#rebelcaptaintrees

But when he turned around with the healing balm in his hand, he stopped short and stared like he’d seen a ghost. For a moment, Jyn didn’t get it. She even looked behind her to see that there weren’t actually any spirits in the room with them, because by the stars, one could never know. But no, she realized as she turned back, he was staring at her. He was staring because she was standing in front of him in just her trousers and breastband and not much else. A flush colored her cheeks as she resisted the urge to fidget.

Stars damn it.

Thankfully Cassian shook himself out of it before it got too awkward, his eyes darting away from her chest and to the bottle in his hands. He unplugged the cork and stood in front of her.

Except that wasn’t much better.

Because now he was so close, she could smell the earthy aroma he always brought with him, could feel his warmth envelop her in a warm hug, could feel his breath dance on her cheek. Jyn tried very very hard to concentrate on her breathing to keep it steady, in and out, in and out, but goosebumps rose on her arm anyway that had nothing to do with the cold.

Cassian thought it did.

“I’ll be quick,” he promised as he got to work. As soon as his fingers touched her bare skin, she was lost. She barely felt the stinging burn of her injury anymore; all her senses were dominated by Cassian, the rest of the world falling away. Her eyes fluttered closed, her fists clenching and nails digging into her palm as she fought to urge to let out a quiet sigh.

Embarrassing. It’d been too long since she laid with someone if a mere touch of a man could bring her such pleasure. Which was quite true, actually. Now that she was thinking about it, she hadn’t been with anyone since she and Cassian crossed paths a year ago. She didn’t want to think too hard about what that meant, but deep down, she already knew anyway.

No one else seemed to live up to him since they met. No one she looked at twice or wanted or even thought about wanting. Her thoughts, her gaze, her attention always wandered back to Cassian in the end.

Something had to give, Jyn thought as her eyes opened again, taking deep breaths to steady herself. She couldn’t go on like this anymore, wanting him and pushing it down at the same time.

“You shouldn’t have rushed into the fight like that,” Cassian told her, oblivious to her inner turmoil. His voice was quiet, his eyes trained on what he was doing. There it was; she’d been expecting it. Jyn rolled her eyes, her annoyance momentarily outweighing her longing for him.

“Spare me the sermon, Cassian. I know what I’m doing.”

He looked up at her for a brief moment, his eyes flashing. “So do I. I told you I had it handled.”

“You needed a partner.” You needed me. She didn’t say it.

“Fire magic doesn’t work on a fire dragon, Jyn,” he pointed out, and that one snapped whatever thin patience she was still holding onto.

“That goes both ways, Cassian! Fire also doesn’t work on me.”

Well, that wasn’t completely true. She wasn’t immune to fire, but she was far more resistant than Cassian with his ice magic, or any other ordinary person. Fire simply didn’t damage her as much. And yes, he had a point; his ice magic was far more effective on the dragon they were fighting than hers which must have just felt like light tickling for the creature. But the dragon’s fire was also far more effective on him than on her. This could have been a much more serious and painful injury, or worse, if he’d been the one who was scorched. Which was why he needed her.

They were a team. He fought the dragon, and she protected him. It’d always been like that. She didn’t understand why he was resisting it now.

“You’re not immune to fire, Jyn,” he said, a dangerous note in his tone. Finally done with his task, he pulled away and carelessly threw the bottle to one of the beds. Even in the circumstances, Jyn mourned the loss of his hands on her skin. “It can still kill you if you’re not careful.”

“But it didn’t because I know what I’m doing. I don’t understand! Why are you suddenly treating me like a child?”

There had to be more to it. The way he was looking at her now, face withdrawn, eyes wide, hands shaking… He was worried about her, that much was clear, but why? The fear on his face didn’t make sense for the injury she suffered. He’d seen her in far graver circumstances before.

There was more this and she just had to push him a little.

“What is it, Cassian?” she whispered, far gentler than she’d been a second ago.

Cassian’s eyes briefly closed, a defeated sigh on his lips. “Chirrut had a vision,” he began, his voice very quiet. Jyn waited patiently, watching as he stared at the tacky rugs on the floor, clearly struggling with how best to say this. Or perhaps he just didn’t want to say it aloud at all. Avoidance was the easiest way to cope, Jyn would know. But she wouldn’t let him weasel out of this one. If Chirrut had an important vision, she needed to know. “He said… He said he saw your death. By a dragon.”

Finally, Cassian looked up at her, and the fear in his eyes now made perfect sense. Jyn could only stare for a second, heart in her throat, unsure how to react to the possibility of her impending doom. That was always in the cards for her, for all of them, roaming the realm and fighting monsters, killing bandits, helping villagers. But it had never been as clear as it was now, her own death staring her in the face.

And it was terrifying. With a painful twist of her heart, she realized she wasn’t ready for this.

“By a fire dragon?” Jyn asked, the first thing that came to her mind. Her voice was a little strained. Cassian gave her an unimpressed grimace.

“Jyn… I don’t know, he didn’t say. By a dragon.”

“Chirrut’s visions don’t always come true,” she pointed out, trying to reassure him as much as herself. Chirrut was an incredible seer, the best of their time, but even he was fallible. More often than not, although he didn’t like to advertise that. The reason was simple. The future was ever-changing, every decision creating a new fork in the road, a million paths and possibilities stretching out ahead of them. That was all Chirrut saw. Possibilities that may or may not come true.

Apparently, one of these paths could lead to her death at the hands of a dragon. Another path could mean she’d die in bed when she was 90.

“Yes,” Cassian said, his voice insistent, “so if we want to make sure this one doesn’t come to pass, we should make sure you stay far, far away from dragons, don’t you think?”

He might have a point, she admitted begrudgingly. She was reckless, but she wasn’t a fool. It was better not to tempt fate, not unless there was no other choice. But…

“How did you expect me to know that if you weren’t going to tell me about this?”

Cassian rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding her eyes again as he shifted on his feet. “We wanted to. I wanted to. But Chirrut said the less you knew about this, the better. Something about a self-fulfilling prophecy. I don’t know.”

Yet he went against Chirrut’s advice anyway. Jyn herself wasn’t sure if that was wise or not, but she could only feel grateful for it. She’d always preferred cruel honesty over a kind lie. And how could she trust him if he was keeping secrets from her?

“Alright,” Jyn nodded, taking a deep breath. “I’ll stay away from dragons. On one condition. You stay away from them too.”

“What? Why?” Cassian’s mouth pulled into a confused frown. It was honestly a little laughable that he didn’t get it.

“Where you go, I go.” She gave him a small smile, lifting her shoulders in a shrug. “I’m not going to let you run off to fight dragons without me. So if you want me to stay away from them, you’ll have to follow my example. That’s the deal.”

“I…” Cassian trailed off, then let out an amused huff. His eyes were fond, sparkling as he looked at her.

Stars… He was beautiful.

Soon. She would tell him soon. But not today.

“Alright, yes. You have a deal. No more dragons.”

“Please come with me.”

Yes, there it is.

“Come where?” Knowing K-2, this could mean anything, from a summons to the council room for an assignment not unlikely to kill her, to a tool that he needs having rolled under a table he’s too tall to reach under. (And if it’s that second thing, again, she’s not unlikely to kill him.)

“Cassian’s quarters. It’s important.”

K’s concept of importance can be rather relative, but Jyn sets aside her datapad and stands up anyway. Even if it turns out this isn’t truly important, she’s more than ready for a break from her work and Cassian’s bedroom in, after all, her favourite place to spend an evening.

K-2 has much longer legs than she does, forcing her to take two steps for each of his to keep pace with him as they make their way across base toward the sleeping quarters, but Jyn manages.

“What’s so important, then?” She asks as they go.

“Cassian is under a high level of stress. You have to come and kiss him.”

“He’s always under -- what?”

“I said, Cassian is under a high level of stress. You have to --”

“No, I heard you, but I don’t understand. You came to get me, because you want me to kiss Cassian?” He’s hardly seemed to appreciate it before, making loud, passive-aggressive remarks every time she and Cassian have dared to be affectionate in his presence in the few wonderful months since the nature of their relationship changed. Jyn had assumed it made him uncomfortable.

“Yes.”

And he seems to consider the matter settled, but -- “Why?” 

“I told you, twice. He is stressed, and I am concerned for his well-being.”

When Jyn only continues to look at him, awaiting further explanation, he gives some approximation of a disappointed sigh. He seems to think that’s all the explanation she should need. Clearly, Jyn is behind somehow.

“Cassian is in a bad mood,” he begins, slowly like he’s explaining something to a child, “And when you kiss him, his mood improves. Therefore, you should come and kiss him.” 

Well. That does make some measure of sense, in a very K-2 sort of way.

“You’ve been keeping track of this?”

“It is a clear and consistent pattern. You make Cassian happy. I can appreciate that.”

The words make something warm grow behind Jyn’s ribs. She knows, of course, that Cassian enjoys her company, that he likes her affection. But it’s something different to hear it from K-2, K who couldn’t tell a lie to save his life, who knows Cassian better than any other being in the galaxy.

Before she can come up with some way to answer, K-2 turns off from the main corridor and into the almost-empty mess hall. Jyn’s confusion only lasts a moment before she realizes he’s on his way to the kettles at the back of the room.

“It’s very cold in his room, and he hasn’t had enough to drink today,” he explains as he pours hot water into a thermal cup, ignoring the pot of caf that would only further aggravate Cassian’s stress levels. 

“You’re a good friend, Kay,” Jyn says, smiling slightly at the wave of affection she feels for this ridiculous, aggravating droid. So, maybe they don’t always get along, but she can’t help  but be fond of him, if only for the love he has for the man she loves.

When they arrive at Cassian’s room Jyn can see immediately that K-2 was right. Everything in Cassian’s expression and posture speaks of exhaustion, both mental and physical, but still he’s sitting at the desk that’s so terrible for his back, staring at documents in a language Jyn can’t understand like they’ve personally hurt him. Really, they may well have.

“I have brought you hot water,” K-2 announces as he lets them into the room.

“Thank you, Kay, that was thoughtful of you,” Cassian says, though he doesn’t look up from his work.

“Jyn Erso is also here.”

At that, Cassian does look up, and his expression softens a shade.

“Hi,” he says. “Did Kay really go out and fetch you? I told him you were busy…”

“I’ll be going, now,” K-2 says abruptly, and Jyn huffs a laugh. He still isn’t a fan of their affection in his presence, then. He shuts the door on his way out, leaving the two of them in the quiet room.

“I heard you needed some attention.” Jyn reaches a hand out toward his datapad, and Cassian lets her take it without resistance. She sets it on a shelf out of his reach, and drapes herself unceremoniously across his lap in its place. It earns her that soft smile that makes her heart stutter, and she nuzzles affectionately into his neck.

“That droids loves you so much,” she murmurs, reaching up to comb her fingers through his messy hair. “And so do I.”

“I’m a lucky man,” Cassian says, and presses his lips to her forehead.

She could melt into him so easily, but she hasn’t forgotten she has a job to do.

Pulling him down with her grip on his hair, Jyn does what she was told and kisses Cassian, deeply and lovingly because if K-2 thinks she can lower his stress levels, she’s going to do it.

An hour later, watching Cassian sleep peacefully in her arms, she’d say it worked.

The forest is wild and vast. The crisp morning air warms up by the minute as sunlight breaks in between the endless army of trees standing guard around them. They’ve been walking for days and weeks, and Cassian’s tired. He’s been tired for years - since the beginning of all of this, so long ago in Fest - but there’s no time for stopping.

His gaze drifts to the woman leading their group. Her swords hang from her belt, ready to gut anything or anyone who’d challenge her. Her hair is falling out of the braid the princess tied her hair into last night, as they all sat around the campfire, sharing Solo’s wine and eating Baze’s freshly caught salmon.

She is lit up with purpose. He wonders if Saw’s words are ringing in her ears like they are his - if you continue on this journey, my lionhearted girl, what will you become? He knows she’s braver than anyone’s given her credit for, proud and scared and dreadfully homesick for a long-gone place.

The fog is lifting. Jyn’s looking back at him, green eyes thoughtful and fingers sparking again (Luke must be projecting again), flickering bright and bluer than the ancient pendant on his chain.

He knows what she is, what kind of magic she has. What she’s hidden for so long underneath the illusion of a thief and a roguish swordsman.

Mirror magic.

A gift to be exploited so that they may finally end this blasted war. Back in Yavin, General Draven all but promised Cassian a promotion, excitement all over his face at the discovery. As if Cassian had done something good in Spying on her, as if the Sight hadn’t made him sick with grief and anxiety.

Flashes of: Jyn Erso, trapped inside a childhood nightmare returned. Standing still in waist-high water as the tide comes in. Frozen with fear before she can even think to Reflect. The waves crash above her head and he loses her, chained up as he is - and someone keeps screaming her name, over and over, until the brightest light -

Cassian knows better than to look. He’s learned more about her by just seeing her with his own two eyes instead of reaching for his crystal and sneaking around her future.

A future. His Sight is another gift to the Alliance, of course, but only because he’s careful with it. As his mama once told him: the Sight never lies or misleads or halves the truth, but the Spy has poor vision.

From the front of their company, her eyes shine with understanding - has she just Reflected? He is far too well trained for her to Mirror him, even with whatever desperate half-training she might have done under Saw. Still, he feels himself unraveling more and more in her presence - and turns back to Bodhi Rook, the bard, the messenger, the best of them all.

Cassian Andor isn’t sure if she’s Spied on him (on her? his head aches) but it hardly matters. She is like him - she knows what she’s heading towards.

But what she doesn’t know is this:

He’ll stand beside her in that waist-high water, hold her tight and break through the nightmare. He’ll do what he must. For Fest, for Jedha and Alderaan.

For his hope for a future without Imperial black and white, and perhaps for the fledgling spark in his chest - what his papa called the oldest magic.

The secret precious thing he can’t name.

...

When the future comes, it looks a little different than what the Sight showed him.

For one, they are not by the ocean; they are still in the Great Wood.

The man in the white cloak has trapped her in some horrible nightmare, but now he’s dead - Cassian’s hands and his sword are covered in blood, and his heart aches for having taken this from Jyn. Her mother’s murderer. Her father’s captor.

But they can deal with that later. He’s just so happy she’s alive.

“Jyn,” he calls to her in a whisper, brushing his thumb over her cheek. She lies on the grass and the dirt, and he leans over her, half-desperate and heartsick. “It’s over now. Stardust. Please wake up.”

Her crystal is dull against her chest, but her eyes flutter open and she reaches up to his face, and though she has lost her magic, she mirrors him even now.

“You’re here.” She bites her lip and tries to access his Sight. He can see the strain in her forehead, until she gives up. “It’s really gone.”

Cassian presses his forehead to hers. “Fuck magic,” he says. “We’ve got our swords and each other. We’ll find the others, get out of this place and help the twins kill the Emperor. And then I’ll make you dinner, if you’ll have me.”

She lets her eyes fall shut, the hint of a smile on her lips. Like disbelief. “I’m not used to people sticking around when things go bad.”

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