imthepilot | AU - Delta Base with friends

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au week

AU - Delta Base with friends

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.

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"Emotional whiplash," Galen says. "At first, he was almost wary of me; then we got -- together, and the next morning, he had made it official. In case something happened. And Senator Mothma gave us this base, making it even more official. Now we have that whole new life, and sometimes, I feel he hasn't even processed the first step after his defection from the Empire yet. So much happened, and here we are. And while I tend to be a bit placid and trust the Force, knowing that the higher-strung people around me will push me when it's right, Bodhi is just -- he just does what he is asked and has no time to even arrive here. If you know what I mean?"

"When I first met Bodhi, it was just before the Battle of Yavin. There wasn't time then either. We have less than a day before the Death Star was on us. It was blow it up or die trying. Bodhi was amazing in that fight. I'd never seen anyone fly like that. He saved me twice before I was able to fire my shot. But looking back, I realise he flew that way because he had nothing left to lose. He's been like that for as long as I've known him."

Luke searches Galen's face. "But now he has you again. And he does have something to lose. I think that scares him."

"He didn't expect to survive," Galen muses. "He didn't want to. I guess he intended to follow us -- me, Jyn, those other friends that were with him on Scarif. All of his family, all of NiJedha. And now, he has to deal with the one thing he never really took into account. Life at almost-peace, love, and a home."

Luke nods. "I'm not sure how to help him. I hoped you would. You know him better than I do."

"Retrace our steps, once we are married," Galen says. "Do the journey which we skipped. I suppose I could ask him to go away for a little, as people are working here now, and should manage without us for a few days. But I don't know where -- what remains of Jedha might be far too painful to contemplate. Unless..."

"Talk to him about it." Luke urges. "And when you decide what to do, talk to Mon Mothma." He smiles softly. "She's always had a soft spot for Bodhi. I'm sure she wouldn't begrudge him a holiday after the wedding."

"A holiday doesn't have to be about fun," Galen says. "Some of them are quite serious."

"Then call it therapy. Believe me, she'll be even more willing to help."

Galen's comm chimes with a message from Bodhi - Had to go back inside to deal with something. Bring Luke to dinner. If you both want to.

"We get dinner from him," Galen says. "Unless you don't want to?"

He doesn't really know if Jedi have special dietary laws.

"I'd love to." Luke answers eagerly. "I have a few days before I need to head off and I'd like to spend some more time down here. If you and Bodhi are alright with that."

He cocks his head. "I didn't know Bodhi cooked?"

"Like a master," Galen says. "I suppose he stopped when -- when everything got so hurried, and the people he wanted to share a meal with were gone."

Pause.

"Did you ever meet Jyn?"

"When he had no-one to cook for." Luke echoes, thoughtful and sad. "Is he cooking now?"

He rests a hand Galen's shoulder. "I'm sorry, no. I didn't join the Rebellion till after Scarif. All I know of her is the hero legend, and Bodhi's stories."

"Yes, he is cooking again," Galen says. "Of course not every meal, but yes. A little bit of Jedha survives in his recipes."

"I never saw Jedha." Luke smiles, "I hope I get to taste something of it."

He cocks his head. "I heard there are projects in the works to help recover the survivors of Jedha?"

"Yes, there are," Galen says. "Systems that will allow the older people who don't want to leave live out their lives on the moon, as it will break apart, but not just yet. And other projects for the settlements of displaced Jedhans. They have priority."

"Can I help?" Luke asks, honest and open.

"The whole culture is on the brink," Galen says. "If you, the one Jedi in existence, would go and try to learn about the Jedhan traditions in addition to what you are practising, then it might help them to keep it alive, show them that Jedha still is needed in the galaxy, even if the place itself will be entirely gone in twenty to fifty years."

Luke smiles warmly and nods. "I can do that. I'd like that. And with Bodhi's help and blessing if he's willing."

He nods towards the base. "Should we be getting back?"

"Yes, let's," Galen says. "We might get back just when food is ready."

Luke jumps up through the gap, reaching back down to help Galen up. "I'll have to talk to Bodhi about making the entrance a little safer. If we're going to bring Wedge down for the wedding."

He pauses as they reach the top, taking a deep breath. "There's such peace here. Even with the base and all the bustle. And so very green. Took me so long to get use to that. Anywhere."

"Because you are from a desert planet?" Galen says.

He won't pretend that he hasn't heard about Luke. Everybody in the rebellion has, and many people beyond.

"Tatooine." Luke nods, either ignoring or not noticing Galen's knowledge of him. "It was something Bodhi and I bonded over. The humidity on Yavin IV. We both wilted under it. Not that Bodhi showed it the way I did."

"I don't think Bodhi showed much of anything, at first," Galen muses.

The worst had already happened. Why would he complain about tiny things, then?

"He does keep a lot close to the chest." There's a worried note to Luke's voice. And regret too. Like he's failed Bodhi as a friend.

He pauses outside the base, not wanting to talk about Bodhi around other people.

"It won't all change at once," Galen says, words neutral but tone heartfelt, "but we are getting there."

He makes his way into the now familiar base.

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