Best Friends

Jinx hadn't adjusted very quickly to Temple life when he arrived on Coruscant at age three, as O-Mer recalled. There hadn't been any tears or tantrums, like with some of the other younglings they knew. He'd just retreated to the most isolated bed in the dormitory, curling up in the corner so that no one else could see him suffer.

But O-Mer had seen it, and took the bed next to him.

Do you miss your mommy?

…Yeah.

…Me too.

Jinx would take things personally during lessons; even a small reproach from Yoda would leave him practicing for an hour or so after class, trying to correct his mistake. He always made sure to practice alone, looking mortified if another Jedi infringed on his alone time.

Except when O-Mer was there.

Try bending your knee, like this. It makes it easier for me.

…Hey, you're right! Thanks!

No prob.

Jinx retreated into himself one day on Wasskah, that day, when Lorelei disappeared and they both felt her presence leave that horrible place. He didn't weep, or let anger consume him, but he did find an isolated little nook in their camp and start sleeping there instead of by the fire.

O-Mer had been afraid of losing two close friends in quick succession that time.

It's not your fault, Jinx.

…

She never would have blamed you.

…

Please, don't do this. You're not the only one who loved her, you know.

…I know.

…

…Go to sleep, O-Mer. You'll need to keep moving tomorrow.

Jinx was keeping his distance from Ahsoka. He avoided looking at her, refused to meet her eyes, and never referred to her by name, preferring "Padawan" instead. Yet, his first instinct had been to rush and warn her as soon as the Trandoshan transport they were attacking started its descent to the ground.

Ahsoka was under the impression that he didn't like her. O-Mer knew better.

Jinx put distance between himself and the things that made him uncomfortable. Love, in all its forms, was now a touchy subject for him, and therefore an uncomfortable thing. And judging by the way Jinx stared at Ahsoka whenever she wasn't looking, O-Mer could definitely tell what his friend's feelings for her were. The fight over their means of escape was Jinx's excuse for remaining "unattached" to her.

They relaxed quietly in their camp, awaiting daylight, when it would be time to move again. The Trandoshan prisoner was asleep, though fitfully so; O-Mer relaxed against the wall beneath Jinx's alcove, listening to Ahsoka and the Wookiee's muttered conversation as they continued to work on the transmitter, even though it was only Plan B now. Jinx was pretending to sleep, and doing miserably at it.

"You could, you know, try and talk to her. It's not like she bites or anything."

"…Shut up."

The Cerean smirked, as his friend turned so that his back was to him. Jinx could lie to himself, and do pretty well at it, but, try as he might, he could never lie to O-Mer.