imthepilot | (no subject)

Entry tags:

galen,
milliways

(no subject)

{From here}

Bodhi's still sitting on the grass when Galen comes out; thick, angry tears drying on his cheeks. There's a core of rage in his gut but it's impudent rage. Too much he can't control, can't fix. Too much he can't undo.

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"They told me you can't get living things from the bar, but we might ask her for seeds to see if they fall under that definition, too," Galen says.

We. Because it will be their plants, and their balcony.

Their room, and their cats.

Suddenly, he smiles at Bodhi again.

"Bodhi!"

As if seeing him for the first time.

There a fleeting look of panic on Bodhi's face. Worries that Galen's injuries might include a knock to the head. "I'm here, Galen."

"Yes, I know," Galen says. "I'm still so happy and overcome by it."

Not to mention high on painkillers. Bodhi nods, "I know how you feel. Mixed up with a whole lot of fear this isn't real." He bites his lip, not meaning to say all of that out loud.

"Yes," Galen admits. "And that I might wake up in an Imperial prison facility med bay after all."

"Still afraid they'll find out?" Bodhi asks sadly. "I saw an officer's shuttle arrive. On Eadu. Just before I went to find a ship to get us out."

"That must have been Orson Krennic's, confronting me about leaking the plans," Galen says. "And shooting my entire team of scientists. But I suspect he was done with them anyway, what with all our project components shipping. I knew he would be eventually, which is why I had only picked old men mostly done with their lives, in the first place, and praised every younger team member up the stairs and away from Eadu."

"He was always going to kill them." Bodhi echoes, caught between terror and revulsion. "Would he have killed you?"

"I think not," Galen says, "as I feel he was taking me personally -- but he very well might have, if he thought it would serve his ambition better."

"Instead the rebels killed you. Because I told them where to find you." Bodhi lowers his head, shame colouring his cheeks.

Galen, still leaning on Bodhi's arm as they make their way towards the bar building, stops briefly.

"They betrayed you," he says. "You came to get me. So did Jyn. Don't blame yourself."

Beat.

"We have both new levels of guilt and pain to work through, and will have to do so, slowly and together, in the next weeks and months. I had barely realised about NiJedha when I was already dead, and the Guardians were beating me up for it. Or rather, bantha fur was beating me up, and kyber eyes put his foot on me to save his friend the bother with Security if he had killed me over."

There's a ripple of anger that rips through Bodhi at that. He can't imagine being able to forgive Chirrut and Baze for that. The thought that Galen might have arrived, only to die at their hands, before Bodhi could see him, could hold him. Learning that, there would have been no way Bodhi could have suffered this half life a moment longer.

He tries to suppress all of that as he helps Galen to the door.

"Bodhi," Galen says, stopping for a moment once more. "I know it's hard to forgive them, even if I do. If they had beaten you, I wouldn't forgive them, either. But they are your friends from battle, and all that's left of Jedha."

"It's too early for that." He can't forgive them. Not yet.

He studies Galen's face. "We should get you back to the infirmary."

"Perhaps more sensible," Galen says. "But can you stay with me a bit longer?"

"Galen, I won't leave you. Not unless you ask me to. Or the infirmary staff ask me to leave." He says earnestly. His voice raw.

"Stay with me until I get tired and sleep, and then catch some sleep as well," Galen says. "And let's eat something. I'm sure you can make something from whatever list the infirmary staff makes I can have."

"I don't sleep very much any more but... I will. I promise." He helps Galen back to the infirmary. Myrrh jumps up on the bed, making it clear she's staying to watch over Galen.

"Then you should take up the habit again," Galen says. "Stay here with me and the cats; maybe if we all sleep, we bore you so much you'll sleep as well."

Myrrh gives Bodhi a look that says she agrees with the plan. Outvoted, Bodhi helps Galen into bed and lays down next to him, a careful arm around Galen's waist.

And even a kitten must sleep sometimes, as being a kitten is quite exhausting. Galen strokes the purring creature, the other arm around Bodhi, and falls asleep soon.

Kyber yawns and curls up against Bodhi's chest, asleep in moments.

{ooc: fade?}

And one can't move when a cat sleeps on you, after all.-

[[OOC: Perfect! Could you post it?]]

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