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

[imthepilot]

"The worst past was the things I wasn't sure of. The memories that- got broken." He looks up into Galen's dark eyes. "I couldn't remember if you cared about me. I remembered that I loved you. But not if you returned that love. It felt like half my heart was missing."

[galen_erso]

Galen holds him, horrified at the thought but glad it was all coming out

[imthepilot]

"Even after I- after I died. I wasn't sure till I saw you. Only it wasn't you. Doctor Lecter. When he thought he was you, it triggered the memories back."

[galen_erso]

"Of the monster?" Galen asks. He doesn't even want to name the Bor Gullet just now.

[imthepilot]

"Of you. Of us. Of- being sure we loved each other." He huffs a bitter sound. "I can't forget the monster."

[galen_erso]

"But you remembered the truth, at last," Galen says. "But I can so understand your deep disappointment afterwards, and..."

He holds Bodhi close, kneeling as they are in the grass beside the eaves of a low building, safely in the shadows.

[imthepilot]

"I had you back. In my mind and in person. But it was a lie. And I was alone again." He looks down at his wrists, the scars hidden by the shadows. "I had nothing but the nightmares."

[galen_erso]

Galen holds him still. "I k ow. I wish I'd come sooner."

[imthepilot]

Bodhi looks up, something bright and fierce in his eyes. "No. Galen, this isn't your fault. None of it is. Please, don't-"

[galen_erso]

"None of it is yours, either."

[imthepilot]

Bodhi doesn't believe that. But he nods anyway. Pulling Galen in close to hold him. "It's over now. We- we're out of the stream. It'll just take time for the scars to heal."

[galen_erso]

"And having our story told back at us revealed a few left-over rough edges," Galen nods, leaning in to kiss Bodhi's lips.

[imthepilot]

"My fault." Bodhi colours, ashamed by the scene he caused. "I guess I hoped- you're never had to know. What happened to me in the catacombs."

[galen_erso]

"Now I know what I'm going to shield you against if you wake up with nightmares," Galen says, sensibly and pragmatically.

Suggesting a seafood stew with tentacles in it is too much levity still, but it will eventually happen.

[imthepilot]

"Thank you." He hugs Galen tight, breathing in his scent. "I should go back and apologies." Even if he's still shaking a little.

[galen_erso]

"Taken a few more breaths and just let me hold you," Galen says. "We can have five mi Ute's."

[imthepilot]

He does as instructed, clinging to Galen as he breathes deep, forced breaths.

After a few minutes, he lifts his head and nods.

[galen_erso]

Galen stands and offers him his hand. They will do this together; that is what they are here for.

Myrrh is by Bodhi's ankle, giving a little questioning mewl.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi leans heavily on Galen for support, shaken and drained.

At Myrrh's little call, he reaches down to pick her up, burying his face in her fur. "Thank you, Myrrh. You always know when I need you."

[galen_erso]

"They're not just animals," Galen says. "They are soul-creatures. Slightly Force sensitive, maybe."

He reaches out to touch the soft black fur with his free hand.

[imthepilot]

"Or just deeply caring." But he isn't going to argue that cats have souls. Myrrh is her own proof of that.

[galen_erso]

"I am glad they chose to come and live with us," Galen says, walking towards the main building again. People are still sitting outside, but by now have grown quieter.

[imthepilot]

He buries his face in Myrrh's fur, taking comfort in her purring warmth. He's embarrassed to have caused such a scene and not sure how to make up for it.

[galen_erso]

It's Gotho who gets up to meet them a little bit away from the tables; by now, Teja and Adalgoth are improvising on their harps, riffs and rhythms that should be impossible on such instruments, just as Heavy Metal should have been impossible on celli. And indeed, this is fierce music from the future they are playing.

"I am sorry, but the smaller children dozed off," Gotho says, "and then my husband and the King started egging each other on to do whatever it is they are doing. So I suppose you will have to wait for the rest of the Lay of the Rogue One until your next visit."

[imthepilot]

"No, I'm the one who should apologise. I'm sorry I kept the children up." Bodhi sets Myrrh down next to Kyber so seems rather glad to have his humans back. "There were- parts of the story Galen- didn't know."