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It’s the last day of leave, and Wedge is packing, efficiently, if slower than normal. His eyes wander to the window, his hands smooth down the bedspread, he pauses to pick up a book, halfway read, and set it on the nightstand. It’s a beautiful summer day in the northern hemisphere of Chandrila, with a slight breeze and the sound of waves lapping on the shore.
He stares outside, watching the waves and the sea birds flying overhead, a knot growing in his stomach.
Wedge hears the screen door to the beach open and close. Luke comes into the bedroom, looking ruffled, tracking in sand and smelling of salt. “Finished packing?” he asks, sitting on the edge of the bed.
Wedge sits next to him. “All done.” He passes Luke the book.
Luke murmurs his thanks, and then leans gently into Wedge, head on his shoulder. He closes his eyes and says, “this was nice.”
Wedge runs a hand through Luke’s hair. “It was. Don’t know when we’ll get another chance.”
Luke hums. “There’ll be other times. We’ll make it work”
“Did the Force tell you?” Wedge jokes, trying to ease the gnarled pit in his stomach.
Luke shakes his head. “I trust us to make it work.”
____
“Do you want to try to holo-call?” Wedge asks, as they take the speeder into town. “Doesn’t have to be often. We’re both busy and prone to falling off the map for extended periods.” He’s focused on the road, and doesn’t see Luke look at him, slightly surprised before his expression melts to fondness.
“That would be nice,” Luke says after a moment, brushing his hair back out his face. The wind immediately tosses it back. “I’d like to see you more often.”
“Yeah?” Wedge says, his shoulders relaxing. “Ah, good then. It would be nice to see you too.”
Luke covers his mouth to hide the laughter threatening to burst from him.
____
In the capital they say their goodbyes. Luke smooths down the lapels of Wedge’s uniform and presses a kiss to his mouth. Wedge grips Luke’s elbows, drawing out the moment.
They pull apart when Wedge’s transport back to Coruscant begins its final boarding call.
“Until next time, Rogue Leader,” Luke says, pulling away.
Wedge wraps his fingers around Luke’s wrists for a moment, and then let’s go. “Good luck out there, Rogue Leader” he replies.
When he’s settled into his seat, he opens his duffle, searching for his datapad when a piece of flimsi falls out. He picks it up and reads it.
In Luke’s messy handwriting are the words “May the Force bring us back together.”
Wedge folds up the note and tucks it in his breast pocket.
___
The piece of flimsi stays in Wedge's pocket, and he goes about the never-ending business of protecting the New Republic and hounding the dwindling remnants of the Empire.
Luke calls from Rhodia, following up on a lead from one of his contacts. Wedge is mid-rim, Rogue Squadron sent to investigate rumors of kyber crystal smuggling.
They next talk while Wedge is running escort for Admiral Ackbar. Luke sends photos of a lush jungle on some backwater planet near the edge of Wild Space, too far out be more than sparsely settled.
The time after that, Wedge misses, requiring to go dark for a mission. When he gets back into holo-range, there are two missed messages from Luke. Both short, with a promise to talk soon.
Luke misses the next three times, and the fourth call is five minutes long.
“Sorry Wedge,” Luke says, his image resolution poor. “I think I may have found something, but it might be a while before I track it down. I’ll talk to you in a couple of weeks.”
“Sure thing, Luke,” Wedge says, and they end the call.
___
Two weeks later, Wedge sits in his office, trying not to stare at the chrono. He stifles a yawn and rubs his eyes.
There is a knocking at the door. “Come in,” Wedge calls.
The door opens and Tycho leans in. “I’m turning in the for the night. Don’t stay up too late.” He looks pointedly at the pile of datapads on Wedge’s desk.
Wedge waves him off. “I’ll be off in a bit,” he says, finally glancing at the chrono.
Tycho’s expression turns knowing. “Waiting for a call?”
“He’s on Eadu and twelve hours behind us at the moment. This was the time we could make work.” Wedge rubs his neck and rolls his shoulders.
Tycho leans against the door, arms crossed. “Need some company while you wait?” he offers.
Wedge shakes his head. “I’m about as liable to fall asleep on you as anything. And the entire squadron has been pulling double shifts, don’t think you can fool me with those noble looks of yours.”
Tycho snorts, and then yawns. “Yes, these bags under my eyes are very striking. And on that note, good night. Don’t stay up too late!” Tycho waggles a finger at Wedge as he walks out the door, a grin on his tired face.
“Yes mother,” Wedge primly says back, a laugh caught in the back of his throat.
Once the door closes, Wedge relaxes into his chair and spends the time staring at the ceiling.
One blink lasts longer than all the others, and when Wedge opens his eyes again, he has a crick in his neck and two hours have passed. Startled, he grabs for his comm and checks it.
Nothing. Not even a missed call.
His shoulders slump and Wedge bows his head for a moment. Then he sighs and rolls his shoulders, standing and stretching and putting things away.
He puts his comm in his pocket and walks out the door, pausing as he arrives in the hallway. He thinks a moment, and then walks towards the cafeteria.
____
The only people in the cafeteria are the chronically insomniac and various members of the crew on night shift. Wedge ponders the late-night offerings, debating between some sort of fruit he doesn’t recognize and Alderaan-style muesli before deciding to try both on a whim and grabbing a cup of caf as well. Decaf, of course, he wants to fall asleep as some point.
He sits down at an empty table and starts to dig in when he feels a tap on his shoulder.
“This seat taken?” Wedge looks up to see General Syndulla standing with a tray in hand. Wedge gestures to the seat next to him.
“General,” Wedge nods in greeting to Hera as she sets her tray down and settles in with her caf.
“Captain,” Hera replies, just as serious, before her face breaks into a grin. “The Ghost and I just got in, what’s your excuse?” She nudges Wedge’s shoulder.
“Late night holo-call,” Wedge says, pushing the food around on his plate, before taking a bite. “Or that was the plan, anyway.”
Hera sends him a sympathetic glance. “Bad connection?”
Wedge hums. “Stood up. It happens. We’re both busy.”
Hera sees movement at the corner of her eye and looks. “Do you mind if Kallus joins us, Wedge?” she asks, waving to the human in question.
Wedge looks up. “Oh, Fulcrum’s back? I thought he wasn’t due in for another day or so.”
They eat as Kallus makes his way over to them, a mug of caf in one hand, a bowl of fruit in another.
“Successful mission?” Hera asks as Kallus sits down.
Kallus drinks his caf. “I hope so. Going to have to turn around and go back out, once I’ve refueled and resupplied.” He looks at Wedge curiously. Wedge salutes him with his mug.
“Fulcrum,” he says, and takes a drink.
“A bit late for you isn't it, Captain?” Kallus comments, taking a bite of fruit.
“Late night holo-call,” Wedge replies. “The other party was a no-show.”
Kallus grimaces and nods. “It happens,” he says. “We’re all busier than ever.”
Wedge snorts. “Got caught up in research, more like.” He pauses, then looks around, then eyes Hera. “Listen, General, ah…”
Hera looks at him patiently.
“Look, stop me if I’m overstepping, but,” Wedge straightens his shoulders. “Did you… ever have problems?”
“Problems?” Hera asks, raising an eyebrow. Kallus pauses in writing notes on his datapadd, watching the conversation with interest.
“With… Jedi… things,” Wedge waves a hand vaguely.
Hera takes a bite and thinks over Wedge’s question. “I am afraid you are going to have to be more specific than that.”
Wedge bites his lip. “Did he ever… just get up and go somewhere without saying anything? And when he came back the explanation is ‘Jedi business’?”
“That happened a time or two, yes. Took me a while to get used to, but I managed. Why do you ask?” She takes a bite.
“Relationship problems, Captain?” Kallus asks.
“Long distance problems,” Wedge says, and Kallus and Hera give him sympathetic looks. “To be fair to Luke, half the time I’m out of comm range myself.”
“Have you talked to Luke about it?” Hera asks. She bites down a laugh at the morose look on Wedge’s face, then shakes her head. “Every relationship has its problems. If you don’t say something, how will Master Skywalker know anything is wrong? Despite the legends, the Jedi aren’t mind-readers. And he's fallible, like everyone else. “
Wedge grimaces. “It’s hard to talk when you keep missing each other’s calls”
Kallus snorts. “It’s hard, certainly,” Kallus says, gaze growing distant. “It’s been six months since I saw Garazeb.”
Hera looks down, somber. “Jacen is with family on Ryloth right now. And it’s been years since I’ve seen Sabine.”
Wedge smiles crookedly. “We’re all missing someone, then.”
“So we are,” Kallus says. “They never talk about the loneliness when you sign up.”
“Sorry for not mentioning that before you defected,” Hera teases.
“At least the food’s better,” Kallus says dryly. “Though I think the fruit is overripe, myself.”
“Always knew you were a snob, Agent,” Hera replies, nudging Kallus’s shoulder.
Kallus sniffs and turns back to Wedge. “Where is Skywalker anyways?”
“Outer Rim, maybe even Wild Space. Said he was following up a lead.” Wedge says.
“I’m headed out that way myself.” Kallus looks at his notes. “He’s not near the Bheriz sector, is he?”
“I think so. Why?” Wedge asks.
Kallus glances at Hera, who raises an eyebrow back at him. He looks back at Wedge and smiles. “If your Rogues aren’t busy, I was thinking I could use an escort.”
___
Wedge isn’t sure what strings Kallus pulls, but he finds himself and Rogue Squadron tasked with escorting the Glimmer of Hope to the Bheriz sector. The Rogues welcome the chance to fly on a routine mission, and when they reach their destination, Wedge sends a short message to Luke on the off chance that he is still in the area.
He’s talking to Tycho and Fulcrum when his comm beeps. When he looks at it, he sees a call waiting for him. He steps away from the conversation and turns on his comm.
Luke appears, smiling. “Wedge!”
“Hi Luke,” Wedge says, a smile growing on his face.
“Are you really on Eadu?” Luke asks.
Wedge hums an affirmative. “Fulcrum – well, Kallus needed an escort. The Rogues were sitting on their hands doing nothing, so we got volunteered. We’ll be here for the next few days. Are you busy?”
Luke grins boyishly. “Not too busy to see you. I’ll be there in a few hours.”
When Wedge returns to Tycho and Kallus, Tycho’s smirking.
Wedge raises an eyebrow at him. His XO nudges him. “Good to see you smiling, boss.”
“Good news, Captain?” Kallus asks politely.
“Ah, Luke will be here in a few hours,” Wedge replies. “Fulcrum, look, thank you-.”
Kallus raises a hand. “Don’t thank me. I just needed an escort to Eadu, nothing more.” But he’s smiling. “Now, if you excuse me, I need to make a holo-call.” He turns and leaves.
“Say hi to Zeb for me!” Wedge shouts after him.
Kallus waves.
Tycho claps a hand on Wedge’s shoulder as they turn and walk off. “It’ll be good to see Luke again.”
“Yeah,” Wedge says, deep in thought.
___
All the Rogues are in the hanger when Luke arrives in his X-Wing. When he steps foot on the hanger floor they surround him, everyone clamoring to say hello. Tycho finally manages to wrangle everyone out, leaving Wedge and Luke alone.
Wedge feels strangely shy, as Luke unloads R2 and his duffle bag. He watches Luke exchange a few words with the astromech pat the droid’s domed head, before turning and joining Wedge.
“Hi Luke,” Wedge says, wiping his palms on his pants.
“Hello Wedge,” Luke says, and pulls him in for a hug. Wedge lets him, in the empty hangar. “I missed you,” he whispers in Wedge’s ear. Wedge shivers.
When they pull apart, Wedge draws a breath and says, “Shall we get you settled in, then?”
Luke hums thoughtfully. “Sure thing, Rogue Leader.” They turn and leave the hanger.
As they walk towards the pilots’ quarters, Wedge chuckles. “I think we can safely say the holo-calls are a bust.”
Luke smiles ruefully. “Maybe. It’s not that I don’t want to, but-.”
“We get pulled away.” Wedge says. “Well, I can’t say we didn’t know that when we started.”
Luke stops outside the door to Wedge’s quarters and looks at him. “What do you want to do instead?”
Wedge shrugs. “I don’t know. I just don’t want to ask for more than either of us can give each other.”
“Wedge,” Luke says gently. “How about you ask for what you want, and I’ll decide whether it’s something I can give you? After all, this isn’t like during the war, where this,” Luke gestures between the two of them, “is a casual fling between wing-mates.”
The door to Wedge’s quarters opens, and he steps through, drawing Wedge in behind him. Wedge feels something settle inside himself at Luke’s words.
“Luke, you know I-.” Wedge trails off as the door shuts behind him. He blushes instead. “I don’t think this is a casual fling either.” He touches the piece of flimsi tucked in his breast pocket.
Luke presses close to him and whispers, “Glad we’re on the same page, Rogue Leader.”
Wedge laughs and presses a kiss to Luke’s mouth. “Copy that, Rogue Leader.”