Chapter Text
7 am was the only time of day Baze Malbus would tolerate the women’s track and field team at University of Yavin. He said that it was before they had time to fill their bodies with a bunch of calories and their muscles were still partly relaxed from sleep, all circumstances that would help their performance. He started every morning with a variety of different exercises, crunches, lunges, push ups, pull ups etc. Jyn Erso was one of his top sophomore students for cross country, she pushed through harder than the other the others, Malbus knew this was because he and his husband were her host family at the university. So he gave into what he thought she wanted and would push her harder, recommending new stretches and ways of improving her time. She was never distracted, when she ran it was like she was angry at the ground with every beat of her feet hitting the ground, angry at the wind- like she thought it was holding her back. She only listened to angry metal music when she trained to force more of those emotions.
Her best friend Leia was almost as good as her, but not as angry. Leia was annoyingly competitive. She got Jyn to run faster with quick witted jokes and teasing. Leia just ran because she was good at it, she liked having the control and felt free, opting for fun hip hop type music when she would do sprint training.
This particular morning, the forecast didn’t lie when it said that the area would be hit with at least 2 inches of rain. It was pouring but that just meant weight training inside the university 4 story gym. Leia was spotting Jyn as she pushed up the bar that was over her regular weight class.
“You are wrong.” Leia grumbled with her pouty face.
“I’m not and you know it.” Jyn groaned pushing up the bar two more times.
“Solo only goes out with bimbos with low morals. Girls who can rub two brain cells together are too much from him, and he is at least smart enough to know that.” Leia continued to grumble. One side comment about how Han Solo, the bartender at Maz’s and campus ‘bad boy’, was into Leia, had turned into an half hour long discussion.
“He went out with Qi’ra last year. She seemed pretty smart.” Jyn refuted.
“She dropped out, how smart is that?” Leia said snidely.
“She dropped out because she was offered a job with Crimson Dawn International. Obviously there was something smart about her to get that job.” Jyn groaned once more and finally decided she had had enough on the weight bench.
Leia scoffed and confidently took off a percentage of the weights on each side of the bar before laying down. “Besides, he’s old. He’s like a super senior.” Leia said not attempting to grab the bar. “He got a late start because he was in the military Leia He’s only 26. And you’re the one that keeps talking about him. ” Jyn told her waiting for her to start.
Leia went for the bar and huffed out before even trying to push it up.
“All this is besides the point. I don’t like him, even if he did like me. I am way too good for him.” Leia said proudly and started pushing on the bar. “Whatever you say Organa.”
Suddenly the music in the weight room changed from the fun hip hop that most of the team liked and got louder. It was hard intense, slightly sexist, rap music filled the room, and the sound of stomping came from the locker rooms, followed by loud laughing.
“What the hell?” Baze grumbled. He grabbed his low cane and limped towards the locker room doors. The entirety of the men’s varsity soccer team came clamoring into the weight room being led by their head coach Draven. “Get to work boys.” He yelled over the noise. “Draven.” Malbus mumbled and limped towards him. “Oh hey Malbus.” Draven said nursing his coffee. “Draven, I had this room booked for my team until 8:30 this morning.” Malbus said simply. “Oh yeah, but that belly washer out there really took us off guard.” Draven tried to shake Malbus off. “If you would have looked at the forecast it wouldn’t have. My team has a meet next week, we need to do our training.” Malbus pushed further in his rough low voice.
“Yeah I know, but you know, our season just started. Look, it's a big room. I’m sure they can all share. You only have 8 girls on the team so it’s not a big deal, look at them already getting along.” Draven said motioning to two of the soccer guys trying to chat up a few of the girls. Draven walked away and started to talk to some of the boys so Malbus would leave him alone. Jyn and Leia left their spot and went to Malbus.
“They are not leaving?” Jyn said in offense. “No.” Malbus mumbled with a tight face. Jyn looked at Leia, both thinking the same thing, ready to march over and make an embarrassing fuss until they left. Before Jyn could go forward, Malbus put a hand on her arm. “ Not today Erso, better to fight another day. Just finish your exercises and we’ll wrap up early.” He said going over to get the other girls back on task. Jyn and Leia shared a frustrated look and went to one of the leg presses. “When does soccer become the big team on campus?” Jyn muttered.
“They won nationals the past two years. Blame them for the tuition jump.” Leia informed her. Jyn rolled her eyes and started pushing their legs on the individual machines.
“Nice form Leia.” They heard a smooth voice coming around from behind them. Instead of anger, Leia showed amusement when she saw the ever charming Lando Calrissian come around the side.
“Thanks Lando, I’ve had a lot of practice” She said flirtatiously back. He flashed her a toothy grin. “Tell me Leia, how much bribing will it take to get some of you girls to come down to Maz’s tomorrow night?” He asked, leaning against Leia’s machine.
“I’m not sure? Depends on the right kind of bribe.” Leia said with her cute smile. Jyn could almost groan at this.
“You round up some of your girls, I’ll get some of my guys and we’ll flip the tab.” Lando said holding out one of his hands in agreement. Leia took it and with a small shake, “I’ll see what I can do Lando.” She said, He kissed her hand lightly.
“Happy to do business with you Leia. Erso.” He said nodding to Jyn in slight acknowledgement. As he sauntered away Leia leaned over to watch him leave.
“Now that is a guy I could get with.” She told Jyn with a smirk. Jyn scrunched up her face in slight disgust. “Why?” Jyn said curtly.
“He’s well spoken, dresses like he actually owns a mirror, charming, caring, intelligent. All the qualities of a guy worth dating an Amidala” Leia said turning up her chin a little. Jyn chortled and went back to her count. “I wonder which guys he’ll be bringing.” Leia said trying to see who Lando was talking to over her shoulder.
“You know he and Han are pretty tight, so he’ll probably be there, even if he’s not working.” Jyn pointed out.
“They are not as tight since Han bought Lando’s Falcon. Apparently Han told him it was only worth scrap metal, paid him way less then what it was worth, fixed like two things on it and now it runs like new. Lando’s pissed.” Leia informed her.
“What did he fix?” Jyn said curiously.
“Like the engine or something. I don’t know, but I doubt he’ll invite him.” Leia said matter of factly.
“So I’ll invite Mara, Iden, and Aurra. That makes 5 of us.”
“5? You mean 4.” Jyn said, still staring at the ceiling while pushing her legs slowly.
“No 5. Me, you, Mara, Iden, and Aurra. 5” she said counting down her fingers.
Jyn shot her a serious look. “Please don't make me go.” Jyn moaned.
“OH NO! You bailed out on me the last two times at the last minute. No way. You are coming.” Leia demanded. She looked at jyn who looked defeated. “Ok that was harsh, but seriously. Finals are months away. You did steller on your midterms and your last two projects. You deserve a night out before you have a bunch of other stuff to do.”
Jyn mused over this. She had been working her ass off this semester to get a summer geology fellowship in Mexico. It would put her future resume over the roof with job opportunities galore when she graduated. But a night out was tempting.
“What can I do to bribe you?” Leia mocked Lando quietly.
“2 batches.” Jyn said finally. Leia sighed with a small smile. Her blueberry white chocolate cookies were the best thing she could bake, and one of the only ways to Jyn’s cold heart.
“Deal.” She said shaking Jyn’s hand. Jyn smiled and closed her eyes and leaned back into her seat.
“Oh hey Andor.” Leia said beside her, shocking her out of her quiet moment.
“Hola Leia. Jyn.” Cassian said in his low quiet tone. The sound of her name coming from him moved through her ear like a soft guitar. Jyn opened her eyes. Not motioning to him, but watching him avoid Leia’s excitiable energy. He glanced at her and she gave smirk in return. Cassian Andor was one of the most elusive people on campus. He was from Mexico, so his accent was full of mystery like his dark eyes. Jyn didn’t want to admit how attractive he was, but once everyone else did it was hard not to. He always looked like he had stubble on his chin. His dark hair was a black mess that he was constantly pushing back. He was lean, but obviously muscular. The soccer team was not shy about running around the fields shirtless during practice. But there was something else behind his eyes. Jyn assumed it was something to do with his past in the military but she never wanted to pry. Her adopted brother, Bodhi was the first one to introduce Jyn and Cassian. Bodhi was hopelessly lost in a forgien language class and Cassian was kind enough to tutor him. Bodhi being the nervous type was grateful for any help he got, and after Cassian’s best friend Kay helped Bodhi with math, he was officially apart of their fold. She had been invited to several occasions with him, and had found herself at his suite that he shared with some of the other guys several times. He was nice to look at, but he was so quiet she never really knew too much about him besides what Bodhi told her.
“Andor, please tell me you are coming tomorrow to Maz’s” Leia said, abandoning her work out entirely to lean forward and talk to him. Cassian was fixing the ropes to one of the machines to support his strong grip and taller gant.
“Calrissian was mentioning something about it. I’ll have to see what else is going on.” He said simply. “You totally should.” Leia said with a beaming face. “And bring Kay, he needs a night out too!” Leia said, an equal opportunist when it came to having fun nights.
“I don’t know how he’ll feel about that.” Cassian said looking wary but amused at the thought of his best friend dancing in a club. Jyn noted his amusement with the same thought. Cassian saw her smile and let out a small laugh.
“Well ask. Jyn will get Bodhi to go, and I’ll ask Luke. He likes them so I’m sure he’ll feel comfortable.” Cassian looked back at Jyn who shrugged a little.
“I’ll ask.”
“Great! Come on Jyn. Let’s go ask the other girls.” She said and pulled Jyn off the machine. “See ya tomorrow Andor.” Jyn said as she went to follow Leia.
“Manana Jyn.” He said still looking at her. She looked back at him, but didn’t linger. Bad things happened when she looked at Cassian Andor for too long.
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Jyn walked back to the main campus with Malbus. “Are you coming to dinner tomorrow?” He asked. “We’re supposed to go out tomorrow night with Leia and a bunch of other people to Maz’s. But we’ll have time to come by before, maybe make an excuse to skip the whole affair.”
Baze smirked. “You know what Chirrut would say about that.” He said. Jyn rolled her eyes.
“Excuses an dishonest path.” she said like she was mocking Chirrut, her other host parent. Baze nodded. “You should go.” He said simply. Jyn was taken back by this slightly.
“Really? I thought you would be on my side.”
“You have worked hard this semester. Bodhi is improving all the time. Your training is doing well, you are more than ready for the meet. I think a night out would be a fine idea.” Baze continued. “
Jyn went silent on this for a moment. “Why don’t we reschedule dinner for brunch on saturday. Then you and Bodhi can tell us all about your night.” Jyn reflected on this for a moment.
“I’ll ask Bodhi and see.” She said with a shrug. Malbus smirked and bid her goodbye when she went to her next class.