They say every couple experiences communication issues. For Jyn, it becomes annoying clear that the problem might just be her.
It should be romantic – the way Cassian can read her thoughts and emotions by just a split second of eye contact. In reality, all it does is make her feel deficient. There are days she wonders if her life has made her incapable of empathizing with others… but no. That can't be right.
She can feel the guilt that rolls off of Bodhi every time she does something that reminds him of her father. She can sense when Baze is angry over one of Chirrut's more reckless stunts. She can hear the sadness in Chirrut's voice when he remembers a funny story that occurred during his days in the temple on Jedha.
Jyn even picks up on K2SO's emotions and she hardly believes that to be possible.
Cassian, however, is a complete blank to her. Morning. Night. Good times. Bad times. Alone. Surrounded. He never gave away any emotion without careful consideration.
It is not truly the same as lying – which only adds to her frustration.
And then one day she wakes up in a medical ward with a hand clasping her own like it provided some sort of lifeline.
Memories filter across her consciousness like a raging train.
Cassian's grip crushing her fingers as he drags her away from danger.
His fingers laced with hers as he slowly raises it to his lips for a light kiss.
The time he grabs her hand as she storms away, but keeps it just loose enough for her to break free.
A casual wipe of his hands on his pants before asking her for a slow dance during a celebration on Hoth.
Leaving him behind in an Imperial star destroyer when bars separated them in the middle of their escape. One squeeze of her hand and then he was gone.
Falling asleep at night tucked into his chest and both of his hands engulfing hers.
Waking up the same way in the morning.
It may not be the clearest signal he could give her, but it was a start.