Work Text:
The door to the Thunder Wasp’s forward most storage whispered open revealing its pitch black depths. For some this unknown darkness filled with potential tripping hazards and unseen obstacles would be intimidating, but not Eli Vanto. In his twenty something years of life he had yet to encounter a cargo hold he couldn’t tame. Logistics was all Eli had ever wanted to do. Numbers, lists, boxes and crates- order; perfect controllable order. These were the principles he had built his whole life on.
His parents always joked he could count before he could talk and it was less of a jest than his reality. Eli had spent his whole life surrounded by numbers and boxes and the occasional ‘exotic locale’ as the heir to a small shipping company. Numbers and data were his language and crates and their contents his art medium.
And yet-
Somehow he had ended up in a command track against his will and far away from the comforting familiarity of this. Eli powered up the lights and datapad in hand entered what could have been his kingdom but for one being.
Mitth’raw’nuruodo. Thrawn. A name he had often muttered as a curse but just as often left his lips in awe. Today it was a mix of both.
Often Eli wondered if Thrawn cursed his name too; or what the Chiss thought about him (if) at all. Most of the time he could safely say they were friends, and while Thrawn was his superior he didn’t treat Eli as being so inferior as to not be worth the dignity of the honor. Plenty of other officers looked down on him for his rank and for his origins, but never Thrawn.
Perhaps it was their status as outcasts from less desirable parts of the galaxy which helped create their odd bond. Of course being appointed as Thrawn’s translator by the Emperor himself had played a large part, but that was back in the beginning.
Those days were years and ships behind them both and the only thing staying the same was Eil’s own rank.
His frown deepened at the thought. Thrawn had just been promoted to captain and given command of the Thunder Wasp. Eli remained his aid de camp and an Ensign. Despite years of exemplary service to the Empire it just continued to screw Eli Vanto over. He was never meant to be in a command track-everyone else saw it, why didn’t Thrawn?
He had of course read every report Thrawn had ever written about their actions; he always wrote glowingly of Eli’s part in the victories. The Chiss was never shy about praising his officers to their faces or to others in the chain of command, but it just never seemed to work out for Eli.
It wasn’t jealousy- he had never dreamed of military command and he had no desire to make the decisions that could potentially and often did cost lives. He didn’t want the Thunder Wasp for himself, he didn’t have delusions of captaincy; he just wanted to not be an ensign any more.
It didn’t feel like it was much to ask for. But apparently, yet again, it had been.
Thrawn got his first command and Eli got nothing. Less than nothing actually he mused standing there in the Thunder Wasp’s cargo hold.
Sighing he returned to the task which had brought him down to the belly of the ship. He was on a mission to locate the two crates containing Thrawn’s art collection. It was ironic really, accidentally ending up on command track but still getting stuck moving boxes around on the orders of your superiors- like he had wanted to do since day one.
Of course Thrawn hadn’t ordered him, he wouldn’t have dared, but Eli really was more comfortable amongst the boxes and neat rows of a cargo bay and had offered to go find the errant crates from the move from the Blood Crow. So far he had been able to locate the boxes of random parts and junk Thrawn had also insisted come with them but not the much more valuable art.
The Thunder Wasp’s quartermaster left something to be desired in Eli’s opinion. This was not how he would run the supply. Tapping his fingers in annoyance on the cool, smooth cartons as he went he moved to the next stack of sliver crates and scanned the numbers.
There was no logical reason three crates of food stuffs should be on a pallet with cleaning supplies. What the krayt was going on here? Irritated Eli worked his way deeper and deeper into the stock making mental and sometimes physical notes about the apparent disregard with which this hold was stowed. It was unacceptable but what could Ensign Eli Vanto do about it? No doubt the quartermaster was at least a lieutenant- maybe even a commander. Wouldn’t that be sickening; a commander who stowed a hold this poorly must have slept their way to the rank. Not uncommon or unreasonable to assume in the Imperial Navy.
Maybe there was his mistake- maybe Eli wasn’t slutty enough to get his promotions the old fashioned way.
It was his random laughter that brought Thrawn to his location amongst the cargo. It had echoed out in the dead silence of the expansive space at the exact moment Thrawn considered perhaps he wasn’t even there.
Thrawn knew Eli found comfort in this familiar place; it wasn’t the first time he had found Ensign Vanto sulking among containers. Of course Thrawn recognized Eli really wasn’t pouting but he had honored the silent plea for space to process yet another round of disappointment. This was the logical and usual place the human often retreated to for such work. But he had been gone a long time and Thrawn felt the need to check on his wellbeing.
“There you are Eli,” Thrawn greeted softly, stepping out from between two tall cylinders and making Eli jump in surprise. He had gone with a more informal greeting as he felt using rank would only rub salt into the wound.
“I told you I would be down here.” Eli answered with a small smile.
“It’s been a long time,” Thrawn countered.
“Yeah…about that...the quartermaster is clearly incompetent. It’s a war zone down here.”
Thrawn looked around. The hold seemed adequate to him- but then of course this really was Eli’s field of expertise. “Elaborate.” He encouraged out of curiosity and because it would make Eli feel better.
Oh boy did Eli elaborate. About six laps of the whole expanse later Thrawn also had to concede the officer in charge was an idiot and it was going to have to be addressed.
Feeling vindicated now Eli hopped up on a single crate which appeared to be pulled out at random and sat with his legs crossed elegantly at the ankles to check his datapad for any other obvious sins he should bring to the captain’s attention.
Thrawn watched every movement with keen interest. Earlier Eli had been wondering what it was Thrawn thought about and if he had been paying attention to the pair of eager red eyes on him he would see admiration- and desire. Something about Eli compelled Thrawn in a way unfamiliar to him and since day one his interest in the young human hadn’t been strictly professional.
Watching Eli verbally destroy the unknown quartermasters’ career had been a lovely display of his natural talents. His golden brown eyes lit with the inner conviction of someone who knew this business at his deepest core had been exciting for Thrawn to watch.
“I still don’t know what these nerf herders did with your art though sir,” Obliviously Eli broke into Thrawn’s contemplation of his beauty. “I did find the hyperdrive ring.”
Thrawn snorted, “Useful.”
Eli looked up sharply thinking he was being criticized, but instead found Thrawn smiling at him. Heat rushed to his face unbidden, the intensity of Thrawn’s gaze catching him by surprise and making him self-conscious.
“What?” he asked incredulously.
The furrowing of the brow coupled with his messy brown hair which was in more disarray then usual made Thrawn think of an angry Tooka cat and his grin widened. “Nothing.” He stepped in closer and indicated with body language he wished to join Eli on the crate.
Still eyeing him suspiciously Eli inched over to make room for Captain Thrawn to sit beside him. It was a tight squeeze. Eli’s blush deepened as inevitably their bodies made gentle contact. The brush of Thrawn’s thigh against his own as he settled made Eli’s heart flutter and he stared down at his datapad hard enough it might burst into flames.
Although Eli might be the one catching fire first. Thrawn had this awful affect on him, especially when they were this close. There had been many awkward close-quarter calls over the years and as thrilling as they were to think of in the past tense they were very warm in action.
Thrawn noted the literal temperature changes in his companion and once again pondered if his feelings of desire might be mutual. He had never really seen evidence to the contrary, but he had also never pushed his luck.
“Are we certain my crates even made it over from the Blood Crow?” he asked leaning in to peer down at Eli’s datapad, but really so he could be just a little closer.
“Yes. Commander Seymore was very competent. I’m sure she sent them over. But after that well….” He gazed out into the shadowy hold and hoped the dim lighting hid the burning of his cheeks.
The gloom did not hide the blush or the delightful freckles scattered across his cheeks and nose. It had taken longer than it should have for Thrawn to notice the perfect imperfections decorating Eli’s face- but once he had become vividly aware of the freckles Thrawn also became obsessed. At times it was all he could do not to stare intently at them. He failed at it more then he realized, but Eli had become immune to his overly intense stares assuming they were just his ‘way’.
Thrawn reached over and scrolled the datapad’s screen with a flick of his finger which also accidentally made contact with Eli’s. Eli shivered and his eyes flared wide. It was a cautious invitation, one of several made over the years. Thrawn’s silent ask was hesitant which was so very unlike him in all other situations and for some reason it made Eli mad. Not because the advance was unwanted, Eli had often wondered if the attraction which had always hovered been them was only in his own head. But if the overture was being made from pity or as a way to make up for the recent change in only Thrawn’s station he wasn’t feeling it.
Now he felt shame for thinking so poorly of someone he considered a friend; Thrawn certainly wouldn’t see the situation that way. And hadn’t Eli often lain awake at night contemplating what more could be between them? Wasn’t this what in his most secret heart he wanted to know? Maybe now was the time to find out. Tentatively without out looking at Thrawn and keeping his gaze firmly anchored on a crate in the distance, Eli gently curled his index finger over top of Thrawn’s.
Thrawn didn’t pull his hand back at the contact as Eli ran his finger along the inside of Thrawn’s, brushing over an old scar on his knuckle causing the Chiss to shiver. It was like a small electric back feed had come through the datapad but really the pulse was caused by their own bodies attraction.
The feeling was new and novel; and it frightened Eli. As close as they were on the crate he felt the shudder run through Thrawn and he dared to glance at him out of the corner of his eye. Thrawn’s gaze was fixed on their hands as they seemingly took on a life of their own and entwined slowly.
What exactly was happening? Eli started to panic but fought the urge to pull away, which had always been his reaction in the past. In the span of a heart beat several previous incidents flashed in his mind’s eye along with the embarrassing memories of his terrified reactions to them.
He was not at all afraid of Thrawn. The Chiss had never raised a threatening look or hand towards him, and had certainly always gone out of his way to keep Eli safe in many a sideways situation; no it wasn’t Thrawn that scared him but the depths of his own feelings.
Thrawn stirred up lots of things Eli had spent a majority of his life ignoring and this was still not a convenient time to catch feelings- particularly for a male, alien superior officer. And yet, this was precisely what Eli Vanto had done.
He was ashamed of his own weakness, of the timing, of their position as tools of a hierarchy that would never understand them and this, this complication would help even less.
“Eli,” Thrawn said so softly that Eli in his stupor didn’t recognize it as his own name. The tone was tender and very unlike Thrawn and it shocked enough he finally turned to look fully at his companion whose expression was as soft as his voice had been.
Thrawn had never seen Eli’s dark eyes so vulnerable before; he felt this might truly be the first time the human had ever let his guard down completely for him. Questions burned brightly in the veins of gold Thrawn had somehow never truly appreciated which softened Eli’s brown eyes to match the dark honey tones of his skin. Thrawn didn’t want questions; he just wanted to taste.
This was Thrawn’s darkest secret; he longed to taste all of Eli. Almost from the first moments their life paths were thrust together on the nameless planet where Thrawn had been plucked from obscurity he knew Eli was different. Different from the other humans around them and different from any Chiss Thrawn had even known.
It had taken him quite a bit of observation to pinpoint why Eli stood out. It was more than the way he talked or his understated movements and presence which Thrawn was always acutely aware of. It wasn’t just his scent which drove Thrawn wild or his easy laugh saved for when no one else was watching…there were innumerable physical reasons. No, it was because Eli Vanto was the one thing in the entire galaxy Thrawn would willingly die for.
He learned the human word for this concept was love -an unexplainable and unreasonable attachment to another being with whom the thought of being parted from caused great emotional distress. A lot of emotions summed up in one nonsensical word he felt, but nevertheless he knew himself to be guilty of it all, and he acted accordingly to keep Eli by his side.
The Chiss had a similar term but it centered on more duty and honor and certainly involved less longing. Perhaps his time amongst the humans had softened him because over the last few years Thrawn had done a lot of pining.
Most of the time it seemed Eli was oblivious to his overtures of affection and occasionally Thrawn had found himself quite puzzled. The elements lost in translation between human love and Chiss ‘love’ were likely to blame for the ongoing miscommunication between them, but perhaps the uncertainty in Eli’s gaze played a part.
What caused this hesitancy Thrawn couldn’t tell but Eli’s upturned face and slightly parted lips seeming to form an enquiry he might not want to answer begged for action. No more pining the warrior decided, time for a last stand.
Eli wanted to ask his companion, his superior officer, what the hell was happening but he already knew. He was aware heart beat upon agonizingly slow heart beat before the answer brushed softly against his lips. Thrawn’s mouth was surprisingly warm considering how cold the touch of his hand had been moments before but the breath left Eli’s lungs as violently as if he had been dunked in a frozen lake.
Eli’s whole body arched as if pulled by a magnet towards Thrawn. The datapad fell from his hand and clattered unnoticed to the floor. Thrawn encircled Eli’s waist with his free arm also feeling the gravitational pull to be as close as possible. Their fingers remained tightly entwined in the original embrace even as Thrawn gently pushed, and Eli went without resistance backwards on to the crate.
It was the sobering chill of the durasteel against the back of Eli’s head that made him finally break away and take a deep breath. Even as his chest heaved and Thrawn gazed down at him with his red eyes blown wide Eli still felt like he was drowning. It wasn’t unpleasant, on the contrary this was perhaps the most satisfying moment of his life- but it was overwhelming.
Thrawn sensed the caution from moments before still lingered, but as Eli took one or two more ragged breaths it drained away leaving something much more exciting - much more primal in its wake.
The flush to Eli’s golden skin wasn’t chaste ‘shame’ now, there would be no more playing games- no more pining. Thrawn couldn’t keep the feral smile from his face and he leaned down for another taste. Eli wrapped his fingers in Thrawn’s hair and pulled none too gently to bring him closer faster. This time the kiss held the awareness of time wasted and an urgency to make up for all of it.
The surprising chill of first contact had entirely burned away now, replaced by the literal heat of their bodies. In a split second thoughts were replaced by baser needs. Hands found new places to explore, Eli made a previously unknown sound, Thrawn’s lips found Eli’s hammering pulse…
Eli quickly realized he wanted a marathon not a sprint, and aware he was a tad more vulnerable than he was ready for clearly asked for a stop. Thrawn obeyed the request like the gentleman he was, but not without some small disappointment. No matter, it had taken them years to reach this moment waiting a few more wouldn’t hurt. He too wanted forever.
They gazed at one another in the silence broken only by their shared heavy breathing. Eli was trembling slightly beneath him, his fingers still clenched in Thrawn’s half undone lapel. He was wild eyed, teetering on the edge of all he had known and being willing to throw it away for this: for him.
The tipping point had come for both of them. Here, on their first command, it was time to make the decision they had danced around for long enough. Thrawn squeezed Eli’s thigh playfully and enjoyed the flush of color darkening his face again.
“You are beautiful.” Thrawn confessed softly.
Eli’s whole body tensed in surprise and delight. Not sure of what to say he blurted, “You frighten me.”
Thrawn laughed genuinely and kissed him lovingly on the brow. Resting his forehead against Eli’s in a gesture of intimacy from his own world Thrawn closed his eyes and savored existing in this time and space. Eli relaxed and he caressed Thrawn’s soft hair affectionately.
“Will you stay with me? Every step of the way…” Thrawn whispered in his native tongue.
Eli didn’t speak a word of Cheunh but he didn’t need to in order to give his answer. “Yes.”