Author's Note: I'm not really sure what makes up a songfic, technically speaking, so maybe this counts as one. It's a fairly fluffy, slightly angsty series of short stories about Atton's relationship with a LSF!Exile, inspired by Lifehouse's song You and Me. Hence the title.
This story is already complete, but i'll want to edit each section before i post it, so it will be updated in stages. Since this is also National Novel Writing Month, i can't promise that those updates will be regular. But it will get done eventually!
All characters are the property of their respective owners, that is to say, Disney (... huh). All song lyrics come from Lifehouse's song You and Me, and belongs to whoever owns that (probably Disney. Eventually.).
What day is it?
And in what month?
This clock never seemed so alive
He used to keep a log in his head - where he was currently, where he was headed next, how he was getting there, how much he was getting paid, etc. He wasn't one of those anal-retentive types who needed to have things organized down to the very second, but he liked to have a general idea. Today he had to look up the galactic standard calendar just to know what month it was.
Maybe it's just because he's not in charge of this mission or whatever-it-is, or maybe it's because he falls asleep in the pilot's chair at irregular times of the day or night too exhausted even to undress, or maybe it's because "time" doesn't seem to mean the same thing to these Jedi-types as it does to the rest of the galaxy.
Or maybe it's because he's too busy counting the hours until she's likely to walk in again.
The crew quarters aren't big enough to fit the whole crew anymore, but she still tries to find time for each of them, even the droids; even the old witch. Sometimes it's just a few minutes, sometimes it seems like she has all day, but she makes sure that every couple days she touches base with each of them - separate from the daily instructions, directions and activities they are all involved in. He admires her unconditional, unprejudiced concern for all of them slightly more than he hates how short his conversations with her always seem to be.
He doesn't hear the door open or the footsteps approach, but that faint sense he just started to become aware of tells him it's her, and he hides his pleasure with a over-the-top grin as he turns to look at her. "I was wondering when you were going to show up next. Almost started to think you needed a reminder of where the cockpit is."
She rolls her eyes. "It's only been two days, Atton."
Has it? He lost track again. "Sure, but those were two hyperspace days. You can't count those like regular days." He digs into his pocket and drags out his side deck. "Pazaak?"
She smiles, one of her more genuine ones, though all of hers look worn enough to have come from a second-hand store. "In all my childhood dreaming, I never imagined I'd find myself playing a card game when I could be sparring."
A small, bitter creature with sharp teeth that's taken up residence in his chest stirs. "Mical actually took a break from his ancient battle technique for some hands-on experience?"
She looks at him oddly. "Actually, Bao and I tested out some crystal combinations for his lightsaber."
He feels slightly embarrassed, and comes to join her on the cockpit floor. He starts dealing the cards, shoving aside awkward emotions and tells the little monster in his chest to shut up. She's here, with him, and you can't use these minutes like regular ones. You have to make every one count.