The next morning Hush woke early to a ping on his comm. Checking the message he couldn't help but to smile.
'I will be holding the usual sword class on its assigned days, time permitting. Report to me after first meal if you still wish to participate.' Hearing Racket cursing behind him he couldn't help laughing. His vod was a terrible morning person. Throwing on his armor he clipped his helmet to his belt and went in search of breakfast.
Heading over to the commodore's tent he saw a group of vode milling about and chatting. All of the regulars were there with the addition of a few curious newcomers. He alerted the commodore that he was outside and that all of his students, as he called them, had already arrived. The man exited his tent a moment later in his usual black pants, a loose long sleeved shirt, and boots, with the addition of his sword belted at his waist. The crowd of vode quieted as he directed them all to a safe clearing nearby that was being patrolled regularly. Once there he handed out the 'training swords' that had been fabricated by the quartermaster out of scrap pieces of plastoid.
Armor was quickly discarded in neat piles and they got to work under the commodore's watchful eyes. They were guided through their basic drills to warm up before being broken down into pairs and left to their practice. The commodore wandered between the pairs, verbally offering encouragement and correcting men as he saw fit. When he stopped next to Hush's pair he watched them for a moment before stepping closer. "Hush. You'll want to move your right foot back a little more and pull your elbow in." Reaching out he nudged Hush's foot back with his own, where it should have been, and geently maneuvered his arm so that his elbow was safely tucked in. "Try that strike again."
He did as he was told. The strike was a lot more stable and his 'opponent' grinned at him.
"Very good. We'll make a swordsman of you yet." He clapped Hush on the shoulder before moving onward.
Hush could have sworn the warmth lingered long after the man had gone.
Once the class was finished and everyone was putting their armor back on the vod he had been paired with turned to him. "Does the commodore do that a lot?" Hush tilted his head, unsure what he was asking about. "Correct you, uh, physically." He blinked, frowning. Others nearby were trying to look as if they weren't listening in but he knew better. The vode, and by extension the GAR, were some of the biggest gossips in the galaxy.
"Y-yes, a-all the t-t-time. Wh-why?" The vod, he needed to learn the man's name, gave him a searching look.
"Because I didn't see him touch anyone else. He only gave verbal instructions…" All attention shifted to him as the vode nearby gave up pretending to sort their gear. "Are you… okay?" He realized what the vod was asking and felt a flash of anger at the thought, before he felt a swell of fondness for a brother he had never even been introduced to before.
"I'm f-fine. N-no w-worries." He smiled reassuringly and signed an 'all clear.' It was nice that various vode who were not his squad mates were trying to look out for him but honestly he was fine. Better than fine! He had a quiet place where he could do his work in peace without the stress of having to try and stutter his way through everything. The commodore was picking up vode hand signs quickly and sometimes the two of them would have entire conversations where not a word was spoken aloud.
It was comfortable and he felt safe being alone with the commodore. The man had never raised a hand to him, never made any untoward advances, and the only time he'd yelled at Hush had been in the middle of the battlefield.
"Alright, vod. If you say so." He did, and he didn't want to have to say it again. The commodore was a good man and Hush would follow him anywhere.
The campaign ended quickly and none of them were surprised when they were 'kindly' asked to leave. Having an army camped out on their planet would just invite trouble, according to the local politicians.
So much for gratitude.
The commodore didn't argue and didn't get angry. He only smiled sadly and said, "I understand," before ordering them to pack up and return to the ship. Hush wasn't complaining, he liked being on board the Vigilant. It felt like home. More of a home than Kamino had ever been.
Plus it meant that the commodore wouldn't be running all over a battlefield where he could be shot or killed. Although, if he was being honest, the man looked like he had been born on a battlefield. He'd been far more emotive and lively, less controlled and almost wild.
Hush shook his head to clear it, he shouldn't be thinking those things about his superior officer.
Even if they were true.
Back in his uniform he made his way to the commodore's quarters, more than happy to spend the day doing datawork. He knocked on the door before stepping inside, more as a courtesy than anything. He was in and out of the commodore's quarters so often that the man had told him to just come and go as he pleased. When he found the room empty he frowned slightly. The door to the fresher opened and he turned to see the man exit.
They both stopped, staring at one another for a moment, before the man smiled and gave him a welcoming nod.
Hush kept his eyes on the man's face, all too aware that if he looked down even once he wouldn't be able to look away. Even if he'd seen the man with his shirt off once before he had been far away and not really paying attention, more interested in the sword in his hands than his body. Close up he could see the sprawling lines of black ink that wove themselves in intricate patterns over his entire right shoulder. He suspected it continued on down the man's back but he was too busy trying not to look to even think of asking.
"Something the matter?" The commodore asked, voice calm and even as always.
"Y-you, uh…" Unsure how to go about answering, but not wanting to remain silent, he motioned toward the man's shoulder and- oh no, now he was staring.
"Ah! Tattoos like this are a rite of passage on my homeworld. You won't find anyone from the warrior caste without any ink on their skin." He chuckled as he walked past. Hush followed the man with his eyes, spying the rest of his uniform laying on the bed.
How had he missed that before?
He let the man get dressed, standing a little awkwardly near the door until he was finished.
"Well then, shall we get to work?" With a sigh of relief he took his chair.
"Y-yes, Sir." The man stopped on his way past, looking down at Hush with a small frown.
"Did you eat first meal already?" He nodded, simulttaneously signing an 'affirmative' The man smiled and continued on to his own chair. "Good. Let's get started. First order of business-"
They spent the next six hours going over everything from requisitions forms to individual action reports of note and once again Hush felt that aura of serenity slowly lull him into a state of calm.
He wondered how any of the vode could think this man was hurting him in some way but then again they mostly saw him during training and he was brutally efficient on the mats. Hush had a very vivid memory of being pinned between the commodore and the floor, his arms pulled up behind him and a knee pressing into his lower back so he couldn't get his legs beneath him. The memory of that closeness, as the commodore had leaned over and asked him if he was going to give up, brought warmth to his face.
"Are you alright? You seem distracted today." Jolting slightly he suddenly and vividly remembered that he was sitting right across from the man and had to force himself to stay still, rather than duck his head in embarrassment.
"F-fine, Sir." The commodore's deep blue eyes scrutinized him carefully for a moment.
"If you say so. However, if you begin to feel ill, please be sure to go to the medical bay. You're just as important as every other soul on board this vessel and you should take care of yourself." Hush smiled, even as his chest felt tight.
"Thank you, Sir. If I f-feel sick I'll go to the m-medical b-bay." The commodore smiled at him again, looking less concerned, and returned his focus to the datapad in his hands.
No. This man wouldn't even think of hurting him. Hush knew that like he knew his own name.