“This…is not
exactly how I imagined seeing you nude.” Cody confessed quietly as
he added another layer of bandage to Ben’s body, the Jedi sitting
as quietly as possible to make it easier for him.

“If I’m
honest, not how I imagined it either.” Ben laughed quietly before
lifting his arms up so the other could go around his rib cage.
“Though technically speaking I’m still wearing socks.”

Cody grumbled out
an answer but did quirk a small smile as he tied of the bandage on
the skinny chest.

“I’m no medic
but that should hold, now lets get you back into clothes.”

“Mine are pretty
torn though.” Ben looked to the rags that had been his tunic and
leggings. “Boots look good still, which is good they were a gift
from Master Mace.”

Looking around,
Cody got up. “There should be some clone blacks here, those will
fit you easily. You’re not as big as we are.”

“Not as big as
most.” Ben smiled, long ago having found peace with that fact.

“I still can’t
believe you fell through the glass and an acid vat.” Cody mumbled
as he started digging around in the Kamino facility lockers.

“Just be happy I
didn’t hurt myself more then this. Acid is nasty stuff.” Ben
countered, hands in his lap.

For some bizarre
reason he didn’t feel shy in front of Cody about his state of
dress, he just felt tired and grateful the other was there. “Captain
Snow and the others must be out of their minds looking for us by now.
And if Anakin or Qui-Gon has joined them…” He sighed and shook
his head.

“99 is bound to
have kept an eye on us. He adores you.” Cody tried to comfort,
knowing how protective all of them were of the Jedi.

Snow had
personally given Cody the shovel talk, though it more involved
grenades and a very inventive way to use a helmet. He’d been more
reluctantly impressed then scared.

“I treat him
like a person, like a vod. I know what its like being different and
treated…differently for it.” Ben settled on.

Cody returned to
him and stroked his cheek gently before helping Ben up and into the
blacks carefully, fingers often caressing the onyx pendant he had
given the other man.

“You know better
then me so can the water break in here?”

“It shouldn’t
unless there’s a weak construction point. Or we fall so far down
the pressure cracks holes. But it feels like we’ve stopped so I
think we got lucky and landed on a plateau.” Cody frowned before
closing up the blacks. “Its going to get cold though, this far
down, emergency power is never meant to last long.”

That got a nod out
of Ben. “So conserve heat is what you’re saying and make sure the
emergency beacon is going until the last.”

“Yes. So stay
close to me?”

Ben gave him a
soft smile that was only slightly marred by the bacta bandage on his
right cheek and the bruise on his left. “Of course Cody.”

‘Kark if he
isn’t beautiful, how did I manage…kark.’ He reached out and
slid his arm around the others waist, gently leading Ben with him to
what he knew was the master computer of this sunken Kamino facility.

“I’m amazed
the Separatists got a shot in on Kamino, considering how protected it
is.”

“They were bound
to get lucky eventually.” Ben sighed, leaning against his side with
a fine tremor going through his slender body. “I just hope the
others are doing good.”

“As good as you
are, I highly doubt us two would make an impact.” Cody offered
dryly and pulled him closer as he felt another tremor go through
Ben’s body. “…I like how your hair is coming out, curls.” He
murmured instead of drawing attention to the shivering.

“Anakin said I’d
look like a space sheep if I let it get to short and curly. I’m
trying out which length I like now.” Ben confessed sheepishly.

“If…it matters
any-” Cody stopped and ran his hand through the shoulder length
hair with a slow hand as he watched the copper curled strands slide
through his fingers. “I like it just like this, a little length to
play with but enough to be pulled back and away for when you’re
doing important things.”

Leaning into the
touch, Ben smiled softly up at him. “If it matters, I like it too,
for the same reason.”

‘We’re how
many feet below the surface in what may be our container of death,
he’s injured and getting cold and all I can think about is…’
Cody cupped the others face, tilting it up.

Ben slid his arms
back up around his shoulders in turn, giving him a tiny mischievous
smile. “Not really the time for this Commander…”

“We’re trapped
without anyone else around…body heat tends to keep you warm I’ve
heard.” Cody murmured.

“Beacon first?”
Ben whispered even as Cody pressed closer, the others warm body
covering his own. Ben had an odd feeling of deja vu that went away
quickly as the lips sealed over his, the sensation of warmth and
comfort in that lingering kiss as Cody’s hands slowly moved, one
going to the back of his head and the other sliding down to his
waist.

The one in his
hand tilted his head back ever so slowly, the kiss deepening as a
slick muscle gently prodded at his lips.

Ben could drown
like this.

Just this moment
he could spend forever, pinned to a slowly warming wall against
Cody’s muscled body with his lips on his as they explored a
tentative deep kiss.

“I think I love
you.” Cody whispered when he pulled back, staring at the Jedi in
his arms.

Ben opened his
eyes to stare up at the other before smiling softly. “Think?”

“I don’t know,
I’ve never been in love before.” Cody caressed the soft copper
curls in his hand. “How do I tell?”

“I don’t know.
Lets figure it out together?” Ben stood on his toes and kissed the
other sweetly. “If we survive this war…we can have forever to
figure it out.”

“Forever?”
Cody chuckled, feeling his heart pound at the implication.

“I like to think
of forever with you.” Ben confirmed before pulling Cody back into
the kiss.

()()()

“I’d tell you
its nice to see you and tease you a bit but I don’t think I will.”
Anakin wrapped his brother in a thermo blanket, frowning in worry.
“You’re FREEZING, your lips are blue.”

“Cody and me did
our best but when all power went out, so did what little warmth there
was.” Ben snuggled into his warm brother and nodded to Commander
Snow when the other followed him into the room. “And I didn’t
want to use the Force unless it became an emergency. Keeping warm
could come second to hopefully escaping.”

Anakin grumbled
but held the other tight to him, nodding to Cody in thanks and
getting a half smile in return. “And you’re covered in bandages
and your clothes are gone too, how?”

“I fell through
several windows and an acid vat.”

“…Of course
you did.” Anakin shook his head and kept his arm around his brother
as he started to lead him towards the Kaminoan sub they had used to
get to the facility that sunk.

“The troopers
underarmor blacks are surprisingly comfortable I’ll have you know.
And warm.” Ben added, leaning against his side. “Did you get the
Separatists of off Kamino?”

“Most of them,
the Wolfpack and 212^th are handling the rest while we got
sent to retrieve you two from the bottom of the ocean.”

“And you still
have the…”

“Of course. 99
is looking after it. I should have it calibrated in a day or two as
long as no new attack happens.”

Ben face perked up
at that news while the troopers exchanged looks behind them.

Snow just shrugged
at Cody, having no clue what his General was up to.

“This…is not
exactly how I imagined seeing you nude.” Cody confessed quietly as
he added another layer of bandage to Ben’s body, the Jedi sitting
as quietly as possible to make it easier for him.

“If I’m
honest, not how I imagined it either.” Ben laughed quietly before
lifting his arms up so the other could go around his rib cage.
“Though technically speaking I’m still wearing socks.”

Cody grumbled out
an answer but did quirk a small smile as he tied of the bandage on
the skinny chest.

“I’m no medic
but that should hold, now lets get you back into clothes.”

“Mine are pretty
torn though.” Ben looked to the rags that had been his tunic and
leggings. “Boots look good still, which is good they were a gift
from Master Mace.”

Looking around,
Cody got up. “There should be some clone blacks here, those will
fit you easily. You’re not as big as we are.”

“Not as big as
most.” Ben smiled, long ago having found peace with that fact.

“I still can’t
believe you fell through the glass and an acid vat.” Cody mumbled
as he started digging around in the Kamino facility lockers.

“Just be happy I
didn’t hurt myself more then this. Acid is nasty stuff.” Ben
countered, hands in his lap.

For some bizarre
reason he didn’t feel shy in front of Cody about his state of
dress, he just felt tired and grateful the other was there. “Captain
Snow and the others must be out of their minds looking for us by now.
And if Anakin or Qui-Gon has joined them…” He sighed and shook
his head.

“99 is bound to
have kept an eye on us. He adores you.” Cody tried to comfort,
knowing how protective all of them were of the Jedi.

Snow had
personally given Cody the shovel talk, though it more involved
grenades and a very inventive way to use a helmet. He’d been more
reluctantly impressed then scared.

“I treat him
like a person, like a vod. I know what its like being different and
treated…differently for it.” Ben settled on.

Cody returned to
him and stroked his cheek gently before helping Ben up and into the
blacks carefully, fingers often caressing the onyx pendant he had
given the other man.

“You know better
then me so can the water break in here?”

“It shouldn’t
unless there’s a weak construction point. Or we fall so far down
the pressure cracks holes. But it feels like we’ve stopped so I
think we got lucky and landed on a plateau.” Cody frowned before
closing up the blacks. “Its going to get cold though, this far
down, emergency power is never meant to last long.”

That got a nod out
of Ben. “So conserve heat is what you’re saying and make sure the
emergency beacon is going until the last.”

“Yes. So stay
close to me?”

Ben gave him a
soft smile that was only slightly marred by the bacta bandage on his
right cheek and the bruise on his left. “Of course Cody.”

‘Kark if he
isn’t beautiful, how did I manage…kark.’ He reached out and
slid his arm around the others waist, gently leading Ben with him to
what he knew was the master computer of this sunken Kamino facility.

“I’m amazed
the Separatists got a shot in on Kamino, considering how protected it
is.”

“They were bound
to get lucky eventually.” Ben sighed, leaning against his side with
a fine tremor going through his slender body. “I just hope the
others are doing good.”

“As good as you
are, I highly doubt us two would make an impact.” Cody offered
dryly and pulled him closer as he felt another tremor go through
Ben’s body. “…I like how your hair is coming out, curls.” He
murmured instead of drawing attention to the shivering.

“Anakin said I’d
look like a space sheep if I let it get to short and curly. I’m
trying out which length I like now.” Ben confessed sheepishly.

“If…it matters
any-” Cody stopped and ran his hand through the shoulder length
hair with a slow hand as he watched the copper curled strands slide
through his fingers. “I like it just like this, a little length to
play with but enough to be pulled back and away for when you’re
doing important things.”

Leaning into the
touch, Ben smiled softly up at him. “If it matters, I like it too,
for the same reason.”

‘We’re how
many feet below the surface in what may be our container of death,
he’s injured and getting cold and all I can think about is…’
Cody cupped the others face, tilting it up.

Ben slid his arms
back up around his shoulders in turn, giving him a tiny mischievous
smile. “Not really the time for this Commander…”

“We’re trapped
without anyone else around…body heat tends to keep you warm I’ve
heard.” Cody murmured.

“Beacon first?”
Ben whispered even as Cody pressed closer, the others warm body
covering his own. Ben had an odd feeling of deja vu that went away
quickly as the lips sealed over his, the sensation of warmth and
comfort in that lingering kiss as Cody’s hands slowly moved, one
going to the back of his head and the other sliding down to his
waist.

The one in his
hand tilted his head back ever so slowly, the kiss deepening as a
slick muscle gently prodded at his lips.

Ben could drown
like this.

Just this moment
he could spend forever, pinned to a slowly warming wall against
Cody’s muscled body with his lips on his as they explored a
tentative deep kiss.

“I think I love
you.” Cody whispered when he pulled back, staring at the Jedi in
his arms.

Ben opened his
eyes to stare up at the other before smiling softly. “Think?”

“I don’t know,
I’ve never been in love before.” Cody caressed the soft copper
curls in his hand. “How do I tell?”

“I don’t know.
Lets figure it out together?” Ben stood on his toes and kissed the
other sweetly. “If we survive this war…we can have forever to
figure it out.”

“Forever?”
Cody chuckled, feeling his heart pound at the implication.

“I like to think
of forever with you.” Ben confirmed before pulling Cody back into
the kiss.

()()()

“I’d tell you
its nice to see you and tease you a bit but I don’t think I will.”
Anakin wrapped his brother in a thermo blanket, frowning in worry.
“You’re FREEZING, your lips are blue.”

“Cody and me did
our best but when all power went out, so did what little warmth there
was.” Ben snuggled into his warm brother and nodded to Commander
Snow when the other followed him into the room. “And I didn’t
want to use the Force unless it became an emergency. Keeping warm
could come second to hopefully escaping.”

Anakin grumbled
but held the other tight to him, nodding to Cody in thanks and
getting a half smile in return. “And you’re covered in bandages
and your clothes are gone too, how?”

“I fell through
several windows and an acid vat.”

“…Of course
you did.” Anakin shook his head and kept his arm around his brother
as he started to lead him towards the Kaminoan sub they had used to
get to the facility that sunk.

“The troopers
underarmor blacks are surprisingly comfortable I’ll have you know.
And warm.” Ben added, leaning against his side. “Did you get the
Separatists of off Kamino?”

“Most of them,
the Wolfpack and 212^th are handling the rest while we got
sent to retrieve you two from the bottom of the ocean.”

“And you still
have the…”

“Of course. 99
is looking after it. I should have it calibrated in a day or two as
long as no new attack happens.”

Ben face perked up
at that news while the troopers exchanged looks behind them.

Snow just shrugged
at Cody, having no clue what his General was up to.