Battlefield Etiquette

[idontneedluck]

Chirrut is in a temper.

Winter is coming for NiJedha, crouching at its door, and the desert wind blows shrill over the city. The pitch makes meditation an impossibility for Chirrut, making him tetchy, making him restless. He's been in the training hall all day, taking challenger after challenger. Those around him are growing wary of his fey mood, and the challenges are coming slower. This... is not helping matters.

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[iprotectyou]

Baze could kick him. It'd be easy--Chirrut is pinned, and wouldn't be able to retaliate. It's tempting.

But Baze Malbus does not kick a man when he's down.

"You should be," Baze grinds out. He opens his mouth to scream again, but stops at a gentle touch from Eiko on his arm. Her own are bruised and bleeding, and she has a black eye reddening, Baze notes, despairing.

"Baze," she says calmly, despite her eyes being a winter storm, "leave him be. His shame will temper him."

He swallows thickly and shifts his bulk to face away from Chirrut, trying not to move the larger man's broken collarbone. "Come to the infirmary, Eiko. You need bacta."

Eiko gives him a guilty look. Baze has no idea why. She glances to Chirrut. "So does he."

Baze sighs. He remembers beating Chirrut's nose into a pulp. "So does he."

[idontneedluck]

The men pinning Chirrut take it as a command, and haul Chirrut to his feet. He doesn't speak, his head hung low as they force him forward, toward the infirmary. He doesn't pick up his head when the whispering starts, a slowly growing crescendo that will ring through the temple before too long.

When they reach the infirmary, Master Sheotar is there, stony-faced. At a look the Guardians release Chirrut, and goes to his knees, then lower, bowing his face to the floor.

"Guardian Malbus, Acolyte Eiko, how do you fare?"

[iprotectyou]

Baze stiffens. Even now that he's older, Master Sheotar still inspires awe in him. "We... are bruised, Master, but still whole," he says, and sighs. She knows it's a lie. She knows everything. "I have a broken collarbone and a broken foot. Eiko has had her arms battered. Chirrut has a broken nose."

Master Sheotar's gaze snaps to Chirrut. "Explain yourself, Chirrut Imwe. Your friends aren't the only ones you've put into the infirmary this morning."

[idontneedluck]

Chirrut flinches at the recitation of injuries. He didn't realize he'd been so brutal.

"I lost my focus, and my temper." He recites, to the floor - this has happened before, but usually it has been caught before he'd worked himself into that foul a mood.

"And what were you to do in such a time?" Her tone is implacable. Chirrut's is bleak.

"Find you, Master Sheotar."

[iprotectyou]

Baze wasn't aware that they'd had this arrangement, but it makes sense. Master Sheotar would have beaten Chirrut into the ground, saving Baze the effort. Next time, he'll tell his friend to find her and watch the ensuing fight. It will be short, he can already tell.

"This will not happen again, Chirrut Imwe," Master Sheotar says, laying a hand on Eiko's shoulder and gently pushing her towards the infirmary techs. They lead her to a exam table and start slapping bacta patches on her abused arms.

"And Baze," Master Sheotar says, and he winces, "this was foolish of you and Eiko as well."

"Yes, Master Sheotar," he says, and Eiko mumbles the same.

"Chirrut, you will engage in solitary reflection for a week," the master says, tucking her hands into her robes. "If you're going to act like a rabid dog, you will be treated like one. Baze, Eiko, you have a day of solitary reflection, to consider how dangerous it was for you."

[idontneedluck]

That brings Chirrut up for the first time since the fight ended. Baze and Eiko fought for him, to help him regain control, they don't deserve...

There's a flurry of movement ending with Chirrut flat on the ground, Master Sheotar's foot firmly pressing into the center of his back to keep him there. Chirrut bites back a groan as his injuries flare hot angry fire.

"Two weeks then, to ensure the matter properly done." Master Sheotar announces severely, and waves a hands to the technicians to have them start on Baze. "Tend to his ears first, so that he might hear a question properly when asked."

[iprotectyou]

Baze almost laughs, startled. She moves so quickly, he can barely track her. He's terrified of her, and knows Chirrut is, too--and for damn good reason.

He's still angry with Chirrut for attacking Eiko--and not himself. Baze is the one who volunteered, and convinced her to fight. He's angry with himself for that; he should have challenged Chirrut by himself, and not put her at risk. He can't even look at her, he feels so guilty.

And then the infirmary tech slathers bacta on his ears and sets his collarbone. The thoughts go out of his head, replaced by pain.

[idontneedluck]

Chirrut can practically taste Baze's pain, and its resurgence has him abandoning his newly formed resolve to stay still in favor of struggling to rise again.

He's flattened again, firmly, and with a directing nod Master Sheotar has the Guardians haul Chirrut to his feet.

"We will send an infirmary technician to you, Imwe." She informs him, curtly, and he's hauled out on dragging feet.

[iprotectyou]

Baze exchanges a look with Master Sheotar before she sweeps out of the room.

Two weeks later, Baze itches to see his friend again. The larger man stands outside the reflecting room, hopping from foot to foot. He's still in a sling from the collarbone injury, Master Sheotar having decided that letting the injury heal naturally would deter him from putting himself and Eiko in any more dangerous situations for the time being. He avoids moving his arm as much as possible; he hates the grinding noise and the pain that accompanies it. But for now, he's too excited. Chirrut is coming back!

[idontneedluck]

The doors open to release Chirrut into the world. He comes forward slowly, deeply unsure about his welcome.


His knees hit the stone floor hard enough to bruise, falling forward to bow, face to the floor, for Baze. He's not sure he can be forgiven, but he can at least ask.

[iprotectyou]

"Oh, Chirrut," Baze says, his formerly bright smile dimmed by his friend's entrance. Baze's shoulder slumps forward due to gravity and his broken collarbone as he kneels. He uses the hand not in the sling to cup Chirrut's chin and raise his face to him. "You always were over-dramatic."

[idontneedluck]

Chirrut doesn't question it. He doesn't demand explanations, or that he be further punished for his sins. If Baze has seen fit to forgive him, how can he do less than accept it?

He throws his arms around Baze in a fierce hug.

[iprotectyou]

Baze sees the embrace coming, but it's too late for him to do anything about it. He wants to return it, but his collarbone flares with pain from the squeezing of his shoulders, bringing tears to his eyes. "Oh, ow, Chirrut, ow," Baze says, laughing through it. He bites his bottom lip. "Let go, I'm still injured."

He's still wearing a foot brace, too, though his ears have healed.

[idontneedluck]

Chirrut jerks back abruptly, hands ghosting over the sling, the break, his remorse clear in every line.

"What are you doing up you should be resting not out here Baze...!"

[iprotectyou]

Baze cups Chirrut's cheek with his free hand. "And leave you to come find me? Not on your life," the larger man says, smiling through his remaining tears. "Eiko is waiting for us. We have sapir for you, and you look like you could use it."

[idontneedluck]

Chirrut pales, balking, and rears back.

"No, I... Baze, Baze, how can I face her, I..." Eiko trusted him to train her, to lift her up - he threw that in her face.

He and Baze have been friends for the vast majority of their lives - he can trust Baze's reassurance about his forgiveness. For Eiko... he doesn't have that grounding.

[iprotectyou]

"Do you trust her?" Baze asks gently. He raises his free hand, ignoring the twinge in his collarbone, and settles it heavily on Chirrut's shoulder, preventing him from being squirrely. "Do you trust her, Chirrut?"

[idontneedluck]

Chirrut sighs, his breath hitching slightly over the cracked rib the tape under his robes protects.

"Of course. More than she should trust me."

[iprotectyou]

"Then you should trust that she has forgiven you," Baze says, looping an arm under Chirrut's elbow, intending to guide him to the kitchen, where Eiko waits. "She was angrier at me than with you, for convincing her to fight. It's been a long two weeks."

[idontneedluck]

Chirrut comes along, refusing to be dragged. He does trust Eiko. He trusts Baze.

He doesn't trust himself. He doesn't understand why they are forgiving him so easily.

When they enter the kitchen he's practically vibrating with tension. He had a plan, it was a good plan - beg forgiveness, accept any condemnation they cared to give, and start trying to prove he wasn't the wild creature that'd been fighting that day.

His plans are in utter disarray now.

[iprotectyou]

The best laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley, or, rather, often go awry.

Eiko beams at them as they enter, rising from her seat to cross to them. She's still wary in her approach, as if drawing near to a wounded animal, but she makes the effort. "Welcome, teacher. Good timing. The tea is still warm," she says gently, wrapping her arms around Chirrut. Even her hold is not as tight as usual, and she lets go before he can return the embrace.

"I trust your reflection went well?" she asks delicately, as if she's afraid of the answer.

[idontneedluck]

Her wariness releases some of the tension in his frame. This is more like what he expected, more like what he deserves.

"It went well, thank you." He answers, subdued. "And you? You are... well?"

[iprotectyou]

"All healed up," Eiko murmurs, watching him. She pedals backwards to get back to her stool, unwilling to turn her back on him. Her frame is as tense as his is.

Baze sees the exchange between them and sighs through his nose. He knows Chirrut and he both damaged Eiko's trust in them, and will have to rebuild it--which will take time. But they all have time.

"Come now, Chirrut," he says, clapping his friend on the back with the ease of their many years of friendship. "The tea is going to get cold."

Baze crosses to his stool and settles his bulk on it. "Master Sheotar has been considering putting us all on cleaning duties again. Specifically, all the mats and floors in the training hall."

[idontneedluck]

Chirrut follows, more slowly.

"You are still being punished?" He asks as he takes his seat, his tone doleful. He doesn't dare voice dissent (he has been given more grace already than he has earned), but... it grinds on him that it is so.

"Speaking of which..." There is pain grating in his tone, but he bears it. He must. It's of his own making. "Eiko, we will need to see which of the other Guardians can take up your training. At least for the next little while."

[iprotectyou]

"No!" Eiko says, and Baze sits up straight at the anguish in her tone, despite the sling. Eiko's bottom lip quivers, and her voice is tremulous when she speaks. "I refuse. I won't be trained by anyone but you. I'll... I'll just suspend my training!"

"Eiko, you don't know for how long that will be," Baze says, laying his working hand on her shoulder. "And Master Sheotar--"

"I don't care," Eiko says, shaking him off. She glares at Chirrut, tears welling in her eyes. "How could you even think of abandoning me?"