Jyn crumpled to the floor in relief and exhaustion. The transmission was sent. The mission was completed. It had seemed unbelievable at every step, but they had done it. She exhaled a raspy breath and suddenly felt her shoulder throbbing.
Glancing to her left, her eyes met Cassian's. He had saved her life. Probably they had saved each other many times over, in the course of the last mind-boggling day, surviving on pure adrenaline and hope. She went to him and held out her hand, her eyes lingering on his face.
Gently she helped him to his feet, and felt his weight on her shoulders as he leaned against her, limping. They had each other. Slowly they made their way to the elevator and climbed inside.
Earlier she had felt a strange surge of emotion when she looked at him, while they were in the ship on their way to this fatal destination. He had believed her. Despite their clashes, despite their mistrust, something had truly grown from it, and now she sat next to him on the floor, and they had each other to drown out the sounds of doom all around them.
It was over. She knew it. He knew it. K2 was gone. Bodhi was presumed dead and their communications were out. No one was going to pull off a second death-defying rescue mission this time. One could only cheat death so many times before the payment came due.
But somehow, this knowledge drew her only closer to him, and something bubbled up in her for a moment that was definitely not despair.
The light flickered rhythmically across their faces as the elevator descended. His arm held her close and she brushed her cheek gently against his rough face. Suddenly his lips were against hers. She closed her eyes while her hand stroked his hair. She caught his masculine scent, as well as sweat and blood. But everything seemed beautiful in this moment.
They made their way down to the beach, and saw the wave slowly making its way across the water. It seemed like a trickle from that distance, but it was thorough. It would destroy them and everything else around them.
Cassian wrapped his arms around her. He told her how much her father would be proud of her, and she felt the thrill of that truth inside of her.
Time. If only they had more time. She could memorize the lines of his face and he could continue to run his hands all over her, and... but it would never be. They had accomplished what they set out to do.
She hugged him desperately.
"I can't think of a better way to go," she choked, as the wave advanced upon them, "than right here with you." She felt his arms tighten around her waist.
She buried her head in his shoulder. Not because she was afraid. She had faced and overcome everything up to this point - what else was there to fear?