Chapter Fifteen

The three left in the cave hadn't talked since Chirrut and Cassian had left. Jyn had stormed off to a corner, and each person attended to their specific tasks, although Jyn hadn't really been doing anything, just sitting on the dusty floor with her legs up against her chest. She had taken out her kyber crystal, hands flipping it back and forth. Sleep hadn't claimed her, because hunger was giving her stomach cramps. Where were those two?

Time had caused a thin, claw shaped moon to take ahold of Scarif. Days seemed to be ending quicker on this planet. Bodhi had finished working with Baze to check on the supplies and weapons. He walked over to where Jyn was, and tried to make a joke in hopes of lifting the solemn mood.

"Cassian's job for me was pretty easy."
 Jyn's gaze shifted from the crystal to Bodhi's feet, upper body, and face. He saw tension locked in her shoulders and body as her eyes scanned him with precision.
Uh oh. Did he say the wrong thing? 
Her lips pressed together, and she rounded on Bodhi in what seemed to be an explosion of words.

"He asked you to watch me! Who does he think he is?"

Bodhi's face had a look of bewilderment as his mouth opened and closed of its own accord. He finally managed to get over his brief surprise, as he stammered out, "Um, I think Cassian means well."

Baze had been silent this whole time. He had nothing better to do but polish the weapons, having finished locking them in place. He looked up from his mindless task to glance at Jyn. "You heard the captain. He didn't want you running around recklessly."


"I don't need him to be overbearing right now, okay? I already have enough to deal with." She was being selfish right now, maybe self-centered, but she didn't have the heart to consider others at this moment. "I just want to get off this planet!" Exhaustion and urgency combined to make her feel impatient.

"Jyn."
 The pilot placed a hand on her shoulder. "I don't think Cassian's being overbearing. He's looking out for you. For all of us. He knows what's best for the team. And we all want to leave. It's not just you. Think about it, okay?" For once, his voice was stern, more demanding in an effort to get his point across.

"I'm tired, Bodhi. I really am." Jyn took a shuddering breath, about to continue her tirade, but a rustle outside signaled the return of Cassian and Chirrut. Hearing the noise, Jyn abruptly turned away from Bodhi, shrugging off his hand with a jerk, before the two were within sight. Bodhi understood, stepping aside. She didn't want them to know what had just happened.

Cassian had glanced at Jyn the moment he stepped foot inside. Diverting his gaze, he laid the two fish he had in his hands on the ground. Chirrut joined him, setting down four fish to make a pile. While Bodhi and Baze moved to greet their team members, Jyn did nothing, standing still in place towards the cavern-like walls. She faintly heard Chirrut's declaration that food had arrived, and faintly heard Baze and Bodhi exclaim in delight. Their fading, rushed footsteps told her they were going out to collect wood for fire. Jyn's eyes flickered towards the fish on the floor, the only sign of acknowledgement she decided to give to the two remaining in the cave.

So he had brought something back afterall.

~~~

Cassian was sitting with Chirrut, Baze, and Bodhi. They were all savoring the fish, a welcome, albeit repetitive meal, after a day of running around. Nobody had spoken at first, everyone being pre-occupied with the meat on their plates. But not long after, the sound of laughter and talking filled the silence that had been omnipresent before. Chirrut was telling Baze and Bodhi about the fish hunt, and something had been amusing about the story, because the two listeners were grinning and laughing. About what, Cassian didn't know. He hadn't been paying much attention.

Cassian couldn't help but notice that Jyn hadn't joined them.
She had chosen to be by herself. Back turned away from the world, hunched shoulders, a physical expression of the weight of invisible, unspoken burdens pressing down. That was enough to tell him she wasn't happy. Yet, even though he saw these things, Cassian didn't want Jyn to be alone.
He knew nothing about her personal life, only that there was a father whom she tried to save back on a deadly research facility. He couldn't imagine what she had gone through her whole life. Not even half of it.
But what he could tell, he could see that she was someone loyal. A person that knew the value of relationships, however they had turned out. She deserved to have someone with her for company.


Baze, Bodhi, and Chirrut were enjoying themselves - Surely they wouldn't mind him gone.
Use the fish as an excuse. She hasn't eaten anything yet.
Cassian rose to his feet, carefully wrapping a piece of fish in a leafy package. Each step took him further from flames of a warm fire, towards shadows clinging to rock, closer to Jyn.

"Here."
The offering of fish was extended to her, its fresh aroma clearing away the musty smell of the cave, warming the cool air.

"I'm not hungry."

"Eat. You need it."

"No."

That stubborn character again. He knew she was lying. No matter what, she was going to eat.

"Give me some face, will you? It took me a long time to catch this," he emphasized.
"Two fish actually," he added underneath his breath.

He heard a scoff of amusement. Then, her green eyes finally met his brown ones. "You? A long time? I thought it was all Chirrut."

He bantered back: "Don't underestimate me."

The warmth in Cassian's voice broke through to Jyn. Her hand reached up warily to grab the package from him. Looking up again, she caught Cassian's eye. Wordlessly, Jyn shifted to the side - an invitation for him to sit.
He took the opportunity, legs crossed on the ground. Jyn held the fish close to her as she ate. The hunched shoulders straightened, her posture became upright. It seemed the fish gave her renewed energy.

"This is better than those berries," Jyn unabashedly announced.

"You're saying they weren't good? I put a lot of effort into finding them."  Cassian indicated the area where the cut across his side had been, a tangible reminder of how he had escaped Death. "I was injured, mind you," he teased.
The memory of Jyn's hand on his when he had offered her the fruit flashed in his mind. He quickly pushed it away.

"Not that they weren't good. But I would have preferred this." She looked at the fish, then at him, her eyes glowing with a challenge.
"I could have done a lot better than you. In a shorter amount of time too."

"Just eat."

 ~~~

Bodhi drew his attention away from Chirrut and Baze to see where Cassian was. He spotted him with Jyn, the two seated together almost shoulder to shoulder. Whatever anger Jyn had held against Cassian earlier, it had faded. Bodhi's eyes never left the two, and he wondered how Jyn had managed to shift from one emotion to another so quickly.

Bodhi thought about calling the two over, to make three into a group of five. Everyone seemed to be in a better mood. But as he opened up his mouth to speak, prepared to move, he felt a sharp jab on his foot, from a pointed object. Chirrut and his staff.

"Ow! What was that for?" Bodhi grumbled, rubbing the area the staff struck.

"She is not ready yet. She needs to learn to trust, more than anyone else here. She needs time to get to know everyone. When the right moment comes, she will come to us on her own."

Just as he had finished saying those words, there was movement from the other side of the cave. Cassian returned from the shadows to the light, his face illuminated by the red and orange of the fire. Bodhi thought Cassian looked more alert than he had earlier. Maybe even a bit more happy. Or perhaps that was just a figment of his imagination.

"Jyn's going to sleep. Are you all going to turn in?"

Baze and Chirrut nodded. Bodhi involuntarily yawned, in answer to Cassian's question.

"Right. Two more days, and we're leaving." He fixed them all with a steely, determined gaze. "When we return, the Empire won't stand a chance."