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Bode is sitting at the dining table on the Mantis when it happens. He’d been updating some of his notes on dropoff locales, completely absorbed, and had been only vaguely aware of Cal sitting next to him. A warm, heavy weight on his shoulder swaps those two things round pretty sharpish.
“Cal?”
“Mmpfh.” Is the highly eloquent reply.
Bode cranes his neck to look down at the fluffy ball of red hair currently pressed against his collarbone. He tries very hard not to think about the way his collar is dislodged, and how Cal’s warm temple is flush against his bare skin. “You alright?”
“ Mmpfh .” Cal repeats - as though that is an acceptable response and not the most useless one in existence. Bode shrugs pointedly, jostling him, and Cal whines in protest. It makes Bode’s gut twist but whatever; serve the brat right. “M’sleepy.”
“You’re bunk’s down the hall.”
Cal groans and turns his head further into Bode. “Merrin’s in there. Doing something with the…” he yawns, long and lax “something. Too loud. I’m in the way. An’….an’....” Oh shit that felt like a nuzzle. A nuzzle . “You’re warm.”
“I…I am?” Bode blinks. There’s a siren going off inside his head, drowning out his ability to parse what the protocol for this situation should be. “Scrapper, this can’t be comfortable. If you need the bench I can move or-”
“Don’t.” Cal murmurs, edging closer. “Better like this.” His voice goes soft, pleading. “Can’t sleep. S’been, like… three days. Bode…please? Let me…” Was that a tremble in Cal’s voice? Bode barely has time to wonder before, with another contented sigh, Cal snuggles deeper into his shoulder and (from what he can tell at this angle, and from the slowing of his breathing) falls almost instantly into sleep.
Bode takes one long breath. He lets it out. He does it once more. And once more.
He also shifts Cal just slightly, so that Cal’s sleep-soft mouth is no longer pressing against the bare skin of his throat.
These combined movements manage to dampen down the sirens. That, and, mercifully, produce a spark of logic and comprehension: this is a mission.
Ah, yes. This makes sense now. A mission. A task. Stims-and-caf Cal requires rest and Bode can be helpful and make sure he gets it. Yes. This is fine.
Absolutely 100% fine.
Bode shifts, just slightly, so that his arm can rest more comfortably against the back of the bench, behind Cal’s head (not around him. His arm is not around Cal right now), and settles in for the long haul.
Bode proceeds to spend the next four and a half hours sitting absolutely motionless, glowering at anyone and anything that tries to make a noise in Cal’s presence, whether it is BD’s bwoops and tippy-tap feet, or Greez having the audacity to start on the crew’s next meal. He doesn’t need to speak; his glare is as palpable as any shout, or blaster shot.
Disturb him and I will end you .
Cal snoozes on, murmuring occasionally, blissfully unaware of anything around him.
It’s approaching the fifth hour of this vigil when the door of the Mantis hisses open and Merrin walks in, a bag of vegetables tucked under one arm.
“I had a successful visit to the marketplace,” she tells Greez (who is chopping things at quarter speed, so as not to make a sound) “And found all of the produce that you requested. It was a pleasurable detour after meeting our contact at…what are you doing?”
This was directed at Greez, but it’s Bode who’s losing his mind right now. He jerks upright, still seated but dislodging Cal and drawing everyone’s attention, bug-eyed with outrage.
“That’s Merrin!”
“Yes. I am.” Merrin stares at him, her tone placating, as though speaking to a child. Or a drunkard. Or a drunkard child. Her eyes cut sideways to Greez “Is he-”
“He’s fine.” Cal pipes up (about fucking time). He’s lounging across the bench, still draped towards Bode, and genuinely looks refreshed after his long nap. He also looks smug as hell. “Just surprised, is all.” He stretches his arms above his head, loth-cat like, and the sliver of skin between his training shirt and his trousers nearly pops something in Bode’s brain.
“She’s not-?!” Bode gawps, pointing behind him, then back at the grinning Jedi “She was out this whole time !”
Cal shrugs, finishing his stretch in an infuriatingly leisurely fashion. “Oh yeah, I knew that.”
“Wha-? Cal !” Bode splutters for a full five seconds before eventually managing “ Why ?”
“Testing a theory. And I sleep better in your arms anyway.” Before Bode can process any of that universe-flipping announcement, Cal leans forward, drops a teasing little kiss on Bode’s cheek, and takes off towards his room.
There’s a fucking skip in his step.
Bode, bamboozled, stares after him. Then-
“Get back here, Kestis, I want answers!”