Slowly massaging the Jedi’s knuckles with the minty cream, Cody glanced up and then down several times.

It was a tick at this point, a need to reassure himself that Obi-Wan was not becoming uncomfortable with his touch but to be fair, Cody knew that Obi-Wan wouldn’t actually say that he was uncomfortable.

His body would give away if he was, which was why Cody was paying close attention ever since he had taken over the task.

What task you might ask?

Obi-Wan, like the rest of the captives at the hand of the sicko, had suffered some muscle and nerve damage, in their hands and feet particularly, though some of the longest captives had damages that spread further through their systems.

But all of them could recover, with therapy and help.

One of the suggested therapies were massages with a particular kind of cream that Kix had come by with when Cody had offered to help the Jedi.

On the other beds, the rest of the teens were getting their own help from troopers they had come to trust, all of them slowly getting their hands or feet carefully rubbed in.

Even Ahsoka was helping out, cheerfully chatting with Kan while rubbing in the zabrak’s wrist, her lekkus curling in joy as he made the older teen laugh at whatever story she was telling as she worked the cream in.

To be fair, Kix and Helix together had showed them all how the cream was to be rubbed in for best effect, which motions to use and as long as the former captives could see what the troopers were doing, no one was getting upset.

Cody did notice that Fives was often pausing while helping Nir-Na, the young twi’lek often flinching when his fingers brushed the scars that should have been her toes.

Obi-Wan had not been the only one punished with toe removal and Nir-Na’s scars were far older than Obi-Wan’s fresh ones.

But the trauma connected to them were still clinging heavy to her.

It made Cody proud to see Fives taking it as carefully as possible, to help Nir-Na as best he could.

They may not have had childhoods themselves, but they knew how to act around traumatized younglings still.

They knew how to be kind.

“You do,” Cody blinked, looking back at Obi-Wan when the Jedi spoke. The redhead was smiling softly at him, a far shade from his usual smile but still a smile that made Cody feel… well, not happy but at least a minor sense of contentment. “You all know how to be kind.” Obi-Wan explained.

Flushing, Cody went back to slowly massaging Obi-Wan’s left hand, working the cream into the knuckle and working it steadily into the skin, feeling the callouses from lightsaber work and minor scars Obi-Wan had in his hands.

It was an interesting experience, the callouses of a Jedi very different from a brother.

“The bond is letting you see some of my thoughts huh?” He mumbled, a bit embarrassed.

He got a soft hum of agreement. “Only because you haven’t closed the door so to speak. Once I manage to teach you how to do it, you can keep me out of your mind, just like I am doing with you. Sometimes though your thoughts floats across the bond.” He explained quietly.

“Huh.” Cody nodded, working down to the others wrist, rubbing in small, tight circles.

He could feel Obi-Wan’s pulse like this.

It was a steady thing, slow and steady and somehow that was even more reassuring than anything else.

Cody’s nightmares had been many these last months, since Obi-Wan was captured and then recovered.

Sleep was a harsh mistress and to have the man back in sight, to feel the steady pulse…

It was a better balm than anything Cody could think of.

Wrist done, Cody opened his mouth only to pause when Obi-Wan automatically turned his hand around, offering his palm up to his commander.

Glancing up, the two stared at each other before Cody smiled and leaned in, pressing their foreheads together, the keldabe kiss making Obi-Wan smile in return.

It was an intimate touch and that demagolka Zavaza had not despoiled and Cody would take any moment to reassure his Jedi that the man was safe.

Obi-Wan had so long to go.

So much recovery to go through, the muscles he had to recover, the nerves that needed healing, the removal of the fetus and his damaged, amputated toes, which Cody wasn’t sure if his Jedi needed a prosthetic cap.

And then there was the mental and emotional trauma Obi-Wan had gone through, the rape, the forced cannibalism, captivity and kidnapping as a man tried to brainwash him into joining a cult and carry a baby.

Cody wasn’t sure how Obi-Wan was going to recover, how long it would take.

But he knew that he was going to be there every step of the way, he was going to follow his General as long as Obi-Wan allowed it to ensure the others health.

The pale hand he had been rubbing slowly squeezed around his wrist, both Cody and Obi-Wan pausing as they peered each other in the eyes.

Whatever the future would bring, they’d face it together.

‘I don’t know what we are or what we could be… but I know I’m there for you as your friend, regardless of anything else. Nothing and no one will change that fact. I’m your friend.’ Cody noted, watching how a small smile bloomed on Obi-Wan’s lips.

And as the smile bloomed, so did the hope in Obi-Wan’s eyes.