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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[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?"

[idontneedluck]

"I am not abandoning you." He retorts, steel flashing in his tone for a moment. He huffs out a breath, and rubs the back of his neck with his hands.

"I failed you. Do you understand? A student should never fear for her life from her teacher." His voice drops, ground gravel rattling with every word. "Besides, most likely I won't be allowed to spar until the wind changes - that will be months. You shouldn't be idle for that long, muscle memory will fade."

[iprotectyou]

Eiko folds her arms and sits back. She's not pouting, not exactly, but it's clear she's severely displeased with Chirrut's decision. She doesn't protest any further, however. She simply chooses to look away as she grinds out, "Yes, teacher."

"I will teach her," Baze says, snaking his hand under the sling strap to lay a hand on his heart. "I'm not as good as you are, Chirrut, but we can at least review the basics."

Eiko sniffs once. "All right. Thank you, Baze."

Baze nods. "Is that acceptable, Chirrut?"

[idontneedluck]

"Put your hand back, you bantha." Chirrut huffs. He doesn't know what to do with this, still. He was expecting a united front against him, not... this.

"Yes, that will be acceptable." They're ridiculous. Ridiculous and sentimental and...

He huffs again for good measure, pressing his fingers against the base of his skull in a vain attempt to stave off the headache building.

[iprotectyou]

Baze slides Chirrut's now-cooled, earthenware teacup over to him. "The tea is cold, because we just had to have a discussion," Baze teases, light-hearted despite his two loved ones' clear distress. Chirrut is back, and Baze has already forgiven him. Sure, things are rough now, but they'll get better. They always do.