the Cause. the Creed. the Code.

7 Collide

When Hera sat in bed in the guest room that night, her hand hovered over her holo comm, a transponder code for Lothal typed into the transmitter. She shoved it back into her pocket and made her way outside to a rooftop patio. The wind had died down and the air was chilly with snow, but the sky was clear; she could see the stars. She brushed away some snow from a railing and leaned against it, trying to remember from the lessons her father taught her, could she find Ryloth or Lothal from here?

"Couldn't sleep?" A calm voice, as cool as the snow around them, called from behind her.

"Just enjoying the view," she replied, her words clipped at a steady rhythm. She didn't turn to look at him and instead tried to focus on the stars above her.

"Are you cold?"

She sensed movement near her arm, out of the corner of her eye she could see grey and yellow fabric offered to her.

"I'm fine," she said, turning her head away from him. She held herself tighter, as if she could hide more of herself from him; but she did feel as if frost was forming on her skin.

"I know you don't like me, but will you take this if it's from the Wren's instead of me?"

She risked a glance at him, her piercing green eyes through narrow slits. He wore a trying grin and gently shook the fabric in his hand as it swayed in the cool air. She took it and wrapped it around herself.

"I don't dislike you," she spat into the night.

"Sir... I know you know there's not much point in lying to a Jedi," he said after a long while.

She took a deep breath, frigid wind gathered in her lungs to cool her burning body, "you are no Jedi," she said, each syllable as clear and crisp as the snow.

He hummed softly, then leaned on the railing with his back to the mountains, "I've heard that before," he groaned, but he didn't say anything more to refute her. A stitch formed in her chest, wondering how many times he had heard those words.

Hera toyed at the fringe of the blanket, golden thread weaved in between the strands of grey and steel. They stood there in the cold for a while, the only sound was snow through the trees and starlight in the air.

"I meant what I said the other night," Kestis said after a long while, "thank you, General. You didn't have to help and do all this, but you did. So thank you."

"I didn't do all this to help you," she forced through her teeth. She heard Kestis shift where he stood, the snow crunching under his feet, and felt his eyes on her, "For whatever reason, Kallus trusts you, but I couldn't let you ruin everything that he has been working for. So, yes, I did have to help."

She heard him give a heavy sigh as he tried to come up with something to say next.

"I'm sure Kallus appreciates the help too... I wouldn't want to be a burden on him. On anyone, really," Kestis admitted, his words quiet as they dissolved on the wind, "I think Alrich can really help me."

"Will you be continuing your sessions with him?"

"Yes, sir," he replied easily enough, "Merrin and I will have to discuss it some more, getting here is the biggest concern right now, but I want to continue. I want to get better."

"I'm glad for you then," Hera said shortly.

"Thank you," he said with genuine warmth in his breath, then, "what made you think of a Mandalorian therapist for a Jedi patient?" Kestis asked, his curiosity swirling among the snow.