OOM: The Job

[iprotectyou]

The job pays well, at least. That's the only good thing about it.

The intel Baze was given was shaky at best, and while his target goes down without a fight, the Selkath bodyguard she employed is a surprise. An aquatic species resembling a catfish with aqua-colored skin, the Selkath fights viciously, tackling Baze from above and mauling his arm with venom-tipped claws.

Baze bellows, swinging his repeater cannon up and around to fire upon the creature. He pumps blaster bolts into him, stumbling away when the Selkath disengages. Baze didn't expect the claws. To a Selkath, use of their retractable claws is dishonorable, a sign of madness. Baze's arm burns, and he grits his teeth against the pain. He knows he has to find an antidote, and fast.

He staggers back home, back to Chirrut.

Comments

[idontneedluck]

Chirrut really doesn't feel much like eating the second bun, but he eats it anyway - he knows he needs the calories, and it won't taste nearly as good cold. So he does, stubbornly, and then pitches the wrappers at the wastebasket. He accidentally had hit the wastebasket in all of the drama, so the little bundle fails to go in.

He doesn't feel like fixing that problem right now.

"That... is a good plan."

[iprotectyou]

Baze sighs through his nose. He tugs Chirrut close and drags him into a lying position on the bed, burying Baze's nose in his short-cropped hair. The larger man cradles the smaller one in the cage of Baze's massive arms and against his unarmored, taped-up chest, resolutely ignoring the pain. He doesn't say anything; nothing needs to be said.

[idontneedluck]

Chirrut doesn't mean to fall asleep. He really doesn't. He wants to just lie here and listen to Baze's heart beating steadily.

It's the best sound in the universe.

But exhaustion, fading adrenaline, and a belly full of hot foot conspire against him. He finds himself drifting without meaning to, catching himself once, twice...

His breathing evens out as he lies warm and comforted against his best friend in the universe.

[iprotectyou]

Good. This is good. It takes Baze a lot longer to fall asleep, fighting pain and the terror of the day--which punched him in the gut unexpectedly as soon as he slowed down enough to think. He almost left Chirrut, and Baze hurt him by it, too. Baze is too keyed up to sleep, despite the calming sound of Chirrut's steady breathing.

He almost wishes he still believed in the Force. The mantras which passed his lips for so many decades were bolstering, and he misses that certainty about his fate. He almost gives in to temptation and whispers the chant again, but doesn't, just in case Chirrut hears him. He doesn't want to break the Guardian's heart. Things will never be the way they were again, and Baze doesn't want to offer his friend false hope.

Eventually, the adrenaline dies, and exhaustion closes Baze's eyes. Tomorrow will be better, he tells himself, right before falling asleep. Yes. Tomorrow will be.