Gravity

[Asmus Janes]

He chuckled. “It stings more, but at least I know which way is up. Now you've saved me from death at the hands of a kanjiklub gangster and blisters from a spilled cup of caf. Thank you.” He added the last genuine thanks on to make certain she knew he wasn't denigrating her work on his hand.

“Damn sim cockpits have the stiffest flight sticks,” he thought out loud. His own ship had very delicate, twitchy controls. Even the shuttle was better than the hard wearing antique sim pods they had aboard.

He let out a long breath through his nose. He tried to imagine the pain receding. Whilst his hand relaxed it didn't really do much about the pain. He could always grab a pill from the med bay later.

Resting his elbow on the basin so she could apply the gauze to a steady hand, his mind went back to the Quintessence. He did miss that easy going life sometimes. She was a considerate, caring person. That had shone through the dark mood she'd been in long before her laughter had. She seemed to him to be someone who should be surrounded by close friends and family not all alone.

A thought occurred to him. He looked up at a patch of scratched metal above his cabin’s headboard.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]


“It's fine,” Kaile added, a shake of her brown head in regards to his gratitude. She knew already he appreciated what she was doing, but hearing him be able to joke a bit relieved her. Granted, it also brought back the memories of what has come after the shoot out. How things had progressed. One dance then another.

“You'll need to rub on some more the next day or so,”clearing her throat, Kaile attempted to focus on his other hand. This one didn't have the an angry red patch like the former, but she reckoned it stung a bit. More ointment was dabbed on the tips of her fingers. Encircling his wrist, the espion brought his hand up closer to apply the gel.

“Stuff smells too sweet,” she made a passing commentary over the thick scent of bacta. It had a tendency to saturate clothes and just about everything else. Rubbing in gingerly concentric circles on his skin, Kaile kept talking.

“Almost done though,” she quickly added, noticing the slight stiffening in his posture. Pain again? Kaile managed to spare a peek up. He was staring up at the bulkhead, mind elsewhere. Feeling she had something to do with it again, she followed up with,” Sorreh.”

Ducking her head and licking her lower lip in an anxious sweep, she finished up with his hand. Setting down the ointment, she gathered the rest of the gauze to wrap and secure this one as well.

 

[Asmus Janes]

“Hmm? Oh it's fine,” he replied. He figured that she thought she'd hurt him. “You know...I have one of those new compact holoprojectors. The Exostar one. Got it off the net cheap and picked it up from a locker at a station. I welded a couple of mags onto the back of it and stick it up on the bulkhead there. It's really good. It projects onto the far wall and detects where you're watching from to put the depth in.”

Asmus watched her wrap the gauze, realising he was rambling again. He decided to stop dancing around and say what he was thinking. At least he could do that reliably.

“Thought it would be better to watch the show on that than a little datapad.”

Did he trust himself alone on his bed with her? Not really. But it seemed a better notion than hanging about on deck B with wrapped up hands and a tiny datapad.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]


It was about this time when Kaile managed to secure the end of the bandage that Asmus made mention about the holoprojector. Where he was going with it became clear when he mentioned the watching the show on it instead of the datapad.

Wide, tawny colored eyes drew up. Her fingers paused, hovering over the slight curve of his wrist where she was smoothing the bandage over. A slight nod from the Wraith pointed over towards where the holoprojector was braced at. Just as he’d said, the small contraption was there, held up by the mags rather snugly. Well that’s smart, Kaile told herself, before realizing what exactly the invitation would entail.

Being around Asmus was difficult enough. Doing that while in the tight quarters of his cabin on - a glance around noted that the only place to comfortably sit and watch would be the bed - the bed, alone, in the dark with him was kicking it up another notch. Asmus wasn’t the only one who’d been having trouble trying to keep her hands to herself, and there was only so many self reminders Kaile could give herself that would prevent her from crossing the line… again.

“Erm…” biting her lower lip, Kaile visibly vacillated on a decision. Her dark head came back, catching Asmus studying her, the slight hopeful expression in his angular face slowly fading. The sight tugged at her heart.

“Umm..” she began again, lowering her eyes and setting the gauze back on the basin. Picking up the ointment, Kaile dabbed a bit more while considering how to reply. Well, he’d just scalded the tops of his hands, and they were rather painful. Realistically, the chances of anything happening because of that alone was ironically, a pro. Did she trust herself being around him for that time? Not really, but her concern over his welfare burned strong.

“Maybe if it’s only a couple of episodes….” it was said rather hesitantly, the woman still nibbling at her lower lip. Her focus had diverted to the middle of his chest by then, as that slight reddish patch was the last to require tending. Asmus would be able to catch the slight quiver in her fingers as they came to hover over his left pectoral.

“... Just um… just this last bit left.” she explained, the last coming out in a fast breath. It was an attempt to brace herself mentally and focus that she wasn’t just touching him to touch him, but that it had a purpose. Of course, the fact of the matter was that Asmus Janes was standing before her without a shirt, close enough that maybe two feet separated them and she was about to lean in closer. The whole scene was rather mind boggling, and Kaile tried to not reflect on how hot his skin felt under her fingers. Or the slight thump thump of his heart.

Or the fact that just some nights prior, she’d had laid her palm to rest just over his heart.

 

[Asmus Janes]

“Um,” he looked up at the holoprojector and tried to ignore what was happening. If he'd been quicker he would have suggested he could do it himself. The long deliberation and the way she'd bitten her lower lip suggested a turbulent internal struggle. If she spread her fingers and ran them from his chest to shoulder and his neck would he stop her? Unlikely. All he could do was his part and not start anything. If either did the dance wouldn't stop til end last note rang out in his small cabin.

Then why stop if that's what they both wanted? Just stop fighting the pull, take her hand, take her. Because what he really wanted was to spend time with her to work out where they both stood. Years crossed the divide and he could tell she still didn't want to face up to where they were or could be now. There were still secrets there. If often felt like two steps forward and one step back, but he felt they were facing the right way.

Though...tasting those lips again...

Talk.

“Yeah we can just watch a couple. But don't tell anyone I have this. They cost a few grand and work pretty well in larger halls too. I'll be inundated with requests to borrow it.”

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]


The right corner of her mouth twitched and she said without really thinking, “no worries, I can keep a secret.”

That she could. Her entire life, her work, the years that had divided them along with what had occurred with her pregnancy. Kaile could keep a secret. Some might say a bit too well at the expense of others. But it wasn't so easy; so black and white. No, everything was in shades of gray.

There was a slight kick to his heartbeat. Kaile could feel that much just prior to him looking away. Spreading the sickly sweet gel along the edges of the red mark, the Lorrdian was almost finished with her task. Although the more her fingers swept over his skin, the more they gave little twitches in craving to spread out further. To skim over the broadness of his chest, have her other hand join the fray and map him out in ways that would brand him like this into her memory.

A shuddered breath went hissing through her mouth, fingers curling back and away from him. Awkwardly Kaile attempted to cover how affected she was by it by turning away to put the cap on the ointment.

“There you go,” she said quickly, avoiding his gaze as that dark head dipped to clean up around the pull out basin. “Don't reckon you need a patch for your chest, so airing it out and letting the gel do the work might do the trick. Though of you want one I can go grab one.”

She was babbling again, moving to wash her hands and trying to keep her mind and fingers busy. Too busy to do what they were really wanting to do to begin with.

 

[Asmus Janes]

Next time I'll spill the coffee down my thighs so we can really have a test of self control…

A half chuckle escaped through his nose at the amusing thought and he turned away as well. “What a silly thing to do,” he said, repeating the sentiment. “Was just trying to catch up. Bad time for Chad to stroll in. My fault.”

Pulling open a drawer of clothes he found four small speakers tucked under the fabric. Each fit snug in the palm of a hand and had the same magnetic strip welded to the back as the projector. Energy cells were so efficient now. The same tech that meant a blaster could fire hundreds of shots, each powerful enough to blast through durasteel, meant that his wireless speakers only needed recharging a few times a year.

He took two and went to stick them in their usual places. “Spent ages fussing about where to put the speakers,” he mused. “Turns out it doesn't really matter all that much. Acoustics are always crap in a small, metal rectangular box.”

He'd been so busy that he hadn't really had a chance to reflect or to allow her admission to sink in. She'd missed him too. Terribly. For some reason, whilst perhaps it felt a little sarcastic to do so, that made him smile.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]


Catch up? Things had progressed into an area that had made both of them very vulnerable in that kitchenette. Had Chad not walked in…

“Yeah, with cabins this small it really don't matter.” Keeping up with the conversation was a way to pull back from the pink Bantha in the room again. Shop talk filled the space between them instead of unanswered questions and painful truths.

“Reckon still better than a datapad,” Back at the Messa, Kaile had set up a similar system in the past. Her affinity for electronics and holographics had allowed her to craft and jury rig salvaged materials to do the same. Oft times during their travels, Kurt and she’d watch a few shows together.

Wonder how he's doing now?

The sad thought sobered her. Finishing up cleaning her hands, Kaile added,”got it hooked up to your datapad as a control or another way?” Talking to fill the silence, Kaile tugged the hairband from her hair. It fell forward in soft waves, crimped from where it had been tied. Her fingers ran through them, pushing the strands back and combing through.

 

[Asmus Janes]

“Erm…”

Why did she have to go and do that. Instead of thinking any thoughts he was simply watching her comb her fingers through her hair. Asmus was struck by the sudden urge to run his hands through it himself. She caught him watching and once again he found himself sharply turning away.

“Just with my datapad, not allowed to hook any official gear into personal kit.”

He rolled up his bedding and used his pillows to create a makeshift chair out of his bed. It was still an intimate thing just to have her here and he was starting to worry about this really being a good idea or not.

He sat down against the bulkhead, leaving enough room for Kaile.

“This isn't going to be infected with scary Kaile heads too is it?” He asked with a smirk as he turned it on. Multiple lenses turned on and projected the brand logo onto the ceiling.

“Oh...yeah...I'm so lazy I can't even be bothered to sit up to watch films sometimes.”

There was a flair of panic as he wondered exactly what he had last been watching, but as he moved the screen down to the wall opposite them it remained blissfully blank. The projection was like a little window into a three dimensional world. He started scrolling to the show and episode three.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]


“Doesn't quite work that fast.” Kaile managed to quip back, watching him go through the set up. He was in a better mood than before, and he kept on explaining everything with a touch of excitement- save for a brief flare of bemused panic when the projectors displayed onto the ceiling.

He seemed to be pretty much at home, how he made everything cozy and intimate. A pang of jealousy struck her at the thought of just how many times he'd done this before. The thought was immediately banished as the Lorrdian reminded herself that it wasn't her place to even be bothered by it. She knew how things were in a small ship that was running silent on the black for so long. Despite knowing she had no right it still stung.

One last run of her fingers through her hair and Kaile took a deep breath. By then the image of episode three’s starting screen was projected against the far wall. Eyebrows rose at the clarity and picture.

“Huh, it is pretty good,” she said mildly impressed. Tugging the headband around her wrist, the brunette knew she was delaying sitting down next to Asmus for too long. With a couple of steps, she rocked on her heels before giving Asmus a half smile. A dip and then she slid into his bed right next to him, scooting into a comfortable position sitting upright.

Sitting down immediately reminded her that perhaps this wasn't a good idea. Not with the way both of their bodies sank into the mattress and the fact that his pillow, the bed, even Asmus all had his lingering scent. The only thing preventing her being engulfed in a sea of Asmus’ was the underlying sweetness of the bacta. There was no getting around that.

She still had her shoes on, so she left her feet half dangling to the side. The reminder to not bring them on top of his bed would hopefully prevent her from getting too comfortable.

Maybe.

 

[Asmus Janes]

The cabin wasn't large. Just the light rub of her shoulder against his own had him forcing deep breaths into his lungs. He didn't miss the message she sent by leaving one foot on the ground. It reminded him of a conservative world he'd visited where no holoshows were permitted when two people were shown in a bed without keeping their feet on the floor. There were some distinctly raunchy scenes with one foot shown clearly on the carpet.

Asmus settled back and sighed. Just as the night before he was taken aback by the mundanity of sitting and watching a show. Though it would have been nicer to have her in closer proximity. He started to feel like he was trying to ensnare her, but he shook away the notion. However, he couldn't help but recall that she had been trying to escape when he'd burned his hands.

“Think I'll put off running the sims til the day after tomorrow,” he murmured during the titles. “We can give Chad a back brief tomorrow at some point.”

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

Oh, right. Chad.

Kaile turned her head to spare a look at Asmus, recalling that Chad would be Asmus’ back up for the mission. Same one who had caught them in a rather intimate moment back before her attempted escape.

“Yeah,” Kaile began to say slowly, turning back towards the show. She wasn't really paying attention to the title sequence a much as the man beside her. Looking down she saw his bandaged hands.

“Best to not do too much with your hands if possible. Least for the next day.” That way the gel would be able to work as intended without having to place unnecessary strain across his skin. Or pain.

“Fourteen hundred should be fine.” Her left hand came up, drifting over her right side and brushing her elbow against his arm. A brief apology joined the half tuck of the strands behind the shell of her ear.

 

[Asmus Janes]

“Yeah…might take a painkiller later.”

Asmus decided that putting a shirt on would have been prudent. It would have made any move to draw her in closer seem less inappropriate. She was in his bed and he was without a shirt. Self control was now absolutely necessary. But he didn't really want to go too far. What he wanted was the warm press of her against him.

For now he simply chuckled at her apology and shuffled closer so that they watched shoulder to shoulder. She had watched the last two episodes leaning into his chest he wasn't going to let her murmur apologies for the very lightest touch.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

“You don't have any right now?” In light of watching the show, Kaile’s voice was a low murmur, just loud enough for Asmus to hear. He hadn't turned down the lights so she could still catch his expressions. Concern bathed her face as her awareness of his proximity faded in its wake.

“I still have my tea you can drink to take some of you like?” As his caf had left its remains on his shirt. A shirt distinctly absent from the bare chest he was sporting.

Sigh. Why did he still have to be so good looking?

 

[Asmus Janes]

“I'm alright for a drink, but I think I might have some painkillers. Drawer right below you, top end of the bed. And actually if you wouldn't mind in the drawer below a vest please,” he asked. He'd felt rather than seen her eyes on him.

In that top drawer would be a variety of bits and bobs. Some spare power units, cables, a broken old datapad. At least there was no longer a middle drawer to be hidden.

“You know you can take your shoes off and put them up on the bed?” he asked. It was a trade in a way. He would put a top on and she could stop using that as a shield against getting comfortable.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

“Take my shoes off and place them on the bed?” The humor of the statement made her mouth twitch, finding a moment to tease Asmus. Humor had a way of relaxing things. Easing the tensions. The Wraith’s stumble on words was enough to promote some measure of ease.

“I reckon that be an odd place for ‘em, but if you insist…” Her half snort of a chuckle followed her as Kaile went leaning over the side of the bed. Top drawer was pulled out, the inner contents brushed from side to side until she found the painkiller bottle.

Closing that, she had to lean a bit further to open the bottom drawer. Her torso stretched, hair falling back down to flank her face. With one foot on the ground, she wasn't really struggling to maintain her balance.

“Any specific vest?” She asked, glancing up over her shoulder at him.

 

[Asmus Janes]

“Oh any will do,” he replied with a smile. “Then you can take your shoes off and put your feet on the bed!”

He shook his head and went back to watching the show. Most of his vests were the same. The same as the one she had virtually torn from his shoulders a few nights ago. It would be bliss if he could forget those few minutes just for a few hours. Every recollection seemed to send his blood pumping.

“Going to get to stay at Sullust again any time soon? Or at least get back to Alliance space?”

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

“Reckon I could do that,” she quipped back, “put up my feet that is.”

Her laugh turned into a small cry of surprise when he asked the question; not for the query but because as she stretched to open the bottom drawer further her foot slipped. Half tumbling, Kaile immediately brought up her hand to try and find purchase.

So much for grace and good balance, her right hand slamming to the bulkhead in a loud thump.

 

[Asmus Janes]

The thump was followed very swiftly by a tug at her shirt. That in turn was very closely followed by a loud expletive. Asmus had of course reached for her instinctively before remembering that his had was strapped in gauze for a reason.

A moment later his brain appraised the situation and realised that Kaile was in no real risk and that he could really now do with the painkiller.

“You alright?” He asked in a slightly strained voice.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]


“Dangit,” Kaile burst out with her own expletive. Her face instantly bloomed red with embarrassment as much as chagrin. Of all things to happen, ugh. Now she felt ten times the fool, all the more when she heard the strain in Asmus’ voice.

She had felt him snap out to grab her, and odds were that he hurt his hands all the more doing it.

“Yeah,” she said, straightening on the bed. Pushing her hair away from her flushed face, Kaile gave the pilot an apologetic stare.

“I'm sorreh,” she said in a breathless rush, anxious over the pain she saw etched over his face. He'd grabbed at her so fast that the burns likely stung something fierce.

“Are your hands alright?” Looking around she scooted up on her knees. Where that bottle go?? A quick shuffle and she heard the bottle roll on her right. Picking it up, she quickly uncapped the bottle.

“I'm sorry I should have just gotten up,” she added, chocolate brown eyes wide with worry. Taking a pill out she offered it to him, feeling all kinds the ninny for what had occurred.