Myranian Heart

A/N - better summary-

Dijana Mari is a Myranian bounty hunter who did whatever it took to capture her mark, but only because she needed the money. She did not want to do this kind of thing for the rest of her life. One night, her world is flipped upside down and backward when she meets Morgan, the Caligulan pirate with a playful, teasing personality who captured her attention from the get go.

Both wanted nothing more than a fling. Both have their jobs. Both have their secrets. But things take a new twist when Morgan decides he wants more than a one night stand...

Can they manage being friends with benefits? Or will things change for the carefree couple who love to press each other's limits?

_______________________________


A soft moan sounded in the small, dark room as Dijana Mari shifted under her covers and stretched. Slowly, she opened her black colored eyes and stared up at the ceiling after rolling onto her back. She was not sure exactly what had caused her to wake, but she knew there was no way she was going to be getting back to sleep. Giving a defeated groan, Dijana sat up and placed her hands over her face before pushing them up to pull her long mauve hair out of her vision. It was not hard to see that that mauve was not her true color. A glance in the mirror showed blond eyebrows delicately arched above her eyes. Coloring her originally blond hair this new color had been needed when she left her home on Myrania.

Another sigh left Dijana's lips as she finally slid out of her bed and made her way to the bathroom to turn on the water for her shower. Wandering in just a pair of bikini briefs and a simple tank shirt, she pulled a pair of black shorts out of a drawer and tossed them upon her bed. Another drawer offered up a midriff-baring top that laced up in the front. A simple outfit, maybe, but it also allowed her most valuable asset available to her. Myranian women had special gifts, but needed their skin available in order to use them. Most Myranian women used them, anyway. Dijana was the odd one in her family, choosing only to use her power if she truly found no other way out of a situation. It was not something she enjoyed taking advantage of, especially when she had other means of making her living.

A quick shower helped to further wake her and she dressed, slipping on a pair of black leather boots. Reaching under her pillow, she withdrew a dagger that fit in a sheath hidden on the inside of her right boot. The dagger had been with her since the first fight she had been involved in not long after she had gone away from home and she had affectionately dubbed it Qayen. Typically saying it was the only man who had never let her down, she and Qayen worked together as she found herself taking on the position of a universal bounty hunter in order to collect creds, something like the Earthen form of money, in order to survive.

Dijana sat down long enough to apply her make up. She had to admit, she liked how the colors accented the tattoo near her left eye. A deep blue moon rested near the corner of her eye and was followed by a small trail of teal stars. It was one set of two tattoos she had on her body. The other was a lavender rose on her left shoulder blade. She still was not entirely sure why she had gotten them, but she never regretted them. They were a nice distraction from the one scar near her right hip received during a bust gone bad. Reaching up to her neck, she fingered the charm that hung from a silver chain. It was a reminder to her of a past she intended to leave buried when she left Myrania. A reminder that regardless of her choices, she would always have to be careful. She closed her fist around the charm and shut her eyes with an indrawn breath before standing and straightening up her room.

Her recent travels had brought her to a city called Ra'nakala in the Drakoni world Dak'Marin. It was a busy city with a spaceport that brought in beings from several worlds and gave her plenty of business. Her problem was that she really did not want her position, though in all honesty, she was not entirely certain what it was she really wanted. She found herself only half-heartedly going about her business just waiting for something better to arrive. When that would happen or how, she was not sure, but one day, she was certain she would be on her way once more.

Dijana locked up her apartment and made her way down the hall of the building before stepping outside. The night air struck her and she closed her eyes to breathe it in. To her left, she could hear the homeless and the hopeless beginning to stir and sift through whatever garbage happened to be around them. Across the street, she caught the slight glance of a creature she quickly turned away from. He had brought many tenants and passers by trouble recently, and she was not in the mood for it. At the moment, all she wanted was a good stiff drink. She knew the best place to go for that was a a bar near the spaceport called Ananda Star.

A curious place, the bar was. The sign near the door claimed to be licensed to cater to all races and sexes who entered. An ironic fact Dijana brushed over as she pressed against the door. She knew that there was no way Ananda Star could possibly be prepared for everyone who entered. The bar she stepped into did serve several purposes, however. A stairway to one side led to the upstairs brothel and another stairway on the other side led to the basement where music from the club Under the Star could be felt pulsating through the floor. Keeping to herself, Dijana made her way across the room and perched upon a stool near the counter, motioning to the bartender, a Drakon'ai named Lorcan Nezivyn, for a glass of Drakon rum.

Used to seeing her, Lorcan did not question her drink of choice. She had shown him on several occassions that her system could handle the harsh drink better than most who gave it a try. What could she say? She liked things rough; right down to her drink. Thanking him, Dijana turned back to the door. She had felt the eyes of several people following her as she had walked across the floor. One set in particular had made her toss a sly glance over her shoulder to see a man with long green hair tied back behind him. A scar was evident across one side of his face, and she took note of his autumnal orange skin. Pointed elfen ears told her he was second kind Caligulan, and his eyes told her of his mischievious nature. He nodded to her as her eyes flickered over in his direction once more before the opening of the door caught their attention.

A tall man Dijana had never seen before entered and approached the bar. He ordered up a glass of liquor not quite as strong as her Drakon rum, but strong enough. She watched him thoughtfully, taking in his appearance. Short cropped black hair added to his dark appearance, and the look in his eyes gave a feeling of mystery about him. She arched an eyebrow at him seeing him as a Terran. A human who knew a bit more about the universe than most. The stranger made his way back to the door, stopping at a bulletin board on the wall.

She smirked idly when she saw him staring at a paper announcing a bounty on the head of Caligulan, Blue Fayse. He was not the first to be stopped by the amount wanted for the former royal turned enemy of the Caligulan government. Many had been tempted by it, but no one had come even remotely close to catching him.

And yet another one who seeks the unattainable... she thought with a shake of her head. Sliding off her stool, she joined him at the board. The ice in her glass clinked quietly as she reached up around him to grasp another note near the Fayse bounty. She kept her voice soft, almost like a purr, when she addressed the stranger.

"Good luck going after that one," she told him as she glanced at her paper. "Bounty hunters all over the universe have been after him for a good, long time now. It never seems to fail that he always manages to escape the trouble that seeks him." The man arched an eyebrow at her and he opened his mouth to speak, but his words were halted by the slamming of the front door as another patron entered.

"Ho! Bulletin Board!" the man announced loud enough to startle several other patrons throughout the room. As Dijana and the Terran watched, the new man stomped over to them and reached up to rip the Fayse bounty notice off the board with a sort of dramatic appearance. "Be just a minute!"

Dijana could not help but smirk into her drink as the tanned being marched over to the counter to hail Lorcan's attention. She knew he was a mix breed by his look. Light colored hair similar to the Wraithe race, red eyes as her own Myranian kind, yet a Terran sense about him that made her wonder about his family life. She could tell by the scars she could see on his arms and face that life had never been very easy for him. His boisterous personality also told him, not many got too close to him as well. She gave a shrug of her shoulders before turning to place her back against the wall. The Terran she had spoken to stepped to the side, melting into the shadows with his drink whle he kept his gaze upon the new man and Dijana, herself.

Feeling put on edge by the feel of the Terran's eyes upon her, Dijana shifted and stood straight. She looked around the room, but failed to notice where he had disappeared to as she stuffed her note in her pocket and returned to the counter, sitting on the farthest end where she could watch as the mixed breed conversed with one of Lorcan's servants. She sighed and motioned for another drink.

This is shaping up to be an interesting night... Her eyebrow arched slightly when the green-haired man near the door plunked himself beside her, placing his back against the counter and dangling his drink from fingertips. A sly grin curved his lips as he lifted his glass in greeting.

"Cheers, lass. Mind if I sit facing the door?"

"Cheers to you," she returned after downing the last of her drink. "You may sit facing whichever direction you like, sir." Shaking the ice at the bottom of her glass she glanced over at him with a slight smile as she added appreciatively, "It's all good regardless..."

He gave her a wink. "I like to look at that board whenever I'm here... I need to know when I pop up on it, you know?"

Dijana's mind captured his words as she placed her glass on the counter and turned to face him completely. Resting her elbow against the bar and propping her head against her hand, she opted to give him her attention. "You expecting to see your name up there soon, I take it?" Her thoughts raced over the idea that she would have taken his bounty in a heartbeat, if only just to chase him down for the sport of it. Something about him, sparked a fire in her spirit she had not felt in a good long time.

The man held an amused look as he sipped his drink. His voice was calm. "I don't know if I should tell you that... but I have been... sought after in the past," he answered, his sly grin still in place.

She knew his words held a double meaning, but chose to play his game as she glanced over him appreciatively. "I can see why..." She turned to face the counter again, catching Lorcan's attention for a refill of her drink.

"I imagine you know how it feels."

Dijana's black eyes took a distant look at the stranger's words. She knew he did not know her, but his words struck her memories just enough to quiet her a moment. "Aye, that I do," she answered with a nod at Lorcan as he placed her drink in front of her. She took a sip and thought to change the subject. "So... what brings you to town? Business?" She glanced over at him again. "Or pleasure?"

"It really depends on my mood," he answered quietly, almost suggestively.

"I see, and what does your mood beg of you this evening?" She took another drink, but before the stranger could speak, their attention was distracted when the Terran Dijana had spoken to earlier appeared near them asking to join them.

"Aye, lad, feel free to it where ye like. I don't own the chairs," her drinking companion said to him.

"Don't mind me," the Terran replied calmly. With a smile, he added, "My name is Súar, but most people call me Sunny. Who're you guys?"

Dijana hid a sudden yawn behind her glass, masking it by taking another drink before responding with a nod. "Name's Dijana."

"Morgan," her companion added, his attention drawn up as the door opened and a hooded figure entered the bar. He watched the figure pause momentarily at the bulletin board before make his way beside him at the counter and order a drink.

"You guys wouldn't be looking for a bounty, would you?" Sunny asked casually.

Dijana arched an eyebrow at him, curiously. "Why do you ask?"

Morgan grinned at the hooded figure beside him before responding to the Terran. "Aye, why do ye ask? Should I be worried?" He chuckled quietly and took another drink before glancing at the hooded figure again.

"Are you behaving yourself, Morgan?" the hooded figure asked him in a low voice before tossing a smirk over at him.

Morgan gave him a devilish grin. "No." He gave a slight nod over his shoulder at Dijana. "Although, this dear lass hasn't slapped me yet, so that doesn't seem to be a problem."

The figure laughed quietly. "Shall we gamble on how long till she does?"

Morgan's pointed ears waggled playfully looking rather excited at the prospect. "For what stakes, lad?"

The figure arched his eyebrow and shook his head with a grin. "Loser buys the next drink, Captain. Wouldn't want you to get your hopes up..." His voice dipped almost below hearing as he added, "...yet..."

Dijana took a bored glance around the room before looking back at the two near her. "I take it the two of you know each other?"

Morgan winked slyly. "Aye, we're shipmates. Meet Synn. Synn, this is Dijana, and..." he motioned his hand to the Terran. "Sunny, right?"

Dijana nodded to him with a smile. "Good eve, Synn."

"Pleasure," Synn returned with a brief flick of his wrist as a wave.

"Shipmates..." Dijana thought a moment. "Military?" She gave Synn a closer look when he coughed, turning his head to motion to Lorcan agan.

Morgan also caught the question and his friend's reaction as he took another sip. It was better for him to carefully nurse his drinks. It kept a clearer head upon his shoulders. In moments such as this, it helped. "Traders," he replied evenly. "Always good to have someone watching your back on the trade routes, y'see." Licking at his lips, he changed thoughts. "Mmmm- ye were asking what my mood was tonight, weren't ye, lass?"

It did not take long for her to recognize the cover. She had used them herself several times in her line of work as well as her life. It made her curious, but she knew better than to press. "Aye, that I did. I take it you have an answer for me, Mr. Morgan?" she returned with a playful grin.

Morgan's eyes sparkled devilishly as he leaned closer to her. "Captain, dear. And this night, I am here for pleasure."

Dijana's laugh was muffled behind closed lips as she looked up at him teasingly. "Mmm, Captain," she corrected herself. "Perhaps we can find a way to satisfy your mood..."

Beside them, Synn listened silently to their conversation and resisted the urge to let his head fall to the counter. "I suppose I should be seeking other accomodations tonight."

Morgan's smile was devious as his ears wiggled again. "You'd be of more use on the ship, lad," he informed his friend who gave a frustrated look upward.

"Sure I wouldn't be wanting a part of whatever you are planning." Synn gave a small shake of his head. "However, I seem to be owing you a drink."

"Ye, know what I like, lad," Morgan told him with a pat on his shoulder. "Though, if Dijana doesn't mind, I think I'll waive it to her," he added as he leaned closer to his friend. "After which I may leave you to deal with our other new aquaintence. So have your stories ready. He was studying the sheet for a certain someone before you came in..."

Synn's smile faded slightly at the hinted remark and nodded briefly. "I see," he murmered. Taking a breath, he spoke a little louder. "Have a good night, Captain. We'll meet up again in the morning," he added as Dijana finished her drink and placed her glass on the counter before turning to leave with Morgan.

The captain offered his arm to her with a smirk. "Well, then, are ye interested any in the workings of a tradeship?"

She took his arm with a playful grin. "Sounds like an interesting opportunity."

Synn laughed quietly again. "Just try to leave the ship in one piece Captain."

Morgan's tongue poked out from under his teeth as he gave a Chesire cat grin. "All I can promise is that we'll leave your quarters alone..."