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

[imthepilot]

Bodhi brings Galen's hand to his lips, kissing his knuckles slowly. "It can wait. They can wait. We have each other again."

[galen_erso]

"That is what counts," Galen agrees, "and the basis from which we can now negotiate this new reality."

A process that is far from complete.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi smiles softly as Myrrh purrs loudly at them. "And our new family."

Kyber is asleep, upside on Bodhi's lap and twitching happily in his dreams.

[galen_erso]

"Made up of small sentient non-humans," Galen says.

There is nothing wrong with that -- Earth people might think the cats are animals, but for Galen"s experience, they fall within the wide margin of 'potentially sentient' and deserve the benefit of the doubt. Everything else us anthropocentric Empire ideology.

[imthepilot]

"They're very social creatures. From what I saw on Teja's world." He strokes Kyber's belly gently. "And what I've seen here. Myrrh... saved my life."

[galen_erso]

Galen had been resisting just that, not wanting to wake the kitten, despite the lure of the pink skin shimmering through the white fluffy fur, so infinitely scritchable.

"That was very good of her, and I am grateful," he says. "How did she do that?"

[imthepilot]

"She found me, when I-" He shrugs, gesturing with one scarred wrist. "She brought help."

From the sleepily little purrs, Kyber likes his belly rubbed.

[galen_erso]

Galen strokes Myrrh's black fur in his lap. "You saved my beloved, and I will always be grateful to you for it," he tells her earnestly. "And have a place for you in my afterlife."

[imthepilot]

Myrrh purrs deeply and headbutts Galen's hand. She seems very happy to accept his praise.

"I owe her so much. And Teja for sending her to me."

[galen_erso]

Galen keeps stroking her.

"He speaks their language?"

[imthepilot]

"He can. By taking their form. But... I don't think it's easy. Mostly I think he's just been around them enough to understand them."

[galen_erso]

"Then we have a chance to learn as well," Galen says. "But what do you mean by taking their form?"

[imthepilot]

"I don't understand it very well but I think he has some artifice that gives him the shape and language of a cat. I should ask him."

He was a bit self-absorbed at the time.

[galen_erso]

"That must be very complex technology, unless it is outright magic," Galen says. "U less magic is just technology we don't understand."

[imthepilot]

Bodhi shrugs. "I really don't know. Unravelling that sort of thing is more your skill set than mine. I just fly and cook."

[galen_erso]

"And I can try and bridge magic and technology with concepts like the Force and the powers of kyber," Galen says.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi leans across to kiss Galen. It's a loving kiss, slow and gentle.

[galen_erso]

"We can enjoy the ways we are different, and the ways we are the same," Galen says, kissing him back.

[imthepilot]

"That we both need each other?" Bodhi asks softly. Although he suspects he needs Galen a lot more than Galen needs him.

[galen_erso]

"That we do," Galen says. "And then, there are different things we need from each other and give each other, precisely because I can't do what you are good at, and vice versa."

[imthepilot]

"How is it you always know the right things to say?"

Bodhi shifts up the couch and lays dow with his head in Galen's lap, next to Myrrh. Myrrh turns and makes herself comfortable, grooming Bodhi's hair as Kyber grumbles and settles back on Bodhi's chest.

[galen_erso]

Black fur. Dark curls. White and orange fluff. Galen savours the different textures with his fingers, content, even happy.

"Because I love you, and we belong together."

[imthepilot]

If Bodhi could purr, he'd be as loud as the two cats. "I love you."

He curls a hand protectively around Galen's knee, letting the warmth of Galen's nearness soak into him.

[galen_erso]

"This is real," Galen whispers, sounding awed.

He looks down he looks up, he smiles.

This is home now.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi looks up at him, reaching up to stroke Galen's cheek. He chuckles softly as Myrrh puts a paw on his head to keep him still while she grooms.