The heat from the fire churning below is starting to lick at your legs. Cassian's desperate calls on the comms are lost to you in the sheer noise and your own internal panic. Smoke is starting to dull your vision and oh Maker, all you can taste is ash. You consider turning back but a glimpse at the buckling platform cures you of that thought immediately. There's nowhere left to run.

"They won't get here in time. Y/N, we have to jump."

If you had kept a tally of stupid ideas between Cassian and yourself, up until that statement you had been a clear winner. Another beam falls to earth behind you before you find the words to respond.

"No?! Are you insane?! Cassian, there's no handholds, there's practically no edge, fuck I don't even know if I can jump that far!" You can't conceal your panic.

Cassian grabs your shoulders and shakes you with each word, "Y/N, we don't have a choice."

You pull away and search your surroundings, desperate for something else besides this death wish. With fire below and a drop behind, you breathe out shakily and concede that he's right. Cassian steps forward and surprises you by cradling your face in his hands. For a moment, a single second, there's nothing else and you're calm. Then he speaks and the world returns.

"Listen, I'll go first- Don't start, it's not a question. Look, there's a panel I can grip on the left side. I'll land there and then I'll catch you," there's a soft determination to his voice that you can't take.

You grasp the lapels of his jackets in your hands. This is a terrible idea and you're probably going to lose him before you can even tell him and it's killing you.

"Cass, I-"

He cuts you off, "Y/N, I will catch you."

One of his hands brushes your cheek like a goodbye, then he's gone. Without thinking, you press yourself to the handrail as Cassian steps back for a run-up. He looks at you, gives you a smile that doesn't reach his eyes, and he's running. His feet leave the walkway and your heart stops (you might be screaming, you don't know). Cassian's hands grab the panel first and you feel something akin to relief.

Then his feet slip.

The panel doesn't catch his fall, it only slows him. In nothing short of horror, you watch Cassian as he drops. In an act worthy of being called a miracle, his hands dart out and catch the lip at the edge of the door. Both of you freeze for a second, then another as you fight the adrenaline choking you both. As Cassian slowly climbs to standing, you realise that at some point you had fallen to your knees. Shakily, you clamber to your feet and back away from the edge. The divide seems to grow with every step and fear is threatening to consume you. Maker, what if I fall and take him down with me? The thought stops you dead. The door ahead snaps open and shut and open and shut as the mechanism shutters. What if I kill him?! What if I-

"Y/N, we have to go!"

"I can't do it, Cassian! I'll just drag you down with me!"

"You won't, I promise."

"Just go! I- I-"

"Y/N, you have to jump because whatever happens, I will follow you. I'm not leaving without you. Now, I will catch you, I promise."

You trust him. You always have.

You screw your eyes closed, breathe, mutter an oh fuck, and break into a sprint. The dancing light surrounding you blurs and the world tilts as you leap. You feel sickly weightless, and then you're crashing into metal and warm arms. Your fingers scratch for a non-existent handhold but you're secure anyway. Cassian's arm locks your torso to his and you both swing for a moment before you still. It takes you a second to process what's happened and then oh Maker, you're alive and Cassian's safe and he's smiling at you and maybe it's the adrenaline but you have to say it.

"I love you Cassian," the words come out in a soft hurry.

His face morphs into surprise, then understanding, then something you don't recognise, then the door's open and you're being dragged. The arm wrapped around you lifts you in random intervals when your feet stall as your mind catches up. Eventually your body goes into autopilot but your brain is about ready to go back and jump in the inferno. Fuck, fuck, fuck-

Massive double doors open and icy gusts greet you as you sprint into the frigid air. You don't consider stopping until your lungs burn from the cold and the rumble of the complex is lost in the wind. Even then, you don't actually pull up until Cassian lets go of your waist only to grab your wrist. To avoid pulling your own shoulder out of its socket, you slingshot back and practically ricochet into his waiting arms. Cassian's warmth is a shock and without thinking you draw closer to him against the chill. You prepare for whatever is about to unfold and allow yourself a deep breath before looking up to meet Cassian's eyes. He's smiling.

"So that's what's been worrying you?" His tone is flippant and teasing.

It's bad enough that you blurted it out, you will not be ridiculed. Feeling mocked, you place your hands against his chest to push Cassian away. His hands slide up your wrists to hold you against him. Little sparks of electricity follow the path of his fingers and you are outraged at yourself that your breath catches.

"Always in such a hurry, Y/N, you didn't let me finish. So… what you, um, said before is why you've been avoiding me?"

Just slightly, you nod.

"Oh thank the Maker."

Before you can question him, he has closed the space between you and for the first time in what feels like hours, you feel safe. Cassian's lips are startlingly hot and your whole body moulds against him as your knees threaten to give. His hands find their way to your waist and you entwine your fingers in his hair. You have wanted Cassian for so long, and in this planet of winter his warmth is all the more addictive. His thumbs tease at the edge of your shirt. Oh fuck, there are so many things that you wish could do right here in the snow, but you notice the taste of ash on Cassian's lips and that tie to reality is enough to pull you back. Ruefully you break off the kiss and take a second to admire the plumes of your breath dance around his cheeks before you speak.

"As much as I would like to-" your eyes flicks from Cassian's eyes to his lips and then back up again-"continue, this might not be the best place."

He laughs, wholeheartedly and with his entire body, and you're struck by the beauty of him. You have always acknowledged Cassian was handsome but here, in this pocket of happiness, oh Maker he's beautiful.

"While I agree that it isn't the best time, I've wanted to do that since you saved my ass back on Scarif. I can only be expected to be so patient," he shrugs and his teasing smirk makes your heart skip a beat.

"Well, why didn't you say anything? Maybe we could have chosen a better moment." The smile that pulls across your cheeks is completely involuntary.

"That's not fair, Y/N. I've been trying to tell you for a week."

You breathe out in shock and then roll your eyes at your own stupidity, "Does that timeline have anything to do with Jyn and Bodhi, by any chance?"

Cassian tilts his head in confusion before his eyes begin to dart in recognition.

He closes them and uses his hand to massage his temple, "You too, huh?"

You want to agree or nod or something, only you can't help but giggle like some ridiculous school-kid. You go to say something about kicking both their asses but Cassian licks his lips and you're distracted all over again.

His hands find their way back to your waist and you go to your tiptoes when a voice cuts the air, "I'm glad to see you two finally came to your senses."

Another follows, "I'm thrilled too of course, but I'll admit… Odd choice of location."

Your heels plummet back to earth and you twist to face your rescuers. Cassian pulls you back, probably so that you don't kill someone.

"JYN ERSO, BODHI ROOK, I AM GONNA KICK YOUR ASSES BACK TO YAVIN 4!"

The quiet laugh into your neck is enough to distract you from the loud oh fuck that sounds from Bodhi and the heavy thud of running boots. You're tempted to go after them, but honestly you're quite happy to stay right where you are.