#maybe some day...

The first day Din saw him, sitting bored in the middle of Professor Kuiil’s lecture hall, Din had to physically turn his gaze away and back at the smart board Kuiil was using to go over the syllabus for Astronomy 2292. Everyone here was second years, used to day one dedicated to something boring. Din kept taking peeks at him though, fluffy blond hair, ocean blue eyes, sun kissed skin barely noticeable under a flannel and jeans. He’d seen his fair share of attractive students in the handful of semesters being a TA, but obviously hadn’t paid any more attention than a quickly averted gaze. As a TA, Din was absolutely not allowed to find his students attractive… at least while they worked together in an academic standing.

He’d looked that up after a month had gone by and he was still sneaking glances at the blond– Luke Skywalker–... it was good information to know.

Not that he’s ever had the balls to act on it.

Luke felt unobtainable. Even when Din had the class to himself, all eyes on him as he lectured and drew equations on the board and called on students to answer. He could feel Luke watching him more than anyone else, like his gaze was the sun and his skin prickled and burned as the minutes ticked on. He’d come up to Din sometimes after class, a hesitant smile as he asked for more information or advice on a paper; purely professional. Like Luke had no idea what he was doing to Din’s brain.

Din wouldn’t delude himself into thinking that Luke coming up to him after class meant anything. That he just took a long time gathering his things and that’s why it was often just the two of them left in the large room. That Luke had nowhere else to be and that's why he lingered at Din’s desk, or at the door, a casual question about the lecture morphing into casual chit chat about the weather, a comet or star that had been recently discovered, or even what store Din shopped at, “I love that jacket on you.”

They had started getting comfortable around each other and it was a little terrifying, because Din wasn’t sure where the line between casual and… personal laid. Professional and friendly.

Any assumption Din had dared to let creep into his brain was abruptly shattered the day an older student met Luke in the hallway. He’d never stopped by before, in the weeks they’d been getting to know each other. A man with shaggy hair and roguish good looks took Luke’s hand without hesitation and led them away. Something cracked in Din’s chest then. It’d been a long time since he’d had a crush, and an even longer time admitting to himself when he got one, and now he remembered why he’d tamped them down in the first place: they were distracting.

Distracting and pointless, especially if he wanted to continue being a teacher’s assistant and graduate on time with his PHd.

“We broke up.”

Din was rushed back to the present, looking at Luke who finally tilted his head to meet his gaze, smiling sadly. His head swirled with what to say, how to comfort him. His fingers tapped on his messenger bag as the silence stretched on, nearly becoming awkward. Luke sensed it, his posture going rigid and opening his mouth to speak again, probably apologize and leave, and Din spat out the first thought that came to him.

“He’s an idiot.”

Luke’s eyes sparkled with something, and he laughed quietly, looking to his lap and shaking his head.

“He’s not an idiot,” Luke smiled, but it didn't touch his eyes. “We work better as friends, anyway.”

Din wonders what it’s like to be friends with Luke, to see that smile directed at that man aimed at him, to hear him laugh and make jokes and to just see him relaxed and at ease. He wonders how he could earn Luke’s friendship, if he’d ever thought of him that way…

“Are you hungry?”

Luke turned, eyebrows high in question.

“Huh?”

Din swallowed, pressing on. “Would you like to get lunch?”

“Oh, uh…” Luke looked down at himself again, genuinely surprised at the question and Din smiled.

Luke catches it and smiles too, showing his teeth and ducking his head just as Din caught a pair of dimples.