"This was never right," for whoever comes to mind! c:
Thank you <3 I went with the obvious choice and wrote this with Illa and Atton
Illa foundthe air aboard the Ebon Hawk strangely cool after being exposed to bonfires onthe fields of Dantooine. The people of Khoonda celebrated their victory overthe mercenaries with festivities out in the open and they insisted the Exilewould join them along with her crew. However no one could truly foresee how farthe settlers could go when it came to drinking, and while Illa was immune totoxins, her friends did not have such a benefit.
âThis isunns⌠unness⌠I donât need this,â Atton said, holding on to the Exileâsshoulder as she supported him up the shipâs ramp.
âWell, Iwill need you with a clear head tomorrow,â Illa replied and tightened her holdaround the scoundrelâs waist when he stumbled slightly at the edge of the ramp.âI would prefer if my pilot didnât fly hungover.â
Attonscoffed. âI can fly just finehungover,â he sounded offended.
Illa couldnâthelp but chuckle at that and a second later she heard Atton laugh back at her.She couldnât recall the last time she heard him laugh with such honesty. Sheguided him to the nearest bunk as her nostrils filled with the scent ofleather, smoke and juma juice.
âAll yours,âshe said as she freed herself from the scoundrelâs hold and stepped away fromhim. For a split second she saw his hand reach out for the spot where she stoodjust a moment ago, only to grab the empty air. His face reflected nothing butdisappointment until he looked around and found Illa standing a few steps awayfrom him. Then he laughed again, this time at himself, bitterly. He clumsilyremoved his jacket and threw it at the ground in frustration. He sighed whenlooked at his shoes.
The pilottook a step closer to the bunk and leaned against it while he tried to kick hisshoes off. Just as one of them came off, he slipped and fell on the bed, hittinghis head against the top of the bunk. Illa sprung to his aid. She knelt on thebed and reached behind Attonâs head, already entering the healing trance. Hegroaned, blinking at her, slowly realizing her closeness. The scoundrel losthimself in her eyes for a moment, then his gaze wandered to the Exileâs lips.He pushed himself up, trying to close the distance between them, but Illapulled away from him.
âNo, Atton,this⌠this isnât right,â she stood up from the bed, tracing her lips with herfingers, right where the pilotâs breath touched her.
âYeah⌠youâreright,â Atton let out a resigned sigh. âThis was never right,â he curled up onthe bed, with one shoe still on his foot. Illa sat down next to him, trying tohelp him with it.
âNo, thatâsnot what IâŚâ she dragged off the shoe and dropped it beside the bed. âMaybe youshould ask me again when youâre not completely drunk,â she said ignoring theheat rising in her cheeks.
âI am notcompleeetely drunk,â Atton corrected her with a hazy but smug grin thatdisappeared a moment later. âStill, it⌠it wouldnât be right,â he shook hishead.
Illawatched the pilot for a few seconds. She couldnât help but sense⌠pain behindthose words. âWhy do you say that?â she asked cautiously.
âBecauseâŚyouâre an angel,â his reply was breathless⌠adoring even. Suddenly the Exilefelt she couldnât stand his gaze.
âIâm⌠no, Iâmnot,â Illa looked at her hands, her heart sinking at the sight of imaginaryblood. âIâm really not.â
Illa lookedback at the pilot. She shook her head as she smiled at him.
âThatâsjust the juma juice talking, isnât it?â
âMaybe,âAtton chuckled. âBut it doesnât matter. Youâre an angel and IâmâŚâ he stoppedhimself and turned his gaze away from her in shame. âIâm⌠lying to you. Thatâswhy you like me.â
The Exilefurrowed her brows. âI⌠I doubt thatâs the case.â
The pilotscoffed bitterly at her. âIf you knew the truth, you would hate me. Nothing todoubt about that.â
âWell,âIlla let out an exhausted laugh, âmaybe when youâre not completely drunk, wecan talk about it.â
âIâm notâŚâAtton blinked at her with heavy eyelids.
âI know,âthe Exile stood up. âRest it out, Atton. You deserve it.â
Thescoundrel groaned defiantly as he watched Illa leave him alone with his painfuland drowsy thoughts.