Rey loves the garage. She loves to tinker with the tools, she loves to play on the ships, she loves getting her hands filthy in the oil, but she's intuitive despite her age. Cassian takes her to work with him when he can, since he and Jyn still don't trust most if any daycares on Coruscant, but then Jyn takes Javi to work with her, so it all comes together nicely. Nobody minds; everyone at his shop has been madly in love with Rey since day one, and they're all more than happy to take turns looking after her, or trying to teach her what tools do what. She can talk now, and she has his coworkers laughing from her tiny little temper, her threats are very creative for a four year old.
Today is one of those days. Today is not an unusual day. She's currently hanging out in the little play area he has set up for her, fenced in with boxes and tables and directing her toys on how to build a spaceship; he's running over a list of repairs on one of the latest ship orders to come in when his boss tells him an old client would like to have a private word. The old client is one of his contacts, one he has not scheduled to meet up with until later in the week. Seeing the man here instantly raises his defenses, and he scoops Rey up because leaving her unattended or under the care of someone else is sending off too many alarms. What if? She whines at him, but he grabs a screwdriver and a stuffed cat to occupy her.
The man adopts a friendly business smile even though they duck out of sight. "I won't stay long. They suspect Jyn is leaking information to the Alliance."
Every single bone in Cassian's body freezes. He doesn't need to ask who they is, he's already running through the strategy going forward. Rey stills in his arms, as if sensing the unhappy in her father, despite the friendly smile on his own face. "How long?"
"When you both get home from work. They want you there too, so they can either see if you're involved or send you off with the kids."
It checks out. Showing up at her job to interrogate her just sends a red flag to him, allowing his escape. He always thought he would be the one to arouse suspicion, not Jyn. Not with her father, not with the science and the lab work. Cassian knows the Empire doesn't give a single fuck about children, not if they can't be used, but he also knows the immediate slaughter of Jyn Erso's family would be bad for public image on Coruscant specifically. They are going to wait for him to leave the shop and time their arrival at the apartment to just after his. Jyn usually gets home first, she'll be settled in. They'll be watching for him to enter the building. Cassian cannot go home today. Maybe not ever again.
"Thank you," he says, and it's over. Rey curls her head against his chest, like she can tell something is wrong, and he idly kisses her forehead. As soon as his contact is gone, Cassian pulls up his comm and calls Jyn. When she answers after two short beeps, his voice is all cheer, if not amicably self deprecating. "You are never going to believe this."
It's the first code phrase, a warning that she needs to be ready to move.
there is safety in the very heart of danger.
Today is one of those days. Today is not an unusual day. She's currently hanging out in the little play area he has set up for her, fenced in with boxes and tables and directing her toys on how to build a spaceship; he's running over a list of repairs on one of the latest ship orders to come in when his boss tells him an old client would like to have a private word. The old client is one of his contacts, one he has not scheduled to meet up with until later in the week. Seeing the man here instantly raises his defenses, and he scoops Rey up because leaving her unattended or under the care of someone else is sending off too many alarms. What if? She whines at him, but he grabs a screwdriver and a stuffed cat to occupy her.
The man adopts a friendly business smile even though they duck out of sight. "I won't stay long. They suspect Jyn is leaking information to the Alliance."
Every single bone in Cassian's body freezes. He doesn't need to ask who they is, he's already running through the strategy going forward. Rey stills in his arms, as if sensing the unhappy in her father, despite the friendly smile on his own face. "How long?"
"When you both get home from work. They want you there too, so they can either see if you're involved or send you off with the kids."
It checks out. Showing up at her job to interrogate her just sends a red flag to him, allowing his escape. He always thought he would be the one to arouse suspicion, not Jyn. Not with her father, not with the science and the lab work. Cassian knows the Empire doesn't give a single fuck about children, not if they can't be used, but he also knows the immediate slaughter of Jyn Erso's family would be bad for public image on Coruscant specifically. They are going to wait for him to leave the shop and time their arrival at the apartment to just after his. Jyn usually gets home first, she'll be settled in. They'll be watching for him to enter the building. Cassian cannot go home today. Maybe not ever again.
"Thank you," he says, and it's over. Rey curls her head against his chest, like she can tell something is wrong, and he idly kisses her forehead. As soon as his contact is gone, Cassian pulls up his comm and calls Jyn. When she answers after two short beeps, his voice is all cheer, if not amicably self deprecating. "You are never going to believe this."
It's the first code phrase, a warning that she needs to be ready to move.