Ooh, this is such an amazing prompt opener. I wish you would write a fic where Jyn and Cassian stay up all night together for some reason. Curious how you’d write them sleep deprived but also together.

cats-and-metersticks:

Thanks so much for the prompt! 

Here goes…

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“There has never been ‘permanent peace’ in human history. But, there have been plenty of ages with decades of peace. In short, my hope is, haughtily enough, for a few decades of peace in the future.” – Legend of Galactic Heroes 

2 ABY, Felucian Jungle

When they started, they tried to be smart about this. They reasoned that if they had to be walking through the night, their best bet was to pace themselves, stay alert for rancors and gelagrubs and troopers, and reach the tiny port by daylight before the last transport off planet for months. With the imperial presence on Felucia what it was, the Alliance couldn’t risk sending in another ship for them. 

Of course, they originally meant to make the journey during the day, but after a scuffle and hasty retreat from their last place of residence (involving a bartender with an eye for bad credit lines, the head of an amateur militia, and a very angry tee-muss), they were delayed and had no choice but to walk through the night. 

Jyn supposes the one advantage is that it’s much cooler at night, and she feels somewhat more energized without the humidity of the day closing in around her. 

But that’s the only advantage. Hiking through the jungle in the dead of night is mostly just miserable, their headlamps bobbing ahead at the never-ending path to the spaceport, always too many klicks away. 

The plan at first is to rest every two hours, but the trail turns steep ten minutes in and they find themselves stopped after one, breathing heavily and swatting at flies. 

“How’re your ribs?” she said. She turned her head so her lamp is on Cassian’s face, hoping he won’t lie if she can see him. She’s right, or maybe he decides it’s not worth it at this point. 

“They hurt.” He shrugs and his hand creeps up to rub the right side of his chest, where the tee-muss clipped him in the village. “But I don’t think they’re broken.”

“Good.” Jyn nods and turns away, hoping he won’t ask–

“Your shoulder?”

“Nothing’s broken.” Not a lie, but she definitely pulled something, or several somethings. It throbs with every step and doubts she’ll make it through the night without any sort of painkiller, but she won’t admit that yet. 

Cassian accepts her answer and settles his gaze on the trail ahead. “Ready to continue?” 

Jyn re-adjusts her pack. “Whenever you are.”  

When they stop at hour two, Cassian actually puts down his pack and leans against a tree, adjusting the clothes sticking to his skin. 

Jyn bounces on her heels with impatience. “Ugh, don’t do that. Then I’ll put down my pack and sit down and then I’ll fall asleep.”

He looks up. “You’re tired?”

“No more than you are.” She glares. It’s the middle of the night and they’re walking through the woods. Of course she’s exhausted. “Come on, let’s just keep going.”

“If we don’t pace ourselves, we won’t make it in time.” He takes measured sips of water from his canteen and makes no move to pick up his pack.

“Fine.” She lets her pack slide to the ground, grunting as the strap slides off her bad shoulder.

Of course, Cassian notices. “Are you sure you don’t need something for that?”

“I’m sure.”

“Jyn.”

“I’ll need it more later,” she snaps. 

Cassian’s lips press together in a thin, disapproving line, but he doesn’t say anything. 

They stand in silence for the next few minutes, taking small sips of water and catching their breath. 

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