"I can't believe them! Haven't we learned our lesson about doing nothing?" the princess fumed as she stomped down the hallways of Hoth with Jyn trailing after her.

"I mean we couldn't prove it," Luke said soothingly. "They did say we needed definite proof to act."

"It's as good as definite proof," Leia argued. "I trust the ambassador's word."

Jyn snorted. "Because the Alliance is good about going on someone's word alone."

"You'd think they'd learn," Leia griped.

"You want to go rogue, Princess?" Jyn asked only half joking. She'd gone with Luke and Leia on an intelligence-gathering mission with a government that wasn't entirely ready to outright disobey the Empire, but was definitely sympathetic to the Rebellion's cause. The ambassador had agreed to meet with Leia, but wouldn't allow any bodyguards or backup in with her. Luckily for them the planet was very old-fashioned and they'd allowed her a handmaid as company. Jyn had been a good choice for being deadly even when she didn't have a blaster. She'd also been free, since Han had broken a leg on the last mission they'd gone on and, while mostly better, still hadn't been cleared for active duty. He was probably off pouting somewhere about Luke piloting this mission instead of him.

"Don't put ideas in her head," Luke chastised. "The council has good reason to doubt the ambassador."

"Not you too!" Leia said throwing up her hands. "I need a drink."

Jyn laughed and followed her as she switched directions towards the cantina. She'd always liked Leia, but this mission had made her especially fond of her. The princess was fierce in a way that would have made even Saw think twice about crossing her. She could understand why Han was smitten with her, and why he was having such problems actually winning her over. Still she envied the fact that at least Han always knew exactly what Leia was feeling. Leia had a great diplomatic face when she wanted it, but she didn't apply it with friends and allies like Cassian had the tendency to with his spy face. No, Leia let you know right where you stood with her. Although, when Jyn did manage to steal a smile out of Cassian it felt all the better for having been hard won.

They entered the cantina and Leia made a beeline for the bar with Luke trailing after. Jyn glanced around looking for seats and was delighted to spot Cassian and Bodhi at a table with Kay hovering nearby. She hadn't been sure when she left if either of them would still be on base when she returned. She drifted their way and smiled.

The smile shifted into a frown when Bodhi glanced at her and didn't offer a wave or his usual welcoming grin. His eyes slid over her as if he didn't even know her. Something must be wrong. She picked up the pace and his gaze was drawn back to her by her focused movement. Bodhi nearly choked on the drink he'd just taken setting himself off into sputtering coughs that had Cassian reaching across the table worriedly to presumably pat him on the back if needed.

"Jyn?!" Bodhi croaked out as she stopped at Cassian's shoulder. The other man whipped around at the mention of her name and looked at her wide-eyed.

"What's wrong with the two of you?" Jyn demanded at their equally bewildered stares.

Bodhi recovered first. "You look like a girl."

"I am a girl," Jyn said unimpressed.

"Yeah, but now you look like one," Bodhi said blithely.

She put her hands on her hips to glare at him, and then flushed bright red when she realized what he was going on about. Stupid, idiot, Jyn. They'd gone straight from the ship to the debrief and she'd gotten so used to it over the past week that she'd forgotten to go back to her room and change.

Jyn shifted her arms to circle around her waist as her embarrassment rose. She'd completely forgotten she was still dressed like a handmaiden for Leia. The deep red fabric of the dress screamed for attention like Jyn's normal apparel never would and clung to her body, exposing more of her chest and arms than she usually displayed. Given there was tulle covering the skin, but it still felt awfully bare. Her hair was up in an elaborate braid that a handmaiden was supposed to help a princess with, but had in actuality been just the opposite. The same with the makeup painted on her face. Saw had never seen any reason to teach her those skills, and she only had the vaguest memories of her mother ever applying makeup.

"You look nice," Cassian said breaking the awkward silence.

"I look absurd," she corrected feeling silly and self-conscious standing in the base cantina surrounded by soldiers looking like this, like some Imperial lady who'd faint at the sight of blood and swoon over the latest holoshow stars. Leia often sported dresses, styled hair, and makeup, but she was a princess and carried it off with a 'go ahead, and try to fuck with me,' attitude that Jyn had found difficult to summon in a dress.

"No really," Bodhi hurried to counter having realized he'd made her uncomfortable. "It's just different. I was surprised. It looks good on you."

"I should go change."

"You look beautiful, Jyn," Cassian said and it sounded so sincere she wanted to believe him. "Not that you don't always, but the dress looks wonderful on you too." Jyn was sure her skin was turning a shade to match the dress, and she tried to squash the internal voice that preened to hear Cassian's compliments. He was only being kind as she was obviously mortified.

"Jyn, how'd it go?" a voice interrupted

She glanced over to see Han striding towards her with only a slight hitch to his step. "Han," she greeted. "How's the leg?"

"Fine, they should have let me go. Everyone ok?"

Jyn quietly translated 'everyone' into 'mostly is Leia ok?' "We're all fine," Jyn said jerking her head towards the bar where Luke and Leia were picking up drinks.

Han seemed to study them for a second assessing that Leia looked alive and well before he turned back and actually looked at Jyn. "What happened to you?"

"It's from the mission. I'm going to change." She turned to head out and Han grabbed her hand spinning her back for inspection.

He gave a low whistle. "You should let Leia get her hands on you more often. And maybe let me watch."

"Shut up," she said pulling her hand free and punching him softly in the arm.

"Seriously," Han continued smiling wolfishly. "If I met you in a bar I'd definitely try to get you into bed. Oh wait, we are in a bar…"

Jyn snorted. Han would run for the hills if she showed any interest. Maybe not before Leia, but definitely now. "I think I look a little more high class than the girls you used to tumble."

Han laughed and slipped a hand around her waist tugging her closer. "That dress would look just as good on my floor as any other."

Jyn rolled her eyes at his overdone performance, but appreciated the moment of levity giving her a respite from her embarrassment. "You're ridiculous."

He let her go as Leia and Luke walked up. "You look good, kid. Anyone with eyes would agree. Accept the compliment and move on."

"Of course she looks good," Leia said confidently.

"I'm going to go change," Jyn said attempting to sidestep the small princess trying to thrust a drink into her hand.

"And ruin my hours of work?" Leia asked dramatically. "Sit down and have a drink, Sargent. No one here has forgotten you can kick their ass even in a floor length dress."

"Actually," Kay piped up. "The dress might prove to be a real impediment. It decreases the chances of self defense by a significant amount rendering the legs useless for running or kicking."

Leia laughed setting the drinks down on the table and reaching for Jyn's hip turning her so a length of bare leg was exposed up to her thigh. "That's what a slit is for. Give me a little credit. What's the point of a bodyguard who can't defend? Added bonus is distractible men get caught off guard. Isn't that right, Captain Andor?"

Jyn looked at Cassian, but he was resolutely staring down at his hands by the time her gaze found him. "I suppose it could help," he grumbled.

Leia laughed at her own joke and shoved Jyn into the seat next to Cassian. "You look fine, Jyn. Calm down, and have a drink." Jyn nearly tripped over her skirts and fell out of the chair, but a warm hand that seemed to burn through the thin material caught her at the waist and kept her in place. Cassian moved his hand back just as quick as it had shot out.

"I really think I should change," Jyn tried again. "I look silly."

"Then I must look silly too," Leia said challengingly. "I must look silly pretty often. Is that what you're trying to tell me?"

Jyn froze. Of course that isn't what she meant. "No! But you're a princess, you're supposed to be beautiful."

Leia smiled. "Stop while you're ahead. Have a drink, relax. That's an order."

Jyn frowned, but knew a lost cause when she saw one. She grumbled a complaint, but reached for her drink all the same. "How's Rogue?" she asked as Han settled in across from her desperately reaching for something to change the subject. She'd left the loth-cat in his care, much to the smuggler's annoyance.

"You'd have to ask Andor, I haven't seen that monster in days." She frowned at that and Han held up his hands. "Hey, I tried. The thing wouldn't ever come when I called, and I let it out of my room to roam on the first day and it never came back. Took me hours to figure out it followed Andor home, and then when I tried to remove it it tried to claw my skin off and he said it was fine to leave it." Han jerked his head in Cassian's direction.

"I'm sorry!" Jyn said to Cassian.

"Really? You're sorry to him? That monster didn't try to flay him."

"Yes, but I didn't ask Cassian to take care of him," Jyn defended. "You said you could do it."

"It's not my fault the loth-cat likes Andor better than me. He said it was fine!"

"It was," Cassian broke in, "It is. Rogue was really no trouble. He mainly just slept in my quarters or hunted around base like he is now. No problem."

"Well, thank you," Jyn said. "Next drink is on me. Seriously though, can I go change first? This dress isn't very warm. How do you stand it, Leia?"

"I run hot," the woman replied with a shrug.

Han opened his mouth to comment and Jyn kicked him under the table in his healing leg. He gave a yelp and glared at her, but she was pretty sure he'd thank her later for cutting off whatever argument-starting statement had been about to fall out of his mouth. Jyn gave a start as a warm heavy weight fell around her shoulders and she looked away from Han only to realize Cassian had removed his parka and draped it over her. "Oh, I couldn't." Jyn started pulling at the coat.

He waved her concern away. "It's fine. I'm overheated from the drinks anyway. One more and I'm headed to bed."

She'd argue further, but she really was rather cold and he seemed comfortable in the chilly air and still had warm layers underneath. She smiled at him and pushed her arms into the sleeves curling into the heat of the too big parka, before standing up again and asking him what he wanted to make good on her offer of a drink.

They stayed and chatted with their friends for almost an hour before Cassian yawned and stood to go.

"I'd better head out too," Jyn said pushing her empty glass away.

"Aw, come on, Jyn, the night is young," Han begged across the table having quickly consumed more than his fair share of the alcohol and clearly having been starved for human attention with her, Leia, and Luke away. "And we haven't seen nearly enough of that dress yet. Stay out and play with us. I'll buy you a drink, and if you play your cards right, let you get handsy on the dance floor."

Jyn snorted. "My lucky day. Another night, Han."

"Like you'll wear that dress again," he argued.

"Maybe if you ask really nicely," Jyn teased. She had no intention of ever wearing this dress again.

"Don't waste it on a moof milker like him," Leia advised.

"Hey, I'm worthy of a nice dress," Han argued and Jyn rolled her eyes as the two of them geared up.

She gave an already exasperated looking Bodhi a wave, as Kay had lumbered off a half hour ago muttering about having better things to do, and grabbed Cassian's arm dragging him towards the exit with a whispered, "Quick, while they're distracted."

Jyn dropped her hand from Cassian's arm when they reached the hall, but continued to bask in the feeling of being warm, tired, safe, and in good company. She still hadn't gotten used to that feeling again. In a weird way she hoped she never did. They wandered down Hoth's hallways slowly, bumping into each other comfortably without ever intentionally touching – a hand graze there and a shoulder knock here.

Not for the first time, Jyn wondered where she'd gone wrong with Cassian. It still occasionally seemed like he might be interested, like the way he'd looked at her in the dress tonight, even if it was only for a moment. But if Lieutenant Awn wasn't a thing she couldn't figure out why Cassian didn't ever try to make a move other than she must be reading him wrong and all he wanted was friendship. She wasn't willing to risk the easy camaraderie between them just to fill physical desires. She'd never had someone like him in her life before. Her childhood had been a series of moving and hiding with only her parents to depend on, and Saw certainly hadn't encouraged friendship anymore than he'd encouraged romantic relationships. To have someone who cared about you just simply because they cared and not because they thought they could get something in return was a novel idea to her. Still, it'd be nice to have this and something more.

They rounded the corner for his room and found Rogue sitting outside his door. The loth-cat gave a happy welcoming meow and Jyn knelt down to scoop him into her arms nestling her face against his warm furry neck. She really was getting soft, which only meant she had more to lose. She stood up with the fur ball in her arms and then realized she still had Cassian's coat on.

He seemed to read her mind. "Keep it. You can return it tomorrow. You've got the longer walk."

She flashed him a smile of thanks. "Well, I'll see you in the morning then?"

He nodded and turned for his door, and she started off down the hallway only to pause when Rogue wiggled in her arms and bolted. She turned just to get a glimpse of his tail disappearing into Cassian's room as the man looked on surprised. "Sorry!" she said as she hurried back and squeezed past him following the loth-cat. Rogue had hopped up on Cassian's bed and made himself comfortable. She tried to pick him up, but he squirmed away and planted himself on Cassian's pillow. "Well, kriff you too," Jyn said feeling rebuffed.

Cassian laughed behind her. "He's just gotten used to staying here."

Jyn narrowed her eyes at the loth-cat. "How quick we forget who saved you from the animal fighting rings. Rogue, come on." She reached for the cat again and it jumped to Cassian's desk and stared her down. "I'll leave you. Don't think I won't. We'll see how much you like it when Cassian gets sick of you." She stood and headed for the door, but the loth-cat just blinked at her.

"He can stay," Cassian offered. "If you want him to."

"You're fond of him," Jyn accused. He'd tried to pretend like he had no interest in a pet, but she'd caught him slipping Rogue food more than once or scratching the cat's ears when he thought no one would notice. It was stupid to feel jealous of a loth-cat, right?

Cassian shrugged. "I'm just tired, and he usually gets his way in the end."
Jyn was displeased with the situation, but didn't want to impose on him further so she agreed. She left the room and started down the hallway only to have him slide the door open a few moments later and call after her. "Now he's meowing at the door." The loth-cat moved and sat practically on top of Cassian's feet at the doorway and gave a meow as if to reiterate his statement.

"What do you want?" Jyn asked turning back. Rogue mewed at her and she felt like a sucker for getting taken by it. "You either get to stay here or come with me." The loth-cat looked unimpressed and wound his way around Cassian's legs before going back into the room and then popping back out to meow at her.

"Looks like he wants you to stay," Cassian said and then seemed to think about what he said and added, "Maybe he takes after you and likes the attached 'fresher."

"That or he's just a brat," she said glaring at the animal. She started for the loth-cat again and he retreated back into the room. "This is ridiculous. I'm sorry we're disrupting your rest."

Cassian moved to help her catch Rogue, which just resulted in them colliding in the middle of the room and the loth-cat slipping under the bed. He caught her before she could fall over from the impact. His hands lingered and she didn't push him away. If she leaned up and in they'd be perfectly set for kissing. "You ok?"

She nodded her head and glared as the loth-cat bound out from under the bed to weave his way between their legs. She moved away from Cassian to grab Rogue and he bolted for a shelf. "Make up your mind! You either stay with Cassian or come with me."

Rogue meowed at them from his perch. "He's probably just confused," Cassian offered with a small smile. "I mean he did stay in this room with you for a while and then with me while you were gone. He probably just thinks it's his now."

"You're such a softie," Jyn chastised dragging his desk chair over towards the shelf.

Cassian snorted. "I have many contacts who would disagree with that assessment."

Jyn started to crawl up on the chair and grumbled as her skirts got in the way, hiking them up to stand up in the chair. A chair leg lifted and tilted ominously as she threw it off balance and warm hands steadied her once again. He really had a knack for that this evening. She shot Cassian a grateful smile and reached for the loth-cat, which immediately jumped down to the floor and darted under the bed again. She gave a growl of frustration as Cassian laughed. He offered her a hand, and she debated batting it away, but decided with the dress it wasn't worth risking an embarrassing tumble as she jumped down and so accepted it.

"You could stay," Cassian said and she looked up at him in surprise. "I mean we could watch a holoshow or something until he comes out."

"You said you wanted to go to bed."

Cassian shrugged. "I just wasn't in the mood for heavy drinking. I'm not dropping on my feet."

Jyn knew she shouldn't impose, but he offered and there was no capturing Rogue when he didn't want to be captured. "If you're sure?"

Cassian grinned and gestured to the bed, setting up the holoprojector. She dropped his coat on the back of his chair and kicked off her shoes, diving for the covers as her body shivered in the cool air.

Cassian laughed as she struggled under the blankets with the fabric of the dress that had bunched uncomfortably around her legs. "That dress isn't very practical for Hoth. Leia could have at least gotten you something fur lined."

"I plan on burning it for heat at the next available opportunity."

"That's a shame. Despite its impracticality, it does look nice on you." Jyn froze and stared at him trying to gauge his seriousness. Damn his stupid neutral spy face. She couldn't tell if, like Han, he was joking or not.

She hedged her bets. "It's not like I have anywhere to wear it."

"There's the occasional formal event or party on base," Cassian said with a shrug. "You could keep it just in case, and our base won't always be on Hoth. Maybe the next planet will be warm like Yavin IV."

"You're really selling it," Jyn noted.

He glanced away and almost looked embarrassed. "Of course you don't have to. It was just a thought. Besides Leia might kill you if you set it on fire."

"True," Jyn said wishing he'd stop fidgeting with the holoprojector and look at her again. "It's good advice. Guess I'll have to keep it." And maybe if he was the one who asked she'd even wear it again.

He nodded and settled in next to her on the bed after wordlessly putting on a show where they'd left off. She tried to set her twist of confusing emotions aside and just savor the warmth radiating off him. After all if it was no big deal to him then it was no big deal to her. Jyn relaxed and focused on the show. There were worse ways to spend an evening.

She woke up a few hours later only to find herself snuggled up to Cassian's side as the soft blue light of the holoprojector playing on without them flickered over them. She shifted and realized Rogue had curled up half between and half on top of their legs. A warm hand had also worked its way under the slit in her dress and rested comfortably on her thigh. She should probably be offended, but she found she wasn't, it's not like he'd done it on purpose anyway. Jyn debated getting up, but it was sure to disturb both the man and the loth-cat, and she was so deliciously warm and still half asleep. What was the harm? She nestled back down and fell asleep to the sound of Cassian's deep calm breathing and Rogue's rumbling purr.


A/N: Ok, so this was shameless fluff and an excuse to do the blue parka as well as more loth-cat antics. Sorry if you were looking for something more plot driven - don't hurt me. Trust me, they're getting there, Han is just incapable of not flirting and poor Cassian takes it so seriously.