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

[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."

[galen_erso]

"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?"

[imthepilot]

"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."

[galen_erso]

"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."

[imthepilot]

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

[galen_erso]

"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..."