Chapter Title: Holo Night
Series Title: Unlikely Brothers
Ages in this chapter: Tanner (16) Dashen (22)
POV: Dashen
Chapter Summary: The boys find an evening to enjoy a holo-film.
"What'cha doin', little brother?"
"Meditating. Well, I was."
"Aren't you supposed to ignore me when you do that?"
"I've tried in the past, remember? You just pester me until I acknowledge you. So I'm taking a short cut this time. I'm learning how best to live with Dashen Lesedi."
"After six years, you've not yet figured that out?"
"I have, but at times, I have to alter course a bit. You are welcome to join me, Dash. Meditation isn't just for the Jedi type. Anyone can do it."
"Tanner, I can stare blankly at walls anytime, anywhere. You do it for fun. So, as usual, I'll pass."
My little brother shrugged. Sixteen and he was still focused on as much of his Jedi past as he could cram into his life. Fine by me. Boring as hell, but he was what he was. There was no changing him at this point. I'd rather watch an action holo-film, knock off a few hours at my favorite local bar, or spend time with Jayla. But the kid? It was rare occasion when I could break him from his evening meditation. He was happy and I'd eventually learned to accept his choices and love him even when some of his favorite hobbies were nothing but a snoozefest.
"You going out with Jayla?"
My turn to shrug. I hadn't actually planned anything for this evening, at least not yet. "Not sure. You want me to leave you alone with your wall?"
"Funny." A look came my way. "I could go for a good holo-film. It's been a while."
He meant since our last holo-night. For years, we'd done holo-night once a week, making sure to just spend time together between work and school and anything else life hurled at us. A holo. Some unhealthy food. Laughing our heads off and stuffing our faces. Good times.
The past month or so had been so busy for both of us, most of our nights were spent totally collapsed in our beds. Sometimes without even taking a few minutes for dinner.
I missed that time. Not the collapsing on the bed part, but the spending time with my brother part.
"I do have a couple holo's on my list that I've not yet seen." I said to him, hopeful.
Tanner raised eyebrows and smiled. "And I could get some fattening take-away food from Colton's bar. He's got those new smothered bantha burgers on the menu now. Then there are some sweet cakes in the chiller for dessert."
Oh, tempting. So tempting. I thought on it for about oh, four point five seconds. "Let's do it. Order me those roasted-tot things too. The spicy ones."
"No spicy!" Tanner shook his head firmly. "The last time you ate them you were in the bathroom stinking up the entire apartment the entire night. I'll order you the plain ones."
"You are not fun at all, Mouse. I swear."
"Yeah, kill me for enjoying a good night's rest without having to hold my nose closed from the horrendous odor. Do you have any idea how impossibly difficult it is to sleep like that?"
My head cocked to the left. I actually took a second to think about the image. It made me laugh. I did laugh. I got another look for it too. But, the kid was right. As amazingly delicious as the spicy dish was, it was potent and my stomach did not react well. So, I relented.
"Fine, order whatever, just make sure to get me..."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Get your bantha burger on the sweet-butter bun."
"You know me well, little brother."
"Too well, apparently. I'll order, you figure out what we're watching and you know my rules."
Demanding little Jedi that he was, yes, I knew his rules.
"No sappy love stories, no freaky horror and no Jawas. Why the hell are you afraid of Jawas anyway?"
"Creepy little things. Did you forget they kidnapped me and tried to sell me as a slave the first time we visited Ben on Tatooine?" Did he just shiver when he said that? He did. Strange brother that I have.
"I did not forget, but that was years ago and you are still weirdly freaked out by them. It's not normal, but maybe it's a Jedi thing. All powerful, can move things with magic minds, slice metal in half with lightsabers, but can't stand the thought of a tiny robed creature with a shadowed hooded face, yellow glowy eyes." Okay, well...maybe the kid had something there. They were a bit freaky. Maybe. But whatever. "Fine. Yes, I know all your annoying rules. And the two holos on my list don't break any of them."
"You're not gonna make me watch Exploding Banthas again are you?"
I shook my head and couldn't help but roll my eyes. "You really can't stop living in the past, can you? Also, by the way, that too was years ago and have I forced you watch since that time? No. And don't lie, you ended up liking it. You did. I saw you smiling and laughing."
"It wasn't a comedy."
Right. It wasn't. Wrong holo. "Okay, not the point, Tanner. Just please order the food before this evening becomes tomorrow morning. Just because you don't have school tomorrow doesn't mean I have a free day. I've got work at the bar.
"I thought you stopped working there."
"I had, until I got screwed on the last job. Or well, I screwed it up. Colton put me on bar duty for a few days. His punishment I guess. It's actually a nice break from the whole runner thing. I'm not stealing, I'm not running for my life, and I'm stationary. Good deal. I should just work there full time."
"Nah," Tanner replied thoughtfully. "You'd get bored."
He was right. I would. I didn't do boring and mundane with the ease that my brother did. The kid had endless patience for things like that. I did not. Opposites in everything, yet we worked. Go figure.
"I would. It's a nice few day break though from time to time. I should just have Colton put me on regular rotation there a few days a month. Eh, a thought. Anyway, would you order already?"
Fingers flying over the data pad screen, then, "Done. I'll be back!"
And he was, a round trip of only about fifteen minutes by ancient landspeeder, now that Colton finally allowed him to actually pilot the thing. The man was so particular with even the crappiest of his vehicles.
I'd finally decided on a holo-film. The food was hot. The couch was soft. Holo-night was back on!
Tanner dealt out the food. "So, what are we watching?"
"Rancor vs Wampa."
A glob of unidentified food smacked into the side of my face and trailed slowly down. No Force magic behind it, just pure one hundred percent little brother. But still...
"What? It's not romance. It's not horror. It's monster stuff. There is no monster on your list." Emphasis added to the 'list' part of the sentence. He knew and he relented.
"I'll give you a pass. Technically, monsters can be horror, but I'll give you a chance."
I wiped my face and set my hands up in mock hurt. "Would I purposely set out to terrify the little brother that I adore so much?"
"Yes."
So, yeah, he was right. "True. All right, but I swear, it's not horror. No freaky dreams. Just fun monster stuff. Well, except these monsters are actually real." Maybe not the mutant versions that are on the holo, but versions did exist, and even I would admit, the Rancor was creepy as hell.
This was all in good fun though. Me and my brother. Spending some relaxing time together. Great food. An entertaining holo. Shoulder to shoulder with my family at my side.
For me, there was no more perfect ending for a day.
END
