[Jorri]
Returning to camp, hidden in an out of the way grove, the lone scout tried not to think about how he was going to get scolded. It was pretty pathetic to be so frightened of a single person but if he was being honest with himself there were a lot of reasons to be afraid of Kebiin Gero. The devastatingly soft periwinkle eyes that could express utter disappointment in you and all of your ancestors decisions with a single look was just the tip of the spear.
The fact that Jorri was undeniably head over heels for him was another good reason.
As an advanced scout he was often the first to encounter new dangers in the wild. It was one of the most perilous jobs in the army and only the courageous, crazy, or suicidal would choose to do the job. Unless you were someone with an inherent gift like his own.
Coming to a stop in some bushes he crouched down so he could remain unseen. Placing his hand against the ground to steady himself he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again his entire world had expanded. All of his senses heightened and his body remained locked in place as he processed through the new sensations.
Faint puffs of wind brushing against his face, the taste of damp earth on his tongue, the pleasant rumble of familiar voices nearby, the scent of spiced meat cooking over a fire, and the breathtaking sight of sunlight as it filtered through multicolored leaves to play across the forest floor. Letting out the breath he had been holding his world faded back into its normal state of being. He took a moment to just revel in the peace and quiet before he had to show his face back in camp.
Walking into camp as nonchalantly as he could he waved at the Ta'rayd twins, Evaan and Eviin, who were squabbling over… something. He tried never to get between the two women unless absolutely necessary. They were both vicious fighters and he had no desire to tangle with either of them. The thought of the two of them ganging up on him if he slighted one of them was even worse.
"Jorri!" He flinched before he could catch himself. Turning he plastered a friendly smile on his face.
"Kebiin, what can I do for you?" The man's eyes narrowed on him and he swallowed. Stars above he could drown in that gaze.
"Show me." He glanced around and caught a few of their other squad mates watching them, snickering to themselves.
The bastards.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. I'll just be reporting in to-" He turned to walk away but didn't fight when a hand landed on his shoulder, hard.
"I know you're injured, you're always injured." He scoffed.
"I'm fine, nothing big." The trip had been pretty uneventful this time. He could only remember two incidents that had caused him any pain.
"So you are injured! I knew it. Damned scouts always rushing headfirst into the first dangerous thing they see." The man grumbled as he steered Jorri over to his tent. Jorri's heart thudded heavily in his chest as he was dragged inside and pushed to sit down. "Stay there." Kebiin ordered in his medic voice. With a cheeky grin he gave the man a quick salute, which just seemed to annoy him further. But he knew that it wasn't anything to do with him. Whenever Kebiin was in medic mode he was all business, even as his hands remained gentle and eyes concerned.
"Okay, show me so we can get this over with." Snorting in amusement he slipped off his boot and unlaced the bottom half of his trouser leg. Beneath the thick fabric was a large spreading bruise that was painful but manageable if he'd had to go without medical treatment for a while. Kebiin let out a low hiss, drawing Jorri's eyes to his lips.
"That looks painful. Did you use use something to numb the area or dull your pain?" Soft eyes stared straight into his soul and Jorri swore he couldn't breathe for a second.
"I have the kolto infused ointment they give us for the field. It only started to hurt again when I got closer to camp." It was best not to lie when the medic was in this state. He tended to get snippy before wilting and guiltily apologizing for his behavior. Jorri hated when he did that. He preferred it when Kebiin sent verbal barbs back at him.
"I have something a bit stronger that can reduce the pain and the swelling." Getting up he went into one of his bags and carefully moved items out of his way until he found what he was looking for. Jorri leaned back on his elbows, more or less lounging with his leg sticking out. The medic turned to look at him and paused, just for a moment, before moving again. Dipping his fingers into a pot of dark green mush he carefully applied it to the dark bruise on Jorri's leg. The mush was cold but with Kebiin's fingers gently massaging it into his skin it quickly began to heat up. A sense of relief hit him as the pain began to fade. Letting out a pleased sigh he relaxed further.
"That feels real nice, Saviin." 'Violet.' The nickname he'd given the man in his mind rolled off his tongue before he could stop himself. He winced internally at the slip. He knew that others had harassed him for his oddly colored eyes before. Eyes that had paled when he drank the elixir, rather than darkening or becoming more vibrant. No one was really sure who Kebiin's parents had been but Peony thought that he was a second or third generation Fae. The medic had studied under her for a time and had an affinity for plants and healing that was rare in the Gaarla Clan.
Kebiin's fingers stopped for a moment, hovering over his leg, as he looked directly into Jorri's eyes. Giving him an apologetic smile he waited for the medic to chide him. Instead he was met with a look full of uncertainty, disappointment, and a perhaps even a little hurt. Kicking himself for being such an idiot he sat up a little.
"Hey, I didn't mean it like that… I'm sorry." Claws and feathers, his face felt hot with embarrassment. "I really like your eyes. Honest. They're… kind." His face flushed further when the medic's eyes widened slightly before he began to blush as well.
"Just stop talking and let me finish my work." Firmly shutting his fool mouth he nodded and leaned back again, not wanting to antagonize the medic further. "And… thank you." The words were barely over a whisper but Jorri had exceptional hearing. He couldn't help but to smile in response.
[Kebiin]
For the past two months of the campaign he had found his medical tent invaded by a certain accident prone advanced scout. If he didn't know better he would have thought the scout was getting wounded on purpose. But Kebiin didn't begrudge him, this was new territory with dangers they couldn't predict. Like the strange plant creature that had decided to latch onto Jorri's arm and eat through his sleeve. Thankfully beskar'gam was naturally resistant to even the strongest of acids so the damage was minor. The grimace on the scout's face as he'd had to carefully remove his bracer and sat there glaring at his half dissolved tunic was comical as hell though.
Then the tunic came off and Kebiin found it hard to breathe. For a moment he'd forgotten how dangerous a scout's life was, and how fit they had to be to keep up with the job. Pale patches that marked numerous scars crossed the man's pecs and down his well defined abs. On his left side there looked to be the healed remnants of a particularly nasty gash that looked to be a near fatal blow.
His body shook for a moment at the sudden desire to run his hands all over that marked skin.
"Are you… alright?" The almost cautious question snapped him out of his lust filled haze and he colored in response. Some medic he was, eying up his patient.
"I'm fine… there is surprisingly little damage. You did the right thing shoving your arm into that river." He commented quickly as he sat next to his patient and began to treat the burn. "I'm not sure if that thing was venomous or not, you should stay here for observation." The scout stiffened slightly before laughing.
"I'll be fine. If it was venomous I'd know by now." He scowled but didn't try to push. It was hard enough getting the warriors to sit still through actual dangerous injuries. He didn't want to scare the scout off by being too pushy. "Hey." He looked up from where he was bandaging the man's arm and was met with a sunny smile that made him want to melt. "You take care of yourself too, alright? We can be down a scout. We can't be down a medic." Kebiin glowered at him.
"Don't be a fool." He said, winding the bandage a little too tightly and earning himself a wince of pain before he relented and gentled his hands. "Scouts are just as important, and don't you forget it." He said in a voice that suggested the matter was closed. Jorri chuckled and it rumbled through his chest in a way that shook his entire body.
"You're the boss." He said playfully as Kebiin's hands finally released him. "Am I good to go?"
"Yes. Make sure you come see me early tomorrow so I can make sure the medicine is working. If it starts to burn or itch come to me immediately." Looking away as the man pulled a new tunic from his his kit, Evaan had been kind enough to grab it for him, he busied himself with checking his stock of medicines and resorting them.
He didn't quite let out a sigh of relief when the scout finally left but it was a close thing. Stars, he wanted to scale that man like a tree. A wholly inappropriate thing to think about one of his patients.
Hearing yelling from outside he stuck his head out of the tent and watched Jorri dancing around Evaan as her twin , Eviin, chased him with a giant grin on her face. Evaan tripped the poor scout and laughed when her sister jumped onto Jorri's back, letting out a victory cry. The three of them looked as if they were all having a good time and Kebiin couldn't help but to chuckle at their antics. If his eyes lingered on the scout's smiling face and bright eyes for a little longer than the Ta'rayd twins well… everyone was far too distracted to have noticed.
He ducked back into the tent and looked over at his portable writing desk. He still had much work to do. Had to document the injuries and how much medicine he'd been using so they could send him more when he ran low.
"Better get back to it then."
[Jorri]
The campaign was almost over. They'd all be heading back to Manda'yaim once the last vestiges of the rebellion had been routed. He felt bad for the poor rebels, he could see the poor conditions they had been living with, but these people were aruetiise. The army had been hired to fight them and that is exactly what they would do.
It was rare that Mand'alor Fett sold his army's services but from what he'd heard it had been some part of a negotiation deal. No one knew what the Mandalore got in return, besides monetary compensation, but it had to be important. Fett wasn't someone who did things frivolously. Every move he made on the political board was to benefit his people. Of that Jorri had no doubt.
For the time being Jorri's task was over. Unless they needed him to scout out a new hide-out he would be hanging back with the bulk of their forces.
Unfortunately that meant he was in a constant state of near boredom. Fortunately that meant he had time to work on his secret project and offer to help a certain medic with his patients. On the plus side his lack of being injured made Kebiin smile at him a lot more. Unfortunately that meant he had a hard time focusing and had made himself look like an idiot more than once.
It was a mixed bag of blessings and curses.
Humming to himself he dragged the bucket he'd been handed through the small stream near the edge of camp. Kebiin had asked him to fetch water for some medicinal infusions, which he was more than happy to do. The sun was shining, there were birds in the air, and the wind felt nice as it swept through his hair. The cool water in the river was sparkling and once he'd filled the bucket he set it aside and cupped his hands in the steam, bringing the cool water to his lips.
Of course it was at that moment that everything good went to the void.
He didn't notice the enemy until they were on him, tackling him to the ground with a snarl and the flash of a short blade. Jorri screamed in pain and rage as he punched his attacker in the side of the head. A small knife hidden in his bracer slammed into their temple and they toppled forward, dead. Throwing the body off him he took a deep breath.
"Ambush!" He yelled at the top of his lungs. "West, near the stream!" Warning given he rolled over onto his front and choked on a cry of pain. Looking at the long gash down his chest he cursed. Scouts weren't given any armor in the field. They had to be able to move quickly and silently, with nothing to weigh them down. The only piece of armor they were allowed to have with them were their bracers. They were too useful not to keep and they were one of the first pieces given to a child by the clan, which meant that the clan symbol was etched into them. It also made identifying a corpse much easier.
Before he could get to his feet something slammed into his back, forcing him back to the ground with a curse. Looking back and up he saw a sword being raised but didn't have any time to even think about a counter before an arrow buried itself in the rebel's throat. They stumbled and he bucked them off.
"Jorri!" He wished he could say he was happy to hear that voice but he wasn't.
"Kebiin! Get back to camp! Now!" Pale purple eyes hardened as the medic threw down his bow, racing toward him. Reaching for his belt he pulled out his chekal, a long thin dagger made of beskar with a cylindrical hilt and an oddly rounded blade. It was designed to slip between the gaps of a warrior's armor in order to grant them riye'kyr- a merciful death. All medics carried one just in case.
Kebiin flew past him, knocking a rebel to the ground and stabbing another in the armpit. Jorri got his hands beneath him and with a hiss of pain finally forced himself to his feet. As he did he heard, more than saw, the arrows speeding past him. In an instant Kebiin was there, shoulder under his arm and arm around his waist.
"Come on!" With a grimace he let the medic lead him away as more of their warriors came to finish off the last of the ambush.
Back in camp he was set down gently on a stool. Kebiin vanished and he had a moment to go over everything that had happened before the man returned. "How did you know I was in trouble?" He asked as the medic set down his bag and started rummaging through it for bandages and whatever else.
"I sent you to fetch water out of the barrel outside, not all the way out to the stream. When you didn't return immediately I realized what had happened and went to get you." Jorri winced. He felt like such an idiot now. "Lucky you did go to the stream, though, otherwise we wouldn't have found out about the ambush until it was too late." Finally satisfied with what he had gathered he turned and reached for Jorri's tunic.
Panic set in. "Ah, no, wait!" Kebiin glared at him.
"Are you crazy? I can see the blood. Just let me do my job." Grabbing his tunic the medic forced it over his head. Jorri was in too much pain to stop him and flinched as the item he had been trying to hide, that he had shoved into his tunic earlier, clattered to the ground. Kebiin frowned but his eyes were on the gash across his chest, ignoring whatever it was in favor of studying the wound.
He relaxed. Maybe Kebiin would forget about it by the time he was done and Jorri could hide it before he found out. He winced as the medic cleaned the wound and sighed in relief as the numbing agent began to work. "It looks worse than it actually is. You'll be in pain for a while but it's not that deep. You may not even scar." He said with a relieved smile, the palm of his hand warm against Jorri's skin.
"Oh, good. I have enough scars already." He joked. Kebiin started wrapping his wound, leaning forward so he could reach behind him. They were almost chest to chest and Jorri held his breath, before he groaned and let it out again in a whoosh. Fuck that was painful! He hadn't even meant to use his blessing but he had subconsciously wanted to feel more of the other man.
"Are you alright? I'm not wrapping it too tight am I?" He smiled reassuringly.
"Ah, no, just hurts. I'm fine." The medic's eyes narrowed slightly but he didn't comment as he finished with the last of the bandages. Finally stepping away from him Kebiin went about tidying up the mess he had made. Jorri took a moment to watch his nimble fingers as they wound the remaining bandages back up.
Taking a step back something clattered and the man looked down at what he had stepped on. Jorri looked down as well and caught sight of a white handle. Panic shot up his spine as the medic reached down and picked it up.
"What's this?" Jorri's heart was beating against his ribcage and he found himself unable to speak. He opened his mouth but no sound came out.
Kebiin ran his fingers over the bone handle of the medicine knife, trailing over the feathers of the carved swallows that adorned the hilt. "It's beautiful." He said quietly. "Swallows are my favourite animal." The small pleased smile on his face and the light in his eyes were enough to kick Jorri's brain back into gear. Just enough to speak, but not enough to be smart.
"I know. It's for you." Kebiin froze in place, fingers tightening around the knife. All of a sudden his face turned a dark shade of red.
"Wh-what?" If he hadn't been so embarrassed himself he would have laughed at how the medic's voice had risen to a high pitched squeak.
Well. He couldn't take his words back now. Might as well go forward with it.
[Kebiin]
Standing there in the middle of the bustling camp, his hand clenched tight around an artfully carved, bone handled, medicine knife, Kebiin tried to understand the words that were being said to him. He didn't even notice when the two of them became the center of attention, many of the warriors nearby nudging each other and grinning.
"I started carving it a month ago." The scout said with a bright smile, hands clasped in front of him the only hint that he was nervous. "Not sure if you remember telling me that you loved swallows but I, uh…" He motioned toward the knife, as if that explained everything.
"Jorri…" His voice was barely above a whisper. "This is a courting gift." The scout swallowed anxiously, his ears red.
"It is. I, uh, I'm not quite done yet though. Still had to put a few finishing touches on it. Was planning on talking to you when we were closer to home. But, uh, looks like you found it so, uh..." The man was babbling now, his eyes wide and pleading, chest heaving.
"I accept." Jorri's mouth fell open in shock, as if he couldn't believe it. The scout stood up suddenly, his face glowing with a sunny smile, before the pain hit him and he cringed. "Oh, sit down!" He huffed, putting his fist on his hip to scold the fool scout. "You'll hurt yourself." Clutching the knife in one hand he reached into his bag and pulled out a small ceramic bottle. "Take a swallow of this and it should ease the pain. It won't magically heal your wound but you'll be able to move without wincing."
Jorri took the bottle and gulped down a mouthful before handing it back. Their fingers brushed against one another and they both smiled shyly at one another.
"It's about damn time!" Someone called out. Kebiin looked toward the voice, confused, and realized that they were the center of attention. Horrified that everyone had seen their exchange he felt his face burn and glanced at Jorri. The scout's face was no better.
"They're going to be insufferable after this." The scout muttered.
"They weren't before?" He asked. Jorri laughed and it was a sound Kebiin knew would never grow old.
"Good point." He grinned. "Why don't you help me back to my tent, I need to lay down." Someone whistled. "Oh shut up!" Laughter erupted around them as he helped Jorri to stand once again. "You'll have to let me finish that knife later. I don't want to give you something less than perfect. You deserve my best." Kebiin chuckled.
"Jorri, it's already perfect. It was made by you." For the first time since he'd met Jorri he found himself smirking in triumph as he rendered the scout absolutely speechless.