Chapter Text
Wes had been oddly quiet since they’d left the repair fields behind. Well, quiet for him. He still talked every now and then, words gushing out of him almost at random as they made their way through the thickening forest and further away from other beings. They both remained alert, keeping an ear out for predators and an eye for the perimeter markers security would have placed to mark the boundary of the cleared area.
The woods were not as kind to Hobbie as they were to Wes. Or perhaps, it was better to say that Wes had better wilderness skills. He found stable ground while Hobbie slipped and stumbled over damp leaves, and moved with relative quietness when compared to Hobbie’s lumbering stride.
The duties they were both neglecting nagged at Hobbie’s conscience. They should have been back in the clearing letting Wes introduce Hobbie to the Wraiths, or keeping an eye on the repair crews swarming the Night Caller and resupplying the Wraith starfighters. They were squadron seconds, after all, and had responsibilities.
Tycho, at least, had seemingly released Hobbie from his duties in the name of budding romance. And Wes was highly skilled at skating his way out of trouble with Wedge. So whatever official repercussions emerged from this foray into the woods would most likely be minimal.
Hobbie still felt a little guilty.
Glancing over, Wes shared a small smile with Hobbie before glancing away, one hand reaching up to quickly tug on a lock of hair.
I am confused.
Time to pick a spot.
Scanning the area, Hobbie located a large tree with an elegant array of branches. The seemingly perpetual mist that shrouded the ground level of Talasea didn’t seem quite so thick and there was plenty of room for them both under the upturned limbs of the tall kaha tree.
Redirecting them, Hobbie saw Wes shiver suddenly right before he also passed through the almost invisible curtain of tendril-moss hanging down from the tree branches. Water clung to the thin mossy strands, sending a new wave of cold through both men.
Wes rubbed his arms as he leaned against the twisty trunk of the kaha tree. “What I wouldn’t give to be on the other side of the planet at the old New Republic base.”
“Apparently, it’s in bad shape. The pilot housing was made from local materials and not kept up, and the old Planetary Governor’s Palace isn’t doing much better.” Hobbie shrugged at Wes’s inquiring look. “The Rogues were stationed here briefly during the push towards Coruscant. They lost someone here, so I think they’re glad to be avoiding the old base.”
“It seems like there’s a story like that on most planets we end up on these days,” Wes said unhappily.
Hobbie moved closer, hoping to share some of his body heat with Wes without also infringing on his personal space. “The Empire’s poisonous tendrils stretch everywhere.”
Wes nodded slowly, eyes wandering around the misty forest. Then dark eyes fixed onto Hobbie’s face. “So, this is both nice and kind of creepy.”
“The setting isn’t great,” Hobbie admitted. “But, um, it seemed like the best time. To talk.”
“Talk. About what?”
There was an intensity to Wes’s gaze Hobbie had never seen before, a bright light in them that hinted at a wide range of emotions running through the other man.
Hobbie swallowed.
“About us. What’s going on. Being apart and just having letters to exchange back and forth.”
“The messages have been nice. As good and as strange as the Wraiths are, they keep themselves more separate from me and Wedge than any of our squadrons did from us. It’s been a bit isolating.”
Feeling darling, Hobbie reached out and grabbed Wes’s hand, squeezing it firmly. “It won’t be for much longer, though, right? Wedge can’t keep you all penned up on the Night Caller forever.”
“We’ve never fought an enemy like Zsinj,” Wes replied. His fingers dug into Hobbie’s hand as he squeezed back. “I can’t begin to predict what the Wraiths will be called on to do.”
“Which is why we need to talk.” Hobbie took a deep breath. “I think we’ve been sending each other mixed signals.”
Wes opened his mouth to reply, then paused. He licked his lips, pressed them together, then slowly nodded. “Some of your messages- I thought I was seeing-” He stopped again. “Your messages came off as Taanabian here and there.”
“They, uh, they were supposed to.” Hobbie shifted his weight, suddenly highly conscious of every centimeter of his gangly body. “I obtained reference material for Taanabian, uh, communication methods. I went out with a girl once who told me about some of the special signalling and I got a reference list before leaving Coruscant. I, um, hope everything made sense.”
“That depends on what you were trying to say.”
Oh, Wes was just not going to help him out here, was he? He just stood there, wide eyed, slightly frightened, a bit hopeful, but definitely closed-mouthed on the subject of courting.
Hobbie tried to reply but his mind was blank. Words had fled his consciousness, screaming in terror. He could feel what he wanted to say, see the shape of it in his mind, but the specific Basic words that would give those feelings form were utterly gone.
The quiet moment stretched on as panic began to flood Hobbie’s veins. His heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was about to leap out of his chest and the adrenaline now coursing through him made his hands shake.
And then Wes moved.
His free hand was slow and tentative as it rose and came to rest on Hobbie’s hip. Strong fingers tightened their grip, exerting subtle pressure and encouraging Hobbie to rotate towards him. Their clasped hands continued to hang between them, squeezing hard enough to impede blood flow to their digits.
Wes was watching him anxiously, alert for any sign of displeasure or rejection. When Hobbie instead gulped and shifted closer, Wes let his hand slide around to the small of Hobbie’s back, which he took as an invitation to drift forward again. He stopped only when their legs were practically touching and his chest bushed against Wes’s.
Hobbie was glad Wes didn’t try to speak. His heart was pounding so hard and fast that his ears were completely filled with the roar of rushing blood.
Heat from Wes’s breath hit Hobbie’s face. The height difference between them was just enough to force Wes to tilt his head back some to look at Hobbie through thick lashes.
Hobbie suddenly remembered his hand, the one hanging limp at his side, and with only a small hesitation, he let it come to rest on Wes’s hip.
Energy sizzled between them, almost like an invisible force straining to keep them separate. They were close, so very, very close, and no one had ever looked at him the way Wes was right now.
A moment passed, then another, and suddenly he couldn’t help but lean forward, angling his head slightly while Wes did the same. The kiss was gentle, almost chaste, and then it was over. Wes pulled back slightly, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he trembled.
Hobbie’s lips were tingling like he’d stuck a limb in an energy socket.
He wanted more.
In a single swift motion, Hobbie swooped down and recaptured Wes’s mouth, drinking in his sudden gasp. The soft noises continued as Wes eagerly kissed him back. The longer their embrace lasted, the more right it felt. It was perfect, utterly perfect.
Almost without thinking, Hobbie drove Wes backwards until he hit the tree and gasped in surprise. Hobbie stepped closer, letting their bodies just barely press together. He didn’t want to make Wes uncomfortable, but he couldn’t resist feeling more of him.
More importantly, Wes was now wearing the most delightful smile and Hobbie hadn’t kissed him while he smiled yet.
Sliding a hand behind Wes’s back, Hobbie ignored the scrape of his skin on the bark of the kaha tree and pulled Wes closer. They kissed again, longer and deeper than before, and with real heat beginning to build up between them. Wes broke their clasped hands and wrapped both arms around Hobbie, holding him tight.
Feeling Wes’s broad chest pressing against his own was too much. He squeezed Wes around the waist until they were pressed together hip to shoulder. Wes gasped into his mouth as Hobbie rubbed briefly against him.
Instead of continuing to rut, Hobbie dropped his head down even further and pressed several kisses down the line of Wes’s neck. The other man moaned helplessly, tilting his head so Hobbie would have better access.
Nudging the collar of his partially undone flightsuit open, Hobbie found a tasty bit of skin and sucked hard for a few moments. Wes cried out at the sudden pressure, his entire body shuddering. A glow of satisfaction filled Hobbie as he felt Wes writhe against him. He release Wes’s neck and then attacked again in a slightly different spot.
He wanted to make certain Wes had something solid to remind him of this moment in the hours and days to come.
After suckling and nibbling a third mark onto Wes’s neck, Hobbie returned his attention to his mouth. This lips pressed together and Wes couldn’t stop whimpering as Hobbie pinned him to the tree and devoured him.
Eventually, Hobbie pulled away again. Wes looked at him with dazed eyes, his lips swollen and red.
A rare smile appeared on Hobbie’s face. “I love you.”
Joy filled Wes’s face. “I love you too.” Then he laughed, blushing. “We’ve been going in circles, haven’t we?”
“A little bit,” Hobbie said. Unable to resist, he leaned forward and kissed him again.
Wes loved him, Wes loved him, Wes loved him.
Wes returned the kiss wholeheartedly, his body now relaxed and pliant against him.
“You looked up charm signaling for me,” Wes said wonderingly a few minutes later.
Hobbie nodded. Wes loved him, Wes loved him, Wes loved him. “You’ve always worked so hard to do things the Core way. It seemed right to try to reach out for you using your own planet’s customs. They’re good ways, and you deserve it.”
Wes’s blush deepened and a hint of embarrassment flitted across his face. “It would have been okay to do things the usual way. Taanab’s so small compared to the rest of the galaxy and you shouldn’t have to ignore how everyone else does things.”
“I’m not. I won’t. Taanab’s not incompatible with other planets. And the charm signing is fun now that I’m not going to have to worry about my list being wrong.” Wes loved him, Wes loved him, Wes loved him- “Um, I don’t have to worry, right? I shouldn’t stop?”
“No, no, don’t. I could see what you were doing but it didn’t make sense.” Wes still looked embarrassed. “No one else uses charm signing, so I thought I was seeing things. I liked pretending it was real.”
“Apparently some Core social circles still use it,” Hobbie said, forcing himself to think. “And Alderaan did. Tycho probably would have figured it out ages ago if I’d shown him.”
“You didn’t?”
“Tycho is already a bastard. He doesn’t need fuel to do even more trolling.”
Wes loved him, nothing else mattered now. Wes loved him, Wes loved him, Wes loved him, Wes loved him.
“He pretends he’s all concerned,” Wes agreed, wrinkling his nose. Hobbie’s heart did a flip. “And in the end, he’s just digging for gossip.”
“Welcome to my life over the past few months.”
“It could be worse. You could have ended up wandering around an Imperial-controlled planet wearing a paltry disguise.”
The precise way Wes phrased that comment reminded Hobbie of something and he paused the light caresses he was giving Wes’s side. “Wait, I wrote that- Did you actually-”
Wes snickered, leaning his upper body more against the tree. “You did and we did. And as glorious as I looked, Wedge was even better. I have holos. As soon as it’s declassified, I’m going to put on a show 'n tell.”
“He’ll kill you.”
“Slowly and painfully,” Wes chuckled. Grinning at Hobbie, he darted his head forward and kissed him again. Pulling away almost as fast, Hobbie could see how dark his cheeks had become. Marveling at his own daring, no doubt.
The eagerness was joyful to see. The sudden shyness and hesitation, or perhaps uncertainty, was surprising but not unwelcome. It reminded Hobbie to slow down. As much as he wanted to do more to share his feelings with Wes, this wasn’t the time or place. If Wes ever wanted to join him in bed, he wanted plenty of time for them to explore each other.
He wanted to do this the Taanabian way and show proper respect for Wes’s home planet. It was more important to ensure he was properly courting Wes than to simply take a tumble together.
In any case, they did need to return to the field camp soon. They couldn’t stay away together, no matter how much Hobbie wanted to stay here and just hold and kiss him.
Hobbie took a small step backwards and took both of Wes’s hands in his own. Rotating them around, he pressed a kiss on the palms of his hands. After straightening, Hobbie continued to hold onto him, him thumbs caressing the spot he’d just kissed.
“I don’t want to go but we’ll need to-”
The comlink on his collar let out a series of shrill chirps. Sighing, Hobbie reached up with one hand and deactivated the alarm.
Wes nodded slowly in sudden understanding. He turned his hand to hold Hobbie’s and then pushed away from the tree, briefly adjusting his clothing.
“What happens now?” Wes asked as they reluctantly began to walk back to the field camp.
“We’ll just have to keep going on like before. But, hopefully, with a little less confusion,” Hobbie said.
Wes nodded and suddenly briefly fluttered his eyes while his finger drew a small circle on the back of Hobbie’s hand.
I will accept a kiss.
Hobbie immediately paused and leaned over to kiss him. A large hand came up, fingertips pressing against his cheek. In response, Hobbie cupped the back of Wes’s head and deeped the embrace.
“I’d like to court you,” Hobbie said when they separated. “Is, is that the right way to say that?”
For a moment, it seemed like Wes stopped breathing. “Courting me… As in…” His voice trailed off, leaving the unspoken words hanging between them. As in pursuing me with an intention of asking me to marry you?
Hobbie made sure to maintain eye contact as he nodded. “Yes, with all that it implies.” He smiled, small and hesitant. “I told you, I want to do this according to the customs you grew up with. I’m sure I’ll mess things up, but I’ll do my best. You’re more than worth it.”
“Oh.” Wes’s eyes were wide again, but also full of light and joy. He was smiling, looking delighted and shy and surprised all at once. “I’d… I’d like that.”
Hobbie felt light-headed as Wes kissed him again. His fingers threaded themselves deeper into Wes’s dark hair as he returned the kiss. If he didn’t hold on, he was going to float away.
He’d dreamed of this for such a long time it almost didn’t seem real. Not only had Wes not been repulsed by his advances, he
actually reciprocated Hobbie’s feelings.
He’d never let himself think it could actually happen.
They separated and Hobbie’s eyes flickered downwards, smugly noting how red and swollen Wes’s lips were. He’d done that. And…
Dropping his hand down, Hobbie tugged the collar of Wes’s flightsuit open again and found the darkening hickies he’d left there.
There was a gap.
Placing his thumb next to the gap between two of the marks, Hobbie lowered his head and eagerly started working on a new one.
Wes moaned, tilting his head to provide Hobbie with more room to work. More moans and whimpers fell out of his lips while a shudder worked its way through him.
When Hobbie finally pulled away, Wes stumbled slightly, falling forward as he panted. Hobbie caught him, holding him tight around the waist. Desire was burning within him again and he bad to gulp several times himself as he worked to get himself under control.
Courting. He was courting Wes not, not shoving him up against the nearest tree and peeling his flightsuit off.
“I’m not sure I’ll survive a proper season of courting,” Wes said, sounding a little wobbly. He wrapped his own arms around Hobbie and leaned his shoulders back enough to look him in the eye. “It’ll be fun to try, though.”
“If we were going to be on the same ship and not separated, I think I’d spontaneously combust,” Hobbie agreed. Wes laughed and Hobbie felt his heart began pounding again.
Five minutes and a handy tree wouldn’t be breaking the rules, right? Just sort of bending them-
As though sensing Hobbie’s sudden shift in thought, Wes reluctantly stepped backwards and out of Hobbie’s arms. He linked their hands again and tugged Hobbie forward, closer to the field camp and away from the privacy offered by the forest.
With a small degree of resignation, Hobbie let himself be led forward, discreetly adjusting his flightsuit with one hand. It was heartening to see Wes doing the same with his own, much more fitted, suit.
As they began to hear the sounds of the field camp, Hobbie hurried to walk next to Wes. They’d need to separate once they reached the camp. The Wraiths weren’t steady enough yet for Wes to risk any lessening of his authority over them, and walking around moonstruck and holding hands could make the younger, newer pilots giggle and want to tease. They needed a bit more seasoning before Wes became more of a real person to them and not “just” their squadron’s second-in-command.
If it had been just the Rogues waiting up ahead, he wouldn’t have hesitated to keep holding Wes’s hand. He trusted them to keep their teasing within acceptable limits and knew the more experienced pilots could maintain a healthy separation between their civilian and military identities.
He’d even put up with Tycho’s endless heckling and gossiping under those circumstances.
When they spotted the edge of the waiting clearing, Wes gave Hobbie a regretful look and they let go of each other without needing a single spoken word, nor with breaking stride for even a moment.
It was just for a short while. And even the fight against Zsinj would come to an end. They would defeat the Imperial Warlord and bring peace to the galaxy.
And for the first time in his life, Hobbie knew he would make it. He couldn’t die now, not when he had someone to fight for.
Wes grinned and quickened his stride as they passed the damaged corvettes. The mixed Wraith Squadron X-Wing and TIE fighters were up ahead and Wes couldn’t wait to introduce Hobbie to them.
The Wraiths were extra special babies, and just as easily could have been his and Hobbie’s as much as they were his and Wedge’s. He wanted to know what Hobbie thought of them and what suggestions he might have to continue their training.
And really, he wanted to have Hobbie next to him as long as possible. It almost hurt to have to keep a little bit of distance from him and it would be agony when the Wraiths had to get back in their ships to rejoin the Night Caller.
But it was going to be okay. Hobbie loved him and wanted to court him. Hobbie knew what courting meant back on Taanab and still wanted him. They’d kissed under the dark branches of the
koha
trees and the ache near his collarbone would be a delightful reminder for days to come of what had unfolded there.
Hobbie loved him, and he loved Hobbie. Everything had changed between them, and yet was exactly the same.
It was perfect and Wes couldn’t wait to see what happened next.
