Supernova || Luke Skywalker

Fifteen

Since the success of Bodhi's and Lian's first mission, they were sent on more. Luke was fighting with rouge squadron and time spent with him was soon few and far between. Cargo runs became intel and cargo. Then soon the two jedhans became intel operative, hunting down any news on the empire and their plans for the alliance. Missions grew longer, what was once a cargo run which took a week, became missions that took almost a month to complete. Luke was off on battles, which were shorter but much more often. Meet-ups became few and cherished. Small slices of time where Lian could guide Luke through meditations and martial arts movements. Cups of spiced caf and home cooking wafting from the hull of Rogue one as Bodhi tinkered with the engine.

Lian had found that he was really quite a good spy. His force signature naturally diverted attention from him and his lack of words was sometimes much more helpful. Intel did mean that he had to change into more clothes than his bastardised monk robes and soon their little bedroom was full of different clothing. The fact that Bodhi and Lian were similar body types helped, though Bodhi was taller, so sharing clothes was easy. The pilot's knowledge of how imperial bases worked came in handy with Lian's education on cultures and languages. The younger man's lack of speech not hindering them as much as they were concerned. Lian guessed that it was a force persuasion technique that allowed him to breeze past people so easily, a natural ease force-nulls felt around him that he had been aware of in Jedha but was fascinating to put into practise in different circumstances. 

The only thing that held him back were the scars on his face. They were quite distinctive. Still, holo projectors and synthetic skin often came in handy for when he couldn't wear his scarf or a mask. Though those jobs were few and far between because while they were doing some intelligence work, it wasn't full undercover stuff. It was more along the lines of fetching information from various undercover agents and sources. 

When they did manage to be back on Yavin at the same time as Luke, the blonde was hanging around them like a shadow. Han found it amusing the way he would soak up Lian's force presence like a sponge. "If golden boy here is the sun", he remarked one evening around a game of Sabbac that Bodhi was winning. "Then the monk is the moon". He waved his hands with a slight slur to his words courtesy of the naboo moonshine he had produced from nowhere an hour before. "Luke is all bright and everything. You don't have to have that magic stuff to get that. And then that boy is all silent and mysterious like a shadow". He had fixed Lian with a narrowed eyed stare as if it would make the man spill his secrets. Lian had merely shrugged, a slight smile on his face as Luke leaned against his shoulder.

Sun and moon. Luke liked that. Lian's force presence felt like a gentle beam of moonlight sometimes. His presence was grounding, so firmly focused in the light that it glowed like a gentle ember.

Still, all the missions led to one thing. "We have moving base", Leia announced after almost a year since the first death star was destroyed. 

Lian blinked at her as Bodhi yawned. Luke, who had just arrived from a mission the night before, seemed half asleep as he clutched onto the cup of spiced caf that Lean had passed him. "Hmmm?" The blonde mumbled. "Where too?" 

"Hoth", Leia answered as she took the cup of spiced caf Lian handed her and curled up on one of the empty floor cushions. 

"But that's a frozen planet!" Han exclaimed. The man was the second most awake of them, Lian being the first, but that was probably because the man had spent most of the day before and the gnats sleeping off a hangover. "Do we even have the resources to stay there?" 

"Yarvin is compromised", Leia sighed as she sipped her caf. Her hair was done up in her usual twin braided bows, prefect despite the early morning. Outside the open hull doors, the sounds of the flight bay growing busier drifted inside. Lian took a seat on one of the last remaining pillows and tucked his feet under him comfortably. "There is word that the imps are reforming in areas. The Death Star exploded too close to here. Both has an old base from the clone wars. It will take us all and offer strong defence". 

"Yeah but with all the ice our engines will freeze", Han protested with a swing of his arm. He almost spilled Bodhi's caf and smacked Luke in the face. The blonde leaned out of the way just in time while Lian gently moved Bodhi's cup. "That would limit any quick get away or escape. Also the cold will ruin our sensors. Snow storms will mess with the connectors of most of our tools. What is the rebellion thinking going there?" 

"It's not like we have much of a choice", Leia grumbled. She seemed worn. Dark bags lined her eyes and her skin was dryer than usual. 

Han seemed to notice this after a few moments and he settled down a bit. He took a swig of his caf. "I don't know what you put in this Lian, but it always tastes great". Lian just smiled slightly at him over his scarf. (He had long forgone wearing his scarf over his face amidst their small group. It made meals easier). 

"That's cause Lian's cooking is magic", Luke mumbled half into his cup. Lian flushed slightly at the praise. 

"You can say that again", Bodhi sighed. "He managed to make something out of our ration packs once. Just added some spices and stirred them into the porridge while he heated it up. I will never be able to eat rations the same". 

"Urgh don't remind me about rations", Luke whined. "The bars we had on the last mission tasted like cardboard". 

"We are going to have to get used to them on Hoth", Leia added. 

"No", Luke protested. "Give me a gun and I'll pick off a womp rat or two. Used to shoot them from by speeder". 

"I don't think they have womp rats on hoth", Leia considered. "They had a type of lizard called tauntauns though. I don't know about eating but the can be used as pack animals. The locals train them to use as transport". 

"Ewww lizards", Han pulled a face. "Never liked eating lizard". 

"Just get Lian to cook it", Bodhi suggested. "He'll make it taste good". 

"There are limits to my talents", Lian reminded softly, nudging his friend with his shoulder. 

"I have yet to find any", Luke grinned at him. It was too early in the morning to be subjected to such a bright force presence. Lian fought the urge to squint. 

"Whipped", Han half whispered into his cup. Luke tossed a spare pillow at him as Leia burst out laughing. It hit Han on the side of the head and the man swore. Bodhi and Lian sniggering as Han pointed threateningly at the blonde. "Just because you have a laser sword doesn't mean I won't end you". 

"You can end people later", Leia stated firmly through her visible amusement. "We need to pack up first. The first team to leave for Hoth leaves in two days". Her reminder dulled Lian's smile. His stomach was a ball of nerves he wasn't sure would ever go away. Every big change closed up his throat and made his stomach churn. Across the circle, Luke caught his eye. The blonde smiled, blue eyes crinkling and Lian felt his smile return. Smaller than before but still the anxiety eased a tad. 

unedited