post-Endor

[aimedforthemoon]

There had been the battle, and then there had been the party, and then there had been the post-battle sex in her room at Milliways (might as well be comfortable) and if there had been something desperate to Esfir, something that spoke of let me forget let me feel please god do not leave me alone, Ben at least had the sense not to mention it.

~

She'd fallen asleep after, curled up against him.

~

She hadn't dreamed.

~

She had woken up before dawn. Eventually, she had crawled out of bed and silently (silently as she could, anyway) gotten dressed in the dark. Then she left.

~

Outside, just after dawn, she is sitting on a rock and flicking pieces of a broken stick with an absent-minded detachment. From that lack of expression on her face, it doesn't look as if she plans on moving.

Comments

[aimedforthemoon]

Esfir nods, now looking down.

"That makes sense."

And then, eventually,

"I don't know how I feel."

[almosthonorable]

He takes a drink from his cup, welcoming the warm, bitter liquid on his tongue.

"Nothin' wrong with not knowin' right off."

[aimedforthemoon]

"Would it be oke if I didn't feel anything?"

[almosthonorable]

He forgets about his coffee entirely, setting the cup on the ground beside the rock.

He wraps an arm around Esfir's slight shoulders and pulls her close, turning his head to nod against her hair.

"That's just fine."

[aimedforthemoon]

She puts her own coffee down and curls into him, one arm slipping around his back even as she shuts her eyes. For a long moment, she just stays like that; breathing him in, listening to his heart and concentrating on the feel of his solid body.

"Thank you."

[almosthonorable]

He just holds her, keeping his breathing slow and even, giving her something steady to focus on.

"No need for that -- sittin' like this with you ain't a chore."

[aimedforthemoon]

That gets a smile, for all he can't see it.

"Even in the cold?"

[almosthonorable]

"Even in the cold."

He gives her shoulder a gentle squeeze.

"Mostly 'cause you're keepin' me warm."

[aimedforthemoon]

"Liar," she pronounces, after contemplation.

[almosthonorable]

Almost cheerfully, "Mostly."

His lips twitch, and he presses a kiss to the top of her head.

"Think it might be the coffee instead."

[aimedforthemoon]

"Thought so."

She doesn't want to move. Possibly, ever.

[almosthonorable]

(He doesn't mind.)

"But you feel nice, if it's any consolation."

[aimedforthemoon]

This time, she really can't help that wide smile.

"Thank you."

[almosthonorable]

"Told you there ain't a need for that."

He shifts slightly to glance down at her, and the early-morning sun shoots streaks of red-gold through her dark hair; his chin grazes her crown.

"Meant it, too."

[aimedforthemoon]

"So, I say nothing?"

[almosthonorable]

"Well, no -- "

His arm tightens around her briefly.

"I appreciate what you're sayin'. But you don't have to worry 'bout thank-yous when it comes to me, Lieutenant."

[aimedforthemoon]

"But I don't know what else to say," she says, tone caught somewhere between rueful and helpless.

[almosthonorable]

He breathes a laugh into her hair.

"Good mornin' might be a start."

A beat.

"And later, you can teach me how to cuss in Russian."

[aimedforthemoon]

"I think you'll enjoy that."

Then, feeling altogether better about life than she did before,

"Good morning, Ben Wade."

[almosthonorable]

Damn straight, he will.

"Mornin', Esfir Yazycova."

A beat and a smile.

"That wasn't too bad of a start, was it?"

[aimedforthemoon]

"No," she says with a smile, "it wasn't."