Trading Up [WIP], L/M - Chapter 1/?

[JayCee]

Title: Trading Up
Rating: PG-13
Time Frame: Starts before Children of the Jedi, ending unknown atm.
Characters: Luke, Mara, Teneniel Djo (later Callista, Leia, Han, others)
Summary: After Mara earns "claim rights" on Luke, will she collect when she realizes just how she feels about Luke who has now started dating someone else.
Note: The first chapter was written as a short fic for a TFN challenge by McEwok, then I was talking into making this into a full fic by the ladies at SSB.
Disclaimer: Do I look like I own Star Wars? I hate flannel.

Chapter 1

She was supposed to meet me an hour ago, Luke thought as he made his way through the Dathomir village. And she complains about me being late all the time.

Stretching out with the Force, Luke could feel Mara just outside the village. He had talked the former assassin into ferrying him and Teneniel Djo to the planet. There were a few more ‘witches’ that wished to join his Academy and Teneniel wanted to spend some time on her homeworld.

The closer he got to Mara, the more it became evident through the Force that she was not all that happy about something. Breaking into a run he made his way to a river that flowed next to the village. He had been told that it had been raining for several days before his arrival and the muddy riverbank was slowing him down.

What in the?

It was no wonder that Mara wasn’t happy. She was on her knees in muddy patch of the riverbank with Teneniel behind her. The Dathomir warrior had her left foot on Mara’s left calf and her right foot pushing on Mara’s right shoulder. As she pushed at her back, Teneniel pulled on a large chunk of Mara’s red hair.

Luke was about to rush forward when Mara let out a holler and swung her arms and body around, knocking Teneniel to the ground. Teneniel quickly got back to her feet, shaking off the mud. Mara stretched out her back muscles, then the women began to circle each other.

Unsure what was going on, Luke felt out with the Force. They weren’t fighting out of hatred. It was… a competition?

Teneniel rushed forward and punched at Mara who threw up her arm to deflect her. The Dathomir witch took the opening and elbowed Mara in the stomach. Mara gasped then kicked out against Teneniel’s knee. Apparently she kicked very hard because Teneniel went down, taking Mara with her into the mud.

What they were competing over, Luke had no idea. Maybe it was one of those ‘I’m a better fighter then you are’ things? Regardless, they weren’t going to kill each other so he probably shouldn’t interfere.

Teneniel and Mara both seemed to have latched onto each other’s throats and began to roll over each other in the muck, fighting for dominance. Mara finally ended up on top of Teneniel, straddling her.

A few thoughts and images floated through Luke’s mind. The Jedi Master smirked and leaned against a nearby tree.

Teneniel wiggled under Mara and managed to bring one leg up so she could flip former Imp over her head. Mara landed on her back, hard, and looked dazed. She might have hit a rock from the riverbed. Teneniel jumped up and straddled Mara, hands around her throat.

Luke thought they weren’t going to kill each other, but now he was getting a little worried.

Mara swung her fist and connected against Teneniel’s jaw. Throwing Teneniel off of her, Mara grabbed the witch from behind. Wrapping her arm around Teneniel’s throat, Mara began to squeeze. Luke watched as Teneniel’s eyes rolled up and body went slack.

What has she done! Luke was about to yell when he realized that Teneniel wasn’t dead, just knocked out.

Mara was gently laying her opponent’s body on the ground and Luke decided it probably wasn’t best if he was found hanging around, watching their duel. He made his way back to the village and waited for Mara and Teneniel to show up.

About thirty minutes passed and finally the two women appeared from the trees. They were still caked in mud. Of course they couldn’t use the river to wash up, it was a water source and the village elders wouldn’t have approved.

Teneniel spotted him, her eyes flashed annoyance and then she stalked off in the direction of the village center.

“Sorry I’m late,” Mara said as if nothing had happened and she wasn’t covered in mud. “You ready to go?”

“You mind telling me what that was about?” Luke gestured in the direction Teneniel had gone.

“That? That was nothing.”

Mara started to walk past him and Luke grabbed her shoulder. “I don’t like it when my students fight.”

“You don’t have to worry about the Dark Side, Luke. It was nothing.”

“If it’s nothing then you shouldn’t worry about telling me.”

“You really don’t want to know.” She shook her head but there was smirk there.

“Yes, I do,” he said firmly.

Mara sighed. “I won you.”

Luke blinked. “What?”

“Teneniel was going to claim you or something.” Mara shrugged. “One of their tribal customs. She was going to ‘own’ you.”

“She’s married to Isolder!” Luke wasn’t sure if he should be confused, irate, or flattered.

“You’re talking about a planet of female warriors who just now learned of the concept of marriage.” Mara smirked. “I think she thought of it as ‘trading up’.”

“Well, I suppose that does make some sense.” Luke looked at Mara and raised and eyebrow. “So what’s this about you winning me?”

Mara shrugged again. “I didn’t think you’d appreciate being knocked over the head and drug back to Teneniel’s hut, again.”

“So you fought for claim-rights over me?”

“Don’t worry, Skywalker,” Mara smirked. “I won’t be dragging you off to my hut.”
Luke grinned back. “I guess I owe you a thanks.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Mara moved past him towards her ship.

“Hey, Mara.”

“Yeah?” She turned back to him.

Luke reached up and brushed away some dried mud from her cheek. “You’re dirty.”

Luke moved past the stunned redhead. He only made it a few meters before he was hit squarely in the back of the head with a mud ball.

[hakurosgirl]

hey i just found this and it rocks got any recommendations on other stories to read?? heck so far everything here rocks and i just joined.....it kinda reminds me of swsb but that site is down right now. well cant wait for more please continue this.

~jenny~

[Peagis]

interesting, you had me worried there for a minute that Luke was allready involved with Tennieal