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]

Luke can't help but smile. "No doubt she's hip deep in it all. She loved that sort of thing."

He holds his hands out too as Bodhi loads them both up, nodding towards his room. Their room. The kitchenette Bodhi requisitioned for their rooms wasn't big but it was practical. And meant they can cook and eat in private.

[galen_erso]

"Some people do love politics," Galen says resigned, trudging along.

He loves his work. Helping people. But not the politics needed to get there.

[imthepilot]

Luke shakes his head, smiling. "Leia is good at what she does. Which I don't understand either."

Bodhi lets them into their room and gesture for Luke to make himself at home as he starts the prep. "What have I missed while I was away?"

[galen_erso]

"Did I tell you about the woman with the idea for recycling Stormtrooper eye-pieces?" Galen asks.

Bodhi is probably not asking about whatever they talked about in the Star Temple.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi cocks his head questioningly, giving Luke a threatening look as the Jedi creeps in to steal a bit of the fruit he's chopping.

[galen_erso]

"Collect them, use the lenses for heat collectors," Galen says. "Simple devices to power small ovens."

[imthepilot]

"What a brilliant idea." Luke hums, managing to dodge the flat of Bodhi's knife as he gets away with a piece, backing off to offer half to Galen as Bodhi scowls. There's an almost sibling interplay between them.

"That will be helpful." Bodhi nods, throwing everything into a pan that sizzles with a pungent oil. "Especially on worlds that have lost their infrastructure." Like Jedha.

The unspoken words hang in the air.

[galen_erso]

"Especially those worlds," Galen agrees gravely. "What are you making?"

He tries to peer around Bodhi.

[imthepilot]

"Just a simple Jedhean stew." Bodhi shrugs, "Is that alright?"

Luke shrugs. "You know I'm not fussy." He looks to Galen, curious about how often they eat together as a couple but not sure how or if he should ask. He's curious about a lot of things Galen and Bodhi but he isn't quite sure how to ask any of them.

[galen_erso]

"Of course," Galen says. "You know I love everything you make. The simplest salad, sandwich or soup is better than anything the mess offers."

[imthepilot]

"We really need to work on that." Bodhi muses, leaving the stew to simmer and pulls a bottle from the cooler, pouring three glasses of a chilled light green wine. "Not that your science team seem to notice."

Luke chuckles. "So scientists are worse that pilots?"

"Scientists will eat anything. Pilots will drink anything." Bodhi clarifies.

[galen_erso]

"Sometimes, scientists will eat nothing," Galen adds, reaching for his glass, "but pilots will almost always drink if there is anything on offer."

Pause.

"Good food is sure to draw those with families, though. Even people who are content to eat flatbread pie all the time will want their kids to eat green stuff."

[imthepilot]

Bodhi looks up, his expression sharp. "Are there families on base going short?"

[galen_erso]

"No, but I noticed that a very promising couple went to a job in Coruscant after I had offered them one here, and they said the food options for their kids -- they have eight, their own and some picked up along the way -- are better there."

[imthepilot]

Bodhi turns back to the pot and stirs carefully, clearly brooding.

"Bodhi?" Luke calls, a little worried.

[galen_erso]

"Not everybody has eight kids," Galen points out. "Most scientists prefer to stuff their faces with pie and argue endlessly while doing so."

[imthepilot]

"I'll look into it." Bodhi sounds quite angry, his posture stiff.

"Bodhi." Luke says again, more insistently.

[galen_erso]

"It's not a failing of our base," Galen adds, "but a luxury problem I am glad we can afford to have. We went everywhere with little Jyn, and she thrived very well on whatever food there was."

[imthepilot]

"Still." Bodhi doesn't relax as he starts dishing up. "I'll look into it."

He brings over bowls and starts laying the table, putting things down a little heavier than needed.

Luke looks over to Galen, looking worried. "Bodhi, you can't do anything tonight. Eat, drink, get some sleep. Deal with it in the morning."

[galen_erso]

"Also, we can soon start growing vegetables from some of our projects," Galen adds, sitting down at his place.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi nods and dishes up bowls of stew and warm bread. "That would be good. We have plenty of arable land around the base we could be using. It would make sense to grew what we can ourselves, so supplies can be redirected to other places that need it."

He takes a few spoonfuls of stew, without tasting it. His mind already working elsewhere.

[galen_erso]

"This is delicious!" Galen declares, never able to not pay attention to Bodhi's food.

[imthepilot]

"It really is good." Luke comments, tucking in just as gladly.

Bodhi takes another spoonful, shaking his head. "Too mild." He grabs a shaker of spices, adding a little to him bowl and offering it to them. "My own blend - dried white chilli, sand ginger, and a little bit of catabar."

He sounds more like himself describing it.

[galen_erso]

"I heard there used to be competitions about who could grow the hottest chilies," Galen supplies.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi raises an eyebrow. "The hottest one I know is black fire chilli. And you need a very hot, wet climate to grow it."

Luke chuckles. "I just feel sorry for whoever has to test it." He passes on the spice. "I grew up on simple foods. I'm not very good with chilli."