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]

Cal's finished eating and Luke's had all he really wants for now. He pushes his own bowl away with a thought back to the tray and tucks himself in against Cal. An arm goes around Cal's waist, his head coming to his shoulder.

"I've got time and you. It'll be fine."

[bunchofscrewups]

"Yeah," he whispers, and turns his head to bury his nose in Luke's hair, breathing him in. There's a slight pause, as he realises, with a smile-- "You smell just like I remember."

He didn't know he remembers it, but in this moment, he knows. There are some differences, but what matters, what is plainly and simply Luke, is the same.

[hisfathersimage]

It takes a moment, but Luke shifts his weight, coming around to settle into Cal's lap, like their last night in Duplicity. He wraps his legs around the other man's waist and hips, sliding in close to press them together all along the front.

He snuggles in again at that point, hugging Cal tight.

[bunchofscrewups]

He makes a quiet sound of surprise when he feels Luke's weight on his lap. It's a suggestive move, and he can feel arousal stir in him, but he doesn't act on it immediately. More than anything, he wants to just rest, so when Luke uses that closeness purely to hold on ... He certainly has no complaints.

Wrapping both arms around Luke, he buries his face in his neck and settles there. Just to breathe. Along with the warmth of love in his chest, there's an ache that twists his throat, a longing to have a life like this. A life with affection and warmth and no worries or suffering. They didn't have it in Duplicity and they won't have it here. He supposes the truth is no one can have that, not completely, but for them ... Could they ever have it, even just for a fleeting moment?

The older he gets, the more he understands Bode's desperation.

[hisfathersimage]

It is a little suggestive, given they're both naked, but it's more about the skin on skin than anything else. It's a reminder of before Cal spent years carrying those memories alone and that he isn't going to be alone with them again.

Luke's fingertips brush back and forth over skin, hand shifting to rest protectively at the nape of Cal's neck, encouraging him to stay pressed close as long as he wants. They have the time for now. He presses a kiss to the side of the man's head and then just rests his own head there, eyes half closing and sighing out a soft breath.

[bunchofscrewups]

When Luke says nothing even though he could surely feel the weight of grief and longing, Cal feels the last of the tension ease out of his shoulders with a shuddering breath. He didn't even know he was worried about it, about being questioned, and he's surprised by just how relieved he feels. But, truthfully, it's not that surprising. He remembers that he often was amazed by how easily Luke knew just what to do.

Talking can be healing, he knows that very well now. But for the moment, this is what he needs. Maybe what they both need. To just be close in the quiet, and the peace. Even if it can't last, maybe ... Maybe it's enough.