(no subject)

[imthepilot]

It's nearly a month standard before Bodhi can get a haul that leads him back to Eadu. There are too many other runs and too much going on. The Empire needs cargo and they need it everywhere.

Bodhi doesn't always get any say where he's sent. Even if it's the one place in the galaxy he least wants to be.

Jedha.

As much as he hates being wet. As much as he hate the load of Kyber in his hold. AS much as he wanted to just lock the doors and sleep, he is looking forward the being back on Eadu.

And he doesn't want to think too much about that.

About the fact Galen might be the only person in the galaxy who is expecting to see him. The only person who would notice if he didn't show up.

He calls ahead to the tower, radioing in his flight path and arrival time.

He has unpacking to do, he can find Galen once the work is done.

Do the job, move forwards.

Don't look back.

Comments

[galen_erso]

Galen starts making tea, with actual leaves and herbs from a tin rather than some handy powder.

"I'm not," Galen says. "But the teachings and secrets make sense. If we study those traditions we find hard facts of a Force that actually permeates the universe with energy and a non-linear approach to reality that..."

Beat.

"Sorry."

He pours the boiling water I to the pot.

[imthepilot]

"Don't be." Bodhi sets to skewers to fry, the dried fruit giving off a sweet scent in the oil. "My mother was- is a believer. Like most of the Jeddhean poor. But I was raised by my grandmother." A little half smile turns the corner of his lip as he turns the skewers over, the meat sizzling. "The rarest of Jeddhean wildlife - a pragmatist."

[galen_erso]

"Still, the tradition has a point, and I would like to respect it, not just the outcomes we respectlessly carry away," Galen says. "It's so arrogant to think people on far-away, long-ago planets were in any way backwards or unenlightened, just because the models they used to explain the world differed from ours. Mine."

[imthepilot]

"My grandmother use to say that any planet settled by religious types was likely to have a few strange traditions. But most of them have a reason behind them."

"Like the tradition of sharing food. In Jedha, if a stranger comes to your door during a meal, the Way dictates that you pile his plate high before you ask his name." He serves up the skewers and gestures towards the table. "There's very little native to Jedha that's edible. Almost everything has to be imported or farmed. And water is an even scarcer commodity."

He gestures for Galen to help himself - the dark gamey meat matching well with the warm, sweet dried fruit. "So for the sake of sustaining the community - what you have, you share."

[galen_erso]

Galen helps himself, appreciatively breathing in the steam from the food. "This smells delicious," he says. "And yes, it makes sense. What comes around, goes around. Everybody is connected by the resources they share, just as all beings are connected through the universal energy of the Force. It sounds very mystic, but is actually sound science."

[imthepilot]

"The same with children. Group marriages are common because the early settlement was small. The larger the family group, the more diverse gene-pool. A pregnant woman is held as a sacred vessel of the Force. Once born, the child is reared by whole community."

He shrugs bitterly. "At least that's the way it's meant to work. In the slums of Jedha that translates to is roving packs of half starved children no-one takes responsibility for. Child mortality is as high in Jedha today as it was 500 years ago but for very different reasons."

[galen_erso]

"Neglect," Galen says. "Exploitation. Breakdown of traditions."

Beat.

"Bordering on wilful destruction out of ignorance and spite. You were proably lucky in your grandmother. In bad times, grandmothers are often the backbone of humanity and civilisation."

[imthepilot]

"She was the exception to a great many rules. And the only reason more that half my siblings survived to adulthood."

He gets up tidying away the entrees and getting the main dish out of the oven. "She taught me to read using outdated republic service manuals and her own cookbooks. She was a mechanic in the war."

He brings over the dish - a poultry and vegetable pie with a light wine sauce. Homely and simple but filling. And with plenty of left overs to keep the scientist fed after Bodhi was gone. "And she knew how to cook for as many strangers as might show up."

[galen_erso]

"She raised you very well, and quite obviously was an excellent teacher," Galen says. "What so your siblings do now?"

Said casually, as one would have asked in peacetime.

[imthepilot]

"When my grandmother got sun-blight, we started making plans. I took a job with the Imperial base. We scrapped enough together to get my sisters off-planet. They take care of rich people's children on Gendius V. It's not easy but they're getting an education. And they won't be forced to have children of their own before they're ready."

He stabs at a piece of pie. "As for my older brothers, I don't know." He puts the fork down. "I suspect they have become bandits."

[galen_erso]

Galen nods. "Nothing else left to do on a world that is being eaten away from under the feet of its inhabitants except resist or plunder their oppressors?" he says, sadly.

One person's bandit being another person's freedom fighter, as always.

[imthepilot]

He lowers his eyes in something resembling a nod. "I was diverted to pick up the kyber. There had been an attack on the shipment. I saw some of the prisoners the storm troopers capture. They were friends of my brothers." He closes his eyes, trying to keep his voice level.

"For all I know, the blood on that crate was my brothers'."

[galen_erso]

"Oh, Bodhi, I am so sorry," Galen says, reaching out to touch the pilot's elbow as if in support. "Where is that crate now?"

[imthepilot]

The touch makes Bodhi shudder, a little surprised by the human warmth of it. It feels like a long time since anyone touched him.

"On its was to the refinery, I suppose." He hates himself for the fact he's shaking. "I had to hose blood off the deck plates. The smell of it."

[galen_erso]

Galen keeps his steadying hand on Bodhi's elbow. "Would you like quarters inside for tonight, and help with scrubbing your deck tomorrow!"

[imthepilot]

"Thank you. Yes." He's hosed the worst of it out already. Eadu being abundant with water. But the scrubbing will wait. Somewhere away from the ship to sleep will help.

He covers Galen's hand with his own, feeling the deeply human warmth of it.

[galen_erso]

There is a table full of food between them, so all Galen can do is put his other hand on Bodhi's yet again.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi keeps his eyes low, soaking in this moment of comfort. He knows he's shaking and hates it. Hates the weakness of it. The cowardly desire to just break and weep.

All the things he had come here to distract himself from doing. "Will you- can I use your fresher?" He needs to pull himself together. He hates that he's broken down like this.

[galen_erso]

"Of course," Galen says. "If you need to."

He won't mind if Bodhi breaks down and needs comfort, but he won't drag the pilot's pain out into the open, either, if he'd rather keep it to himself.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi stands, meaning to wash his face and pull himself together. But he's shaking so badly.

[galen_erso]

Galen stands as well, concerned, and reaches out a steadying hand again.

The pilot had come this far, with the blood of his brothers or their friends on that crate; he distracted himself with food and Galen's company, but now has reached the end of his tether.

Galen silently chides himself for his blindness.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi clings to the taller man, only now realising how broad the scientist's shoulders are. Broad enough to bear Bodhi's weakness as well as whatever had been forced onto Galen already?

"I'm sorry. I'm not... I'm a brave man, I know that. I'm a coward. I don't know how to do this."

[galen_erso]

Galen holds him easily, as Bodhi is tall but slight, easily draped over his shoulder and held safely.

Galen feels a bit out of his depth, not having held anyone since Lyra and Jyn, but just goes forward with what seems right to him: hug the shaking man and stroke his back, giving him the silent permission to let go with strong, warm hands.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi clings for a long moment, taking Galen's embrace as permission to let himself feel. Stars! How long has it been since anyone held him? The last time he saw the girls? Two years at least, maybe more. He'd forgotten how it felt.

Eventually he pulls himself together, hating himself for having let go of Galen as he straightens. "I'm sorry. I didn't... this isn't why I came here tonight."

[galen_erso]

" it it's whatyouneed to might, after allthat happened, " Galen says. "We can be glad that we haven't gone nhmb."