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You glanced around the overcrowded bar, your stomach fluttering nervously as your eyes searched the throbbing masses for hints of blue.
When he’d tempted you with a night out, telling you it was karaoke night at 79’s, you hardly believed him, but the small squad of shinies screeching some pop song—that you knew you’d have stuck in your head for ages after this—told you he was right.
Your nervousness started to blossom into a stronger anxiety as you slipped between the dancing patrons to get to the bar.
Once you finally managed to flag down the bartender, you opened your mouth to order but were quickly cut off.
“She’d like a Bespin Breeze,” that familiar voice said behind you.
The bartender looked to you for confirmation, and you smirked.
“Actually, I’d like some of that spiked eggnog. Sounds festive.”
You glanced over your shoulder, catching a brief glimpse of that scratchy goatee as it leaned in to press a soft kiss to your cheek.
“Hey janad’ika,” Fives mumbled against your cheek. You could feel the anxiety melting out of your bones as he held you close.
“You said you’d be back yesterday,” you chuckled, turning to face him.
“I said we expected to be back yesterday,” he smirked. “You should know by now that the GAR has its own concept of time.”
“Oh, yes, I forgot that time is a construct and navi-computers lie,” you snarked.
Fives reached past you to grab your drink and hand it to you before leading you to the far wall of the room. It was ever-so-slightly quieter here. “You think I’ve got access to the navi-computers?”
“Echo does,” you laughed. “He’s a good enough slicer.”
“Echo’s a busy man— I’m a busy man. How’d you know he can slice anyway?”
You smirked against the glass of your drink as you took a long sip, your lipstick leaving a light print on it. “We talk,” you shrugged. “He told me he was interested in slicing, but never had the time to get better.”
Fives’ expression shifted. You knew this one well; this was his not-very-good-sabacc face. “Since when have you talked to my twin?” He tried to look neutral, but the furrow in his brow and his tone betrayed him.
You stepped impossibly closer into his space. “Since when have you been jealous of other people I talk to?”
Fives sighed, rolling his eyes lightly. “I’m not.”
“No?” you asked innocently. “That’s interesting because Kix told me that you’d definitely be upset if you found out I regularly talked to other troopers.”
“Did he?” Fives muttered, his gaze over your shoulder, likely locked onto the poor troopers you were dragging into your little game.
“He did, but I guess Rex was right after all,” you shrugged.
His gaze finally broke, turning back to your sweetly innocent expression. “You talked to Rex?”
You nodded. “He said that you wouldn’t care who I talked to.”
“Mesh’la,” Fives murmured, his tone almost scolding. “You know I trust you; the guys were probably just having a little fun at my expense, and Echo shouldn’t be—”
You smirked. “He’s the one who told me your ship was delayed—”
“I told you—”
“—two days ago when he sliced into the navi-computers looking for an update.”
Fives huffed, his eyes falling closed. “So you already knew we were delayed when I commed you yesterday.”
“Yep.”
“You knew that we were delayed and you acted all annoyed with me?” Fives was starting to grin again. Good; he was starting to catch up. “Did you even talk to the guys?”
“I did.”
“Why?”
You grinned, tipping your head back to gulp down the rest of your drink in one gulp, set the glass on the high-rise table next to you, then closed the final few inches between your body and his. “Because I take great joy in watching you get all riled up.”
Fives looked like he had the wind knocked out of him. “You… like…?”
You almost snorted. “That was very eloquent, but yes,” you snickered. “I think it’s cute when you try to pretend you’re not jealous.”
Your fingers found the edge of the neckline on his undersuit, running the fabric between your fingers, acting as though you didn’t notice the ripple of goosebumps that spread across his neck and the flush of deep red that flooded his sun-kissed skin.
“I also like it when you get all flustered around me,” you added.
“Why?” he breathed.
You leaned in, your faces impossibly close. His breath would’ve been fanning across your face if he had been remembering to breathe at all.
“Fives, do you want to ask questions or do you want to come to my apartment?”
Fives’ mouth fell open as his eyes widened. Any bravado or swagger he had was clearly gone in favor of earnest surprise and longing.
“Lead the way,” he managed to mumble.
You smiled again, watching him closely as your hands slid up—one resting on his shoulder, the other weaving into the short curls at the back of his head.
You pulled him to you, finally letting your lips meet with his, and you finally understood all the clichés about first kisses.
There was no sound, nor movement around you. Time halted and you truly wouldn’t have been sure if seconds had passed or hours if anything would pass through your brain beyond the hazy cloud of him and want and need.
Neither of you was sure who pulled away first, but after a few helpless pants, you pulled back together like magnets.