Hello everyone! This is my first Star Wars fan fic, I loved Rogue One and loved the relationship between Jyn and Cassian. I appreciated that they did not make it into a big romance however I believe it had the potential to be great. In this fan fiction I will explore what it could have been like it there had been more time for feelings to develop.

Jyn sat hunched over as she chewed her rations, the loud hum of conversation, beeping of computers, radars, and droids faded into the background as she lost herself in thought. She reflected on her new surroundings; she stood shoulder to shoulder with members of the Rebel Alliance now. She received intel—at least whatever her uppers saw fit for her to be privy to, ate the same food, slept in the same cramped quarters, yet felt distinctly more like a stranger each day she walked out of her room into the fray. Most around her paid little attention to her. There were so many members and various missions, that despite the overarching goal of taking down the Empire, she would never cross paths with many of these individuals. However, the Rebel members who she worked with currently held her at arm's length. They barely trusted their superiors' decision to have her around though. Most of the Rebel members she had met viewed her with suspicion, as if her very presence tainted the purity of their cause. Mon Mothma regarded Erso kindly, but with an aloofness that unsettled Jyn. She found it easier to be snapped at by Dravin when he became irritated with her than the undeserved patience Mon Mothma seemed to give her. Perhaps Jyn felt she would fail Mothma in some way and lose any trace of favor overnight. She was more comfortable dealing with someone who already disliked her, she did not have to wonder where she stood in that situation.

Jyn sunk deeper into her thoughts, she felt painfully lonely at times. Her father's involvement with the Empire and her connection to Saw Gerrera gave many Alliance members the idea that she had ulterior motives or was intrinsically untrustworthy. The truth was that Jyn Erso wished they knew how remarkably uncaring she was of any cause at this point. She had learned from a young age to adapt to her circumstances and survive each day as new challenges or nightmares arose. Part of her coping day to day was to suppress the pain of losing her mother, and the desire to wonder if her father was still alive. It was dangerous to hope in such a cruel universe. Then came Gerrera, despite being a harsh and demanding guardian he believed in her potential to become someone strong and useful. If only she knew of the dangers he had not warned her about. The toughest lessons came from some of those she met after being abandoned by Gererra. Some of her worst experiences had come from not disguising the fact that she was a female. It's as if her innocence was a honing beacon to those who knew how to exploit it in the worst way. Fortunately, Gerrera's training had prepared her to become a quick learner. She learned how to appear weak to deceive attackers. She was far too small to fight heavily, but she had learned to use her reflexes and speed to inflict pain, run, and blend into a crowd. She picked fights with youths her age to hone skills Gererra had taught her. She cut her hair short, kept only utilitarian clothes, and donned a gray hood to avoid unnecessary eye contact. Her drab appearance drew little attention and allowed her to blend into many unkempt crowds. She kept her head down, her ears alert and became comfortable with the anonymity she could achieve.

A sharp whistle pulled her quickly out of her mealtime reverie and she looked up, her large, gray eyes widening as she was momentarily startled. She softly cursed to herself for letting her guard down. She took in the face of the man who had whistled at her; he was handsome, and judging by the grin on his face was fully aware of just how much. She glanced over his uniform and saw that he was a TIE fighter pilot, he knelt down to where she sat and whistled again but softer.

"Haven't seen you around before, how long have you been hiding out here?"

She froze for a moment calculating how to handle the situation, she was certain fighting a fellow Alliance member wouldn't win her comrades favor.

Jyn frowned, hardened her gaze, and returned to her food ignoring the man. She assumed she had sent a pretty clear signal for him to get lost.

Her face down, she sensed him moving closer and tensed up preparing to get up and walk away or make a quick jab.

Suddenly a voice pierced the air from the other side of the hangar.

"Teryn, why can't you leave women alone long enough to let them eat some grub?" The same voice let out a hearty laugh belonging to a young, dark haired man. He strolled towards the both of them.

Teryn gave an exaggerated shrug of his arms and laughed in return,

"With the way things are going on out here—up there," he said pointing a finger upwards "can't afford to miss any golden opportunity to talk to a pretty woman." He turned long enough to give Jyn a wink. He then looked down at his wrist, a grim expression taking the jovial ones place.

"Alright, my time is all out—gotta report to Dravin in the main hangar."

He extended a hand out to Jyn and she cautiously shook it as his warm grin returned. He let go of her hand and strode out.

Jyn examined the face of the dark haired man, rather than talking to her he stood still, arms crossed observing her for a moment before speaking.

"You looked prepared to sock Teryn in the gut, either you are not used to men, or you have met too many bad ones," he said nonchalantly. Jyn winced at his honest assessment, he then reached out his hand to shake hers.

"It's okay, many of us have been places we'd rather not have been," his mouth settling into a grim line.

Jyn finally spoke up "And where, pray tell, where have you been?" She hadn't planned on the biting response, but her nerves were taut after the unexpected encounter with the pilot.

"Easy now girl, let's start with names, then maybe you can chew me out on a more familiar basis."

She relaxed slightly at his easy going manner and stood up to face him. She looked into the man's brown eyes, his gaze seemed soft and hard all at the same time—a contradiction that somehow put her more at ease with him. She sensed there was a distance he kept around him which seemed safer than an overt offer of friendship. She gave a small smile,

"My name is Jyn Erso."

"I am Cassian Andor, and have been a member long to enough to help you make sense of this place, if that's what you need, ask around and you'll find me. For now, work calls."

He yelled across the hangar as he headed toward the doorway, "By the way, I will warn all the young, male pilots to stay away from the girl with angry eyes."

Her face broke out into a grin, she liked how he seemed to speak what was on his mind quickly. It was refreshing after dealing with the subterfuge of everyone else.

She watched him walk away and felt relieved. Not by his departure but for the fact that it was the first time in days she had met someone who made her feel less like a stranger in this place. She kept her eyes on him until he was out a sight, now feeling a twinge of regret that she had not spoken to him longer.