You’re having a bad day, so your boss gives you a hug.
But your boss is Director Orson Krennic.
warnings: none really, mentions of stereotypical stress factors none of which are based on me and my personal situations and what i want to happen to me at all
word count: 930
Technically you were Director Krennic’s Aide, but that title didn’t even begin to cover your job duties. Secretary, personal assistant; buffer to Tarkin, Thrawn, Vader, and Ronan; sounding board, cheerleader, creative strategist, therapist and babysitter when he was in one of his moods…Brierly Ronan may have been the Assistant Director in name, but for nearly a decade, it was you who were truly Krennic’s right hand.
Your work was demanding, fast paced, intellectually stimulating, and integral to the Empire and, despite the toll it often took on you mentally and physically, you loved what you did. Lately, though, you were finding yourself overtaxed more often than not. Just one of those years you thought bitterly to yourself. Divorced, your former best friend dating your ex-husband, your mother making snide remarks about your weight fluctuations and disparaging your parenting because you can’t stay home with your children full time.
And that was just your personal life. Lately Tarkin had been even more monstrous than usual over the delays with Stardust. Required funds were tied up in the Senate. The very necessity of Stardust even brought into question. Everyone in the ISB was still reeling from Ronan’s mysterious disappearance during his mission with Thrawn. And then Thrawn himself somehow being bested by teenage Jedi wannabe and some karking space whales??
You just wanted a break. You needed something, anything, to go in your favor.
Today was certainly not that day. Your toddler woke up sick, your preteen was facing suspension for ditching classes, and your regular nanny decided to take the day off, forcing you to comm your mother for help, with the result that you were disastrously late for your first meeting of the day. Then some stupid rookie had run right into you, spilling your caf all down your front, and, of course you, had nothing else to change into.
Long after everyone had left for the day, you were finishing coordinating the last batch of shipment of Stardust materials with the construction schedule.
As though draining poison from a wound, you let out an enormous sigh. Holding your head in your hands, couldn’t fight it any longer. The tears you had been holding back all day spilled down your face. You cried for a long time. Then as suddenly as you had started, you forced yourself to stop. You still had plenty of responsibility. You had no right to a self-indulgent pity party.
But then a noise outside your office made you jump. You absolutely did not want to talk to anyone right now. You poked your head out of your office, and to your incredible dismay, you saw the light on in the Director’s office. What the fuck? He was supposed to be off planet for the next two days. You tried to hurry to the exit when the sound of Krennic calling your name forced you to stop.
“Oh, hi Director,” you said trying to sound cheerful. “Just heading out—“ hoping you were far enough away that he wouldn’t notice your tear-stained face.
“What happened?” he asked in genuine concern, moving swiftly toward you.
“Oh, shit! Nothing! I, uh…”
“What’s the matter?”
You shrugged, not looking at him. “You know,” you said vaguely. “Just…”
Krennic licked his lips and nodded as though in understanding.
“Come here,” Krennic said.
“Why,” you asked suspiciously.
“Come here,” he repeated, but you didn’t move.
He rolled his eyes. “For fuck’s sake.” And he wrapped his arms around you.
“Whaaat is happening?” You tried to back away, but Krennic held you close.
“Shh,” he scolded. “It’s called a hug. Supposed to be comforting, or so I’m told.”
“Are you on spice??” you asked incredulously.
He paused in mock consideration. “Mmm, no not today. But would I remember if I were on Spice?”
Laughing, you snaked your arms under his cape and hugged him back, resting your head on his chest.
“You can’t always do everything for everyone, you know. You’re undeniably resilient, but even stone can crack when it’s left exposed to the elements for too long. You’re allowed to take care of yourself, too.”
You didn’t know what was more shocking: Director Orson Krennic giving you a hug or the fact that he noticed let alone cared about your emotional well being. You couldn’t help it—you started to cry again. For a long moment he just held you.
“I’d be lost without you, you know,” Krennic said finally.
You laughed in spite of yourself. “I’m running straight to Yularen and demanding a pay raise!”
“I’m serious. I couldn’t exist without you.”
You looked up into his bright blue eyes, tears glistening on your lashes. He couldn’t exist without you? Professionally, surely. He couldn’t possibly mean personally…could he? You didn’t know what to say.
At last he broke his hold on you. Taking your face in his huge hands, he used his gloved thumbs to wipe away your tears.
Krennic chuckled. “I think you could at least do with a drink. Or possibly several.”
“Yes!” you agreed wholeheartedly.
He smiled. “Let’s go.”
Then your eyes widened in horror as you noticed the dark black smudge on Krennic’s crisp white uniform from your mascara.
“Shit!” you exclaimed.
He looked down, but shrugged unconcernedly. “Well now we match.” He gestured to the caf stain on your blouse.
You laughed again. “Let me just comm the nanny that I’ll be late. Ugh, and fix my makeup.”
You hesitated for a second, then stood on your tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Thanks for everything, Director.” And you could have sworn he blushed.
part ii for imptober 2025 🔥
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