Private Welcome Home, Boys - I'm Here For You

[Leshanna]

Naamino Zuukamano // Haro Aven
​

Leshanna had remained behind when a good portion of the Academy’s acolytes and older students had gone away to Woostri to fight in yet another war with the Jedi. Even her new Mistress and Academy sponsor had gone away - though for some reason Lesh wasn’t worried for Lady A’Mia.

But she had been very worried about the departure of her two boys - Naamino and Haro.

The time of waiting, of hearing nothing back from them but watching the constant updates of the casualties being reported from the war front, was torture for the teen girl. Would her best friends find their names amongst those listed as ‘killed in action’, or ‘wounded in action’? Would they come back in body bags or no longer whole?

She was told that ‘no news was good news’, and she held onto that with a vice-like grip day in and day out. And then she heard the news she’d been waiting to hear: the surviving students and staff were on their way back to Korriban. Now she just had to wait a little longer, and she did - right outside the landing platform where she suspected their ship would land. Lesh waited there for hours, shivering in the biting cold that she did her best to ignore. She wasn’t going to miss their arrival for something so trivial as being cold.

Eventually, others began to appear on the platform; that must have meant the ship was getting closer. Not too much longer afterwards, she spied a ship breaking through the hazy clouds, then several ships, but certainly not as many as when they had left.

Anxiousness clawed at Leshanna’s heart, causing it to beat faster in her chest. She was happy too - she’d finally get to see Naami and Haro again, but she was nervous. She had no idea what to truly expect for when they walked off the shuttle. War, and victory, against the Jedi was something to be proud of - but war was still war.

It left its mark, its scars, on everything.

When the shuttle carrying the boys opened its bay doors, they would be greeted by the familiar sight of Korriban, of the Academy.

And just beyond that, a girl - pale and anxious, searching the many faces for any sign of her two friends.

 

[Haro Aven]

​

LOCATION: WILD SPACE > SITH HOLY WORLDS > KORRIBAN > KOR'ETHYR ACADEMY LANDING BAY​

TIMESTAMP: RETURNING FROM THE INVASION OF WOOSTRI​

OUTFIT: FITTED BLACK MILITARY FATIGUES​

OBJECTIVE: REUNITE WITH Leshanna ​

Entering Korriban's atmosphere had jostled Haro awake from where he fitfully slumbered against his sturdy Zabrak friend, Naamino Zuukamano , in the passenger bay of the Vorpal Fang. He readied himself for their impending landing in a daze, still rather despondent since the traumatizing events on Woostri and the violent brawl between Lysander and Naamino that had followed. Numbly, Haro made sure he had what he needed, which was really just Bodie at this point since the weapons and armor he'd used had been returned to the academy staff, and he lined up at the loading ramp with the other students. Feeling more exhausted than he ever had in his life, the side of his face still pounding painfully, even standing there waiting was a chore. Not for the first time during the return flight, he thought of Leshanna and how much he wanted to see her. He wondered if she was alright, if she'd heard the news of their return, if she'd be waiting for them. He stood close to Naami as he watched the broken body of Lysander von Ascania , along with any other seriously injured students, get carted off the ship first so they could be rushed to the infirmary. As upset as he was with Lysander, he genuinely did hope he would live to see another day.

Finally, the rest of the students were instructed to exit the ship and so they marched in a line down the ramp, greeted by the chilly dry Korribani air. The clouded sky was alight with a crimson glow as Horuset had begun to slip below the horizon in the distance, silhouetting the sharp spires and jagged lines of Kor'ethyr Academy's infrastructure. Haro found himself grateful for the arid desert biome after enduring the hellish hurricanes of Woostri, despite the bitter cold that nipped at his skin. He scanned the faces gathered near the ship, hoping to see one in particular.

"Lesh!" It was a whisper of an exclamation, only loud enough for Naami to hear. The moment he recognized that beautiful pale face and raven hair, and those searching sapphire eyes, he took off toward Leshanna, ignoring his exhaustion in favor of reaching her as quickly as possible. He slowed enough not to startle her or crash into her but he didn't hesitate to wrap her up in a big hug. He held her there until Naami caught up then he pulled away, holding her by the shoulders and looking down at her with a sad but grateful smile that carried the weight of what he'd been through, the side of his face swollen and bruised.

"I'm so happy to see you," he said to her, his eyes wide and glassy with emotion, then he suddenly frowned as if noticing something.

"You're cold," he observed, then he glanced sidelong at Naami. He reached out to grab the Zabrak by the shoulder and pull him into a hug with all three of them, soaking in the moment of comfort while it lasted.​

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

[VIBES]

​

Though the start of their journey home had been far more eventful than he would have liked, Naamino was able to find some respite sat back to back with Haro Aven even though he wasn't able to fully sleep like his friend had. Truthfully, he was happy to keep watch in a kind of stony reverie, maintaining his posture so his exhausted friend wouldn't be disturbed. He felt the boy jolt awake and took the moment to stretch, a huge yawn animating his otherwise stern features- sharp canines flashing and the faint sheen of moisture crinkling at the edge of tired eyes.

The zabrak gave Haro's wrist a small reassuring squeeze as injured students were taken off the ship first. Silently he hoped the boy knew he was grateful to him, that the fight with Lysander hadn't been his fault, that Naami would take all responsibility for it when they were inevitably asked again.

Naami saw Leshanna just moments after Haro, and jogged after his lean friend to catch up a few steps behind. He gave the girl a soft, tired smile but didn't want to intrude on their moment. To his surprise, Haro pulled him into the embrace just a few moments later. The zabrak went slightly rigid for a moment, nerves still incredibly on edge from Woostri, but he gave in to the affection easily.

"Lesh, you're freezing," the boy mumbled in agreement with his friend, one wrapped hand finding hers where it encircled Haro.

He had to be careful of his horned head, so he tipped it to rest against the shorter Leshanna and kept the ends angled away from the taller Haro. He hadn't expected such a greeting... but it felt really nice. The heavy toll exacted by being of service to The Order was lessened slightly.

Surely this gets easier with time, he assured himself. It had to.

 

[Leshanna]

Naamino Zuukamano // Haro Aven
​

Vigilant eyes watched the Vorpal Fang - watched, as the wounded were unloaded first. Anxiety marked her face as she looked at each individual they pulled off the ship, hoping that one of those faces wouldn’t be Naamino, or Haro.

She then spied a familiar figure on a gurney - and her breath hitched in her throat. Was that… Lysander? She didn’t know him too well, but she’d done classes and field trips with him. She hoped he would be okay. Others were carted off, some faces she recognized and others she didn’t. But they were not her boys.

Finally, those that were on their own two feet, began to disembark. Leshanna’s heart raced faster in her chest as one by one the surviving students passed her by. Then…a tall and lanky form appeared and practically enveloped her, and her heart leapt into her throat when she recognized who it was, the scent…familiar. The presence and warmth, recognizable.

Haro.

He embraced her as if she was life itself and she didn’t hold back either, wrapping her arms around his back and holding him there, head against his chest. Tears stung at her eyes, dripped down her icy cold cheeks, feeling like little droplets and trails of fire.

“O-oh F-Force you’re ok-kay…” she breathed, frowning slightly when the taller boy pulled away from her, as she was reluctant to be away from that warm embrace.

"I'm so happy to see you," Haro said to hear, genuine emotion lacing his voice.

For a moment, Haro and Lesh looked upon one another and his wide, glassy eyes met her own as worry filled her blue orbs. An icy cold and pale hand lifted to his bruised and injured face, her touch gentle and delicate.

“...what ha-appened?” she said, concern clear in her voice.

Haro suddenly frowned as he suddenly recognized that she was cold, but she hardly noticed it in the moment. “Where is-” she started to say, but then she spotted the familiar tattooed face she’d been wondering about.

“...Naami!” Lesh breathed again as she saw the boy’s tired smile - but there was a dark storm behind his eyes, something she took notice of. Haro suddenly reached over and drew the Zabrak in towards the two of them, and utter relief flooded through the girl’s veins as she did her best to embrace them both, the three of them simply existing together, ignorant of others who might cast curious or disapproving looks their way.

"Lesh, you're freezing," came the Zabrak boy’s mumbled voice, and she felt her heart stutter in her chest when one of his hands found hers and gripped it tightly, securely. She held Naamino’s hand in her own, as if it were a lifeline to her.

“I d-d-don’t care ab-bout that r-right n-now…” she mumbled back, her teeth clattering as she shivered harder from the deep chill seeping into her skin. “I’m j-just so-o hap-py you t-t-two are back-k and-d sa-a-afe…I-I was-s so-o wor-ried-” her voice cracked then and she had to squeeze her eyes shut to stop the flow of hot tears once more. She didn’t know what she would have done, if she’d lost one or both of them. She’d only known them for just shy of a year, but these two young men were the closest thing she had to family.

No...they were her family.

They all had been through so much together - and their journeys had only really just begun. Lesh hugged both boys closer, tighter - just to remind herself that they were there with her. They were real.

And most importantly, they were alive and back at Kor’ethyr with her.

 

[Haro Aven]

Haro felt their hands clasp behind his back and he pulled them both in a bit tighter. The tender embrace, seeing Lesh's eyes brimming with tears, the relief of having made it back alive, it all brought feeling flooding back into the numbness. He wasn't entirely prepared for it but grateful for it nonetheless, and he held to his friends like they were life rafts in a storm. Leshanna's shivering and chattering brought his concern for her well being to the forefront of his focus, his heart aching at the way her voice cracked. He pulled back enough to gather up her gaze again.

"Well, we're here now. And we care about that, so we're getting you inside and warmed up right now, c'mon," Haro insisted, gentle and tired but unrelenting, as he made to move them in the direction of the common rooms, expecting Naami's support in this. He kept them both close, gently pulling Lesh over to walk between he and Naami so she could continue to benefit from both of their warmth. Almost absently, he enveloped one of her hands in both of his in an effort to warm it, but he was uncharacteristically quiet and solemn as they made their way inside.​

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

Grunting an affirmation that they did in fact care about Leshanna freezing half to death, Naami joined Haro in ushering them all to the warmth. The hand on hers reaffirmed its grasp a few moments after they began moving toward one of the common rooms. Surely it was the sting of cold on his cheeks that made them pink, rather than the feeling of intertwined fingers squeezing gently as they walked.

Once indoors and settled into their own little section of the room, the zabrak seemed to feel a little awkward about the quietude and stillness of the moment. Ever the task oriented type, Naami offered quietly.

"I can grab us a blanket, and bring us warm drinks. Would only take a minute."

He'd sat beside Lesh and was still holding her hand, but was on the edge of the seat. It was as if he was seeking her assurances that he'd be helping everyone feel more comfortable. Naami's attentive gaze darted to Haro Aven for a moment too, sensing that perhaps the boy would also appreciate a moment with Lesh. The zabrak wanted that too, but felt like he couldn't quite hold still just yet,

 

[Leshanna]

Haro Aven // Naamino Zuukamano​

"Well, we're here now. And we care about that, so we're getting you inside and warmed up right now, c'mon."

Lesh was too overwhelmed by her sudden onslaught of emotions and the biting cold to truly argue or fight against Haro’s sound reasoning, and she nodded as she met his gaze and went along with both of them as they turned to face the massive complex that was the Academy, staying on either side of her and doing their best to share their warmth with her.

Silently, they made their way towards one of the common rooms, and the girl felt so relieved to have both of them holding her hands - Haro on one side, and Naamino on the other. Here tiny and pale hands were like ice in their grips, and she continued to shiver hard even as they came into the common room and found their own little area, away from the others that might have gathered within.

Lesh was seated on a couch, and all she could do was blink in silence at them both as the cold stole her thoughts from her. She couldn’t remember a time when she’d ever been this cold - not even when she had spent the night out in the desert after their little drinking game. She wanted to smile at such fond memories, as fragmented as they were, but her cheeks were too frozen to smile.

"I can grab us a blanket, and bring us warm drinks. Would only take a minute." Naami said, still holding onto her hand, though he was on the edge of the seat beside her.

Lesh tried pulling her stiff and cold legs up closer to her chest in an effort to conserve what heat remained within her. Her teeth continued to clatter together as she cast worried glances between Haro and Naami, before she nodded at the Zabrak boy - agreeing to the idea of having a blanket and some warm drinks for them all. She didn’t want him to leave, but she knew he’d only be gone for a moment.

She settled her eyes on Haro and the growing ugly bruise on the side of his face, and she frowned (or tried to) once more, disturbed by the sight of such a thing on her friend’s face.

“Wh…w-what…ha-ha-pp-ened?” she chattered out to the tall and lanky boy there beside her, concern etched across her face and within her dark blue eyes.

 

[Haro Aven]

Moving mostly on autopilot, as if he wasn't entirely present in his own body, Haro took a seat on the couch on the other side of Lesh. It was surreal to be back on Korriban, back on this campus that he'd grown so accustomed to, with these people he’d grown close with. After what he'd been through on Woostri, what he'd seen, what he'd done, he was finding it hard to feel like any of it was real. Perhaps it had all just been a horrible nightmare, or perhaps this moment now was the dream he'd eventually wake from. He supposed there was actually quite a bit of truth to that particular metaphor. This whole experience as Haro Aven, student of Kor'ethyr, was but a dream he'd eventually wake from, if he was lucky enough to live to see that day. Naami's quietly murmured offer drew Haro's thousand-yard stare into focus and he looked to him, then to Lesh.

His uncharacteristically vacant eyes flooded with pain as he seemed to register just how freezing cold she was. Now that they were inside, he could make out more of the color in her face—the blue in her lips and the rosy red in her cheeks and nose. Grateful for Naami’s ever-diligent mind, Haro gave his friend a nod after Lesh did, less out of permission and more as if to say ‘good thinking, buddy.’

By the time his gaze returned to Lesh, he could see that she was eyeing his bruised face with a trembling little frown. Those big blue eyes, so full of care and concern for him, grounded him so thoroughly in the moment and made him ache with regret for making her worry so much. He didn't answer her question right away and instead just returned her gaze with unwitting intensity, his own care and pain pouring through his bright crystalline eyes for a moment before he pulled her in close, wrapping his arms around her. He pulled her legs across his lap and hugged her tightly, rubbing her arm a bit to create warmth through friction then squeezed her.

"It's... not important..." he said, resting his face against her head, enjoying the sweet smell of her soft hair and how good it felt to have her in his arms again.​

 

[Naamino Zuukamano]

The wide, serious eyes of the zabrak traveled from Lesh's face to Haro's and he paused only long enough to ensure they didn't have anything to add before he dashed off. They'd chosen a common room super close to his dorm, for which he was grateful as he bolted down the hallway and practically skidded to a stop outside the door. Naami burst through it to quickly untuck his quilt and his regular Kor'ethyr issued blanket as well. He thought about seeking out a third but didn't want to waste any time getting back to his friends.

The zabrak folded them quickly into a big ball, nabbed a tin of tea off his desk, then sprinted back to the common room. He was glad to see Haro warming Lesh up with an entangled hug, reminiscent of how they'd all shared space on that night after the fight. Gently depositing his finely crafted and beautifully detailed quilt to the side for the time being, Naami dutifully began tucking the more basic blanket around their cuddled forms, even pausing to ease Lesh's boots off her cold feet so he could tuck the blanket around and under them.

Once done with that, the boy promptly scooted a table closer to their seat then made his way to the drink dispenser nearby. Naami's body was rigid with impatience, every moment delayed by this process made him more and more antsy to return so he could properly ensure his friend was warm. Frankly, he also felt oddly worried being away from Haro overlong too— after everything they'd both just been through his composure was definitely beginning to fray at the edges.

All told it took about 15 seconds for the dispenser to bubble out two mugs of hot coco and one mug of steaming water, which he quickly dropped a tea-puck into before turning to carry all three carefully over. They must have been scalding but Naami didn't seem to notice, he was so fixated on getting back to his destination.

After setting the drinks down, knowing they'd need to cool a bit before sipping, Naami gathered up the large and ornate quilt. He slowed his movements, no longer rushing, and sat close to Lesh so she was between him and Haro, then draped the larger blanket over them all. Naami sighed as he settled in, sounding much older and wearier than a teen ought to.

"Hot coco will be cool'nuff to drink in a little," he murmured quietly as he leaned into the welcoming bundle of companionship, ushered closer by Haro.

 

[Leshanna]

Haro Aven Naamino Zuukamano
​

Naamino soon zipped off, leaving Lesh and Haro alone together for a few precious moments on the couch in the common warm. The tall half-Kage boy met her eyes with his own and she could see such pain within them; they were silent for several heartbeats - even after she had asked what had happened to him. His only response in the moment was to wrap his arms around her and pull her in close, and she tucked her head under his chin as she shivered from the bone deep chill that still radiated through her small frame. She sniffled softly as her friend rubbed her freezing arm in an effort to generate some heat to warm her up further, telling her that what happened to him wasn’t important and she was frankly too cold and too relieved that both her boys were home safe to really press the matter.

The teen girl’s eyes were closed, simply existing in the moment, when she felt and heard Naamino’s presence return and she opened them to watch him set a couple of blankets aside, one of which was colorfully and appeared to be a quilt. The Academy-issued blanket was gently tucked around both her and Haro, encasing them within its dark shroud. Naami was even kind enough to slip off Lesh’s black boots to tuck her feet into the warmth of the blanket’s folds, and she gave him a half frozen smile for his kind gesture.

Next, the Zabrak boy scurried off to the drink dispenser to make some mugs of hot drinks for them all. He soon returned, mugs of cocoa and tea set on a table nearby. He then settled himself down on the other side of Lesh, draping the colorful and ornate quilt around them all in an extra layer of cocooned warmth.

"Hot coco will be cool'nuff to drink in a little," Naami murmured to the both as Haro drew him in closer.

“Th-thank yo-you Na-a-mi.” the girl mumbled, still chattering from the cold which was finally beginning to wear off as warmth seeped in. Sleepiness began to settle over her slowly, feeling safe and cozy in the combined embrace of her two companions. Leshanna was completely unaware that she was dozing off periodically, head still tucked against Haro’s chest - listening to the rhythmic thumping of his heart beneath his ribcage, the sound of it lulling her into short bouts of rest.

An undetermined amount of time later, Lesh stirred and lifted her head to glance sleepily at both Haro and then to Naamino on the other side of her. Her shivering had vanished for the most part and color had returned to her lips and face, now that the threat of hypothermia was truly gone.

“Next time…I’m going with you guys. Waiting here, not knowing if you both were okay or not…was agony. I’m never doing that again. I’d rather fight beside you both, then be apart from you.”

 

[Haro Aven]

Leshanna | Naamino Zuukamano ​

Haro helped Naami tuck the first blanket around himself and Lesh, then numbly watched his friend march off to make their drinks nearby. When the Zabrak finally sat down and settled in, Haro didn't hesitate to grab his shoulder and pull him in.

"Thanks, buddy," he murmured softly after Lesh chattered her gratitude. His hand remained on Naami's shoulder, squeezing and massaging absently as if using his friend's thick rigid trapezius muscle as a stress ball. His bone-deep exhaustion was at odds with an undercurrent of dread-fueled anxiety that he had to actively fight down, but being safely bundled up with Lesh and Naami was certainly helping him win that battle. Haro could feel Lesh relax against his chest, her trembling finally subsiding, and he rested his head atop hers, a shadow falling over his unfocused stare once again as the three of them fell into silence. He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths, trying to sink into the moment and let exhaustion take him but his nervous system wouldn't allow it. His chest just felt tight and his bruised face pulsed. In the stillness, the others could likely feel the occasional subtle twitch of his muscles or adjustment of his limbs. Despite how difficult it was for him to sit still, no amount of discomfort could cause him to disrupt Lesh's rest. So he did his absolute best, occasionally squeezing where his hand rested on each of them as a way to vent his restlessness.

Eventually, Lesh began to stir, looking mostly recovered from her chill. Despite his dower mood, a small smile crept onto Haro's face when she looked up at him sleepily.
​

“Next time…I’m going with you guys. Waiting here, not knowing if you both were okay or not…was agony. I’m never doing that again. I’d rather fight beside you both, then be apart from you.”​

That quickly drained the smile from Haro's face and he glanced away, catching sight of their drinks. He reached over Lesh's legs and picked up the two cocos, handing one to her.

"I... I'm really sorry that was so hard. And, honestly, we'd be lucky to have you watching our backs, but..." Haro paused, that shadow passing over him again as he held the cup up to his lips.

"Trust me, Lesh, you're lucky you missed this one..." He said before he took a sip. The warm sweet chocolatey drink did wonders to bolster him against that lingering dread.​