For Cal

[hisfathersimage]

It was two months after Endor.

A perfectly normal (for him) night's sleep was interrupted. It was like a mental hiccup, or a system reboot. He wasn't aware of anything and then-

The bond snapped into place before he gained awareness. It was old and young and familiar, a previously cautious candlelight that felt closer to a hearthfire now, tempered and warming and clear. The memories rushed back as he woke, sitting up with a choked gasp and a flare of Force awareness and anxiety bright enough that he felt Leia awaken on the otherside of the system with it.

He couldn't explain to her. To anyone. All he could do was throw on clothes as he went, grabbing the bare necessities and choking out something about 'Jedi business, another Jedi, I can feel him' before he was loading up R2 and the X-Wing.

Outer Rim.

He went to Botajef. Intersection of major hyperspace lanes. Near Dathomir, near Yavin, it felt significant and right.

And once he was there, he set himself outside of the main city and he reached out, along the bond and just in general, because he knows the bond is good, but at the same time, he isn't confident about it.

Cal Kestis. I'm here. I know you.

Comments

[hisfathersimage]

"She won't fly here herself."

Luke sounds oddly confident about that.

"She probably can't afford the time away with the Alliance in the state it's in. What she'll do is send Han and Chewie if she's not happy with my explanation."

[bunchofscrewups]

He makes a quiet hum of recognition.

"Well ... I'd like to meet them too."

So that's fine. Getting more time with just Luke would be his preferred option, he thinks, but either way is fine.

[hisfathersimage]

"This is my Han," Luke says softly. Not the shadow of the man he knew, that they knew, in that place. This Han doesn't have his odd obsession with a woman Luke can't trust or respect.

"But it will be at least a few days. If they get sent."

[bunchofscrewups]

"Good."

With that, he nuzzles Luke's hair, then closes his eyes again with a pleased sigh. More sleep. He won't be moving until it's midday, at the earliest.

[hisfathersimage]

"You planning on sleeping until someone comes looking for me?" Luke enjoys lazing, but he's also too used to being up and about to sleep more right now.

[bunchofscrewups]

"Mmmm, no. Then I'd miss out on alone time with you."

And that would be a bit too much sleep. But he'll happily get a few more hours in before he decides he's done. Taking the chance when he feels completely secure.

[hisfathersimage]

"Want me to stay in bed with you?" He can meditate in bed as well as sitting elsewhere. Assuming he doesn't fall asleep again wrapped up in warm, safe arms.

[bunchofscrewups]

"Mmmhm." He confirms it without hesitation at first, selfishly, and only realises after a moment or two that maybe it is selfish. "If you don't mind."

There. Because Luke is, of course, free to choose. But Cal, of course, very much wants him to stay.

[hisfathersimage]

"Nope." He pops the 'p' as he says it, snuggling in more. "I might not sleep, but I can meditate perfectly comfortably here." It's sometimes easier to cast into the Force when you're comfortable and able to feel safe drifting your awareness away.

[bunchofscrewups]

"Okay. Good."

It doesn't take him long to fall asleep again, after that. For all his intentions of staying in bed past midday, though, he wakes up again after barely half an hour. Maybe he doesn't have much more in him, considering how many hours they've spent in this bed now.

He doesn't move, though, beyond burrowing his nose in Luke's hair and breathing him in.

[hisfathersimage]

Luke's body is relaxed and heavy, his awareness elsewhere entirely. Since waking up from... whatever it was they experienced, he hasn't had a chance to really stretch what he can do, how far he can reach, because he was focused on reuniting with Cal. Now, with Cal as a safe anchor, he's drifting on the ebbs and eddies of the Force.

He barely turns his attention to Cal when he feels a snuggle, checking if he's waking up or just heading back into sleep. Unseen fingers trail through Cal's hair and across his cheek.

[bunchofscrewups]

The fingers in his hair draw a quiet humming sound from him, and he draws back just enough to press a kiss to Luke's forehead. Of course, just because he might be awake, that doesn't mean they have to go anywhere. He's more than content to stay here, for now. And content to not disturb Luke's meditation.

[hisfathersimage]

Luke's hands rest against Cal's back and his fingers tighten briefly against the skin. There's no pressure to come to immediately, so he lets himself drift back bit by bit, until he's firmly back inside his own skin, warm and comfortable and settled.

He gives a soft hum at Cal and wriggles in against him. "Mornin'. Again."

[bunchofscrewups]

Cal can sense it clearly, the way Luke meanders through the Force on his way back, and he takes that moment to settle back down with his chin on top of Luke's head. And he of course knows when Luke has returned fully even before he speaks, and idly scratches his back as a sort of greeting.

"Morning. I think I actually don't have more sleep in me."

[hisfathersimage]

The scratching draws another happy, contented sound from low in Luke's throat. "Yeah. Happens, unfortunately." He rubs his cheek against Cal's collarbone and stifles a yawn. "Probably some of the best sleep either of us has had in a while."

[bunchofscrewups]

That's a very nice sound. Cal smiles to himself, and starts idly rubbing his hand up and down Luke's back.

"Definitely some of the best sleep I've had in a while." He closes his eyes again, just to relax. "And I'm still staying in bed until noon."

Sorry, I have been a bit scattered with everything going on

[hisfathersimage]

Noon... is a way off. And Luke already knows he'll want to eat before then. "Well, you're welcome to, but I was thinking about getting us breakfast."

Totally understandable! Take all the time you need, always <3

[bunchofscrewups]

"Hmmm," he says, like he's seriously considering the benefits of this. "I guess breakfast might be worth letting you go."

Though, even as he says that, he squeezes his arm a little tighter around Luke.

[hisfathersimage]

"But only 'might'," Luke comments as the arm presses him closer into Cal again. "I just want to keep your strength up."

[bunchofscrewups]

He hums quietly. Only 'might'. And, truthfully, knowing Luke intends to go get breakfast, he's tempted to actually get out of bed and join him. If only to not be away from him more than necessary.

"My strength will survive until noon."

But he eases his hold on Luke the next moment, just to make it clear that he is, obviously, free to leave.

[hisfathersimage]

Free to, but if Cal wants him to stay... Luke doesn't move for the moment and just luxuriates in being close. The bond is nice, good, but there's something about physical intimacy that just can't be beat.

"It will. But do you want it to?"

[bunchofscrewups]

"I want a lot of different things. I don't think I can have them all at once." He burrows his nose into Luke's hair with a quiet sigh. "If you're getting breakfast I'm coming with."

[hisfathersimage]

"If we get food now, we can stock up for the day and not have to get dressed or out of bed until tomorrow," he suggests.

[bunchofscrewups]

Another moment or two passes as he thinks about it, and then:

"Okay, you've convinced me."

And before he can chance his mind, he rolls over onto his back, throws the covers off himself and swings his legs over the side of the bed to sit up.

[hisfathersimage]

Luke flops to the side as Cal gets up, taking a moment to stretch again luxuriously. Then he starts making the same concerted effort to actually get up and ready to go out, even just briefly.