Chapter Text
Jyn hated the forced intimacy of house parties when she had to play a role that had never sat well on her. Her mother had done it better but her mother was dead and it was up to her to keep her father safe. The only benefit was that she was allowed to use live ammunition on the firing range, most guests would smile condescendingly at her but that didn’t matter. Saw had taught her to use a weapon because he knew someday she would escape and he understood her anger. He had seen his sister destroyed by those who craved power and built polite fences, he hadn’t been able to save her mother but Jyn would be ready. When the time came, she would save herself.
She lined up her shot and saw someone else approaching the firing range. When she looked over, she saw the young officer, there always was one invited, but she hadn’t noticed him before. Usually they were putting themselves forward to get Krennic or her father’s attention. He met her eyes and for a moment she thought she saw tiredness in them, “May I?”
“Yes, there’s space,” At her answer, he gave her a little bow and as he turned to the target, she admired his lean lines and his neat mustache that wasn’t ostentastious. Then he fired, a quick shot and she saw a bullseye. As she lined up her shot, she put everything else from her thoughts and fired. The time passed quickly, they didn’t speak except for a good shot here or there, it was restful.
There were footsteps behind them and as they both turned at the same time, she noticed his mask flicker into place. It was disconcerting to watch someone else hide themselves as Krennic said,, “Jyn, there you are. And you’ve met Jeroth Sward, I have hopes for him.”
Krennic frowned as Sward said, “Miss Erso was impressing me with her skill with a pistol. She has a keen eye, sir.”
The compliment warmed Jyn as she put her gun away and she shook that feeling away, he was clearly buttering up Krennic or her for something. “Good, good, all of the guests have arrived and you’re needed for tea, Jyn,”
She nodded, hating that he could order her even in her own home.
“I was just getting ready to come inside,” As she spoke, Krennic took her arm and she saw a questioning look in Sward’s eyes. What did he see in this interaction? He had a sharp eye, did he see the truth or the lie?
The music was meant to be a salsa, Cassian wished he could change the record, put on a waltz or a foxtrot, something that wasn’t a fake version of his home. He looked over at Jyn who seemed like she was trying to fade into the wallpaper even though she was wearing a blue dress dotted with stars that made her the most beautiful sight in the room. Krennic kept approaching her and then she would turn and talk to her father.
Finally the record ended and before one of the others could change it, Cassian was up and over to put on the first album he found, a melancholy waltz, he turned to Jyn and offered her his hand, “May I have this dance?”
She looked at his hand as if it was going to bite but she’d also seen Krennic approaching with a hungry look in his eyes and she stood up, the silk of her dress swishing. Her hand was warm in his and he remembered how tightly she’d gripped her pistol before he stepped back and she easily moved into his arms, but not too close.
In her mind, he was another Imperial, set to cause her trouble, but she wasn’t why he was here. He had to steal the plans from Krennic and disappear without leaving a trace. And this was simply a dance though he was achingly aware of her warmth and how well she fit in his arms. But dancing to dance wasn’t part of his life and as the record ended, they both stepped back, though she did give him a thoughtful look. He smiled at her, using one of his lighter ones and said, “Ready for a refill?”
This was the kind of role he was supposed to play, just a foolish officer, no one to pay attention to. Jyn nodded and walked with him, behind them Krennic did something with his throat but they were far enough away to pretend they hadn’t heard.
Cassian focused on mixing the drinks, his a whiskey with more ice than whiskey and a gin fizz for her.
“You didn’t like the music before,” Jyn said or asked, the question was partly hidden in politeness.
“It wasn’t real,” He said with a sip of his drink, he knew real anger was slipping into his voice but he hated the fake versions of the music he grew up with.
She clinked his glass with recognition in her eyes and said, “Nothing here is real.”
Cassian nodded as the dinner gong sounded and she lifted her chin up, while putting her free hand on his arm. In another life, he would enjoy trying to find out what was real about her, but there isn’t the time now.