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“You couldn’t have known.”
Vildar looked up from stirring his long-cold soup to see Tey gazing at him from the entrance of the otherwise empty galley tent.
“I didn’t know mind-reading was among your many talents,” he replied fondly. “Between that and your Morichro arts, you could be ruling the galaxy by now.”
Tey let out a breath of laughter as he crossed the room to sit beside him on the bench. He nudged his knee gently against Vildar’s. “Nah, I reckon I’ve got enough on my plate. ‘Sides, I’m only good at reading you because you’re so bloody obvious.” He paused a moment before continuing, “She’ll be alright.”
“I know.” Vildar knew the truth in his words, believed fully that Matty would only grow stronger and wiser after whatever had happened on Dalna. He was so proud of her. “It’s just...I just wish we’d been here with her.”
“I reckon we were, in a way.”
Vildar felt his lips pull into a soft smile, and he raised an eyebrow at his friend. “Careful, you’ll start sounding like one of us force-botherers with talk like that.”
“Well, you’ve been a bad influence, haven’t you? – making me all hopeful about the galaxy and whatnot.”
“If that’s being a bad influence, then you’ve been an absolute menace.”
The lavender of Tey’s cheeks warmed to a deeper violet. “You’re such a flatterer.”
“I think it’s only flattery if it’s exaggerated,” Vildar replied, his smile growing broader, and he felt a deep urge to express his gratitude to the man next to him.
Days after meeting Tey, Vildar realised his might be the most cherished friendship he’d ever have. When he arrived on Jedha he’d felt like a bundle of raw nerve endings wrapped in a Jedi robe, yet despite everything that followed, he’d found purpose, community, and light – and he’d remind Tey of his part in that however often was needed. Vildar found that the most effective way to communicate this was through embrace. He hadn’t ever been a tactile man by nature, but Vildar had grown so fond of the increasing gentle touches they shared; so, he wrapped an arm around Tey’s shoulder, pressed a soft kiss to his temple, then tucked his head under his chin and ran calloused fingers through soft white hair.
It didn’t take long for the familiar purr to start rumbling from his friend’s chest, and Vildar felt a wave of pleasant lethargy wash over him.
“You’re gonna make me fall asleep,” Vildar warned.
Tey scoffed quietly. “You knew what you were doing when you started stroking my hair. But you should lie down, or you’ll get a crick in your neck again, ol’ man.”
It had only happened once before, when they were working late discussing a Convocation public outreach policy. At some point in the evening Tey had thrown his legs across Vildar’s lap, and in turn Vildar found himself idly toying with Tey’s hair. He’d looked a little embarrassed when the purring started, and he hastily explained that it was a ‘pheromone thing’ and something about Sephi being naturally communal sleepers.
“Is that what’s making me feel so tired?” Vildar had asked.
“Shit, I’m sorry, I-I should go.”
“It’s alright. ‘S’nice.”
Vildar had, indeed, woken up the next morning with a crick in his neck, but also with an armful of warm Sephi and feeling more rested than he ever had before. That had only been about a week ago, and they hadn’t brought it up again. Yet when they’d arrived at the temporary accommodations set up for the relief effort on Dalna, there’d been an unspoken acknowledgement that they would share a berth to save room.
Tey slowly lifted his head and kissed Vildar’s cheek. “C’mon,” he whispered, as he took the other man’s hand and led them from the galley tent. They would both sleep soundly tonight.