#spy nerds

Theron was fast enough to catch her this time. “Okay, you’re not fine.”

Jaaide tugged her arm free. She didn’t feel charitable toward coddling right now. “I’m fine enough to reach the ship. Not like it’s that much further.”

“Maybe not, but the terrain’s not exactly pleasant, either,” he said with a snort.

“I can manage,” she insisted grumpily, resuming course and doing her best to minimize the limp in her stride. Theron muttered something as he fell in behind her, but Jaaide ignored it. Her ankle wasn’t broken--she knew what that felt like--at worst a sprain, and she could tolerate that long enough to get to the ship. She’d toughed out much worse and didn’t need him fussing--

A sharp ache shot up her leg and Jaaide let out a quiet growl as she tried to keep her balance without being obvious about it. Alright, maybe it was a bad sprain. Still nothing she couldn’t handle until they reached the ship.

“Jaaide.” Theron’s tone was more neutral, his hand gentle as it rested on her arm. “You don’t have to tough things out, y’know.” A teasing glint flickered in his eyes. “I’ve already fallen for you, stubbornness and all, there’s no need to further impress me.”

She snorted. He was one to talk about stubbornness, anyway. “It really isn’t that bad,” she said, patting his hand even as she subtly leaned into the support. “Just a sprain, most likely.”

“You say that like I’m not familiar with how much they can screw things up if you let ‘em go,” Theron countered. He caught her eye with a meaningful look. “Or the body language of someone who’s in more pain than they’re admitting.”

“Yes, I suppose you would be intimately, personally familiar with that, wouldn’t you?” Jaaide needled lightly. 

“You say that like it doesn’t come in handy with making sure my girlfriend takes care of herself,” he drawled. “Let me help you, sweetheart. There’s no one you need to impress, no need to save face. Just me.”

She sighed, too tired to argue. “Alright, fine. What form did you see this help taking? Plan to carry me to the ship piggyback?”

“Actually, yeah,” Theron chuckled. “Figured that would be smartest with the terrain. Got a better idea?”

“Not even an iota. No objections, either, just curious.” Jaaide raked hair out of her face and slid her arms around Theron’s neck when he crouched. This would be better than farther injuring herself for the sake of pride. She couldn’t resist teasing as she settled in, “Good thing we had to dress for stealth; I dunno how comfortable this would be with your usual jacket.”

“On second thought, maybe I’ll just leave you here,” Theron groused, but given he still hauled her up, hands under her thighs for support, there wasn’t much weight to the threat.

“Good luck explaining that to Lana,” Jaaide said with a grin. “Sure you’ll be alright with the extra weight?” He’d been the one to point out the troublesome terrain.

“I’ll manage.” Still, his attention was more than half on his steps as they started off.

Jaaide did her best to support her own weight so he wouldn’t feel a need to hold her up. Let him have his hands free for balance. But the last few days had been a drain on her energy, topped off with this mission, and between the rolling cadence of footsteps and Theron’s warmth soaking though her jacket, she was getting drowsy. 

She jolted fully awake as he shifted her, realized she’d been sliding.  “Sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it. Was trying not to wake you, actually.” A pause as he skirted another hole like the one she’d stepped in. “If you’re this tired, maybe after you patch up your ankle you should nap for the flight back?”

“Worried about my sleep habits, Agent Shan?” Jaaide asked with a light chuckle.

“Rich, I know,” he deadpanned. “But yeah. Considering you’re the boss, you should probably be well-rested. For your sake as well as the Alliance. Not to mention mine,” he muttered under his breath, but at her proximity she still caught it.

“Lingering occupational habit,” she said, shifting her grip. “Which I suspect you know.”

Theron snorted. “All too well. Which is part of why I feel like I need to help you break it.”

“I will when you will.” Jaaide’s fingers curled into the leather of his jacket. “My authority might be higher, but you’re just as vital to the Alliance. And moreso to me.”

“...Thanks, sweetheart.”

She silently arched a brow in surprise when he didn’t further argue the point.

They arrived at the ship shortly after, Jaaide once again nodding off against Theron’s shoulder. He nudged her, jostling one leg a little so she’d rouse as he headed for the medbay.

“I’ll get the ship warmed up,” he said, letting her down on the bed and brushing a kiss to her forehead before he left the room. “You take care of you.”

Jaaide nodded and started working off her boot. She retrieved the diagnostic scanner and quickly confirmed her suspicions. Middling serious sprain, but nothing was broken, which was a relief. She reached for painkillers--deliberately bypassing the adrenals that would take care of her exhaustion, just not in the way Theron was advocating. She’d been planning to do datawork on the way home, maybe get ahead of the pile for once.

But Theron had a point. She needed sleep. Real sleep, not dozing over an after-action report or fleet patrol roster. Jaaide let out a small sigh of relief as the painkillers kicked in, then checked the rest of herself for any other injuries. There was nothing worse than bruises--even the shoulder that took the brunt of impact didn’t have anything lingering.

Theron returned just as she finished.

“Excellent timing,” Jaaide said. “Pass me an ankle brace? So I don’t have to hobble across the room.”

He chuckled. “Sure.” Rather than simply hand it to her, he stepped close and gently tugged the brace on her leg. “So, just a sprain, huh?”

“A decent one, but yes. Thank you.” She caught his hand and tugged him in for a kiss. “For everything.”

“Welcome.” Theron’s fingers slid into her hair and he briefly deepened the kiss. “For everything. How decent is decent?”

“Few weeks’ recovery,” Jaaide said with a shrug. “Not bedrest, but taking it easy on what I try to do.”

“This a way of hinting I need to carry you to your cabin...?”

She smirked. “I wouldn’t be opposed,” she murmured. No sooner had she uttered the words than Theron scooped her up and headed for her quarters.

“I got the coordinates punched in and all, by the way,” he commented as they went. “So you can sleep and let the autopilot get us home.”

“If you’ve done all that, you can nap with me,” Jaaide pointed out, tracing a zigzag between his jacket clasps.

“You don’t think one of us should keep an eye on things?” he asked, bumping the cabin door controls with his elbow.

“We’re both light sleepers,” she countered. “Anything serious to be a problem would wake us anyway.”

“Good point.” Theron set her on the bed, then joined her he started undoing his jacket clasps.

Jaaide arched a brow. “Though I’d have to twist your arm a little more.”

He smirked and shucked the jacket, letting it fall on the floor. “Maybe I just want an excuse to cuddle.”

She rolled her eyes, tossing her own jacket toward the desk chair.  “You don’t need an excuse for that.” Bet you he doesn’t actually go to sleep.

“Good to know,” Theron said with a grin as they both kicked off their boots and settled back against the pillows. (One of hers was still in the medbay, she remembered. She'd have to get it later.)

“Thank you again. For everything,” Jaaide murmured as she tucked herself close.

Theron wrapped an arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. “Always,” he promised, and Jaaide smiled against his shirt as she settled in to rest.

----

Somewhere about two or three minutes in, his arm slid around her back and he started running his fingers in loops from her shoulder to elbow. Jaaide hummed and snuggled closer, her own fingers tracing idle circles against his hip.

“Keep that up and I very well might fall asleep,” she warned in a mumble.

“Not surprising, you can sleep anywhere,” Theron countered with a chuckle.

“But this is one of my favorite spots,” she said, her hand sliding up his abdomen until it rested just below his newest scar, the warmth of his skin seeping through his shirt under her palm. “I’m glad it’s still an option.”

(She’d come far, far too close to losing it.)

He was quiet a moment, teasing tone somewhat forced when he spoke. “Who was threatening to take your bed away from you?  And don’t they know you sleep just as well on the couch?”

Jaaide huffed and reached up without even looking to flick his forehead.

“Ow,” he deadpanned.

She resisted the temptation to do it again, but only just. “You know what I meant, Theron.”

“Mm-hm.” Another pause, Theron’s hand slid off her arm to instead pull her closer. “I’ll do my best to make sure it stays available for the foreseeable future, if it means that much to you,” he murmured, chin pressing the top of her head.

“See that you do, because it does,” she said lightly, like she didn’t still have nightmares about Nathema. About him dying in her arms, about being too slow, not enough and losing him. But she hadn’t.

He was still here, right by her side. Alive and warm and reckless enough to do whatever it took to protect her. Because he loved her.

(And she would patch him up and forgive when the reckless streak overreached. Because she loved him.)

Jaaide smiled at the thought and pushed herself up to lean over him, bracing her hand against the wall just about his shoulder. “Theron?”

He looked up, eyes briefly widening at how close they were. “Hm?”

She straddled his hips but made sure to support her own weight, cupping his jaw with her free hand, the words a breathy murmur against his skin. “Kiss me.”

Theron arched a brow but couldn’t hide his smile at the abrupt request. “That an order, Commander?” he asked, low and rough and teasing just a little.

Jaaide lightly ran a fingertip alone one of the lines cut in his hair. “Do you need it to be?”

His fingers slid into her hair, cupping the back of her head to pull her forward, and he kissed her until her toes curled.

She giggled into the kiss--it was a good kiss, exactly what she’d been angling for--and smirked impishly at him when they finally parted, both breathing hard. “I didn’t think so.”

Theron tried to scoff but it came out as more of a rueful laugh. “You are... entirely too cute when you’re smug, you know that?”

Jaaide leaned into his touch when he gently swept the hair back from her face.  “So a certain very handsome Republic spy keeps telling me.”

He grinned, thumb idly tracing the cybernetics at her jaw. “Sounds like a smart guy.”

“Aside from a tendency to call himself an idiot, he is a very smart man.” She smiled and lightly ran her fingers along his brow, down past his implants, until her hand dropped to rest against his shoulder. “And I love him very much.”

Theron swallowed hard, all teasing gone as he held her gaze. He took a deep breath, but his voice was still rough when he finally spoke.  “Sounds... sounds like he’s also a very lucky guy.”

“Mm.” Jaaide brushed a light kiss to his lips. “Not half so lucky as he’s made me,” she murmured, and then kissed him again to show just how much she meant it.

Jaaide huffed a wry laugh at his gentle teasing. “And what makes me so amazing this time?”

“I’m torn between the taking out five hostiles in under a minute and the patching me up without complaint for the fifteenth time,” he deadpanned.

She giggled. “I think we’re pretty far past fifteen.” She stood rubbing her thumbs over the heels of his hands, trying not to stare at the center of his chest, at where she knew a scar lay under his shirt.

“Jaaide.” His voice was softer on her name this time, and when she tipped her chin to look up at him, she could see in his eyes he knew what she was thinking. “It wasn’t that.”

She sighed and arched a brow. “Are you sure? I know it’s been a while, but things can flare back up-”

“Promise,” Theron interjected, bending to kiss her forehead. “This was me misjudging distance I needed to cover, not that acting up.”

Jaaide nodded, squeezing his hands. “I’m still... Still going to fuss over you a bit.” That was an understatement.

“I won’t stop you,” he grinned, then glanced down at his bandaged arm.  “‘Specially when you’re so good at it.”

She snorted a laugh. “You’ve given me plenty of opportunity to practice.”

Theron laughed and slipped one hand free to instead cradle her jaw. “Happy to be of service.”

Jaaide rolled her eyes and cupped her hand over his. “That’s one area I wouldn’t mind having fewer opportunities to practice, Theron. Just for future reference.”

He laughed again--”I’ll keep that in mind”--and bent to kiss her, “but no promises.”

“I wouldn’t expect otherwise,” Jaaide teased, pulling him back in for another.  “You wouldn’t be you. And you’re pretty amazing yourself.”

The smile he gave her for that went a long way to easing the knot of worry in her chest.

Matthias “I would call Aphra.... the best puzzle I ever tried to solve. (”tried” because she still surprises me sometimes) She’s analytical, principled, insatiably curious, which is my favorite, and amazingly tender. It makes my heart dance whenever she calls me ‘beloved’ and one of my favorite things to do is just sit holding hands while we do other things; read, sketch, write up notes. Any activity is good, as long as we can do it together.”

---

Tel: “Elara’s my better half(and I mean that, dead serious, for once in my life). The best damn medic in the galaxy, in my completely unbiased opinion, one of the most admirable people I knows, genuine, determined, caring. Amazing. I can’t imagine the strength it too to leave everything she knew, and I love watching her use what she knows to deal with problems ”

Silver: “Corso’s the plot twist I never saw comin’ but now I can’t imagine my story without him. He wears his heart on his sleeve and is determined to do the right thing, even when it’s hard, even when he gets hurt. It’s nice havin’ someone who knows I can take care of myself but watches my back when I need it, and it’s pretty damn nice to get treated like a lady.”

Jaaide: “Theron is... calling him my lifeline to sanity feel a tad dramatic, but it’s the truth. He has a near-wholly different view on thing compared to me, and that difference is invaluable. He listens when I need to talk, understands more than most would some of the ghosts in my past. I appreciate his... creative problem solving, even if the recklessness that comes with it scares me to death far too often. He cares with his whole heart, much as he may try to pretend otherwise, and will risk anything to protect the people that matter. A trait I appreciate and wish he would rein in in equal measure.”

Endrali “Arcann is... oh, stars, he’s hard to describe. Completely different from who he was before, but aware he still bears the weight and consequences of his actions. And willing to bear them; I’ve never once seen him try to weasel out of responsibility for what’s he’s done. But he is changed, he’s quiet and sincere and earnest and... he’s very good with his hands; made me beautiful armor. It makes me wonder sometimes, who he would’ve been without Valkorion’s shadow looming over him his whole life. But I love him now, broken, bloody past and all, because what he’s doing? Atoning for the blood on his hands rather than running from it? Takes an enormous amount of strength.” 

Tragen “Jaesa is my best friend, a role she claimed long before either of us developed feelings for each other. She’s kind, and sincere, and doesn’t back down from a challenge, no matter how overwhelming it might seem. She’s not immune to doubt, but persists, regardless. The burden of her gift, her power, is staggering, but she bears it with a determination to use it well. And she can see clean to my heart even without it.”

Keme: “Aric’s honest, not afraid to speak his mind, tough as hell, uncompromising in his principles, loyal as they come, and a damn good shot with a sniper rifle(which is a hell of a turn-on, and you can tell him I said that). Getting him as my XO was one of the better things to happen in my life, and getting him as my husband is hands down the best.”

---

She laughed and rubbed his arm. “Yes, because you’re so much better. And happy as I am to see you, the Empire’s representative is going to arriving any minute...”

Theron’s grip tightened fractionally. “Your point?”

Jaaide hated the words even as she spoke them, and was unable to keep sarcasm from bleeding into her tone. “While they undoubtedly are aware there are Republic personnel among Alliance membership, it might cast doubt on my loyalty” --he muffled another snort-laugh in her hair at the sarcasm dripping off the word--”if I’m seen in too.... intimate a relationship with one of them.”

“Mm.” He sounded like he was biting back a laugh. “Well, Commander, if you’re worried about appearances...” His arms slipped from around her shoulders and he took her hand instead, tugging toward s duo-sized gap between two of the massive shipping containers along the hanger wall. A meter or so in, the gap bent sharply to follow the corner of the container, rendering them effectively invisible. “Secrecy is a spy’s best friend.”

How long has he known about this little nook, I wonder? Jaaide smiled as she slid her hands up his chest to interlace her fingers against the back of his neck.  “I always heard discretion was a spy’s best friend.”

“Six of one...” Theron murmured with a smirk, running his fingers through her hair before tipping her chin up for a kiss.

She instinctively rocked up on the balls of her feet to make it easier, hands sliding forward to cup his jaw. She’d missed him, and showed it well enough he chuckled as his shoulders bumped the container at his back.

Both were breathing hard when they parted and Jaaide dropped flat-footed, giving them as much room as the narrow space permitted. She let her hands linger on his chest, fingers loosely curling around the lapels of his jacket.

“Welcome home,” she whispered, and Theron laughed softly as he tucked her hair behind her ear.

“Thanks, sweetheart,” he said, pulling her into a hug and rubbing her back.  “You-”

Pardax’s voice crackled over comms to announce the Imperial liaison was on final approach.

He kissed her forehead and let her go. “Duty calls.”

Jaaide’s grip on his jacket tightened. “What were you going to say?”

Theron smirked and pulled her back in for another kiss, deep enough it left her dizzy, and whispered suggestively, “I’ll tell you later,” before making his escape.

She bit her lip as she composed herself before heading out, because duty did call, and resolved to make sure he kept that promise.