1A/N: I posted this on tf.n about a month ago, but I thought I'd try it over here as well. This is my first Star Wars fic. I think this will be a series of 5 stand-alone vignettes (I've already written one more, which I'll put up sometime next week) but I'm open to suggestions. I try to limit myself to 500 words or less, sort of a quality over quantity thing, so each chapter will be a fairly short but hopefully poignant snapshot of an AU K/J friendship or relationship.
Concrit would be very helpful and appreciated. I would be interested to know what you all think of the characterisation, style, genre, tone, etc.
Part 1: This town has got you down…
Kyp could feel the waves of nausea rolling through her body though their Force bond. It was unpleasant for him; it must be almost unbearable for her to be constantly on the verge of losing a battle with her own gag reflex and volatile stomach. He tried to send an apology through their bond, but she cut him off halfway through. It's okay, Kyp. We knew this could happen. Yes, they knew of the possible side-effects, but that certainly didn't mean that they were looking forward to this part of the journey.
Clighal had gone above and beyond her duty as a healer in assisting them: helping Jaina with her problem, and helping Kyp help Jaina. The medical records were confidential, and they managed to bypass protocol and nosy medics which gave Jaina the privacy that she craved.
As soon as Kyp could get out of the meeting with Master Skywalker, he swung by his office and dropped off the stack of datapads. The walk to Jaina's quarters was short; he entered the correct code into the panel outside the door and stepped inside the room just enough so that the door swing shut behind him.
"You didn't have to come, I'll be alright." She was sitting on the edge of her bed, staring at the open door to the refresher. She didn't turn to look at him, and he couldn't see her eyes.
He spoke quietly, hesitantly trying to gauge whether or not she wanted him to stay now that he was already there. "I wanted to."
"You didn't have to," she repeated.
"I know." Kyp decided that the silence was comfortable and stood his ground, waiting for her to make the next move.
Jaina dropped her gaze to the toes of her combat boots, studying the shine. "I wish this part of it would go by faster. When will it get better?"
"Clighal said that it might take a couple of weeks for it to blow over." He paused, waiting for her reaction.
It never came. Three years ago, she would have thrown a fit at being grounded for that long.
"If I had known you would react this violently to the medication, I would never have suggested it." Kyp's regret rang through their bond, and she winced at his choice of words.
"Call it what it is, Kyp. Be honest with me. I don't want to be coddled." She was looking at her hands now, inspecting her bitten-off fingernails, not wanting to look at him, and not wanting him to see her eyes looking so lifeless.
"Anti-depressants take time to kick in, Jay. When they do, and when the nausea wears off, you can start to function normally again. You can start to fly again. And you can start to deal with some of the demons that you've been carrying around." He moved closer, and sat down on the bed next to her. "It's not a panacea, but it's a start."