He didn't belong here—in this junk shop, or on this planet. Though his clothes were simple, they were clean and neat, and the material had a look of quality. Anneke watched him from her perch on the counter, while she pretended to clean a random piece of junk. His hair was trimmed with skill, and he carried himself with confidence, though he was clearly not used to the heat. She had never in her life seen anyone so beautiful.

His companions were also intriguing—she had spotted a lightsaber clipped to the tall one's belt, and the other, with his fish-like features, was clearly from a much different world. He was visibly uncomfortable in the desert heat. Probably from a world full of jungles and water.

The tall long-haired Jedi asked Watto about parts for their ship, and the Toydarian led him out back to the junkyard, leaving the young man and the clumsy-looking one in the shop with her.

She watched them for a moment through her shaggy bangs. While the other was even more exotic, it was the human who held her interest. Dark hair contrasted with ivory skin, with just a hint of colour in his cheeks. He was tall, yet thin, though she didn't doubt that a toned body lay hidden beneath his rich clothes. Pondering what world he could hail from, she remembered a tale she had heard once. "Are you an angel?" As soon as the words left her lips, she wished she could take them back. Way to sound like an ignorant nerf herder, Anni!

The fascinating offworlder's lips quirked and his amused brown eyes met hers. "What?"

Clearing her throat, she pretended interest in the speeder part she was pretending to clean. "I've heard the deep space pilots talk about them. They're from the moons of Iego, I think." She bent her head further, and scrubbed hard at a grease spot. Right. Now she sounded even more ignorant.

He laughed, a clear, musical sound, bringing her head back up in anger.

She glared. "I guess you're not, then, because they're good and kind, and wouldn't laugh at me!" Well, that sounded intelligent. She nearly rolled her eyes at herself.

He blinked. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend." He shook his head, and his dark hair fell across his forehead in soft waves, so different from her own dirty blonde mop. "I've never heard of angels. How do you know so much?"

She pushed a loose strand of hair that had escaped her tie back behind her ear. "I listen. I've worked here since I was three, I think. Gardulla the Hutt lost me and my mom to Watto by betting on the podraces. Lots of offworlders come through the shop and tell stories about their adventures."

He frowned. "You're… a slave?"

Offworlders! No matter how nice they seemed, they were always looking down their noses at you, thinking they were better than you. She slammed the speeder part down and jumped up to face him, his greater height no obstacle to her ire. "I'm a person and my name is Anneke!"

He raised his hands, and stepped back, his expression chagrined. "I'm sorry. This world is strange to me."

She snorted. "You're strange." She sat back down and picked up the part again.

A crash across the room made her jump. She had nearly forgotten the other alien, who seemed to be just as clumsy as he looked. He had managed to turn on a malfunctioning pit droid that was now stumbling around, knocking things over and making a mess. Giant ears flopping, he chased after it, trying to stop it, with little success. He managed to get ahold of its legs, but it simply dragged him around behind it. His bulging eyes rolled around in panic.

Rolling her eyes, she sighed and shouted over the chaos, "Hit the nose!"

The gangly creature wrapped his arms around the droid's legs, tackled it and wrestled it to the ground. Then he reached up and hit its nose. Instantly, it stopped and folded up into an unassuming pile of metal. The resulting silence was deafening.

Anneke raised her eyes, and found the handsome human watching her. His lip twitched, and she couldn't resist. She laughed, and he joined in. The gawky creature gave them a wounded look, but she didn't care. She had never been happier.

"I'm sorry. I've been very rude. I haven't introduced myself." The young man extended a soft white hand. "My name is Padraig."

Anneke hesitantly placed her own rough, dirty hand in his. He didn't seem to mind the grease, though—or maybe he was just polite.

"No one else has a T-14 hyperdrive, I promise you that!" Watto followed the Jedi in from the junkyard, his wings buzzing with indignation.

Ignoring the Toydarian, the tall man swept his eyes over Padraig and the floppy one. "We're leaving," he announced.

Anneke watched Padraig leave, wondering if she would ever see him again. Foolish, of course. He probably wouldn't give her a second thought. She was a slave in a junk shop on a backwater planet, and he was obviously someone rich and important. He travelled with a Jedi. He didn't belong here.

A/N: This was written for the RLt Green Room 2013, and I was inspired by a piece of fanart on DeviantArt called 'Star Wars - King and Lionheart' by Shorelle.

This is Episode I of A Shadow in the Glass.

Winner of the RLt's 2014 Reviewer's Choice Awards: Best Green Room Fic!