Starting OC Kiss Week off early with some Dash and @tiredassmage's Leo!
The door to the refresher slid open, a cloud of steam curling from the room before disappearing into the cool air of the apartment. Dash glanced up from where he sat on the sofa, the sounds of his favorite show relegated to background noise as Leo exited, hair still damp as it brushed against the top of his shoulders.
Dash Felaeon was a simple man.
There were three things in life he enjoyed: a stiff drink, an entertaining holodrama, and a pretty man.
Thankfully, he had all three within reach tonight.
Leo ran a towel over his dark waves at some pathetic attempt at drying the strands. They fell limply against his forehead, his neck, his cheek. Hot water had left his skin red and blotted, scars and a light dusting of chest hair breaking up the expanse of exposed skin, a pair of sweatpants worn loosely on his bottom half. A moment passed, a heartbeat between seconds, an intake of breath, then Leo glanced at him, bright blue eyes shining in the dim apartment lighting.
Raising an eyebrow, the Imperial soldier turned smuggler turned Republic privateer gave him a flash of a grin, mischievous, up to no good as usual, Dash could tell just by the look in his eyes. “See somethin’ you like, Major?”
Dash snorted, rolling his eyes dramatically, kicking his feet up on the short table in front of the sofa. Turning his attention back to the holo drama, he lifted a shoulder in a half shrug. “Not like it’s something I haven’t seen before.”
Silence met his words.
Little shocked Leo nowadays, but apparently this did. Dash refused to be the first to break the quiet, knowing if he did, Leo’s ego would inflate so large that he’d be impossible to live with for the next few weeks. Months, even. He was bad enough now, knowing how he affected Dash by his mere presence. The sly grins, the affectionate teasing, the flashes of skin for Dash’s benefit… Well, some things pushed different buttons for him.
And he gave as good as he got. There weren’t many afternoons when Leo wasn’t blushing like a fool because of a sweet word.
His patience was quickly rewarded as Leo finally collapsed on the opposite end of the couch, a disgruntled sigh leaving his lips. Dash side eyed him quickly, noting that the towel was gone, his hair curling slightly where it started to dry. He resisted the immediate desire to reach out and ruffle it. He adored the feel of Leo’s dark hair between his fingers, the longer it was, the easier it was to tug him closer-
Coughing slightly, Dash fixed his gaze back on the screen, goosebumps spreading over his forearms, his mind trying to distract him with images of Leo, shirtless… naked…
“Hey.” Leo’s voice interrupted, completely unaware of Dash’s train of thought. “What are you watchin’?”
Dash leaned forward to retrieve the bowl of popcorn from the table, settling back against the comfortable pillows with a sigh. “Zeltrons In Love. It’s a favorite.”
Leo grabbed a handful of kernels before popping them into his mouth, chewing with a thoughtful expression on his face. “I thought you finished that one.”
“I did. It’s worth a rewatch.”
“We should watch something new.” Leo sat cross-legged on the couch, draping a blanket over his lap as he munched on the snack. “I heard that the Crash Krill Yirt movie was good.”
Dash snorted, trying not to choke on his own mouth full of popcorn. Managing to swallow, he finally glanced at his boyfriend beside him. “Who told you that? Corso? I can’t believe anyone watches that trash.”
“Farm boy has good taste.” Leo pouted, reaching for another handful of popcorn. “Besides, all you watch is rom-coms. Dumb men who walk around without knowing that the main character is in love with them.”
Dash chuckled under his breath, only to receive a glare in return.
“Don’t even say it.”
Dash held his hands up in defense, trying not to laugh again. Leo’s eyes were like hard sapphires, a cold rage burning behind them. “I didn’t say anything.”
“Ya didn’t have to. I know you.”
“Leo, I’m not implying that you’re stupid-” Dash set the bowl between them, reaching out to squeeze Leo’s knee in reassurance. “I’d never think that.”
“Yeah, well, everyone else does.” Leo muttered, a pink flush coloring his pale cheeks. He turned away, hiding how the reminder of both of their stupidity in the months before their romance bloomed made him uncomfortable.
Dash grinned, hand trailing higher on his leg, stopping a few inches from where Leo’s thigh met his hip. A shuddering breath escaped Leo’s mouth before the man met his gaze, blue of his irises nearly swallowed by the void of his pupils. “They aren’t me and my opinion is the only one that matters.”
Leo rolled his eyes, but it was obviously a half-hearted attempt to appear unaffected. “Be serious.”
“Me? Be serious?” Dash tsked, nearly knocking the popcorn bowl over as he leaned closer, and Leo’s eyes widened at his sudden proximity. “You should know me better than that.”
Leo laughed breathlessly, shifting closer as well, his mouth just out of reach. Still too far for Dash’s liking. “I do know ya, Dash. And I know what you’re tryin’ to do.”
“Hmm, that so?” The scent of butter and salt hung in the air between them and Dash had never been hungrier. “Care to enlighten me?”
Leo groaned as Dash’s fingers brushed against a scar on his abdomen, white and puckered, an old wound long healed. It wouldn’t take much to get him to fold. Dash trailed his hand up Leo’s stomach, over the curve of his chest, brushing through scattered dark hair.
“You don’t fight fair.” Leo gasped out as Dash’s lips settled on his neck. Blood rushed beneath the skin, heart beating a fast rhythm in his chest. And Dash felt every single beat where he lingered.
“How do you think I got to Major?”
Leo grinned, huffing a laugh before tangling his fingers in Dash’s hair. The bowl tipped as he moved to half sit on Dash’s lap, the blanket falling in a heap on the ground, popcorn getting crushed into the couch cushions. Dash ignored it all to wrap his arms around Leo’s waist, securing him where he wanted him. He didn’t plan on letting him leave any time soon.
The smuggler leaned closer, his lips desperately seeking out Dash’s in a flurry of kisses that tasted of butter, salt, of cheap Corellian whiskey. And all thoughts of the holodramas disappeared, his entire world the man in his arms, the lips upon his the sweetest taste in the entire galaxy.
in honor of "bats him around like a mouse" taking me out with the hugest wheeze, 🍇: What sort of friend are they? Where are they in the group dynamic? for cil'voe? dnlakfnsa;ldfnl
VERY EXCITED FOR CIL'VOE QUESTIONS!!!
🍇: What sort of friend are they? Where are they in the group dynamic?
cil'voe sort of naturally falls into the role of everyone's little brother. He's small and cute and flusters incredibly easily. When he's working, he tries to pretend that he's tougher than he actually is so that he'll be taken seriously and fit in better with other smugglers... he feels out of place in the larger galaxy as a whole, given that he is constantly hiding his identity, so he tries to come off as someone that's difficult to mess with and completely fails, due to the rest of him being so incredibly easy to read.
he would be a good friend, if a little oblivious. he'll chatter your ear off about the latest upgrades he's making to his ship, take you out to see the latest thing you like, show up for you when you need him, even if that involves running a planetary blockade... once he's comfortable with you, he's more confident. he's got jokes, he initiates a fair amount of physical contact.
his friends do have to deal with his reckless and impulsive behavior. he will often jump into things without thinking them through, including smuggling jobs, and then have to deal with trouble as a result. in a group setting? i think even his hijinks lighten the mood. a free spirit that occasionally needs wrangling and/or rescuing. man that can't lie to save his life.
late addition but i do have to tack on that he's ornery too. he can be playfully argumentative, but he's actually fairly good at talking about his feelings honestly... but yeah him being often fruitlessly ornery is important to me.
Here's 50 questions about Rook, with some mild spoilers in the questions, with endgame spoilers in the last 10:
3. Does Rook join Bellara and Lucanis on cooking rotations?
No. He can't rely on his taste buds to properly cook. He's got the creeping of the Calling in the back of his mind, and that sometimes causes food to just taste like ash. He also doesn't have much experience with cooking beyond basic warden camp foods, so he wouldn't be good at it at all.
11. What decor for the Lighthouse did Rook choose? Why?
Grey Warden decor. Even though the First Warden tried to push him out, he's still a warden at heart. He can't remove it from who he is, it's in his blood. Literally. And it reminds him of not giving up, because even though the wardens knew they were fighting a losing battle, they refused to give in to the Blight and what it eventually meant for the world.
34. What's Rook's reaction to Solas using blood magic to bind them together?
Unsurprised, honestly. A desperate mage is a mage who resorts to blood magic, after all. And Ogden is a mage as well and a warden. He's aware of what blood magic can do, and even if Solas denied it at first, there was always a suspicion in the back of his mind.
Does not mean he liked it or was neutral about it. He was annoyed as all get out by how Solas used it, especially with we all know who. The level of manipulation pissed him off and he had no issue telling Solas that.
+1 Does Rook carry any kind of trinket or talisman?
Adhlea gave him a carved halla necklace when they were in the Circle, before he left for the Wardens. She gave it to him for him to remember her. He keeps it with him and on his person always.
15. What’s the first thing people notice when Rook enters a room?
The man's been part of a secretive military group for seventeen years. He has a presence about him, a way he holds himself, a way he looks around a room when he enters, which screams of commanding. Paired with his taller than average height, he definitely gets noticed when he enters a room and perhaps can seem a bit intimidating to people who don't know him. This, though, sometimes causes him to stand out and he's not good at being inconspicuous because he just...Exudes an aura of command and a bit of danger when he's in a mood.
32. How would a desire demon tempt Rook?
He had a childhood sweetheart in the Circle, who was killed during the Mage-Templar War. Despite how strong of a will Ogden has, there would be a strong desire to see Adhlea again, to talk with her, to apologize for not being there when she needed him, and juts be able to hold her one more time.
That would be the weakest point in his armor at the start of the game, but I don't think with how strong willed he is and having gone through his harrowing, that it would work. It would be close, though.
46. What does it take to earn Rook’s trust?
As a warden, Ogden is quite used to working with a variety of people, but that doesn't mean he'll trust them completely. He'll expect them to do their job and if they're able to prove their ability, then he'll trust them with work, but still consider how much he entrusts with them. He's practical and pragmatic; it takes time to build up that trust, real trust, for him to actually delve into the depths of who he is behind the leadership skills and friendly quips he'll sometimes throw out to put someone at ease. It's just a long road of proving ability and character for him to decide 'yes, this is a person I can trust with my deepest darkest secrets.' I'm not even sure Varric got to that level with him, to be honest. Sure, he might have gotten a bit here and there, but Ogden does like to hold his cards close about himself.
Hell, I even headcanon he doesn't introduce himself as Ogden. Before, it was Warden Thorne or Thorne, then when Varric gave him the nickname/callsign of Rook, it was Rook. So if a person gets him to tell them his name is Ogden, that's a good sign.
It tends to vary. There are times where Artemis is more restless, and so she shifts fractionally in her seat or on the spot, her body is tense and poised for flight. This is when she’s apprehensive about a particular situation, or she has more energy and needs to do something to wear herself out.
At other times, she can hold herself so still so as to seem like she’s a statue— not moving, only the faintest indication that she’s breathing and blinking. This is thanks to her training and skill as a marksman and hunter, and it can be unnerving to some to witness.
Hair: Answering for Iskra ’Charulam
Before Iskra lost her adoptive father, she tended to wear her wavy black hair loose and about her shoulders, or tied back in a ponytail whenever she was working on something or training.
However, after her father disappeared ( and was perhaps later killed; she certainly believes him dead ), she began to wear her hair longer, and shaved her head on one side. As well, she dyes it royal blue, the same colour as N’thasan’s armour had been after he broke away from the Covenant, to honour his memory.
Answering some "couple questions" for @viennen about Dash and Leo. Tagging @tiredassmage in case you want to add more.
What do they think of each other's family? And how does the family feel?
For Dash, he doesn't much care for Leo's family, especially considering how they treated Leo in the past. It doesn't help that they're Imperial, on the wrong side in the war in his opinion, and he's heard bits and pieces of how Vorza treated his son. If he ever met the man in real life, he'd immediately punch him in the face.
The only one that Dash will actually like if they met is Liv. Mostly, because she's always been close with Leo and supportive of him. I assume that the rest of the family past Liv doesn't even know of Dash's existence. It would be dangerous for everyone if they did.
What's different about their backgrounds? Do those differences affect the relationship?
Leo is a born Imperial, defecting after a couple years in the military, choosing a life as a smuggler instead of enlisting with the Republic. (Dash wouldn't let him anyway, not after what he'd been through). I don't think it changes much about how they work together, how their friendship and romance get on, mostly because Dash doesn't let it define what he thinks about Leo. Because Leo is a good man, he can see that, and he's his best friend.
Neither of them would've made it off of Begeren without the other and that's enough for him.
What was their first impression of each other?
Dash saw him as just another Imperial, given their circumstances. Dash was a POW, Leo was one of the Imperials giving him medical inspections during their transfer to the prison. What he didn't expect was to find someone who so deeply despised what the Empire was as much as he did.
How did they fall for each other?
How does anyone fall for someone? They became good friends, relied on each other through hardships, bullshit, gangs on Coruscant. Without Dash, I figure Leo probably would've found himself in more trouble than he liked and with no way to get out of it. Dash found someone he could come home to, someone he was excited to see, someone who wouldn't judge him for the bad things and would celebrate the good with him.
Before Leo moved in with him, Dash mostly moved about his day without a care, not bothering to worry what happened to him because who would care past his sisters, his cousin? They were all in this war as soldiers or jedi, and one day, they would bite the dust. It was hard for him to form relationships because of that.
But with Leo, he had someone to take care of, someone who gave a shit about him, not the soldier, but the person. And it changed something in him. He felt needed and that was all it took for him to slowly start falling for Leo.
Where is their relationship the strongest?
For Dash, it's in the trust. They trust each other without hesitation, knowing the other will have their back. That at the end of the day, he knows that Leo will be there and he appreciates that.
It's finally done! Woohoo, some fluffy cute romance for the boys.
46. “That was a bold move.”
Tagging @tiredassmage for making Leo so adorable <3
~~~~
“So…” Leo trailed off, glancing at the floor awkwardly, scuffing his boots against the fancy floors of the Organa manor. His hands were clenched behind his back, his hair falling in his face.
Dash was propped upright on the couch, arm slung over the back, watching his boyfriend with a raised eyebrow. Curiosity was going to get the better of him, it always did, but he was willing to wait it out for as long as he could before he caved and pried whatever was bothering Leo out of his stubborn mouth. “So.”
“Uh, Corso and Risha don’t know about us. Being a couple, I mean.” Leo was blushing by the end of his explanation, even more uncomfortable than he’d been before.
“Ok.”
Dash didn’t like the uneasy feeling the thought of keeping their relationship a secret gave him. But for Leo, everything about this was new, uncertain. He would do anything for the man standing in front of him, even if that meant that they weren’t affectionate in public.
“And I would appreciate it if we could keep it to ourselves for now. I mean, it’s new and good and I’m-” He trailed off, waving a hand in front of himself, as if the answer was obvious.
“Leo.”
He finally glanced up, blue eyes wide as he regarded Dash. “What?”
“Is there something you’re afraid of?”
Leo rubbed the back of his neck, glancing away to look out the window at the beautiful mountains of Alderaan. He was quiet for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts, his feelings, into a coherent explanation.
“I’m worried that I’m going to screw this up.”
Dash sighed, trying not to smile at how even now, when they were a couple and had nothing to hide, Leo was still so worried about everything. Some things never changed. “Leo, if you haven’t messed this up yet, you’re not going to.”
Leo laughed, brushing a hand through his hair, meeting his gaze with a sheepish grin. “I guess I deserve that.”
Dash left the comfort of the couch to approach his boyfriend, wrapping his arms around his waist and pulling him close. Leo met his gaze, a smirk curling his lips. It was always a joy to behold when Leo was truly happy, each time Dash got to see him smile made all of the shit they went through worth it. And Dash would do anything to make sure Leo smiled every single day.
“Hello.”
“Hi.” Dash brushed his lips against Leo’s briefly, enjoying how he nearly melted at the touch. “I have an idea.”
“I’m all ears.”
“We should go out. Have some dinner. There is probably a nice restaurant out there that we can afford on my salary.”
Refusing to hear his protests this time, Dash continued as if he hadn’t spoken at all. “Somewhere with a view of the mountains. All I need is some good alcohol, food… and you.” Dash squeezed Leo’s sides gently, enjoying how each touch relaxed him more and more. “What do you say?”
Leo grinned stupidly, leaning closer to press his forehead against Dash’s. “I’m not going to argue with a man with brown eyes. Especially a man with your lips.”
Dash chuckled, gliding those lips over Leo’s cheek. “Remember you said that the next time your lips start flapping.”
A breathless laugh escaped him, and he turned his face to capture Dash’s mouth with his own.
~~~~
The restaurant was much busier than he’d expected, but a quick favor from Duke Organa got them a table immediately. Dash was sitting at said table, sipping on the best Alderaanian wine. At least, that’s what the server had said. Dash didn’t know the difference between the best wines and the worst swill. It all did the same thing to him and he didn’t prefer a specific taste over another. As long as the result was the same. But there was only one problem with his situation.
Leo was late.
In most cases, that wouldn’t worry him as Leo was usually running on his own time and sometimes got caught up in some nasty business or another. But they were relatively safe within the walls of Organa castle so unless Leo left…
His questions were answered a few minutes later when Leo hurried in, dark hair falling from his hair tie, his face flushed from clearly running into the building. He spotted Dash sitting against one wall and hurried over, panic on his face.
Groaning, Dash pinched the bridge of his nose. “What happened?”
“It’s not what happened, it’s who.” He glanced over his shoulder before wincing. “Dammit.”
Dash followed his gaze to see Corso entering the restaurant, a goofy smile on his face as he searched for Leo. The kid was fine most days. Sometimes Dash thought he was a little too sweet and backwater to really be out here killing Imperials and smuggling shit with Leo. But he had a good heart, was a decent shot, and seemed to genuinely enjoy Leo’s friendship.
And if Dash couldn’t be there to protect his boyfriend, at least Corso could.
“What’s he doing here?” Dash waited for Leo to face him, raising an eyebrow when he didn’t get a response. “Leo?”
“I mentioned I was meeting you for food and he thought it was a group thing and invited himself.” Leo ran his hands over his face before sinking into the chair next to Dash. “Just shoot me now.”
Dash shook his head, grabbing one of Leo’s hands and pulling it away from his face. “Hey. It’s okay. We can try again another night. In fact, see this as a golden opportunity.”
Leo’s eyebrows raised, suspicion crossing his face. “Why don’t I like the sound of that?”
Before Dash could respond, Corso plopped into one of the two unoccupied chairs at the table, a grin on his face as he glanced between them. Leo slipped his hand away from Dash’s, dropping it in his lap and giving him a tired smile in return.
“Howdy, Lieutenant. How’s it going?”
Dash couldn’t help but grin at the kid’s enthusiasm. “Corso, it’s good to see you. How are you liking Alderaan?”
“Too cold for me.” He shifted, glancing around at the restaurant, taking in the beauty of the architecture and the view of the snow capped mountains in the distance. “Wow. This is an awfully fancy place.”
Dash grinned, dark eyes sliding to Leo, only to find him staring. With open suspicion. “Only the fanciest for Leo.”
Leo blushed from his cheeks to his chest, possibly even to his toes. “I…”
“Ain’t that sweet, Cap? You've got a real winner of a buddy here.” Corso smiled widely, reaching for the cup of iced water. “So what are you ordering?”
Dinner passed in awkward silence for the most part. Except for Corso who chatted about nothing and everything at the same time, his voice filling the quiet that had fallen between Dash and Leo. Dash couldn’t keep his eyes off of Leo, watching as he picked at his food, barely eating anything off of his plate.
With a smile, he slipped his hand beneath Leo’s, entwining their fingers and squeezing in comfort. Leo dropped the fork onto the plate, eyes wide as he glanced up in shock. His face flushed, red against the pale skin of his cheeks, and his eyes darted to Corso who was absorbed in the drink menu.
“Are you doing alright?”
“I… what?”
Rubbing circles with his thumb against Leo’s skin, Dash leaned closer, a smile curling his lips. “You need to stop stressing so much Leo. It’s going to make you insane.”
Leo’s gaze focused on him, mapping out the curve of his lips before dropping to their hands. His eyes lingered there, intently watching as Dash ran his thumb over his knuckles, swallowing nervously.
“Hey, Capt’n?”
Leo jolted in his chair, nearly knocking it over. Clearing his throat, he yanked his hand away and ran his fingers through his hair, getting caught on a knot. “Uh, yeah?”
Corso raised an eyebrow in concern at Leo’s jumpiness. “You okay?”
“I’m good, great. I’m fine, Corso.”
“Ya don’t look fine.” Corso frowned before glancing at Dash. “Did something happen?”
Dash shrugged, shifting his chair closer to Leo before tossing an arm over the back of his chair. “It’s Leo. He’s always a bit worked up after a mission.” Leo stiffened slightly as Dash’s fingers brushed his shoulder. The man needed to learn how to chill out. “Aren’t you, sweetheart?”
A squeak left Leo’s mouth when he tried to speak.
A smile appeared on Corso’s face as he set the menu down. “Well, what do you say to drinks? I bet this place has some great ones.”
As Corso flagged down a server, Leo’s hand slid over Dash’s thigh beneath the table where their guest couldn’t see. Dash fought a smirk, trying to remain inconspicuous as Leo’s fingers danced up his leg. Dash brushed his own hand through Leo’s hair and the man shivered against him, leaning closer without realizing it.
When Dash turned his face towards Leo, their eyes locked and the smuggler didn’t hesitate to close the distance between them, lips colliding in a desperate and messy kiss. Leo groaned against him, hands clutching his shirt like it was the only thing keeping him from breaking into a thousand pieces.
A cough was enough to break them apart, although Leo’s blush more than made up for the interruption.
“That was a bold move, Capt’n.” Corso muttered, glancing into his water glass to avoid their eyes, an awkward silence descending on the table.
Leo’s hands covered his face, the tips of his ears red. “Sorry, uh, Dash and I might be a thing.”
Corso laughed, a happy sound that at least helped Leo relax a bit. “I know. Risha told me before we left Tatooine. Glad to see you finally admitted you liked him.”
Leo groaned again, this time it sounded mortified. “Does everyone know?”
Dash ruffled Leo’s hair affectionately, enjoying how easy it was to rile him up. “You’re too easy to read. Should probably do something about that.”
“Keep testin’ me and I’ll-”
“Do something?” Dash teased, flicking him on the nose with a finger.
Leo brushed him off with an eye roll, but Dash smiled when the man entwined their fingers again, setting it against the table where Corso could see.
“You’ve given me so many reasons to walk away.” “Then why don’t you walk away? It’s not like I’m keeping you hostage here.” “You still don’t get it, do you? It’s because I love you.”
Here it is! Some Dash/Leo love confessions fic! FINALLY. These idiots are going to tell each other how they feel and get to be happy for once. For @tiredassmage with a small cameo by @jbnonsensework's Consular, Elami Rimal.
Read on AO3
Music: “Light” by Sleeping at Last
Cantinas.
He was spending too much time in them and he hated being around the types of people that frequented them. The drinks on Tatooine were so much worse than they’d been on Nar Shaddaa, but thankfully, he didn’t need as many to drown out the noise. With a shaking hand that was getting harder to ignore, Dash let the lukewarm alcohol that passed for whiskey roll across his tongue, trying to find something to savor before he drank it down.
There was little to savor in this sandy town located on an entire planet of sand.
The stool beside him scraped against the dirty floor, suddenly occupied by a small mirialan that he didn’t want to see for the next five years if he could help it. He was so tired of the Jedi and their platitudes. He was tired of fighting… everyone.
He briefly considered the sarlacc pit and wondered how painful of a death it was before pushing the thought away.
Elami sighed, brushing a stray red lock behind her ear now that her hair was no longer hidden beneath a veil. She didn’t look at him, eyes focused on her hands as she placed them on the bartop. Even in the dimness of the cantina, Dash could see the sweat pooling at her brow. “Arjun told me about Leo… and Begeren.”
Silence. He didn’t know how to respond to that. No one should have to bear the weight of such knowledge. It’s one thing to hear rumors of the things that the Empire was capable of, but to see them, to hear the truth of them spoken by someone with firsthand knowledge… that was a wound that would never heal.
And of course Arjun would’ve mentioned it. Dash’s friendship with Leo was clearly becoming a problem for the Jedi on their mission.
“I haven’t told Alaria-”
“But you will.”
It wasn’t a question because he knew she would. Sisters told everything to each other. He knew that… he had three at home.
“She deserves to know the truth.” Elami was quiet, reserved, but her tone said there would be no argument.
With a sigh, Dash ran his hands through his hair, cringing as all he came back with was sweat on his palms. “You’re right, Elami. Of course you’re right. I’ve held this secret for so long, sometimes I forget that other people want to help… That people are capable of good.”
“So why are you drinking yourself to death?” She reached forward to grab his cup, lifting it to smell the contents. With a disgusted look, she handed it back to him. “How can you drink that stuff?”
“Because it’s the strongest crap they have.” He closed his eyes, trying to ignore the pulsing behind his eyes. “And I have things I want to forget.”
Elami wiped some of the sweat from her face with a sleeve, eyes finally glancing his way. “Tell him how you feel, Dash.”
Dash laughed, no humor in it. “And possibly lose my best friend forever?”
“What you’re doing now isn’t helping things.” She raised an eyebrow at him as if she expected an argument. He wasn’t that stupid. “Leo’s more of a mess than I’ve ever seen him. He’s even pestering Alaria for a distraction from whatever happened between the two of you.”
“At least he’s safe. He’s probably better off without me, anyway.” He buried his face in his hands, feeling his heart crack open again at the thought of never seeing, speaking, to Leo again.
Elami covered his hand with one of her own, pulling it away from his face and squeezing in a gentle, familiar way. “Dash, I wasn’t there on Begeren, I didn’t experience the trauma the two of you did. But what I see are two men who relied on each other during a difficult time and out of that, formed a bond that neither wants to break.”
“I owe Leo. He saved my life even when he didn’t have any reason to. He could’ve used me as a distraction and left, saved himself. But he didn’t and I-”
When he didn’t finish his sentence, Elami sighed, the exhaustion on her face making her look older than her 21 years. “If all your relationship is “I owe him” then you would’ve split the moment you landed on Coruscant. You would’ve been rid of the trouble of having an Imperial as a friend. But you didn’t and that says a lot more about you than you think.”
“It says I’m an idiot.”
“It says that you care, Dash. More than you think you do. More than you want to, it seems.”
It took a moment for the words to hit him. Then he side eyed the Jedi beside him, a smile curling his lips. “You’re craftier than you seem, Elami. No wonder Arjun likes you so much.”
He swore her skin darkened slightly. Blushing, perhaps? Bumping his shoulder to hers, he nearly knocked her off of her stool.
Gripping the counter, Elami shot him an exasperated look. “You’re not funny.”
“On that, we can agree, sister.” Feeling lighter than he had in weeks, Dash lifted his drink only to be reminded at how awful it tasted the moment it touched his tongue. He swallowed on impulse, resisting the urge to gag. Setting the cup down, he brushed a hand down his face, trying to gather his thoughts. “I should find Leo. Apologize.”
“Mhmm.” She muttered, sliding off the stool and pulling the hood of her shawl over her head. “Apologize. Sure. Just… try not to muck it up this time.”
She was gone before he could get another word in.
~~~~
It didn’t take long to find Leo sitting in the cantina apartments where he, Alaria, and Elami had taken up residence during their stay on Tatooine. The rest of their crews had opted to stay on the ship, out of the way, and Dash… well, he’d been hiding on his own ship to avoid running into Leo and the two Jedi.
That clearly hadn’t worked out.
Now he was standing outside of Leo’s room, terrified to enter because that would mean he’d have to actually follow up. Dash didn’t know what he wanted, but he did know that Leo didn’t deserve to suffer. Their friendship was becoming more weight that either of them seemed comfortable carrying anymore.
He hated how it took him a few more minutes before he got the courage to knock, holding his breath, lungs protesting the lack of oxygen until the door opened. He released the air through his nose, trying to calm his heart as it hammered nervously in his chest.
When did the thought of seeing Leo become so difficult to bear?
“Dash.”
Leo was standing directly in front of the door, wearing nothing but a pair of slacks, hair hanging loose around his face, the sheen of sweat on his skin. He was flushed on his neck and chest, the excessive temperatures on Tatooine making it difficult to not overheat even after the twin suns went below the horizon.
Dash’s mouth wouldn’t form words, his eyes roaming over Leo’s half-naked form. Scars covered him, some long healed, some newer. A nasty cut criss crossed over his torso and it took everything Dash had not to fuss over it. His eyes darted back up to his friend’s gaze. “Uh, hey.”
Leo crossed his arms over his chest, suddenly self-conscious, but not nearly enough to back away… to let Dash into the room. “What are you doing here, Dash? I thought you were busy with your revenge quest.”
“It’s not-” He paused because Leo was right. It was a revenge quest. At least, it had started out that way. But now… he wasn’t so sure anymore. “I tried to help Fuse-”
“Elara told me what happened. The bomb plans were important, I get that. Because the Empire will do worse than the things they did here if they got a hold of them. I know that for a fact. But that’s not why I’m angry with you, Dash.”
“I know.”
“You know?” He repeated, voice taking on an edge of hysteria. “I try not to be a burden on you, I know that I’m not the best person for you to be seen with-”
“Leo-”
The smuggler turned away, moving farther into the room. Dash followed without invitation, unwilling to let him push these issues away. Leo was agitated, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. A few steps into the room and the door hissed closed with ominous finality. “And you’ve always been good to me. I shoulda walked away a long time ago, probably when we landed on Coruscant for the first time, but I was alone and afraid. I didn’t know what I was gettin’ myself into. But now… Each day, you give me more reasons to walk away for good.”
Leo’s words were like a vibroknife to the gut. Dash tried to keep the heat from his words, but had a difficult time reigning it in. “Then why don’t you walk away? It’s not like I’m keeping you hostage here.”
His intentions had been to come to this room, to give Leo the out that he so desperately wanted, but the very thought of living a life without him… it cut so deep that Dash doubted he’d ever recover.
Leo spun on him, the rage on his face making Dash step back. Never had he seen Leo so angry. “You still don’t get it, do you? Are you that stupid?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been called stupid in my entire life.”
Leo sighed, wearily rubbing the area beneath his cybernetics. “That’s a lie. I’ve talked to Elara Dorne. She uses the word a lot in reference to you.”
“Ouch.”
“And we travel with two Jedi, Dash. I can guarantee they’ve talked about how stupid we both are. At least to each other.” Another sigh, this time followed by a pointed look. “You’re distractin’ me from what I was tryin’ to say.”
“Leo, I came here to apologize and I’ve already messed that up. You have every right to do what you want, with who you want, and I’ve been making it weird for a while now. I’m sorry.” Leo scrunched his nose in confusion, and it made Dash feel like more of a fool that he even brought it up in the first place. “Nar Shaddaa?”
Leo’s confusion slowly morphed into horror, blush spreading across his cheeks, neck, chest. “Oh, so I didn’t dream him up. I was sure I was trashed and imagined all of… that.”
“No, you didn’t.” Dash scratched his chin, the beard that started to grow in itching like mad. His eyes trailed to Leo’s chest again of their own accord, the image burning into his brain. “The only thing I want to say about any of it is be careful. Not everyone is who they say they are.”
Leo shielded his eyes with a hand and Dash immediately missed the piercing blue oceans that were so unlike any other blue he’d seen before. Another thing that would haunt him years after their friendship ended. “It was a mistake. But, nothing happened, even if I wanted it to.”
“I don’t understand.”
“No matter how pretty a stranger is, or how sweet their words are, or how much alcohol I drink… no matter how tempted I might be to forget everything for one night, I can’t.” Leo’s voice dropped so low that Dash nearly missed the next part of his sentence. “Because it’s not you.”
Dash was positive that his heart was going to stop.
“Leo, what are you saying?”
He had to know for certain. If he was wrong, he would ruin the fragile friendship they already had. But hope burned in his chest, nearly suffocating him because he’d never wanted anything more than the man standing in front of him.
The room was stifling, not just from the desert heat, but from the tension between them. Dash took a small step closer, hand held out slightly, palm up in a gesture of truce. Letting Leo make the next move. Leo didn’t attempt to leave, even if he did look like he was going to be sick on the floor.
“I met with Liv… after what happened.” He briefly glanced in Dash’s direction, a frown pulling at his mouth. “I know. It was a stupid risk. But she’s my sister.”
Dash didn’t respond, knowing that Leo needed a minute to gather his thoughts.
When he finally spoke again, he glanced down at his hands, studying them as if they were foreign to him. “Do you know what she said?”
“You’re an idiot?”
“The words she chose were slightly more colorful. But the meaning was still the same. She wanted me to stop being so afraid of inconveniencing you.” Leo let out a sharp laugh, tucking his hands in the pockets of his pants. “As if you’re capable of being inconvenienced. I know better now. It still doesn’t change the reality of who we are. You: a Republic hero who leads one of the best SpecOps forces in the galaxy. Me: an Imperial defector who can barely keep his shit together, living on borrowed time before my past finally catches up.”
Dash moved closer, another step, two before he paused. “You sell yourself short, Leo. You’ve done some good for the people on Coruscant, whether you believe that or not.”
“It’s your influence.” Leo noticed him at that moment, glancing at his feet as if he could sense how much Dash wanted to move again.
“You think too highly of me.”
“Impossible. You save people, Dash. And you give them a chance that wouldn’t get one otherwise. Give yourself the credit you deserve.”
This time Dash was the one to glance away, moved by his friend’s words, but also feeling undeserving of them. “Leo-”
“Why is it so hard for you to take the compliment?” Leo brushed a hand through his hair, his frustration obvious when Dash finally met his gaze again. “You always do this! Everything about you is so frustrating. You always say how awful you are but no matter how much I try to see what you see: the flaws, the cruelty, the selfishness, I can’t.” Leo took a step forward, closer to where Dash waited and he could see the tremor in his hands. “And do you know why? It’s because I love you!”
They stared at each other in the following silence, breath heavy, the air thick with the Tatooine heat, anger nearly crackling in the space between them. Leo’s chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath, blue eyes flashing dangerously.
And all Dash could think was that Leo Ashold was the most beautiful man he’d ever laid eyes on.
The words echoed in his ears: love. Leo loved him and goddammit he wasn’t going to let this moment pass by. Dash didn’t live a life with regrets. He wasn’t going to start now.
The words spilled easily from his lips because he was finished holding them back.
“I love you too.”
Eyes widening, Leo’s breath caught in his chest, his face flushing crimson as the words spun around in his head. “What? You-”
Dash moved even closer, leaving barely any space between them now. With as much seriousness as he could muster, he met Leo’s terrified gaze. “I love you. As my best friend, yeah, but it’s so much more than that. It has been for a long time.”
“Why? Why me? I’m a-”
Dash cupped Leo’s jaw with a gentle hand, brushing a thumb over his lips, immediately halting any more words from tumbling out. “You are the best man I’ve ever met. So stop making it weird, Leo.”
He let out a soft laugh, eyes closing, body relaxing as Dash snaked an arm around his waist, pulling him flush against his chest. Despite the sweat clinging to his body, Leo smelled freshly of soap, his hair slightly damp as it hung around his shoulders. Dash leaned in slightly and it didn’t take any coaxing for Leo to meet him.
Dash expected the kiss to be soft, hesitant, but it was the opposite. Leo clung to him as if his life depended on it, peppering kisses along his mouth, his cheeks, his forehead, unable to stay in one place too long. When he finally returned to Dash’s mouth, his tongue slipped between his lips and he practically melted against him, hands clutching the loose shirt he wore.
When they finally managed to part for air, Dash stared at the flush on Leo’s cheeks, the sparkle in his dazzling eyes, the goofy smile on his face. He reached out to tuck a lock of damp hair behind Leo’s ear, fingers lingering there, brushing the smooth skin before resting on the back of his neck.
This was a moment he was going to remember for the rest of his life.
Leo glanced up, smile widening as he took in the expression aimed at him. One that Dash was positive held all of the feelings he’d kept locked away for the last year, the devotion he felt so deep anytime he thought of the man in his arms. With a sigh, Leo trailed a finger over Dash’s new beard, inspecting it as a doctor would a wound, or an archaeologist would an artifact.
“This is different. I like it.” He rubbed his cheek against the rough bristles of hair, smirking up at Dash when he heard the sharp intake of breath. “What prompted you to grow it out?”
“Laziness.” Dash admitted, taking the chance to press another kiss to Leo’s lips. “But it’s too karking hot on this planet for a beard.”
“I like how you look either way.” Leo murmured, kissing him again. God, he would never tire of being able to kiss this man. “Whatever makes you happy.”
“You. You make me happy.”
It sounded stupid to his own ears, but it had the intended effect on Leo. His legs shook and he wobbled slightly, pressing into Dash’s chest to keep from falling. Dash tightened his grip around Leo’s waist, keeping him flush against him.
“Are we going to have to meet Liv somewhere so she knows you didn’t scare me off?” Dash teased, lips brushing along Leo’s neck, savoring the shiver it sent through his body. Leo’s hands brushed against his back, his hips. Testing the boundaries, so to speak.
“She, ah, she said she’d fly to Coruscant and kick my ass if I didn’t tell you how I felt. Republic be damned.”
Dash pressed his forehead against Leo’s, voice barely a whisper when he finally responded. “I wouldn’t have let her.”
“Kick my ass?”
“No, she can do that. You probably deserve it.” He told him, aiming a playful grin at Leo which only got him an eye roll in return. “I meant endangering herself. Intelligence Agent or not, it’s still the heart of the Republic.”
“You’re becoming awfully protective of Imperial defectors.”
“It’s really becoming a problem.” Dash ducked his head, pressing kisses along the pulse in Leo’s neck. “I blame you.”
“Hey, I’ll take the blame for everything if you keep doing that.”
Dash could feel Leo’s heartbeat against his lips, steady, sure, solid. He would give his life to make sure it stayed that way.
