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

[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.