(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

[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.