J.C. An unlikely love story (Thrawnxf!reader)

A Lasting Home for the Force Inhibitors

"Welcome, Lieutenant Commander (y/l/n). Admiral Thrawn asked me to escort you to his office in the Chimaera." Hands clasped behind her back, the Commodore Faro salutes you in those early hours of the afternoon.

The Chimaera is currently under repairs at the dockyard and the different officier saw their agenda alleviate substantially.

"Alright. I'll follow you."

She stands aside and gestures to you to advance to the footbridge. This is perfectly useless, of course, all ISD follow the same plan and you can walk to any important office on board yourself. But the protocol asks for you to be escorted by an officer of the ship. You walk side by side in silence, the young recruits getting out of your way and saluting you. You keep an impassive expression, but interiorly savor these marks of respect. Now, now, don't let it get to you.

You finally arrive at Thrawn's office, guarded by two stormtroopers. You give them your cylinder code and they let you pass the door. As soon as the door shuts down, Karyn throws herself at you. You embrace her with all your might, almost making her take off the ground.

"My dear!" You say a bit strangled by her hug. "When was the last time we saw each other?"

"Too long (y/n), way too long. We have so much to talk about!"

"It is pleasant to see such comradery within the rank of the Marine, but I doubt this is the place." A calm voice rises behind you.

Thrawn comes closer with a thin smile and what you think is a hint of amusement in the eyes. You part from Karyn, almost painfully, and adjust yourself in front of your superior with a smile badly contained.

"You are right sir, sorry sir." You concede.

Karyn put a strand of hair behind her hair, failing to hide her smile too. Behind Thrawn another figure draws itself.

"(Y/n)!"

"Eli."

Your smile dies a bit, but you make the conscious effort of appearing enthusiastic. He hugs you too and you give him back his embrace, although a bit rigid. You look at your three friends reunited.

"Well, the whole gang's here!" clearly forgetting that they were all your superiors.

"She's right, when was the last time we were all four together?" Karyn demands..

"Surely back at the Academy, so almost nine years ago." Eli recalls, holding his chin.

"Well. I wanted to reunite... the gang one last time." Thrawn's soft voice calling you all to calm down. "I figured a little manual activity was the perfect occasion."

One last time? What does he mean by that? Next to him Eli slowly nods. What have these two prepared?

It's only now that you notice all the mess in the office, some metal boxes, some tools, some transparisteel panels, a bag of gravel...

"What's with all of that?" You ask.

"It is for the activity. I will shortly receive a precious package and need a space to store it in my office."

You grin and side-eye him.

"You know you have workers for those sorts of things."

"It would not be as much fun as with friends. Plus I will need your interior design talents."

Everyone arms themself with a tool and you open the plan. You spend all afternoon screwing, bolting, assembling what looks like an aquarium.

"You got some pet snakes, sir?" You ask.