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When Cassian was asked what he was doing with you by his side and his arms full of supplies and belonging, his answer was simply: "You wanted me to take her back to Tatooine? That's what I'm doing." 

You tried to look as solemn as possible, but it was impossible. Your stomach hurt in anticipation of this mission. As you loaded the supplies onto the U-WING (Kay did all of the heavy lifting for you), you and Cassian talked quietly over what you would do. It was smarter to have a plan rather than wing something, he told you, but when you glared at him for saying that, he only laughed.

They gave him three days to get to Byytak, which was a few systems away. In the heart of the city there was Tivik, a member of the Rebellion who held secret but crucial information for the future of the Rebellion. You asked Cassian if he thought it had something to do with the planet killer, and although Cassian said he wasn't sure, you both quietly assumed that it was.

 Cassian was Kay's co-pilot and you took a seat in the back of the ship. You polished your father's lightsaber as the ship took off. You watched Yavin 4 disappear in the distance and you were grateful you were away from it. 

"The trip will take approximately nineteen hours, if we don't experience any delays," Kay said. "But with most of our travel being through lightspeed, I don't see the possibility for any delay. There's a ninety-six percent chance we'll get there on time to meet Tivik." 

"I like those odds. Luck must be on our side," Cassian said.

"The Force must be on our side," you corrected. 

Cassian turned his head to look at you. He smiled. 

A few minutes passed, and you finished reorganizing your knapsack. Cassian had given you another medpac, a portion of food, and a canteen of water. You had your blaster and lightsaber attached to your belt. Your poncho had dried for the most part and you slipped it back on over you. You tied your hair back into a braid that ran down the middle of your back.

Cassian came to sit next to you. He held his hand out, silently offering you something. 

"What is it?" you muttered, holding your palm open. Cassian dropped the tiny pill and it rolled down your fingers before settling in the dip of your hand. You furrowed your eyebrows and looked at him. 

"Keep that close," he said, his voice very soft. "It's a lullaby." 

"A lullaby?" 

"Yes." You tucked it into the inside pocket of your poncho. He watched you conceal it as he explained. "A suicide pill. If you are captured by the Empire, you take it. Quickly, before they stop you." 

"A suicide pill?" you murmured, eyes widening. How could such a tiny object contain enough power to kill you? 

"There's a lethal substance contained in the center of that pill. If you need a way out, that is it. You'll be knocked out in seconds." You were looking at him now, and he was looking at you. "When the Empire captured me, they stripped me of my jacket because they noticed that I was reaching to get it. I wasn't quick enough. If they capture you, they will torture you for information. There's a chance no one can save you. I promise you I won't let it happen easily, it's just a precaution. And if you're captured, it's because I suffered the same fate or I was killed. But you must listen to me --- if that is your only way out, you take it. Don't wait for someone to rescue you. Do you understand?" 

You did. If he wasn't enough to keep you save or you him, then no one would come if things went south. This was your only option to avoid torture. You nodded. "I understand, Cassian."

"Good." 

You hated this --- you hated planning the end of your lives like this. You wanted to protect Cassian. There was this desperate need inside of you to ensure that nothing would ever happen to him. The more time you spent with him, the more desperate you were to keep him alive. For the Rebellion, you told yourself, but no, it was more than that now. 

"I will do everything in my power to keep you safe," you whispered.

"Don't waste all your efforts on me, ___." 

"Waste?" 

"The Rebellion needs you too, you know," he said. There was a glimmer in his eye as the right corner of his mouth turned up into a smile.

"I don't think the Rebellion needs me, Cassian," you said. You'd done your part in your story. This wasn't about you now. 

But with the way Cassian was looking at you, you knew that he only saw you in this moment. Somehow. He was looking right at you and you knew that everything you were feeling, he was feeling, too. You held your breath as you watched his lips part. Your heart already knew what he was going to say.

"I do," he said. "I need you."

With those words hanging in the air between you, there wasn't anything more to say. He must know that you need him too. There was no doubt in your mind that you both needed one another. There would be no returning to normal life after this. There would be no returning to a life without him.

Cassian wasn't one to believe in dreaming about futures and you knew that about him. They just weren't guaranteed. He could die at any moment. You could die at any moment. And you had given up every dream of a future when you left Tatooine and fled to save the Captain. But it was impossible to not dream of a future with this man. You wondered if he'd kiss you --- if he'd tell you what he felt about you. 

You shifted your arm so that it could fit in the space between his and his side. Your hand rested on the inside of his elbow. Your cheek pressed against the leather of his jacket. You could feel his breath against your hair as he turned his face towards you, pressing his lips to the top of your head.

You closed your eyes and drifted off into a warm, restful sleep that wasn't plagued with the heaviness of horrifying visions, but of your Captain's deep brown eyes, warm skin, and the beautiful way he whispered your name.