The sound of branches rustling and leaves shaking made its way to Kanan’s ears. He tensed, shifting his weight on the large branch he was currently ensconced away on. Slowly, he reached for the lightsaber at his hip and reached out with the Force. He shifted his weight to the balls of his feet, ready to lash out at a second’s warning from the Force.
He huffed out a laugh and let his hand drop from the hilt of the saber.
A heartbeat later the top of Hera’s lekku peeked over as she pulled herself up the last feet or so. Kanan reached over, his hands hovering above her body just in case she needed help to steady herself. He watched her move with practiced ease as she hoisted herself onto the branch and swung one leg over so that she was straddling it. Kanan let his hands fall to her waist for a short moment, the feeling of Hera moving under them a welcomed one.
She stuck her tongue out at him and pulled a funny face.
“How long do we have?” he asked quietly. Kanan leaned back against the trunk of the tree and crossed his arms over his chest. He willed himself to not look down, knowing it would only make him more nervous than he was.
Hera set out a small container of cut up fruit, prying open the lid carefully. She shrugged, her face contorting into one of severe focus.
Kanan tipped his fingers upwards, and the lid popped open.
Hera scowled at him good naturedly. She stabbed at one of the slices of fruit and held it out to him. Kanan accepted it gratefully and popped it into his mouth. The sweet taste of jogan quickly burst in his mouth, a refreshing treat after having nothing but ration bars to stave off the hunger for the past couple of hours.
“Twenty minutes, forty tops,” Hera answered his question, popping a slice of fruit into her own mouth. “I sent the kids south in search of berries.”
Kanan raised a brow. “And they bought it?”
Hera shrugged at him, “Sabine and Ezra can’t resist a competition. I told them whoever brought me back the most didn’t have to mop the floors for a week.”
Kanan laughed, “Sneaky, I like it.” He swiped another slice of fruit and bit into it. Hera smirked back at him, her lekku swaying softly with the breeze. It was the most relaxed he’d seen her in days.
Down time was beginning to feel like a luxury these days. With their crew now officially absorbed into this rebellion militia Hera believed in there were hardly any days for free time. Add in Ezra’s Jedi training and Ahsoka’s missions to find the inquisitors, Kanan was lucky if he remembered to sleep. It put a strain on everyone, but Kanan felt it acutely between Hera and him. Trying to maintain a relationship when the job took priority at all times was difficult and Kanan was brave enough to acknowledge that. But just because he knew how important their work was doesn’t mean he still didn’t feel some type of way of never having alone time with Hera.
It made this brief alone time even more special.
He looked back out to the endless sea of branches and leaves that hid them from the ground. The browns, golds, and muted greens of the planet’s foliage made for a pretty scene. The air was crisp at this high an altitude and Kanan knew that more grass and mountain ranges waited for his arrival to the ground below.
Kanan was almost, almost grateful, that the Ghost had to make an emergency landing on this planet. The peace and quiet it brought made it easier to meditate and the large trees made for the perfect escape from the rest of the crew.
His gaze flicked down the tree line, the ground not even visible at this high up. Branches and leaves rushed up at him, the eerie sense that he was free falling slammed into him. Kanan swallowed thickly and focused his gaze back on Hera. He followed the curve of her nose and cheek several times over before his heartbeat returned to normal. This was definitely the last time he was climbing this high up just to do recon.
He and Hera fell into comfortable silence. Every now and then a bird swooped into their presence to check them out. Kanan let the more curious ones hop around his legs and shoulders, their chirping and short bursts of whistling filling the silence.
The two of them passed the container of fruit around until they’d eaten every slice. Hera then pulled her canteen out of her pack, taking a long sip from it before handing it over to Kanan.
He put the edge of the opening to his lips, smiling at Hera. She smiled back at, soft and filled with affection.
“I miss being able to take detours like this with you,” Hera murmured, tucking one knee up to her chin. She looked out to the endless grove of trees and leaves, a slight crease forming between her brows. Kanan catalogued the changes in her face wondering how he might’ve changed in the past six or so years they’d been together.
Hera looked back over, her face smoothing over and something light and full of cheerfulness taking over her voice. “I wouldn’t trade what we have in all the galaxy, though.”
Kanan shook his head, reaching over to place his free hand over her knee. He squeezed lightly and kept it there.
“Me neither,” he whispered to her.
Hera leaned closer to him, slotting between his legs. She reached out to cup his cheek in her hand, letting slender jade fingers curl around his jaw. He leaned into the touch, unable to stop his eyes from fluttering shut. Being with Hera, feeling her touch on him, it was his favorite thing in the galaxy. Next to her voice, of course. Loving her was easy. It was the most natural thing he’d done since being brought to the Jedi Temple as a toddler and learning about the Force.
He tilted his chin down, hoping to close the gap between them.
Hera scooted closer, the warmth of her body pressing into him.
Her lips grazed his, making them part. He exhaled silently and tilted his head further down. Kanan captured Hera’s bottom lip between his, taking his time to savor her.
Hera huffed and surged upwards, deepening the kiss. Kanan reached for her, winding his arms around her to pull her closer to him and keep them from toppling over. Hera’s hand came to cradle the back of his head, her other one splayed across the center of his chest. Hera tilted her head, giving him access to her.
He could’ve spent the rest of the afternoon locked in this moment. The feel of Hera’s lips on his as they lazily made out, her tongue swiping over his and tracing the shape of his bottom lip, was intoxicating. It was better than any liquor he had drunk. Kanan shifted against Hera, hooking one of her legs over his. Hera shivered and leaned back a fraction of an inch, her nose catching on his.
Kanan chased after her, pressing a quick kiss to her lips.
“We shouldn’t…” Hera started to whisper.
Kanan shook his head, kissing her again. “Don’t finish that sentence.”
Hera laughed quietly, curling her fingers in his shirt collar. She leaned forward, ready to kiss him again. Kanan braced one hand against the small of her back. He let his eyes fall shut again, heat starting to curl in his chest.
“Hera! Kanan!”
The two of them groaned. Kanan looked down, focusing on looking past the branches and the vertigo to see if he could pick out Ezra. Hera slumped forward, pressing her forehead to his shoulder. He laughed and touched the back of her head briefly in support.
“Hera!”
This time Sabine’s modulated voice echoed throughout the forest, scaring birds and critters alike. The two of them both looked back down, scanning the branches for their kids.
“You going to get that?” Kanan asked, grinning back over to Hera.
Hera narrowed her eyes at him and waved one hand in the general direction of Ezra and Sabine’s voices.
“Oh no it’ll take me forever to climb back down,” Hera said, frowning. She tipped her weight the slightest and looked over the branch. She wrinkled her nose. Kanan sighed and pushed himself up onto his feet.
“You want me to jump?”
Hera peeked at him from the corner of her eye, “you’re saying it not me.” The corners of her lips curled upwards as her eyes took on a mischievous tint.
Kanan wiped his face with one hand and looked down. He had jumped to heights similar to this. Going down should, in theory, be the same concept.
“You just want to see me flail,” he said and made himself crouch on the branch. Hera followed suit, her eyes scanning for a handhold.
“No, not at all,” she said, her voice light and teasing.
“Kanan! Hera!” Ezra’s voice echoed through the trees again.
“Maybe they’re stuck in a tree,” Sabine drawled.
The two of them sighed and Hera dropped off the branch. The kids wouldn’t wait for them for long and Kanan wasn’t sure what to tell them. It was bad enough Zeb teased them relentlessly, they didn’t need Ezra and Sabine to giggle and point at them. Kanan sucked in a breath and focused on the now. Focused on the feeling of the breeze on his face. The Force flowed through him and steadied him.
Hera’s bright signature in the endless web of the Force would be his guide, Kanan decided.
Without thinking he stepped off the branch and let himself fall.
~
~
There was a brief knock on the ‘fresher door before it whirled open. Hera turned around slowly, keeping one arm across her chest and the other poised to cover her front. It wouldn’t be the first time Sabine had barged in to use the ‘fresher during an emergency and wasn’t going to be the last. It was an absolute nightmare sometimes, sharing one refresher on the Ghost.
Hera peeked past the screen of the sonic, ready to remind Sabine that this was why they scheduled their shower times and stopped short.
Kanan stood there in the middle of the room, leaning his hands on the sink with his face tilted up to the ceiling. He had his eyes closed; his lips turned down in a small frown. Her annoyance quickly slid away and was replaced with concern.
“Kanan,” she whispered. Her partner didn’t budge or acknowledge her. Hera watched silently as he drew in a deep breath and released it slowly.
“Kanan,” Hera whispered a littler louder. She scooted farther out of the safety of the screen, tilting her head until her lekku swung by her elbow.
Kanan raised a brow in acknowledgement, some of the tension in his body leaving. He opened one eye slightly and looked at her from the corner of his eye.
Hera pulled a face, silently asking what exactly he was doing in here.
Kanan in turn placed one finger to his lips and shook his head once.
Hera sighed and let him be. She returned to her shower, focusing on cleaning her body. Above the din of the sonic she could hear Kanan shuffle around, the sound of him leaning more firmly against the sink and the occasional clink and sounds that came from a datapad. She couldn’t help but relax further, pacified by the closeness of Kanan. If anyone asked why she wouldn’t be able to explain it other than the fact that she was most at ease when he was near.
It was rare these days that the two of them got to be alone together. Sure, they had their nights together but this, just existing in each other’s space was few and far between. Hera had gotten used to it and taken it for granted those first few years when it had just been the two of them on the Ghost. Now it was reduced to this; Kanan sneaking into the ‘fresher just to enjoy some time with her.
Hera finished washing off the last of soap from her body and stopped the sonic. She quickly wrapped a towel around her and stepped out. Kanan was still there, focused on his datapad. Hera could see from the angle he held the thing at that he was absorbed in a game Ezra and Sabine had showed him a couple weeks ago. He had called it dumb and redundant.
Hera laughed silently, walking over to him.
Kanan looked up at her and gave her a wry grin.
“Sorry,” he whispered. Kanan shut off the datapad and dropped it into the sink behind him. Hera stepped into his space, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“I needed some quiet,” he murmured against her cheek, his lips ghosting over her damp skin.
Hera leaned into the embrace as Kanan’s hands began wandering over her body. She hummed quietly, tilting her face to the side to capture Kanan’s lips in hers. Kanan tightened his hold on her, scooting lower to let her have better access to him.
They used to do wild things in this space when it had just been the two of them. Kriff, they had even gotten up to quite risky things when Zeb had joined on. A true testament to how quiet they could be while the Lasat was holed up in his room. The two of them had figured out what intimacy had really meant while in this ‘fresher and Hera wished they could have one of those moments again if only to see if they could still be mischievous.
But when Sabine had joined their crew and then Ezra, Kanan and her had decided that setting boundaries and good examples were what was best and so they reserved their nights for their fun. Kanan was sure that Sabine and Ezra had figured that they were romantically, physically Hera reminded herself, involved. Some habits were harder to break out of and the terms of endearment and the hand holding were too ingrained in their lives to stop.
All they had now were these stolen moments where they could be carefree again.
A sharp knock at the door startled them both.
Hera stepped away from Kanan as though she had been electrocuted and whipped her head to the door. She might’ve clutched her towel tighter to her body.
“Hera?”
Ezra’s voice carried over, his tone that perfect mix of bored and frustrated that only teenagers could achieve.
“Yes, Ezra?” she called back, grimacing at Kanan. Kanan grimaced back, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Have you seen Kanan? I can’t find him anywhere.”
Hera groaned inwardly, hanging her head for a brief second. Across from her she could see more than hear Kanan shaking with silent laughter.
Asshole, she thought to herself.
“Have you checked outside maybe’s he’s meditating?” Hera called out. She desperately needed Ezra to go away before Kanan broke her and the two of them started laughing.
“Um,” Ezra paused. Kanan met her eyes, cupping one hand around his ear. Hera bit down on her tongue trying to suppress the giggle that threatened to escape. “Hera, we’re in hyperspace.”
“Fuck,” Hera hissed under her breath. Kanan put his head in his hands, his shoulders shaking with laughter. Hera whacked his head gently, trying to think of something—anything—to tell Ezra. The sudden thought of Ezra being able to sense Kanan in Force quickly crossed her mind and she flailed, panic seizing her body. She stared at the door, at a loss for what to say. Hera seriously hoped that Ezra could not sense Kanan through the other side of the door.
“Do I look like Kanan’s keeper? Check the cargo hold,” the words left her mouth before she could dial them back, her tone sharper than she intended.
“But I already—” Ezra whined.
“Check it again!”
“Fine.”
Kanan held up a hand, the grin on his face as cocky and sure as the day she’d met him. It made her want to wipe that smirk off his face about five different ways and three of them involved removing the layers of clothing he had on. But she couldn’t do any of that.
After a few long, anxious seconds, Kanan lowered his hand and let out a quiet bark of laughter.
“I should get going, Ezra’ll grow suspicious if he doesn’t find me in the cargo hold.”
Hera shook her head, stepping back into Kanan’s space. He bent his head down to kiss her quickly and chastely, his fingers curling under her chin for a heartbeat.
She stepped away and shivered. Hera looked back down and readjusted her towel. She bit back a sigh and gestured to the door. Kanan shoved off the sink, scooping up his datapad and tucking it under his arm.
He moved to press open the door.
A thought occurred to Hera at the same moment.
“Kanan.”
Kanan turned towards her, his finger hovering on the button.
Hera let her towel drop to the floor.
The absolute look of betrayal and desire that flashed across his face was one Hera decided she rather liked on Kanan. His eyes darkened as he drank up her form, his eyes lingering on her hips and breasts. Hera watched smugly as his lips parted, his tongue darting out to lick at them.
Confidently, Hera picked up her clean clothes and dragged them on over her body.
Kanan cursed under his breath.
She heard the sound of the door creak open and then shut as she pulled her shirt over her body.
When she could see again, Kanan was long gone and yelling down the hall for Ezra.
Hera smiled to herself as the sounds of her crew reached her earcones.
Kanan and her might not have all the privacy in the galaxy anymore but they still knew how to make do when they could.
~
~
Hera rubbed at her eyes, fighting back the urge to yawn. Her eyes felt like a couple of Tatooine’s sandstorms had whipped across her face. She looked down at the control panel in front of her, forcing her brain to make sense of the readouts the Ghost was giving her. When the code and words no longer made sense Hera turned her head towards the co-pilot seat.
It was empty, her partner no where to be found. She wheeled around carefully and checked on her other passengers. Sabine was curled up in the seat by navicomputer, her helmet and chestplate on the floor by her feet. She was breathing evenly, the days events finally exhausting her. In the seat across from Hera, Ezra was conked out as well. Chopper rested beside him, keeping the boy’s arm from hanging at an awkward angle.
Hera smiled but didn’t say anything on the matter in the event Chopper decided to retaliate and wake everyone up. She looked around for Zeb but couldn’t bring herself to leave her seat. She had good faith that the Lasat had made it to his bunk or at least the couch.
Hera swiveled back around and focused on reading where they were in hyperspace. They had been jumping from system to system in an effort to bring supplies to various rebel holdouts, some going smoother than others. Hera supposed that none of them had set foot on solid ground in about a week. She couldn’t wait to return to Atollon and feel the dry heat on her cheeks once more. It was as close to being home on Ryloth as she would permit herself.
The door to the cockpit whooshed open and familiar footsteps sounded dully on the floor. Hera relaxed into her seat and tipped her face upwards.
Kanan walked into view, his visor no where to be seen. It let Hera study his face for a long moment, memorizing the new scars that crossed over his nose and brows. She ached to trace them with her fingertips but the two of them hadn’t been that close in months.
“I brought you some caf,” Kanan said quietly. He held out a mug that Hera took gratefully. She let the steam hit her face and breathed in the scent of the liquid.
“Thank you,” she murmured. She took a long sip of the liquid, swallowing the noise of appreciation she wanted to let out. Kanan still made her caf the exact way she liked despite…despite everything that had happened.
The silence stretched between, turning slightly awkward. Hera tapped her fingers against the mug, trying to find something to talk about. It never used to be like this between them. Silences used to be comfortable and despite the progress made, Hera couldn’t help that there was still a large bantha in the room with them.
“I think—”
“We should probably—"
Hera laughed dully, waving the comments off. Kanan pursed his lips at her, cloudy eyes narrowing at her. Hera shifted uncomfortably, looking away from his face and back to the mug.
“Are we going to dance around this forever?” Kanan asked bluntly.
“I don’t know, are we?” Hera retorted.
Kanan turned away from her and took a long sip of his own caf.
Hera slumped in her seat and watched hyperspace swirl around them. She shook her head hard.
“My feelings haven’t changed.” Kanan murmured
“Neither have mine,” Hera said quietly a few seconds later. Kanan snorted and returned to sipping on his caf.
Hera scowled. That was the root of all their issues, wasn’t it? The inability to change their natures.
The silence continued to stretch, turning sour. Hera drained the last of her caf and set the mug on the floor. She debated leaving the cockpit but quickly tossed aside that idea. She wasn’t in the mood to hash out her feelings again with Kanan. That’s all they had been doing for weeks now. She feared if they kept talking in circles, talking about this break they had decided on, that their relationship really would break down.
She chose instead to fiddle with her ship’s controls, adjusting their rate of entry and making sure the hyperdrive wasn’t over heating.
Kanan stood and stretched. He moved to walk away and exit the cockpit. Hera held her breathe, wondering if this was how the rest of her life was going to be. Full of half wants and awkward silences.
“Hera,” Kanan whispered.
She turned towards him, “Yeah?”
Kanan bent down and pressed his lips to her forehead. Hera’s brows rose in shock, and she froze. Kanan pulled back slightly, hovering above her. For one long dizzying moment Hera couldn’t think. Her mind refused to kick back into gear. She blinked.
“I shouldn’t have done that, I’ll—”
Hera surged upwards, hooking her hands around Kanan’s neck and dragging him back to her. She kissed him firmly, slotting their lips together. Kanan let out a quiet noise as he parted lips for her. Hera sighed into him, letting their mouths move together as she tilted her head. She let her fingers curl into the hairs at the base of his neck and Kanan’s hands came to rest at her elbows.
Hera had come to accept that certain parts of their relationship would never be the same after Malachor. That the space Kanan needed would forever be a wedge between them. That her commitment to the rebellion would take too much of her time and heart. The two of them had discussed and accepted that the more romantic nature of their relationship would have to wait, and Hera had been fine with it. Had thought she could live with keeping Kanan at arm’s length once more.
She didn’t know how she could’ve ever been okay with it, not when Kanan kissed her with such fervor. It had been too long since she'd held him, had tasted him. Hera wanted to melt into him, to lead him back to her bunk and see if they could still make a few sparks fly.
Air eventually became a necessity. Hera leaned back in her seat, her lungs burning, pleased. She let her nose trail up Kanan’s jaw and cheek before opening her eyes. Kanan was still bent over, his hands firmly on the hand rests and his lips still parted.
“Don’t apologize,” Hera whispered.
Kanan closed his mouth and swallowed. He nodded slowly and straightened.
Hera made to push herself up onto her feet. It was on the tip of her tongue to suggest that they hurry to her room or to the galley.
A few alarms and systems beeped, alerting Hera that their time in hyperspace was coming to an end. Their next mission would be upon them before they knew it. She sighed and flipped off the alarms. Hera looked back up at Kanan who was gently shaking Ezra awake. She smiled as the boy yawned and stretched, blearily looking around to see why his naptime was over.
Kanan walked over to Sabine and repeated his gentle poking and prodding until she woke up. The young woman grunted and shot up in her seat. Her armor on the floor clanked together as Sabine refocused.
Hera returned her focus to dropping out of hyperspace.
Kanan slipped into the co-pilot seat, angling himself towards her. He let his hand dangle between them, his palm open towards her.
Hera shook her head and smiled. Quickly she leaned sideways and let their fingers tangle together for a brief moment.
Chopper rolled between them, warbling at them to get a room. He beeped in annoyance and plugged in, a series of coordinates appearing on a screen near Hera’s controls.
“Yeah, yeah, we heard you Chop,” Kanan grumbled.
“What did Chopper say?” Sabine called.
“That you smell and need to comb your hair,” Ezra shot back.
Hera heard, rather than saw, Sabine lash out at Ezra and his yelp of pain that followed.
“Cool it you two,” Hera chastised without looking back. Kanan snorted beside her and reached over to bring them out of hyperspace.
The door to the cockpit whirled open once more and Zeb’s heavy footsteps sounded off the floor. He was grumbling about hyperspace sickness and their lack of edible food in the galley. Sabine and Ezra continued to bicker in the background, trying to see who could come up with the better insult. Chopper beeped obscenities back at them, complaining to Hera about keeping too many strays.
“You’re a stray too,” Kanan joked. Chopper waved one of his arms at Kanan threateningly.
Hera leaned forward in her seat as hyperspace faded and the Ghost was brought back into real space. The sounds of her crew meshed around her and melded into one. It brought a sense of relaxation to her to hear every member of the Ghost alive and well. It reminded her that they were still a part of each other’s lives. Whatever hardships they met they would endure.
Hera looked over again to Kanan and found his sightless gaze back on her. He gave her a small, private smile that spoke of the love they each carried for the other. Hera hoped he could feel her affection for him in the Force.
No matter what happened between them, that was one thing that would never change.
Hera turned back to the viewport, their latest stop coming into view.
“Alright everyone,” she said, “You know the drill. Let’s get to it!”
~
~
Kanan felt the moment Hera’s presence neared him. A second later Hera’s footsteps resounded off the floor of the Ghost. Ahead of him Sabine and Ezra talked logistics about their latest mission and how this one might finally prove to Rebel command to start launching assault missions against the Empire. Kanan wanted to have their optimism but was happy enough to let them believe in the differences they were making. It made it easier for him believe it too when life got tough.
He would never be sure if Yavin was the place for him, wasn’t quite sure if this is where he belonged but he was sure that they were all doing the right thing. Kanan believed in Hera, in Ezra, and every single member of his family. That was enough.
Hera’s footsteps grew closer and Kanan shot out one hand, catching Hera’s wrist in his.
“C’mere,” Kanan growled and pulled Hera close to him.
They stumbled into her room; the door sliding shut with a muted hiss. Kanan swiped his hand over the keypad, ensuring the lock was firmly in place.
Hera giggled and went willingly into his arms, slotting into place. He felt her hook her chin over his shoulders as her hands came to rest at his hips. Kanan leaned back against the door and strained to hear the flurry of activity just outside the walls of her bunk.
“We shouldn’t be doing this,” Hera whispered hotly in his ear. Kanan shrugged and let his hands wander down her body, letting his fingers drag down the curve of her waist and hips before settling on her rear. He kissed her temple idly, listening to the fading footsteps of Ezra and the whoosh of Sabine’s door as it slid shut.
“Oh, really?” Kanan breathed out. He tightened his grip on her, pulling her hips against his. Hera inhaled sharply.
Hera’s face turned into his neck and her lips grazed against his skin, sending shivers down his spine. She stretched up on her toes, tongue darting out to trace the shell of his ear. Kanan bit back a groan and let his head tilt further back, creating a dull sound against the wall. His hands tightened around her, his fingers digging into her ass. Hera sighed and wound her fingers in his hair, untangling his hairtie and scratching her fingernails against his scalp.
She kissed the underside of his jaw and pulled back. Kanan breathed in deeply, tilting his head at her. He wished he could see the mischievous look on her face instead of feeling it, but he got the hint.
“You have twenty minutes,” Hera murmured. Her fingers traveled downwards, brushing down his shoulders to his chest where they tapped at him. He caught her hands in his and brought them to his lips.
“That sounds like a challenge.”
“It is.”
Kanan grinned around her fingertips, “Good, I like challenges.”
Without hesitating another second, he shoved off the wall and lifted Hera up into his arms. She hooked her legs around him easily in a practiced move as their lips found each other. Kanan moved against her, opening his mouth to her. Hera’s tongue slipped into his, drawing out a low moan.
They found their way to Hera’s bunk, the two of them falling into it in a way they had done so many times before. Kanan felt for Hera’s face, letting his fingers graze across her cheek. There was a warning blaring in the back of his mind. It was a desperate and frenzied thing telling him to cherish this moment. That he might not get another one of these moments.
He sat back as Hera tugged his shirt over his head, leaving a trail of kisses down his chest. He struggled to breathe as her hands found his belt buckle, grazing over his already hard cock. Kanan sagged forward letting his head bump into Hera’s. He groaned under his breath and focused on tugging off Hera’s clothes. The garments slipped through his fingers, falling to the ground in a silent thud.
Hera pushed him down, fitting herself between his legs. Her lips dragged across his stomach, nipping and sucking marks into the spaces between his hips. Kanan swore softly under his breath. He reached down, gently running one hand over Hera’s lek. Hera made a small noise as she palmed at his hardness drawing out another quiet groan from him.
He thought about the sum total of their relationship. How it was built on stolen moments like these. They’ve come to know each other in the quiet moments spent in hyperspace, in whispered conversations while the rest of their family conversed only a few feet away. Have whispered their secrets to each other in this very space.
Hera and him have grown together and complimented each other through both the good and bad. They may walk separate paths at time, but they’ve always felt most at home with each other. The two of them have managed to stitch themselves back together after the fallout of Malachor. He’s loathed to think about what the future holds for them.
For the warning bells going on in his head.
He hoped against everything that his future remains aligned with Hera’s.
Hera’s fingers dragged down the last of his clothing, her tongue quickly chasing them. Kanan’s breath hitched as she took him in her mouth, one hand gripping the base of him firmly. He blanked for a moment, rational thought coming back to him in a rush. He wasn’t going to last if she kept that up.
“Okay,” he grunted, “enough of that.” He reached for Hera, and she huffed. She maneuvered them back into sitting positions, the two of them trying not to fall off her bunk. It wouldn’t be the first time that had happened, but Kanan was desperate to make sure they used their twenty minutes to the fullest.
Her hands were back on his face, pushing strands of hair out of the way. Hera’s fingers curled around his jaw as she kissed him, her tongue slipping between his lips and tasting him. He pulled her onto his lap, the two of them moaning as their hips ground against each other. Kanan kept one arm wrapped tightly around her waist while the other snaked between her thighs. They’ve lost the last of their clothing at some point. He doesn’t care. All he cared about was his giving Hera more of him, pouring what she won’t let him say into her.
He loved her fiercely, but she’d never let those words leave his lips, no matter how much it was true for both of them.
Hera ground against him, her hips rolling forward.
“Now, Kanan, now,” she muttered into his mouth, almost pleading.
He nodded, bracing himself against the wall of the bunk. Hera ground down on him, her core already slick with wetness. Kanan gripped her tighter, digging blunt nails into her hips and ass. One of her lekku came to rest on his shoulder, the appendage curling around his neck.
“Okay, I got you,” he whispered. “I got you.”
Hera nodded, her body tense under his hands. She lowered herself onto him, the two of them moaning in unison. Hera exhaled in quiet pleasure, slowly sinking down onto his cock until she was fully seated.
Like a string pulled too taut, the two of them snapped. They moved at once, letting years of lovemaking lead them. Kanan buried his face into Hera’s neck, whispering sweet nothings into her collarbone. Letting his tongue dip over and between her breasts to draw out maddeningly sweet noises from her. Her hands roamed across his shoulders and biceps, squeezing as she urged him to go faster, deeper. Hera’s voice a melody that would forever intoxicate him.
Kanan let Hera set a wicked pace, her hips rolling over and over him in sharp cants and surrendered himself to the feeling of desire that sparked across his body.
*
The world slowly came back into focus around them. At least the buzz of the Ghost’s hyperdrive and the sound of two teenagers, a Lastat, and their astromech shouting made itself known. It helped covered the sound of their labored breathing and the creak of the bunk as they moved around. Kanan kicked off one of the blankets, not entirely upset when it slipped to the ground.
The two of them sat at the edge of the bunk, panting. Kanan pushed his hair back and inhaled deeply. Hera shifted next to him, her thigh pressing against his own.
“That was…” she trailed off.
“Yeah,” Kanan agreed.
The sudden banging on Hera’s door shook them both out of their haze. Hera winced beside him, scrambling backwards for the sheets. Kanan whipped his head towards the door, not sure what he could do or say that wouldn’t scar or fuel the rest of the team’s teasing for the rest of their lives.
“Um guys,” Zeb's muffled, and slightly embarrassed, voice came through. Kanan and Hera relaxed the tiniest bit, Hera curling herself around Kanan. “Chopper says we’re coming up on Lothal in ten.”
Kanan cursed under his breath.
“We’ll be right out,” he called out, unable to help himself. Hera swatted at his middle. Her laughter barely heard above Zeb’s grumbling.
“What if the kids heard?” Hera finally asked sheepishly.
Kanan hopped off the bunk and shook his head. He turned his face in Hera’s direction and grinned. He heard her grumble and curse under her breath, the sound of the sheets rustling and then her soft footsteps next to his.
“Maybe they should know,” he said softly.
“That we fu—”
“That we’re together,” Kanan interrupted her. Hera snorted, smacking him in the chest with what he presumed was a sock. He dressed as Hera handed him his clothing, the disguises they’d picked out different from his own personal clothing.
They finished dressing in silence and Hera moved around the room, gathering up things they might need for this mission. Kanan listened to her raptly, the feeling of desperation rising once more. He tried to swallow it down.
“Okay, we should go before Chopper opens this door on us.” She made a noise of disgust in the back of her throat. “I need to get to the ‘fresher before I head up to the cockpit.”
Kanan stepped towards her, grabbing her hand. He laced their fingers together and pulled her towards him.
“Hera,” he whispered.
Hera sighed and squeezed his fingers.
“We’ll talk to them after this mission,” she said. She stepped closer to him, “sit them down and explain everything. Though I’m sure they know or suspect.”
“Oh, they suspect alright.”
Hera flicked at the collar of his jacket, “Besides it’ll be our anniversary, that seems fitting.”
Kanan smirked at her as she started to walk towards the door. He followed after her, walking at a slower pace.
“I didn’t know you kept count.”
They stopped by the door to her room. Hera made a noise that suggested what he just said was downright stupid and hard to believe. He wished he could see her, the frustration rising once more in a flash. He wanted to see the expression he knew deep down she wore on her face. The one with the slight pout to her lips and one brow raised in incredulity. He bit it back, forcing himself instead to focus on where he believed her eyes were.
“Of course I do,” she said softly. One hand came to rest on his bicep for a second before she stepped inwards and keyed the door open. “Seven years, end of next month.”
She walked out and Kanan closed his eyes.
Nearly ten years by her side and seven of them spent being romantically involved. It was more than he could have ever thought possible.
He exhaled silently and wished against it all that the Force would grant him another decade with her.
That warning flared, sending prickles across his body.
Guiltily, he amended his wish.
A few more moments, he begged to nothing in particular. If his life was made up of these sorts of occurrences, let him have a few more precious moments with her.
“Kanan!”
Kanan snapped into action, pushing aside his personal feelings. It would do him nothing in the field. The sooner this mission happened, the sooner it would be over. He could take whatever the Force and life gave him after that one step at a time. Right now, his family and crew were counting on him. Even wider than that, the Rebellion needed them to accomplish this feat to prove they could go up against the Empire and come out the other side.
To give hope to a galaxy.
