*remind me to save files more often

*idea was stolen from a badly-written fic

*so sue me

*don't own Kyp or Jaina, blah blah

~~

Jaina sensed Kyp before she saw him, his powerful presence flooding her awareness even through the turmoil of emotions in the crowd. The starfighter pilots moved to let him past and she saw him, that same, stupid smirk on his face.

Sithspawn, she thought. Why had he done this? Why? He'd tricked her, everyone, making them bend to his will… destroy something harmless, innocent… She saw the arrogance on his face as he approached. Well, she could do something about that, at least.

Suddenly, he stopped, a few inches away from her. His grin spread wider and she narrowed her eyes, longing to knock it out of him. He seemed to sense her anger and his smirk faltered for a second, but then a dangerous gleam came into his dark eyes and he grinned again.

She reached her hand up to hit him, to slap the arrogance out of his face, but he caught it in his own hand. Quickly, he grabbed her other hand and, in one fluid motion, he pulled her towards him.

Jaina was startled and froze for a second, feeling his body uncomfortably close to hers – but not that uncomfortable, she realised. Before she could pull away, he brought his face down, his lips hovering close to hers, and she leaned forward against her will. His kiss was soft, and she kissed him back, giving in to the feeling in her stomach.

Kyp's hold on her hand faded as he slipped his arms around her, pulling her tighter to him, and still she didn't pull away. She wanted this; she needed this. She felt his mouth ease open and she tasted him, her own arms slipping round his body to hold him closer to her. She barely noticed his hand as it ran up her back until she shivered, and felt him pulling her head even closer, his hand running through her hair.

Jaina didn't notice the silence of the hangar until it evaporated, applause and cheers filling the gap. Someone whistled appreciatively; laughter echoed around them, and suddenly she remembered where she was. She pulled away violently, shaking off his embrace and stepping back to glare at him.

The smirk was gone, replaced by an almost genuine smile that gave way to confusion.

"I can't believe- Kyp, you – you do this, trick us all, and then- and then-" Her voice was shaking; she couldn't continue. Instead, she kept glaring at him, frustration and anger rolling off her again.

"You seemed to enjoy it," he said quietly, the confusion apparent in his voice.

"I don't mean – I mean – out there! That wasn't a weapon! That wasn't a weapon at all that we just destroyed, that we just killed! Tell them what it was, Kyp!"

"Everything the Vong make is a weapon."

"No! That was a worldship, a home for – for their children, for their civilians, for innocents!"

"And it'll hurt the Vong, and that's what we need in this war. It'll set them back. That can only be a good thing."

"You – you don't understand. We destroyed a home. Because of us – what we did – children are going to die. Doesn't that mean anything to you, Kyp?"

His voice took on a hard, defensive edge. "We need every victory we can get against the Vong. And they don't have any reservations about destroying our own civilians."

The pilots murmured quietly around them; Jaina was shocked to realise most were agreeing with Kyp.

Most.

At the back of the hangar, she saw Gavin and Wedge, arms crossed and their faces tight with controlled anger. That is, apart from the vague sense of amusement on Wedge's part, from before.

Jaina shook her head in frustration and glared at Kyp one last time before storming out of the hangar. She needed to be far away from him now. As far away as she could get, away from his presence, away from him and the feeling that, even in her anger, haunted her stomach.

~~

Kyp stared at the empty doorway Jaina had just left by, barely acknowledging the congratulations from the pilots surrounding him. They cheered again, clapped him on the back, and he took it in numbly.

Had he done the right thing? She had returned the kiss – oh, she had definitely returned that kiss. He smiled faintly as he remembered it, then shook his head. But the strike – he couldn't help but sense the pain that her truths had held. Maybe – no. It had been the right thing. Hadn't it?

He turned and pushed his way through the crowd, towards the hangar exit. He stopped as Wedge stood up and blocked his path. "General," he said, with a curt nod.

"Was Lieutenant Solo correct, Durron?"

Kyp hesitated, then nodded. No sense lying further. "I – didn't tell the whole truth when I-"

"The whole truth?" Gavin butted in sarcastically. "Durron, what you told us was just a blatant lie."

Anger flared in Kyp, then was doused with shame. Shame? That's a new one. "Yes," he agreed reluctantly.

"Thank you, Gavin." Wedge turned back to Kyp. "So you abused the Lieutenant's position, convincing us to attack the Yuuzhan Vong worldship, making us think it was a terrible super-weapon."

Kyp frowned, but nodded silently.

"You lied to us, Durron." Wedge's voice softened as he added, "You lied to Jaina."

Jaina. Not Lieutenant.

"I – it was the only way to destroy it. Even if it wasn't a real super-weapon, it would provide the Vong with the means to vastly increase their forces. Without it we set them back a long way. They'll have to find somewhere else to grow coralskippers and train their warriors. It helps us in the long term."

Wedge studied him. "You know that reasoning isn't enough, Durron. Not where it counts." He sighed. "But it's too late now. You're not under my command anymore; there's not a blasted thing I can do about it. But," he added, a warning tone creeping into his voice, "there's something you can do."

Kyp was puzzled. "What?"

Wedge regarded him for a moment longer, then stepped aside, out of Kyp's way to the exit. "Understand this, Durron, and understand it well – all formalities aside, I'm close to the Solos, and I don't want to see any of them hurt." His eyes narrowed. "Any of them."

Kyp swallowed and nodded, seeing the fierce protectiveness in Wedge's eyes. Neither do I.

He sighed and stepped out into the corridor, leaving the pilots' celebrations behind. He felt Wedge's glare follow him until he turned a corner into the corridor of pilots' quarters. Right, he thought. Right.

~~

Jaina jumped as she heard the buzzer go off. She wiped her eyes as it buzzed again, and stood up as it buzzed for a third time. "Alright, alright already. I'm coming."

It kept buzzing insistently as she walked towards the door, breathing deeply to try and calm herself. Someone was obviously desperate to see her – probably Gavin, or Wedge, come to check on her.

She opened the door, and almost slammed it shut again when she saw it was Kyp. He quickly edged a foot in to stop her, and she glared at him again.

"Can I come in?"

"No. Get your foot out of the door, it means I can't slam it shut in your face."

"That's the whole point. Look, Jaina – I came to talk to you. I need – to sort things out here. I – look, please, let me in."

She glared at him for another second, then shrugged and turned away, sitting back on her bunk. "Whatever, but make it quick."

Kyp stepped in slowly, shutting the door behind him. He looked round briefly, but there was nowhere else to sit down, so he leaned against the wall and stared at Jaina. He took a deep breath. "Look, I came to say – I came to apologise. I'm sorry."

"For what? Lying to me, tricking us all, that – that –" She couldn't bring herself to say 'kiss'.

"Lying to you and tricking you all. I'm sorry," he repeated.

Jaina looked back up at him and saw the – honesty? – in his eyes. Yes, it was there. She looked away again. "Apology not accepted."

Kyp sighed, exasperated. "What do you want me to do? I'm sorry I lied to you."

"Are you sorry you destroyed the worldship?"

He hesitated. "No. I had to do that. I would've tried even I hadn't had your help."

"Well then."

"What does that mean? Well then what?"

Jaina sighed. "You're right; you lied to me. You made me believe you, you made me trust you. You made me think that maybe, everyone was wrong about you – maybe, you were human, maybe you had changed, maybe you really could be trusted. But it was all just a trick to get your way."

Kyp's eyes narrowed. "OK, I tricked you, and I'm sorry about that too. But I have changed, Jaina. I'm not just the dark hotshot everyone seems to think."

"Could've fooled me."

Kyp ran a hand through his dark hair, exasperated again, and sat down next to Jaina. "Look, I really am sorry I did all that to you. I – I wish I hadn't, but it was the only way to make you trust me, for me to get the military support I needed."

Jaina looked sideways at him. "Well, it worked for you then, but you can bet I'll never be trusting you again."

"How many times can I say I'm sorry? I'm sorry you don't trust me. I wish you could, but you're the only one who can decide that."

"Yeah," she said quietly. And she wished she could trust him too. "I want to…"

"What?"

Jaina froze – she hadn't realised she was speaking out loud. She sighed and fell back against her bunk, freezing again as she hit Kyp's arm instead.

He froze too – he'd been holding his arm out hesitantly, debating whether to put it round Jaina or not. Well – too late now. He pulled her towards him in a hug, surprised when she didn't pull away.

She leaned against his shoulder, wondering briefly why. But then the tears came again, and she welcomed the tightening of Kyp's embrace.

"Trust me, Jaina," he whispered, pleadingly. "You can trust me; I won't hurt you."

"I – I know." How did she know? But she did. "I know, but – Kyp, you make it so hard!"

"I'm sorry." His voice was soft and quiet and honest.

She pulled away slightly, looking up into his dark green eyes. There was pleading in there; the tears blurred her vision, but she saw his honesty. She tried to smile, but it was quickly choked by a sob, and she leaned against him again, returning the hug and crying into his shoulder.

~~

He held her – he wasn't sure how long for, but he held her tight against him until her tears stopped, rubbing her back comfortingly, wondering what exactly she was crying about. Was it him? If this was the effect he had on Jaina, then – then what? He didn't know.

When she finally stopped crying, she pulled away again, leaving Kyp disappointed. He looked into her eyes, her deep brown eyes, trying to understand. "Let me help you, Jaina," he whispered.

"I can't – I don't even know what it is – why-"

"Ssh. I can help. You can trust me."

Jaina hesitated and finally nodded. "Yeah."

Kyp pulled her back into an embrace again and she fell against him, head leaning on his shoulder once again. But this time, she lifted it after a second to meet his gaze. He studied her for a second, then lowered his lips to hers.

He kissed her softly again, feeling her return it willingly. He felt her hands slip into his hair, pulling his head down closer to hers, and he kissed her harder. He pulled her tighter to him, taking in her taste, her scent, the feel of her body pressed so close to his.

Eventually, she broke off for air, and he smiled at her. She smiled back, and he felt reassurance flooding through him. It's OK, she told him. I trust you.

He reached up a hand to brush away a strand of hair that had fallen across her face. She's so beautiful…

Jaina leaned up to kiss him again, pulling his body towards her. She pulled him closer, falling back onto the bed, still kissing him passionately.

Kyp broke off suddenly and stared at her.

She shook her head and pulled him down again.

He let himself fall, feeling her soft, warm body below his. He kissed her again, losing himself in the rising heat. Her lips were so soft, her body was so warm – it felt good, lying there with Jaina.

But he shook his head and pulled away. "I can't."

"Why not?" she said quietly.

He studied her sadly. "It wouldn't be right. Not just now."

She looked up into his eyes again, then nodded wordlessly.

He forced himself to get up, to stand away from the bunk, even as every fibre of his body cried out to be close to Jaina again. "I…"

She shook her head again and got up also, once again standing just a few inches away from him. "You should go."

Kyp smiled half-heartedly. "Yeah. You're – OK, right?"

Jaina smiled back at him. "I'm OK." She frowned suddenly. "I still don't agree with what you did… But, I trust you now. And… I guess I forgive you."

His heart lifted and he quickly hugged Jaina again before stepping back. "I guess – I better be going then. Um – see you."

"Bye," Jaina said softly, as he walked out of the door.

~~

The door shut behind Kyp as he left, and Jaina was alone once more. She fell back against the bed again, inhaling the hint of his scent that hung in the air.

Why was she falling in love with Kyp Durron, of all people?

With a sigh, she rolled over to fall asleep, leaving the questions to haunt her dreams.

~~

Wedge was waiting for Kyp at the door to his quarters. He gave him a stern look. "Well?"

"Ah – everything's OK. I think… I fixed everything… I'd never do anything to hurt her," he added, noticing once again that protective glint in Wedge's eye.

"Hm." Wedge frowned as he studied Kyp, then the corner of his mouth lifted wryly. "Took a long time fixing it though."

Kyp felt his face flush and he fought the feeling of embarrassment. "Yeah – well-"

"Took a lot of convincing, did she?" Wedge's wry smile grew a little wider as he watched the younger man grow more uncomfortable.

Kyp glared at him, shaking his head in disbelief, and pushed past him into his room.

Wedge grinned as the door slammed behind him and glanced at it, then up the corridor to Jaina's room. What a mix-up this was. He chuckled as he made his way back to his office. Interesting. Yes, very interesting.