OOM: In Gotland with Bodhi and Galen

[ostro_goth]

 It is the very height of summer now, so the fields are turning golden, the young animals in the meadows are nicely grown and running around when they are not stuffing their faces with the abundant grass, and the people are busy in the gardens and in the workshops and among the granaries.

One of the children points up at the procession coming down the barrow-hill, and then everybody is running up to meet them.

Comments

[galen_erso]

"How that?" Galen whispers back.

[imthepilot]

"I wasn't- I was still very- I wasn't okay to fly so Kay and Cassian flew the entry. We came in over the east ridge." And that's a dangerous flight at the best of times.

[galen_erso]

"And they had never even seen the place before?"

Ouch.

"You are not to blame. Saw is, or I am."

For sending his lover to an old friend who had changed beyond recognition.

[imthepilot]

"Galen, no." He answers firmly, loud enough to disrupt the singers. "It was never your fault. I didn't tell you because I never wanted you to blame yourself for what Gerrera did."

[galen_erso]

Adalgoth and Teja fall silent.

"He sent you to the Born Gullet," Galen says. "A monster that tortured your mind. And I -- I sent you to him."

Myrrh, worried as ever, cuddles closer; the little boy on Galen's lap looks up.

"Story?"

"This is part of our story," Galen says to him, softly. "A part that we still need to tell each other."

[imthepilot]

Bodhi pats Myrrh, trying to calm her. Trying to calm himself. "I'm sorry." He nods to Adalgoth and Teja, carefully and deliberately putting the cat down. "Excuse me."

He needs air and privacy and to walk away from everyone for a moment. He doesn't look around to see if Galen follows him. Unsure if he wants that or not. But he knows he can't talk about this around everyone. Especially the children.

[galen_erso]

No; of course Galen puts little Totila down in his mother's arms and follows into the soft northern summer evening, Kyber following close behind.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi doesn't need to look back to know it's Galen. Or Kyber. But it's still strange to hear Galen's footfalls on grass. A sound he never heard before they died. "I'm sorry." He whispers over his shoulder to his lover. "I didn't want things to be like this."

[galen_erso]

"We need to go to that dark place, once, so we can really move on," Galen says.

He steps closer and chastely kisses Bodhi's neck beside the neat new braid.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi trembles a little under the touch, trying to keep himself level. "I- I didn't want you to know about that. About what- what happened in the catacombs."

[galen_erso]

"Bor Gullet," Galen says. "I never thought Saw would stoop so low."

He blames himself, but won't say so now -- Bodhi would try to reassure him, and that's just not helpful at the moment.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi just shook his head, unable to speak. Because as soon as he did, he'd fall apart.

[galen_erso]

"Let me just hold you?" Galen offers.

[imthepilot]

He folds himself into Galen's arms, tears starting to run down his cheek.

[galen_erso]

Galen wordlessly holds him, leaning his face against Bodhi's hair and stroking his back.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi buries his face in Galen's neck. He's need hiding this for so long, letting it go is like a part of him breaking again.

[galen_erso]

Galen holds him, in the gently darkening evening, as long as he needs.

[imthepilot]

After a long, long moment Bodhi lets go. "I'm sorry. I still-" Galen already knows he has nightmares as a result.

[galen_erso]

"Hmm?" Galen asks, giving him space to talk or be silent, whatever he wants.

[imthepilot]

"The nightmare. Because of- of Bor Gullet. Because of what it did-" His voice breaks and he stops.

[galen_erso]

"Oh, Bodhi!"

Galen holds him tight.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi's fighting just to breathe, his whole body shaking.

[galen_erso]

"Bodhi," Galen whispers. "Just let go."

[imthepilot]

He slips to his knees, shaking worse than before. He needs Galen so much. Needs Galen to keep him from falling apart completely.

[galen_erso]

Galen goes to his knees with him and pulls Bodhi close, just holding him and stroking his back and murmuring love and acceptance. "Hold on to me, I am here for you, we will get through this."