OOM: Baze's Secret Thing

[iprotectyou]

The young Guardian, Baze, has a secret.

He's managed to smuggle something soft and small and adorable into his room, without alerting any of the Masters or the little acolytes he's supposed to be training at the moment. Now he's waiting for Chirrut, stroking the baby animal and hiding at any random noise from the stone corridor.

Comments

[idontneedluck]

"Oh, stop sulking, you lasted longer than last time." Chirrut's voice calls outside their rooms, followed by the sounds of a brief scuffle and then the muted squeaking of someone in a higher register than Chirrut's voice.

"And stop trying to ambush me. Honestly." There's laughter in Chirrut's voice, and after some quieter conversation the door muffles, he shoulders the door open, settling his staff just inside.

[iprotectyou]

"Chirrut!" Baze calls from his bed in a stage whisper. He has the biggest grin on his face. "Shut the door and come here. I have a secret thing."

The little creature has burrowed under Baze's arm, near his pillow, and he gently scoops it up. He rests his palm on its warm, pink belly. It squirms, and he can't help but laugh. Baze is certain Chirrut will love the animal. The larger Guardian already does.

[idontneedluck]

"Baze, we've been over this." He teases brightly, clearly coming off the high of sparring. "I don't want any part of your secret thing."

He closes the door, however.

"What have you managed to bring back to the temple?"

[iprotectyou]

Baze barks out a booming laugh. "You're missing out, clearly," he says, and stands from the bed, bringing his find to Chirrut. The larger Guardian takes Chirrut's hand in his and turns his palm up, so he can set the fuzzy, wiggling creature onto his hand. "I have no idea what it's called, but it's awfully cute. Mind the claws."

[idontneedluck]

Chirrut's face is a picture of shock when this warm handful of fluff and wiggle is deposited into his hand. Immediately he cradles the creature close to his chest, exploring the creature's contours with his other hand with a feather-light touch.

"Baze, what... where did you even find this?" The ears are so ridiculously soft he can't stop himself from petting them, smoothing the fur down and spiking it up again.

[iprotectyou]

Its ears are huge, with tufts of soft, white fur coming out of them. "Outside, in the courtyard, near one of the fountains," Baze says, reverentially, stroking a fingertip down the animal's back. "You know, the one with the crack in it? The baby was drinking."

Its long, fluffy tail curls around Chirrut's wrist, and Baze makes a cooing sound. He's not loud enough to drown out the creature's small squeaks. "We can't let the acolytes see."

[idontneedluck]

"No, no..." Chirrut agrees distractedly, completely enamored with the creature's noises. "It's... too big of a responsibility."

This is complete nonsense, but he'll stand by that statement for as long as it will hold.

The tail around his wrist earns a detailed examination, testing the creature's hold and teasing the fur to lie straight and oh-so-soft.

[iprotectyou]

Baze chuckles quietly, trying not to spook the baby animal more than he has already. He shuffles closer to Chirrut, leaning down to get a better look at its snuffling nose. "Aww. Do you think Master Sheotar will let us keep it?" he muses, reaching out to scratch under its chin.

[idontneedluck]

"There's nothing saying we can't... is there?" Chirrut asks, worriedly, scratching the little creature under the chin. In his protective flare he jostles the baby just a little too much, and it makes its displeasure known with a set of very sharp, very tiny teeth jabbing into his finger.

[iprotectyou]

"Oh, Chirrut, what did you do to it? You're bleeding," Baze says, torn between worry and amusement. He goes for the latter, smiling gently at the little creature. His voice drops lower, almost whispering, as if he's afraid he'll scare it further. "I can get you a bandage for that finger if you need one."

[idontneedluck]

"No, no, it's fine, he just wanted me to calm down, didn't you? Who's an opinionated fluff ball? Huh?" He coos, carefully keeping his injured finger away from the creature's fur as he cuddles it close. "You are! Yes you are!"

Chirrut may be in love.

[iprotectyou]

Baze beams at his friend, thoroughly pleased at his happiness. "Well, I don't know what his problem is with you," the older Guardian teases, nudging Chirrut in the shoulder. "He never bit me."

The baby yawns, opening his toothy mouth wide, and Baze gasps. "Oh, Chirrut. He's so cute. I wonder what he eats? Aside from fingers."

[idontneedluck]

"From those teeth? Meat. Nothing that pointy was meant to eat vegetables." Chirrut laughs. "When he grows up he can protect you from the acolytes."

[iprotectyou]

"He'll be a right terror," Baze says, clicking his tongue at the baby animal. The tiny creature smacks his black lips together, tucking his nose under his front paw. "What should we call it?"

[idontneedluck]

"Zaft the Destroyer!" Chirrut decides cheerfully as the creature gnaws thoughtfully on his thumb. "Defender of the Temple and Despoiler of the Wicked!"

And this is why Chirrut isn't allowed to name anything.

[iprotectyou]

"Zaft?" Baze says, grinning. He reaches out and strokes the baby's long, prehensile tail. "What kind of name is Zaft? He's obviously a Quan. He can keep the titles, though."

[idontneedluck]

Chirrut hums thoughtfully, ruffling those precious ears again in gentle, repetitive movements.

"Quan the Destroyer. It could work." He shifts, wincing, and offers the creature back to Baze. "If I knew he was waiting here when I finished practice, I would have stretched out there."

[iprotectyou]

"Shame on you," Baze teases, gladly taking the baby back. He shifts the creature in his hands, cradling it against his chest to make sure it doesn't bite him. "You know better. You should always stretch after practice. You need to be a good example for the children, Chirrut."

Baze knows very well that he forgot to have said children stretch after the first training class he taught, but he hasn't forgotten since, having woken up ridiculously sore after his and Chirrut's "demonstration" that day. "How's Eiko's training coming along? Is she finally getting the upper hand on you?"

[idontneedluck]

"She wishes." Chirrut laughs, giving himself space to move and settling into his routine. Years have made the movements habitual and graceful. He could do this routine while concussed and half-asleep... something he's tested at least once. "She's close, but she's not there yet. I'd give her... oh, probably a few months. Then sparring will get very interesting."

[iprotectyou]

"Good," Baze says, watching Chirrut go through the feline-like movements. The older Guardian continues cooing over the baby, gently running the back of his fingers across the side of its face. "I'm looking forward to seeing her wallop you. Make sure you call me when she becomes more of a challenge."

He sighs, nuzzling the tiny animal with his nose, well aware of the risk of being bitten. "We should probably put this back where it came from."

[idontneedluck]

Chirrut pauses in the middle of a backbend. After a moment he sighs, and continues to kick his feet up to a handstand.

"I suppose we must. He might have a family out there." He agrees, not bothering to hide the disappointment in his voice.

[iprotectyou]

"Probably," Baze says, and the thought of a whole family of fluffballs fills him with warmth. "We probably couldn't keep him, anyway. With our luck, Master Sheotar is allergic to him."

Sighing as well, Baze crosses to the door. He picks up Chirrut's staff to hand it to him. "Shame. I would have really liked to have a pet here. I've never had one."

[idontneedluck]

"Me neither." Chirrut rights himself and takes the staff, bracing it over his shoulders once they reach the halls and looping his arms over it. "Maybe when we're the Elders, we'll have a few pets." Chirrut can't really imagine himself as old, not yet, but he knows it comes to all beings lucky enough.

[iprotectyou]

Baze laughs, cupping his hands around the little animal to shield it from the curious stares of the young acolytes. "We'd have to keep them away from the children," he says, keeping a serene smile on his face in the hopes of not attracting attention. Nothing to see here, kids, move along

He leads Chirrut to the outdoors, sucking a breath between his teeth when the cold winter air hits him. The walk to the cracked fountain is a brief one, as Baze picks up the pace, trusting Chirrut to follow. "Did you want to hold him before we let him go?"

[idontneedluck]

"Of course." He leans his staff against the fountain, then carefully gathers the fluffed-up creature against his chest. Again he pets that velvety-soft nose, the fluffy ears, the roly-poly fluffy squish that is its belly.

"May the Force of others be with you, Quan the Destroyer."

[iprotectyou]

Baze gingerly--and reluctantly--takes Quan from his friend, setting the baby animal down next to the fountain's base. The large Guardian watches Quan scamper off and breathes out heavily, his shoulders slumped. "Too bad," he says, brushing his hands off. "It was awfully cute. Ah, well."

Baze turns to Chirrut, clapping a hand on his shoulder, and smiles. "Time for dinner, my friend?"

[idontneedluck]

"When I went by the kitchens earlier it smelled wonderful." His daily raids of the kitchen have become a part of temple life - only a few of the die-hard sticklers for the rules try to keep him from making off with a snack.

Or two.

"I just hope it's something warm!" He adds as the chill winter wind teases under layers of clothing, sending a shiver up his spine.