She was walking fairly leisurely, and didn't seem to notice his presence as he followed her from a distance. She appeared to be heading back towards her quarters. Kai fell into step behind her, making sure he stayed out of side as much as possible, his hand still on his weapon. The hallways were long and carpeted, and no one was around, but he still wanted a more secluded spot. He needed to bide his time.
Astra didn't notice the presence mainly because she didn't expect to be followed in her own home. Especially by someone who was out to kill her. Sighing softly, she did head back to her quarters, leaving her door open as she entered the large space.
The room was filled with pinks and blues, flowers and planting hanging from any surface that didn't have paper work or paint or sheet music or books on top. There was an art easel to one side next to a beautiful piano. It hard large open windows to one side, opening out onto a balcony that over looked the flower gardens bellow. It was her safe haven.
Kai peered into her room and a silent laugh filled his chest. God, her room was lovely –reminded him of his own a lifetime ago. His fingers twitched around his weapon, and he wished he could switch the gun with the paintbrush, wished his fingers were playing with the piano keys and not the trigger. He cast away that though impatiently, stepping into the room and shutting the door softly behind him.
"Hello, Princess," he greeted, his weapon drawn before she'd even turned around.
The clicked of the door shutting and the unknown voice that filled the room made Astra tense immediately. Slowly, oh so slowly, she turned around to face the man in her room, invading her safe space with a weapon pointing right at her. She tried not to show how scared she actually was, even though dread curled in her heart and sent her stomach churning.
"Hello, sir," She replied, offering a small smile to mask the fear that threatened to seep through, "Is there a reason you're in my room? It's impolite to enter without asking."
Her politeness made him smile; clearly she'd been raised on diplomacy. Keeping his weapon aimed at her chest, he took a few steps forward, glancing around to be sure the room was empty. He returned her smile with one of his own. "I'm so sorry, it's rude, I know. Are we alone?"
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."
"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.