𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐜 !!

did he entirely know how he felt on the matter? no. did he come to any sort of resolution within himself? also no. but the one thing he did know, was that he needed the other two, and they could figure all of the rest out later. they only hoped that ezra and ayda still wanted them around after they stormed off in the way they did.

as always, it was bd-1 who was spotted before cal, the little droid speeding back to where the other two were steps ahead of him once they realized where they were going. he popped up and stood in front of the two of them, tippy tapping as he waited for cal to catch up, beeping away happily. and finally when cal did catch up, they stood in front of the two of them, hesitantly catching each of their gazes before finding their voice to speak.

" uh - hi .. "

now, someone being dragged into the base wasn't exactly unheard of. sure, it was less now that things were getting better versus when the first order was in it's peak control of the planet, but it was normal enough that it wasn't something that would normally cause kane to even glance their way. except this time he did, feeling a familiar pull towards the direction and when he glanced over his shoulder, he froze.

' you have to be fucking kidding me, ' were the only thoughts in his head, because of course it would be him, the person kane was trying so hard not to think of. he didn't want to think about having a fucking sibling or any of that. nope. no. just keep walking.

except he didn't. except he found himself turning on his heel and following after the troopers, the knights looming presence enough to get them to stop walking and turn to face him.

" release them, " he demanded cooly, in such a calm tone that it was bordering on eerie.

❝ just as it sounds, mate. i could be practice for you, having a face. you have no idea how to control your expressions. ❞ it was actually very endearing, not at all offensive to the man. ❝ and it could help you get used to going without your helmet. so it's not so... mortifying. after all, you'd want to feel confident with your choice in front of elif, especially so she doesn't think you're just doing it to appease her or get it over with. she'd want you to feel comfortable. she loves you. ❞

burak felt strongly that marx should know how much elif loved him and longed to be equals with him. burak himself was nothing more than a little distraction in her mind, and that was alright in its own way. he had no place between elif and marx. he was really just there to help.

" i don't deserve her love, " marx replied, not in any sort of attempt to gain pity from burak, but simply stating the truth. he glanced up to the other and took a step forward, a sort of eagerness in his eyes. " my face. what's wrong with it? i must be doing something wrong. it feels like i am. "

❝ i don't think she expects it of you, per se... as she would know how important it is to you. maybe she just... wishes you would as a means of equality? sharing trust? something so personal would be reassuring... that perhaps you're not disgusted with her, and instead want to share in that intimacy. ❞ he cleared his throat a little.

❝ i mean i... haven't much to compare it to, but i suppose it's a little like... nudity? you see your partner naked under less than ideal circumstances when they've only ever seen you clothed. you love each other, care about each other, want to be intimate with each other, but you've always been clothed and she's shown you everything. it would feel a little disheartening that she's capable of being exposed to you, even if she didn't want to be at first, but she's gotten used to it, but you haven't leant her that same level of exposure. it's something she'd want you to feel ready for, so you don't experience that same trauma, but... it's got to feel uncomfortable. hell, you're experiencing it now, in your own way. that feeling you're feeling about me seeing you, well... put that in her place and you might click. ❞

burak bit down on his lip for a moment. he knew less about elif's mandalorian side, and more about her... post-expulsion. what trauma she faced in that regard. what she was forced to do. ❝ might... might be mixed in with things you don't know about too. she told me you've been kept in the dark about certain things. i think the words... 'damaged goods' had been used a few times. so perhaps that feeling of disgust for her is more than just religious. it's... it's just more. she probably just wants to know you still want her and don't see her as... well. damaged goods. doesn't expect you to fix her, she just wants to know you don't see her as somethin' to fix, i suppose. i-i don't know, i don't want to just... air out everything she's said. ❞

he felt really wrong being here in the first place, much less telling elif's trauma to her fucking boyfriend.

marx's apology made him chuckle. ❝ got nothing to apologize for, mate. i'm well aware that this situation is completely fucked. if you want me to leave and forget this ever happened, you've got it. if you want to kill me... i get it. or... i suppose if you need some... practice, perhaps. with having a face. i could be that for you. ❞

" i ... i never thought about it like that. never took it one step further from beyond just tradition and creed and what she might actually feel. i - i have never been good with other people's feelings, i guess ... " he shook his head. damaged goods ? absolutely not. never. if it was up to him, marx would truly worship the ground she walked on. she was his everything. though he knew that alone wouldn't change whatever may have happened to her, and of course her perception of herself. it was settled then - marx would show her his face, he would be completely vulnerable with her - an intimacy that he longed to give to her.

his eyes landed on burak, and the tiniest of twitches could be seen, pulling the corners of his lips upwards in slight amusement. " practice .." he hummed aloud, as he mulled over the thought. " go on ... "

he smiled over at his friend, nodding agreement. " he couldn't have gotten far," he said with a shrug, trying to justify the fact that the ever powerful, former supreme leader could lose a droid. " he's grown on me."

"Dude, there are... so many BB units in here," he said with a chuckle. BB-6B chirped from his feet and rolled out a little to acknowledge the stranger. "Case in point," he said as he gestured down.

"You're welcome to look though, could've rolled in here to get out of the rain." He said.

❝ you'll love it here. everyone is understanding. sith, jedi, grey, we all live and work together. there's a school for force-sensitives where they teach all paths. videl, it's... incredible. this town. it's my greatest joy. ❞ he moved back a little to look at his brother. ❝ you can breathe. finally. ❞

" i'm so happy for you, kota. " it was all that he could say, something he felt more than anything. his brother deserved the world, and he was happy that he could get it. and there was a part of him that was warming up to the idea that he could be there to see it too.

❝ i just... shit, i know it's not my place to be saying any of this. but i know she feels... gross. wrong. that you, and that others, can see her face. it wasn't something she got to... choose to give people. so maybe that's why she feels separate from you. your relationship is... no longer equal. ❞ he knew he was walking a very fine line, but he genuinely did want to help. he cared so much for elif, and he could see how much marx also cared for elif, so honestly all burak wanted to do was whatever was best for her.

marx nodded, a hand running down his face once more, as if that would somehow create some sort of barrier between himself and burak, despite the fact that it was very much already too late. his gaze pulled up to meet the other's once more, something he had a hard time holding. he tried to tell himself it was solely because of the strange situation that was going on, nothing more. that was it. seriously.

" i know." marx said with a sigh. " it was wrong. so wrong. it should have never been taken away from her. and i don't know how to fix that. i don't think i can ever fix that. i - i just want her to know that i am slowly.. learning. or well ... unlearning. everything we were taught to believe. trying to find my own way of thinking, taking what i want to believe from our youth rather than forced. sorry - i don't know why i'm telling you all of this ... "

what happened to the... the time on kijimi?

what happened to babygirl?

jury's horrified expression flashed in her head, the last thing she saw before it all went black. oh. right.

❝ you... you burst in with a gun, and you told them... ❞ what did he tell them? she couldn't remember, she couldn't remember enough of what he'd done, it was all so traumatizing, and blurry from tears, she couldn't remember. ❝ and now you just don't... want to see me... i-i mean i get it, it must've been... disgusting. ❞ their hands drifted to their torso, pressing against her stomach as if it all felt like it was on the outside again.

gus was starting to panic. she was used to people not wanting her, but... not after so much. not after what they'd been through, not after their journey. wait- wait, no, she was jumping to conclusions.

❝ no, i- i get it. you must be so overwhelmed, just comin' back. you should go to the doctor here, 'is name is kota, and he knows about people comin' back to life, he's made a medicine that helps with the pain. i uh... haven't seen him. but from what i hear, he's loveable. you go to him, you get something for the pain, you get a place to stay. after things calm down, then we'll talk. ❞ gus was so definite, he was practically ordering the man around, but this was what they did. they would trade power sometimes. ❝ you go. you talk to him. if i find you didn't, i'll kick your ass, hear me motherfucker? ❞ she nodded her head sharply towards him.

normally gus' little orders would have been taken with an eyeroll and a huff and maybe on a good day a nod. jury often let him boss him around like that, especially since half the time gus was the more clever one and actually had the better plan. but this time - no. no they just weren't getting it. so fuck it . fine. if he had to just rip the bandage off, say something to make them get the point, then he would. whatever it took to keep them safe, right ?

" gus, " jury started, nothing but coldness behind his gaze, much like the jury that they had met the first day, not the one that they had grown to bring out of him. " i do not want you, period. " he wasn't going to explain his thinking - he knew that gus would only tell him that he was being stupid - the kid was as stubborn as ever. " do you understand me ? this - " he motioned between the two of them. " this is nothing this time around, understand ? "

davy’s eyes lingered on the two of them as kartal took gus outside, wondering what they were going to speak about. they knew better than to interject where they would most likely only make things worse. so instead he waited for hali to return. when she did, he wrapped his arms around her, needing her closeness in that moment. “ i hope this is all alright.. ” he whispered, feeling bad for springing this on her. “ i just - i saw them and i wanted to help. wanted to do something right for once, you know? ”

-

halide returned with slippers, and immediately her eyes searched for gus, but they had left with kartal. her brows furrowed in confusion for a moment before she was being pulled in by davy. it caught her off guard for a moment, but she didn’t protest. clearly he really needed it. she set the slippers on the ground and gave him her full attention.

hali gazed up at him, concern in her expression. it was still very hard for her, being this close to davy. the path to full forgiveness after all he’d done was a messy, painful one. halide was trying her best to just let it all go, but she couldn’t deny how much it stung. but even despite all of that, she’d never push him away when he was in need like this.

❝ of course it’s alright, ❞ she replied warmly. ❝ you know how i feel about helping others. ❞ her hands gently squeezed davy’s biceps before traveling to rest on his chest. ❝ gus seems wonderful. they’re going to be a great addition to the family, if they’ll have us. ❞

but she was still a little confused. why would bringing someone in cause what was seemingly distress? ❝ are you alright? ❞ she wondered. ❝ if you don’t think this is a good idea, you know we can always redirect them to lona, or kota. they’d take care of him, no doubt about it. if you’re unsure, that is. ❞

" i know, i know, " davy agreed with a nod. " we can see, you know ? if this ends up bein' too much for him. but i think it's okay for now. i think they just need a family at the moment, and hey, there's enough of us to go around in this family. "

but they watched him for a few minutes, ingesting that cold, straight expression. jury was always hard to read, but gus learned quick. by the end of their life, she could understand him quite easy. but... this was weird, even for jury. ❝ we don't have to stay with them, y'know. they're trustworthy, but i trust you too if you don't think it's right. i actually kinda miss sleepin' under stars, ❞ they noted, shyly rubbing the back of their neck. living in the cottage was probably the cushiest gus had ever been, but it didn't feel very natural to them. ❝ i'll follow you wherever you go, remember? ❞

he shook his head, his hand continuing to run down his face. they just weren't getting it, were they? but also, why should they? this was uncharacteristically mean for jury to do, especially not after all this time. especially not after what he did in gus' final moments - not that he believed they would have any idea about all that anyways. " no - you are not.. you are not understanding. you .. you go with them. stay with them. i - i am going to do my own thing. " which was hopefully figuring out a way to be anywhere not here. fuck the force or whatever the fuck that stepped in and pulled his ass back to life. fuck all of this.

❝ you're not going to hurt anyone. you're not going to hurt me, or my town. you are my family, i want you to be there with me. i've always wanted you around. nothing has changed in that department. ❞ he took a few steps closer. ❝ i have a daughter who'd love to meet her uncle. i have a partner who'd love to meet her future brother-in-law. and a cat who'd love someone new to torment. ❞