imthepilot | (no subject)

Galen gets a message late one evening. The evening Bodhi was planning to spent down in the barracks with the other cargo crews.

The message from the head medic. You better get down here.

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From:

galen_erso

It's Galen's room, and he's brewing caf when Bodhi spits that out.

He turns around and stares.

"They think -- they know we??"

It doesn't make any sense.

"They just inferred -- stars, did he even look at me or you?"

It doesn't make any sense that lovely Bodhi gets accused of having to twist anybody's arm to get them into bed.

"Was he jealous?"

From:

imthepilot

"They don't know." Bodhi asserts, pacing somewhat. "He was a friend of the crewman we were helping when the tanks ruptured. He blames me for his friend's death. He was looking to provoke me."

From:

galen_erso

"So he probably accused you of the next bizarrely offensive thing he could think of, never thinking that we really -- that no favour currying or arm twisting was needed at all, because we're actually lovers all along."

Galen shakes his head. "He probably deserved it."

From:

imthepilot

Bodhi huffs a bitter laugh, still wound up tight and passing. "Between spacers, implying someone is whoring themselves to a superior officer for favours is about the worst thing you can say. And saying it to their face is the same as throwing the first punch."

From:

galen_erso

Galen looks very dismayed and goes to pull the bristling pilot into his arms.

From:

imthepilot

Bodhi almost flinches away but stops himself in time. He's so wound up and he's not use to people touching him.

He lets Galen hug him, resting his arms loosely around Galen's waist. "They don't know anything. Just that I'm getting special treatment because I saved your life. It doesn't matter that it's true we're sleeping together. The point is I couldn't let that insult stand." All of it through clenched teeth.

From:

galen_erso

"No, you couldn't," Galen agrees, his arms resting lightly around Bodhi. "And I couldn't possibly use -- abuse -- my authority to refute the insult. That would make the slur into a rumour. So your fists it was, and it seems to have worked."

Pause.

"You need something to let off steam? Make yeast dough? Start an argument on the net?"

Two things Lyra had sometimes done. She had a temper, and could go ballistic at times. Something Krennic had banked on when...

From:

imthepilot

"You need to stay well clear of it. The medic saw it. She'll have to report us both for brawling but-" But his record is pretty clean. He can wear one reprimand easily enough. "You'll get the report soon enough, as chief."

He shakes his head. "I need to hit the fresher. I'll be okay. I just need to cool off."

From:

galen_erso

"All yours," Galen says. "I'll make caf."

As bizarrely different as Lyra and Bodhi seem to be, Galen does seem to have a type -- competent, with a temper, infinitely more practical than he himself. With Bodhi, he feels whole again. As whole as he can be.

From:

imthepilot

Bodhi nods and starts to strip off. There's a red mark on his stomach but it doesn't look like the punch landed with any force. Just the blackening eye. "At least here I don't have to worry about wasting water."

From:

galen_erso

"No, water is the one thing free and plentiful on Eadu," Galen says. He reaches out to touch Bodhi's bare shoulder.

From:

imthepilot

Bodhi shudders slightly. So much pent up energy looking for a release. But he doesn't move to touch Galen back. Mostly because he doesn't trust himself.

From:

galen_erso

"Bodhi?"

From:

imthepilot

Bodhi takes a slow breath and takes Galen's hands in his. "I'm sorry, I'm still..." He kisses Galen's knuckles and takes a step back. "After." He promises.

From:

galen_erso

"Yes," Galen says. "After."

He smiles, and lets go.

From:

imthepilot

Bodhi takes his time in the shower, coming out well scrubbed and slightly chilled. He clearly didn't allow himself the luxury of heat.

But he looks calmer. He offers Galen small smile. "I'm sorry. I'm not use to being around people when I get like that."

From:

galen_erso

"It happens," Galen says. "I don't mind. Lyra had a temper, and much firmer principles than I. So yes, I can give you your space when you need it, no apologies necessary."

From:

imthepilot

Bodhi takes Galen's hands again and kisses his knuckles. Then hugs him, burying his face in Galen's neck.

From:

galen_erso

Galen puts his arms around him and just holds Bodhi for a moment.

From:

imthepilot

"I shouldn't have lost control like that. I'm sorry."

From:

galen_erso

"You needed to hit him," Galen says. "Logical continuation of the argument."

From:

imthepilot

"Yes, but I shouldn't have done it in front of the base medic. Now it will have to be official. And Randle will have to think you collected me from the Medbay to reprimand me."

From:

galen_erso

"I didn't?" Galen says, smiling wrily. "And yes, you could have taken it outside to clear up the differences."

This is the only criticism he can bring himself to agree with, rather than cheering Bodhi on after the fact.

From:

imthepilot

Galen's utter failure to take the reprimand seriously makes Bodhi smile a little. "And have that fight in the rain? I'm not sure that would have ended any better."