The Maine fog was dense on the morning of June 6th. El stood on the decking outside her apartment door, her two suitcases beside her, waiting for Max who was scrambling because she had overslept. El looked out over the field adjacent to their apartment and watched as the fog moved with the wind.
It's like the Dagobah System. The Force will be strong with this trip. She smiled.
Max finally appeared at the door with her keys in hand and the two girls set off for Bangor International Airport. It was a short ride as the girls lived in Orono near the University of Maine campus which was not far at all from Bangor. El had one regular suitcase and a smaller carry on, having put the costumes in the carry on bag just in case her luggage should get lost. She and Max said their goodbyes and El made her way to the check-in counter.
The flight from Bangor to New York was on a plane with propellers and it made El uneasy to feel the bumps and jumps of the small aircraft flying through the fog. She kept her thoughts on the fact that she would see Mike by the end of the day and it made her feel more at peace. There was some turbulence but El just breathed in and out, closing her eyes and pretending she was in a galaxy far, far away.
Her layover in New York was almost five and a half hours. She knew Mike would be driving but she wanted him to know she'd made it to New York at least. She sent him a text.
I'm in New York and will be for a little while. Need any souvenirs?
She was surprised when he wrote back, thinking that he'd be on the road.
I just need you. I can't check into the hotel until after 2:00 and I'm only thirty minutes away so I haven't left yet.
El was sitting in the terminal her plane would eventually depart from. When she saw that Mike was still at home she thought it would be easier to call him than to keep texting him.
"You just need me, huh?" El said after Mike answered his phone.
"Yes, that's all I need. Are you bored already?" Mike asked. It sounded like drawers were opening and then shutting.
"I am. I guess I could explore the airport. It's big, but I don't want to waste money on airport things. I want to save it for the con. What are you doing?"
"I'm packing, of course. I want to check in as soon as I can so I can get our tickets and then come wait for you. I don't care if I have to wait two hours." She could tell he was smiling.
El sighed. "I'll be there as soon as I can. I wish I had powers so I could get there quicker."
"Maybe that's not the type of power you have." Mike's voice was low.
"Mike." El said softly. He knew he had made her blush.
"Think about what kind of food you might want for dinner and I'll take you wherever you want to go tonight. Do you have anything to read while you wait to leave? Because if you want to buy a book at the airport do it and I'll reimburse you so you don't have to worry about being out any money."
Mike was so sweet. Every time she thought he couldn't possibly be any sweeter he topped himself.
"I do have a book. It seems interesting but I haven't started it yet. It's called NOS4A2 and it's by Joe Hill. He's Stephen King's son," El explained.
"Are you trying to give me an aneurysm? That book is amazing, El! I read it last year and I loved it. I love Stephen King and I've read all of Joe Hill's books. I knew he was Steve's son when I saw his picture even though he was trying not to ride his dad's coattails. He just looks too much like his dad. That's the book you brought? Can you get any more awesome?"
El giggled, "I guess we never talked about our favorite authors. I do live in Maine though and went to school and work at the University of Maine, where Stephen King went as well. A group of us went trick-or-treating at his house one year but he wasn't home. His house is badass. It's on West Broadway in Bangor. I love him like a father, so I guess that would make Joe my brother?" She laughed. "I'm more excited to start this book now that you like it so much."
"It made me cry." Mike said. "I know you'll love it."
"I'm going to start it now then. I'll let you get packed and I'll see you in just a few hours. Please be safe driving over there, okay? Oh, and don't forget your Han boots!"
"I will, and I won't." He chuckled. "Hey, El?" Mike sounded like he had something else he wanted to say.
"Yes?"
"Um, nothing. I'll see you in a little while. I can't wait."
"Neither can I. Bye, Mike."
El looked at her phone. She still had a few hours to wait. She made herself as comfortable as she could and started her book, quickly becoming engrossed in the story.
She almost missed the call for boarding because she was so into her book but something clicked in her head as the loudspeaker called the number for her flight so she quickly grabbed her bag and got in line to board the plane. She had a window seat this time, seat 11F. She didn't know how she had gotten the upgrade to comfort class but she wasn't going to question it. Being closer to the front meant she could deboard earlier and see Mike sooner. The takeoff was smooth, unlike the propeller plane she'd been on earlier in the day, and she watched the clouds until she felt sleepy and closed her eyes.
Falling asleep made the flight seem to go faster and before she knew it the flight attendant was gently asking her to put her seat back into the upright position to get ready to land. El could feel the excitement building inside her. She felt nervous and happy and even scared all at once.
She thought the plane would never get finished taxiing to the terminal. Once they landed El was so jittery that she kept repeating Max's words in her head. Don't pick at your cuticles or your fingers will bleed. Instead she balled her hands into fists and tried to keep calm. Finally the plane stopped and they were ready to deboard. She retrieved her carry on from the overhead compartment and tried to be patient as the people in front of her milled about, seeming to be in no hurry at all to get off the plane. Once they started moving though it went rather quickly.
El checked the signs to see which way baggage claim was and headed in that direction. There were a lot of people standing around waiting for their friends or loved ones or colleagues or whomever they were at the airport to pick up. El looked around. There were several different conveyors. She knew which one her suitcase should be on when they unloaded the plane but she wasn't sure if Mike would be able to figure it out. She had walked around the entire conveyor belt but the luggage from her plane wasn't yet coming out. She turned to the right and then she saw him.
He was looking around at the people, scanning the small crowd for El. Somehow when she had turned around that's when he saw her and they looked at each other from where they stood for a few seconds before El sprinted to him and he caught her in midair as she jumped into his arms.
He held her tightly and she buried her face in his neck, intoxicated by the smell of his skin mixed with his cologne. After a minute he set her down gently but they didn't really part. They looked at each other, not speaking, their eyes saying everything for them. People were walking around them but they didn't even see them.
"Hi," El whispered.
"You're here." Mike whispered back as he started bending his head toward her. She had just enough time to gasp before his lips met hers in a kiss that she could swear had been in all her recent dreams. It felt soft and familiar, but exciting and sexy as well. Her hands were in his hair, trying to pull herself closer to him. Somewhere a buzzer sounded signaling that a new set of luggage was coming down the conveyor but they weren't bothered to stop. El's bag had actually gone around the belt five or six times before they finally remembered that they were in the middle of an airport and had the entire rest of the week to be together. Mike had moved his hand to her face and she felt him softly caress her cheek as they brought their kiss to a close.
"I'm so happy to see you. You have no idea." Mike said softly, their heads still touching.
"I think I do." She smiled up at him and he thought he might just die right there.
"Are you hungry? Do you wanna get out of here?" Mike asked.
"Yes. Let's get my bag." She took his hand and they walked to the conveyor, which now only had four bags riding around and around waiting to be claimed.
Mike didn't even have to ask which one was El's. He knew it was the one with the Rebel Alliance sticker on it. He smiled widely at her as he lifted it from its spot on the belt.
"Nerd." He said lowly, winking at her. She smiled and shrugged.
Mike was driving them to a little Greek restaurant and as they drove he kept looking over at his passenger, still not believing she was next to him. He had waited for so long and when he kissed her it felt like the first drop of a big roller coaster, like the feeling of warm ocean waves crashing into him, like sitting by the fireside after being outside in the cold. It was all the best feelings at once. He reached across the seat and took her hand in his. Seeing her smile at him in person was better than he could have ever hoped.
They couldn't stop looking at each other as they ate their food. Mike kept getting lost in her eyes and forgetting what he'd been saying, which was probably nonsense anyway because all he could really think about was that she was here and he couldn't wait to go back to the hotel. El didn't notice the nonsense because she was thinking the same thing.
When they got to the hotel after eating dinner Mike carried both of El's bags for her. She swiped the keycard at the door of their room since his hands were full and held the door open for him as he entered with her luggage. El looked around the room as Mike set her bags near the closet area. There were two beds and it looked like Mike had taken the one closest to the window.
"You can have whichever bed you want." Mike said. El turned to look at him and when their eyes met all talk of choosing beds was over. She walked to him, throwing her arms around his neck and pulling him down to her, kissing him fervently. Mike pushed her down onto the nearest bed and they laughed together as they both realized they were trying to kick their shoes off at the same time.
"Hold up." Mike sat up and untied El's black Chuck Taylors before slipping her feet out of them. He pushed his own shoes off with his feet, using one foot to push the heel down until he could shake his foot out of it. Then he was kissing her again.
"I wanted this so much." El was saying between kisses, pawing at Mike's shirt, trying to remove it from his torso. He peeled it off in one motion. El kissed his chest and sat back just a bit. "Now me," she said as she moved his hands to the hemline of her vintage Star Wars t-shirt. Mike watched the image of Yoda turn inside out as he slipped the shirt over her head. He stopped and stared at her.
"What is it?" She asked, starting to feel self-conscious. He immediately reached out for her and pulled her into him, feeling her skin make contact with his.
"I just wanted to look at you. You are so perfect." His hands moved up her back, stopping at the clasp of her bra. "Can I?"
She nodded. In seconds the bra was off and tossed aside, leaving them both with only their lower halves still clothed. They couldn't stop kissing.
"I have a surprise for you but you can't have it today." El said as Mike moved to her neck. His lips and tongue on her warm skin sent shockwaves down her spine and she kissed his forehead and temples as he worked his way down from her neck to her chest.
"You can't tell me things like that and then make me wait," he whined, continuing kissing toward her breasts.
She was mid-sentence when she felt his mouth on her left breast, his tongue grazing her nipple. "It's worth the...oh, shit that feels good, Mike...wait. I promise," she said as she held his head against her. She felt him slide his hand up her side from her hip to her right breast and gently squeeze as he sucked on her left one. She suddenly felt like her jeans were too tight, too restricting.
"Help me take these off," she murmured as she unbuttoned her pants. Mike's hands went to the waistband of her jeans and tugged them down. He watched as they lowered, leaving El in just her panties. He quickly followed suit and felt El's hands guiding his own jeans lower, feeling himself brush against her stomach as she pushed them down from such close proximity.
El looked at him. "I love you in these boxers. I like the tight ones. You look so good in them." She said, her hand was almost touching him.
And I love you, Mike thought. He kissed her again as they stood on their knees on the bed. Mike's hands moved around her and she could feel his big palms on her back, moving lower by the second. She was doing the same to him, only with much smaller hands.
El felt his fingers graze the top of her panties in the back. He was rubbing circles on her skin and with each pass was getting closer to her ass. Finally she felt his hands on her and she moaned softly.
"Do you like that?" Mike asked as he squeezed and then pulled her more into him, his hands cupping both of her ass cheeks.
"Yes," she gasped. She could feel him for sure now. He had her pressed against him as closely as he could.
El slipped her hands beneath the elastic waistband of his boxers and did the same to him. "See? It feels really good." She whispered before kissing him again.
"El, I want you so bad." Mike had pulled her down on top of him and they were lying on the bed. Her legs were on either side of him, straddling his midsection.
"Do you? Will you show me how bad?"
Mike accepted her challenge. She sounded so sexy when she'd asked. He rolled them over so that he was on top. His fingers trailed down her body slowly, making her squirm, until he arrived at her panties. He ran his hand over her, not taking them off like she'd hoped he would. He stayed on the outside of the fabric, rubbing small circles over her center. He could tell almost immediately that she was more than ready but they had all night and he wanted to make it memorable.
"I think you may have a problem here." He looked up, trying to look concerned.
"What?" El was almost panting.
"These panties seem to be wet. Maybe you should have them removed," Mike said, though he didn't stop rubbing her there.
"Then take them off. Please take them off, Mike."
"Should I? Then you won't have anything on." He was getting a kick out of teasing her. "Do you want me to see you naked?"
El was enjoying his little game but was also starting to become very frustrated. She needed to feel so much more.
"That's what I want. Please give me what I want."
Mike let his fingers dip beneath the waistband of her panties and started to slowly pull them down. El felt them finally leave her ankles and she sighed in relief.
"There you go. Is that better?" Mike asked.
"Yes, but I still need to feel more, Mike." She was looking at him with desperation. Mike knew he needed to give her some relief.
He moved his fingers over her again and felt her for the first time. El groaned when he touched her slick opening. It made her feel electric. She was about to lose her mind.
"Mike, please just take off your shorts. I need you so much. I just need to feel you inside. Please?"
Hearing her beg him like that, Mike quickly did as she asked. He could tease her later. He didn't want her to feel desperate and he also was needing her. He needed to feel connected in another way. He moved over her and kissed her deeply, feeling her arms wrap around him. Their tongues were yin and yang, Lennon and McCartney, Odysseus and Penelope. They were meant to go together.
"Do you want to be on top?" Mike asked. He liked the idea of looking up at her.
"Oh, yes, definitely." El smiled as Mike rolled them over again.
Mike watched as El lined herself up over him. She felt like it was her turn to tease him. She could feel him but she wouldn't allow herself to go down far enough for him to slide in. She bent forward and kissed him. She could feel his hands move to her hips to try to push her down but she kept herself slightly above him, grinning as he grumbled.
"Do you need something?" She asked seductively, moving to kiss his neck.
"I need to feel you, El. Please?"
El thought he sounded so sweet when he begged so she gave him just a little of what he wanted. She pushed herself back until she could feel him, letting his cock rest in between her folds which were wet with her arousal.
"Shit, I need more." Mike pleaded.
El moved herself back and forth, causing his erection to become saturated. Mike moaned.
"Oh, god. That's good."
"Is it good enough?" El asked, a sly grin on her face. Mike looked at her.
"No. Am I going to have to take what I need?" His pupils were completely blown and his eyes were dark with lust. El felt new desire overwhelm her when Mike's hands on her hips softened and then gripped her again.
El looked down at him. She only wanted one thing now. "Do it, Mike," she whispered. She felt Mike's hands push her back and down and felt him slide in all at once, filling her and taking her breath away for a second.
"Are you okay?" Mike asked as he held himself in place so she could acclimate to the intrusion.
El nodded. "Yes, just give me a second." Mike watched as her facial expression changed from a furrowed brow to relaxation. Then she smiled down at him.
"Okay. I just had to get used to the size." She winked at him and started moving herself slowly on him, rocking back and forth.
"Jesus fuck, El. You are so tight! Oh, god, you feel so good!" His hands were on her hips again and he would pull her down as he pushed himself up, causing her eyes to roll almost into the back of her head.
"Mike, that's...you're so good at that." She was definitely panting.
Mike moved his hands to her breasts and squeezed them both gently as she continued to ride him. He watched as she looked down to where they were connected, biting her lower lip as she did.
"You are so hot, El. Watching you right now is the best thing I've ever seen."
"Mike, oh, fuck this feels good. I wanted this for so long." She bent down to kiss him, never stopping her rocking motion. He pulled her to him and thrust himself deeper into her. Her head moved to his ear. "Oh, Mike, I think you're going to make me come. Don't stop. Please do it harder."
Hearing her beg him to do it harder was enough to send him off the cliff but he was determined to let her finish first. If he had his way they might skip the convention altogether and just do this for the next five days but he knew that wasn't practical. He held her close and pounded into her from below. She started moaning even heavier.
"Are you gonna come for me, El? I know you want to. I know you've wanted to for so long. I do too. It feels so good to be inside you right now. You feel so good on my cock."
El cut him off. "Fuck, Mike! Oh, bury yourself in me and stay there. I'm coming on you right now...oh! Oh!"
Mike could feel her spasm around him. He had done as she asked and pushed himself in as far as he could go and now he was coming too. He held her close, still feeling her body convulse, and emptied into her. He instantly felt guilty for not pulling out but he wanted to bask in the moment before he brought that up.
They held each other until they started to feel a chill when the air conditioning kicked back on. They climbed under the covers. Mike pulled El close to him and held her, her head resting just under his chin.
"El, um, I... Jeez, I just came inside you. Is that going to be a problem?"
El laughed. "Not unless you have some disease you haven't mentioned." She sat up, feigning concern. "You don't have a disease, do you?"
"No, I promise!"
"It's okay, Mike. I'm twenty-five. I've been on the pill since I was twenty-one. You're good. And at this point I don't think I'd even care if you did have something. Just sayin'." She kissed his cheek. Mike was instantly relieved.
They rested together for a while and then Mike remembered why they were even there in the first place.
"Oh! I got our lanyards and badges. They look badass! Look at all the stuff that comes with our tickets!" Mike was beaming.
El got out of bed and found Mike's t-shirt. She threw it on while he unpacked all the swag from their VIP packages. He had put his boxers back on.
"We get these cool lanyards to hold our badges, this awesome patch, this sweet pin, these posters and we can get in early and have other perks too. This is going to be so fun! We can scout it all out tomorrow and see what all is down there. I figure we can come back up and put our costumes on once we've looked around to see if there's anything we need to buy right then in case it sells out. I don't want to have to carry bags while we're Han and Leia." Mike was like an excited kid telling someone about his favorite toys. El felt her heart swell.
"Yes, about these tickets. Don't think I don't know what you spent on me, Mike. You really shouldn't have done that." El said. She was trying to sound stern but she was still feeling the afterglow and didn't sound angry at all. Not that she was angry, she just didn't think he should have spent that much money on her.
"You found out? Oh well. I don't care. I wanted to, El. I knew I wanted you to get to come to this and I wanted to spend the entire time with you. I knew that a long time ago."
El was standing next to Mike at the foot of the other bed where he had laid out all of the stuff from their packages. She pulled him to her and kissed him sweetly. "Thank you, Mike. You shouldn't have but I'm glad you did."
Mike smiled at her. "So we'll just need to wear these tomorrow when we go down. We can get in thirty minutes early so that will give us time to see what we might want to maybe buy. Who all would you like to meet this week?" He asked.
El thought about it. "I really just want the experience. I do want to meet Mark Hamill though. Everything costs so much."
"Yeah, it will be fun to just be a part of it. Maybe people will want to take pictures with us in costume. That could be cool." Mike suggested.
"I'm just glad to be here. And I'm glad to be here with you." El said. She stretched and yawned, the day of flying and waiting catching up to her.
"Are you tired?" Mike asked.
El looked at all of the stuff lying on the bed. "Yeah. I hate to make you move all of this."
Mike had no intention of moving the things off the bed. "Go get ready for bed. I'll fix the stuff in here."
He watched as El unzipped her suitcase to locate her toothbrush. He smiled as his shirt she was wearing rode up when she bent down. She found her toiletries bag and headed into the bathroom. Mike didn't move anything from the bed but he did turn back the covers on the other bed, fluffing the pillows and turning out all the lights except for the lamp right next to the bed. A couple of minutes later El returned.
"You wanna just sleep here with me?" He asked.
El smiled and tried not to laugh. She replied in the sexiest tone she could muster for being so tired. "Why you stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerfherder..." With every word she had inched closer to him until she crawled in beside him. He pulled her close to him and tickled her, causing her to shriek with laughter. Then he held her close.
"El, I'm happy you're here."
"Me too."
They kissed again but then fell asleep. There would be time for other things. Just being together finally was enough to make them sleep peacefully. They were both excited to start the convention in the morning but even more excited to be together. It was everything they had dreamed. As a certain Emperor Palpatine might say, it was their destiny, but even evil rulers are right some of the time.