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The cantina was raucous and crowded, a buzzing energy taking over the revelers. Kanan’s warm, steady hand pressed in at the small of Hera’s back, making contact with the thin sliver of bare skin between her top and her pants, as he guided her through the throngs of drunken couples.
“Did we miss something on recon? There was never this many people before.” Kanan’s breath was hot against her bare earcone and his lips grazed her skin, sending a jolt of electricity down her spine.
Hera turned her head slightly to speak against his ear, the only way either of them could hear each other over the din of the live band set up in the corner of the room. “We must have. Either way, I don’t think we will get the intel we were looking for tonight.”
Kanan’s hand slid across her waist, resting briefly at her hip, before he grabbed her hand. His height gave him the advantage as they searched for a quiet corner to regroup and based on the way he gripped her hand as he weaved between the crowd, he found something. Hera let him pull her to him as he brought her to a barstool. Hera took the stool while Kanan stood to the side of her, creating a barrier between her and anyone who might want to take advantage of a pretty Twi’lek, especially in the outfit she wore to blend in.
The plain black legging pants and simple black tank she wore weren’t inherently sexy or revealing, but Hera knew that didn’t matter to the sleemos of the galaxy. She spared a quick glance at Kanan, who was probably the only male in the cantina not staring at her with lecherous intent.
The bartender, a grizzled looking Weequay, waltzed over to them. Without saying a word, he gave a slight tip of his head, silently asking what they wanted. Hera leaned in closer, while Kanan kept his gaze on the exits, silently observing, watching her back.
“We are from off world and wasn’t really expecting such a crowd tonight. Something special going on?” Hera asked, laying on her Ryl accent thick to play the part of a hapless tourist.
The Weequay gave a disbelieving snort. “You really ain’t from around here, are you? It’s New Year’s Eve.”
Hera gave him an exaggerated smile, pressing her hand to her chest in feigned disbelief. “Did you hear that, love? It’s New Year’s Eve!” she said, turning her attention to Kanan.
His eyes danced with mischief as he responded. “Well, it’s a good thing we stopped in then, darlin’. I can’t think of a better way to bring in the New Year than dancin’ with my girl,” Kanan drawled.
Hera bit her lip to stifle a laugh. Kanan was really leaning into the part he was playing for the bartender, but the intensity of his blue-green gaze spoke his truth. He really would want to celebrate a new year dancing with her.
Six months had passed since she invited him onto her ship after leaving Zaluna and for the most part, Kanan had kept true to his word. He helped her around the Ghost and didn’t press to be more than crew. That didn’t mean that Hera didn’t notice the way his gaze lingered when he thought she wasn’t looking or the way her body reacted to the incidental touches he couldn’t seem to avoid. Yup, the longer they lived together, the harder it was becoming for Hera to ignore the mutual attraction between them. The only problem now was what they were going to do about it.
“Two glasses of whatever local lager you have on tap,” Kanan supplied, his years spent in dingy bars coming in handy. He slid a few credits across the bar top. “Thanks.”
The bartender left them with a nod, scooping up the credits as he went. Kanan turned all of his attention back on Hera and her breath caught in her throat at the intensity. Something was brewing between them, the months of tension and frustration were obviously coming to a head that evening, and strangely, Hera was okay with that.
“So I guess we can call this another dry run?” he asked, a smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth.
Frustrated, Hera let out a deep sigh. “I can’t believe I didn’t realize tonight was this planet’s New Year’s Eve.”
Kanan leaned on the bar top on one elbow, while the other hand dropped down to her bar stool, dangerously close to brushing against her upper thigh. “You know, it is okay to not know everything,” he said, casually.
“Not when it is a matter of life and death, it’s not,” Hera retorted. His nonchalance over everything was wearing thin. She knew it was a defense mechanism. For too long he cared about too much and now, for his own survival, he had to pretend like he didn’t care. She understood it, but it didn’t mean she agreed with it.
Kanan pressed in closer to her, eating up all the available space between them, until once again his lips were brushing against her earcone, left bare by the casual lekku wrap she was wearing. “I have complete faith in you when it really matters, Captain Hera.”
A sharp shudder shook through Hera’s body at the combination of his words and the way his lips tickled her skin, completely unbidden but not at all unexpected. They were becoming too familiar with each other, too intimate, and Hera, for one, could no longer find it in herself to be cautious with her heart around him. There was an inexplicable connection between them, something that could only be the work of the Goddess, not that she even really believed in the Goddess anymore.
Hera darted her tongue out to lick her bottom lip, finding her mouth impossibly dry. His proximity made it so kriffing hard to think, and from the way a certain body part on the lower half of his body was pressing against her thigh, Hera guessed Kanan had similar feelings about being around her.
Blessedly, the bartender came back with their drinks, interrupting the sexually charged moment between them. Kanan gave a nod of his head in thanks and reached for his glass, not moving away from Hera in the slightest. She watched as his full lips parted around the glass and the long line of his throat worked as he swallowed. Would those lips be as gentle on hers? Or would he devour her like a dying man would a last meal? Hera shook her head, trying and failing to clear her mind as she brought her own glass to her lips.
The lager was smooth as it went down, with a faint fruity note that disguised what she was sure was the strong proof of the local brew. One drink would be her limit, not because she was a lightweight, but more because whatever happened tonight, she wanted to be fully cognizant. The weight of Kanan’s gaze on her felt exhilarating, and Hera shifted slightly in her seat, wanting to disguise the friction she was desperately trying to create between her thighs as an attempt to get more comfortable.
“You look very nice tonight, Captain,” Kanan drawled against her earcone again, obviously using the din of the bar as an excuse to stay close to her.
Hera glanced up at him, her eyes catching on his mouth before traveling up to meet his eyes. His pupils were blown wide with desire, the beautiful blue-green almost black now, but the crinkle at the corner of his eyes and soft smile held affection.
She turned her head to speak directly into his ear now. “Thank you. It feels weird to wear something besides that flight suit.”
Hera felt more than she saw the smile on his lips as he responded. “It reminds me of the moment I first saw you on Gorse. Although, I have to say I do miss that cloak of yours.”
“Don’t know that it would really go with this outfit,” she replied, adding a soft teasing lilt to her words.
The band at the corner of the cantina started playing a ballad and couples all around them took to the makeshift dance floor, swaying to the music and holding each other close. As the instruments behind her kept a steady, soft beat, the singer spoke into the microphone, drawing Hera’s attention away from Kanan.
“We are just a few minutes away from the New Year, so grab your loved one or your just right now one, and join us out on the dance floor as we celebrate another year!”
Next to her, Hera felt Kanan straighten up, moving away from her. He placed his now empty glass back on the bar top and held out his hand, with a shy smile.
“Would you like to dance in the new year with me?” he asked tentatively, almost as if he half expected her to say no.
Hera slid her hand into his waiting one. “More than anything,” she said softly.
Kanan beamed at her as he tightened his grip on her hand. Effortlessly, he led her onto the dance floor, easily avoiding every other couple pressed up against each other in their own little bubbles. When he was satisfied with their location, he smoothly pulled her into his body, placing his other hand firmly on her hip. Hera brought her free hand up to his shoulder and let him lead them in a slow sway to the music.
At first, Kanan kept it professional; a suitable amount of space between them, his hand never wandering from his firm grip over her clothes on her hip. But as the band played on and time seemed to stand still, Hera found herself gravitating towards him. With every shuffle of their feet, the distance between them closed. With every turn of their bodies, Hera let her hand slide closer to his neck until her fingers could toy with the ends of his nerf tail. And as more and more couples encroached on their space, Kanan’s hand inched further around her waist, until his hand was splayed firmly across the small of her back, his calloused fingertips tracing delicate circles into the bare skin.
Abandoning any pretense of this being a mission, Hera let out a soft sigh and rested her head on his firm chest. Kanan dropped her hand in favor of circling both of his muscular arms around her waist so Hera wrapped her arms around his neck, inhaling the unmistakable musky scent that was Kanan Jarrus.
It seemed to happen of it’s own accord, as if once again the Goddess was conspiring with the galaxy to bring them together. In that cantina, propelled by the couples around them, all of the trappings of Captain and Crew could fall to the wayside, and they could just be Kanan and Hera.
They shifted into an intimate dance easily, their bodies fitting against each other so well, like they were made for each other. Hera hadn’t even realized it had happened until it was already too late. They swayed to the music, holding each other close like lovers would, surrendering completely to the magic and promise of the New Year. Maybe this is what was destined to happen and they needed this particular set of circumstances to finally see it.
The vocalist on stage with the microphone interrupted whatever tender moment was brewing between Kanan and Hera.
“In just a moment, we will start the countdown to the New Year! So grab a drink or your partner and get ready to start the year!”
Hera shifted her head back slightly to meet Kanan’s gaze as the crowd around them started to shuffle around, hurriedly grabbing drinks and lovers in preparation for midnight.
“You know, back on Coruscant, they used to say that whatever you are doing at midnight, that is what you will bring into the new year,” Kanan said, his gaze darting down to her lips.
“Is that so?” Hera whispered, her own gaze zeroing in on Kanan’s lips.
Kanan gave a slight nod, then swallowed. “Yeah.”
In the background, Hera vaguely heard the countdown start, but her entire awareness zeroed in on Kanan and what was about to happen. He dipped his head down to hers, his nose brushing her cheek and the hairs on his chin tickling at her chin. Hera parted her lips in anticipation, desperately wanting him to make the first move, knowing she never would. Kanan’s breath ghosted across her lips. He was so close, as close as he could get without actually touching her, and Hera heard her own soft whimper escape.
She felt more than heard his whispered words.
“Three, two, one.”
Then his lips were on hers and time stood still. A soft slide against her mouth at first, but as Hera’s fingers sunk into his hair and his hands dug into her flesh beneath her top, the kiss deepened. His tongue was gentle yet demanding as it slipped inside her mouth, tasting her, stroking across her bottom lip. It was everything and nothing like what she expected. Hera welcomed the intruder, absently wondering what else he could do with that talented tongue.
Silvery confetti fluttered around them as the crowd cheered, but neither Kanan nor Hera dared break apart just yet. They kissed as if they had all the time in the galaxy, as if they weren’t in a room filled with people who had opted to give their partners quick pecks rather than mind-blowing kisses. She swiped her tongue against his, meeting his in a dance only they knew the steps for. Kanan’s lips broke into a wide smile against her, kissing the corner of her mouth, then nipping at her bottom lip, before he pulled away only enough to be able to meet her gaze.
“Happy New Year, Hera,” Kanan said.
Hera smiled back at him and the spark in his eyes promised a lifetime of more.
“Happy New Year, Kanan.”