Ask Get Well Soon

[Emryc Thorne]

“Mr. President, I really must insist that you write back to your fans.”

The woman sighed as she was met with a completely blank and frosty stare, “What about at least for the children?”

“I don’t know what this is supposed to be, Aila,” Emryc said icily as he held up a picture hand drawn by a child, “Why am I being sent depictions of an anemic Lannik?”

The woman bit her lip and cleared her throat while doing an incredible job keeping a straight face, “Mr. President I believe...that is an attempt at drawing you with-..with your..” Her voice quieted down as he slowly turned to look at her again, his face directly next to the drawing he was holding up, “....ears..”

The aide had been at this all day in an attempt to get him more social and letting his fans know he was okay. The man normally had a lot of patience, but it was clear this was one of those rare things that tested its limits. Aila pinched the bridge of her nose as Emryc moved another pile of fanmail to the side for a droid to answer.

There was a beep on Aila’s datapad, similar to Emryc’s. She glanced down at it.

“You have a visitor request by the name of...Pufa..Pigundark,” Her brows furrowed slightly, “I haven’t seen this name before so I assume-” She glanced up when she caught Emryc suddenly coughing. Her eyes widened in surprise as it became clear he was coughing to stifle a snicker. It was behavior she had never, ever seen from the man in the multiple years she had worked with him. Aila was frozen in place holding the datapad in her hand. Eventually Emryc’s face went back to what she knew, the icy silvers drilling into her again.

“Send him in at once,” He stated curtly.

Aila blinked a few times before spinning on her heel to leave, wondering if she completely imagined seeing Emryc Thorne laugh.

@Altaris

 

[Jaikus Thorne]

The visitor request was accepted, and the half-Sephi did not have to wait long for ‘Pufa Pigundark’ to stroll into the hospital room. A few minutes passed, and the same door that Aila had exited through opened once more, Jaikus’ familiar visage appearing around the corner.

The last time Jaikus and Emryc had seen each other on Kafrene, the Axxilan had been dressed from head to toe in Sith armor – his fine features shrouded behind the chilling mask he wore. Today, however, Jaikus dressed in a way that was more accustomed to his personal style. The Axxilan wore a pair of black dress pants and a snuggly-fitting navy blue button up, the familiar scent of his faint cologne clinging to his person. As always, he accessorized with a chrono and bracelet on his wrists. Rather than a beaded leather bracelet, however, Jaikus wore a particularly familiar gold bracelet on his wrist, the chain hanging down and brushing against his palm. He arrived before Emryc as he so often did, and yet, there were several key difference about his appearance.

For starters, Jaikus had abandoned his usual contacts and wore a pair of glasses his face – the dorky, dark frames resting gently against the bridge of his nose. Another thing that was different, was the way that Jaikus styled his hair. Instead of being straightened and parted to the side as it usually was, the Axxilan had allowed his hair to take on the curly texture that he had been born with – dark ringlets and curls tumbling loosely over his forehead. It resembled how his hair had appeared on Keldooine, though the man had clearly taken some time to style the curls and tame the fizz.

It was subtle change in appearance and was completely natural to the man, but it was enough to prevent any troubling connections being made by the media.

Jaikus took a few steps into the room, citrine eyes fixating onto the half-Sephi on the hospital bed. The sight of the bandages on his torso and cheek, as well as the bruises that still marked his face, were enough to bring a distinct frown to the Axxilan’s lips. It was a sight that had infuriated him when they first appeared on the HoloNet, and even now caused a knot to twist in his stomach.

Even still, the frown did not linger for long. He knew, with proper treatment, the wounds would heal and likely would not scar. The half-Sephi had not been permanently disfigured, and the bolt from the Devaronian woman had narrowly missed its mark. Emryc was alive and recovering, and that fact brought a clear sense of relief to Jaikus.

“Hello roomie.” Jaikus spoke, slowly sauntering his way over to the bed. Unsurprisingly, there were no balloons or ‘Get Well’ cards from the Axxilan. He knew none of that material, worthless junk mattered to Emryc. And by the looks of it, he’d received plenty. Instead, Jaikus carried a simple vegan smoothie in his right hand, looking as if he’d picked it up from one of the restaurants adjacent to the hospital.

It was very similar to the beverage that Emryc had ordered at the Keldooine compound, a minor detail about the half-Sephi’s preferences that Jaikus had subconsciously picked up on.

Jaikus placed the vegan smoothie down onto the tray beside Emryc’s bed, plopping down in a chair beside him. For the first time since that announcement of the kidnapping had played out across the HoloNet, the Axxilan allowed a warm smile to creep up onto his face.

“For the record, I think the name is genius.”

@Sreeya

 

[Emryc Thorne]

Emryc was still entertained by the name choice by the time Jaikus walked in. While his clothing was similar to what the half Sephi had seen before, his attention was immediately drawn to the fact that he was wearing glasses and his hair allowed some of his curls free. It may have changed his appearance, but it was very much what Emryc remembered when both of them had been disheveled and stuck on an AMS planet. When neither could be anything but themselves without any superficial layers. Emryc’s gaze wandered down to the gold chain and Jaikus would see that coincided directly with when his ears involuntarily twitched and shifted.

Emryc could feel the ears moving and there was nothing he could do to stop it, so he simply let it happen. He saw the frown on the other man’s face and a pang shot through his chest. Did Jaikus think he was terrible to look at? Of course he was. He had a rainbow of colors on his skin and a cut to boot. He suddenly wished he had asked Jaikus to visit a different day. Emryc shifted uncomfortably for a moment before his eyes flicked over to the smoothie.

The half Sephi’s eyes visibly widened when he realized what it was, reaching over excitedly to grab it and take a sip. How had Jaikus known? His mind briefly wandered back to Keldooine when the Axxilan saw him at the smoothie stall. A grin began to tug at his lips as he set the smoothie down and looked back at Jaikus. The name had elicited a rare laugh from in in front of an aide, so it was certainly clever.

“I’m impressed you managed to make it here without falling into any puddles, Mr. Pigundark,” Emryc said with the grin still on his face. He stopped shortly after since it hurt to smile. He grabbed the smoothie again and emphatically drank from it, clearly ecstatic about it. His gaze flicked back up to Jaikus' hair and the glasses as he did so, finding himself unable to look away.

@Altaris

 

[Jaikus Thorne]

Jaikus leaned forward in the chair where he’d sat, placing his hands down onto the edge of the bed. The frown had faded and it was clear that the Axxilan had no aversion to looking at the half-Sephi up close and personal. He was not perturbed by the appearance, and the initial shock of seeing the wounds had faded. In fact, Jaikus seemed to brighten significantly.

He looked happy just to see Emryc, and it was a fact that was clearly painted across his face.

Citrine eyes flicked up, catching the way Emryc’s ears swiveled and twitched. It was an involuntary movement that Jaikus had only seen a handful of times in the past, but it was something that always brought caused him to smile. His lips tugged wide as they always did, though this time the expression was amplified in its ridiculousness by the large glasses that he wore.

Jaikus couldn’t help but chuckle at the mention of stumbling in a puddle. His clumsiness and aversion to shallow bodies of water was well known at this point, and even he could laugh at the joke now that it was in the past. “Had to take the long way to the hospital to dodge the puddles, but I managed to avoid catastrophe.” It was a joke. Probably. Maybe.

He noticed the way the half-Sephi brightened at the sight of the smoothie, his smile tugging a bit wider. If Jaikus knew anything about Emryc, he knew that the man was likely enjoying the bland hospital food. Still, a bit of variety never hurt. “I almost brought you an MRE to top it off.” Jaikus quipped, wiggling his brows a bit as Emryc happily downed the beverage. The Axxilan hadn’t said anything at the time, but the love of vegan smoothies was something that he had picked up on and memorized, even despite everything that had happened on Keldooine after the compound was overrun. It was a memory, seemingly above all the others, that stuck with him.

The fact that Emryc couldn’t quite look away from his changed appearance was not missed. Compared to the polished and refined way he usually presented himself, the combination of glasses and hair was likely nothing short of ridiculous – as it certainly was in Jaikus’ mind. Subconsciously, he reached a hand up to idly fix his hair – tucking one of the dark ringlets back into place. The maneuver worked for all of two seconds, as the curl suddenly sprang back, hanging lazily between his eyes.

He stared at Emryc for a few more moments before his eyes flicked to one of the many bouquets of flowers and accompanying cards that surrounded his bed. This assortment of flowers was a bit more grandiose than the others, and had an equally large card to match. Squinting a bit, Jaikus read the name across the front. ‘Pootalina’, whoever she was, had clearly gone all out for the half-Sephi. Jaikus silently wondered who this kind, generous woman was to go through all the trouble.

Jaikus finally allowed his eyes to settle back on Emryc, citrines meeting the gold-tinted silvers. “Its good to see you." He gestured to the half-Sephi's back, a bit of concern returning to his face.

"How do you feel?"

@Sreeya

 

[Emryc Thorne]

There was something about that smile that was amplified even more with the ridiculous glasses. It was endearing in ways Emryc hadn’t expected, though he wasn’t about to mention it out loud. In the back of his mind, he figured the Axxilan already knew. The man had been exceptionally good at picking up cues and reading Emryc from the very beginning. He grinned again at the mention of MREs.

“Could have just brought me the leftovers of the ones you pretended to eat in front of others to appear more soldiery,” He quipped back without missing a beat. The fact that Jaikus had packed his own MREs and was repulsed by his choice of food never ceased to entertain Emryc. His focus shifted back to Jaikus idly reaching up to fix his hair, the gesture causing the half Sephi’s eyes to narrow the slightest bit. He watched as the curl sprang right back into place.

As a powerful Force user that was likely on par with Renfry at this point, he had a strict command of it in the subtlest ways. Emryc’s gaze remained on Jaikus as the Force worked very discreetly to loosen a few more curls without Jaikus ever realizing. The half Sephi’s features softened after that, following his gaze towards the luxurious assortment of flowers. Emryc had noticed that too, but he backed away soon when he realized the card had a suspicious layer of slime on it. Ever since then, he had droids open all his fan mail to check for any ‘personal gifts’ that had been left as a surprise.

Emryc drank a bit more from his smoothie, shifting slightly to get comfortable. The injury on his back made it very difficult to get cozy. He looked at Jaikus when he asked his question, but it didn’t even occur to him to answer. Emryc’s face was closer to his usual stoic, no grin on his face for a moment. He eyed Jaikus for a few seconds before he finally spoke.

“Why did you go in yourself?” He asked after a moment, a slight bite bleeding into his tone he hadn’t intended to let out, “You usually stay away from combat. That place was a warzone,” Emryc looked away then, staring at Pootalina’s goop smeared card for several seconds before adding quietly, “You could have been killed.”

@Altaris

 

[Jaikus Thorne]

Jaikus’ eyes widened a bit when Emryc quipped back without missing a beat, and his mind was immediately being drawn back to the half-eaten MRE’s on Telos, remembering the way Emryc had wolfed down his leftovers without hesitation. Despite his best efforts to keep a straight face, the Axxilan couldn’t help but start to giggle at the quip from the half-Sephi. It took him a few seconds to get ahold of himself, but he finally did and managed to vocalize a response. “Sadly, I couldn’t find any Gamorrean noodles.” He shrugged, a playfulness glinting behind his eyes. “Next time, though.”

Jaikus’ attention had been momentarily focused on the card from Pootalina. It was a gift that was far more grandiose than the rest, and the Axxilan had nearly reached out to read from the card. His hand fell short, however, when he noticed the goop of unknown origin that was smeared across the gift. His fingers immediately withdrew and went back his lap, deciding that he wanted nothing to do with any ‘personal gifts’ that the half-Sephi might’ve received.

Too busy being horrified by the card, Jaikus didn’t seem to notice the subtle way that the half-Sephi’s eyes narrowed when he went to adjust his hair. He was oblivious as the Force was used to loosen the way he had styled the curls, ringlets springing out of place to tumble across his forehead and stick out the way they naturally would.

Emryc did not answer the question about his injury, but that wasn’t entirely unexpected. Instead, Jaikus received his answer by observing the subtle ways that the half-Sephi shifted and tried to get comfortable, a task that was made almost impossible by the blaster wound in his back. Instead of answering the question about his wellbeing, Emryc changed the topic.

Jaikus blinked a few times, citrine eyes fixating on yellow-tinted silvers as Emryc began speaking, a bit more bite to his tone now. He was, of course, right about Jaikus’ aversion to combat zones. The man was a diplomat at heart, and he rarely felt the need to immerse in combat on the front lines. It wasn’t that he couldn’t fight, but simply that Jaikus was simply more useful behind the negotiator’s table.

This situation was something different, though. Despite the risks and the dangers, Jaikus hadn't felt the slightest bit of hesitation when he decided to go after Emryc.

It went without saying just how painfully ironic the statement about Jaikus being killed was, considering it was Emryc that was laying in the hospital bed at the moment. Jaikus paused for a moment before responding. “So could you. You could have been killed, maimed or worse.” His tone was not harsh, a bit of pain lacing each words. He knew the role that Emryc had to play, and Jaikus wasn’t attempting to scold the man, so much as he was relaying the fears that had silently haunted him since that HoloNet headline.

The Axxilan paused for a moment, biting his bottom lip before speaking again. “I saw the images on the HoloNet.” The half-Sephi undoubtedly knew about the deliberate leak of images, still being plastered across every tabloid and news report. Jaikus had seen every blow from the pirates vividly, and the memory of it all caused a distinct anger to spike through his body.

“I wasn’t going to leave you.” It was the same thing that Jaikus had said to Emryc back on Telos after coming back for him. There was a firm, unwavering determination to the words as he spoke them – as if giving little room to argue with what was said.

@Sreeya

 

[Emryc Thorne]

Emryc saw Jaikus beginning to reach towards that card. He knew exactly what was there, but he said absolutely nothing. The half Sephi watched with quiet anticipation, just waiting for the moment where Jaikus had his fingers coated with the goop. The thought was already bringing a grin to his face. However, that grin began to fade as he realized that knowing Jaikus, if he saw Emryc laughing, the man would follow up by wiping the goop on his face. The half Sephi quickly opened his mouth to warn the other man, but he realized soon enough on his own and withdrew.

“There is also a biohazard bag filled with used underwear my ‘fans’ have sent,” He pointed to said bag at the corner of the room. He had obtained celebrity status at this point and he knew most of these rabid fans likely had no clue about politics or his policies.

The half Sephi turned back to gaze at Jaikus as he responded to his own concern, a moment of silence hanging between the two men for a while. He was reminded of when Jaikus had refused to leave him behind on Telos even as he had accepted his fate. The man made no sense to him on several occasions, and this was one that would stick with him.

Emryc despised that Jaikus saw those images on Holonet. President was a role he played, but even then it didn’t sit well that the Axxilan saw him so weak. Was that how Jaikus viewed him? As a weak individual that needed even a diplomat like him to step in? The half Sephi wasn’t used to others jumping to his defense or actively shielding him, but Jaikus had done it on multiple occasions. It was a pattern that had occupied his thoughts several times.

“Risking your life because I make you laugh..” Emryc said quietly as he pulled from the smoothie again, his gaze fixated on the other man. The comment was a simplistic version of the moment from Tatooine where Emryc had outright asked why Jaikus repeatedly chose a path that would likely bring pain. Circumstances had changed since, but the sentiment still applied.

“You…” He blinked a few times before clearing his throat, “You look good,” He mumbled, feeling suddenly foolish for the very delayed remark on his changed appearance. Emryc looked over at the Pootalina goop again, deciding to be suddenly fascinated by it.

@Altaris

 

[Jaikus Thorne]

There was a look of genuine horror on Jaikus’ face when the used underwear was mentioned. His citrine eyes slowly drifted over to the biohazard bag in the corner, his brows raising with a mixture of shock and disgust. Instead of a small zipplock, there was an entire trashbag of ‘gifts’ from Emryc’s adoring fans. There were, quite likely, close to a hundred used undergarments.

Jaikus knew that the half-Sephi had gained a rather large following as ISC President, but he didn’t quite realize just how fanatical – and downright disturbing – his fans were. He suddenly looked back at Pootalina’s card, narrowing his eyes at the goop as if the substance was so, so much worse than originally believed. The Axxilan stared slightly slack jawed for a while.

He cleared his throat, turning back to look at Emryc. “How generous of them. You must’ve been thrilled to open that particular package, the first time.” Despite his previous disgust, The Axxilan couldn’t help but grin mischievously at the thought. He’d seen Emryc’s peculiar eating habits and the way he seemed to despise touching things with his fingers, and Jaikus could only imagine the horror that had played out on the half-Sephi’s face upon pulling a used pair of underwear from a gift box.

Citrine eyes fixated upon the half-Sephi, listening as the man spoke quietly. Jaikus recognized the sentiment and met it in the same unwavering and confident stare he always did, a smile still tugging at his lips. Even now, the Axxilan wasn’t entirely sure why he had repeatedly jumped to Emryc’s defense. He certainly didn’t see the half-Sephi as weak, in need of someone to protect him. It was an instinctual reaction each time, from Telos to Kafrene.

“And would again.” Jaikus stated, determination lacing his words. He had explained why he chose this path time and time again, and it was clear that hadn’t changed.

Jaikus blinked a few times at the last thing Emryc said, his eyes widening a bit. The change in appearance was a necessary thing, though the Axxilan personally thought he looked a bit ridiculous with the glasses and natural hair. He had expected the half-Sephi to bluntly state as much, or at the very least jokingly compare him to a Monkey Lizard. Instead, Emryc complimented his new appearance. Jaikus suddenly looked a bit flustered.

“Yes well.. You did tell me to embrace the curls.” He smirked.

@Sreeya

 

[Emryc Thorne]

Emryc was caught off guard by Jaikus boldly stating that he would do it again. The Axxilan had the uncanny ability of making the half Sephi flustered with his sudden displays of boldness, and this was one of them. It always came out of left field in unexpected ways. Emryc’s eyes widened the slightest bit, his ears once again twitching involuntarily. That unapologetic side of Jaikus had always been consistent and firm, and it was one of the first things that caught Emryc’s attention.

When Jaikus looked a bit flustered at his compliment, it drew out a faint grin from the half Sephi. The curls and the glasses were Jaikus without the superficial layers. Emryc didn’t even realize when he began to notice these different facets of the other man, but he found himself paying it particular attention.

“As long as you’d still dress as you did on Serenno,” Emryc blurted out before he could stop himself. The drugs in his system had certainly made him a bit less filtered than usual. However, instead of getting flustered and looking away, he simply kept his gaze on Jaikus, a half grin tugging at his lips. The man’s choice of attire there had certainly caught his attention and the Axxilan was fully aware.

Emryc looked to the side of his bed and used the Force to bring over a bag. He unzipped it as he looked down, “I was hoping you would visit, actually,” He said as he tossed the bag over. When Jaikus looked inside, he would find a very familiar mask that he once angrily tossed over a cliff on Telos. The one Emryc had found on his way down the mountain and had kept since.

@Altaris

 

[Jaikus Thorne]

Jaikus’ eyes widened a bit when Emryc mentioned his attire back on Serenno. The unfiltered way that the half-Sephi spoke caught him off guard, a fact that was clear from the expression on his face.. A familiar shade of red brushed against his cheeks for a moment, and Jaikus suddenly felt the need to clear his throat. A moment would pass, and a grin began to tug at the corners of his mouth. “Maybe I just might, one of these days.”

The Axxilan was fully aware of how the vest had caught Emryc’s attention, and yet he hadn’t worn anything quite as alluring since the party. Part of that might’ve had to do with the constant disasters the two frequently found themselves in. Nevertheless, Jaikus silently began considering an opportunity moment to don such an outfit again in the future.

Instead of lingering on that topic for long, Jaikus arched a brow curiously as Emryc reached out with the Force, watching as a bag floated through the air and was brought within the half-Sephi’s grip. While the man unzipped the bag, Jaikus couldn’t help but look a bit giddy when Emryc mentioned wanting him to visit. “I would’ve come earlier, but I wanted to let the initial storm of reporters die down.” He caught the bag as it was tossed, blinking a few times before peering inside. The Axxilan froze suddenly froze in place, finding the visage of his original mask – the one he’d thrown in a fit of rage – staring back at him.

The mask an exceptionally simple thing – little more than a plate of grey metal that had been shaped to the contour of the Axxilan’s face. It was featureless, save for the streaks of red paint that swiped across the almond-shaped eye-slits. It was the original mask that he had made for himself as an acolyte, worn throughout his journey up until the adventure on Telos. With everything that had happened since then, Jaikus had almost forgotten about it completely.

“You went back for this..” He blurted out under his breath, speaking before his mind caught up with him. When Emryc left him on Telos, Jaikus wasn’t sure where the half-Sephi had went. Raze had been on full display, and the Axxilan purposefully kept his distance at the time. The fact that the man had found the mask, and kept it this whole time, caused the man to smile from ear to ear.

Without really thinking, Jaikus leaned forward and extended his hand out towards the half-Sephi. Slender fingers came to rest on Emryc’s forearm, squeezing gently as a tender smile played across his lips. There was a distinct streak of green against those citrines now.

“Thank you, Emryc.”

“I’ll try not to lose it again.” He quipped, a bit of playful amusement lacing his words.

@Sreeya

 

[Emryc Thorne]

Emryc never could predict what would make the other man blush or get him flustered. It wasn’t his nature to be overt with compliments, and he never realized when he gave one. All attempts of being suave or charismatic usually went out the window when his head failed to process emotions. And this particular man had an uncanny way of throwing the half Sephi into a state of confusion. He didn’t even realize he had a dazed grin on his face as he watched Jaikus get flustered. The painkillers certainly let a bit more of his expressions seep in.

He recovered quickly as Jaikus spoke about the mask. Emryc cleared his throat and lifted a hand to run his fingers idly through his hair, “Yeah well it was on the way. I didn’t really go out of my way or anything,” He wasn’t sure who he was trying to convince more - himself or Jaikus. Nothing ever got past the damn Axxilan and he knew those citrines would be bearing into him with the intensity of lasers.

Emryc’s feeble words died down as Jaikus reached out almost instinctively, genuinely happy to see the mask. The sight of the other man like that gave Emryc pause, and he stared in silence. His eyes remained on Jaikus as he felt that grip on his forearm.

“Good,” The baritone rolled smoothly, “Because then I will just have to get it again.”

The half Sephi’s silvers stared into the citrines for a moment, his arm remaining where it was under Jaikus’ grip. His gaze briefly flicked down to where the Axxilan’s hand was layered before shifting back up to his eyes. His expression was difficult to read when he spoke next, a subtle glint in his eye that had both yellow and silver.

“Is that as far as you actually want to go?”

@Altaris

 

[Jaikus Thorne]

Jaikus couldn’t help but smirk knowingly as Emryc started to speak, spewing a not-so-convincing story about finding the mask. The Axxilan had become incredibly good at picking up on the subtle cues and barely-noticeable expressions from the half-Sephi, and the present moment was no different. Emryc was, quite frankly, a terrible liar – and likely could tell that Jaikus was on to him from the beginning.

He watched as Emryc ran his fingers idly through his hair while he tried to pay the situation off. When Emryc finished speaking, Jaikus nodded along for a moment before uttering a reply - that smug, shit-eating expression growing a bit wider on his face.

“Mmhmm.”

Jaikus had been exceptionally smug and playful only moments before, but his expression shifted a bit when Emryc mentioned the possibility of having to retrieve the mask again. There was something exceptionally endearing about the thought of Emryc going back for the mask time and time again. It was a thought that caused Jakikus to brighten significantly, once more sporting that giddy expression.

He had reached out to touch the half-Sephi without really thinking, and Jaikus looked slightly surprised by the words that were spoken in response. While they had certainly been down this road in the past, Jaikus was aware of how it usually ended. The Axxilan knew there were boundaries that Emryc had put into place, and that was something that Jaikus respected and made a point to respect.

Despite how he might’ve felt, it was a boundary that Jaikus refused to cross on his own. And yet, Emryc was the one who posed the question now – as if daring him to take a step further.

Without another word, Jaikus rose from where he’d he had been sitting. The Axxilan immediately closed the remaining distance between himself and the hospital bed, kicking off his dress shoes off and climbing onto the mattress. He plopped down onto the bed and sat, legs crossing beneath him.

His hand never broke contact with Emryc, but instead shifted its position. Slender fingers rose and glided across the half-Sephi’s arm, fingernails dragging lightly as they traversed a path across his forearm and across his bicep. When his hand finally reached the man’s shoulder, Jaikus hooked his index finger into the sleeve of the shirt Emryc wore, gripping it and tugging firmly. Conscious of the injury the man bore, Jaikus didn’t attempt to move Emryc – but instead leaned forward a bit more, bringing his own body closer to where the half-Sephi was propped up. Still, he gave the man enough space to pull back if he so chose.

Closer to his face, citrine’s met the yellow-tinted silvers with unwavering intensity, confident and bold with his every action. A grin eventually began to tug at the corners of his mouth.

“I believe you already know the answer to that.”

@Sreeya

 

[Emryc Thorne]

While Emryc usually gave subtle clues, there were very few things to read just then. His face was closer to its usual stoic, watching Jaikus’ every move. The other man would feel as if he were on stage, Emryc’s full focus and undivided attention on him. The gifts and fanmail were entirely forgotten, blurring into the background. The quiet beeping of monitors were drowned out, and he could only see the man before him.

His gaze shifted briefly as he saw Jaikus take his shoes off, the ghost of a grin tugging at his lips from the almost polite and proper gesture. He felt the other man’s weight on the hospital bed, meeting citines with silvers as Jaikus shifted to move closer. Emryc didn’t move a muscle, taking in every detail of the other man and the scent of his cologne as he closed the distance. The pain on his face and back was forgotten as he felt Jaikus move his hand up along his arm, the dragging nails sending jolts through his entire body. Fingers curled into his sleeve and tugged, but Emryc’s gaze never left Jaikus. It wouldn’t even if the other man tugged the clothing away, revealing Emryc's olive skin and the muscled torso.

They had been here before and it was a complicated place. Yet unlike last time, there was an odd sense of calm. He wasn’t entirely moved on from everything, but there was no sense of hesitation or guilt about the man before him or the subtle gestures between them. Emryc took in sight of Jaikus’ face, watching the way his eyes burned and the subtle grin that graced his face. For as bold as he had been on Serenno, he was certainly more tender and shy beneath the surface.

The other man’s words brought out a lazy grin from Emryc. He could have speculated and thought endlessly. He could have ventured into his own psyche to explore a thousand different scenarios and the pros and cons. However, that sense of imposed rules and regulations from someone else was noticeably absent. He found himself focusing only on the present, only on the man before him.

Emryc finally moved then, reaching a hand up to gently take the glasses off Jaikus’ face. He neatly folded them and set them down on a table to the side of the bed with great care. He then reached over to begin moving the other man and adjust where he was sitting. His gaze remained locked on Jaikus’ face to watch his reaction and body language the entire time. It was a testament to his size and strength that he could quite easily maneuver the Axxilan around if permitted. At the end of the gesture, Jaikus would be seated above Emryc’s lap with his knees pressed into the bed outside of the half Sephi’s thighs.

There was no hint of shyness or hesitation on Emryc’s face. His eyes betrayed a firm resolve, always as unwavering as ever even through the injuries on his face. Emryc’s hands slid down the side of Jaikus’ torso to loosely rest on his hips, his fingers almost teasingly layered above his rear but not applying any pressure.

Emryc’s eyes never left Jaikus’ the entire time, their faces and bodies much closer now.

“I don’t think I do,” That baritone rumbled quietly as he spoke, “You may just have to show me.”

@Altaris

 

[Jaikus Thorne]

Jaikus plopped himself down onto the bed, citrine eyes fixating onto Emryc in that unapologetic and unwavering way – watching his face for any subtle reaction or cue. The Axxilan closed the distance between them boldly, and yet some part of Jaikus braced for the other man to pull away. They had come to this same crossroads on multiple occasions, and a part of Jaikus was prepared for it to end in the same way it had in the past.

And yet there was no such negative reaction.

Jaikus continued to stare into those silver eyes, and the world around him suddenly seemed so much less important. The smells of the sterile environment and the hospital room muted into the background, leaving Emryc as the sole figure of clarity amongst it all, focused upon him with all his attention. He felt as if he was on a stage, and Emryc was the sole individual in the audience.

The lazy grin from the half-Sephi was not missed, and Jaikus couldn’t help but smile a bit wider. He did not protest when Emryc finally moved, removing the dorky glasses that he wore and setting them onto the nearby table. The half-Sephi then reached up to reposition him, and Jaikus did not resist the maneuver in the slightest – instead feeling himself melt tenderly into the other man’s grasp. Every touch seemed to send jolts of electricity bristling across his body, causing his cheeks to burn a deep red and his heart to beat a bit faster in his chest.

By the end of the maneuver, Jaikus found himself positioned on the half-Sephi’s lap, his legs splayed out wide around the man’s larger frame. It was a testament to the quality of his pants that the fabric did not split right then and there, the already-tight garment pulling taut against his legs and clearly under significantly more strain than before, though this was largely unnoticed in the moment.

Jaikus felt the other man’s hands come to rest against his hips, listening with a grin when Emryc spoke. The half-Sephi’s eyes betrayed a new sense of resolve, and suddenly Jaikus could feel all the doubts and hesitations melt away. In their place a new sense of confidence in what he did next.

Boldly, Jaikus reached back – releasing his grip on the shirt and instead traveling down towards his hips. Slender fingers gingerly laced over the top of Emryc’s, guiding the half-Sepi’s hands downward until they came to rest just a bit lower and firmly onto his rear.

Satisfied with the corrected position, Jaikus turned his attention to his own attire. He began to undo his navy-blue shirt, the garment opening a bit wider with each button to reveal his bronzed skin and the slender curvature of his upper chest. As he did so, the Axxilan leaned forward – closing the remaining distance between Emryc’s face and his own. He tilted his head ever-so-slightly as he moved, his angular jaw tracing a path against the half-Sephi’s skin.

“How about now?” He spoke softly, the sultry tone of his voice reverberating against the other man’s sensitive ears as he drew closer to the other man’s lips. Once there, Jaikus brushed his lips against Emryc's own, teasing at a longer embrace.

One hand suddenly fell away from the buttons of his shirt, instead slithering its way beneath the half-Sephi’s own garment. Slender fingers traveled across the man’s muscular torso, fingernails dragging lightly before splaying out across the left side of the half-Sephi's chest. Jaikus readjusted himself a bit lower into Emryc’s lap then, his legs widened just a bit more.

Riiiiip.

The hospital room was filled with the sound of fabric tearing for a brief moment, and Jaikus immediately stopped dead in his tracks. Citrine's widened with surprise, a mixture of shock and embarrassment playing behind his eyes.

The man didn’t have to look back to realize what had happened, and Emryc almost certainly would know as well. Clearly the pants that he wore had been under significantly more tension than originally thought, and his latest movement was simply the straw that broke the Eopie’s back. Though neither could see it, a wide tear had opened across the Axxilan’s dress pants – splitting down the seam and revealing the undergarment that he wore underneath. In the immediate aftermath, Jaikus didn’t move. He lingered mere inches from Emryc’s face wordlessly, watching the other man’s face for whatever reaction would come.

A part of the Axxilan was completely mortified by the sudden wardrobe malfunction, while another part wanted to just ignore it and keep going. Unfortunately, The sound of the door opening interrupted them before either man could go any farther.

“Mr. President?”

The familiar voice rang across the hospital room, quickly followed by the sight of Aila rounding the corner. The half-Sephi’s aide had often intervened at one point or another when hospital visits started to get drag on longer than intended, attempting to spare the President from long-winded individuals who were incapable of catching a hint. Clearly, that had been her intention now.

“Mr. President? I have the updated sch—” The poor aide froze in her tracks mid-sentence, eyes finally flicking up from the Data-pad and settling upon the compromising position the two men were in. Her face suddenly turned a dark red color, one that conveniently matched the one on Jaikus’ face when he snapped his head back to look at her.

This was the same President that hadn’t so much as laughed in her presence, nor had the half-Sephi expressed any sort of overt attraction to others. Silently, Aila had started to believe the asexual rumors that had recently graced the tabloids, a fact that made the sight of some random, curly-haired man straddling her boss all the more surprising.

For a few moments, the woman couldn’t help but stare. She saw the mysteriously torn pants that Jaikus wore, quickly connecting it to the placement of Emryc’s hands on his rear. She saw the way the Axxilan’s shirt had been unbuttoned half-way, as well as the hand that was splayed across her president’s pec. Aila stared, and Jaikus froze like a bantha in headlights – seemingly unable to move and remaining in the half-Sephi’s lap unless otherwise pushed off.

Without another word, the woman spun on a heel and quickly exited out the way she came – practically breaking into a sprint in an attempt to scramble away from the scene. Whatever she had barged in to tell the man was completely forgotten.

A distant, “I am so sorry”, could be heard as she exited the hospital room – leaving the two men alone once again.

@Sreeya

 

[Emryc Thorne]

Emryc kept his eyes on Jaikus’ the entire time, feeling as the man reached for his hands and pushed them down. It was a bold move, and Jaikus would immediately see a glint in the half Sephi’s eye as a result. Boldness appealed to both Raze and Emryc more than ever now that the two were fully merged. He returned the gesture in kind by shamelessly grasping the other man, his grip almost possessive in nature. As if Jaikus were his.

The half Sephi watched as the Axxilan unbuttoned his shirt, revealing more of that bronze skin Emryc had been drawn to. He was reminded of how he wanted to see more of it back on Tatooine, when the man had been dancing and shimmying his body backwards against the hot sands. Emryc felt Jaikus lean in, his body set ablaze by the other man. His attempts at keeping a cool resolve were being resisted by the fiery passion that Jaikus brought. Every touch broke down barriers and steamrolled right past doubts or hesitations, and everything that was ISC, the Sith or anything else in his life melted away at that moment.

Emryc felt Jaikus’ hot breath against his ear when he whispered, the tantalizing gesture making his ears twitch in response. It was something that sent a chill down his spine that was both icy and hot at the same time, a ripple throughout his entire torso. He felt Jaikus’ hand beneath his clothing, sliding along his muscled torso and over the lightning scar across his chest.

The half Sephi felt Jaikus press their lips together, and he responded in kind by biting and tugging teasingly at the Axxilan’s lower lip. He paused only to murmur softly against the man’s lips, “Perhaps if you wish for it a third time,” His baritone resounded softly, vibrating against Jaikus’ mouth.

At the back of his mind, Emryc had a slight internal panic. While he had an unquestionable desire for the other man, the situation down south was not quite.....keeping up. It was a ‘problem’ he had been having for the past few months and this was the first time he felt absolutely mortified because of it. Before he could try to rectify the situation, there was a loud tearing noise as the Axxilan’s pants ripped.

For a moment, both men stared at one another and Emryc blinked for a few seconds. That didn’t last, however, as the half Sephi simply shrugged. One of his hands came around to undo the front of Jaikus’ pants, moving to unzip them next when the second interruption erupted behind them. Hilariously on instinct, Emryc’s hand still on the Axxilan’s rear quickly moved to cover where the tear was, protecting his dignity in whatever little way he could. Having a hand on his ass likely made things worse, but at least Aila wouldn’t see whatever brightly colored underwear Jaikus wore that day.

The half Sephi didn’t overtly react, simply tilting his head slightly to the side and meeting Aila’s gaze. She looked at him and saw the cold, steely look that always unnerved her. This was the gaze of the man that could show no mercy, that the Hutts feared, that had just declared war, that knew how to have the galaxy at his feet. The look he gave her said enough - if she uttered a word of this, not only would she disappear, but so would anyone important to her. This was the way of those that operated in the Outer Rim and those that worked in the realm of cold, frigid business. Aila wouldn’t speak about this to a single soul, and both of them knew it as she fled from the room.

There was a moment of silence before Emryc turned to look at Jaikus, his hand still not quite leaving where it was. However, he didn’t make any efforts to continue undoing his pants, his other hand moving to rest on the Axxilan’s thigh. Emryc’s face had no smile for a moment, and he exhaled softly before looking away. The interruption allowed a moment of clarity.

“There are things I need to tell you,” He said quietly. He was unconcerned by their compromising position, and he actually liked the closeness. This was a topic that Jaikus could only guess at before, but now that it was directly impacting them, Emryc had little desire to keep it from him. Emryc had a history of compartmentalizing, and that had gotten him nothing but trouble when it came to human sentiments even if he didn’t understand them.

With Jaikus still on his lap, Emryc pulled the man closer. He grabbed Jaikus’ hands and placed them around his own neck, savoring that embrace like he had experienced on Tatooine. Emryc’s arms were loosely wrapped around his torso as he faced the other man. The grip was very loose to where Jaikus could slip out very easily.

“What I want with you, Jaikus, is not something I can pursue until I am my whole self,” He began quietly as he looked at the other man.

And then he began to delve into what Jaikus had only guessed at. He told him about Morgan and the relationship he had had. He told him about experiencing love for the first time. He told Jaikus about how Emryc and Raze were two identities, something the man already knew but could only guess at.

At the end of it was when he finally released his hands from Jaikus, because he knew the Axxilan would leave then. Emryc looked down and confessed about what he had done on Firrerre and the aftermath of it all. The half Sephi had felt the worst pains in his life from keeping secrets and perhaps that’s where he had made all his mistakes with Morgan. He wouldn’t do that with Jaikus.

“You need to understand what I am, Jaikus,” He said quietly, “All of me. The ways I am a monster, the ways I show no mercy, the ways I am a-” He almost said Sith, but in many ways he felt as if he were one of the only ones. He was a monster in the eyes of other Sith around him. Emryc looked up to meet the Axxilan’s gaze again, “But whatever I may be...I’m not going to hide from you.”

@Altaris

 

[Jaikus Thorne]

In that moment, Jaikus remained entirely focused upon the man before him – the rest of the galaxy seeming a distant and unimportant memory. He boldly closed the distance between himself and Emryc, and everything else melted away. The bruises on Emryc’s face, the way he had gotten them and the pirates responsible were forgotten. The Devaronian woman who shot him, and the ruthless way that Jaikus had responded were forgotten. All of it faded away, until all that was left was the present moment.

Jaikus felt the way that Emryc grasped at him shamelessly, fingertips digging with a grip that was equal parts bold and possessive. He felt the way Emryc bit and tugged at his lower lip, a faint gasp escaping from the Axxilan reverberating against the other man’s lips. It was a gesture that caused a shiver to run down his spine, eliciting goosebumps across his skin.

He couldn’t help but grin when he heard those familiar words spoken, briefly remembering back to the first time they had been uttered on Telos. In response, Jaikus closed that bit of distance between them once again – tilting his head and meeting Emryc’s lips with his own. He sank tenderly into the embrace, savoring the taste of the man as he hadn’t since Keldooine.

Whatever performances issues Emryc might’ve been experiencing seemed to go unnoticed by the Axxilan, his attention instead remained focused upon unbuttoning his shirt, while his other hand continued to explore the half-Sephi’s muscular torso – fingernails tracing across the lightning scar that fanned across his chest. His attention was drawn away to the sound of fabric tearing before anything going on down south could be noticed.

He stared at Emryc for a few seconds, not quite sure how to respond to what had just happened. When the half-Sephi shrugged and moved to start undoing his pants, Jaikus responded in kind. Instead of continuing with his shirt, Jaikus left the last couple buttons in place and drew his hand along the inside of Emryc’s thigh – traveling upwards until he reached the waistband of the pajama’s the half-Sephi wore.

He hooked a finger beneath the waistband and began to tug downward, just as the door behind them opened.

Seemingly frozen in place when the aide walked in, Jaikus didn’t even think to cover his rear or the brightly colored underwear that was now fully on display. Luckily, Emryc had immediately moved to preserve some shred of his dignity – though the way his pants were undone and started to slip down his waist likely didn’t help the situation

A part of Jaikus wanted to react overtly to the aide barging in. He realized the compromising position that they had been found in, and he knew the media storm that would follow if Aila spoke a word of this to anyone. Somehow, though, his brief surge of anxiety was quelled when he finally glanced back over to Emryc – picking up on the the steely, stern way that he stared back at the aide. No words were spoken, but Jaikus recognized the meaning behind the look, realizing that it just became exceptionally unlikely that any peep of this incident would get out.

Jaikus stared at the door where Aila exited for a few seconds, citrine eyes flicking back to fixate onto Emryc when the man started speaking again. The words that were spoken and the tone of his voice alluded to a more serious conversation, and yet the Axxilan didn’t make a move to change their position. Instead, Jaikus felt his body pulled closer in that moment, his hands raising and coming to rest on the back of Emryc’s neck.

He adapted to the embrace almost instinctually, his slender frame melting tenderly into the larger man’s arms. It was an embrace like they had experienced on Tattooine and Jaikus cherished the closeness, and this time there was no one to end it prematurely.

The opportunity to slip out of the embrace was noted, but Jaikus did not so much as consider it. Instead, he tugged the man a bit tighter – his grip becoming almost possessive in nature. If it to make the point that he, as always, was not going anywhere.

Minutes passed, and Jaikus listened attentively as Emryc spoke – remaining in the same position the whole time. There was a great deal that Emryc said which the Axxilan guessed at. Perhaps better than most, Jaikus had seen Raze and Emryc – who sides of the same coin – at their most extremes. He had witnessed the best and worst sides of the half-Sephi, and the explanation now was only confirmation of what he already knew.

The relationship, too, was something Jaikus had begun to guess at prior to now. He had gotten the first hints of it during their first encounter on Serenno, and it had been reinforced by the hesitation witnessed at the lake and on Tattooine. Only now though, did the precise details of it all become clear to him. The tense encounter between Emryc and Morgan on Serenno made more sense now, as did some of Jaikus’ own interactions with the Firrerreo.

He felt Emryc’s hands drop suddenly as the man began to explain what had happened Firrerre, noting the way that the half-Sephi looked away. Despite whatever reaction might’ve been expected, Jaikus still did not move from where he was sat. There was a brief look of surprise on his expression when the Firrerreo homeworld was explained, but the Axxilan’s face was otherwise serene and calm.

Through it all, Jaikus’ eyes never broke contact with Emryc – meeting the yellow-tinted silvers with unwavering intensity.

When Emryc finished speaking, there was a moment of silence that followed. It was a pause taken to process the new information, digesting and appreciating all that had been said. In that moment, Jaikus’ face was difficult to read.

Only after a few more seconds did Jaikus react. While one hand continued to rest gingerly on the back of Emryc’s neck, the other dropped down – reaching for the half-Sephi’s hand and lacing with his fingers. His grasp was tender and gentle, giving the other man ample opportunity to slip out from it if he so chose. “What I want with you, I want with the man that you are. All of you, as your whole self. Without shame or hiding.”

For the first time, Jaikus was able to see Emryc in a new and unfiltered light. He knew about Morgan, and all the different ways that relationship and blossomed, and all the different reasons it had fallen apart. He knew about Raze – the yellow eyes that had filled him with dread on so many occasions – and how he was inseparably tied to the man. He knew about Firrerre and all that had happened to that planet.

Emryc refused to hide anything from the Axxilan, and through it all, Jaikus never moved a muscle. For better or worse, Jaikus remained exactly where he was, unapologetic and unwavering in the decision he had made. Because to do anything less was something far worse.

Jaikus leaned forward a bit then, pressing his forehead against Emryc's. “I wish to be near you - to take any door off its hinges and do so without regrets. I want you.”

@Sreeya

 

[Emryc Thorne]

Emryc missed the surprised look on the Axxilan’s face as he revealed about Firrerre. He didn’t have to look to feel the way Jaikus shifted and stiffened slightly, betraying that the topic was alarming. It was an expected reaction. However, the fact that he didn’t pull away or step away from him entirely was surprising. Emryc slowly looked up to meet the man’s gaze as Jaikus reached for his hand, entwining their fingers. It was a gesture that was becoming more familiar with Jaikus, and it was one that made his ears twitch slightly involuntarily again. It was too subtle for Emryc to notice, but the Axxilan would see it if he looked.

When Jaikus spoke next, Emryc’s eyes betrayed surprise. The words echoed within his mind several times over. He looked into the citrines, the eyes that began to give way to emeralds whenever the man fell back to who he was at his core. He saw passion, desire, tenderness and untold words in those eyes. But he also saw his own reflection in them and saw the way he looked at the other man. It was not the face of Emryc Thorne as he appeared on Holonet, the charming and charismatic President. It was Emryc as he appeared stripped of all the layers and expectations everyone else had of him. It was Emryc when he was on Ship entirely by himself far away from the galaxy. It was Emryc when he was the man in that village.

Jaikus leaned forward then, pressing their foreheads together. Emryc closed his eyes, listening to those quiet words Jaikus uttered to him many times before. The promises he made and never budged on. The dangerous words that the Axxilan had been warned about several times over. Either Jaikus was a monster like him, or he was willingly walking into disaster like a fool.

After a moment, Emryc smiled with his eyes still closed, murmuring softly against Jaikus’ lips, “You really are a puffer pig..” He chuckled softly before tilting his head to meet those lips. He wanted to continue what Jaikus began earlier before they were interrupted. It was a tender gesture that he could give into so easily, and it made the rest of the galaxy melt away.

For those quiet few moments, Emryc simply kissed the other man, bringing the hand from his rear up to curl into that messy hair. The other arm wrapped around Jaikus to pull him even closer, pressing their bodies together and allowing the Axxilan to sink against him. Though he had his pains and his heartbreaks, for those precious moments he forgot about it all. He focused on the taste, touch and smell of the man he was quickly growing to cherish in ways he feared. The man he desired in the most complicated manners that could lead them both to ruin.

The moving and shifting caused Jaikus’ shirt to slip off his shoulders, revealing more of his tanned torso as the two men embraced. Emryc hardly noticed, giving into the impassioned kiss as if he would never taste those lips again. It wasn’t until several different beeps rang out on his datapad that he finally paused, and even then it took multiple iterations of alerts.

The half Sephi pulled back slightly, looking far more disheveled and with his face and mouth suddenly remembering the excruciating pain of his injuries. He had tuned all of it out during the kiss, and he began to taste coppery blood in his mouth. Emryc kept his focus on Jaikus, flashing a lazy grin again, “I want to do that whenever I want,” He stated simply.

Being President meant that visiting him had its time limits. Emryc took a look at Jaikus' state of attire, thinking back to the torn pants. He glanced over to the side and used the Force to hover a piece of clothing over, dropping it next to Jaikus on the bed.

“Wear it when you leave here,” Emryc explained, “It will cover you up.”

The clothing in question was a Ryloth Rancors hoodie of Emryc’s that would be comically large on Jaikus. The Axxilan didn’t have to know about Huttball to know how much the team and the hoodie probably meant to Emryc. As often was the case with Emryc, however, his expression was neutral as if this was obviously the most practical course of action. He didn't even have a second thought about it.

@Altaris

 

[Jaikus Thorne]

Jaikus didn’t miss the look of surprise behind Emryc’s eyes when he didn’t move from his position, choosing to meeting those yellow-tinted silvers with unwavering determination. Nor did he didn’t miss the way the half-Sephi’s ears twitched involuntarily when he took hold of the man’s hand, lacing their fingers together tightly. The swivel of the half-Sephi’s ears was a subtle movement, and yet it was one Jaikus couldn’t help but find so incredibly endearing.

For better or worse, the Axxilan stood firm in his decision and did so confidently, unconcerned with all the ways that it could lead them both to ruin. He reiterated the promises that he had made on Keldooine and Tattooine, promises that he had yet to compromised on and likely never would.

Jaikus couldn’t help but smile a bit wider when Emryc spoke, listening to the soft, baritone chuckle as it reverberated against his lips. When Emryc suddenly met his lips, Jaikus suddenly felt himself getting lost in the tender embrace – his eyes fluttered closed, all the stresses and doubts suddenly banished from his mind.

Time seemed to slow in those moments, and Jaikus focused solely upon the man before him. He savored the familiar scent of the half-Sephi, and the way he tasted against his lips. His body melted into the other man’s touch, fitting together with Emryc’s larger frame perfectly like two pieces of a puzzle

At one point or another, Jaikus had brought one hand to grip the front of Emryc’s shirt, tugging the fabric almost possesively and keeping the man close. He felt as his shirt began to slip off his shoulders from the repeated shifting and movement, though he barely seemed to notice. When he did, Jaikus simply shrugged his shoulders - allowing the garment to fall the rest of the way down and bunch around his elbows - revealing the rest of his bronze torso. His skin and smooth and almost entirely unblemished, though there were several scars that existed there that hadn’t been present on Keldooine.

There was an entry and exit wound from a blaster along his left shoulder, alongside a large horizontal slash across his left bicep, one that had undoubtedly been left by the kiss of a lightsaber. They were marks he had picked up during the battle of Felucia, and served as a reminder why, as a rule, Jaikus tended to avoid combat zones.

When the high-pitched alerts of Emryc’s datapad began to resound through the hospital room, Jaikus barely seemed to notice. The sound was muted and barely audibly, the Axxilan instead focusing upon the sound of the half-Sephi’s breath and his own thundering heart.

It wasn[‘t until Emryc pulled away that Jaikus finally opened his eyes, revealing that his iris’ were once more their natural, solid emerald. The Axxilan stared for a moment, taking in the sight of Emryc’s slightly disheveled appearance, and then flicking down to briefly glance at the multitude of messages that appeared on Emryc’s datapad.

Jaikus couldn’t help but grin when he heard Emryc speak, declaring his desire to kiss him whenever he wanted, leaning in a bit closer to the half-Sephi’s face. It was a more bold, upfront way of speaking than Jaikus was used to from the half-Sephi, though it was clearly something he liked. “Whenever you want,” Jaikus whispered, his voice reverberating against the man’s lips. “Just so long as you kiss me more often.” With that, Jaikus closed that bit of distance once more, stealing one final kiss from the half-Sephi. Perhaps unexpectedly, Jaikusbit down playfully into Emryc’s lip, tugging as he pulled away. It was a repeat of the maneuver he had pulled on Jaikus only a few minutes ago, and it was one that the Axxilan enjoyed far more than he was going to admit aloud.

Sitting back in the other man’s lap now, Jaikus watched with a raised brow as Emryc reached out with the Force, hovering over a piece of clothing from a nearby pile. The material fall onto the bed nearby, and Jaikus almost immediately reached out and picked it up to inspect. Placing it in his lap and unfolding it, Jaikus immediately recognized it as an oversized hoodie – one what undoubtedly belonged to Ermyc. It was emblazoned with a familiar Rancor’s logo across the front – a logo that Jaikus had only learned the meaning behind on Keldooine, after realizing it somehow appealed to the half-Sephi.

Despite the nonchalant way that Emryc presented the hoodie, the significance behind it was not lost on the Axxilan. It was an item that meant something to the half-Sephi, and he had given it to Jaikus without a second thought.Beyond his control, a warm and giddy smile wormed its way onto Jaikus’ face, that familiar flush of red suddenly returning to his cheeks.

Jaikus stroked his thumbs across the material, staring down at the hoodie in his lap for a few more seconds before looking back to Emryc. There was a tender look in his eyes, his smile growing a bit wider as he met the man’s silvery gaze. “Thank you, Emryc.”

Another alert beeped from the datapad, and Jaikus realized it was time for him to go. He finally swung his leg around and climbed out of Emryc’s lap, sliding off of the hospital bed and landing back onto his feet. Rather than buttoning his shirt back up, Jaikus finished off the last two buttons – shrugging off the cologne-scented button-up and tossing it aside. A gentle push of the Force carried it towards the pile of Emryc’s clothes in the corner, falling neatly into place with everything else.

Unfolding the hoodie, Jaikus began to slip the oversized garment on. This, of course, meant that his back was finally turned towards the half-Sephi. For the first time, Emryc would have a full view of the comically large tear across the Axxilan’s rear, the dress pants he wore clearly not made for the kind of strain they had been put under.

Within a few seconds, Jaikus had slipped on Emryc’s large hoodie over his slender frame. While the Axxilan was certainly not ‘small’ by human standards, he was dwarfed by the half-Sephi and that fact was made even more apparent while wearing his clothes. The hem of the Rancor’s hoodie extended well past his rear, sufficiently covering the torn pants and the undergarments beneath. The sleeves of the hoodie, meanwhile, were equally too long - extending past the Axxilan’s wrists until only the tips of his fingers were left exposed. Jaikus immediately tugged on each sleeve back onto his forearms, causing the fabric to bunch up on his arms.

For once in his life, Jaikus didn’t seem to mind wearing the baggy clothes – and it had nothing to do with the tattered state of his pants.

He briefly glanced at himself in the mirror before turning his attention back towards the hospital bed. He took a step towards the table besides Emryc, lifting his glasses that the half-Sephi had previously removed and placing them back onto his face, adjusting the frames back onto the bridge of his nose until they sat just right. He then picked up the bag that contained his mask from Telos, slinging the strap across one of his shoulders.

His attention then turned back towards Emryc. “I’ll see you soon, roomie.” Jaikus flashed a grin, still thoroughly amused by the nickname that the half-Sephi had no small part in creating. Tucking his hands into the pockets of the hoodie, he began to make his way towards the door to exit the room.

He turned back to look at Emryc just before he rounded the corner, emerald eyes glinting as the grin tugged a bit wider.

“Maybe I’ll even call before I arrive, next time.”

@Sreeya