The embassy was crowded, uncomfortable, sterile. Not sterile in the clean, prescriptive manner that Cassian had seen in nicer Empire buildings, nor in the purposeful, pleasant style he had seen on some of the more well to do Alliance-friendly planets. No, the embassy was sterile in way that was decidedly lazy. It screamed out that it, quite frankly, did not give a shit about what you thought of their building and therefore by extension the people in it and the services they provided. It made Cassian feel uneasy in a way he could not quite put his finger on.

He had spoken as such to Jenny about what they needed to do before the trip down, and she had assured him that the process was simple, that it had been done by many people before and that he needn't worry.

"The process with the American Embassy if you want to travel there... well it just takes so long you could be waiting weeks even after you're granted citizenship. I'll help you put in the paperwork now and then it will at least get the ball rolling."

So the enjoyment Cassian and Jyn had when they took the underground, the wonder and interest they felt walking through the London streets, so different and grandiose from what they had seen thus far on this world, had been quickly dampened by the rows upon rows of plastic blue chairs they had to sit in to wait until their number was called.

"We arrived on time," said Jyn, sounding disgruntled. "We've been waiting half an hour already. Why didn't they just tell us to come later?"

Cassian had spent the time pacing around here, observing some of the other citizens.

"It seems we were two of around fifty other people told to come at nine thirty."

Jyn crossed her arms.

"This is ridiculous."

The code C19 finally flashed on the screen and both Cassian and Jyn found themselves mid nudge to one another. Grinning to each other despite the fatigue from the wait they got up from their seats and walked towards the booth.

"Hello," said a spotty looking, bespectacled boy. "Papers please."

Cassian took the papers out from the folder Jenny had given him and passed them through the slot in the clear glass that separated him from the boy.

Two stamps, some typing on the keyboard, a few more stamps, a couple of finger print scans, and a couple more words typed.

"Thank you, that'll be all."

"That'll be all?" said Jyn incredulously, but Cassian gently took her arm, hoping it would encourage her to walk away.

The boy looked wearily at her through heavy-lidded eyes.

"You'll hear back from us via email for your next appointment, if needed."

Cassian gritted his teeth and pulled her away.

"Thank you," he muttered quickly.

When they were about five feet away from the booth he relinquished his grip and she fell in step beside him.

"What did you do that for!" she whispered. "I was going to ask him more questions!"

"Remember what Jenny said? We just have to do along with it and not cause trouble?"

Jyn gave Cassian a dirty look but said nothing, and by the time they had reached the government centre they had been told they had to go to for their citizenship interview she was chatting casually with Cassian again.

"...those pillars," said Jyn, pointing as they walked down a row of smart looking houses. "They look just like ones that I saw in a picture book about Naboo when I was younger."

Cassian smiled to himself as he continued to talk. He enjoyed seeing Jyn like this, at her happiest thinking and talking about her childhood and the people she loved the most. It had made their learning for the citizenship test enjoyable. Jenny had come to the small flat, had given them books and websites to read in order to be able to study for the questions that they were going to be asked. Jyn had ended up turning it into a game, associating songs with ones she knew from their life before, recalling which battle manoeuvres were like which, what food reminded her of what. Jenny had told them not to be nervous, but both Cassian and Jyn had wanted to be thorough: getting citizenship would mean they would eventually be able to travel, and that meant that they might finally, at long last, be able to get more answers.

Jyn's game had meant that they ended up doing far more learning than they probably needed to, but Cassian had found himself enjoying their learning, and it was with a certain amount of hope that they sat in a much nicer room than they one they had graced in the American embassy.

"Jyn Erso?" called out a plummy voice from the white door that was opposite them.

Cassian reached over and squeezed her hand.

"Good luck," he whispered.

He sat there for a good ten minutes, tapping his fingers absentmindedly against his thigh for want of something to do.

After around twenty minutes the door opened and Jyn came out. He looked up eagerly, searching her face. She smiled at him, and his spirits lifted.

"Cassian Andor?" called out the same voice.

He stood up on his cue and found himself ushered into a clean room with one table in the middle, a chair on each side.

"Take a seat," said the woman who had called his name, sitting opposite him.

She looked down at the clipboard in her hands.

"Cassian Jerón Andor," she said. "I've heard about your circumstances. Very unique. You've got glowing recommendations from your social worker, so I hope that bodes well for you."

Cassian ventured an answer.

"I hope so too, ma'am."

"Great," she said. "Let's start with the interview then, shall we?"

He nodded, clasping his hands on the table in front of him.

"Is the following a British invention..."

An hour later Cassian was sitting next to Jyn, both holding ice creams in their hands, both caught up in the silence of delicious food.

"This is too good," Jyn said, closing her eyes amongst the bliss of sugary enjoyment. "This is just too good. Where has this been my entire life?"

"In another universe," Cassian replied, and the two smiled at one another.

Without even thinking about it, he reached out and took her hand.

"I've got that sightseeing planned, remember?" he said. "Shall we go?"

Jyn took another lick of the soft serve and nodded, getting to her feet but keeping her hand in his.

"Lead the way."