Runaways Chapter 35 Distress

Chewie glanced up from his screen as Han returned to the cockpit. "How are they?" he asked.

"Ben's sleeping," Han sighed. "The other one, though, he's not doing so well."

"He was certainly looking nervous earlier," Chewie remarked. "Got a name from him?"

"Nervous isn't the half of it," Han grumbled. "No, but he answered to Zander. Maybe he'll give us his real name later, but right now he's completely devastated, and I can't work out why."

"Potdrum said he was looking after Ben, and we can't ignore someone who kept our cub safe," Chewie howled. "Especially if there's a life debt."

"I don't think letting Ben run around after him wherever is necessarily the best idea," Han mused. "Would a debt be satisfied if we gave Zander a new life with us? Or got him back to his family if he wanted it?"

Chewie shrugged. "Maybe. I doubt his people have the same honour code as mine, but I'm not going to stand by if you try to push him off somewhere."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Han grumbled. "You know that."

Chewie rumbled and shrugged. Han didn't have the same concept of honour, but he wouldn't abandon someone who'd helped his family. Or a child. It wasn't in his nature. "Does he think we'll hurt him? For…keeping Ben from us?"

"For saving Ben? Surely he wouldn't…" Han sighed. "I don't know. He's in an awful state. Could you go talk to him? You're good with kids."

"He seemed pretty distressed by me," Chewie hedged.

"He seems distressed by everything," Han snorted. "You can hardly make it worse."

Chewie sighed, and stood. He might as well try.

Ben looked wonderfully peaceful, even if he was snoozing with his head on someone else's lap and hugging his velvet bag. The little cat had curled up next the bag. But the redhead looked noticeably frightened.

Chewie pretended not to focus too much on the boys, but he couldn't escape the prickling sensation of Zander's stare, the ginger tracking his movements warily. Chewie opened up one of the storage lockers and pulled out a water bottle and a protein bar. He turned around again and held them out to Zander.

He waited. Zander was tense, wary, and he couldn't understand Shyriiwook. Chewie tried to communicate a desire to nurture, to help, and finally the teen reached out and took the offerings.

Chewie smiled. He carefully patted Zander's arm (ignoring the way he flinched beneath his hand) and returned to the cockpit.

"What'd you say?" Han asked casually.

Chewie sighed. "You know most people don't understand me."

"Yeah, sorry; forgot," Han mumbled.

"Did you also forget to brush your teeth this morning?"

Hux stuffed the protein bar into his pack without seriously considering it. Taking food from enemies was not wise. What about the water? He couldn't risk dehydration. Maybe he could try it on Millicent? No, that wouldn't be fair on the poor kitty.

But they wouldn't just poison him right now, surely. If they wanted to kill him quick and simple they could have shot him before even taking off. It all seemed like a waste of time. But they might have drugged it. Just to make sure he couldn't fight when they came to take him away, in case he hurt Ben if they disarmed him.

Because he'd be lucky to merely end up in a cell. He couldn't not fight back, it just…wasn't him. He'd have to try and hold onto Ben for as long as he could before they dragged him off.

Oh, and Solo hadn't taken his knives away. An oversight? But it gave Hux a chance to escape when they arrived. Perhaps he could live rough, and watch Ben from a distance.

He put the water bottle on the table. If it was drugged, he couldn't risk it interacting with his painkiller. He'd crashed from drug mismatch a time or two, and it wasn't good.

He reached over and petted Millicent. Chewbacca's reappearance had disturbed her somewhat. It had unsettled Hux too. He'd never seen a real Wookiee before. Non-human species weren't considered sufficiently capable to have a position in the First Order, except as subjects. So why waste valuable learning time on them?

Emperor Palpatine had enslaved them. They were big and strong, and made good manual labourers if you could keep them under control. They were vicious, said to enjoy rending their enemies limb from limb. The height of uncivilised.

According to the records of the Fall of the Empire, the Wookiee Chewbacca was meant to be devoted to Solo. No-one seemed to know why. But that meant…

Vicious and devoted. Yes, that meant Chewbacca could well be his executioner. Just so long as it wasn't in front of Ben.

He sunk into the half-drugged haze, trying to push away the anxiety. It was a waiting game now. If they were waiting for him to fall asleep, to succumb a drug in the food or water, and then take advantage of his weakness, he'd be ready.

If they dragged him away, he'd fight back, kicking and snarling and biting and slashing with his knives. Once Ben was out of range, of course. When Solo moved, when his time ran out, he'd have to get away.

He couldn't take the wait. Couldn't bear the inactivity, the sick anticipation. He leant back, closed his eyes. He curled slightly around Ben and started to feign sleep.

But he kept his wrists ready to flick and release his knives.