Welcome home.

[imthepilot]

With Galen finally being released from the Infantry today, Bodhi has pulled out all the stops to make sure their rooms are ready. The bar has been very helpful, providing him with everything he needs to make it work for them.

The rooms are large and airy, open planned living and dinning. Thick carpets and warm colours make it homely and comfortable.

The bar has made sure Bodhi's kitchen has all the appliances he's use to and a big pantry. All the lovely hardwood benches and lots of storage.

The bedroom faces out onto the balcony, just as the living room does, giving them a view of the lake and the gardens. There's an office and workshop for Galen too, ready to be set up the way he wants it.

And a bathroom with a water fresher big enough for two, and of all things - a spa bath.

The balcony has been lined with pots, one wall lined with climbing frames, ready for creeps, flowers and climbing legumes. The kitchen window is also lined with little pots of fresh herbs.

Bodhi opens the door for Galen, biting his lip and hoping Galen likes it.

Comments

[galen_erso]

"That is very considerate of him, and shows how much he cares," Galen says. "Do you know if Chirrut has always been blind, or whether he could see as a child?"

[imthepilot]

"I don't know. I think if he lost his sight, he lost it very young. We really... didn't get to know each other, before Scarif. There wasn't time." And Bodhi was hardly in the right frame of mind to cope.

[galen_erso]

"Where did you meet them?" Galen asks, putting down the kitten to reach for Bodhi again.

[imthepilot]

"In Saw Gerrera stronghold. In the catacombs west of NiJedha. They were in the cell next to mine." Bodhi's voice is soft and a little lost.

[galen_erso]

"So that is where he was hiding," Galen says, pulling Bodhi closer. "I heard about them when I was there -- ancient burial places with many scary myths attached to them."

Even about monsters lurking there.

[imthepilot]

"It was- as bad as the stories." Bodhi's voice shakes a little.

[galen_erso]

Galen holds him close and says nothing.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi buries himself in Galen's arms. Shaking slightly.

[galen_erso]

Galen dips his head to kiss Bodhi's cheek, and his temple. "My brave pilot."

[imthepilot]

Bodhi tries to push it away. Tries to focus on the present.

They are dead. The dead are safe. They are together.

Myrrh recognises the reaction and jumps up on the rail, head-butting Bodhi and mewing at him.

[galen_erso]

Galen reaches out to touch her dark fur. "Perhaps show me where the cat food is kept?"

No dwelling in darkness, not yet. First, they need to find their feet.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi nods gratefully, pulling himself together. He pets Myrrh, whispering a thank you to her before heading inside.

"Kyber's almost old enough to stop needing kitten milk. There's fresh meat for both of them in the cooler." He opens the large refrigerator door to show the compartment where it's kept. "And a dried food supplement the bar recommended here."

Two hoppers of kibble on the bench, labelled with their names. There are bowls too, each with their names. Could be Bodhi, could be the bar but someone's spoiling them.

Kyber looks at his bowl, expectantly. Clearly food is expected to be dished out, now that it's been mentioned.

[galen_erso]

"How much do we give them at one feeding?" Galen asks.

Surely, not much fits into a tiny kitten stomach yet.

[imthepilot]

"There's a scoop in the hoppers the right size. You'd be amazed how much Kyber can consume in a single sitting." He reaches down to tickle said kitten tummy. "And then carry on as if he's never been fed and is starving to death."

[galen_erso]

"Amazing to see how he turns it into muscle and lots of running," Galen says, reaching out for the little cat.

[imthepilot]

"And mischief. I'm just glad I've had Myrrh to help me keep an eye on him."

Kyber leaps on Galen's hand, scrambling up Galen's sleeve to curl in the crook of Galen's arm, demanding pats.

"I'm glad he's taken to you. I'm told they can be fickle."

[galen_erso]

"You mean, he might have been jealous of me and wanted you all to himself?" Galen says, with a smile as he pets the little creature.

"Such a small handful, so much personality!"

[imthepilot]

Kyber purrs loudly from the crook of Galen's arm. "No, I think he's claimed you as much as me. The test will be how he goes tonight. They usually share the bed with me. And now it'll be all four of us."

[galen_erso]

"Do they -- will it not shock them to see us making love?" Galen says. "What do they think about that?"

He keeps petting the fluffy red and white creature in his arm while turning his head to touch the tip of his nose to Bodhi's cheek.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi flushes warmly. "I think... when we're ready we could ask them to give us some space. I think- at least Myrrh would understand. And she can guide Kyber."

[galen_erso]

Galen smiles fondly. "Can we ask the man they came from how he does that, or would that be too intimate a question to ask?"

You never know what people's cultures allow and what they don't, and Galen is flying blind here.

[imthepilot]

"We could ask. Teja is... he's a good person. I'm sure he would understand."

He touches Galen's cheek very gently before leaning in for a kiss, just as gentle and a little tentative. "We... have a lot to work out."

[galen_erso]

"A proper life to start, which we never had while we were technically alive," Galen says, nodding. "So many small things to learn about each other, to starts routines about. But humans are good at that."

[imthepilot]

"I hope- I can't promise-" He swallows and tries again. "I'm still getting a routine for myself. I haven't really- gotten back into any rhythm since- At least with Teja's people, I just helped out where they asked."

[galen_erso]

"Now I am here to give you something to structure yourself with," Galen says. "Among other things."

Pause.

"What was the best bit among Teja's people?"