X-wing: Asynri's Song
Part 4
by Jessa

We hopped a speeder cab to the hotel. After we checked in, we were escorted to the suite we'd been given. My jaw dropped when I saw it. Wedge gave a little laugh at my obvious amazement. My family, before they were slaughtered by the Empire, had never been rich. In fact, my family had been among the lowest-class grouping on Corellia. When I joined the New Republic Starfighter Corps, and found out I had to share a room with only one other person, I'd thought I'd died and gone to heaven.

Now, looking at the suite I'd be staying in for Force knows how long, I was like a kid in a candy store. The main room was decorated in soft blues and greens, with one whole wall devoted to a huge window looking out over the landscape, which was breathtaking.

There was a small kitchen with a food-prep unit and a refrigeration unit. Some cabinets and drawers contained a variety of cooking implements. I found this discovery wonderful, since I love to cook.

The bedroom (there was only one, I discovered with a touch of dismay, but hey, what else should I have expected since the hotel thought me and Wedge were married) was beyond huge, by my definition. It had been decorated in dark greens and a creamy white. I immediately sat on the bed, and was surprised when I sank in a little. I flopped down on it and could have gone to sleep, but I wasn't done exploring yet, and I still had to unpack. Reluctantly, I pulled myself out of the bed.

"No. . .think. . .fine. . ." I could hear voices from the main room, so I went to investigate. One voice I recognized as Wedge's and I thought the other was Gavin's, but I wasn't sure. My thoughts were confirmed when I walked out into the main room. Despite his hair, which had been grown out and dyed jet black, I still recognized him, but that was because I'd seen him with his hair black before we got off the shuttle on Myrkr.

"Hiya, stranger. Been a long time. What brings you here?" I said cheerfully.

Gavin gave me a strange look. "Business. I guess it has been a while. I almost didn't recognize you, Janek."

I smiled. "Would you like something to drink?"

"No, thanks. I can't stay long." He turned his attention back to Wedge, effectively shutting me out of the conversation. I took the hint and retreated back to the bedroom. I unpacked quickly--my things only took up about three-quarters of a drawer--and fell onto the bed.

I don't know how long I'd been asleep, but the next thing I knew, I was being shaken awake. I opened my eyes and saw a pair of brown eyes staring intently at me from below blond eyebrows. My first reaction was to lash out with a fist, then I rolled off the other side of the large bed, landing in a defensive half-crouch.

Then thought caught up as my brain kicked into gear. I remembered where I was and who the other guy was.

Wedge sat up from the floor, where he'd landed in surprise when I hit him, rubbing his left cheek and jaw. "You hit hard, 'R-Janek," he said, remembering to call me by my assumed name at the last minute.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I really didn't mean to hit you. I'm just not used to being shaken awake," I gushed.

"No damage, I think. Where did you learn to hit like that?"

"In the military. Self-defense training. You ought to know that. Anyway, why'd you wake me up?"

Wedge shrugged. "I was about to head out to eat and thought you'd like to come, too. Unless you're not hungry."

"Food? Where?"

Wedge laughed. "This way," he said and led the way to a small, family-run restaurant down the street from our hotel.

oOoOoOo

The food, it turned out, was the best I'd ever had. It was weird, eating dinner with my commanding officer. I found out he was actually very pleasant company, as long as we talked about fairly neutral things, such as family, friends, and military service. We traded a couple of stories, starring none other than Wes Janson. Wedge related one involving a stuffed Ewok, cleaning fluids, and a bright orange cloak which was absolutely hilarious. The only thing I regretted about hearing it was that I wasn't with the Wraiths at the time.

My story was somewhat similar in that Janson got a prank pulled on him, but it involved another pilot, a dark, empty room, a holocam, a punching dummy, and Kashyyyk forest honey and linaari feathers. I didn't actually pull the prank--Kari, the other pilot, did that--but I did record and distribute the whole scene for her. Wedge grinned and said he'd have to ask a certain somebody about that one.

There was something about his eyes in that dim light that I seemed to find absolutely mesmerizing. I tried to keep myself from falling into those dark whirlpools, but it was very difficult, especially since he kept staring at me. Get a grip, Asynri. He's your commanding officer. Don't act like a total buffoon.

I realized Wedge was saying something, and reluctantly pulled myself out of my daydreams.

"Coruscant to Asynri."

"Sorry, sir. I was thinking." About what, you don't want to know. I sincerely hoped he wouldn't ask me what I'd been thinking about, because I really didn't feel like spilling my guts and telling my CO that I thought he was absolutely gorgeous, especially when he smiled. I mean, that's just not done. I'm a lowly Flight Officer, why would he pay attention to me? Besides, that sort of relationship is generally frowned upon. And anyway, I swear he must hate me.

"I see. Judging by the look on your face, I don't think I want to know." He laughed as my face went red-hot.

Embarrassment strikes at the most inopportune times, you know? This was definitely one of them. I wanted to be practically anywhere but in that restaurant, at that time. Fortunately, we'd finished dinner, so it was a simple matter just to get up and leave. After paying the bill, of course.

As we walked back to the hotel, I'm not sure if my blush faded or just got worse. I just wished I could sink into the duracrete sidewalk and vanish, but it didn't happen. So I got stuck walking back side-by-side with Commander Antilles, as I'd had to start thinking of him again. If I hadn't, I think I would've been obliged to shoot myself for the thoughts that kept running rampant through my mind. Fortunately, the walk back was relatively quiet.

I couldn't wait until this mission was over.