I must be getting sentimental, because I re-read HoD and just felt the need to write a one shot. Whether you have or haven't read the fic I feel like it could be a standalone.
Summary: Snoke sends Kylo Ren and Darth Andal to hunt down a Sith Temple and hone their dark side abilities. But, when they lose their connection to the Force, they find out that they're in for much more than they bargained for.
Summary: Hondo Ohnaka plays matchmaker for his favourite Jedi, much to Obi-Wan's dismay.
Relationship: Obi-Wan x Reader (fem, no use of Y/N)
Notes: this story is more about Hondo being the bane of Obi-Wan's life than it is about the relationship, it's been sat in my drafts for a year so I gave it a swift ending.
Carpe Diem
'Kenobi, why the long face?' Hondo threw himself down beside a disgruntled Obi-Wan, who was nursing a drink in his left hand as he slumped over the table.
'Because it's been two rotations since I heard from the council and I think another night spent here is going to be the death of me.'
'You wound me, Master Jedi. What is there not to like about crash landing on Hondo's turf?' He grinned, throwing an arm around Obi-Wan, who merely grimaced. He didn't hate Hondo, per se. He just found him... exhausting.
'Perhaps the fact that last time I had a prolonged stay here, I was being held hostage by you. Pardon me if I don't trust your sudden sense of hospitality.'
'Bah! Do not cling to the past, Kenobi. I would never sell you out.' Obi-Wan gave him a pointed look. 'What? It would not be profitable to bring the Separatists here. The Republic, on the other hand, will pay handsomely for your stay.'
'Mm, quite.' Too tired to argue, Obi-Wan returned to sulking into his drink. He had been sure to pour his own drinks whilst in Hondo and his pirates' company; especially after last time.
'Jedi... so boring.' Hondo flapped his arms in his usual theatrical manner as he went off to bother somebody else. A long sigh left Obi-Wan's lips as he drained the contents of his glass. Maker, he must have looked so miserable. The council had assured him that a pickup was imminent, but the nature of war meant that plans were always subject to delays. He knew they were coming for him, he just didn't know when. Not to mention that he wasn't sure how much more of Hondo's babbling he could take. But, he knew he had to remain calm. The Council would be sending someone to collect him and, provided he remained unharmed, Hondo would likely receive his credits as compensation. It was just his luck that he would crash on Florrum. All these pirates did was drink, thieve, drink some more, and create more noise than Obi-Wan had ever thought possible. He had barely slept a wink for the past few nights. If the noise wasn't bad enough, Hondo's "guest quarters," as he had called them, were just a repurposed cell. Obi-Wan had decided that he would never complain about the hard beds aboard Jedi cruisers again.
After too long spent wallowing in his self-pity, he decided to retire for the night and meditate in the privacy of his "guest quarters." What caught his attention before he could leave the room was a voice he didn't recognise, one that stood out from the crowd. Whoever this was, they were yelling at one of Hondo's men in a Coruscanti accent similar to his own.
'Be a thieving pirate all you like, but do not test me. Give me my credits, or you won't make it to the end of that drink.' As Obi-Wan approached, he saw a blaster being pointed at one of Hondo's right-hand men. The woman behind it appeared to be very calm. Despite her cutting words, her tone remained level - something about her demeanour made Obi-Wan believe that she meant her threat.
'I'm not payin' for a job that didn't get completed.' The pirate slurred, his drink sloshing over the brim of his glass as he threw his arms up in protest.
'Are you trying to scam me, or are you just plain stupid?' Perhaps emphasising her point, she tapped the pirate's forehead with the barrel of her blaster. He was about to respond and escalate the situation even more, but Obi-Wan stepped in before he could. He knew it was none of his business, but it was his natural instinct as a Jedi to help.
'I'd assume he's both.' With the same calm tone as hers, but lacking the vicious edge, Obi-Wan caught the woman's attention. She glanced at him, whilst her blaster remained pointed at the pirate. Her eyes scanned him up and down, doing a double-take.
'A Jedi... on Florrum?' Her brow furrowed.
'Yes. Although this isn't my first choice of holiday destination, believe me.' His words made the corners of her lips turn up into the smallest of smirks. Obi-Wan felt an uncontrollable desire to smile back at her. It seemed as though his usual composure had abandoned him... perhaps Hondo had encouraged him to have one too many drinks.
'Are drunken pirates not your thing?' She laughed and his heart rate increased. Why? Why did it increase?
'Are they yours?' He nodded his head towards the drunkard at the end of her blaster.
'Don't get clever with me, Jedi-' she was smirking, but her expression dropped when she spotted movement in her peripherals. The pirate she had been arguing with was trying to sneak away from his impending death. Obi-Wan could tell that didn't sit well with this mystery woman. 'And you,' she launched forward, grabbing the pirate by his neck, 'better have those credits in my account by sunrise, otherwise, I'll make you regret ever being born. Am I understood?' Her last sentence was punctuated by her blaster tapping the pirate's temple.
'Yeah, yeah.' He slurred, flapping his arms as he stumbled away. Obi-Wan could sense that the pirate knew her threat was genuine. Her blaster was finally holstered and she turned to face him properly.
'I hope you're not expecting a thank you.' She raised an eyebrow.
'Not at all, I've come to expect very little from the clientele around here.' His reply elicited a short laugh from her.
'Very wise.' Neither of them spoke another word, but neither of them moved away. Obi-Wan could feel the Force poking at him, pointing out an unspoken desire to keep the conversation going. But, he bottled it.
'Anyway, it was a pleasure to meet you, but I was just about to retire for the evening.' He couldn't read her expression, but he thought that was probably for the best. He wished he'd forced himself to find something else to talk about; in his head, he could picture Anakin making fun of him. A snarky comment along the lines of: 'veryyy smooth, Master.' sprung to mind.
'Right, you're a Jedi,' she gave a slow nod and a flash of something akin to disappointment crossed her face.
'Meaning?' Rest forgotten, his brow quirked.
'Meaning... you're a Jedi. Lightsaber swinging, righteous, peacekeeper with morals.' Her nose scrunched at the last word.
'And I suppose spending my evening surrounded by immoral, uncivilised criminals doesn't fit that job description.' His eyes widened as he realised the implications of his words, 'not that you're an immoral, uncivilised criminal. I-I mean, you're... you know, you're...' As he continued to stumble over every syllable he tried to utter, she burst into laughter.
'I'm sure I should be flattered by whatever it is that you're trying to insinuate, Master Jedi. But, your first observation was right: I am all of those things, and hanging around people like me doesn't fit your job description.' Every word that left her lips convinced Obi-Wan more and more that she had some kind of Force sensitivity that was causing him to melt on the spot. There she was, admitting to him that she was a criminal - he had already seen her threaten someone at blaster-point. But, something about her was more intoxicating than anything Hondo had offered him to drink. Silence befell the pair of them again, but this time Obi-Wan decided to seize the moment and stop the Anakin-like voice in his head from mocking him.
'I'm sure one more drink before retiring won't hurt. Besides, since I've been here I've found it hard to sleep with all the noise.'
'Yeah, you get used to that.'
'Would you care to join me?' He really felt like he was putting his life on the line here. Dozens of Battle Droids could be standing before him and he wouldn't break a sweat. But, a beautiful bounty hunter and suddenly his resolve was crumbling. She looked somewhat surprised by his invitation, but a smile soon settled on her face.
'Sure, why not? Drinking with a Jedi isn't something you get offered every day.' Obi-Wan nodded in response and glanced to his left, looking for a quieter spot that would keep him away from the prying eyes and ears of pirates. He saw some empty seats at the end of a long table that was littered with Hondo's clientele, all drinking and jeering with one another. The pair of them sat down, but it dawned upon him that he was out of his depth in this setting.
'I, uh- I'm not entirely sure how you get drinks here.' He exhaled a sheepish chuckle, 'usually, I pour my own.'
'And why's that? You don't seem like the bartending type to me.'
'Let's just say that last time Hondo poured me a drink, I woke up in handcuffs.' He grimaced at the memory... handcuffed to Dooku and Anakin no less.
'Handcuffed?' She laughed, 'that was probably just Hondo's idea of a good time.' Normally he would have rolled his eyes at such a comment, but when it came from her he couldn't help but match her laughter.
'Believe me, these circumstances weren't what anybody would describe as a "good time."'
'Maybe where you're from, Master Jedi, but I think you'll find that there are a lot of things we enjoy here that you might... well, arrest us for.'
'Do my eyes deceive me-' A voice cut through the crowd and Obi-Wan willed the ground to swallow him up, '-or is Kenobi still here?' Hondo threw himself down at the table and looked between the pair of them. 'Socialising nonetheless!' He cackled.
'Hondo, do you not have somewhere else you should be?' Obi-Wan hoped he would pick up on the subtle hints in his tone, but who was he kidding? Hondo wouldn't pick up on it if he had outwardly told him to leave him alone with the outlandishly beautiful bounty hunter.
'Somewhere else? You mistake me, Kenobi. I am here to attend to my very esteemed Jedi guest and his-' Hondo's gaze moved to his companion '-new friend.'
'Hondo, always a pleasure.' She greeted him with what Obi-Wan could only describe as a flawless smile. It seemed almost like a reflex - something she had perfected through years of practice.
'Ah! My favourite hunter spending time with my favourite Jedi - what a surprise this is.'
'You should be thanking him, he stopped me from killing one of your crew.' She shot Obi-Wan a smirk. He willed himself to remain composed, especially with Hondo there.
'If he had died, I am sure it would have been deserved,' Hondo flapped his arm in dismissal before throwing it around Obi-Wan's shoulders. He responded to this with a disgruntled expression. 'Of course, this dashing Jedi Master stepped in to save the day. He is, after all, a hero.' Hondo exhaled a whimsical sigh, and Obi-Wan's brow furrowed. He was never this complimentary without an ulterior motive, only he couldn't work out the angle this time.
'I'll drink to that.' Despite Hondo's odd behaviour, she didn't seem to be discouraged.
'But alas, you have no drink,' Hondo shook his head and tutted. 'Kenobi, how could leave your lady-friend sat here practically dying of thirst?'
'I never-' he began to protest, much to his "lady-friend's" amusement.
'-come come, Kenobi. Let us go and fetch the drinks.' Hondo was ushering him out of his seat before he had a chance to process what was happening. He gave a fleeting glance back at the bounty hunter and decided that this was all worth it when he saw the way she laughed. He followed Hondo over to the bar, where hordes of pirates were gathering to get themselves drinks - many of which were sloshing out over the brim of the glasses as they stumbled away.
'What in the stars are you doing, Hondo?' He pinched the bridge of his nose, only speaking once they were out of earshot.
'Me?' He gasped, holding a hand to his chest. 'Why, Kenobi, I am just trying to enjoy an evening with my esteemed guest. How was I supposed to know that you would be socialising with your new friend?' There was a wry tone to his words.
'She's a bounty hunter, Hondo. We aren't friends, per se.'
'Not friends at all it seems. In fact, Hondo would wager that you're more than friends.' He elbowed Obi-Wan, letting out a loud cackle. As Obi-Wan stammered over his words, trying to make up some kind of viable excuse, Hondo leaned over the bar and ordered a round of drinks. When his attention returned to the Jedi, he laughed once again. 'Now now, Kenobi. There is no need for excuses.'
'I'm not making-' he began to huff, but Hondo didn't even register his voice.
'-what you need, Master Jedi, is a pep talk from old Hondo.' With a roll of his eyes, Obi-Wan attempted to interrupt, but Hondo shushed him. 'Kenobi, listen here. What happens on Florrum, stays on Florrum... mostly, anyway.'
'Wise words, as ever.' He snorted.
'Nevertheless! You must seize the day, Kenobi. That,' he gestured to the striking woman who now sat alone at the table, 'is one of the best bounty hunters in the outer rim. You would be a fool to let her pass you by.'
'You never do anything without an angle. You always have something to gain, I just can't work out what it is this time.'
'This is true, this true.' Hondo tutted, shaking his head, 'but can't old Hondo do something for an old Jedi friend out of the kindness of his own heart, just once?'
'No, you can't.' Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow as a momentary pause.
'Pish posh, Master Jedi.' Hondo threw himself to grab the tray of drinks when it arrived. 'I just want you to have a pleasant stay. Besides, if the Jedi council do ever arrive to collect you, I'm sure they'd be willing to heavily compensate such a... generous host.'
'So you mentioned.' If Obi-Wan had a credit for every time Hondo hinted at the Republic paying for his stay, he'd have enough for early retirement.
'Come along now, you can't keep a bounty hunter waiting.' With that, he shoved the tray of drinks into Obi-Wan's hands and pushed him back towards the table. As they approached, his companion's face lit up and he swore he had never seen anything that beautiful in his life. 'How generous of Kenobi to buy all of the drinks,' Hondo announced unnecessarily loudly.
'Did he now?' He could tell that she understood Hondo's angle but must have found it amusing enough to play along.
'I told him that as his host, I would pay. But, he has insisted on giving me the credits back, didn't you, Kenobi.' A hand outstretched in Obi-Wan's direction and he raised an eyebrow.
'Really?' He knew there was no point in arguing. With a roll of his eyes, he tossed a few credits into Hondo's palm. Any excuse to make money...
'You see that? Generous.' Hondo threw himself down beside the woman, opposite Obi-Wan.
'Hm, well that is the Jedi way, is it not?' She smirked over at him.
'I'm sure being generous isn't just limited to Jedi.' He chuckled, taking a long sip of his drink. Over the rim of the glass, he could see Hondo staring at him, as if he was expecting him to say something else.
'It is in this place, trust me.' She laughed, but he noticed that she was eyeing up his silent exchange with Hondo. After a beat of silence, she exclaimed, 'Kriff, is that a fight over there?' She pointed over Hondo's shoulder and he immediately whipped around, 'shame nobody's taking bets.' She tutted and Obi-Wan had to drink again to hide a laugh at the pirate's expense. Hondo scrambled to his feet and cleared his throat.
'Alas, I have another business venture to pursue. Remember Kenobi, seize the day.' He yelled, before scurrying off. Obi-Wan put his head in his hands and groaned.
'I think I'm in your debt for that.' He withdrew his hands and drank the remainder of his drink at a faster pace than he would usually deem appropriate.
'I'm sure we can find a way for you to repay me.' Her tone, combined with the words, had Obi-Wan's composure turning to dust.
'What do you have in mind?' He hadn't intended for his tone to sound as flirtatious as it did
'That depends, how attached are you to those Jedi morals of yours?' She paused, 'no pun intended.' Obi-Wan was slightly taken aback - was the forbidding of attachment that well-documented? Even if it were, why did he care that she knew about it?
'I'm not one to question my morals, but the definition of attachment is... somewhat flexible.' He was losing himself in the thought of it; stranded with pirates, a bounty hunter who seemed as intelligent and dangerous as she did gorgeous, and a desire bubbling up that he hadn't felt in as long as he could remember. Was the attitude of the pirates rubbing off on him, or had he had too much to drink? Either way, he really wanted to kiss her.
'It's funny how spending time surrounded by... how did you put it? Immoral, uncivilised criminals can change a man.' Her teasing statement was accompanied by a sip of her drink, her gaze never leaving his from the rim of the glass. When she lowered her glass she took a bold step towards him, 'define flexible.' She smirked, and Obi-Wan thought his heart was going to burst out of his chest with the speed it was beating.
Maker, it wasn't as though he was going to marry her. He had heard tales of Jedi bending the rules in far more serious ways. For liquid courage, he drew his head far enough away from her to empty the remainder of his drink. 'Do you want the dictionary definition, or the metaphorical one?' Having regained some of his wit, he grinned at her and she rolled her eyes.
'You talk too much, Jedi.' She laughed, pulling him towards her so their lips would meet in a passionate blaze. He barely had a chance to react, but quickly settled into the kiss. It was safe to say that this was the highlight of his unplanned stay on Florrum - maybe it had even made the trip worthwhile. The pair's lips moved in tandem for a few moments longer before they separated. 'How do you fancy spending the night on my ship tonight? I may even throw in a lift home for you.' Their lips remained close and her voice was low - it was as if it were just the two of them in the room.
'I wouldn't dare decline, I've already seen what happens to those who get on your bad side.' He smirked and the way her face lit up with a laugh had Obi-Wan ready to do anything she wanted him to.
'What was it Hondo said? Seize the day, Master Jedi... meet me in the hanger in five.' Pressing a chaste kiss to his lips, she left his arms and disappeared into the crowd before he could utter another word - something he was struggling to manage. He shook himself off and moved to gather his belongings from the repurposed cell that had been his home for the past few days. This seemed like a win win situation - a night with the bounty hunter and he would be dropped back home.
'Kenobi!' Hondo bellowed across the room causing Obi-Wan to stop in his tracks and take a moment to breathe and centre himself as he prepared for another interaction with the pirate.
'Hondo, I'm afraid I'm retiring for the evening.' He uttered the moment the pair were face to face.
'Tssh, I thought better of you than lying Kenobi.' He tutted, shaking his head in his usual over-dramatic manner. 'Did you think I wasn't watching?'
'I hoped you weren't at least.' He muttered under his breath as Hondo continued his speech.
'Your lady friend is waiting for you, is she not? Now now, I won't keep you long, but it would not be right of me to let you go without giving you some tips-'
'-no no, that absolutely won't be necessary.' Obi-Wan interrupted faster than a pod-race on Tatooine. 'It's like you said Hondo, seize the day, carpe diem, all of that.' He grimaced, giving Hondo a pat on the shoulder as he slid past him and tried to continue his journey.
'Excellent, Kenobi, excellent!' Hondo called after him as he rushed off. 'Just remember, you wouldn't be here without Hondo and his hospitality during a trying time! I expect payment in full Master Jedi, otherwise your next stay will not be so pleasant!'
'Next stay...' Obi-Wan repeated under his breath, rolling his eyes, 'not a chance.' At last free of Hondo's watchful eye, he scurried to gather his belongings and rush to the hanger.
Perhaps, all things considered, crashing on a hostile planet wasn't the worst thing that could have happened to Obi-Wan.
Just reflecting on years of writing fanfic and I have to say that this is my favourite thing I’ve written, purely for the Hondo content. Such a fun agent of chaos to write
Hiii, could I please request for kylo ren where they childhood sweethearts and now they're fighting on diff sides of the war and just ALOTTTT of angst. Maybe the reader finally realising that kylo is in too deep with the dark side??
Thxx 🩷
Thanks for requesting this! It was fun to write!! I did get a bit carried away with the length of it but we move
Word count: 2630
Warnings: heavy angst, totally made-up sequels timeline, sadder than I intended
MASTERLIST
Ghosts of the Past
How had it come to this? Years spent together, learning, growing, falling in love... all of it, corrupted by dark side of the Force. You and Ben Solo had dreamt of a future together, but where you had once dreamt of a utopia, you now found yourself living in a grim dystopia.
You had tried to forget him, but avoidance was impossible when his face was plastered across the galaxy on First Order propaganda. Each holovid or poster was a painful reminder of everything you had lost. It was heart-wrenching.
Eventually, destiny had reached you, just as it had reached Ben all of those years ago when he took on the name Kylo Ren. The Resistance had used Luke Skywalker's old notes from the early days of his Jedi Temple and managed to track you down. It wasn't an unwelcome invitation to join them, you had always wanted to fight the good fight, after all, that's what Jedi were supposed to do. Your real, and only, concern was that you knew eventually this path would lead you face-to-face with the one person you couldn't stomach confronting. Perhaps Ben knew you were alive, perhaps he didn't. Did he still care about you? You never let yourself dwell on these thoughts for too long. You couldn't bear it.
You felt fulfilled working with the Resistance. It was nice to know that you were making a difference to lives in the galaxy and you hoped that Luke would be proud of your efforts. Most of your time and energy went into working with Rey, helping her to become the Jedi she was destined to be. You were terrified of facing Kylo Ren, not knowing if you could face having to fight him. The least you could do was prepare Rey for that fight.
When the Resistance intercepted intel that Supreme Leader Ren would be planet-side, a snap decision was made to send an agent out to face him and end the First Order once and for all. Your heart dropped when Leia asked you to go instead of Rey. You knew Rey was far from ready. You knew you were the only one capable of facing him. And yet, it didn't make it sting any less.
'General, I don't know if I can do this.' You words were shaky at the mere thought of it.
'I know what I'm asking you to do, believe me. I wish it could be somebody else, and I'm sorry that it has to be you... but this is the only way.' There was rich emotion in the way Leia addressed you. She had known you since you and Ben had been together at the temple. She had been so excited at the prospect of her son falling in love with somebody like you, and she had treated you as one of her own since the day she met you. Now, all those years later, that hadn't changed. To Leia, you were family, and it broke her heart knowing the weight she was putting on your shoulders. But this wasn't just about you, it was about the galaxy. Deep down, you knew the truth. Leia hoped that you could pull her son back from the brink. Of course, the thought had crossed your mind countless times, but you had always hesitated to really consider it. The glaring fact was that Ben Solo could be lost and Kylo Ren all that remains. You weren't sure what would break you more, living in false hope or adjusting to a crushing reality.
'What if I can't bring him back?' Your voice was barely a whisper, and Leia's gaze hardened, but beneath her facade you could see tears brimming.
'Then you need to do what's best for the galaxy. We may never get this opportunity again.'
You repeated Leia's words like a mantra as your soared through hyperspace, nothing but your overbearing thoughts for company. You had to do this. You could save countless lives by defeating him. You may even be able to sway him back towards the light. Perhaps it was selfish to want him back so desperately. He had done awful things during his reign, but somewhere beneath the void of darkness was Ben Solo, the only man you had ever loved.
The intel you had was scarce, and that did little to comfort the persistent churning of your stomach as you approached Coruscant. Sources had informed the Resistance that Kylo Ren was visiting the planet with a battalion of troopers in an effort to restore order to the planet that was once the centre of the galaxy. Having been aligned with the First Order for some years, lawless groups had begun to overrun the core world; groups that only the Supreme Leader was powerful enough to bring to heel. The abundance of pirates and gangs was something you hoped to use to your advantage, not that you had entirely settled on your plan yet. You knew that stealth was the safest option. Sneak in, neutralise the Supreme Leader, sneak out and let them think that a rogue faction killed him. If only it were that simple... You would never forgive yourself if you didn't at least give him a chance.
As the hazy skies of Coruscant swept into your view, your gaze fell what you recognised as the abandoned Jedi temple - you recognised it from Master Skywalker's old Jedi texts. Attachment had once been a sin amongst Jedi, they saw it as a slippery path to the dark side. Ironic. Now, attachment was the only hope you had at returning Kylo Ren to the light.
You landed your ship in a public docking bay on the lower levels. Many were coming and going, it was an easy place to blend. Kylo Ren and his troops had been rumoured to be landing and starting their reclamation on level 5009 - they would start with the wealthier districts and work their way down. The lower levels were more than accustomed to the lawlessness that the whole planet was now enduring. You donned a simple hooded cloak as a disguise and began to slip through the crowds, using the Force to guide you towards the unmistakable signature of Ben Solo. The warm comfort that Ben's Force signature used to bring you was slowly ebbing away, a shiver ran down your spine the longer you locked onto his essence.
As you manoeuvred higher through the levels of Coruscant, your heart began to ache. Not because of what you were about to face, but because of what could have been. You pictured yourself roaming the upper levels with Ben, hand-in-hand as the sun set. Him with a rare smile on his face, you with a look of gratitude on yours. You had always sat together and spoken about all of the worlds you would one day explore. He used to brush a strand of hair behind your ear, tell you he couldn't wait to spend his life with you and then plant the most gentle of kisses on your lips. How could you not have seen it? Maybe if you had known he was being swayed by the dark side you could have helped him.
'You need to do what's best for the galaxy.' You focused your mind, repeating Leia's mantra. This wasn't about healing your wounds, it was about saving lives. You were just worried that you would destroy yourself in the process.
The reflection of shining white armour caught your gaze and snapped you out of your thoughts. You had found them. Small patrols of Stormtroopers littered level 4999 - Kylo was moving quickly through the insurgents. You had never known him to be so brutal. After spending a few moments studying the patrol patterns, you targeted a pair of troopers who were out of sync with the larger squadron. Throwing yourself in front of them, you tapped into the Force before they had a chance to react and used it to manipulate their actions. 'I am your prisoner; an insurgent who threatened to break the peace. You will take me to the Supreme Leader.'
'We will take you to the Supreme Leader.' Both troopers, now under your influence, spoke in unison. Playing the part, you placed your hands behind your back and one took ahold of your wrists as they marched you through the streets. You tried to hide your horror as you watched other troopers rounding up citizens and pirates alike, treating every living being as a criminal. Your fingers itched to grab your lightsaber from beneath your cloak and rescue the innocents, but you knew there was a bigger task at hand. You couldn't risk losing the element of surprise.
Your heart was pounding the closer you felt yourself drawing to Kylo, so much so you wondered if you would pass out before you got there. Your head was swimming. The last time you had seen him you had been in his arms, saying farewell before you went on an extended mission off-world. When you had returned, the temple had been demolished, Luke was nowhere to be found, and neither was the man who had your heart. It was only after that you found out the truth. He had been the one to destroy the temple... he had betrayed everything you stood for.
'Supreme Leader, we have captured an insurgent.' The troopers marched you to an isolated area where there was only a figure, cloaked in veil of darkness. You kept your head low, shielding your Force signature as your stared at his boots. Panic was setting in, there was every chance you would freeze when you saw his face.
'I told you not to take prisoners.' He growled, 'stop wasting my time and kill her.'
You bit back the overwhelming emotion you felt at hearing his voice and raised your head. 'I asked them to bring me here... to you.' Pulling your hood away from your face, your gaze met his and you nearly crumbled on the spot. His deep brown gaze was swimming with a darkness you weren't used to seeing, but what he couldn't mask was the flash of recognition upon seeing your face. His mouth opened, but no words came out.
'Leave us.' He eventually said, his tone losing its edge from his earlier command. The troopers scurried off and the pair of you were left standing in silence, like two monuments of a time once lost. After an eternity of heavy silence, he finally spoke. 'I thought you were dead.'
'It would be easier if I were.' Your voice was weak, but your stance remained solid. Nothing could have prepared you for this moment. Standing before him now, Leia's mantra was lost to you. You were either leaving here with him, or not at all.
'You shouldn't have come here.' His warning was delivered with a tone of remorse.
'I didn't want to. I wasn't sure I could face you.' You took a moment to study his face. A deep scar cut through the middle of it and a hard-set frown seemed to constantly rest on it. But he was still your Ben. You still loved him.
'And now?' He was reading you the same way you were reading him, you could tell.
'Now I just want you back.' A hand tentatively reached up to rest on his cheek, but he grabbed your wrist before it could make contact. Your world shattered.
'I don't have such weaknesses anymore.' He was stone cold in his address. Your mouth went dry. A weakness? That's all you were to him now. He had the face of the man you loved, but Ben Solo was gone. What was left was a shell of the man you had grown up with.
'How can you say that? After everything we've been through?' You spluttered, nearly choking on your own words. The world felt like it was closing in around you - this couldn't be happening.
'We have been through nothing. You're an echo of someone else's past, not mine.' Upon hearing his words, your resolve only hung on by a thread. Despite all of your mantras and focus, you had been too optimistic that this mission would end in Ben coming home with you.
'Ben, please-' you hadn't expected the words to erupt from your mouth, but your lungs were feeling tighter by the second. It wasn't real.
'That is not my name!' He roared, pushing you back with the force in a violent flurry. Having not been prepared for the attack, you flew backwards, slamming against a wall. 'Ben Solo is dead!' You hauled yourself to your feet, ignoring the stabbing pain in your back.
'If that were true, why am I still alive? You said yourself that I shouldn't have come here. If you didn't care for me you would've killed me on the spot.' The pain had helped you regain some of your composure. You could feel the conflict within him. The dark side clouded his judgement, but maybe you could break through.
He faltered at your words, but shook his head after a few moments. 'I was giving you a chance to walk away, not a mistake I'll make twice.'
'I can't walk away, not without you.' Your tone was laced with conviction, 'I love you, Leia loves you. I don't want to be apart of this war anymore, I just want you to come home. Please, Kylo, come back to me.' You made a conscious effort not to use Ben's name again. Perhaps speaking to him as Kylo Ren was the only way you could appeal to him.
'My home is with the First Order. I will rule the galaxy. I feel nothing for you, I feel nothing for my mother. I have given everything I have to the dark side.' He remained still, the dark energy coming off him in waves. It felt like the Force was playing a sick joke on you, poking fun at the Jedi who thought she could turn Kylo Ren back to the light. Your knees buckled, grief overcoming you. Ben Solo was dead. You lost.
'If that's true, then I have no place in this galaxy anymore.' You whispered, your voice breaking.
'No.' He approached you, solemn as ever. 'You don't.' As grief continued to wash over you, you couldn't bite back the tears that began to fall. Not because you were scared of what was to come, but because you couldn't bear the guilt of losing Ben Solo to the dark side. You had failed. Failed Ben, failed Leia, failed yourself. The more you tried, the more you felt the imposing essence of the dark side, wrapping around Kylo like a viper, ready to strike at any threats. There was nothing left for you in this galaxy anymore. The hope of regaining what you had lost had kept you going for all of these years, but you had never considered a path outside of that.
The crackling hum Kylo's lightsaber rumbled by your ear. Your body was stone, even if you had wanted to reach for your lightsaber to defend yourself, you couldn't. All you could do was close your eyes and let the Force whisk you away to a time where everything could have been different.
'I love you.' Ben's words were music to your ears. You looked up at him, beaming from ear to ear.
'I know.' You leaned up to plant a lingering kiss on his lips. 'I love you too, more than anything. I won't be gone long, I'll be back before you know it.'
'Anytime apart from you is too long.' His words were muffled as he buried his face in your hair.
'It's a good job we have the rest of our lives then.' Your lips met in another passionate kiss.
It was the future that should've been. You and Ben against the world, needing nothing but each other.
Instead, your world ended in a vicious flash of red.
Summary: Hondo Ohnaka plays matchmaker for his favourite Jedi, much to Obi-Wan's dismay.
Relationship: Obi-Wan x Reader (fem, no use of Y/N)
Notes: this story is more about Hondo being the bane of Obi-Wan's life than it is about the relationship, it's been sat in my drafts for a year so I gave it a swift ending.
Carpe Diem
'Kenobi, why the long face?' Hondo threw himself down beside a disgruntled Obi-Wan, who was nursing a drink in his left hand as he slumped over the table.
'Because it's been two rotations since I heard from the council and I think another night spent here is going to be the death of me.'
'You wound me, Master Jedi. What is there not to like about crash landing on Hondo's turf?' He grinned, throwing an arm around Obi-Wan, who merely grimaced. He didn't hate Hondo, per se. He just found him... exhausting.
'Perhaps the fact that last time I had a prolonged stay here, I was being held hostage by you. Pardon me if I don't trust your sudden sense of hospitality.'
'Bah! Do not cling to the past, Kenobi. I would never sell you out.' Obi-Wan gave him a pointed look. 'What? It would not be profitable to bring the Separatists here. The Republic, on the other hand, will pay handsomely for your stay.'
'Mm, quite.' Too tired to argue, Obi-Wan returned to sulking into his drink. He had been sure to pour his own drinks whilst in Hondo and his pirates' company; especially after last time.
'Jedi... so boring.' Hondo flapped his arms in his usual theatrical manner as he went off to bother somebody else. A long sigh left Obi-Wan's lips as he drained the contents of his glass. Maker, he must have looked so miserable. The council had assured him that a pickup was imminent, but the nature of war meant that plans were always subject to delays. He knew they were coming for him, he just didn't know when. Not to mention that he wasn't sure how much more of Hondo's babbling he could take. But, he knew he had to remain calm. The Council would be sending someone to collect him and, provided he remained unharmed, Hondo would likely receive his credits as compensation. It was just his luck that he would crash on Florrum. All these pirates did was drink, thieve, drink some more, and create more noise than Obi-Wan had ever thought possible. He had barely slept a wink for the past few nights. If the noise wasn't bad enough, Hondo's "guest quarters," as he had called them, were just a repurposed cell. Obi-Wan had decided that he would never complain about the hard beds aboard Jedi cruisers again.
After too long spent wallowing in his self-pity, he decided to retire for the night and meditate in the privacy of his "guest quarters." What caught his attention before he could leave the room was a voice he didn't recognise, one that stood out from the crowd. Whoever this was, they were yelling at one of Hondo's men in a Coruscanti accent similar to his own.
'Be a thieving pirate all you like, but do not test me. Give me my credits, or you won't make it to the end of that drink.' As Obi-Wan approached, he saw a blaster being pointed at one of Hondo's right-hand men. The woman behind it appeared to be very calm. Despite her cutting words, her tone remained level - something about her demeanour made Obi-Wan believe that she meant her threat.
'I'm not payin' for a job that didn't get completed.' The pirate slurred, his drink sloshing over the brim of his glass as he threw his arms up in protest.
'Are you trying to scam me, or are you just plain stupid?' Perhaps emphasising her point, she tapped the pirate's forehead with the barrel of her blaster. He was about to respond and escalate the situation even more, but Obi-Wan stepped in before he could. He knew it was none of his business, but it was his natural instinct as a Jedi to help.
'I'd assume he's both.' With the same calm tone as hers, but lacking the vicious edge, Obi-Wan caught the woman's attention. She glanced at him, whilst her blaster remained pointed at the pirate. Her eyes scanned him up and down, doing a double-take.
'A Jedi... on Florrum?' Her brow furrowed.
'Yes. Although this isn't my first choice of holiday destination, believe me.' His words made the corners of her lips turn up into the smallest of smirks. Obi-Wan felt an uncontrollable desire to smile back at her. It seemed as though his usual composure had abandoned him... perhaps Hondo had encouraged him to have one too many drinks.
'Are drunken pirates not your thing?' She laughed and his heart rate increased. Why? Why did it increase?
'Are they yours?' He nodded his head towards the drunkard at the end of her blaster.
'Don't get clever with me, Jedi-' she was smirking, but her expression dropped when she spotted movement in her peripherals. The pirate she had been arguing with was trying to sneak away from his impending death. Obi-Wan could tell that didn't sit well with this mystery woman. 'And you,' she launched forward, grabbing the pirate by his neck, 'better have those credits in my account by sunrise, otherwise, I'll make you regret ever being born. Am I understood?' Her last sentence was punctuated by her blaster tapping the pirate's temple.
'Yeah, yeah.' He slurred, flapping his arms as he stumbled away. Obi-Wan could sense that the pirate knew her threat was genuine. Her blaster was finally holstered and she turned to face him properly.
'I hope you're not expecting a thank you.' She raised an eyebrow.
'Not at all, I've come to expect very little from the clientele around here.' His reply elicited a short laugh from her.
'Very wise.' Neither of them spoke another word, but neither of them moved away. Obi-Wan could feel the Force poking at him, pointing out an unspoken desire to keep the conversation going. But, he bottled it.
'Anyway, it was a pleasure to meet you, but I was just about to retire for the evening.' He couldn't read her expression, but he thought that was probably for the best. He wished he'd forced himself to find something else to talk about; in his head, he could picture Anakin making fun of him. A snarky comment along the lines of: 'veryyy smooth, Master.' sprung to mind.
'Right, you're a Jedi,' she gave a slow nod and a flash of something akin to disappointment crossed her face.
'Meaning?' Rest forgotten, his brow quirked.
'Meaning... you're a Jedi. Lightsaber swinging, righteous, peacekeeper with morals.' Her nose scrunched at the last word.
'And I suppose spending my evening surrounded by immoral, uncivilised criminals doesn't fit that job description.' His eyes widened as he realised the implications of his words, 'not that you're an immoral, uncivilised criminal. I-I mean, you're... you know, you're...' As he continued to stumble over every syllable he tried to utter, she burst into laughter.
'I'm sure I should be flattered by whatever it is that you're trying to insinuate, Master Jedi. But, your first observation was right: I am all of those things, and hanging around people like me doesn't fit your job description.' Every word that left her lips convinced Obi-Wan more and more that she had some kind of Force sensitivity that was causing him to melt on the spot. There she was, admitting to him that she was a criminal - he had already seen her threaten someone at blaster-point. But, something about her was more intoxicating than anything Hondo had offered him to drink. Silence befell the pair of them again, but this time Obi-Wan decided to seize the moment and stop the Anakin-like voice in his head from mocking him.
'I'm sure one more drink before retiring won't hurt. Besides, since I've been here I've found it hard to sleep with all the noise.'
'Yeah, you get used to that.'
'Would you care to join me?' He really felt like he was putting his life on the line here. Dozens of Battle Droids could be standing before him and he wouldn't break a sweat. But, a beautiful bounty hunter and suddenly his resolve was crumbling. She looked somewhat surprised by his invitation, but a smile soon settled on her face.
'Sure, why not? Drinking with a Jedi isn't something you get offered every day.' Obi-Wan nodded in response and glanced to his left, looking for a quieter spot that would keep him away from the prying eyes and ears of pirates. He saw some empty seats at the end of a long table that was littered with Hondo's clientele, all drinking and jeering with one another. The pair of them sat down, but it dawned upon him that he was out of his depth in this setting.
'I, uh- I'm not entirely sure how you get drinks here.' He exhaled a sheepish chuckle, 'usually, I pour my own.'
'And why's that? You don't seem like the bartending type to me.'
'Let's just say that last time Hondo poured me a drink, I woke up in handcuffs.' He grimaced at the memory... handcuffed to Dooku and Anakin no less.
'Handcuffed?' She laughed, 'that was probably just Hondo's idea of a good time.' Normally he would have rolled his eyes at such a comment, but when it came from her he couldn't help but match her laughter.
'Believe me, these circumstances weren't what anybody would describe as a "good time."'
'Maybe where you're from, Master Jedi, but I think you'll find that there are a lot of things we enjoy here that you might... well, arrest us for.'
'Do my eyes deceive me-' A voice cut through the crowd and Obi-Wan willed the ground to swallow him up, '-or is Kenobi still here?' Hondo threw himself down at the table and looked between the pair of them. 'Socialising nonetheless!' He cackled.
'Hondo, do you not have somewhere else you should be?' Obi-Wan hoped he would pick up on the subtle hints in his tone, but who was he kidding? Hondo wouldn't pick up on it if he had outwardly told him to leave him alone with the outlandishly beautiful bounty hunter.
'Somewhere else? You mistake me, Kenobi. I am here to attend to my very esteemed Jedi guest and his-' Hondo's gaze moved to his companion '-new friend.'
'Hondo, always a pleasure.' She greeted him with what Obi-Wan could only describe as a flawless smile. It seemed almost like a reflex - something she had perfected through years of practice.
'Ah! My favourite hunter spending time with my favourite Jedi - what a surprise this is.'
'You should be thanking him, he stopped me from killing one of your crew.' She shot Obi-Wan a smirk. He willed himself to remain composed, especially with Hondo there.
'If he had died, I am sure it would have been deserved,' Hondo flapped his arm in dismissal before throwing it around Obi-Wan's shoulders. He responded to this with a disgruntled expression. 'Of course, this dashing Jedi Master stepped in to save the day. He is, after all, a hero.' Hondo exhaled a whimsical sigh, and Obi-Wan's brow furrowed. He was never this complimentary without an ulterior motive, only he couldn't work out the angle this time.
'I'll drink to that.' Despite Hondo's odd behaviour, she didn't seem to be discouraged.
'But alas, you have no drink,' Hondo shook his head and tutted. 'Kenobi, how could leave your lady-friend sat here practically dying of thirst?'
'I never-' he began to protest, much to his "lady-friend's" amusement.
'-come come, Kenobi. Let us go and fetch the drinks.' Hondo was ushering him out of his seat before he had a chance to process what was happening. He gave a fleeting glance back at the bounty hunter and decided that this was all worth it when he saw the way she laughed. He followed Hondo over to the bar, where hordes of pirates were gathering to get themselves drinks - many of which were sloshing out over the brim of the glasses as they stumbled away.
'What in the stars are you doing, Hondo?' He pinched the bridge of his nose, only speaking once they were out of earshot.
'Me?' He gasped, holding a hand to his chest. 'Why, Kenobi, I am just trying to enjoy an evening with my esteemed guest. How was I supposed to know that you would be socialising with your new friend?' There was a wry tone to his words.
'She's a bounty hunter, Hondo. We aren't friends, per se.'
'Not friends at all it seems. In fact, Hondo would wager that you're more than friends.' He elbowed Obi-Wan, letting out a loud cackle. As Obi-Wan stammered over his words, trying to make up some kind of viable excuse, Hondo leaned over the bar and ordered a round of drinks. When his attention returned to the Jedi, he laughed once again. 'Now now, Kenobi. There is no need for excuses.'
'I'm not making-' he began to huff, but Hondo didn't even register his voice.
'-what you need, Master Jedi, is a pep talk from old Hondo.' With a roll of his eyes, Obi-Wan attempted to interrupt, but Hondo shushed him. 'Kenobi, listen here. What happens on Florrum, stays on Florrum... mostly, anyway.'
'Wise words, as ever.' He snorted.
'Nevertheless! You must seize the day, Kenobi. That,' he gestured to the striking woman who now sat alone at the table, 'is one of the best bounty hunters in the outer rim. You would be a fool to let her pass you by.'
'You never do anything without an angle. You always have something to gain, I just can't work out what it is this time.'
'This is true, this true.' Hondo tutted, shaking his head, 'but can't old Hondo do something for an old Jedi friend out of the kindness of his own heart, just once?'
'No, you can't.' Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow as a momentary pause.
'Pish posh, Master Jedi.' Hondo threw himself to grab the tray of drinks when it arrived. 'I just want you to have a pleasant stay. Besides, if the Jedi council do ever arrive to collect you, I'm sure they'd be willing to heavily compensate such a... generous host.'
'So you mentioned.' If Obi-Wan had a credit for every time Hondo hinted at the Republic paying for his stay, he'd have enough for early retirement.
'Come along now, you can't keep a bounty hunter waiting.' With that, he shoved the tray of drinks into Obi-Wan's hands and pushed him back towards the table. As they approached, his companion's face lit up and he swore he had never seen anything that beautiful in his life. 'How generous of Kenobi to buy all of the drinks,' Hondo announced unnecessarily loudly.
'Did he now?' He could tell that she understood Hondo's angle but must have found it amusing enough to play along.
'I told him that as his host, I would pay. But, he has insisted on giving me the credits back, didn't you, Kenobi.' A hand outstretched in Obi-Wan's direction and he raised an eyebrow.
'Really?' He knew there was no point in arguing. With a roll of his eyes, he tossed a few credits into Hondo's palm. Any excuse to make money...
'You see that? Generous.' Hondo threw himself down beside the woman, opposite Obi-Wan.
'Hm, well that is the Jedi way, is it not?' She smirked over at him.
'I'm sure being generous isn't just limited to Jedi.' He chuckled, taking a long sip of his drink. Over the rim of the glass, he could see Hondo staring at him, as if he was expecting him to say something else.
'It is in this place, trust me.' She laughed, but he noticed that she was eyeing up his silent exchange with Hondo. After a beat of silence, she exclaimed, 'Kriff, is that a fight over there?' She pointed over Hondo's shoulder and he immediately whipped around, 'shame nobody's taking bets.' She tutted and Obi-Wan had to drink again to hide a laugh at the pirate's expense. Hondo scrambled to his feet and cleared his throat.
'Alas, I have another business venture to pursue. Remember Kenobi, seize the day.' He yelled, before scurrying off. Obi-Wan put his head in his hands and groaned.
'I think I'm in your debt for that.' He withdrew his hands and drank the remainder of his drink at a faster pace than he would usually deem appropriate.
'I'm sure we can find a way for you to repay me.' Her tone, combined with the words, had Obi-Wan's composure turning to dust.
'What do you have in mind?' He hadn't intended for his tone to sound as flirtatious as it did
'That depends, how attached are you to those Jedi morals of yours?' She paused, 'no pun intended.' Obi-Wan was slightly taken aback - was the forbidding of attachment that well-documented? Even if it were, why did he care that she knew about it?
'I'm not one to question my morals, but the definition of attachment is... somewhat flexible.' He was losing himself in the thought of it; stranded with pirates, a bounty hunter who seemed as intelligent and dangerous as she did gorgeous, and a desire bubbling up that he hadn't felt in as long as he could remember. Was the attitude of the pirates rubbing off on him, or had he had too much to drink? Either way, he really wanted to kiss her.
'It's funny how spending time surrounded by... how did you put it? Immoral, uncivilised criminals can change a man.' Her teasing statement was accompanied by a sip of her drink, her gaze never leaving his from the rim of the glass. When she lowered her glass she took a bold step towards him, 'define flexible.' She smirked, and Obi-Wan thought his heart was going to burst out of his chest with the speed it was beating.
Maker, it wasn't as though he was going to marry her. He had heard tales of Jedi bending the rules in far more serious ways. For liquid courage, he drew his head far enough away from her to empty the remainder of his drink. 'Do you want the dictionary definition, or the metaphorical one?' Having regained some of his wit, he grinned at her and she rolled her eyes.
'You talk too much, Jedi.' She laughed, pulling him towards her so their lips would meet in a passionate blaze. He barely had a chance to react, but quickly settled into the kiss. It was safe to say that this was the highlight of his unplanned stay on Florrum - maybe it had even made the trip worthwhile. The pair's lips moved in tandem for a few moments longer before they separated. 'How do you fancy spending the night on my ship tonight? I may even throw in a lift home for you.' Their lips remained close and her voice was low - it was as if it were just the two of them in the room.
'I wouldn't dare decline, I've already seen what happens to those who get on your bad side.' He smirked and the way her face lit up with a laugh had Obi-Wan ready to do anything she wanted him to.
'What was it Hondo said? Seize the day, Master Jedi... meet me in the hanger in five.' Pressing a chaste kiss to his lips, she left his arms and disappeared into the crowd before he could utter another word - something he was struggling to manage. He shook himself off and moved to gather his belongings from the repurposed cell that had been his home for the past few days. This seemed like a win win situation - a night with the bounty hunter and he would be dropped back home.
'Kenobi!' Hondo bellowed across the room causing Obi-Wan to stop in his tracks and take a moment to breathe and centre himself as he prepared for another interaction with the pirate.
'Hondo, I'm afraid I'm retiring for the evening.' He uttered the moment the pair were face to face.
'Tssh, I thought better of you than lying Kenobi.' He tutted, shaking his head in his usual over-dramatic manner. 'Did you think I wasn't watching?'
'I hoped you weren't at least.' He muttered under his breath as Hondo continued his speech.
'Your lady friend is waiting for you, is she not? Now now, I won't keep you long, but it would not be right of me to let you go without giving you some tips-'
'-no no, that absolutely won't be necessary.' Obi-Wan interrupted faster than a pod-race on Tatooine. 'It's like you said Hondo, seize the day, carpe diem, all of that.' He grimaced, giving Hondo a pat on the shoulder as he slid past him and tried to continue his journey.
'Excellent, Kenobi, excellent!' Hondo called after him as he rushed off. 'Just remember, you wouldn't be here without Hondo and his hospitality during a trying time! I expect payment in full Master Jedi, otherwise your next stay will not be so pleasant!'
'Next stay...' Obi-Wan repeated under his breath, rolling his eyes, 'not a chance.' At last free of Hondo's watchful eye, he scurried to gather his belongings and rush to the hanger.
Perhaps, all things considered, crashing on a hostile planet wasn't the worst thing that could have happened to Obi-Wan.
Finished Marooned and my heart is light 💖 I loved all of it. Kylo’s characterization, reader’s, the slow burn that was so believable, how touching every moment felt, and the epilogue???? Soooo amazing! I am SO glad you didn’t finish it at chapter 12 lmao i would have died
Summary: You and Hunter don't get to spend a lot of alone time together, which means you need to make the most of every moment you get.
Relationship: Hunter x gn!Reader
Word count: 727
Warnings: none, just a lotta fluff with maybe a touch of angsty subtext
A low hum was the only sound aboard the Havoc Marauder. There was always a sense of serenity that came with flying through Hyperspace. These moments of peace were few and far between where Clone Force 99 was concerned. Whether it was Tech tinkering with equipment, Crosshair griping about something, or Wrecker being... Wrecker, there was always background noise. Even when you tried to sit and meditate you would find it hard to focus with the constant commotion. But now, they were all sleeping soundly after another successful mission. You had jumped to take the stint in the pilot's seat, monitoring the journey. Although there was nought to do, you wanted to cherish this respite before you would land on Coruscant and the cycle of carnage would begin again. You cared for the Bad Batch more than a Jedi should, but you still appreciated some alone time.
'General.' Hunter's voice cut through your moment of tranquillity. He enjoyed the peace and quiet as much as you did. A man with senses like his always needed time to wind down.
'Everything okay?' You hummed, glancing over your shoulder to smile at him. You saw his posture relax when your eyes met. He was the one person on the ship whose presence you never needed a break from. In a seemingly never-ending war, stolen moments with the sergeant offered an escape from the bloodshed, albeit a temporary one. When you were alone together there was no Jedi and no clone, just two people who fell for each other despite all of the odds.
'Couldn't sleep.' He pressed a kiss to your head and lowered himself into the co-pilot's seat, wearing just his blacks.
'Liar,' you shot him a smirk. He didn't try and argue, just shrugged and mirrored your expression.
'It's not like we get to spend much time alone together these days. If I have to sacrifice a few hours of sleep then so be it.' He spun in his chair to face you, whilst you still gazed out into hyperspace.
'We have a briefing when we land, you won't able to concentrate.' Although there was some truth to your words, you were just teasing him.
'Am I ever able to concentrate when you're around?' His tone was one you recognised all too well.
'Quit flirting, Sergeant.' You finally spun around to face him, a grin settled on your lips.
'Why don't you come here and make me?' Taking both of your hands, he pulled you over towards the co-pilot seat. You straddled his waist whilst his arms snaked around yours. With your precious alone time dwindling by the second, your lips met in a passionate kiss. It felt like there was nobody else in the galaxy. Just you, Hunter and the depths of space whirring by. Heated kisses were broken up by warm embraces and a few verbal exchanges. You both silently agreed that you could stay like that forever. But, time didn't wait for anyone, especially not a Jedi General and clone Sergeant.
You were in the midst of another fiery kiss when you heard the rustling of the other clones beginning to rise from their slumber. Lips separating, you glanced at the flight path and realised you were about to leave hyperspace.
'It was fun while it lasted.' Hunter pressed a lingering kiss to your cheek.
'It'll be even more fun when we get some proper alone time.'
'I'll make sure the boys go out on a supply run after the briefing.' His forehead rested against yours. You both savoured this final gesture before you were going to be forced to return to acting like you had a professional relationship.
'I'm looking forward to it.' You kissed him once more, conveying all of your pent up passion into the short embrace. When you heard voices approaching, you climbed off Hunter and back into the pilot seat, both of you turning to gaze out into hyperspace as if the last few hours had never happened. Nothing about your relationship was practical, and some days you both wondered if all of the sneaking around was really worth it. But, in those moments, fleeting though they may be, you were reminded of why you were willing to sacrifice it all for one another. You weren't sure if or when the war would end, which meant you had to make every second together count.
