I'm just a soul whose intentions are good...

[idontneedluck]

It wasn't required to attend mastery challenges. With so many living in the temple, that sort of rule would cause unsustainable delays in daily life. The Elders came, of course, they always did to ensure the trials were both vigorous enough to hold the standard but not unnecessarily cruel.

As Chirrut kneels, waiting, on one of the larger sparring mats, he realizes that a good majority of the temple is coming to see this one. He ignores them all, staying where he is, knees pressed to the mat, his staff laid out neatly in front of him.

He has to bite the inside of his lip to stop a smile when he hears the rustle of bodies as she pushes her way through, the soft padding of her footsteps as she walks, alone, onto the mat.

The silence that falls is almost a palpable thing as she kneels, facing him.

"I, Eiko Mesoth, do challenge Guardian Imwe to a mastery duel." Her voice rings out, strong and unafraid, true to her signature in the Force. Chirrut can't help himself - he grins as he bounced to his feet.

"Accepted."

The fight starts slowly. They almost always do - a slow build showcasing the learner's skill, highlighting their proficiency. He can sense her tension, and tries to encourage her without risking the wrath of the Elders for being too easy on her. He couldn't do that - it would be a dishonor for them both, and do her no favors in the long run.

Step by step their dance becomes more complicated, the risks of missing a block more dire. The staves rattle and snap against each other, each crash a roar of sound. They whirl like falling flowers in the Jedhan wind, staves whistling with the wind of their speed. A particularly hard block sends them both circling out of each other's orbit - Chirrut can hear the murmur of the crowd, the hiss of those who have already gained mastery at the force of the blow. He spins his staff to stretch abused muscles, can hear her doing the same.

The respite only lasts a moment.

They charge - all showmanship abandoned, they fight as if standing at the world's end. She lands the first blow inside his guard - a spinning kick that drives the air out of his lungs and lances fire up his side. He dives away from her following blow, back on guard. The injuries pile up from there - shoulders, ribs, knees, hips - he taught her to fight to win, to survive, and he doesn't shame her by giving less than everything he has. Soon they are both spitting blood with heaving breaths and running on the ragged edge of exhaustion.

Crack

Fire rages across his chest once, then twice - her momentum carried her through the follow-up blow he can no longer block, and Eiko neatly breaks both collar bones for him.

He drops his staff.

Then drops to his knees.

He's pretty sure the roar he hears is the crowd, not just the blood in his ears.


(OOC note: liberal inspiration taken from here. Enjoy!)

Comments

[iprotectyou]

Baze cheers right along with them, stamping his feet and chanting Eiko's name. He had heard the muttering of the Elders, worried about how vicious Chirrut and Eiko were getting, but Baze paid them no mind.

Now it's time to scrape Chirrut off the mat. Baze shoulders his way through the crowd, having stood at the back due to towering over most of them, and approaches his fallen friend. "Chirrut! Are you all right?" he shouts over the crowd, kneeling down to place a gentle hand on his friend's shoulder.

[idontneedluck]

"Fine, fine." He grits out, his muscles rigid with the effort of not moving. "How's Eiko? What can you see?" His focus is shattered at the moment, so he can't be assured that she's alright.

Eiko, jubilant and looking shocked about it, is being swarmed by the crowd. They offer their congratulations and praise, but also ring her in, blocking her view of her teacher and friend.

"Baze!" Her voice is rough now, strained and blood-soaked, but she raises a hand to wave when she spots him above the crowd.

[iprotectyou]

"Hello, Eiko!" Baze says, waving back at her. He leans down to confer with Chirrut in low tones. "She's fine. She's being congratulated by the crowd. She'll need the infirmary, same as you, but we should get you there first."

Baze moves his hand to grip Chirrut's elbow, but doesn't try to maneuver his arm around, for fear of hurting his collarbones. "Can you stand, or should I carry you there?"

[idontneedluck]

The whine he can hear ends abruptly when he realizes its coming from his throat. He wants to walk out of here under his own power, there just too many negative memories of being dragged.

He's just not at all sure that he can. Now that he's stopped, the pain from his injuries has come home to roost. It's quite the collection he's garnered. If he managed to give as good as he got, he's impressed Eiko is still standing.

"I want to walk." He growls, "I... can't rise."

[iprotectyou]

Baze is pretty impressed with her, too, no doubt about it. He's currently torn between laughing at Chirrut--who, having taught Eiko well, is now paying for it--and panicking at his injuries. Baze chooses to laugh--a chuckle, really, something non-offensive, not the usual booming, belly laugh he normally has.

"Of course," he says, as if Chirrut's request isn't unreasonable at all. Baze grips Chirrut's forearm and elbow, and hauls him to his feet after counting to three. If Baze supports Chirrut a little more than the other man needs, well, he just hopes that Chirrut won't take a blow to his pride. "How are you managing?"

[idontneedluck]

Something grinds in his shoulder on the way up, nearly unhinging his knees and making him nearly as pale as his erstwhile student. He wavers in Baze's hold, his jaw clenched so hard it radiates pain up his head.

"I... I'm fine." It's a fainter protest than before, entirely unconvincing even if that were an option at this point. "Perhaps... just to the doorway."

[iprotectyou]

Baze nods, a gesture he knows his friend can't see. "Of course," he says, and hauls Chirrut to the doorway, away from the crowd. No one pays attention to their leaving, and Baze is fine with that. He all but carries Chirrut through the doorway. Once they're out of sight, Baze picks up his friend in a bridal carry, careful to support his back and legs and even more careful not to jostle his arms.

"You're a damned fool," Baze mutters, worry finally overwhelming his good humor. "You knew she would give as much as she got, and she did a number on you this time."

[idontneedluck]

"She needed to win in a way that would not be challenged later. No one will accuse me of going easy on her." Chirrut retorts, every word carrying an edge of pain. "It's known that we're friends. I wouldn't..." The rest of his sentence is swallowed rapidly to bite back that damnable whine again.

[iprotectyou]

"Well, she certainly did that," Baze says, as dry as a Jedhan dust storm. He quickens his step, trying not to shake his friend. "You taught her well."

And he leaves it at that, as they enter the infirmary. The workers there swarm his friend, having been told about the match and the likely outcome. Baze settles Chirrut on one of the beds and shifts on his feet nearby, impatient for the technicians to pronounce Chirrut healed already--or at least on the path to healing.

[idontneedluck]

Chirrut is set to reciting temple texts, not one of the healers believing for a second that he managed to avoid getting walloped over the head. His tone is aggrieved as he rattles off a section of the latest book he'd been reading. His indignation is such that he fails to understand the true aim of the tactic.

If he's busy talking about the Force, he can't be complaining about being treated. Absolutely no one there believes he has a concussion.

The team moves quickly and efficiently, correcting what has been damaged (Chirrut flinches when they inject bacta around the newly set bones), and recording what can be left to time to heal (his skin is a mottled tapestry of bruises, still not as vibrant as it will be once the deep bruises show). His ribs are taped ruthlessly to protect the ones that are cracked. They threaten to shave his head when his recitation falters, his ire at having so many hands on him at once warring with his desire to prove them wrong about any head injuries.

(The threat works, and he sulkily moves on to the mantras he overheard one of the younger classes of initiates practicing the day before.)

They've let him sit up and are setting his arms in temporary slings (much to his frustration) when Eiko is brought in. Chirrut ignores the glass of Bactade one of the healers is trying to get him to drink in favor of grinning at his now former student.

[iprotectyou]

Eiko has fared no better than Chirrut--though it's with secret pride that she notes that he is, actually, worse off than she is--so the infirmary technicians set upon her in a flurry of activity. Eiko does not complain (much), so they don't have her recite texts. She barely has time to think before bacta patches are slapped on her arms, her ribs are taped, and one of her ankles are wrapped. Eventually, the doctors leave her alone in a bed next to Chirrut, returning only to check on the battered pair on occasion.

"Teacher," she says, pride and laughter bubbling up in her voice, "I'm a master."

Baze, having stoically watched the two been treated while off in the corner, smiles.

[idontneedluck]

Chirrut leaves off making a face at the absolutely horrible taste of Bactade (and that will be stuck with him for days, absolutely horrendous) to grin at Eiko, pride so fierce in his heart he feels like he could burst.

"Teacher no more, Eiko. They'll be talking about making you a full Guardian soon." He could find it in him to regret his injuries, because he can't give Eiko a hug like he wants to.

"Baze, she needs a hug." He directs firmly. If he can't, he'll make sure it happens anyway.

[iprotectyou]

Baze laughs, torn between amusement and worry at the fact that Chirrut can't use his arms for the next couple of weeks. The larger man crosses to Eiko's bedside and offers her a gentle embrace, which she gladly takes, giggling.

"Oh, you'll always be my teacher," Eiko says, and then pauses, her brow creased. "Won't you?"

[idontneedluck]

"Until the stars fall out of the sky." He agrees, with an aborted movement as if to make a gesture... but no.

He's no soothsayer, but he can tell these slings are going to be torture.

"But on a less official basis. They'll probably put me to teaching one of the more advanced classes regularly." His grin goes crooked and wry, as he cautiously leans against the pillows one of the healers was nice enough to pile up for him. "Or they will once they release me from these. Who taught you to fight like that, you menace?" He teases cheerfully.

[iprotectyou]

Eiko laughs, the sound ringing like a bell across the infirmary. "You did, of course," she says, her eyes shining with admiration and good humor, which echoes in her voice and through the currents of the Force. "And you wouldn't let up until I could fight like that."

"She's not a menace," Baze says, retreating to his corner. "You are, for teaching her to fight so dirty. You'd better not corrupt those advanced students."

[idontneedluck]

Baze keeps retreating, and Chirrut is fretting about it. He can't tell what Baze is feeling, his fractured focus turning the Force into a useless swirl.

But he doesn't want to get into a fight (would it be a fight? Did the healers tell him to stay clear? He doesn't understand.) in front of Eiko, not with her flush with victory and sounding so very proud of herself.

"Of course I'm going to corrupt those advanced students, what do you take me for? They just won't be as good at it." He retorts, cheerfully. "Since I'll have to teach them all at once."

[iprotectyou]

Baze is, frankly, worried about his friend. He took quite the beating under Eiko's staff, and Baze isn't sure what he can do for Chirrut while he has not one, but two slings, and taped up ribs. Baze harrumphs, folding his arms, and retreats behind a stony wall of silence.

Eiko, however, feels playful, and returns Chirrut's cheer with her own. "You won't have time to train them. I want you all to myself."

[idontneedluck]

Ugh, there he goes again, all silence and impossibility. Chirrut begins trying to figure out if there's anything that he can feasibly kick at Baze.

"Oh, and with what free time are you going to be demanding all of these lessons in?" Chirrut laughs, "Do you think attaining Guardianship will demand so little? Sleep well tonight, you'll be busy in the morning."

[iprotectyou]

Unfortunately for Chirrut, there's nothing he can kick at Baze, unless he wants to sacrifice one of his pillows... which are behind his head and unreachable for a man with not one, but two slings.

Eiko brightens even further, if that's possible. "Do you really think they'll make me a Guardian right away? I mean, I just earned my mastery!"

[idontneedluck]

"I think they'll start training you for it, right away." Chirrut corrects. "You've shown them you have the temperament and patience for it."

Right not, Chirrut has neither of those things. If Baze is going to persist in being over there, well.

He'll just have to be over there too.

Stubbornly he levers himself upright again, and begins the very cautious process of getting out of bed.

[iprotectyou]

Baze sits up straight. "Chirrut!" he barks, his voice a mixture of caution and weariness. "What are you doing? You shouldn't be getting up."

Eiko glances to Baze, alarm flooding her bruised face. "He's right, teacher. What are you getting up for?"

[idontneedluck]

"Expediency." He huffs, briefly, calling on his training to put the pain somewhere else (anywhere else, at this point, would be a blessing), and slips down the last handful of centimeters to the floor. It's freezing (someone stole his socks!) but that gives him something to focus on, that's fine.

Now, on to step two. Walking. Force help him.

[iprotectyou]

"Expediency?" Baze says, crossing to his friend with a long, powerful stride that eats up the distance between them in seconds. Baze doesn't want to actually touch Chirrut, with as many injuries as he has, so the larger man hovers around him awkwardly, his hands raised. "What the hell are you taking about? Get back in bed."

Eiko clenches the covers around her. "Teacher?"

[idontneedluck]

Chirrut smiles, despite the chiding (or perhaps because of it, because now Baze is over here instead of isolated over there and it's so much better).

Then he leans into Baze's sturdy frame, contentedly.

"Yes, Eiko?"

[iprotectyou]

"You kriffing idiot," Baze says, beyond exasperated. He loops his arms around Chirrut without actually touching him, simply suspending them in the air around him and lacing the fingers together somewhere in the air off his left shoulder. Baze's chest, though, Chirrut is effectively leaning into, so Baze can't do anything about that. "Get back into bed," Baze says, despite caging him with his arms.

"Nothing," Eiko says cheerfully. "You seem to have found what you wanted."

[idontneedluck]

"Wise girl." Chirrut grins, content. "See, you'll make a wonderful..."

"GUARDIAN IMWE." The head healer's voice is full of thunder, and Chirrut debates just how much trouble he'd be in if he made a break for it.

So much trouble.

He lets himself be herded back into bed. A plethora of hands descend upon him again, and he grumbles at them. Not that it seems to do much good.

The healers release Eiko and give her stern warnings about rest and food and not being seen within a hundred feet of a training mat until they say it is allowed. Chirrut shouts cheery, less helpful advise about making sure she shows off her injuries to all of the initiates of her year and how hamming up said injuries in the kitchens will definitely get her extra treats.

[iprotectyou]

Baze sees Eiko off to her rooms and returns to his friend in the infirmary. The larger man sighs, crossing from the doorway to the bedside. He wants to take Chirrut's hand, but the slings are in the way.

"You didn't have to get out of bed, you know," Baze grumbles. "I would have come over if you'd only asked."

[idontneedluck]

"I can't tell what you're feeling." Chirrut huffs, frustrated already at his body's failure to be it's usual self. "I didn't want to start a fight in front of Eiko. Not today."

[iprotectyou]

Baze settles on the edge of the bed, ready to stand again at a moment's notice. "How can you not tell? Can't you feel the Force?" he says, frowning, and considering that. If Chirrut says he can't tell, then he can't tell. "I'm worried about you, okay? You're seriously injured. And I didn't want to act like a mother hen when Eiko was in the room."

He folds his massive arms over an equally massive chest. "It wouldn't have been a fight."

[idontneedluck]

"She knows us - I doubt she would have been very surprised." Chirrut notes, his voice dry, before sighing.

"I can't focus, between the pain and whatever they've given me to not feel all of the pain. The Force is there, it's just... not talking to me right now." It's disconcerting is what it is.

[iprotectyou]

Baze wants to find a part of his friend that isn't injured to squeeze, but settles for a gentle pat on his bruised shoulder. "I'm sorry," Baze says, his voice warm and sympathetic. "That must bother you. What can I do to help?"

[idontneedluck]

"Don't wander off - I can barely tell you're in the room with all this racket." He bares is teeth, uselessly, at the various bits of medical equipment strewn about the room, all muttering to themselves in small electric voices.

[iprotectyou]

"I won't," Baze says, sighing. He lays a hand on Chirrut's shoulder, letting him know that Baze is still present, and always will be. "Unless you want me to get some tea, or something for you. You really should get some sleep, you know."

[idontneedluck]

Chirrut sighs, turning his face to catch the body-heat of Baze's arm.

"I'm..." There's a word here, one he's never really willing to admit to. But the hum of drugs in his veins and the tug of exhaustion pulls it out anyway. "Scared. I can't use my hands, and if the Force won't give me a path... I don't like being useless."

He couldn't say such things in front of Eiko - his pride would never bend so far, and he wouldn't have her feel guilty for his injuries - he taught that finishing move to her himself.

[iprotectyou]

Baze rubs his wrist against Chirrut's cheek. "It's only temporary," Baze says, and he hopes his voice is soothing despite the haze of pain and drugs. "You only have the slings for a couple of weeks, and the Force will come back to you once you can focus again."

Baze pulls his hand away from Chirrut's shoulder, and cups his bruised cheeks. "The Force is with me, and I am with the Force."

[idontneedluck]

Chirrut sighs, but his heart is lighter, knowing he isn't alone.

"The Force is with me, and I am with the Force." He echos, falling into rhythm as easy as breathing. The mantra steadies him with repetition, slowing his whirling thoughts and useless worry.


Slowly his words lose enunciation, sibilant consonants capturing his tongue and sliding the mantra down into incomprehensibility.

[iprotectyou]

Chirrut was repeating along with Baze, but the mantra stopped the smaller man from being frantic long enough for the day to catch up with him and wallop him between the eyes.

"The Force is with me, and I am with the Force," Baze says, one last time, closing off the chant. He pats Chirrut's cheeks and releases them, aiming to help settle his friend more completely in his bed. "Go to sleep, Chirrut. I'll be here for you when you wake up."