for middleoftheforce

[jedi_librettist]

Ben picked a seat in the corner of the galley. There was something homey and comforting about watching his brother cook. The last of the tension he'd carried melted away.

Comments

[jedi_librettist]

Ben opens his eyes and pouts at his brother. He did put down the second flatcake, though, eyeing it tragically.

"Bail. The first real food since they took me."

[middleoftheforce]

"I'm not saying don't eat, I'm saying take it easy."

[jedi_librettist]

"Bail, I don't have... time..."

Oh. He does now. It's a strange thought. He can take as much time to eat as he wants.

[middleoftheforce]

"Yeah, you do."

It's soft, a small smile on his face.

[jedi_librettist]

Ben ripped a small piece off and ate it slowly. This was luxury. He hadn't known it as a boy but he'd lived in luxury, even at the new Jedi temple.

[middleoftheforce]

Solo pulled at his own flatcake, eating it and grimacing a little at the burnt parts.

[jedi_librettist]

Ben shoved his plate toward his brother.

"Have some. There's enough for both of us."

[middleoftheforce]

Solo gave a look.

"Ben. Eat the food."

[jedi_librettist]

Ben looked very deliberately at Bail and pulled the plate of burnt flatcakes to him. He picked one up and took a bite.

[middleoftheforce]

Solo looked.

"Should have seen that coming."

[jedi_librettist]

Ben smirked.

"You always hated burnt flatcakes. Now eat up."

[middleoftheforce]

"You hated them too."

But he reaches for one of the good ones, ripping a bit of it off and popping it in his mouth. Non burnt flatcakes always tasted better.

[jedi_librettist]

"Not as much as you did."

And it's clear Ben's tastebuds have changed over the years. He eats the burnt ones with the same enjoyment as when he ate the good ones.

[middleoftheforce]

"With good reason."

He had gotten pretty sick from burnt flatcakes, once, years and years ago. It left a bitter taste. It's still odd to see his brother eat them with such enjoyment, even despite that.

[jedi_librettist]

"Good thing I never got as sick from food as you did."

[middleoftheforce]

"Still don't know how that happened."

They had both ate the same meal, after all. And yet, he had ended up sick.

[jedi_librettist]

"Your sensitive stomach. And you ate more than I did."

It was just a guess, really. He couldn't think of any better explanation.

[middleoftheforce]

"...Yeah it's not a sensitive stomach. Shit I've put in there..."

[jedi_librettist]

"I've probably eaten worse. Slime pods would probably have given you indigestion."

[middleoftheforce]

And that makes Solo pause.

"I ... really don't want to know."

[jedi_librettist]

Ben shrugs and keeps eating. It's not something he really wants to talk about, either.

[middleoftheforce]

His brother couldn't blame it, and he ate another bit of the pastry in silence.

[jedi_librettist]

"Have you done the Kessel Run?"

[middleoftheforce]

"Shaved half a parsec off Dad's best time." There's a smirk there, because he had worked hard to do that and he's damn proud of the achievement.

[jedi_librettist]

"So is Dad more proud of you or mad he has a new record to beat?"

Ben's beaming because his brother's a damn good pilot. He's proud of who Bail has become.