AU - Delta Base with friends

[imthepilot]

The first month after Endor is the busiest Bodhi has seen things for the Alliance since the evacuation of Hoth. Despite Mothma promoting him to Delta Base’s commander, he’s been off base more often than not. Rogue Strike were busy too.

With Galen cleared to know about his mission, Bodhi always leaves messages when he has to leave in a hurry. But mostly he finds Galen and talks to him before he leaves. It’s getting harder and harder for Bodhi to go as things get more comfortable between them.

The sex hasn’t been the same though. Since that first time, Bodhi has been careful. Very careful. Giving and loving but controlled. As if he’s afraid to hurt Galen again.

To manage the base in Bodhi’s absence, Mothma appoints him a pair of adjuncts – young Nika who turns out to be quite a resourceful young man, especially when it comes to finding scientific equipment for Galen. The other is a stern Twi'lek woman named Dana. Her blue skin shaded to purple around a network of heavy scars, the tip of one lekku permanently twisted by a deep cut. Harshly fair but dispassionate, Dana keeps things on track and organised in Bodhi’s absences but doesn’t mix with the others on base much.

Bodhi sends a message to Galen via Dana, letting him know he’ll be back soon. And that some friends are coming to Delta to see him. And to meet Galen.

Comments

[imthepilot]

By the time Galen climbs down, Luke is sitting cross-legged under the dome, marvelling up at the great vaulting sky of kyber.

His own sabre, floating a few inches above his out-stretched hand, is dissembled, each part floating so the green crystal at it's heart rests over his palm.

"Dr Erso." Luke greets him, without taking his eyes from the roof. "When Bodhi told me about this place, I couldn't wait to see it. I know it's a sanctuary you share. I hope you'll forgive me for not waiting for you."

He breathes a warm and joyous sigh. the crystals shining down on them as if communing with the one in Luke's hand. "It's beautiful!"

[galen_erso]

"More than that -- it is powerful," Galen says, coming up beside Luke. "It doesn't take much guessing to know you must be Luke Skywalker."

[imthepilot]

Luke looks away from the stars long enough to flash Galen a smile. "Ah, so you are force sensitive?"

He turns his hand, the sabre starting to click back together, the parts reassembling in his hand. At the last click, he returns it to his belt. "Yes, I am. And you're Galen Erso, the father of hope. And the man who makes one of my dearest friends happy."

[galen_erso]

"I don't know which of the two descriptions make me gladder to hear," Galen says with a little smile. "And yes, I am, a little -- I wasn't always. It must have been the prolonged and extensive exposure to and work with kyber."

[imthepilot]

"What is it you feel in here?" Luke asks softly, eyes reflecting the dome of stars.

[galen_erso]

"Awe," Galen says. "Millennia of unknown history. Reverence for the universe, and the Force."

[imthepilot]

"Warmth and welcome too." Luke smiles. "This place has been empty for a long time. But now it knows people again. It knows life. The kybers sings to be seen, to be near life again."

Luke looks at him with dancing eyes. "You should get married here."

[galen_erso]

"But for that, we would have to let in more people," Galen says, "which Bodhi is reluctant to do. I do see his point."

Even if Galen thinks this place will, on the long run, belong to the whole Galaxy.

[imthepilot]

"Knowing Bodhi, I doubt he'd want a big party. For all he goes out of his way to help people, he's a pretty private person."

"But then, I'm sure you know him better than me."

[galen_erso]

"There would have been witnesses, and a celebrant, for it to be a wedding," Galen says. "The party can be a small one with his good friends and comrades, at the base; not everybody needs to come here. But they'd know there is something here."

[imthepilot]

"Funny thing." Luke shrugs, a little cocky. "Under the laws of the Old Republic, as a Jedi knight, I'm allowed to act as celebrant. If you'll both have me."

Bodhi detaches himself from shadows of the doorway. "You're just making sure you're invited, aren't you?" He heads straight for Galen, catching his hand almost tentatively before pulling him into a hug. "Sorry it took so long. Things got messy."

[galen_erso]

Galen pulls him into his arms, holding him.

"Solves several questions at once," he says, smiling into Bodhi's eyes. "But what mess?"

[imthepilot]

Bodhi's eyes are so dark they almost look like the night's sky, reflecting the kyber stars, his posture a little stiff. "The mission. Wedge, a friend of ours." He nods to Luke. "He was taken while staking out Imperial hold-outs."

"How is he?" Luke asks, utterly unfazed by their affection.

"He was tortured. It's not good." There's a blunt resignation to Bodhi's voice. "The medics on Home One say he'll recover. He's putting in to be moved here when he's out of the tank."

[galen_erso]

"That is terrible," Galen says. "I'll do my best to make him welcome, and we have Rochin to look after him, too."

Of course he knows Wedge!

[imthepilot]

"I'm glad you were there to get him home." Luke pats Bodhi on the back, the pair clasping forearms. "But if we're going to talk about medical help, you really need to upgrade."

Bodhi grumbles quietly.

[galen_erso]

Galen keeps silent.

He liked Bodhi when he was whole, he likes Bodhi's metal arm, and he's sure he will like any replacement Bodhi might get.

Because he likes Bodhi, full stop. Whatever the configuration.

[imthepilot]

"The tactile input on the new models are so much better." Luke presses. If it wasn't so quiet in the dome, there would be no way to hear the soft whir of servos as Luke wiggles his fingers.

"I'm happy as I am. Thank you." Bodhi says it with the resignation of someone whose had this argument before and knows he'll have it again. "Now shut up and tell me what you two have been plotting?"

He rests his flesh arm loosely around Galen's waist.

[galen_erso]

"You heard the end of it," Galen says. "Luke offered to marry us here, with minimal witnesses."

[imthepilot]

Bodhi considers that, leaning into Galen. Both Luke and Galen know him well enough to know he's tired and run-down by the mission. Seeing Wedge that badly hurt hasn't helped his state of mind.

"Leia, Rochin. Wedge, if he's able." He looks to Galen, to see if there's anyone else he'd like there.

[galen_erso]

"Nika?" Galen suggests.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi nods slowly. "I'm sure Dana could cope with running the base on her own for a day."

Luke gives Bodhi a wry smile. "Not Han, Chewie, or Lando?"

To which Bodhi scowls. Only making Luke grin more.

[galen_erso]

"I never met Lando Calrissian," Galen muses.

[imthepilot]

"He's not that bad." Bodhi concedes.

"It's just when he and Han get together." Luke finishes.

Bodhi is about to make a further comment but his wrist-comm beeps and he sighs. "Give me a moment." He heads towards the hole that leads topside.

Luke rests a hand on Galen's sleeve. "Can we talk?" He asks, quietly urgent.

[galen_erso]

Galen nods. "Of course."

[imthepilot]

"I'm worried about Bodhi." Luke says softly. "I never knew him before Scarif. None of us did. But in the last month he's been- unsettled. I don't think he's taken the time he needs to adjust to- to these new situation."