(no subject)

[imthepilot]

Bodhi lingers around the ramp of the ship, making a show of cleaning a slightly grubby registration plate. In truth, he hadn't had more than a few hours sleep, unable to get Galen out of his mind. And then he'd remembered the blood from the kyber crate and had given up sleep in place of cleaning.

The ship smelt of disinfectant but that was better than rancid blood. The new cargo helped . Some exotic lumber some minor imperial dignitary had to have. Bodhi didn't know if it was for some ritual celebration, an art piece or an admiral's steam-room renovations. And he really didn't care. It had a warm, spicy scent Bodhi found stimulating.

Something about it make him think of Galen.

Galen who he was lingering here in hope of seeing. He was loaded and had clearance but he wasn't leaving until he did, how ever briefly it might be.

Comments

[galen_erso]

"Yes," Galen says. "Of course. Not a problem at all."

Bodhi is probably a lot more experienced at this sort of thing. Galen generally surmises that most people around him will have casual sex when they can, or at least the occasional fling here and there. It's just what people of most species do, some more, some less.

Galen steps inside, trying not to look around before he does.

[imthepilot]

Some perhaps but less than Galen might think. And when he does, it's never on the ship.

Bodhi leans him into a corner behind the cargo, in a hollow of wood scent and shadows protected from the tower above and anyone passing the open hatch.

He can't help it. As soon as he has Galen there, he pulls him into a passionate kiss. "Stars, Galen. I don't want to leave."

[galen_erso]

"I don't want you to leave, ever," Galen says. "I've fallen in love with you. Which you might have noticed."

Because if not, why would he be kissing Bodhi back like this? Galen finds this declaration less of a confession and more of a statement of the painfully obvious.

"So I want to have you with me. But the Empire..."

[imthepilot]

"The Empire." Bodhi echoes, swallowing the rising lump in his throat.

"Galen, I've never been in love. Never had anyone care enough to-" He chokes off the words, kissing Galen again before he finishes that thought. "But I love you. I love you."

[galen_erso]

"Bodhi."

Galen looks into his eyes, as amazed as if the kyber crystals had suddenly started singing to him.

"I thought I would never again..."

He almost crushes the slight pilot in his arms.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi gives back as good as he gets, hugging Galen tight. "Stars, the way you look at me." He gasps, kissing Galen desperately. "You make me want to be-" A better person. Free. Someone worth that sort of love. "Galen!"

[galen_erso]

Galen looks at him, almost amused. "I want you to be exactly as you are," he says. "You are just right like this."

Scruffy, full of feeling, doe-eyed and expressive. Beautiful, beautiful Bodhi.

[imthepilot]

"I'm not brave, Galen. I'm not strong." Bodhi protests, burying his hands in Galen's hair. "If I was, I'd find a way to stay. To be with you."

[galen_erso]

"Nobody would mind," Galen says, "but I won't put you in danger."

He kisses Bodhi, and sighs.

"It will need work and time and courage and thought."

Yes, they are going to be together. That is rather the point of being in love, isn't it?

[imthepilot]

"I won't put you in danger either." he promises, returning the kiss. "We'll find a way. Somehow."

He kisses again, deepening it just enough to show Galen how passionately he means it.

Behind him a panel beeps a warning and Bodhi swears in his native tongue. "My take-off window is coming up. I have to go. I'll find the fastest cargo back. I promise."

[galen_erso]

Galen gives the panel a frown, but nods.

"I'll see you soon," he says, "and miss you in the meantime. I detest these electronic interruptions."

Chimes keep going off when they are trying to kiss or talk. Its annoying.

But there is time for one last gentle kiss, a memory for both of them to carry away?

[imthepilot]

Bodhi relishes it, commiting every breath, every sigh and brush of lips to memory. "I'm sorry. And I love you." He chuckles bitterly. "Two meals and I love you. Who knew I could fall so fast?"

[galen_erso]

"Don't doubt yourself, my lovely Bodhi," Galen murmurs, leaning his face against Bodhi's hair and holding him close, in wistful anticipation of having tk let go of him any moment now. "We fell for each other because we fit, and we both saw that right away. Sometimes, rarely enough, reality just falls intk place as it should while the parts smoothly turn with each other and bring up a result bigger than the sum of its parts, at one with itself like a flower unfolding or a Force user dancing unharmed through battle. We are two people who feel deeply and personally, but also two tiny motes of stardust that recognise each other from where we already are at one, beyond time."

[imthepilot]

No-one's ever spoken to Bodhi like that before. Least about himself. He feels his knees weaken, his eyes prick with tears. "A genius and a poet?"

The little alarm is getting louder and his radio crackers to life as the tower tries to get his attention. "Cargo Hauler NH-477, this is Eadu tower. Requesting take off ETA."

The pain in Bodhi's eyes is heartbreaking. "Galen, I love you. I'll request leave, so I can stay when I get back. At least a few days."

[galen_erso]

"Tell the tower whatever time you really need, plus ten minutes," Galen suggests.

He wants to keep Bodhi with him for ten more minutes. He can be at least that selfish with the universe. Just ten minutes.

"And no, neither -- just a scientist with an idea of the inner structure of reality, of which matter, energy and time are just facets. And in that inner structure, there is a connection between us, like a shortcut through reality. That's what we recognise in each other. On a purely personal level, it means that I love you deeply and will move the stars to keep you with me, long-term."

He closes his mouth and steps back so Bodhi can give his ETA.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi groans at having to let go enough to reach the radio control.

"Eadu tower, this is Cargo Hauler NH-477. Requesting twenty-five minutes delay on take off ETA. Repeat ETA plus mark 25."

The voice on the other end sounds harried and annoyed. "Eadu tower, acknowledge. Quit screwing around, Rook. I need that space."

"Acknowledge, Eadu tower. Sorry, I'll be out of your hair soon."

Bodhi dumps the radio and rushes back to kiss Galen. Frantically.

[galen_erso]

"You can," Galen gasps as he desperately pulls Bodhi close, "blame the cleaning droids."

It's an attempt at levity but might fall flat as Galen runs his hands over Bodhi's shoulders and through his hair, kisses him and tastes him and softly bumps nose to nose, marvels at the depth of his eyes and the sweetness of his lips.

The Force may need the two of them for something, but this right now is for them. Only Galen and Bodhi. He will dare take that much.

[imthepilot]

"Stars, Galen!" Bodhi half sods, breathless and frantic in the kiss.

Every kiss begs for another. Don't forget me, don't let me go. Don't let me be dreaming this. He looks at Galen as if he's still not sure this is real. Or that he deserves it.

[galen_erso]

"Bodhi."

Galen takes the pilot's narrow face between both his warm palms and looks into his face -- large, dark eyes with an almost stricken expression, long nose, soft generous lips, softly curved cheeks...

Bodhi. Bodhi. Bodhi!

Galen leans in to kiss him again, almost reverently.

[imthepilot]

"Promise me you'll be here? When I get back?" He begs softly, his arms tight around Galen's waist. "Promise me this is real?"

[galen_erso]

"As real as the universe," Galen says.

It's not a promise, it's a fact.

[imthepilot]

"Galen." He buries his face in Galen's neck, breathing in the blend of Galen's scent and the warm lumber smell. "When I get back I want... I want to show you... what you mean to me."

[galen_erso]

"I already know that," Galen says. "But yes, I want that, too - lavish attention on each other, body and soul. Talk and touch, share food and drink and memories."

[imthepilot]

"I want to know you." Bodhi whispers urgently, fisting his hands in the cloth of Galen's tunic. "All of you. Everything. Everything you'll share with me."

[galen_erso]

"You will," Galen promises, running a warm hand over Bodhi's back. "I want to kiss this little hollow at the base of your skull," he adds, touching the place. "And then the naked skin over your spine, all the way down, vertebra by vertebra, until I reach the soft, sensitive places where I..."

He had meant it as a plain statement of intention, but while Galen was saying it, he felt his ears heat up and his throat close with emotion and desire.

[imthepilot]

"Stars, Galen! Stop!" Bodhi groaned. "I'm not going to be able to let go if you keep talking like that."

He had meant to know everything about Galen's life, his family. Share in his passions and his loss. To share heart and soul as well as body.

But any ability to articulate that was rabidly flowing away from his brain, along with much of his blood.

[galen_erso]

"I will stop," Galen says. "I have to stop myself, or..."

He hasn't felt this sizzling warmth since the last time he had touched Lyra.

Passion and future, loss and hope -- that goes without saying, with the way they are connecting rapidly. But those sparking desires leave Galen breathless and amazed.

"I love you."

Whispered into Bodhi's dark hair.

[imthepilot]

"As I love you." Bodhi whispers in return, in no less wonder. "Now kiss me and walk away while we both have the strength."

[galen_erso]

"I will see you soon," Galen says, with total conviction. The Force wants something from them and won't part them before they have done it.

So he kisses Bodhi one last time, and lets go.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi kisses back, passionately before stepping back.

"Till next time, chief scientist Erso." He can't even try to sound formal. Not as breathless and emotional as he is.

[galen_erso]

Unable.to say anything at all, Galen merely nods.and walks away, back straight and hating every step.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi focuses on his take off procedures, waiting till Galen is well clear before starting his assent.

The scientist who first caused Bodhi problems the first time happens to be coming down the cargo platform as Galen is heading back up. "Keeping a close eyes on them, sir? Very wise. Can't trust their kind. Always breaking or stealing something."

[galen_erso]

"No," Galen says, still in earshot. "Rook is good people. That much clear. We'd all starve without our cargo pilots. How is that new cluster coming on?"

Political lies only go that far for Galen Erso.