I was supposed to post my Seti Lark/Aric Jorgan fic today, but I did not do any editing for it, so I present this to you instead. There are typos and grammar mistakes I'm sure. but It's 11pm and my eyes cannot stay open.
Series: Elliedearest 2026 SWTOR Ficlets
Pairings: Juno Klaa'ar (Sith Warrior)/Lana Beniko
Setting: Odessen, KOFTE (probably before meeting Firebrand)
Prompt: "I don't sleep unless you're close."
Juno stepped into her quarters with a noisy exhale, rubbing her forehead to quell the headache pounding against her skull like an angry Gundark. If she had to listen to Koethe and Senya fight over their past issues one more time, she was going to throw them off the highest building she could find. Or cut their tongues out and feed it to the Odessen wildlife. She wasn't choosy.
"I take it the meeting went well," Lana's light, soothing voice interrupted her murderous thoughts. Juno glanced up. Lana was sitting in bed, propped up by dozens of pillows, with a datapad in hand.
"Well enough. I thought you'd be sleeping by now, love," Juno said.
"I couldn't sleep," Lana answered with a shrug.
Juno climbed the steps to her bed, dropping her golden cuffs and gloves on the nightstand, alongside her lightsaber and haircords, before moving to her private locker to put away the rest of her armor.
"I could have sworn you had a reputation of being an easy sleeper. Or at least it was one of the things Theron complained about on Rishi," Juno said, smiling at Lana's eye roll. "Something about always leaving him talking alone?"
"Theron is a gossipy old Orobird," Lana grumbled, "and maybe if he had something of substance to share at a respectable time and not in the middle of the night, I wouldn't have fallen asleep on him."
Juno chuckled. She got into bed, her hands immediately seeking Lana's waist, gently pulling her to her larger form.
"Careful," Lana said, quickly placing her datapad beneath her pillow before curling into Juno's warmer body, entangling their legs together.
Lana tilted her face up, her eyes beseeching. Juno squeezed her waist, endeared, and ducked her head to oblige her with a kiss.
"So what is the real reason you are still awake?" Juno asked after a few moment. She was pleased by the dazed, dreamy look in her lover's eyes and couldn't resist pressing her thumb against Lana's swollen bottom lip.
Lana's eyes sharpened into focus as their eyes met. Juno removed her thumb with a cheeky smile, rubbing her cheek instead.
"Truthfully," Lana began,"I find myself not sleeping unless you're close."
Juno's heart melted at the confession.
"Why did you not mentioned this before, my love?" She said softly.
"I hadn't noticed before," Lana said, mindlessly wrapping Juno's unbounded hair around her fingers. "I have been with you since we rescued you from Arcann's treasury so there was no sudden changes to my sleeping schedule, but as you undertake more missions away, I guess I…"
"You worry," Juno finished.
Lana sighed. "I know it's ridiculous to worry over the Wrath, you do know how to take care of yourself, but…I don't know…"
"Thank you," Juno interrupted, taking Lana's hand and placing it directly over her heart, "for caring. It's been a very long time since anyone has ever been worried about me."
"I'll always care," Lana said softly, smiling sweetly up at her. She rested her head on Juno's shoulder.
"I might not be able to completely alleviate your worries," Juno said, "but would it help if I leave my comms open? At least until I know you're asleep?"
Lana was quiet for a moment. "This is entirely ridiculous of me, but yes, I think it would help."
Juno dropped a kiss on the crown of her head. "Consider it done."
