Those steps towards her made Astra take one backwards, wanting to put as much space between them even if that weapons could end her in a second, "Very, I could have been changing. These are my quarters, there shouldn't be anyone else here, not now, anyway."
You're Gonna Carry That Weight
"Great! Don't worry, I'm a gentleman." He kept his smile on his face, watching as she took a step back. Her voice was shockingly steady, and it made him wonder if she'd dealt with threats like this before. As far as he knew, the plot on her life was a recent development. He'd never fully understand the timing of politics, but to each their own. "I want to explain my intentions. I'm a bounty hunter, and, well, unfortunately, I'm here because there's a target on your head."
The princess raised a brow, blinking a couple times. Wasn't the first time someone had tried to end her life, however the last time the guy hadn't got this close in doing so, "Is that so? I don't believe I have done anything worth having a bounty on my head but then again, politicians are so confusing," She watched him closely, her gaze never leaving his, "Suppose there's a large cash prize involved, then? That tends to be why bounty hunters come dropping by so rudely."
He shrugged daintily. "Political rivals of your father, I'd guess. I never know much about my employers." He squinted at her, another pleasant smile cracking his lips open. Her eyes were two different colors, he realized suddenly. "I do know they want you dead, not captured. Which sucks for both of us."
She waved a hand idly, "How so? You get money out of this most likely, I don't see how that sucks for yourself," She tilted her head, strands of her hair falling across her face, "Please, don't go through with this, I'm sure I could match whatever the price it is. There are people who need me."
He gave a breathy chuckle. "I prefer it when my bounties are wanted alive. I sleep better." He had, momentarily, felt his resolve wavering, but her statement emboldened him a little. "Trust me, if I don't kill you, someone else will. You won't be able to match this price more than once, and the next guy to come along might not be as polite."
"I'm willing to take that chance," Astra replied, "Please, surely killing isn't going to make you feel better? What's the point in all this? There's so much more you could be doing instead," She hoped he'd understand, he was polite, yes but that didn't mean he had any sense in him. She just hoped he did, "Please, sir, don't do this."
He shook his head slowly, exhaling, letting the air hiss through his teeth. "Like I said, I'm really sorry. You seem like a nice girl, a good princess. But I'm under contract." He started to think back to the conditions of his contract with the employer. His boss had said that the girl needed to be dead, but he didn't say when…or how…or who had to kill her. Hypotheticals began to play through his brain. He could bring her back to his employer, let him handle the dirty work. No, that'd risk his payment. He could kill her later, somewhere even more secluded. Maybe? "It would be a bummer to kill you in your room, though."
She was about to reply, but then there was a knock on the closed door, "Astra?" Her father, "Astra are you in there?" Her eyes widened ever so slightly and she removed her gaze from him only to look at the door, "Uh yes! I'm just changing, give me a few minutes father!" She looked back to him, narrowing those multiple coloured eyes, "If you going to kill me do it now," She hissed quietly, "Get blood on the carpet for all I care but if you going to, do it now."
"Shit. Shit." Kai had hesitated a few times before, one of which led to his arrest. He'd gotten bailed out last time, but he wasn't sure the prisons in this country, on this planet, would be so lenient. He had moments to decide. "Listen, okay, I don't want to kill you," he admitted both to himself and to Astra. "I haven't actually killed anyone directly before. Come here. I said come here." He grabbed her and shoved the gun to the side of her head. "How do I get out of here?"
Astra gasped softly, though didn't fight back, not when that gun was pressed against the side of her head and one wrong move her brains could be splattered against the wall, "Balcony. It's not that big of a jump." She pointed to the glass door, "Why become a bounty hunter if you're not actually going to kill anyone? It doesn't make any logical sense."
"Never said I was a genius," he said, another smile flitting across his face. He motioned for her to open the balcony, keeping the gun against her head. "I usually don't accept the murder jobs, okay? But the money was perfect and –and I don't have to explain myself to you. Hurry up."
Astra rolled her eyes, though unlocked the door and gestured to the outside, clearly becoming impatient, "I never said you did, the questions were rhetorical." She smiled, though this one was slightly forced and it was obvious she was at least a little scared.
"Stay in front of me," he ordered, shoving her outside with little gentleness. His eyes shifted away from her and down to the courtyard. The balcony was about ten feet off the ground, which would make an uncomfortable but not dangerous landing. "We're going down together."
She stumbled a little as she was shoved, looking over her shoulder to sending him a glare, "Normally I wait until the bedroom before letting a man order me around," She mumbled, heading to the edge of the balcony and looked over the edge, "What? You going to pick me up and jump down? No thank you, sir, I'll jump on my own." It also gave her a chance to run once she landed.
"Not a chance," he said, ignoring her bedroom statement with a frown. He really hadn't thought this through. If he jumped first, she'd turn back and run to her father. But if she jumped first, she'd alert the guards. No favorable options… unless. "If you run, scream, or do anything funny I'll shoot you. Maybe to kill, maybe not. But you can jump first."
Astra swallowed. Risk being killed now, or later? Later seemed like a better option, "Fine, as you wish." She swung her legs over the side, sitting on the thing railing. She looked down, back to the balcony door, then down again before she pushed herself off the edge. Surprisingly, she landed well, light on her feet and not falling face first into the gardens.
Kai watched Astra land before flinging himself of the balcony as well. He did not land well, he admitted to himself, as he scrambled to pick himself up out of the bushes and reaim his gun. "Keep leading the way, go straight. My ship's at the nearest port."
On quiet feet, she led Kai back towards his ship, heading in the direction that he had talked about. She was in some deep shit now. If he wasn't going to kill her, then who would? His boss? Someone else that worked for him? She didn't know, and she wished she did.
Unbeknownst to Astra, Kai was also internally asking himself the exact same questions. What exactly was his plan? He felt like an idiot. If he had simply walked into her room and shot her, he'd be halfway to Zuka by now, claiming his reward. Instead, he was leading a powerful princess to his ship, putting a target on his back both from her father and the other bounty hunters after her. "This is a disaster," he mumbled, hoping she didn't hear him but not trying too hard to be quiet.
Unfortunately for Kai, Astra did, letting out a very unladylike snort followed by a soft, "No shit." It didn't take long before they reached the nearest port, the metal of Kai's ship coming into view. Her gut twisted with that fact that she might never be coming back home after today. She tried not to dwell on the thought, however it was hard not to when death loomed behind you.
Kai raked his free hand through his hair. By now they'd reached a busier part of town, so he'd wedged the gun between Astra's shoulderblades. "Keep your head down. I don't want anyone to recognize you." All he needed to do was cross the busy street and they'd be on their way to somewhere.
"Skip!" He froze, his teeth clenching. He knew that voice. Another bounty hunter had already arrived, and she was between them and their escape route. "Oh fuck," he said.
“What?” Astra looked over her shoulder at Kai, confusing coating her soft features, “Who is it?” If they didn’t get out of the middle of the street she was going to be spotted. Kind of hard to not miss the princess with the mismatched eyes and stark white hair.
“You better have a plan, sir.”
"Okay, you gotta quit calling me sir, it's throwing me off," he said, his words spilling out too quickly over each other. He grabbed her and pulled her to his side, keeping one hand on her as he slowly withdrew the weapon from her back. He managed a charming smile, waving a hand at the newcomer. "Hi, Lana. Here for the princess?"
Lana tossed her curly hair, her mouth curved in a smirk. "You know me. Shocking that you got her first, kid."
"Yeah, so shocking," he agreed. He lowered his voice, talking through his teeth. "When I say so, run straight to my ship and get in. Don't look back if you want to live. She won't hesitate."
“What else am I supposed to call if if I don’t know your name,” She mumbled, the tiniest hint of a smile tugging at her lips but it was gone in a flash.
Astra kept her gaze down cast, nodding subtly to his words as the only form of acknowledgement. Too much talking would give her away if it wasn’t obvious enough already.
Being the polite kid he was, he started to respond, but chaged his mind. "It's –never mind, I'll tell you later."
Lana approached them, both of her hands hidden in her pockets. He racked his brain for information about her. She was particularly brutal, but he didn't know what weapons she used, only that she wasn't afraid to use them. She was getting closer, so perhaps they were short range? "Come on, hand her over," she said, laughing. "Why isn't she already dead? You not have the balls?"
"Lana, why don't you join us?" he lied glibly, keeping his tone light. "You must know the reward is more than ten bounties alone."
Astra bit down on her bottom lip, nerves steadily growing the longer the conversation lasted. She’s been lucky so far with him, however she doubted whoever this… Lana was, her luck would run out.
“Didn’t know I was that valuable.” She mumbled under her breath, shifting slightly on her feet.
Lana grinned, inching closer. "You're cute, but no. I fly solo." It was then she made her very first mistake: she was too trigger happy. Her right hand twitched out of her pockets, revealing a knife. That was all he needed to know.
He gave Astra a shove, "Now!" and then aimed his gun at Lana's chest. Lana's knives were in her hands quickly, and she started to move towards Astra.
As soon as he gave the signal, the princess was off, sprinting towards the ship. She was quick, light on her feet and not weighed down by any heavy clothing or weapons which worked to her advantage.
She knew these streets too, weaving in between people and things before the ship was so close, practically in reach.
Lana pursued Astra down the street with Kai at her heels. She laughed, her voice carried by the wind, "You're not going to shoot me."
"You really think so?" He fired a warning shot, narrowly missing her shoulder, causing her to turn around.
She grinned, fingers twitching around her blades. "That's how you want this to go?" With speed he could hardly comprehend she was attacking him, her knives cutting through the air and nearly impaling him. He dodged, his gun firing and missing again. Using the end of his weapon, he deflected her right hand, but the knife in her left hand managed to graze his arm. He swept a foot beneath her, unsteadying her, and then slammed his weapon against her head.
She was disoriented, giving him time to leap up and dash towards his ship. He was close, and he assumed Astra was inside.