Facing the Dawn with Sleepless Eyes ...

[twelve_not_fourteen]

Han was sitting in the curved bench of the Millennium Falcon’s galley with a half full glass of a colorless liquid in his hand. It was a loose, but familiar grasp. Like he had held a glass like this a thousand times and he knew exactly how to wrap his fingers around it comfortably. Whatever he was drinking smelled kind of like what leaks out of a power coupler when it’s busted.

He happens to be drinking it slowly, at least.

His other hand is occupied stroking through over the hair of a young lady who decided that his thigh ought to be her pillow while she took a nap.

Most days on the YT-1300 were good. Better than they had any right to be.

A fact that he attributed much of to the very same lady in his company now, but the path they treaded earlier in the day had been as choppy as entering a planet’s atmosphere during a raging storm. He should have seen it coming. He did, after all, accept a job that was going to have them delivering vaporators to a collective of moisture farmers on Jakku.

Yeah. That Jakku. The very same desert planet that he had gotten the lonely girl off of. The one she spent so many years waiting on, barely scraping by sometimes, waiting for people who never did end up coming back for her. The planet she never hesitated to mention that she would be perfectly happy never to go back to.

She put on a brave face when he told her their destination. Tried to act like it didn’t bother her, but he was beginning to know Rey very well and she wasn’t quite the card player he was yet. He saw the worry in her eyes and the nervous fidgeting of her hands when she thought Han wasn’t paying attention.

Hardly ate anything all day.

Didn’t find the usual things to talk about.

The worst of it, however, was when she tried to smile for him. The occasional attempt to smooth things over and prove to him that everything was okay – but the smile was wrong. She wasn’t feeling it and it made for a lame comparison to one of her real smiles; which he was pretty sure could light up Umbara if given the chance.

Han felt terrible about everything, of course.

Didn’t even come to bed, which, Rey realized after an hour or two of trying to wait up for him. That was when she took it upon herself, blanket in hand, to wordlessly collapse on him in the main hold. It was the only way she could see herself getting any rest.

Comments

[thesefirststeps]

Rey would like to think that she's gotten to know Han well enough in their time together that she understands that everything he does is for a very good reason ... even if she doesn't understand those reasons at times. He's been doing this for quite some time, after all, If anyone knew how to navigate the smuggling life, it was Han Solo.

They've both lived hard lives - harder than anyone should have to go through, but she thinks, despite the nightmares plaguing her in the leadup to returning to the source of them, she still wouldn't have it any other way. After all, if she'd grown up any differently, maybe they never would have met, and Rey doesn't want to think of a life without this man in it, just like this, so many more days and nights of being together in every way possible. So much more happiness.

Finally, he moves a little harder, and she gasps a little louder, quick to match his rhythm, shivering as his hands grip her hips, helping her move along with him. Her gasps shift into moans, her nails dig in just a bit more into the skin of his shoulders.

[twelve_not_fourteen]

The romantic in him - and there is one in there, buried under a whole lot of layers of cynicism - likes to believe the same. They were meant to find each other and meant to remain together now that they were. They had skills that both suited them for the uncertain life of a smuggler. They could remained cooped up in a small space and still be fond of each other.

And when their bodies came together, like they are now, it seemed pretty obvious they had physical chemistry too. Now that she's working at the pace that he's going to free a hand to rub up against a place she might find stimulating. Well passed the point of being shy with her, he gets his hand against her clit and keeps it busy while they thrust.

As he gets closer, she'll notice his breath getting heavy. The slight pant has his lips slightly parted. The water makes Rey's skin look even smoother than it does when she's dry, which is kind of nice. It's not where most of his attention is in this moment, but it's something he can't help, but notice on some level.

[thesefirststeps]

The romantic in him meshes well with the romantic in her - hidden underneath the kind of uncertainty that would take some time to untangle - but every day spent together, and every moment just like this cause some of those worries to disappear. She's so happy with her new life, so happy with this man that loves her and looks after her. How could she ever want anything else?

Physically ... they've always fit together, even though it might have taken some time to figure out the right ways to satisfy each other. They're still learning, as a matter of fact, and Rey thinks those are her very favorite lessons. Like now, and the brushing of his fingers against her most sensitive spot, and in conjunction with the motions of their bodies, and she's sure that nobody else could ever make her feel this way.

It seems like every strangled breath she takes is punctuated by a moan. She can feel the ball of pleasure in the pit of her belly growing bigger and bigger and threatening to burst, and it wouldn't take very long. As it is, she's barely hanging on by a thread, barely able to keep her eyes on Han, his expressions, the way he watches her so intently.

"I think I'm gonna - ", she gasps, shuddering hard, "I'm s - so close ... "

[twelve_not_fourteen]

He wants to see her hit that point and she's right there - you can see it. In the way that her face twists in a look of intimate pleasure. The way that she holds her body up; tense in some places and rubbery in others. It's just that he's really right on the edge himself. It's not always easy to hold off when with someone like Rey.

So thrusts a little bit harder, while trying to think of something benign like ... power converters. Something that will take his mind off of this gorgeous little scavenger that he's feeling lucky to have at his side. He can only stave himself off for about another minute, though. He leans forward, recruits both of his hands into holding her hips down.

Han pleasure becomes a groan close to her ear as he finishes. The warmth of him inside of her.

[thesefirststeps]

He's exceptionally good at getting her there, so it's no surprise that she's so close to her peak now, nor how close she can tell he is, too - it's clear in his eyes, in the tension building in his body, ready to snap at a moment's notice. And it only makes her want to fall all the more.

Han's thinking of power converters in order to hold off, and Rey's urging herself on mentally, meeting each thrust as it comes, her moans growing ever louder as she barrels toward a much-needed release. His hands at her hips, helping her move, the bite of fingers in skin, and she gasps sharply, unable to move, but not requiring it.

That last hard thrust, the way he pushes into her, it's all she needs to set off her own orgasm, her body pulsing and squeezing, holding on tight as she is overwhelmed by wave after wave of the purest sensations wash over her, again and again and again.

[twelve_not_fourteen]

They have good chemistry together. As good as he's ever had, honestly. The kind of thing that seems too good to be true or even corny sometimes when you're hearing other people describe it. They have the kind of thing that finds himself hoping is gonna last throughout the years. Even though he promised he was never going to let himself get this attached again.

His body feels all relaxed now. Han's shaggy hair is perfectly soaked. The bandage that they wrapped over his hand is starting to come undone from the activity and the water, but he hardly minds. They can always put another one on.

He leans in to press a few lazy kisses into the pluse of her throat. "That was nice." He murmurs, in the moments between when his lips aren't busy.

[thesefirststeps]

And Rey, not knowing any better, wonders if every couple shares this sort of chemistry, this sort of passion, the sort of emotion that bubbles beneath the surface of every look they share, and every word they exchange. Yeah, maybe it's like something out of some old holo, but Rey wouldn't change much if she could. Maybe the nightmares. But not much else. Oh, she loves him, she does, but despite her best efforts, she still worries ...

She's tired in all the best ways - and for the moment, perfectly content to sit under the spray for a little bit longer if it meant they could keep this close without having to come apart just yet.

They'll take care of the bandage once they're out of the shower and dry. For the moment, she's happy to reach up and brush heavy wet hair away from his eyes, and to cant her head just slightly to the side, giving Han enough room to press as many kisses to her throat as he so chooses. "Always is with you."

[twelve_not_fourteen]

He could stay in a moment like this for a long time. The water heating system in the Falcon is actually one of the few things Han can count on to work well. If they weren't due to be at their destination in an hour or so, perhaps would. He'd love to get them back to somewhere that they could just relax for a while - even if it was just Kashyyyk.

Maybe when they figured out about her dreams.

"I hope to keep it up then." His hands unclench from her skin. One falling away while the other settles on the small of her back. "Always is a tough standard to live up to for a long time."

[thesefirststeps]

As long as they're able to take their time in extricating themselves from each other, Rey will be happy. Next time they find themselves in this position, hopefully it's with much more time to spare. There are things to be done, she knows, preparations to be made still, but when they're so caught up in moments like these, it's almost like time stands still.

(Don't mention Kashyyyk. She wants nothing more than to visit again, to spend even longer just enjoying a break, no worries, and all the time they could ever want to spend with each other, both with Chewie's family and without.

Maybe after they figure out just what's causing her dreams.)

"I have - ", Rey begins, smiling the softest, most fond smile she can muster, even with hair plastered against her neck and face and down her back, water dripping from her nose, " - the utmost confidence that you will."

[twelve_not_fourteen]

He doesn't seem to be in a rush. That boneless, lazy feeling after sex is one of his favorite parts. Just like all the rest of it is his favorite part too. Who knows when the next time they'll get to sneak off together like this is?

Here's hoping she's not self-conscious. She still looks like the prettiest girl in the whole galaxy to him. Even with water dripping off the rounded part of her nose and her long hair all sleek and stuck to her skin. Matter of fact, she'd getting an awfully deep look of appreciation from his hazel eyes.

"That means a lot to me."

Even as she works it into pillow talk - those sweet things a couple will say to each other after sex, it matters a lot to him that Rey will say she has confidence in him. So few people in his life have.

"You know that I think you're the best person I know, right? We're gonna figure out what's going on with the nightmares and then, I'll get all squared up with Jabba and we can start deciding what we want to do and ... not what we feel like we have to do."

[thesefirststeps]

That's a good thing, since Rey isn't in much of a hurry to disentangle, either. The water was still hot, and this was nice, just enjoying each other's company, the time they've been gifted in which to enjoy each other, and their shared afterglow. Because they never really can be sure when they'll be able to do this, or something like this, again.

She might be a little self-conscious, but she isn't going to allow it to make her try to move away any faster. Besides, it's easy enough to forget when he's looking at her like she's the most delectable thing he's ever seen.

Rey means the sentiment completely, believes it wholeheartedly, and maybe it's not the typical sweet nothing, but it's a good thing if it's reiterated the depth of her feelings, and her belief that what they have is exactly what she wants.

Normally, she'd probably make the joke that she was the second best person Han knows, after Chewie, but he says it very seriously, and she knows, even in her pleasant haze, that now was not the time for jokes. "Are you saying that maybe you'll want to start thinking about ... settling somewhere?"

[twelve_not_fourteen]

She can bring up settling and it doesn't make him want to panic, which is nice. It's been a number of years since he's been around a woman that made him want to change his life to make it better suited for their life together.

"I suppose I mean more that we don't need to be smugglers just because I've always been a smuggler." Which he hasn't. The idea that he's always been a smuggler is actually a fiction, but hey, it's what he tells everyone. It's not as if his military career was all that notable.

"If that's what you wanted, though, we could."

[thesefirststeps]

It's come up in conversation a few times since Kashyyyk. Not many, but enough to cause Rey to think about the prospect from time to time. Not that she was in any way disillusioned with the life they were already living, but Han had been doing it for so much longer, and maybe -

Maybe he was getting a little tired of the same old routines?

But more likely is the fact that she's probably still a bit addled from their previous activities, and she hasn't given the statement nearly enough thought.

"At some point, I would, yeah", she answers, pausing as she tilts her head up just enough to be able to press a kiss to his jaw. "What would we do if we weren't doing this? S'pose I could always be some sort of mechanic. I do have a way with fixing things ... "