The Quarry

The Quarry - Part 18

Din could feel the warmth of the sunlight coming in through the window on his back, but he didn't dare move. They'd slept in much later than normal after staying up most of the night, and now Versa was wrapped in his arms, breathing steadily against him. He had just been studying her as she slept for the last hour he'd been awake, noting every freckle, every scar, every stretch and dimple in her skin, and every curve and dip of her body. He was almost afraid that if he moved and woke her that the dream would shatter and he'd wake up alone on his gunship again with her still lost to him.

Versa's nose crinkled as the sunlight finally crept across her eyelids. Slowly, she opened one eye and looked at him.

"Hey," he said, gently brushed some of her hair out of her face.

"Hey yourself," she replied, taking his hand to interlace her fingers with his. "So. What now?"

"We take it one day at a time, but we do it together."

She reached out with her unoccupied hand to run her fingers through his hair, playing with his earlobe. "I've seen you without your helmet. What does that mean for you?"

Din brought her fingers to his lips. "It either means you're a prison convict or someone I care for very deeply."

"Ah, clearly the prison convict then."

"Why not both?"

"I suppose," she said, grinning and giggling softly. "But the helmet off isn't a one-time thing?"

"I hope none of this is a one-time thing. But I'll wear the helmet when we're out in public and only take it off when it's just the two of us."

She nodded. "Ok."

They laid in silence for a few minutes more, just looking at each other before Versa shifted, propping herself up on her elbows to squint at the daylight out the window. "It's late. We should get moving."

Din pressed feather light kisses down her shoulder. "Alright."

Versa looked down at him, meeting his eyes as his lips grazed the scar on her shoulder blade that she'd earned breaking his carbonite chamber. "You're making this terribly difficult, you know that?"

He grinned back up at her innocently. "Oh?"

Versa rolled over on top of him, pressing her lips to his. "I guess you could still use some work on your form."

Din slipped his fingers into her hair, mumbling against her mouth. "I hear practice makes perfect."

Vera groaned, rolling her eyes. "Were you always this corny?"

He laughed, sliding his hands up her arms to pull her closer. "If the galaxy were a song, then you'd be my favorite Vers." It was a line he'd used frequently when they were children, always eliciting the same response, a shove and eyeroll from Versa.

"Ah, yes. How could I forget?" she teased before kissing him deeply.

----

An hour later, the two of them exited the inn. Din tossed the key to the inn keeper behind the counter as Versa apologetically gave him a few more credits to cover her guest and the trouble he'd caused. As they emerged into the sunlight, Versa pulled out her datapad, opening Jon's file once more. "I hit a few of the businesses that were still open when I got into town yesterday, but there's still a couple others to go." She tilted her head up to look at him, and this time, she found his eyes without issue.

"Alright," he replied. "Where do we start?"

They hit a few small shops that were in the main town square, all giving the same answer. Din could tell each "no" was hitting Versa like a punch at this point. I can't blame her. We started so strong on this lead, and now we're struggling to find the next leap. We had him, and now it feels like he's slipping away again. Any hesitation he had of physically comforting Versa had disappeared with their confessions the previous evening. Now, his hand rested comfortably on her back or her arm, and she leaned heavier against him, the barriers she'd put up gone as well. He held her, stroking her hand with his gloved thumb when their fingers found one another.