(no subject)

[imthepilot]

{from here}

Bodhi lets them into their rooms, guiding Galen to the kitchen table. "You just sit and I'll get the steam bath ready."

Comments

[galen_erso]

Galen sits. Kyber jumps into his lap and gets scritches.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi busies himself boiling water and steeping herbs. "Do you want to have a shower or change into some comfortable clothes?"

[galen_erso]

"You just want to ogle my manly chest hair," Galen grins, "but yes, if I didn't feel too lazy to get up. After the steam, a shower and comfy clothes would be great."

[imthepilot]

"Every chance I get." Bodhi answers, deadpanned.

"The steam will take a moment or two before it's ready. At least get comfy so we can sprawl on the couch and watch a vid without having to move again."

[galen_erso]

"Fine," Galen says, getting up with a theatrical groan. He takes off his jacket and shirt, grins at Bodhi, and wanders off I to the fresher, whence water is heard for a while. After fifteen minutes altogether, he re-emerges with very comfy clothes, warm socks, wet hair, and a towel.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi kisses his forehead again and guides him go sit where a bowl, a jug, and towel are waiting. The smell coming off the little bit of water in the bowl is strong but soothing.

"Sit down there, make a tent over your head with the towel and I'll pour the water in when you're ready."

[galen_erso]

Galen sits, and does as instructed. "Ready."

[imthepilot]

Bodhi pours the hot water in, flooding Galen with fragrant and cleansing steam to help clear his lungs and nose.

[galen_erso]

"Hot," Galen says, but he stays put and breathes deeply and calmly. "Did you learn this from your grandmother?"

It sounds like something he would have.

[imthepilot]

"Of course. It cost her a fortune in water but she never complained when we needed it."

[galen_erso]

"Life on the outer world, or on the lower levels of core worlds, was always shard," Galen says, his voice sounding hollow in the bowl of steam. "Not even under the Republic. Not that much changed for the little people when the Empire came, but that is not a point in favour of it, either."

[imthepilot]

"It did for the people of NiJedha." Bodhi points out, his voice flat.

[galen_erso]

"It did, for me as well," Galen says. "But life in NiJedha was never easy; the Empire only made it a lot worse."

Beat.

"Maybe I'm not making much sense right now; I really didn't intend to hurt or offend you. Sorry for that."

[imthepilot]

Bodhi shakes his head and runs a hand over Galen's hair. "Forget it, Galen. How about you pick a holovid and I'll clean up here."

It has hurt. Quite a bit, but he doesn't blame Galen.

[galen_erso]

"Does that mean I'm done with the steam for now?" Galen asks.

[imthepilot]

"Once it's stopped steaming, pretty much. Has it helped much?"

[galen_erso]

Galen emerges from beneath the towel, stands, and stretches. His hair is wet and messy, and smells intensely of those oils and herbs.

He takes a deep breath.

"Yes. I love you."

[imthepilot]

Bodhi has another towel ready to dry Galen's face and hair, giving him a good ruffle. "Love you too."

He presses a kiss to Galen's cheek, breathing in the scents on him. The smell of love and childhood.

[galen_erso]

Galen is still feeling acutely sorry for what he said, so he moves his shoulder backwards a little more, deeper into Bodhi's space, and bumps against him in the need for closeness, with a little shrug of 'Hey you!'

[imthepilot]

Bodhi puts the towel down to wrap his arms around Galen, holding him close.

[galen_erso]

"Bodhi," Galen whispers, leaning backwards into the touch. "I wish I could be perfect, just for you. But I'm not."

[imthepilot]

"Stop it, Galen." Bodhi presses his cheek against Galen's. "Neither of us are perfect. All we have to be is there for each other."

[galen_erso]

"And you are, for me, so wonderfully," Galen whispers.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi kisses the corner of Galen's lips. "As you are for me. Now come lay down on the couch with me."

[galen_erso]

"Yes," Galen says. "Nothing I'd rather do right now.'

[imthepilot]

Bodhi settled, making room for Galen to rest his head on Bodhi's thigh with a pillow. It doesn't take long before Myrrh and Kyber join them, curling up against Galen to keep him warm.

[galen_erso]

Galen suggests putting on a nature holo. He finds it perfectly relaxing and cozy to have wampas snarling and ports flying all around him.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi happily puts on whatever Galen wants, alternating between stroking Galen and the two cats.

He's quiet throughout, keeping his thoughts to himself.

[galen_erso]

That might end when Kyber, suddenly, tries to catch a holo-porg that apparently has come too close for any self-respecting cat to tolerate.

[imthepilot]

After previous incidences, the hole-projector safely set up so no as of kitten flailing can knock it over and Kyber is welcome to chase phantom porgs to his heart's content.

Bodhi leans in to check on Galen. "How are you feeling?"

[galen_erso]

"Oddly well," Galen says. "There's this curious state when you're sick but have everything at hand and nothing needs doing that makes you feel deeply, woozily content? That's where I'm at."

Pause.

"Also, I love you, which makes everything many, many times better."

[imthepilot]

Bodhi kisses his temple, watching Kyber pounce at empty air. "Let me know if you need anything, won't you?"

[galen_erso]

Galen nods lazily. "Nothing at the moment."

[imthepilot]

Bodhi nods and brushes his hands through Galen's hair. Just soothing, gentle strokes over his hair and shoulders. Always touching comfortingly.

[galen_erso]

Then, Kyber jumps on them while chasing a holo creature, and Galen startles upright.

"I wasn't asleep!"

[imthepilot]

Bodhi, just as startled by the suddenness of Galen's reaction, jumps back, just about falling off the couch.

He rubs his head. "I think you were. I think I was dozing too. Time for bed. Sorry, Kyber. No more Porgs."

[galen_erso]

"I'm sorry I woke you up," Galen says, rubbing his eyes.

[imthepilot]

"Time for bed I think." He stands up, helping Galen to his feet. "Let me tuck you in. I'll join you in a bit. I just want to check a few things in the garden."

He still needs to clear this head.

[galen_erso]

Galen nods, meekly and sleepily and bleary from the cold.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi wraps an arm around him, helping Galen to the bedroom and tucking him in. The cats get the hint too and curl up around Galen, weighting him down and keeping him warm.

"I'll join you soon." Bodhi promises, kissing Galen's brow.

[galen_erso]

Galen settles down with the cats and is soon asleep.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi checks on the irrigation of his balcony garden, making sure the greenhouse cover is securely over the more frost-sensitive of his plants.

His mind ticks over the things Galen might need in the next couple of days as he brushes his teeth. All the time trying to ignore the hollow feeling in his chest.

Without thinking much about it, he heads down to the bar -