when wolfwren are left to babysit. . .
excerpt from my fic 'you and i were born in fire'
'' is used for when Shin and Sabine communicate through their thoughts/the bond. "" is normal talking.
"I don't know what to do about them," Jacen admits, voice almost too quiet to hear. "The other kids. I tried to be their friend but they didn't want that. Then I tried ignoring them but. . . well, they didn't want that either."
Shin can relate. Those are two methods that she tried all too often herself - with no success. If people want to hurt you, they will hurt you. There is very little you can do to prevent it except hurt them back.
At least in her experience.
"You could kill them. That would solve the problem."
Jacen stares at her, the wideness of his eyes suggesting that this may not have been what humans consider to be an appropriate solution. But Jacen is part alien so Shin suspects he'll adjust. "Is that what you did?"
"Oh." He blinks. ". . . did it work?"
Shin tilts her head, thoughtful. "They never hurt me again. So. . . Yes."
"It doesn't sound like something a Jedi would do."
"I know but. . . I want to be one."
Shin resists the urge to roll her eyes, or sigh one of Baylan's disappointed and world-weary sighs (she finds them coming out of her more and more these days, living on this base). "You shouldn't. You could be more."
Jacen, apparently, lacks her self-control - for he does roll his eyes. "I know, Aunt Shin."
So she may have said this to him before. Many, many times before. Possibly every time that they converse.
Shin frowns. "I'm not your aunt."
Perhaps the bullies delivered a knock to his head as well?
She should check for a brain injury.
"Well. . . no," he allows. "But Sabine isn't my aunt, either. Not technically. I don't actually have anyone who is technically my aunt. Or my uncle. Or, well. . . anything. At least, not since Grandpa died. . . So Mum said that technically doesn't matter. I get to choose who my family is."
Rather than alleviate her confusion, his words only intensify it. "And you've chosen me?"
He was most definitely hit on the head.
Which means he ought to be checked for a concussion.
Shin reaches out to do exactly that, placing a hand on his forehead.
Jacen frowns, attempting to twist away. "What are you doing?"
She twists around to see Sabine walking towards them, a cocky grin in place that she absolutely does not find attractive. Distracted by the potentially perilous state of Jacen's health, Shin didn't hear the door open.
Sabine pauses. "And why are we scanning Hera's only child for a concussion?"
"Some children on base assaulted him."
"What? I'll kill them." Sabine whips around, as if searching for the culprits themselves in amongst the graffitied walls of their room. A pointless endeavour. Shin would have picked up the signatures of any extra life forms upon entering.
"I suggested as much as a solution but Jacen is reluctant."
"Killing is wrong," he says, looking at them pointedly. "And also illegal."
Sabine waves that minor protest aside. "Not a problem if you don't get caught."
Sabine dumps herself down onto the bed. "Now. . . tell me about these little brats."
Shin catches her eye. 'Are we really going to kill them?'
Because she will. But she's admittedly a little surprised by Sabine's gusto.
Sabine hesitates. '. . . Probably not.' To her credit, she appears as unhappy as Shin about this conclusion. 'Hera would disapprove.'
'That's not a problem for me.'
She likes it when Hera disapproves.
'Okay, not really for me, either,' Sabine amends. 'But it might be morally wrong. To kill a bunch of kids. Even if they are complete jerks. . . I mean, I'm probably headed to hell anyway but I think that'll buy me a one-way ticket.'
Shin focuses on the rock in Jacen's hands. Jagged and uncomfortable as it may be to touch, it does look beautiful.
'And I guess we'd be setting a bad example for the squirt. . .' Sabine frowns - before brightening. 'Still doesn't mean we can't make them regret the day they were born!'
Jacen sighs. "Mum says it's rude to have a silent conversation with someone in front of someone else."
"Your mum invented that rule of etiquette after meeting Shin because she doesn't like being kept out of the loop. It's not a real thing."
Shin suspects it might be a real thing. But she's willing to cede to Sabine's judgement when it comes to the rules of social engagement.
