Work Text:
It was always you, love
“So, the Bad Batch huh? Tough crowd, eh?”
Jesse was making small talk. The duo having been on a rescue mission to save their friend Echo with a new group of clones on Skako Minor. The mission soon continuing, sort of, after Echo’s recovery and with Echo’s help to take back Anaxes.
The two though, Jesse and Kix, having known each other since forever. First becoming best friends and all. And then lately, Jesse having gotten an inkling there was something else developing there between the two of them.
Something Jesse had been wanting to ask Kix. The kind of a question he was not as comfortable asking - if Kix had had a similar epiphany of their relationship.
And yet here Jesse was, feeling really anxious. Not able to put his feelings into words let alone show his cards despite this being Kix. Jesse’s bff whom Jesse had been able to talk to about anything and everything and in between.
“Heh, yeah! Those guys are going to give Echo the run for his credits for sure!”
They both chuckled. Having been with the team not just in the rescue mission of Echo but also the Anaxes one. Echo having come through for them all and then ending up joining with the Bad Batch.
A surprise perhaps? Then again Echo had always been his own man and guess he fit in well with the group of wayward clones.
But this wasn’t about Echo nor Clone Force 99.
No, this was about the two of them. And suddenly, despite having thought things through rather throughly at that, Jesse was getting cold feet about… feelings and whatnots.
Thinking perhaps that he really shouldn’t reveal how he really felt after all.
They were in a most perfect setting though. Sitting by the campfire on their shore leave midst of nature without a soul in sight. Just the two of them like most times they got time off.
There was a long spell of silence passing between them.
The soft crackles of the fire a soothing sound in the calm night. A few critters crawling in the background, never disturbing the duo’s peace though.
“So, guess it’s time to turn in?” Kix asked quietly, not looking at Jesse.
The other trooper too clearly having something on his mind it seemed. Jesse knowing Kix all too well, feeling the strain there in Kix’s tone.
It was then, when Jesse made the choice. Do or die kinda situation it was. As he wanted to know. And if it wasn’t going to be then Jesse would deal with it. They would still be friends. That would never change.
“Kix…”
“Yeah?”
“Can I tell ya something? Something personal?”
Kix finally turned to look at Jesse, seeing the myriad of emotions written on his friend’s face.
That being more than enough of a revelation to Kix than perhaps any words of explanation ever could be.
“Kix, I…” Jesse swallowed and licked his suddenly dry lips, as the words died in his mouth.
Kix looked at Jesse for a long spell, their eyes connecting. Kix reading Jesse like only he could. The emotions Jesse had sought for a long time, written on Kix’s face, his eyes sparkling with…
“I know Jesse… I know.”
Before Jesse could try to utter another word, Kix leaned in. Their lips connecting softly, a barely there kiss. Kix withdrawing quickly enough, his eyes back on Jesse, searching for… something.
“Was I wrong?” Kix asked quietly still.
Jesse smiled suddenly.
“No you were not.”
Jesse leaned in for another kiss, this time though, the kiss lasting longer than the first one had.
“You were exactly right, Kix. Perfectly so.”
The smile telling, the third kiss, well, suffice to say, the two were on the same page about their feelings and everything else.