milliways_bar | (no subject)

Claire is hesitant to approach for many reasons, the least of which involves interrupting the intimate scene between the two Jedi.

But. . . she needs to talk to Jaina. So, carrying a sleeping Seth, she walks towards the booth.

"Jaina?" she asks softly. "May I talk with you?"

Jaina and Zekk both look up at the sound of a voice. It takes Jaina a moment to place the face. Her expression remains neutral as she puts the book down on the table, marking her page.

"Hi Claire."

"Can we help you with something?" Zekk adds in, studying Claire and Seth.

Fortunately, Claire has already been warned about any strange behavior between Jaina and Zekk but she still finds herself startled at Zekk's question.

"Yes, I. . er, I need to talk to Jaina," she says, flustered. "About Nathan."

Jaina's eyes narrow, and she sits up in the booth. "We heard you said yes to a date with him."

"Why?"

She sighs and sits down across from them, uninvited.

"I don't know," she says, glancing at Zekk nervously. "I didn't know what to do."

"And we do?" Jaina retorts, more sharply than she intended. "You shouldn't have said yes."

Zekk brushes his rubs his forearm against Jaina's. "What about Sawyer?"

Claire might notice a small look of disgust on Zekk's face when he mentions that name.

She blinks at Jaina's tone and says quietly, "I don't want to hurt him, Jaina. I know you don't like me and you don't trust me, and I can't blame you for that. But it's the truth."

Surely Jaina can see that.

She swallows and looks at Zekk. "I. . . told Sawyer. He knows."

"Doesn't matter what we think," Jaina says dismisively. "Just don't want to see him get hurt. Or Sawyer."

Jaina and Zekk shrug. "Even you."

"Do you want to go on the date?"

"I don't want to hurt Sawyer either," she whispers fiercely.

"And. . .it does matter to me what you think." she frowns. "I considered you my friend not that long ago. And you're Nathan's friend. And I do want to go on the date but I'm scared because I am going to hurt him no matter how much I don't want to."

Jaina cocks her head. "You considered us friends?"

She's merely curious.

Jaina and Zekk click and hum quietly to themselves as they consider Claire's other words. "Does Nathan know?"

"How you feel?" Zekk adds in, moving his arm away from Jaina's as he reaches for his glass of milk.

Okay, so no one told her about the humming and clicking. Or the arm thing.

She watches it, fascinated.

"Yes," she says to Jaina, frowning. "You didn't?"

To them both, she says, "I have told him many times I can't love him. I don't want to be in another relationship right now, and that's what he's wanting. But. . .he promised me if I gave him one night he'd. . .try to stop loving me."

Who told her about them? The mun's curious.

She nods. "Why'd you stop?"

Jaina and Zekk exchange skeptical glances. "We've talked to Nathan."

"He really loves you." Zekk takes a sip of his milk. "Won't listen to us."

The mun offers a helpful link (http://www.livejournal.com/community/milliways_bar/7180412.html?thread=299806588#t299806588)!

"Stop what?" she asks alarmed. "Being friends with you? I didn't. Things just got. . .awkward."

She sighs and shifts Seth to her other shoulder. "I know he does. I know he loves me. I don't know why. Or how to get him to stop. That's why I wanted to talk to you. . .er, you both."

Thank you!

Another nod, although this time Zekk nods as well. "Cause of Sawyer?"

Zekk frowns. "We're not sure either. Jaina talked with him last night, and he wouldn't listen to us."

"Yes," she says softly. And that's all she says. If Jaina wants to know about all of Claire's insecurities, she can use the Force.

Except, she doesn't sound so sure. "I just. . .can't see any other way to help him."

"Nothing between us except friendship," Jaina offers, trying to be reassuring.

She gives Claire a wry smile, thinking in part of her own problems with Jag. "Maybe it's for the best. It'll help him get over you, at the least."

Zekk looks downward, picking up on Jaina's sadness. He brushes his knuckles over her cheek tenderly. It'll get better.

He looks up towards Claire. "Just don't blame yourself."

"I know that," she nods. And she did, really. She just wasn't ever sure Sawyer had made the right choice when he chose her. Now she knows he didn't. "It's not important anymore, anyways."

She glances over at Zekk, and after a moment smiles gratefully. "It will be my fault, but I appreciate you saying that."