Private Brothers

[Aiden Porte]

Hapes
Spaceport

"Will this take long?" Owen inquired, however catching himself and spoke up again quickly. "Not that I'm rushing you, Jyselle and myself could look around. We have never been here before." The pilot said with a smile towards his wife, she too was excited that was enough to see.

"Feel free my friends, I've been here several times. It's a pretty extravagant and interesting place. The architecture here is amazing if you can catch a tour of some of the Hapan palace grounds and courtyards." Aiden took a small glance at the time and he nodded his head with a smirk. "They should be up and running here in the next hour. But even if time is short we can always stay. You guys know this ship is yours just as well as mine." Aiden said with a sincere smile. It was the will of the force that brought them three together. He had met them on Tatooine several months ago and their fates have been intertwined since then. They have essentially become his family....

Speaking of.....

"I should go, I don't want to run late." The Padawan said with a rather joyful tone, Aiden was here for the purpose of seeing his friend. Well his brother actually, that's how Aiden thought of him. Althought he felt incredibly guilty that he wasn't here during his time of incarceration. He was sure Brandyn would forgive him, he was dealing with his own demons at the time. He thought to Bogan, and he technically still was.

Aiden knew he was in the custody of Cybelle Sal-Soren which was an incredibly good thing. He knew he and Brandyn Sal-Soren had a lot to catch up on. Aiden walked down the ramp of the ship and made his way through the less than busy spaceport today, considering the time he was surprised.

They had set a meeting place for a local park of sorts. Serene enough to be quite uplifting, the marble walkway that was pathed down the side of the park and had several benches for those tired souls to have a seat.

Or for old friends to catch up.

Aiden took a deep breath as he took a seat and leaned back into the bench. He closed his eyes and began a brief period of meditation as he waited for him to arrive.

 

[Brandyn Sal-Soren]

"Aiden...Porte."

It had been what felt like forever since he had seen Aidan. His friend had covered for him at the incident at the Hapes Gala. They had done some work together in the underground world, investigations. But they had not hung out in what felt like...too long. But surely Aiden had not come all this way just because he wanted to say hello. Surely, he had come to check on the well being of his friend. After all, Brandyn was a convicted murdered now.

Life had changed.

Brandon didn't sit on the bench, but instead extended his arm for his friend to take hold of it. Brandyn pulled him up, and embraced him firmly with a couple of pats on Aiden's back.

"It is...so...good to see you, my friend," Brandyn said, smile warm and inviting.

He turned and began walking slowly along the marble walkway. He gave a tilt of his head to indicate Aiden should walk with him.

"Spill the beans man...what is going on with you? What brings you to Hapes of all places?"

Aiden Porte

 

[Aiden Porte]

"Aiden...Porte."

The Jedi Padawan's eyes opened slowly and a small smile formed as he looked in the direction of the voice, his old friend. "Brandyn Sal-Soren....." The Padawan spoke standing up and he embraced his friend in a strong hug. He felt a huge weight lifted off of his shoulders. He was happy to see that he was okay, and wasn't locked up or anything of that sort. He knew pieces of what happened. He didn't want to dig too much into that, unless Brandyn was willing to tell him more of what he might not know.

That was the past though, he knew who Brandyn was. He was his friend, his brother.

"Spill the beans man...what is going on with you? What brings you to Hapes of all places?"

Aiden joined his friend on the marble walkway, they had much to catch up on. "Im here to see you my friend." Aiden rested his hand on the shoulder of Brandyn for a few moments. "I'm sorry I wasn't their for much of what happened and that it took me so long to come and see you. I was delayed...." The Jedi Padawan voiced as he thought to the events that had happened of the course of the year. "Things have changed, I know we have all dealt with our own demons and tragedies." Aiden thought to Esme, he remembered the burial and memorial that he erected on Naboo.

"I'm just very glad you are okay. And engaged as well. I offer my congratulations old friend. That's exciting news, have either of you planned a day yet?"

Brandyn Sal-Soren

 

[Brandyn Sal-Soren]

Hands clasped firmly on Aiden's shoulders, Brandyn searched his eyes. Aiden hurt. It was more than just for his missing Brandon's hardships and failures. He hurt for his own hardships too. Brandon's brow furrowed. As his arms fell back to his side, releasing Aiden, he kept his eyes firmly fixed on his friend.

"You are not obliged to follow me into every...stupid...thing...I do," he said with a wry smile.

It was more than true. Aiden was the ride-or-die type. Hence, Brandon's exclusion of his friend from certain endeavours. He did not want his friend to go down with him. It was another way he could protect those he loved. Always about protecting.

"No...no date...not yet...but I am thinking it will be sooner rather than later."

As they walked, Brandyn could not help but pry.

"Last I heard...there was a certain...young Jedi...to which you...had grown close too..."

He spoke cautiously, fearing that it may be a tender nerve if it had not gone well.

Aiden Porte

 

[Aiden Porte]

"You are not obliged to follow me into every...stupid...thing...I do,"

Aiden chuckled lightly and nodded his head. "That is true, but that's what I choose to do. You are my brother...." The Jedi gave him a reassuring look and another nod of his head. Brandyn was one of his first friends that he made while on Coruscant, he kept faith in him. And that was something that Aiden appreciated the most. The topic shifted to about the wedding, which Aiden couldn't have been happier to hear about.

"No...no date...not yet...but I am thinking it will be sooner rather than later."

"You just make sure you send word when its taking place. I wouldn't miss it for the world old friend." Aiden patted Brandyn Sal-Soren on the back lightly and he took a casual glance around. This was quite the place, peaceful and serene. However he thought back to Naboo, nothing could beat home.

He wondered when they would all return some day.

"Last I heard...there was a certain...young Jedi...to which you...had grown close too..."

He cleared his throat, and he turned a small shade of red. "Perhaps...." He showed a small smile as he glanced towards Brandyn. "You know I put that notion out of my head after Esme died. How the situation turned out, I honestly didn't ever expect to feel something like that again."

"I'm trying though, things are going slow. Perhaps someday..." Aiden chuckled lightly, "What is your advice?"

He wasn't trying to use Esme as an excuse to not put himself out there again. He knew it was that fear of loss that was overshadowing his emotions when it came to that particular subject. However he knew that in many ways he grew stronger because of Esme. He knew deep down he would never be able to forget about her. She would always have a piece of his heart.