Gravity

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

Kaile knew what he meant by that. What he'd seen. Turning from the entrance, she sent a spare glance over at his direction. He was trying his best to not have to ask questions. Questions that would have her clam up and likely leave. To a degree, she appreciated that. However, there was no denying that part of her had done it on purpose. Perhaps as another attempt to indicate that Asmus really didn't know her at all.

"D Deck?" she parroted, biting her lower lip. Her walk slowed, until they stood just outside the mess. Glancing around, more and more of the crew were heading into the galley. Not the best place to have an open discussion. But should I really go to D deck??

The indecision in her eyes was clear.

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

"We can catch up again tomorrow, or later if you'd prefer?" Asmus offered tentatively. There was time, as much as his expression made clear that he didn't want to be parted so soon after getting to talk face to face again.

His expression softened. Some of the concern at her clear indecision and the vexation at his colleague's u timely interruption smoothed out.

"It was nice, just to start catching up again."

Asmus smiled, his hands staying firmly at his side. The urge to reach out to her was as strong as he could resist, but he managed it. It was the truth. Even if she wouldn't talk much, he could tell her about the last few years. Something he'd always hoped he would have the opportunity to do.

Asmus didn't say as much, not out here. Perhaps he would explain more by message later. He kept a polite distance, but his eyes searched hers leaving no place to hide.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

He’s giving me an out.

For a moment Kaile would stare at Asmus. Watching him as he stood there, doing his best to keep casual and his tone light-hearted. But the tells were there. Even being half distracted, the Lorrdian was able to pick up the subtle nuances that would play across his angular face.

Taking a deep breath, the espion gave a slow nod. “Maybe tomorrow…” she began, shifting a bit on her feet. Her fingers were itching, and she had to curl them in order to stop from reaching out, thumb rubbing alongside the edge of her pointer finger.

“I should get back… have reports to go over.” truth, but they weren’t really that time sensitive. Honestly, it was just that she could feel that flutter in her belly grow. How she wanted to reach out for him and brush back the dark forelocks of his hair.
But I can't…

 

[Asmus Janes]

“Yes,” he agreed with a slow shake of the head. That motion can to a halt and he looked up at her. A tender smile found its way to his lips.

“Or we could walk and talk…” Asmus said slowly. With a sudden jolt of self awareness he turned away and looked at a blank space on the nearest bulkhead. He'd been looking at her in that way.

“I promise…” he looked around to see who was in earshot. “...not to do anything rash.” That was as tactful as he could be. They couldn't go near the observation points. Standing by her and watching the stars would compromise any chance of keeping that promise.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

Walk and talk?

That brought back a few memories. Of walking from his cabin over to engineering. Or to the cockpit… To the galley.

To the refresher.

Heat shot to her face, coloring Kaile’s cheeks. The images that had run across her mind making her duck her head and glance down the corridor, trying to make it seem as if she were simply looking to see who would be walking their way.

You really shouldn’t Kaile, she told herself. Yet a little voice tempted her. Swallowing, the brunette bite her lower lip. Her hand came up to brush back the hair away from her face.

“...maybe... “ Kaile began. The dark crown of her head would turn back to Asmus. “Maybe just a little bit.”

 

[Asmus Janes]

The base of his chest felt tight as he tried to keep his smile from widening. He turned down the corridor towards the stairwell. Better that than getting trapped in a lift with the wrong crewmembers.

He'd caught the glow across her cheeks as she looked away. Made him think of the spread of colour across her freckled chest as…

Asmus started walking so she could fall into step beside him. Just two people walking and talking. No untoward thoughts running through their heads. Not at all.

“Er…what we were saying before that interruption again?” he asked. His hands fidgeted at his sides. His head was suddenly rather fuzzy.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

Kaile gave a couple of blinks, her mind a bit fuzzy as she fell into step beside Asmus. He was looking straight ahead, hands fidgeting. It was a wonder that he didn’t simply tuck them into his pockets. That’s what Kaile had to do, nervous flutters moving up and down her belly. The temperature seemed to spike, palms a bit damp. Stop being so silly! Kaile silently told herself.

“Umm.. what?” she finally managed to say, her face tentatively turning to look at him. At this close proximity, she saw the heavy stubble of growth along his jaw. Parts of her unconsciously began to tingle where the lingering rasp of the bristles had left a red mark over her skin.

Eyes wide, Kaile tried to focus again and pay attention to what the Wraith Commander said.

“Sorreh…” she flushed again, “Umm... “ the espion attempted to think of a subject.

“How is Wraith?” she asked, curious about the squadron.

 

[Asmus Janes]

“Different,” he said, “smaller. We're closer knit really. The faces don't change as often and we're out away from home together for much longer. The work is very different too. More than a few times we've had our boots on the ground in dangerous places. We've even been pinned down in a few firefights.”

He turned to look at her, offering a brief grin. “Didn't even have any beautiful strangers with exotic weapons to save me. We've helped various resistance groups on several worlds. Really pisses off the First Order when a large group of aliens tries to migrate away and they send in the TIEs to bring them in and we turn up to escort them back to safe space.”

He turned down into a small side door, ducking under the low bulkhead. A narrow, metal set of stairs ran down to the lower decks.

“What about you? Less hot pants I guess. Sorry, no specifics, obviously. Does your accent always start to creep back in once you're back from an assignment?”

He stepped down the stairs just ahead of her, each one a loud, metallic noise in the narrow space.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

There it was again. That little boy smile. That glimmer in his gold-flecked green eyes. It was as if sparks would fly anytime he smiled, and it was getting to her head when he’d turn to look at her.

Focus Kaile!

“Ah,” down the steps they went. A little bit tighter now, a bit more snug. Her hand went to skim across the railing, turning as they would descend step by step. A flush crept back up her face at the mention of her accent. How to say, ‘Well I tend to forget and it just comes out cause you’re making me feel like I’m melting into the ground?’

Probably not the best thing to admit.

“Just don’t realize it I guess,” she had to force herself to not say ‘reckon’, a mite bit embarrassed at the drawl. One flight of stairs then the second. Just where was he leading them?

“Comes and goes.” she admitted. That’s was a safe answer right?

 

[Asmus Janes]

Half turning he looked back up at her. He realised that was a mistake as his eyes had to slide up from waist level to find her own. He'd failed his promise to give her space on the second day, on the third day had ended up putting on a show for her to witness. The least he owed her was not to put any pressure on her.

So, despite his breath catching and all sorts of notions running through his mind, he kept eyes forwards and carried on down. Walk and talk, he told himself.

“Deck D is mostly maintenance,” he explained as he ducked through another bulkhead. A crewman sharply moved aside to let him through. “Pretty quiet down here.”

Even for a stealth frigate these corridors were narrow and dark. Lots of metal pipes running overhead. Heavy doors with plenty of warning signs branched off from the corridor they walked down.

There was a muffled roar that was sharply cut off. “Well, there aren't many people down here. Not much insulation between us and the flight deck over our heads. Now the maintenance bays are below us on Deck E…” he tailed off as he look around the right corridors, getting his bearings. “...but I think…”

He led her down a side corridor that was barely wide enough for one. A few metres down and one way had glass panels set from waist height up. Asmus came to a halt. Nothing was visible on the other side. With a flick of a switch the narrow bay was revealed by a pair of lights.

They were halfway up the shaft that ran from the lowest deck to the flight deck. Through the windows and above them was the door that opened up onto the flight deck. Below them was his ship. She'd been alone in the dark, untended. Just stood in a small square shaft that barely contained her length. His tools from the previous day still scattered around her on the floor. When it was time to launch the doors above slid away and the entire platform beneath them was raised up to the deck.

“There she is.” He turned to watch Kaile as she looked down. “Not even sure why they have these windows. I think the chief engineer sometimes walks this deck so he can look down on his teams doing maintenance and repairs on the craft.”

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]


It was automatic really, to go reaching up the low bulkhead with her hand and let her fingers graze across it with every duck she gave. Almost as if it were a small silly indulgence, counting each low beam with a touch of her hand. It served as a distraction while they ambled along that tight corridor.

Asmus had been right though. It was quieter here, in the terms that there weren’t that many of the crew ambling about. Either due to shift change or just other priorities elsewhere. Save for the lone crewmember they had passed, it didn’t seem there was anyone else at the present time.

So when he came to a stop, Kaile came to a slow halt with more than an arm's length of space in between them. Rather silly, if the espion thought about, acting like a teenager when it came to trying to not be too close to Asmus. Yet that didn’t matter much when the lights came on and the Thunderstruck sat there in all her glory.

“Well would you look at that,” her soft drawl went pouring over the TX-110 and her pilot beside her, thick as molasses and just as sweet. There was a faint smile that grew on her lips, and she even gave a slight incline forward to get a better look.

A soft snort followed.

“You shouldn’t leave your tools all scattered about,” that was the mech in her, the dark slashes of her brows moving tight in a small cluck of her tongue.

 

[Asmus Janes]

“Heh.” There was a distant quality to his voice as he accepted her chastisement. In her periphery, she would catch his head snapping back towards the ship. That smile had drawn his eyes to full lips and he'd started to think things he'd promised he wouldn't do.

“I'm amazed they don't put a hydrospanner in your hand during down time, given how brilliant you are we tech. Think the Twins missed you just as much.”

The thought of Lucy working in the same bay as Kaile came to mind. Given the redhead’s temperament that wouldn't go well. Realising he was bringing up the past again, he decided to focus on the ship.

“Under each of those interlocking plates is laminamium. When the hull takes a hit it melts the a neighbouring cell and it flows in to patch the damage. I built the flight and targeting systems from the ground up, with some software from the Alliance. It was a prototype, so it's two seater. Can be used as a trainer, or the second pilot can operate the weaponry.”

As he spoke he gradually craned his head back towards her. There was pride in his still youthful features. Even the stubble didn't completely alter the look of his slender jawline.

“Each nacelle has a forwards and rear thruster. Can switch the ion thrust between them in a fraction of a second. Means this thing can spin about its axis as quick as the inertial dampers can compensate for!”

 

[Kaile Vera]

As did I, Kaile thought to herself, dipping her head a bit at the mention of the two droids that she’d gotten along with during those four days. It felt as if it had been so long ago yet at the same time, as if it had been just yesterday. Funny how the mind does that.

A spectator would find themselves amused at the manner by which the two would act. Each catching stray glimpses of the other through the periphery, almost in tandem as one would turn their head to glance only for the other to quickly turn their head away. Both of them shifting their weight. Both in this anxious dance as if two suns caught along each other’s gravity.

But even without the stolen glances, Kaile was able to get a feel for the pride and passion Asmus felt for the Thunderstruck. There was the pride of ownership there as well as of design. One could see it in the way he became more animated, in the glowing brightness of his eyes as he would detail the design of the ship. It only made him all the more attractive to see him laud its unique features and distinctive design.

“She’s beautiful.” the Lorrdian would compliment Asmus, giving him that rare glimpse of a Kaile smile. The one that would flash a dimple along her cheek and reach her eyes. She meant it too.

“You’d done well.” a pause, “Though not with them tools.” as a quip on them being scattered all on the floor again.

There was another loud rumble, and all around them D deck seemed to shudder and shake. Another craft likely moving over them for one reason or another. Kaile’s eyes went up, half turning her torso over towards Asmus while one hand lingered on the edge of the view pane beside her.

“Been awhile since I’ve been down below…” not for some time. There was a reason for that, seeing as mech jobs didn’t quite do what was required as much to keep her mind off of things. In actuality, it only would remind her more.

 

[Asmus Janes]

Such a small thing. Just a genuine smile. He briefly reflected that it had taken longer to tease out this time. Ignoring his decision to keep eyes forward he turned his chest towards her and leaned his shoulder on the glass.

“I will go down and tidy up my tools,” he promised. His own smile wasn't leaving his face any time soon now. They could go down now, back to the stairwell and past the engineer's quarters. But a passer-by finding them alone by the ship tidying his tools would probably think more of that than the pair of them casually talking. Casually talking, yes that was it. Nothing else going on in their heads. Not at all.

“Would be a joy to work on her with you,” he mused, before changing the subject quickly. “The reverse thrust really messes with First Order pilots. They think they're turning in towards my six and suddenly I fly past their crosshairs. Backwards.”

 

[Asmus Janes]

Such a small thing. Just a genuine smile. He briefly reflected that it had taken longer to tease out this time. Ignoring his decision to keep eyes forward he turned his chest towards her and leaned his shoulder on the glass.

“I will go down and tidy up my tools,” he promised. His own smile wasn't leaving his face any time soon now. They could go down now, back to the stairwell and past the engineer's quarters. But a passer-by finding them alone by the ship tidying his tools would probably think more of that than the pair of them casually talking. Casually talking, yes that was it. Nothing else going on in their heads. Not at all.

“Would be a joy to work on her with you,” he mused, before changing the subject quickly. “The reverse thrust really messes with First Order pilots. They think they're turning in towards my six and suddenly I fly past their crosshairs. Backwards.”

 

[Kaile Vera]

It would be a lie if Kaile said she didn’t have the same thought. The more she spent time with him the more the brunette found herself inching closer without realizing it. The more that one extra brick in her walls seemed to tumble down by his casual manner and his scoundrel smile. It was just too easy, as if drawn like a moth to the flame.

The tension would slowly leave her body, and Kaile found herself matching his stance. Shoulder propped against the window, but her arms coming to cross under the fullness of her breasts. Hazel eyes went drifting back towards the Thunderstruck, and that smile would linger for a second.

“I’m sure she’s a joy to be worked on.” no commitment there again, but it had been said with a softening of her voice and expression.

“And I reckon that flying backwards would surprise any. “ large chocolate brown eyes went darting back to catch Asmus’ own.

“But I’m sure its’ saved you a time or two.”

 

[Asmus Janes]

“More than a few really,” he replied. He didn’t even realise that his breathing was becoming more shallow. “It’s hard to get your head round because you’re used to being on the ground with a great big rock to use as a reference. In my head I think of myself as stationary. When I yank back on the thrust it basically accelerates everyone else. That probably sounds a bit mad, but without a reference it’s the easiest way for me to visualise what’s going on around me.”

His eyes drifted down to the fighter, but were drawn back to Kaile soon enough. The Galaxy had changed since he’d gone through the academy. Once the wars between the One Sith and Republic ravaged the core. Both had collapsed in on themselves. Now there was the lukewarm war between the Alliance and the First Order. And everyone else concerned about offending the Mandalorian Clans.

“If I have to drop you into enemy territory you’ll get to see what she’s like,” he added. “They cover her hull in dampening plates and I keep her within fifteen metres of the ground. Even the toughest operator tends to look a little sheepish after those runs.”

It almost struck him then. He knew the truth, but it was still sinking in, This Kaile, the one he’d softly made love to back on the Quintessence, was a hardened operative. He knew her, but he didn’t know her. He couldn’t quite decide where that sat between exciting and concerning. Would she give him the time to get to know her again? To work out where they stood? He had the impression she’d already made up her mind. Didn’t mean it couldn’t be changed.

 

[Kaile Vera]

The more that Asmus would regale her with stories, the more that Kaile became entranced by the animated way that he spoke. His arms would come up now and then, hands gesturing in emphasis. He’d give a slight roll of his shoulder along with a cant of his head, His hair, while no longer the length it had been before, would still slightly flop over his forehead whenever he gave a slight tip of his head forward. And that smile, oh that crooked smile that lit his eyes set every nerve into heightened sensitivity and did terrible tingly things low in her belly.

As if needing some way to get her bearings together, the espion gave a slight shift and instead would lean her back against the window paneling. Hands were still tucked with her arms crossed; couldn’t trust them to stay still. Already her fingers were wiggling, curling and relaxing.

“Most ain’t used to having to dealin’ with that sort of speed.” she admitted, giving a small shrug, the tips of her long dark hair swaying with the motion. With her profile to him and part of her hair tucked away behind her ear, there was no way to miss the slight red abrasion just under her ear. Barely visible but there. He had given her that.

“Or antics…” Kaile managed to admit, glancing back at Asmus with a slight tilt of her head.

 

[Asmus Janes]

“Antics…” he repeated with a mischievous smile. A smile than waned slightly as instead of thinking about cutting through a stone arch and ramming a TIE fighter, he thought of the metallic thump of a body against a locker. A sharp intake of breath as fingernails traversed skin. Asmus could see a faint white line down the inside of her forearm. Another watermark he’d left her with.

Much as she had, he turned again quite deliberately. Both hands against the glass he leaned at the waist and looked down at the fighter. He knew how easy it would be. They’d failed at self control before, they could do it again. Right now, he just wanted to talk. Talk to her as he’d wanted for years and years.

“I think, in some ways, you gave me the push to end up here. I was torn between two places. Family saw me as rough around the edges from my time with smugglers…” he sharply canted his head with a raise of the eyebrows, “...they mostly saw me a spoiled, workshy brat.

“Well, that’s probably exaggerating things. People spoke of going a different path. I dunno, just the way I saw you believe what you were saying when you thought I’d be brilliant at it.”

Clearly lost in thought, he slowly started to grin. Casting her a sidelong glance he added: “Of course that was a heartfelt belief from a Yum Bunnies waitress. Didn’t realise you were probably pretty apt at appraising people for the military life.”

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

Kaile’s smile would slowly wane the more that he spoke. A visible wave of discomfort seemed to pass over her features; her head dipped, lashes fell, and she seemed to become far more interested at the stained blotch on the floor.

“Heh,” was the low sound that fell from her lips. Her brows went surging forward, furrowing under the straight slash of her bangs. While he was right, that she had a bit more of an eye for it, she hadn’t done it in that respect to recruit him or push him into that life. Kaile had only said what she had truly believed that Asmus would be great at. The combination of his keen intellect, his skills as a pilot, navigation proficiency and his way with numbers clearly added up at being a wonderful officer. She had not said it just so that the Alliance could get another pilot. That perhaps that might be his train of thought bothered her.

Did I do it unconsciously? Now she wasn’t so sure. Doubt began to fill her. The espion had spent years as a recruiter for the Rebel Alliance and Omega Pyre. She knew how to approach, talk, and quickly determine if a smuggler or spacer coming into a Yum Bunnies could have the potential to work with the Alliance or a Private Military Contractor.

Could I have taken advantage of him to that end?

Distress rose, and she shifted on her feet again. Pushing herself off the window panel, Kaile gave a slight apologetic smile that did not reach her eyes.

“I should get going now.” she began, taking a step back. “Thanks for bringing me here.” the need to place more distance between them grew.

Just how much of everything I’d done during those four days had been me? How much had been the Alliance agent? The one who knew how to work people? It gave her such a sinking sensation at the pit of her stomach.

Honestly, the more she thought about it, the more she really didn’t want to know.