Chapter Text
The sky was tinted a deep crimson red, and the few tattered clouds that hung in the sky had become many shades of orange. Jyn glanced over the treetops and viewed the beautiful, but deadly sunset. She took a moment to breathe in her surroundings before she shifted her gaze back to Cassian, who was kneeling in the rough sand across from her. A sad smile spread across his face as his dark eyes met her sea blue irises. They sat in silence for a moment, just as Cassian reached for Jyn's hand.
She entwined her fingers with his and then looked back at him.
"Your father would've been proud of you, Jyn." He said softly, in a gentle, lamenting tone that she had never heard him use before. Jyn's glossy eyes stung with unshed tears as those words escaped his lips, and began to tremble. She pulled his broken body closer to hers and closed her eyes.
"I love you..." She whispered, cupping his cheeks with her soft hands. His dark stubble prickled against her hand as she awaited his reaction. Cassian gently kissed her cheek as she buried her face in his chest and felt his strong hands form a protective embrace around her body. Jyn breathed slowly and calmly, entirely forgetting about her impending death. All she cared about was that Cassian was here with her.
The shockwave on the horizon grew closer and closer, casting a blinding light over the two of them. Jyn kept her eyes squeezed shut as she felt intense heat surround her. She was torn away from him and thrown into the water, gasping for breath. Her lungs were empty, and her throat was parched with the burn of the shockwave. Jyn struggled against the current with what was left of her might as she finally reached the surface, and took a deep, desperate breath.
She dragged herself to the shore, and squinted her eyes to look for Cassian. Quickly, she recognized him lying down in the sand. Jyn rushed over, crawling through the sand towards Cassian's unconscious form. She looked down at his body and then leaned her head down to his chest and listened hopefully.
Thankfully, Jyn could still hear his strong pulse. She listened to the sound of his booming heart for a brief moment before gently shaking him to wake him up.
"Cassian. Cassian... it's over. We're alive..." Jyn rasped, still shaking his body lightly. Cassian's eyes opened slowly, and he looked up at Jyn silently. His dark gaze fixed on her as his hazy vision became clear, and he could see her above her.
"Jyn..." He mumbled, struggling for words. Jyn leaned down and kissed him hungrily, assaulting his lips with hers. Cassian then took control of the kiss as she tipped him back into the sand, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks. He buried his hands in her hair, gently stroking it as they brushed their lips together again and again.
"We could go home..." Jyn said in between kisses.
"No matter where we are, I'm at home as long as I'm with you." Cassian replied. Jyn leaned against his shoulder as the last ray of the setting sun faded, and the sky went dark.