Work Text:
Prompt: “Stay with me."
...
A concussion grenade was thrown at them. Lukas rolled out of the way just in time as the Force sent out a warning. Two men, simple soldiers who had no connection to the Force were thrown away from him. He couldn't sense their life force and Lukas felt nothing. He didn't look back at them as he fell into a defensive form.
He flowed between the different katas evenly. Mandalorians moved out of the way from the returned fire. Others tried to get close to him but were stopped by Knights who had come with him.
"General," came a rough voice to his right.
Lukas turned his head slightly to see it was one of his techs. Second Lieutenant Bao-Dur if Lukas remembered correctly. Why wasn't he on the ship? He wasn't much of a fighter. It was why he was tech.
Lukas grit out as he continued to send back blaster bolts, "What is it, Lieutenant? I don't have time for interruptions."
Bao-Dur said loudly over the fire, "General Revan has given the command to retreat. She wants us to return to base camp."
Now? They are to return to camp now? Had she lost her damn mind. They needed to keep pushing the Mandalorians back. Otherwise they would overrun the Republic soldiers.
Lukas felt a warning in the Force. It was heading for him and Bao-Dur. Using the Force he pushed the Bao-Dur out of the line of fire but he didn't get the chance to move. An explosion rocked the ground around them and he was thrown forward hitting the ground with a thump. There was now a ringing in his ears that blocked out all other sounds.
It hurt to breathe. His body wasn't responding to him. Blaster fire resounded above him and he could see the way it went over his head. Shouldn't they be aiming for him? He was the highest ranking officer in the field. Killing him would lower his men's morale.
Lukas should move. He should care his current position left him vulnerable and exposed. But he just couldn't find it in him to care. Exhausted and too tired to care anymore he wanted to be shot. Just so that everything could be over.
Suddenly a blue hue over took the haze of the battlefield. Lightsabers, that meant Jedi. How? He was the only Jedi on this battlefield. Tilting his head back he looked up and gaped in surprise.
Was that? There was no way he could be here! It had to be an illusion to be seeing Kavar standing there deflecting blaster fire. Other Jedi Knights some he recognized and others he didn't were advancing upon the Mandalorians.
Once the way was clear to Lukas, Kavar rushed over. Worry lined the older man's face and made Lukas wince. He hadn't wanted to worry his friend. Then again he had gone to war without a word to Kavar afraid that he would be able to talk Lukas out of it.
"Damn it, Lukas," swore Kavar angrily, "You don't know when to give it up do you? Revan called for you to retreat because we had already cleared the Republic soldiers."
"You're actually here?" Breathed Lukas still not quite believing what he was seeing, "Why?"
Kavar placed his hand over Lukas's chest applying a light amount of pressure to keep him from sitting up. The man's Force Presence wrapped tightly around him. Calm rushed through Lukas taking away the adrenaline of battle. The presence washed over each of his wounds making him wince in pain. Lukas hissed in pain but didn't try to jump up.
Kavar growled, "You have a concussion and several lacerations. Why haven't used Force Healing?"
"Can't," gasped out Lukas, "Been fighting for over twelve hours. It's taken all I had just to remain standing."
"Why didn't you retreat?" Growled Kavar, "You had orders to retreat."
Then Kavar removed his hand and allowed Lukas to slowly sit up. Slowly Lukas did so feeling his head pound with every movement.
"Sometimes orders aren't orders, Kavar," whispered Lukas, "We couldn't just abandon the Republic Soldiers. I have to get up and keep fighting. We have to give them the chance to escape."
Lukas tried to stand but the world swum and he collapsed back. He would have hit his head again if not for Kavar grabbing his shoulders.
"Hey stay with me, Lukas," demanded Kavar, "You won't do anyone any good dead. Now get up. I have given the orders to retreat as the Republic Soldiers have already reached safety."
Lukas searched Kavar's face and Force Presence looking for any deception. It was open and honest in a familiar way. So he leaned on the Master and allowed Kavar to help him to his feet. With his aid the two retreated from the battlefield covered by the reinforcements.
...
"Get out of my sight Lukas," snarled Revan her anger flashing in her brown eyes.
Lukas raised his hands in surrender as he left the command tent and headed for his own tent. That had been expected since he arrived there still wearing his bandages. His head was wrapped and so was his chest. Anymore bandages and he would look like a mummy.
Revan was pissed at Lukas for refusing to use kolto. Kolto was too expensive to be used on his minor injuries. There were too many injured who could die if they didn't get kolto. So he refused and used bandages instead.
Looking around he found that was alone in a deserted part of camp. Exhaustion filled him and he leaned against the stiff fabric of the nearest tent. He couldn't keep pushing himself like this. He wasn't Revan who seemed to take everything on herself. A part of him had been ready to lay down and die on that battlefield. If it wasn't for Kavar he might have done just that.
"Lukas?" Came a queering voice from behind him.
It made Lukas jump half way out of his skin and then sway dangerously. A hand on his forearm suddenly appeared. It kept him upright and he found the bright blue eyes of Kavar staring at him in worry.
"Kavar," he breathed and collected himself standing straighter, "What are you doing here? I thought you would be talking with Revan."
Kavar scratched the back of his neck as he answered, "I'm not here for Revan, Lukas. I'm here for you. The Knights that came with me will help of course but I am here for you and you alone."
"Why?" Croaked out Lukas.
Kavar blinked at him, "Why? Lukas you left without a word. Didn't I deserve more than that? We have been... Friends for a long time."
They had been more than just friends. Kavar was the closest thing he had to love. The two spent most of their days together. Lukas as a Padawan and eventual Knight while Kavar was a Knight and the youngest Jedi Master.
It was because of how close they were that Lukas couldn't say goodbye when he left for war. He left in the middle of the night choosing to keep their friendship rather than risk breaking it. For Kavar to come after him months later had been a surprise.
Kavar suddenly stepped close to Lukas invading his personal space. The younger man sucked in a surprised breath as warm hands encased his cheeks.
"Do you know how afraid I was when I learned you left?" Questioned Kavar, "You didn't even say anything to me. I had to hear from Vrook and Vandar that you were gone."
"You aren't afraid of anything," tried Lukas, "I thought that you would be okay without me."
Kavar laughed self depreciating, "Lukas I am not scared for myself. When it comes to me if it happens it happens. We are alike in that regards it seems. But you. You, I will always fear for. Without you I don't have a reason to be alive. For you I will fight the entire galaxy just to see you safe."
Lukas sucked in a surprised breath. Neither of them had ever said anything like that before. There was no denying for him that he felt the exact same way.
Kavar leaned close to him and when Lukas didn't pull away he pressed his lips against Lukas's. There weren't any fireworks or anything like that but it felt right. It was like coming home and his fatigue washed away. Lukas pressed closer to Kavar his own hands coming up to grab at his robes.
When Kavar came up for air he pressed his forehead against Lukas's. He whispered, "Don't do this again. When it comes to you or the Order, Lukas I will always choose you."