A/N: And we go on the first solo mission with… some company. I hope you will like it. I somehow get stuck with them and the fluff but it will pass, I hope, and I'll start complicating their life again. But now I just can't stop myself. And this is non beta version so I'm sorry for all the mistakes.
Ready for a fall
#2
It's just got to be YOU.
Twenty minutes later Cassian walks through the door to the Intelligence Office, the briefing has started more than ten minutes ago and everyone is sitting around the table focusing on Draven's words. Cassian takes a deep breath and walks in, he's deliberately late for the meeting to give Jyn the time to walk into the briefing on time, and if not on time, definitely without him at her side. The moment he marches through the door Draven stops talking and glares at him darkly for disturbing his speech than being actually angry that he's late. And Jyn can't hide a smile when Cassian squeezes his way to the chair on her left where he almost always sits during meetings. Cassian has only a brief moment to look around the table when he sits down beside Jyn trying very hard not to blush or grin. Jyn leans to him and whispers.
"You are late, does anything important stop you?" She's grinning at him and Cassian is fighting the urge not to lean even closer to her, now when he actually can he definitely shouldn't. So he only looks at her his eyes dark.
"There was one very important thing but apparently she left earlier" He whispers back at her and he's pleased when he sees a slight blush on her cheeks. But then Draven clears his throat to gain their attention and both Cassian and Jyn spring to attention.
Only then Cassian has a chance to really look around the table and at the sight of a dark haired woman sitting across from him, his eyes widens in surprise. Anja, he thinks darkly, I need to tell Kyle not to come close the Intelligence Center. What's she doing here? Cassian is wondering briefly trying at the same time to focus on Draven's missions schedules. Then he takes his data pad and sends a short massage to Kyle.
"...and the last operation, there are some rumors and half information that we have another deathly virus in creating or it's already created and ready to use. We need to check that information. Our Intel on Coruscant sent information that the biological engineer responsible for creating that virus will be travelling to Bolerias Laboratory. He likes to travel in a very comfortably way and he's rising new founds for his research so he will be boarding the Coruscant cruiser to travel to Borelias. And he prefers to spend his time surrounding with women so that would be our angel." Cassian is listening to Draven more intently now, and he's almost sure what he will hear next. That's why Anja is here, she's one of the best operatives on that kind of mission, she's like Kyle but with men. Then Draven hands the datapads with the briefing Intel to that mission and as Cassian foresees one of the datapad lands in front of Anja but the second one is placed in front of Jyn seconds later.
"I think, and captain Andor will most likely agree, there is the time for a solo mission for lieutenant Erso here." Cassian needs to sit on his hands so as not to grab the datapad lying in front of Jyn to check which part of this mission Jyn would get. Because he's silently praying that this is the part with espionage, stealing the plans of the virus, not the part when she would be parading in too tight clothes playing the distraction. He's trying very hard not to look tense when Draven looks at him for opinion. Cassian distantly remembers the same conversation almost a month ago when he was asked for opinion and he said NO and all the consequences. And now, after all that happened yesterday and this complicated unsettled state he and Jyn are in, he has absolutely no idea what he should say. Half of him, the reasonably one, is screaming at him to agree, to let Jyn be a solo operative but the other part of him, the one who he lately called his heart, is crying to say no. But they were there already and Cassian could learnt from his mistake, and he really doesn't want Jyn to be angry at him today. So he bites his tongue and nods his agreement but he's squeezing the brim of the table so hard that his knuckles are almost white. Jyn is watching Cassian at the corner of her eyes and she can see how he's fighting to behave neutral and composed and she's silently begging him to trust her. She can do it, she can go on her own, and she will be fine. She's thinking frantically looking between Draven and Cassian. Then Cassian nods his head and Draven takes it as his answer and Jyn lets go her breath she doesn't even know she was holding. She will thank Cassian later... the way she can thank him now.
Draven walks past Jyn and Cassian and heads to the front of the table. The meeting is almost over and the operatives who are not scheduled for detailed briefing are leaving the office. Jyn flashes the screen of the datapad to read the briefing and Cassian is trying not to hover over her shoulder but he does. He reads the details looking only for one word 'stealing' and the relief he feels after seeing this word is so strong that he closes his eyes and breathes deeply.
Jyn is reading through the task when a dark haired woman comes closer to her and Cassian's chairs. Cassian is the first to look up and after seeing Anja his eyes becoming slightly alerted Jyn couldn't help but notice and she looks between the girl and Cassian confused, when the dark haired girl speaks.
"Hi, we haven't met, I'm Anja Zittaun and I'm your second operative on the Feelswoop."
"Oh yes." Jyn gets up hastily and shakes Anja's hands. "It's nice to meet you, I'm Jyn Erso."
"That I know, I think all of the Alliance knows your name." Anja is smiling but it's not a pleasant smile. Jyn can't stop looking at her and she must fight with herself not to stare at her. Anja is beautiful in the old term of this word, long black hair is falling down her back in soft waves, pricing blue eyes are looking at Jyn with interest and with a hint of grandeur, thin red lips (definitely she's wearing makeup) are curved in a pleasant smile which isn't reaching her eyes. Oh force she's beautiful, how one person can look so beautiful? Jyn is thinking distractedly trying to come up with a wit answer to her comment of being the famous one. But then Cassian cuts in looking unkindly at the black haired girl.
"Jealous?" Cassian asks, he's trying to joke but it doesn't sound like that. It sounded more like a challenge.
"Not my style, Cassian." Anja answers and looks at him with some displease. "Hasn't changed much, has you?"
Jyn gapes at the two of them. She looks between Cassian and Anja and tries very hard to decide if she actually likes the tone of their conversation. One thing is certain, there is a past between these two and Jyn is suddenly very determined to establish that past.
"Not much, has you?" Cassian asks Anja looking sternly into her eyes.
"Charming as always, but we have some details to discuss so if you please I'll steal your girl."
Cassian and Jyn want to say something regarding the last comment but just this moment Draven decides to join them.
"Good you've met, captain Andor glad you could stay, we need backup on this mission and a pilot and since you work with Lieut. Erso you will take that."
"Of course, sir." Cassian agrees with Draven little too eagerly for Jyn's liking, but she's somehow relieved that he's still coming with her.
"Good, so let's sit down and discuss the details..." Draven says sitting on a chair.
One hour later the meeting is finally over and Cassian and Jyn are almost ready to leave. They have two hours to prepare, pack and be ready to go. The Feelswoop will be starting its journey from Courscant and they need to board it near the Corellian system. Just after the door closes after Anja, Jyn turns around to Cassian.
"Where did you find her? Holofilms?" Jyn asks, she's trying to sound lightly but failing at it her tone more like an accusation.
'What?" Cassian asks narrowing his eyes, he has no idea what's she talking about.
"Cassian come on, she's gorgeous." Jyn says in disbelieve, she really doesn't believe that Cassian could not notice Anja and her look.
"Oh that," he finally understands and he smiles at her then adds. "Not my type."
"Do you have a type?" Jyn asks him coming closer her eyes flashing mischief.
"I think so..." Cassian starts and takes a step closer looking into her eyes and adds in his mind she's standing in front of me all green eyed and smart mouthed.
"Do tell." She's teasing him and Cassian is surprised how much he likes it actually.
"I think you know now." He answers and bends down trying to kiss her but she dodges his attempt and smiles broadly.
"Are you blushing?" She asks him and Cassian actually blush this time but he attempts to hide this and answers in mock offended tone. "Spies don't blush." This time he actually kiss her, or to be specific almost kiss her because at this very moment some technician chooses this time to enter the room and both Cassian and Jyn are forced to jump apart from each other and pretend to be preoccupied with datapads and plans lying on the table.
"So I will meet you later for the detailed talk over the plans…" Cassian starts talking trying very hard to hide the grin that is spreading on his face. He can tell that Jyn is fighting with laughter as well.
"Yes, see you later." She answers and actually starts walking to the door.
Cassian stalls for some time giving Jyn the chance to leave the room, he will find her later. He has some other things to attend in the Office anyway. But then another man walks into the briefing room and this time Cassian actually grins at the newcomer.
"Kyle, didn't you get my massage." Cassian asks his friend.
"I did, I'm sneaking around like a professional, I just saw her in the mess hall so we good." Kyle answers and smiles at Cassian looking around as he's searching for someone.
Cassian almost bursts into laughter when he hears about sneaking around being mentioned again today but he composes himself, he doesn't want to tell anyone about his and Jyn new relationship because it actually absolutely new and he wants to keep it to himself for a little while, for once he wants to be egoistic and keeps his happiness close to himself.
"Yeah, you were always good at sneaking around, what are you doing here?" Cassian asks again.
"A debriefing for Kuat and I was looking for you and Jyn." Kyle says still looking around and since he doesn't find her anywhere he refocuses on Cassian.
"What?" Cassian asks and as much as he's trying his tone is little too panicked, that gains Kyle's full attention and the corellian man only narrows his eyes at Cassian.
"I didn't see you at breakfast and Jyn wasn't around as well," Kyle starts and looks closely at his friend the way Cassian tries to appear calm and composed tells Kyle everything he wants to know. "I didn't know if our last night party weren't too good for you two?"
"What are you asking about?" Cassian asks fast, definitely too fast, and Kyle grins at him as he was saying 'busted'
"I don't know," Kyle starts talking slowly and observing his friend, he knows everything from the way Cassian tries to find a way out of this situation. "I wanted to ask whether you weren't sick from the alcohol and Jyn happened to be taking care of you, but NOW I really know that something happen last night."
"I don't know…" Cassian starts but Kyle only cuts him and his eyes gets kind of serious.
"If you finish that sentence Cassian I will be forced to use violence."
Cassian just stares at his friend. Damn Kyle and his ability to read him, Cassian thinks. Maybe they – he and Jyn- could deceive anyone but this one here is not so easy to trick. Kyle just knows Cassian too long and too well.
"Fine, whatever" Cassian just gives up and grins. "I needed to thank you anyway."
"Thank me?" Kyle asks in disbelieve.
"For inviting Jyn last night," Cassian says fast wanting nothing more than to be off with this conversation, "and for all those tactless hints you were sending in our way for like months, it worked."
"What happened? I want details." At the last statement Kyle also grins a wicked smile and pats Cassian's shoulder little too hard.
"That my friend you'll never get." Cassian says and he absolutely means that. He would not tell anything that happened between him and Jyn. First of all she would kill him the moment she would find out and the second he wants to have some privet life.
"Don't screw it up Cassian or I would be forced to use violence as well." Kyle only informs him and he's half amused and half serious. In times like this Cassian knows why he befriended this egoistic, pompous ass of a man so many years ago. Because Kyle is just the perfect friend.
"Great, anything else?" Cassian huffs at him but he's not actually angry. Then Kyle's eyes become serious and he asks.
"Yes, tell me about the mission and… Anja."
"I don't know it's a good idea for you to talk about Anja," Cassian starts not really looking at his friend, he knows that this conversation was inevitable the moment he sent the massage to Kyle. "I still remember the days after she left."
"Its fine Cassian it was a long time ago." Kyle says and after a minute of heavy silence Cassian starts talking about the mission trying very hard to omit as much Anja as he actually can.
Those two hours they had to prepare passed too quickly, Cassian didn't have time to meet with Jyn and well… talk. Definitely Cassian wanted to talk with her, stop fooling yourself Cassian, his mind informs him, you want nothing more just to grab her and finish what you two have started this morning. That's more likely Cassian agrees with his thoughts darkly but somehow feels smut at the same time. But he shakes his head and focus on the task in hand which is to pack and prepare the U wing for the trip to the Corellian system, K2 is working in the cockpit with the navy computer while Cassian is loading the supplies and equipment needed for the mission. He tries very hard not to think too much of the part of the mission where Jyn needs to sneak to the high guarded compartment to steal the research on that virus. Cassian was always afraid of Jyn's life during missions, ever since they started working together (and even before she actually joined the Alliances forces) but now he's even more concerned. She will be alone on this mission, Anja being the distraction, needs to glue to their target. And Cassian somehow hates the idea that he would be only serving as a backup plan and escape route, there would probably be a radio silence through the entire mission and he hates that even more. He would be blind and deft and needs to trust both Jyn and Anja to do their parts of the plan. Jyn, he trusts with his life, he doesn't know if he can trust Anja, she wouldn't do anything do jeopardize the mission but Cassian is almost certain that if Anja needs to leave Jyn behind to complete the mission she would do it without blinking an eye. And it's not very reassuring.
Then Cassian can hear footsteps on the deck and second later there is Anja walking into the U-wing with her bag in her hand. She climbs into the cargo hold and stops looking at Cassian, he only looks back at her and there is a long moment of silence.
"Look Cassian, I know that we start at the wrong foot, but we need to focus on this mission and I don't want to deal with any misunderstanding on the way." Anja informs him and put her bag at the back of the ship. "I know that Jyn is normally your operative but this time I need her and I don't need you questioning all my orders.'
"You are not going to be giving orders Anja," Cassian almost barks at her and even K2 stops typing on the keyboard in the cockpit and starts listening to the two humans in the cargo hold. "I'm here for orders. If I remember correctly Draven said that this is my mission."
"That part somehow has escaped my notice," Anja says calmly and locks her blue eyes with Cassian, in this very moment Cassian actually remembers how difficult was to resist her those two years ago. But she continues in a very icy tone. "You won't be there so how can you be in charge?"
"Until we are on place and the mission is started I'm in charge." Cassian says darkly not backing away for the conversation.
"Bossy and stubborn as usual." Anja comments her tone sweet and overly polite, Cassian only narrows his eyes on her.
"Don't force me to call you names, Anja."
"What's going on here?" Jyn's voice interrupts the conversation between Anja and Cassian, and Anja closes her mouth over a nasty retort towards Cassian's last sentence and only adds. "Nothing, old habits die hard." She snorts, turns around to sit at one of the chairs in cargo hold and she busies herself with her datapad.
"Cassian?" Jyn looks at him for some answers.
"It's nothing," Cassian starts explaining. One day he needs to sit with Jyn and juts discuss his difficult and complicated past, and some part of Kyle's past which is tangled with his, just not to have that kind of surprises every time something or someone from his pass returns and wants to bite him in his ass. Cassian swears to himself that one day he will tell Jyn everything, but now they don't have the time. "We needed to establish the chain of command."
"This is my solo mission captain Andor." Jyn looks at him and emphasis the last part of the sentence. The way she says his title informs Cassian that if he will not proceed with caution there will be another fight with much more dangerous opponent this time.
"That's true," he speaks fast trying very hard not to make Jyn's angry. "But I'm still in charge of this operation and now if you could just follow me." Cassian walks off the U wing and marches hastily in the direction of some cargo crates, Jyn follows him. When he's sure they are out of ear shot and definitely unseen from the U wing he spins around to Jyn. She stops in front of him, her eyes angry and searching.
"What's wrong with you two, Cassian?" She asks him crossly and to her surprise a little hurt. The scene she just walked into was too suspicious for her newly discovered feelings, she knows that Cassian has past but she's not prepared to meet his past so soon. "Did you happen to be…?" She gestured between Cassian and the general direction of the U-wing and for a second Cassian doesn't know what she's talking about but then his eyes widens in surprise and horror.
"What?", he asks in disbelieve. "No!" he corrects fast. "Not me, it was Kyle actually. And she hates me because it's kind of my fault they are not together."
"What happened?" Jyn asks her tone relieved and curious at the same time. She lets go her breath she doesn't even know she was holding, some small part of her was praying that she would heard that kind of answer.
"I told the truth." Cassian says darkly.
"Truth?" Jyn asks slowly.
"It was a very dark time in Kyle's life," Cassian starts and leans against the nearest carte. "And then Anja came in the way and… I finally told him that she was messing with his feelings when he was vulnerable…"
"What?" Jyn is surprised and a the same time little angry, but she also knows that she shouldn't be asking about Kyle's past when he's not around. It's too close to gossiping and Jyn hates gossips since she became the topic of most of them ever since she returned from Scarif.
"I don't think it's my story to tell." Cassian says seriously and begs her with his eyes not to ask him more. Because he knows he would not say no to Jyn and he would tell her everything but he feels too uncomfortable talking about Kyle and his past.
"I understand," Jyn speaks and Cassian is grateful that she can accept that this is not the time or place to tell stories of the past. "But still Cassian, I need to work with her and since this morning you two don't really get along."
"I will try." Cassian says and smiles at Jyn for the first time since this conversation started.
"I hope you will," Jyn says slowly and takes a step closer to him, and then another one and she puts her small hand on his cheek. "Now I really need your calm and composed by- the- book- officer- behavior more than you think." She leans closer and brushes her lips over his and suddenly she registers that it's amazing that she can actually kiss him when she can. It supposed to be a short and sweet kiss but then the spark that was there between them ignites with full power. In no time Cassian has his hands under her shirt making her to gasp his name. Cassian is too preoccupied with her in his arms so her last words almost skips his fogged mind.
"What?" He asks detaching (with some problems) himself from her lips, when finally his overheated brain records Jyn's last words. Does she really think like this about me?
"Just switch to your spy master mode," Jyn says not really backing away from him, her hands still in his hair and her body still firmly flushed against him. "Please for me." She finishes her eyes sparkling and kissing him again this time short and sweet.
"If you are asking so nicely." He bends down again and clams her lips one more time before he lets go of her.
"And be professional." Jyn informs him her voice mock serious when she pulls her shirt again in its place.
"Yes, like you were this morning," Cassian snorts at her remembering the morning in her room. It was bad idea, because all the imagines from their previous actions come crashing on him making his aroused brain even foggier. I need to get a grip I'm behaving like a horny teenager, Cassian scowled himself but it isn't very hopeful. "Top professional work."
"That doesn't count, it was the 'sneaking part'." Jyn smiles at him and Cassian almost without thinking reaches and wants to grab her to 'sneak' with her some more but she jumps from his reach her eyes smiling, she looks pointedly at him her eyes dark from desire and starts walking away from behind the crates that were their hiding spot.
"You'll be the death of me." Cassian groans and follows her dutifully trying very hard to focus on the task, the memory of her kisses still clouding his mind.
"I really do hope I'll not." Jyn informs him seriously and since they walk to the U-wing she jumps on board.
A/N: tell me what you think. I'm thinking of writing a story of Kyle and Cassian when they were a little younger and a little more reckless just to explains all the background information I'm sneaking in my stories because somehow trying to write Cassian/ Jyn story I gave Cassian an actual friend and now THOSE two can't leave me alone.
And I find some distraction in a form of Kanan Jarrus from Star Wars Rebels hence the delay. But the last chapter will be here sooner (since it mostly written).