Strong Enough
Chapter 3
Kyp pulled his helmet off with a vicious tug before dropping to the flight deck. His R2 unit hadn't even finished killing the engines on his X-wing before his feet hit the plating. His emerald eyes blazing with fury, he -threw- his helmet across the hangar with the Force, the projectile slamming into the side of Jaina's X-wing as it was landing. It exploded on impact, scratching the paint. She looked up from her concentration as the skids hit the ground and popped the hatch, her expression shocked.
Kyp knew people were staring at him, he knew they were marveling at his outburst as he stalked across the hangar and grabbed Jaina off the ladder before she could drop down. "We talk. Now."
She rounded on him, digging her heels into the deck plating and tugging her arm free. "How dare you!"
"I dare, Goddess, because I can." He snapped back, his voice dropping, "Now, Jay, or I throw you over my shoulder in front of everybody."
"You wouldn't dare!" she hissed, her hands on her hips.
Kyp's familiar smirk showed itself, this time with an edge. "Now." His tone left no room for compromise but she didn't budge. He grabbed her around the waist, drawing an outraged shout from her as he tossed her over his shoulder and started out of the hangar bay.
"Put me down!" she hissed, kicking her feet and attempting to dislodge his grip.
"Not a chance, your greatness." He ground out, his long strides eating up the distance between her ship and the nearest briefing room quickly. He keyed the door, ignoring the way her knees connected high on his back. The door slid open, and he paused. He hadn't scanned it before hitting the pad and there was a meeting in progress. "Sorry," he said pleasantly, "Wrong room." And closed the door.
"Kyp!" she slammed her fists against his stomach, silently curing the hours he'd put in to make them so hard; her pounding had little effect against the tight muscles. "Put me down!"
He hit the door controls to the next room and entered, this one mercifully empty before dropping her unceremoniously in one of the chairs near the door before locking the room with a wave of his hand. He turned back to her, pinning her with a cold stare. "What the klif do you think you were doing out there, trying to get yourself killed?"
She glared back at him, unable to get out of the chair as he slammed his hands on her arms, pinning her in place. His posture was menacing, threatening, but she didn't heed the warnings in it. "I saved your life, Durron!" she spat, "What do you think I was doing?"
"A good impression of me!" he accused hotly. "You're the reason we're out here. You! We're trying to keep you from getting killed. You can't go around throwing yourself into danger whenever the notion strikes you!"
"I don't want to lose you!" She cried, trying to push herself from the chair and failing. "I may not be thinking straight about a great deal, but you can't die before I figure this out! I'd never forgive you."
"I have no intention of dying but you have to be more careful! If I didn't have to keep saving your backside every time we hit the stars I'd live alot longer!"
"Nobody's holding you here," she told him with a glare, "You can leave whenever you want!"
"That's where you're wrong!" he yelled at her, "Sithspawn, you're being difficult! You know why I can't leave! Especially not now. Dammit, Jaina, I just want to keep you safe!"
"I don't need you to watch my back."
"And you can't watch mine! It's going to get you killed."
"Better death than to live without you!" she cried, leaning towards him as far a she could.
Kyp froze, searching her eyes. "And now you understand." He told her softly, pushing away.
"Kyp-"
"Don't."
She started to get up but stopped when he spoke. He crossed the room, raking a hand through his hair before spinning on her. "I'm sorry."
She blinked. "What? -You're- sorry?"
He nodded, dropping his hands to his sides. "I was terrified I was going to lose you today. Don't ever do that to me again."
She stood, crossing the room and throwing her arms around his neck, "Now you know how it feels." She whispered brokenly.
Kyp inhaled sharply. So that was it. That was why she'd done it. He hugged her tightly, ducking his head into her shoulder. "Jay..." he placed a kiss on her shoulder through her top. "I'm sorry, I didn't know."
His embrace was fierce, tight, as the only sound in the conference room their breathing. She clung to him, reassuring herself through touch that he was indeed alright. It was several long minutes before he let her go slowly, setting her back on her feet. A wry smile twisted his lips. "I think I blew it on the flight deck today, Goddess."
She looked up at him, nodding. "I'd say so. How are you going to explain that one to the General?"
"Which one?" he asked caustically. "Han or Wedge?"
She grinned. "Both. Wedge is not going to like this."
Kyp shrugged. "I can handle him, it's your dad I'm going to worry about."
Her smile died, "And the rest of the ship? Oh Force, what about when Jag hears about this? Kyp!" her eyes were stricken. "What have you done?"
"Me? You're the one who couldn't be bothered to come with me!"
"What was I supposed to think with you acting all Neanderthal on me?" she demanded, pulling away completely, "For all I knew you were going to carry me off to your quarters!"
"Was that the first thing that crossed your mind?"
"Yes!" she rounded on him and stopped. Heat flooded her cheeks as she realized what she'd just admitted to. "I mean, it crossed my mind, but-"
"Don't backtrack, Goddess, it's bad for your image."
"You're annoying."
"But you love me anyway."
She stomped her foot. "Can we get back to the point? Please!"
He crossed his arms over his chest, smirking, "The one that says you can't resist me?"
"Force save me from smart-aleck Jedi Masters," she muttered peevishly. "Be serious-"
"I thought I was."
"-I mean the one about Jag! How am I going to explain this?!"
"Is telling the truth a completely radical concept?"
She threw her hands in the air, exasperated. "There is no talking to you."
He shrugged. "What's done is done, Jaina, I hardly think it's worth worrying over."
"You're not the one who's supposedly engaged to him!"
He stepped closer, "That's just disturbing. I do however have a vested interest in his ex-fiancée."
"You promised Kyp, no more." She placed her hands against his chest but there was no starch in her arms and didn't resist as they slid up his chest to brace herself.
His arms slid around her waist, "Just something small?" he asked her softly, his head coming down towards hers, "Something to tide me over until tomorrow?"
Her breath hitched in her throat. "Tomorrow?"
He nodded, his lips hovering slightly over hers but not touching. "Tomorrow..."
She licked her lips as his breath feathered across her cheek, her eyes drifting shut, "What... what happens tomorrow?"
"Your dad comes to visit."
Her eyes flew open and she stared at him. "What's that have to do with anything?"
"What do you think it has to do with anything? While he's here I won't be able to do this." He ducked his head, biting her gently on the neck and making her gasp softly.
"Kyp!"
"Or this." He nuzzled the curve of her jaw where it met her neck, gently kissing her rapidly beating pulse. "I'll have to behave myself."
"Is that even possible?"
He affected a wounded look. "You have so little faith in me."
She looked at him pointedly. "If this is you behaving behind closed doors, I don't think I want to chance how you'll behave with my dad around."
He chuckled. "Wouldn't you rather just tell him the truth?"
"And say what?" she arched an eyebrow. "'Oh dad, yeah, Kyp and I had wild passionate sex and we're in love with each other, I hope you approve?'"
He laughed. "I was thinking something with a little more tact so that he wouldn't want my head for target practice."
"And that would be?"
Kyp shrugged. "I'll think of something."
She sighed, leaning her head against his chest, "That's not reassuring."
"It's not supposed to be. I don't want to hide this from your dad, Jay, I respect him alot and he deserves to know."
"Don't push," she admonished. "I'm still adjusting to this. Yesterday morning I was sure I wanted to spend the rest of my life with Jag because he was the kind of stability I needed. Then you happened. You had to run from me. You had to make me question everything I'd accepted as being a part of my life and would continue being a part of my life. You just had to show me what was missing!"
"Regrets, Jay?"
She shook her head, "No, never. And quit asking me that, would you? I don't regret it and I won't, I'm just... just..."
"Confused."
"Yeah." She sighed, looking up at him. "Why does it have to be so hard?"
"Would it be worth it if you got everything without a fight, Goddess?"
She smiled faintly. "It might."
"Liar. Jag was handed to you without a fight and I don't think you ever really appreciated him."
She slid her hands around the back of his neck. "You're right, you know. Anything worth having is worth fighting for. But sometimes I get sick of the fighting. Jag was safe; he didn't argue and if things got heated he walked away or calmed them down. Not you. You spoil for a fight."
"Don't bother comparing us, Sweetheart," he murmured softly, bending his head to nuzzle her neck, "we're too different to be much of a match."
Her eyes fluttered closed again. "Kyp?" his name was a whisper on her lips.
He looked down into her face, brushing his lips softly across her cheek, "Something I can help you with, Goddess?"
"Aren't you supposed to behave?"
"I am behaving," he brushed a kiss across her eyelids, his hands sliding up her back, "would you like me to misbehave?"
Her breath caught in her throat as his lips skimmed across her face and she couldn't hold back a slight moan. "Kyp..."
"Is that a yes?" he whispered, his lips hovering over hers.
She licked her lips, parting them slightly as she struggled to rationalize the reasons she shouldn't be doing this, but his presence was so overwhelming, so powerful, she felt like she'd been drugged. "Kyp... please..."
"Yes or no, Jay," he asked, holding himself beyond her reach. "Either you want me or you don't."
"You promised!" she moaned softly, the words almost an accusatory whimper.
"I did, didn't I?" he started to pull back and gently untangled her hold, every instinct in his body screaming at him to just kiss her and be done with it, but he'd promised. "I'll see you later," he told her softly, gently tapping her on the nose and stepping away.
He couldn't watch her slowly regain her sense, so he simply turned on his heel and walked out. As the door closed behind him he thought he heard what sounded like a wail of dismay. His body was tight with tension and he took a deep breath to let it out. Served her right. He'd give her time and space to think, but he wasn't going to lie to Han. His old friend deserved better than that.
Jaina avoided Kyp for the next few hours, immersing herself in a quick debriefing, a run down of her pilots and, finally, a bath so hot she almost scalded her skin. She didn't normally indulge, but the tension between her and Kyp was wound so tight she felt close to snapping. At him, again, or at someone else. And that someone else had almost been one of her oldest friends, Wedge Antilles. She rested her head on the edge of the tub and closed her eyes. What a day.
She hadn't heard from Jag since he'd left the night before, but that wasn't surprising since he was out on maneuvers. Some secret strike missing, from what Wedge had said. Wedge. He still thought she and Jag were involved but hadn't done anything beyond send her a disapproving look. The way Kyp had interrupted Wedge's meeting with the staff after the battle, she over his shoulder, had been embarrassing. It didn't help that Wedge himself had been the one holding the meeting and had a clear view of the whole thing. He hadn't said anything yet, but she was expecting a private dressing down for inappropriate behavior. Kyp should get one too; after all he'd been the one to cause the scene in the first place. First with his helmet and then with the whole sweeping her away bodily. She couldn't deny the thrill that ran through her at the memory.
Of course she'd been to angry at the time to care, but looking back, it had been exciting having him sweep her off her feet. Even if he'd been set to paddle her backside. Well, maybe not paddle, but he'd certainly abused it when he'd dropped her in the chair. She sighed, lifting one of her legs and holding it out of the water as she listened to the droplets fall. Kyp. What was she going to do with him? With him? A grin spread over her face. Ok, she what she wanted to do -with- him, but what was she going to do -about- him. Her smile died and she shifted, enjoying the feel of the jets on her back.
Kyp Durron. Who'd have thought? She slid her leg back into the water and sighed softly. What was she going to do about him? She had to find some way to get him to back off. He'd gotten what he wanted from her, on both accounts, couldn't he just back off for a while? She slid further down in the tub, letting the hot water sooth her muscles even as her mind continued to spin. And Jag? How was she going to explain this to him? He'd hear about it, if not from Wedge than from someone else if she didn't explain it first. She froze. Explain it to Jag? Why did she need to explain it to him? She felt guilty immediately. Of course she'd have to explain it to Jag; he would certainly take it wrong. Not that it wasn't the way he would think, but she wasn't about to tell -him- that! She opened her eyes and stared at the blank wall of her fresher, tracing the water splash patterns with her gaze.
What -could- she tell him? The truth would hurt him too much, and he'd never believe she was leaving him for Kyp. But what would he accept? Certainly not that they were ill suited. They weren't, she just didn't find herself needing him to the point of distraction. She loved him, yes, but not beyond what she felt for any other of her friends. In truth, Jag was more like a security blanket that had lost its use. She grimaced. She wouldn't tell him that, though. Talk about a good way to damage a guy's ego. A knock sounded on her door and she looked up. The fresher door was cracked and she frowned, reaching out to the Force to see who was there. She swallowed hard. Wedge.
Pulling herself from the tub, she quickly drained it and stepped out. "Coming!" she called, toweling herself off rapidly before slipping into a flight suit. She hastily fastened it and slipped into her boots, neglecting to do them up as she went for the door. She keyed it open and stepped back. "General. This is a pleasant surprise."
"I'm sure it is -Goddess-."
Uh oh, Wedge was fuming. The stressing of her title was enough to have her step back and motion him in.
Wedge Antilles, his hair graying at the temple, rounded on her as the door slid closed, his arms crossing over his chest. "Care to explain what happened in the hangar today, Solo?"
She winced. Ouch. Not even Goddess, just 'Solo'. "I uh. Well, you see, sir, Kyp and I had a disagreement and he decided to take it someplace private. I really didn't have much say in the matter."
"I see." He arched an eyebrow, "Your conduct is supposed to be exemplary, Jaina. I can't keep your cover from being blown after that fiasco in the hangar bay. Every officer and pilot who was on deck or in my meeting now knows that you can't stop Kyp Durron!"
She blushed, unable to stop the heat from crawling up her neck and into her cheeks. "It wasn't like I intended it to be that way, General, Kyp was beyond reason. He was ordering me around in front of everyone, to have gone with him would have been worse!"
"Worse than having him throw you over his shoulder and cart you around?" Wedge asked pointedly. "I hardly believe that, Jaina. I will attempt to do damage control; most people are aware Kyp is your old Jedi Master, so perhaps I can work something on the basis of Jedi, but I don't want to see, or hear, about another incident like that, understand?"
"Yes sir!" she snapped off a quick salute and Wedge departed, the door closing behind him.
She relaxed, the tension in her shoulders giving way as she stepped to her bunk and sat on the edge. She let her head drop into her hands and thrust her fingers into her hair, gripping painfully. Damn him! Damn him and his pride and overbearing manner! She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Getting angry with Kyp after the fact wouldn't help anyone least of all herself.
And she still hadn't decided what to tell Jag. Could the General keep this quiet? He seemed to have assumed Kyp's outburst had been Jedi related. She took a deep breath, feeling like a heel for not correcting him. What was the big deal, anyway? Almost everyone on the ship knew about her 'act' as a Goddess. Maybe the rookies didn't, but they'd hear soon enough. She shook her head. This was becoming so muddled! And tomorrow her dad would be here! She inhaled sharply. She needed to sleep, to clear her mind and wake up with a fresh perspective. If she didn't, she's be tempted to take Kyp and throw him through the grav field for his actions today.
Not that he wouldn't be any different with her. She sighed, not bothering to change, and stretched out on her bunk. She'd have to think about something to tell her father because no matter who else she tried to fool, Han Solo would never buy a con from her. And that was both a blessing and a curse.
Chapter 3
Kyp pulled his helmet off with a vicious tug before dropping to the flight deck. His R2 unit hadn't even finished killing the engines on his X-wing before his feet hit the plating. His emerald eyes blazing with fury, he -threw- his helmet across the hangar with the Force, the projectile slamming into the side of Jaina's X-wing as it was landing. It exploded on impact, scratching the paint. She looked up from her concentration as the skids hit the ground and popped the hatch, her expression shocked.
Kyp knew people were staring at him, he knew they were marveling at his outburst as he stalked across the hangar and grabbed Jaina off the ladder before she could drop down. "We talk. Now."
She rounded on him, digging her heels into the deck plating and tugging her arm free. "How dare you!"
"I dare, Goddess, because I can." He snapped back, his voice dropping, "Now, Jay, or I throw you over my shoulder in front of everybody."
"You wouldn't dare!" she hissed, her hands on her hips.
Kyp's familiar smirk showed itself, this time with an edge. "Now." His tone left no room for compromise but she didn't budge. He grabbed her around the waist, drawing an outraged shout from her as he tossed her over his shoulder and started out of the hangar bay.
"Put me down!" she hissed, kicking her feet and attempting to dislodge his grip.
"Not a chance, your greatness." He ground out, his long strides eating up the distance between her ship and the nearest briefing room quickly. He keyed the door, ignoring the way her knees connected high on his back. The door slid open, and he paused. He hadn't scanned it before hitting the pad and there was a meeting in progress. "Sorry," he said pleasantly, "Wrong room." And closed the door.
"Kyp!" she slammed her fists against his stomach, silently curing the hours he'd put in to make them so hard; her pounding had little effect against the tight muscles. "Put me down!"
He hit the door controls to the next room and entered, this one mercifully empty before dropping her unceremoniously in one of the chairs near the door before locking the room with a wave of his hand. He turned back to her, pinning her with a cold stare. "What the klif do you think you were doing out there, trying to get yourself killed?"
She glared back at him, unable to get out of the chair as he slammed his hands on her arms, pinning her in place. His posture was menacing, threatening, but she didn't heed the warnings in it. "I saved your life, Durron!" she spat, "What do you think I was doing?"
"A good impression of me!" he accused hotly. "You're the reason we're out here. You! We're trying to keep you from getting killed. You can't go around throwing yourself into danger whenever the notion strikes you!"
"I don't want to lose you!" She cried, trying to push herself from the chair and failing. "I may not be thinking straight about a great deal, but you can't die before I figure this out! I'd never forgive you."
"I have no intention of dying but you have to be more careful! If I didn't have to keep saving your backside every time we hit the stars I'd live alot longer!"
"Nobody's holding you here," she told him with a glare, "You can leave whenever you want!"
"That's where you're wrong!" he yelled at her, "Sithspawn, you're being difficult! You know why I can't leave! Especially not now. Dammit, Jaina, I just want to keep you safe!"
"I don't need you to watch my back."
"And you can't watch mine! It's going to get you killed."
"Better death than to live without you!" she cried, leaning towards him as far a she could.
Kyp froze, searching her eyes. "And now you understand." He told her softly, pushing away.
"Kyp-"
"Don't."
She started to get up but stopped when he spoke. He crossed the room, raking a hand through his hair before spinning on her. "I'm sorry."
She blinked. "What? -You're- sorry?"
He nodded, dropping his hands to his sides. "I was terrified I was going to lose you today. Don't ever do that to me again."
She stood, crossing the room and throwing her arms around his neck, "Now you know how it feels." She whispered brokenly.
Kyp inhaled sharply. So that was it. That was why she'd done it. He hugged her tightly, ducking his head into her shoulder. "Jay..." he placed a kiss on her shoulder through her top. "I'm sorry, I didn't know."
His embrace was fierce, tight, as the only sound in the conference room their breathing. She clung to him, reassuring herself through touch that he was indeed alright. It was several long minutes before he let her go slowly, setting her back on her feet. A wry smile twisted his lips. "I think I blew it on the flight deck today, Goddess."
She looked up at him, nodding. "I'd say so. How are you going to explain that one to the General?"
"Which one?" he asked caustically. "Han or Wedge?"
She grinned. "Both. Wedge is not going to like this."
Kyp shrugged. "I can handle him, it's your dad I'm going to worry about."
Her smile died, "And the rest of the ship? Oh Force, what about when Jag hears about this? Kyp!" her eyes were stricken. "What have you done?"
"Me? You're the one who couldn't be bothered to come with me!"
"What was I supposed to think with you acting all Neanderthal on me?" she demanded, pulling away completely, "For all I knew you were going to carry me off to your quarters!"
"Was that the first thing that crossed your mind?"
"Yes!" she rounded on him and stopped. Heat flooded her cheeks as she realized what she'd just admitted to. "I mean, it crossed my mind, but-"
"Don't backtrack, Goddess, it's bad for your image."
"You're annoying."
"But you love me anyway."
She stomped her foot. "Can we get back to the point? Please!"
He crossed his arms over his chest, smirking, "The one that says you can't resist me?"
"Force save me from smart-aleck Jedi Masters," she muttered peevishly. "Be serious-"
"I thought I was."
"-I mean the one about Jag! How am I going to explain this?!"
"Is telling the truth a completely radical concept?"
She threw her hands in the air, exasperated. "There is no talking to you."
He shrugged. "What's done is done, Jaina, I hardly think it's worth worrying over."
"You're not the one who's supposedly engaged to him!"
He stepped closer, "That's just disturbing. I do however have a vested interest in his ex-fiancée."
"You promised Kyp, no more." She placed her hands against his chest but there was no starch in her arms and didn't resist as they slid up his chest to brace herself.
His arms slid around her waist, "Just something small?" he asked her softly, his head coming down towards hers, "Something to tide me over until tomorrow?"
Her breath hitched in her throat. "Tomorrow?"
He nodded, his lips hovering slightly over hers but not touching. "Tomorrow..."
She licked her lips as his breath feathered across her cheek, her eyes drifting shut, "What... what happens tomorrow?"
"Your dad comes to visit."
Her eyes flew open and she stared at him. "What's that have to do with anything?"
"What do you think it has to do with anything? While he's here I won't be able to do this." He ducked his head, biting her gently on the neck and making her gasp softly.
"Kyp!"
"Or this." He nuzzled the curve of her jaw where it met her neck, gently kissing her rapidly beating pulse. "I'll have to behave myself."
"Is that even possible?"
He affected a wounded look. "You have so little faith in me."
She looked at him pointedly. "If this is you behaving behind closed doors, I don't think I want to chance how you'll behave with my dad around."
He chuckled. "Wouldn't you rather just tell him the truth?"
"And say what?" she arched an eyebrow. "'Oh dad, yeah, Kyp and I had wild passionate sex and we're in love with each other, I hope you approve?'"
He laughed. "I was thinking something with a little more tact so that he wouldn't want my head for target practice."
"And that would be?"
Kyp shrugged. "I'll think of something."
She sighed, leaning her head against his chest, "That's not reassuring."
"It's not supposed to be. I don't want to hide this from your dad, Jay, I respect him alot and he deserves to know."
"Don't push," she admonished. "I'm still adjusting to this. Yesterday morning I was sure I wanted to spend the rest of my life with Jag because he was the kind of stability I needed. Then you happened. You had to run from me. You had to make me question everything I'd accepted as being a part of my life and would continue being a part of my life. You just had to show me what was missing!"
"Regrets, Jay?"
She shook her head, "No, never. And quit asking me that, would you? I don't regret it and I won't, I'm just... just..."
"Confused."
"Yeah." She sighed, looking up at him. "Why does it have to be so hard?"
"Would it be worth it if you got everything without a fight, Goddess?"
She smiled faintly. "It might."
"Liar. Jag was handed to you without a fight and I don't think you ever really appreciated him."
She slid her hands around the back of his neck. "You're right, you know. Anything worth having is worth fighting for. But sometimes I get sick of the fighting. Jag was safe; he didn't argue and if things got heated he walked away or calmed them down. Not you. You spoil for a fight."
"Don't bother comparing us, Sweetheart," he murmured softly, bending his head to nuzzle her neck, "we're too different to be much of a match."
Her eyes fluttered closed again. "Kyp?" his name was a whisper on her lips.
He looked down into her face, brushing his lips softly across her cheek, "Something I can help you with, Goddess?"
"Aren't you supposed to behave?"
"I am behaving," he brushed a kiss across her eyelids, his hands sliding up her back, "would you like me to misbehave?"
Her breath caught in her throat as his lips skimmed across her face and she couldn't hold back a slight moan. "Kyp..."
"Is that a yes?" he whispered, his lips hovering over hers.
She licked her lips, parting them slightly as she struggled to rationalize the reasons she shouldn't be doing this, but his presence was so overwhelming, so powerful, she felt like she'd been drugged. "Kyp... please..."
"Yes or no, Jay," he asked, holding himself beyond her reach. "Either you want me or you don't."
"You promised!" she moaned softly, the words almost an accusatory whimper.
"I did, didn't I?" he started to pull back and gently untangled her hold, every instinct in his body screaming at him to just kiss her and be done with it, but he'd promised. "I'll see you later," he told her softly, gently tapping her on the nose and stepping away.
He couldn't watch her slowly regain her sense, so he simply turned on his heel and walked out. As the door closed behind him he thought he heard what sounded like a wail of dismay. His body was tight with tension and he took a deep breath to let it out. Served her right. He'd give her time and space to think, but he wasn't going to lie to Han. His old friend deserved better than that.
Jaina avoided Kyp for the next few hours, immersing herself in a quick debriefing, a run down of her pilots and, finally, a bath so hot she almost scalded her skin. She didn't normally indulge, but the tension between her and Kyp was wound so tight she felt close to snapping. At him, again, or at someone else. And that someone else had almost been one of her oldest friends, Wedge Antilles. She rested her head on the edge of the tub and closed her eyes. What a day.
She hadn't heard from Jag since he'd left the night before, but that wasn't surprising since he was out on maneuvers. Some secret strike missing, from what Wedge had said. Wedge. He still thought she and Jag were involved but hadn't done anything beyond send her a disapproving look. The way Kyp had interrupted Wedge's meeting with the staff after the battle, she over his shoulder, had been embarrassing. It didn't help that Wedge himself had been the one holding the meeting and had a clear view of the whole thing. He hadn't said anything yet, but she was expecting a private dressing down for inappropriate behavior. Kyp should get one too; after all he'd been the one to cause the scene in the first place. First with his helmet and then with the whole sweeping her away bodily. She couldn't deny the thrill that ran through her at the memory.
Of course she'd been to angry at the time to care, but looking back, it had been exciting having him sweep her off her feet. Even if he'd been set to paddle her backside. Well, maybe not paddle, but he'd certainly abused it when he'd dropped her in the chair. She sighed, lifting one of her legs and holding it out of the water as she listened to the droplets fall. Kyp. What was she going to do with him? With him? A grin spread over her face. Ok, she what she wanted to do -with- him, but what was she going to do -about- him. Her smile died and she shifted, enjoying the feel of the jets on her back.
Kyp Durron. Who'd have thought? She slid her leg back into the water and sighed softly. What was she going to do about him? She had to find some way to get him to back off. He'd gotten what he wanted from her, on both accounts, couldn't he just back off for a while? She slid further down in the tub, letting the hot water sooth her muscles even as her mind continued to spin. And Jag? How was she going to explain this to him? He'd hear about it, if not from Wedge than from someone else if she didn't explain it first. She froze. Explain it to Jag? Why did she need to explain it to him? She felt guilty immediately. Of course she'd have to explain it to Jag; he would certainly take it wrong. Not that it wasn't the way he would think, but she wasn't about to tell -him- that! She opened her eyes and stared at the blank wall of her fresher, tracing the water splash patterns with her gaze.
What -could- she tell him? The truth would hurt him too much, and he'd never believe she was leaving him for Kyp. But what would he accept? Certainly not that they were ill suited. They weren't, she just didn't find herself needing him to the point of distraction. She loved him, yes, but not beyond what she felt for any other of her friends. In truth, Jag was more like a security blanket that had lost its use. She grimaced. She wouldn't tell him that, though. Talk about a good way to damage a guy's ego. A knock sounded on her door and she looked up. The fresher door was cracked and she frowned, reaching out to the Force to see who was there. She swallowed hard. Wedge.
Pulling herself from the tub, she quickly drained it and stepped out. "Coming!" she called, toweling herself off rapidly before slipping into a flight suit. She hastily fastened it and slipped into her boots, neglecting to do them up as she went for the door. She keyed it open and stepped back. "General. This is a pleasant surprise."
"I'm sure it is -Goddess-."
Uh oh, Wedge was fuming. The stressing of her title was enough to have her step back and motion him in.
Wedge Antilles, his hair graying at the temple, rounded on her as the door slid closed, his arms crossing over his chest. "Care to explain what happened in the hangar today, Solo?"
She winced. Ouch. Not even Goddess, just 'Solo'. "I uh. Well, you see, sir, Kyp and I had a disagreement and he decided to take it someplace private. I really didn't have much say in the matter."
"I see." He arched an eyebrow, "Your conduct is supposed to be exemplary, Jaina. I can't keep your cover from being blown after that fiasco in the hangar bay. Every officer and pilot who was on deck or in my meeting now knows that you can't stop Kyp Durron!"
She blushed, unable to stop the heat from crawling up her neck and into her cheeks. "It wasn't like I intended it to be that way, General, Kyp was beyond reason. He was ordering me around in front of everyone, to have gone with him would have been worse!"
"Worse than having him throw you over his shoulder and cart you around?" Wedge asked pointedly. "I hardly believe that, Jaina. I will attempt to do damage control; most people are aware Kyp is your old Jedi Master, so perhaps I can work something on the basis of Jedi, but I don't want to see, or hear, about another incident like that, understand?"
"Yes sir!" she snapped off a quick salute and Wedge departed, the door closing behind him.
She relaxed, the tension in her shoulders giving way as she stepped to her bunk and sat on the edge. She let her head drop into her hands and thrust her fingers into her hair, gripping painfully. Damn him! Damn him and his pride and overbearing manner! She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Getting angry with Kyp after the fact wouldn't help anyone least of all herself.
And she still hadn't decided what to tell Jag. Could the General keep this quiet? He seemed to have assumed Kyp's outburst had been Jedi related. She took a deep breath, feeling like a heel for not correcting him. What was the big deal, anyway? Almost everyone on the ship knew about her 'act' as a Goddess. Maybe the rookies didn't, but they'd hear soon enough. She shook her head. This was becoming so muddled! And tomorrow her dad would be here! She inhaled sharply. She needed to sleep, to clear her mind and wake up with a fresh perspective. If she didn't, she's be tempted to take Kyp and throw him through the grav field for his actions today.
Not that he wouldn't be any different with her. She sighed, not bothering to change, and stretched out on her bunk. She'd have to think about something to tell her father because no matter who else she tried to fool, Han Solo would never buy a con from her. And that was both a blessing and a curse.