything about her, from the pattern on her light blue skin to the glittering pearls that decorate her montrals, screams for attention.

Hanto is fascinated by her.

She only becomes aware that she is staring quite rudely when dark eyes snap to her, a grin tugging at the corner of the Togruta’s mouth as she toasts Hanto and takes a sip of her wine.

Hanto blinks. Surely this can not have been directed towards her. She tries to flag down the bartender, to no avail. Of course not. Not even long shiny hair can hide the wrinkles and lashless eyes of her species. Pretty ladies get served first.

Hanto clicks her tongue at her own thoughts and tells herself not to be so bitter.

When Hanto looks over to the woman again, she still sits there. A dignified tilt of her head points to the empty barstool next to her. Hanto blinks slowly. Then points at herself. The Togruta nods.

Dazed and with a pounding heart, Hanto makes her way over. The woman must have been watching Antilya when she flew her races. She must have seen Hanto around, assuming that she is Antilya’s manager. She must want-

“Hello there.”

It’s a voice that envelops Hanto completely, like the cool clear waters of her home planet. Even in these two simple words, Hanto can hear the slight accent, the softness of the Togruta’s tongue as it nudges her teeth. She is not used to speaking Basic.

Hanto takes a breath to compose herself. This is a business interaction. It has to be.

“Hi.”

How utterly unprofessional. Hanto can nearly hear Antilya’s voice in her head: This is why I handle the business side of things.

The Togruta smiles, showing off sharp teeth. Hanto can’t help but smile back.

“I’ve seen you around,” the woman says in her strange singsong voice. She pronounces the vowels so softly as if she were afraid of breaking them.

“You might have,” Hanto nods and points to the stool next to the Togruta’s. “This seat taken?”

“No.” The woman tilts her head, her lekku twitching in interest.

Hanto slides onto the seat, trying not to be too obvious as she attempts to gauge the situation. Maybe she should get Antilya and-

“You are that human racer’s mechanic, are you not?” The easy question eats its way into Hanto’s heart. Of course the Togruta wants to know about Antilya, of course she wants what everyone else wants.

“Oh… aye,” Hanto confirms, her heart fluttering in disappointment in spite of herself. A corner of her mouth quirks in self-deprecation. Usually she is not ruffled so easily.

The Togruta watches her with her keen, dark eyes as Hanto continues.

“I’m Antilya’s mechanic. Did you want to speak with her? She should be around here somewhere-”

A laugh that feels like flower petals falling interrupts her ramblings.

“It’s not her I want to speak to, no.” The Togruta’s eyes focus on Hanto’s hands, then flick back up to her face. “I’m quite capable of seeking out the people I want to converse with, thank you.”

Shame burns in Hanto’s cheeks.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to imply-”

“Don’t be sorry.” The Togruta smiles at her and places one hand on Hanto’s bony arm. “I am Minretesh.”

Minretesh. Not a Togrutan name Hanto has ever heard before.

Minretesh cocks her head.

“Will you tell me your name?”

Oh.

“Haven’t I?” Hanto stumbles over her words. “I’m Hanto. Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry,” Minretesh repeats. “You apologise too much.”

The next sorry dies on the tip of Hanto’s tongue. She sighs.

“...yeah. Maybe.”

“You do!” Minretesh insists passionately. “You hide in the shadow of your racer girl. I see it every time I come to a race. I had never seen a human fly like that. I came to every race I could after the first time.”

“Antilya is extraordinary,” Hanto mumbles.

“For a human, yes, she is a very talented pilot.” Minretesh nods earnestly. “But she is not the talent. You are.”

I’m sorry, what?

Before Hanto has time to process this odd statement, the Togruta continues, her voice flowing like song.

“It is you who is extraordinary… Hanto. I have seen the podracer. I paid an exorbitant amount of money to see it from up close, in fact. For a city known for its low morals, the guards of the arena sure do take their jobs seriously. I have bribed prison wardens for less.”

Hanto’s head is spinning. This conversation has taken many turns, and not one has led in a direction that Hanto expected. Then, her brain processes something important.

“Wait, you bribed someone to tinker with my pod?”

Minretesh’s laughter is so loud that half the bar turns their heads her way.

“I did not… tinker with your pod, as you put it, beautiful girl. I merely wanted to look at it. See what you have done to make such a wondrous thing possible as your racergirl… you know, not dying. I mean, she’s human, for fuck’s sake.”

The unexpected curse from Minretesh’s soft lips rips Hanto from the trance her mind fell into the second Minretesh called her ‘beautiful’. No one has ever said that to her. She makes a choked sound to push down her laughter.

“You are laughing.” Minretesh observes dryly. “What did I say?”

“Fuck,” Hanto giggles. Minretesh’s nose scrunches.

“You are laughing because I cursed?”

Hanto struggles for both breath and words.

“Kind of,” she snorts then. “It was so… surprising.” Quieter, she adds, “And you called me beautiful. Not even Antilya-” she bites her tongue. Shit.

No one can know.

“Ah.” Minnie raises an eyebrow. “So she is your racer, hm?”

Hanto looks away.

“She doesn’t want people to know,” she mumbles. “It drives off the sponsors, knowing that a racer like her is… involved… with someone. Especially with someone like me.”

She drums her fingers on the counter. Minretesh does not say anything for a long time. Then, her soft voice comes again, barely audible over the chatter of the bar.

“Hanto.” That’s all she says at first. It is more a sigh than it is a word. Hanto does not look up; instead focusing on the way the grime has settled into her fingertips in a way that will never be clean, no matter how long the showers are that she takes.

A pale blue hand inches across the wood of the counter, resting next to Hanto’s darker one.

“Hanto, my dear,” Minretesh says again. “Listen to me. The reason I wanted to talk to you was to ask you if you wanted to join my crew. I have recently… come into possession of a new ship, and I cannot manage it alone. I have tried. I have failed. I came here on other business, but when I saw what you could do, I had to ask. I need a capable mechanic. I don’t know enough about mechanics to figure out exactly what you did to that podracer, but I know enough to tell that it is excellent work. I know enough to tell that you have not always worked with podracers. You have experience with starships. I need… someone like you. I don’t know anyone else like you.” Minretesh pauses to take a deep breath. “I have a feeling we would work well together. I’ve watched you, and just from that I could tell that you are kind, and patient. Way more patient than people deserve sometimes. I think you would like it with me, travelling the galaxy. But if you have things to keep you here- if I had known that there was a girlfriend, a family… I want to extend the offer nonetheless. You are worth way more than anyone gives you credit for.”

The small blue hand with long, sharp nails squeezes Hanto’s arm affectionately as Minretesh slips off her barstool.

“As for my previous statement… I stand by it. You are beautiful. You have an interesting face and talented hands. You are kind. I don’t know what could be more beautiful than that. If your girlfriend doesn’t tell you that every day, maybe you should consider if she is someone worth staying for. That is all I will say for now. Goodbye, beautiful Hanto.”

The air gets heavier when she leaves.

Two weeks have passed since that moment. Hanto is standing in the pit, up to the elbows in grease and spare parts, with the lovely soundtrack of Antilya yelling at her over the Herglic rage-metal that booms from the speakers.

“This was your fault!” Antilya screams. “I could have won that race if the thruster didn’t give out, I could’ve-”

“You couldn’t have won shit,” Hanto mumbles under her breath. Antilya is not even looking at her, just pacing up and down, her beautiful face red and blotchy from anger as she continues her tirade.

“-and I told you before the race, I told you…”

Hanto shuts the sound of her out. She can’t bear it anymore. In her mind, she revisits the memory of Minretesh’s gentle voice offering her a way to get out of here, to leave the planet. She should have taken the offer when she had the chance.

“-are you even LISTENING to me?” Antilya is staring down into the pit, daggers in her eyes. She throws her hands up in the air. “You know what, I don’t know why I even bother anymore. You won’t even admit you’ve made a mistake and-”

That’s it. Hanto breaks.

“Me? I didn’t make a goddamn mistake!” she yells. Antilya looks at her like Hanto developed two heads. This has never happened before. Usually, their fights are quite one-sided. Hanto could count the times she has yelled at Antilya on one hand. She does not enjoy raising her voice, but enough is enough.

Hanto wipes her arms and climbs out of the pit, standing directly in front of Antilya.

“I did not make a mistake,” she repeats, calmer, even though her thoughts are still racing. “I have never made a mistake. In fact, I have tried my damn best to make up for the disadvantages of you being a human racer because you loved racing, and I thought I loved you.” She takes a deep breath.

“Somewhere along the line, that got lost. You want more money, and that’s fine. I don’t. I would have been content. But I was fine with you wanting more. I was fine with keeping our relationship a secret, fine with you batting your lashes at gross rich people in front of me, fine with taking the blame so you could keep doing what you loved. So we could have harmony at home.” Another deep breath.

“I’m not fine with that anymore. We haven’t had peace at home for a long time. You can be an ugly, ugly person, Antilya. And if we’re being honest, I don’t particularly like the woman you have become in the last few months.” Hanto is breathing hard now, but now that the dam has broken, it is impossible to stop.

“And not to be dramatic, because I know how you hate that…,”Antilya rolls her eyes at Hanto’s words, but Hanto ignores her, “...but if I’m being honest with myself, I should have left a long time ago. I should have left when talking to you started to feel like a chore. I should have left when you started to be ashamed of me. I should have left when our house stopped feeling like a place I could come home to, and the reason that I stayed is - more than anything, which is shameful - that… I just forgot that I could leave. And recently, I was reminded of that.”

Antilya doesn’t say anything. She doesn’t cry, doesn’t yell, she doesn’t even apologise. She just turns around and leaves. When Hanto comes home hours later, Antilya’s things are gone.

Three days later, Minretesh walks into Hanto’s workshop booth at the arena.

“What are you still doing here?” is all she asks.

“You didn’t give me your frequency,” Hanto mumbles. “You didn’t know where I lived. I was afraid I’d miss you coming back. This is the only place I could think of to wait for you.”

Minretesh just nods, even though it is a flimsy excuse, given that Hanto’s things are piled up in a corner along with a makeshift bed. She does not ask why Hanto is living in the pitstop workshop.

“Have you considered my offer then?” she asks instead, stretching her hand out. Hanto takes it.

“I’ll need to see the ship first.”

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Previous Chapter ☽⋅⋅⋆⋅⋅☾ Next Chapter [coming]

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#above the skies #gala’s ocs #oc hanto #oc minnie #gala writes #star wars oc #togruta oc #duros oc #star wars original story #star wars original character #tw toxic relationship

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