Wake Up

[Soliath Devin Talith]

He looked down at her, did he need a medic? He didn't feel like he needed one. Sure he was in pain, but he didn't feel like his life was threatened and he didn't think that he was bleeding. Slowly he lifted up the blankets that covered them, only to confirm his suspicions. There was indeed a severe lack of blood, at least stuck to the sheets.

Caked all over himself, and Kira's own near naked body was a mixture of blood, poop, and dirt. His eyebrow rose suddenly, and he decided that they both would need a bath.

His head shifted as the blanket dropped down onto them. Soliael squeezed her tight, prompting her to look up. “Don't look on my head.”

Soliael said with a grin then continued. “We need a bath.”

The truth of that statement actually stung a bit, they were absolutely filthy. Neither of them however really wanted to move, neither of them he suspected would want to go far either. There was a very large bath tub in the refresher hear, he mulled over trying to convince Kira of something.

It was a very big bath tub.

 

[Kira Talith]

"You kinda make it difficult not to," came her quip, notably looking at his closely shorn hair. The past thirty-six hours did a number on the dark shadow of his face and over his head.

When he mentioned the bath, she gave another grimace. Yeah, they really did. But it was also so warm in here too. Getting up would mean stretching and testing out muscles that likely did not want to see any use.

A heavy sigh would blow her bangs up, prompting the blonde dirty and blood caked strands to stand up in little tuffs. "...A bath, sounds amazing." Granted the closest she'd ever had to a bath was hot springs. Sonic shower girl here, remember.

Her head would loll over towards the refresher. ".. but so far away." came her lamentation. A second later would come her sigh. Truth be told, he probably needed one more than her. Getting him clean and situated would mean that they could assess the amount of damage left. "Want me to help you over? I don't think you can survive another crack to the head. Or fall.

...Or anything really."

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

“Only if you join me.” Soliael said deadpan. There was a hint of a joke, a jest, but also a serious suggestion. The bath tubs were big enough for four people really, and truthfully Soliael yearned to once again truly see Kira.

That thought shocked him.

It seemed to blindside him out of nowhere. He had not seen it coming. He yearned to see her? What did that mean? Was he truly that deprived that he lusted after Kira? No. It wasn't that. It wasn't what he wanted. His head quirked to the side, and the fog within his mind momentarily cleared away. He remembered something recalled something.

The feel of a scar, the long line running across her abdomen.

Soliael blinked.

He did want to see her, he wanted to watch her, he wanted to tell her that despite the scars she was still beautiful, that she was perfect the way she was. Soliaels hand curled slightly upon her back, an odd feeling running through him.

 

[Kira Talith]

Kira was already sliding her legs from under the heavy weight of the blankets when he spoke.

"Afraid you'll drown alone there, gramps?" she wasn't kidding about calling him that. Jokes and nicknames would abound as a method of distracting. Another grimace and then a hiss would draw as she'd start to push herself up into a sitting position. The sleeve of her top would slide down a shoulder, revealing the pale purple yellow green stains of bruises across her flesh.

The more the blankets would slide down, the more of the extent of her bruising, scrapes and scratches would show. Along with the past evidence of scars that would mar pale flesh.

"Or is it just that you need someone to wash that gray hair?" she'd tease, slowly testing out her weight on her toes as bare feet would hit the ground.

And promptly stumbled against the bed when she did so. "Okay. Need to take it slow. "

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

His hand reached out towards the bruises that revealed themselves, bright purple spots that seemed to blot her skin nearly everywhere that was visible. Soliael scowled, not realizing that his body was very likely much worse off than Kira's was right now. The monster had taken literal chunks out of his flesh, something he felt the effects of as he slowly started to push himself up in the bed.

His teeth grit together, but he said nothing.

“Well, I wouldn't want to drown.” He quipped back at her as he slowly moved to the same side of the bed as her. “And you make me feel so safe.”

Oddly, he didn't sound mocking.

Soliael reached out to catch her when she stumbled back against the bed, but he stopped when she managed to catch herself. The False God let his feet rake against the cold ground, but when he tried to stand he embarrassingly found not the strength.

He turned to Kira, a puppy dog.

 

[Kira Talith]

Kira didn't even laugh, she only shook her head as she'd slip her arms around his torso, slipping his arm over her shoulders much like they had hours before.

"I got you," she'd say, echoing those same words she'd told him back in the caverns. "Take it slow. Your leg took a tail spine to the thigh." that she could remember. Quite vividly. More flashes came next. The blood. The primal look in his eyes. The sudden flash of incisors.

They were an odd sight as she'd slowly start to lead him towards the refresher. Her attention would slip towards their objective, allowing him a measure of modesty. He was caked in blood, bits of gore, dirt, grime, monster dung, and who knows what else. Deep chunks of flesh had been tripped from his skin, and she knew that those must ache so.

"We'll need to get you into a bacta tank," Kira would tell him, as they'd hobble their way across the room. "Don't want you running an infection. Plus, should do something about the bigger bits Big Red took off of you."

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

“Bath. Then Bacta later.” He intoned with watchful eyes towards the massive marble bath tub.

The thing really was huge, big enough for three people to lay down in lengthwise and more than a few width wise. Along with that it was also deep, deep enough for Soliael to be up to his knees in. There were small seats in the side, and two faucets on opposite end of the tub would pour water into the huge contraption.

They managed to walk over to the edge of the tub, where Soliael sat himself down with the aid of Kira. She stood before him a moment, still half undressed from her time in the bed. Soft pants escaped his lungs, their pierced flesh still struggling to draw breath.

His hands held on to Kira's hips for a moment, to steady both himself, and her.

Eyes cast down towards her legs, the scars present there. Soliael gazed at them for a moment, his eyes catching onto the jagged edges and the straighter lines, a frown forming on his face as he took them in. Slowly Soliael looked up at her, his frown turning upside down.

“Alright, Beautiful. To avoid mishaps. Two knobs.” Soliael said letting go of her with one hand and pointing to the faucets. “Turn the blue one for cold, the red for hot. Turn them both evenly for warm, i suggest you turn the red ones slightly more than the blue, we don't want to be cold after all.”

He couldn't do it, turning around would very likely kill him.

 

[Kira Talith]

"Easy there," Kira would murmur quietly, feeling the weight of his hands upon her hips. He was in great pain, she could read it in his eyes as much as the lines of his body. Here, under the brighter light of the overhead lights, there was no denying the damage he had incurred from battling the ice monster.

"Kay, just keep holding on for a sec there." she'd tell him, pushing her own aches and pains aside as her attention would draw to where he'd pointed to. Wasn't too far off, what with having him sitting down on a seat closer to the faucets. First off had to put in the plug. Yay for the push in types that a press of the ball of her foot took care of well enough. And she didn't fall over. Small miracles.

Her body would give a slow stretch, reaching out for the red knob first. A couple of spins would have the sudden burst of warm water spew from the surrounding facets. A single turn of the blue would make sure that the flow of water wouldn't be scalding hot. Crystal clear water would slowly start to flow over her feet, swirling across nine toes. A few were noticeably dark, exposure turning them into dark purple bruised bits of flesh. She winced.

It was odd, feeling the water rising around them. First up her ankles and then moving up to her calves. Light would reflect off the water, casting muted reflections over her skin. Her voice would cut the roar of the water, "Hey... how you doing?" she'd ask, still standing in front of him. His fingers would cut small indents over her hips, steady pressure that made her believe he was still feeling a bit unsteady.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael held onto her, his fingers pressing into her slightly. He wanted to collapse into the water and simply lay there for hours. He wanted to take the weight off of his body and feel as though nothing was surrounding him. His eyes cast up towards her, bright orange staring, showing vulnerability that anyone else would likely have taken advantage of.

He smiled at her. “It open for debate. On the one hand. The most beautiful girl I've ever seen is standing half naked in front of me.”

His smile grew into a cheeky, but honest, grin, the kind you gave when telling a true and boastful story.

“On the other hand, my leg has somewhat of a hole in it and I could swear this is the second time my skin has tried to peel its way off my torso.” Hot water began to pour around his feet, it felt divine. His hands pulled at Kira slightly, arms growing tired from even the little amount of exertion he had shown so far.

Or maybe he was trying to strip her.

Difficult to tell.

Probably the former, he almost died.

 

[Kira Talith]

"We really gotta work on your definition of beauty, bub." Kira would say with a half laugh, her arms falling down to her sides. There they'd lightly drift over to his hands, where her own would wrap round his wrists. Slowly, she'd start to pull them away from her waist.

Steam would start to curl upwards, drawing moisture into the air. It would cling on her skin, forming small beads of water, turning her hair slightly damp. What blood and debris was on their person would start to float away, turning the clear water into a slightly pinkish hue dotted with black flecks.

But it wouldn't be enough. Aware that he will need more than just a soak, she'd set about to searching for toiletries. "Just relax, gonna get some things, kay?"

She'd set his hands upon his lap, her thumb caressing his hand with a stroke of reassurance. There was no missing the subtle flash of vulnerability that went across his eyes. Behind the jokes, the compliments, and banter, he was in great pain. The Lorridian could understand the need to keep the mind busy. To joke. So she would humor him.

"Second time eh?" she'd ask, starting to draw away and take a step back to search for a hand towel. Maybe some soap. Nothing with salt. That would not do for ensuring that those scars would not linger. "What happened the first time?"

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

When his hands fell into his lap Soliael immediately slumped, not because she was leaving, but simply because she had been holding him up. He found himself unable to sit up properly, and instead had to slouch like a caveman. He held himself in place though, staring at his feet as the water slowly rose up his legs, clearing away blood and dirt that had collected there.

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Soliael said quietly, though loud enough for her to hear as she began to walk away. “And I know what I behold.”

The words were said with a powerful amount of confidence, resonating slightly in the half empty bath tub. Soliael found himself hypnotized by the swirling water, slowly raising itself up within the marble and heating his entire body. His eyes fluttered closed, exhaustion from simply living with his wounds still setting him.

“I became complacent.” Soliael said in answer to her second question.

That was after all what the Techno-virus had been, complacency. It had healed him stitched him together, and ultimately tried to take over his body. It had been a danger, a danger that had been born of his own foolishness and complacency. His teeth grit, pain rushing through him as his muscles tensed from the memories.

He paused for a moment, head swiveling up towards her.

Could she remember that now too?

He had caught flashes of her thoughts, her memories, her past. His mind was still cloudy, but in bits and pieces Soliael could pierce through the veil and reach for things she had experienced, he knew he could, he felt it.

Could she?

 

[Kira Talith]

Kira's fingers would curl round a dark grey washcloth, her fingers tightening as she'd feel his eyes upon her. Images would cross her mind. Of the sort that she couldn't quite make sense. Her other free hand would grab a bottle. A quick test and sniff would reveal it to be soap.

"Complacent how?" she'd ask, turning back to him to meet his gaze. Water would undulate around her knees now, the deep sink of the tub still providing more room for more.

The way he searched her expression for a tell told her that something was on his mind. Something that he wanted to confirm. Her eyes would lower, and she'd come back to a pause before his half slouched position.

"You okay?" she'd ask, placing the bottle of soap on the lip of the tub. Both hands would reach over to shut off the water, bringing the lull of silence with her.

With no other option now, she also sat down, water swirling round as her shirt would lift, air bubbles flowing as she'd smooth it down. Water came up to her shoulders, and she couldn't help the soft sigh of relief. Granted her objective wasn't to take a bath herself, but to ensure he wouldn't drown.

"If you need me, I'm here." She'd say, referencing that if he'd need to steady himself, she was just within arms length.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael let the water wash over, him, perking an eyebrow as she sat herself within the water while still wearing clothes. He looked at her slightly, then very slowly moved off of the tiny chair in the corner of the bath tub. The water was now high enough that he could submerge himself entirely within its depth. He submerged himself for a few seconds, dropping entirely beneath the water to wash off dried blood, mud, and whatever else had gotten on to him.

He came up from the depths slowly, steadying himself by taking deep stinging breaths.

His eyes focused on her for a moment, and then he reached out and lightly grasped her. With what little strength he had, she was pulled into the center of the tub towards him. His face didn't give away any clues as to what he was doing, similarly his body was hidden by the water, but as he caught Kira in his arms, he slowly began to rub up and down.

From her he pulled away caked dried blood, cakes of mud, still frozen flakes of excrement.

His hand came up, and washed at her face, taking away from of the blood that he himself had put there hours earlier. He didn't remember that though, he didn't remember wanting to tear her throat out to heal himself. He only saw that it was there, that it needed to go.

 

[Kira Talith]

Water would ripple as he'd draw her to him, a small protest coming from her mouth to tell him to not strain himself. However, they would fade as he'd start tending to her, washing her with his hands to gently wipe away the remains of grime, blood, and excrement from her body.

Steam would curl as it would rise around them, only the sounds of the gentle lapping of his hands as he'd gingerly wash her right cheek. Damp tendrils of blonde hair would stick to her shoulders and neck. Her breath quickening a bit as she'd finally say, "Here I was going to help you," she'd murmur in a slight tease. "I thought Princes don't serve peon Jedi Masters."

A sigh would follow, and the washcloth in her hand would sink into tub beside her. Well it didn't matter now did it? She'd muse, her arms sinking in to curl over the hem of the wet shirt. The trickle of water and slow removal of it would follow, a hiss of pain of protesting muscles and a constellation of bruises would follow in its wake. With a toss she'd lay it at the edge of the tub, and in turn, sink under the water herself.

A vigorous shake and fingercomb of her fingers through her hair would take the large part of the tangles, a scrub of her face would take the rest. She'd surface moments later, slicking back the wet bangs away from her face, water rippling around her bruised shoulders.

Concern would rise over her face as she'd look at him, and both hands would rise to brush across his face, studying his wounds. "Do you want the good news or bad?" she'd start, trailing her fingertips over his cheek.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

“No peon Jedi Masters.” Soliael said as she slowly removed the shirt. “Only you.”

His eyes caught almost immediately. The scars upon her body, the deep lines, the jagged etches, they were memorizing. She moved closer to him, touching his face as if in slight care. Soliael reached his hand out, grasping her hips and moving his hands slowly upwards. Blood that had seeped through clothing, mud that had stuck to her lower back, and excrement that had flaked onto her came loose.

Soliael slowly but surely guided his hands over, her, cleaning her.

“The good.” He said to her as he reached the small of her back. A cloud of pink rose from their, blood that dissolved upon Soliaels touch. His fingers trailed over her, slowly washing slowly cleaning her with deft hands, the only part of him that seemed to not be protesting his current actions.

His eyes never left her.

His fascination with her grew, the scars upon her body like an intricate maze. Unconsciously, he traced some of them as he cleaned, pulling her closer.

 

[Kira Talith]

There came a slight hitch of her breath, the distance closing between them. Her thigh would brush against his own, thankfully avoiding the one that had been injured, water rippling around the two as he drew her near.

He took absolute care of every spot he could find, gently washing away all traces of the last thirty six hours with his hands. One would be surprised at such gentleness that he'd exhibit, but not for Kira. The meld had shone a light to facets of the False God that few others would know. Yet beyond that revelation, would be how the man had interacted with the Lorrdian since she first stirred into consciousness two days ago.

The bright amber of his his would lock onto hers, but it was the expression on her face that would startle her. He was seemingly enthralled, as if staring at the most curious of curios that he could not quite under stand. Her hands would fall away from his face.

"...that regardless you'll still be pretty," she'd finally relay, making a reference that his injuries would do no harm to his looks. "I'm sure there are many that will like that." came her soft impish tease, more out of a growing sense of nervousness drawn up from her awareness of him. An awareness that would only strengthen when she'd feel the stroke of his blunt fingers over the mars and lines of her scars. She gave a slight twitch at the touch, giving him a rather awkward half laugh, " I think I'm good to go, now." she'd say.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

For a moment, his fingers stopped atop the scars, one that lined from her hip and moved though her thigh. His fingers rested on the line, the other hand coming to stop on her opposite hip. He simply looked at her, as they stopped moving the water became clear, flecks of pink and black floating through it, but clear enough for them to see each other. Soliael watched the scars, looking to them.

His eyes flickered upwards.

She had seen his mind, she had to know, didn't she?

The awkward laugh from her triggered something, he was not quite sure what, but he let his fingers tense. “Not quite there's still one spot left.”

Soliael pulled her close and up, something that wasn't difficult to do within the water, and something that proved rather easy given how close they already were and how Soliael had positioned himself within the water.

He kissed her again. Not a peck like the first time he had done it, not a stolen quick kiss, but one that mimicked what he had done before in the snowy plains of the Tundra. Would she feel his want? His general need? The fact that she was not just a curiosity, a freak, something to look at?

Soliael didn't know, but as he pulled away he smiled down at her, a warm smile that told of no tricks.

“Now you're good to do.” He said the words with a smile, a little bit of mud on his lips.

 

[Kira Talith]

Kira would stare up into Soliael's amber eyes. She could swear they were blazing in the muted glow of the darkness, that amber light was actually coming out of them. She'd seen a similar thing back in the caverns.

The Lorrdian didn't know what to make of him. Who was the one paying such tender care to his ministrations? It didn’t make sense. Yet it was there in each movement, every careful brush of his hands to see to her wash that expressed a genuine care. For a man of his stature, it was such a foreign concept that he would humble himself so.

“I can do that myself,” she’d murmur low, but it would go unheeded. Granted what came next could very well be why.

The hair on the nape of her neck stood up when he slid his hands around her waist and pulled her against his body. She’d tense against him, but he’d get an ample feel of her. His lips descended and her mouth trembled. The contact was soft, gentle. Unexpected, given the size of him. That fuzzy fluttery feeling was back, and after a moment the tension eased out of her, softening against him as she awkwardly forgot to breathe.

Was he playing with her? No. He wasn’t. In fact, he’d watch her with an expression that would relay that in this moment, in his eyes, she was the most beautiful woman in the galaxy.

Okay, she had her own kathhound puppy crushes, daydreams about Ben, and what kissing him would be like; but this was not what she had expected. She was utterly overwhelmed. By his tenderness. By the utterly confusing desire to express… what exactly?

"Now you are good to go," he’d say softly as a balmy blush would rush over her.

"I don't understand you," Kira would whisper. At this moment, she didn’t. It didn’t make sense. Lids at half mast, the Lorrdian would struggle with a whole heck of confusing feelings. Ahh, but that awareness of him was certainly there. Maybe it was the heat of the water. The steam making her half woozy. Force, the past thirty-six hours was enough to warrant some confusing ideas and reactions.

Or simply spur actions that would normally take far longer to bridge.

The wet washtowel would drip water down from his shoulder and over his chest, her fingers clenching at it tightly as if they were unsure what exactly to do. Her chest moved against his as if she were inhaling, blinking rapidly. Was it due to the steam? Or was it for an entirely different reason?

She trembled no matter how much she tried to hold still. Thoughts would come to mind then. Her body had been suspended for days. Left with holes and scars and rough spots. Rendered infertile. And here was a guy who pretended to be a god worshiping her as if everything she had borne was worthy of reverence.

So when he looked down at her with that smile, she burst into tears.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

His smile drooped, the lines on his face fading, his gaze turning to one of confusion, sympathy, then downright sadness.

For a few moments he didn't understand. He didn't get her reaction, he simply never thought such a thing would occur. She pressed herself against him, she embraced him, held him, her chest rising and falling, and then tears would stream down her face. Drop after drop, tear after tear would spill from her face and into the water below. Within the False God's eyes there was only desperation, desperation to make her laugh, to make her smile, to make her herself once again.

His hand moved up from the small of her back, crawling across her skin and up her neck.

As her face buried in his chest, tears still streaming down her face Soliael let his hand slip into her hair.

He tried to comfort her, petting her hair, holding her tight, pressing the two of them close in a sorrowful embrace. What had she said? That she didn't understand him? His eyes looked down at her, a full head shorter than her she seemed to small, so delicate. Soliael squeezed her, stroking her hair until words formed in his mouth.

“In the caverns.” It took him a few seconds to understand what words his mouth were forming. “You asked me why I kissed you.”

He didn't know if she would remember, he didn't know if she would understand. “I didn't understand at first. I didn't understand, Kira. I didn't understand because to me the answer is so obvious. You're strong. Stronger than any person I have ever met. You've survived so much, you've survived, and come out as you are. You're kind, you're beautiful, hopeful, accepting.” He put strain on that word, as if it was the most important word of all. “You are the epitome of strength, of a good person, you are everything that anyone could ever hope to be. That's why I kissed you. So I could make you feel as good as you deserve to feel.”

 

[Kira Talith]

Kira had no idea how long she took before she wore herself out, but eventually her weeping slowed and she became aware that Soliael was talking to her with the stroke of a cafune. His words were but a murmur, and the tone... the tone was lovely.

Thoughts would come to her in the wake of his explanation. Trying to understand, desperately so. He'd say such wonderful things, enough to warm her heart but also remind her where she stood. And how that meant she would carry on.

You are the epitome of strength, of a good person, you are everything that anyone could ever hope to be.

His kindness was a temptation she should shrink from. The comfort he offered a bridge she shouldn't cross, not even in this moment. Her life depended on her keeping it together, and there was a slippery slope to tears. If she kept crying now, she wasn't going to stop in the days, weeks, or even months ahead. Force knew, the hard inner core of her had been the only thing that had gotten her through the last few months. If she lost that resolve, she had no power whatsoever whenever the flashbacks would take her back.

That's why I kissed you. So I could make you feel as good as you deserve to feel.

But how can a kiss even convey that? That didn't make sense. The Jedi held no attachments as part of their code, and while she certainly had friends, none had so desired to kiss her just to make her feel good. Or to comfort. That was just a strange concept.

Why would you do that?

Either way, her head hurt. It hurt to think. What he said, however, would take root in her mind. Something for her to consider later on. Just not now. All this and more would be evident on her face, the subtle nuances drifting over her features as she mentally came to grip with it all.

So, it was with a slow shuddering breath that Kira wiped her eyes, then tried to smile.

"Sorry. How's that for a buzz kill?"