#gideon: thread

“You’ve been busy,” it wasn’t a question, but a statement, said with a hint of a smirk, amusement shining through as he came across his old friend and commander. In truth, they both had, heck, he was fairly certain the entire remains of the Empire was busy to say the least these days. But still, he couldn’t help but tease her, it was too natural.

It felt odd, having the squad apart, even for a few days, on their own tasks, busying themselves with missions and debriefings and more damned meetings than he cared to think of. And while he hadn’t been completely alone, often at the side of Admiral Versio as he found himself inundated with a bureaucratic mess that was really trying to outdo itself with the sudden lack of leadership, it did feel rather reassuring to find himself back with the squad, his family, even if it was only one of them. “Let me guess, doing something utterly heroic and damaging all at once?”

The smile that played on Gideon’s lips at their words was sadder than he would have liked, plagued by all that had happened, not just recently, but years ago. How he wished it came easily, without the forbearing thoughts and anguish, without the anxiety of what had come. He couldn’t tell if they were teasing or truly concerned, but then, when had he been able to read Seyn well enough to tell? Any time he thought he knew, they would prove him wrong in an instant.

“Real, always real” he offered with a small huff of laughter. “Besides, you’re four years behind now,” he added, a slight teasing in his tone as he offered a crooked smile to the only remaining member of Inferno Squad. “Someone’s got to watch your back while you catch up.”

There was a fury that ran deep within Gideon’s veins, ignited by the words the man before him uttered so easily. Who was he to assume such things? One of Vader’s inquisitors, with a self indulgent world view, no doubt. But he wouldn’t lose control, not when he could see that damned lightsaber within grasp, nor when he knew his own career could be destroyed in an instant.

His jaw clenched, he chose his words carefully, unable to fully combat the cutting tone they came with. “I’m not running from anything,” it was almost a scoff, a huff of irritation that punctuated his words. “They may want me dead, but they have shown their true colours by siding with the rebel scum, and nothing will stop me from destroying them for their actions.”

Gideon couldn’t help but scoff at the bounty hunter’s words. What did they know of power, what could they possibly hope to achieve in its pursuit? If it was power they were after, clearly they had chosen the wrong career path. But then, why tell him? Were they under some misapprehension that he was likely to help them?

“And, what, you think the Empire will give you that power?” he couldn’t help the incredulous stare he gave the woman, eyeing her up with a barely held back smirk. Bounty hunters weren’t one for power, they were for getting jobs done that the Empire didn’t have time for, dirty and boring, and lacking in any real importance.  “I don’t even know what results you’re after, why would I do anything to help you gain any form of power?”

“This isn’t about me,” he spat the words out, disgusted by the very thought. He didn’t care if he lived or died, when it came to this war. It was about more than just one individual, it was about the Empire, about all the good it had done, and all the good it was meant to do before those damned rebels kicked up. “The Clone Wars, the Sith, all of this has lead to this moment. It has nothing to do with me, it’s about the Empire!”