23. What Would You Trade? (1/2)

ruhlsar000 here! sorry for the delay. i just got off of spring

eak and am trying to get back into the swing of things. also, why i am updating this story instead of nervod, as it is easier to pop these out. you know the drill.

the loud stomps echo through the house. "um..." i sigh, looking through the doorway kemen just stormed through. "that went well." honestly… it kind of did. i wasn't expecting it to be any better. and it could have been a kriff storm worse. at least, kemen's outburst shut david's protests down. if they were really thinking, they could have tag teamed me into feeling really guilty. and possibly gotten fajr and aibek wanting me to as well. but kemen isn't sitting clearly.

i look around the table. everyone is quiet after i announced my decision not to get the nerve healing procedure that kemen found out about on the holonet. they are all stunned by kemen's outburst but the mild agreement rolls off them like the jogan sauce on the pasta we're having for dinner. "oh, come on, guys, it's not a big deal. i don't need it. everything that it would fix, i've already compensated for. it would just be a waste of money and time. besides, it's not like i am doing missions for the resistance. particularly, active ones anyway."

kanan's

ow furrows. that looks says we will be discussing this later. joy. "if you're sure." i hear a low thud. hera is glaring at kanan, and probably just kicked him under the table. hera gives him a glare, and it is painfully clear in the force that she is not happy kanan is agreeing so easily.

kanan, though clearly wanting help, can handle it. "i am going to check on kemen," i say, rolling back my chair. with focus, i contract the muscles in my legs using the force, while pushing up with my arms, to get up. something tells me i am going to need to show him i am fine.

i walk upstairs and to the kids' rooms. i knock on his and david's door. "go the kriff away," kemen yells. my thirteen-year-old nephew is now officially swearing. kriff.

rolling my eyes, i say to the door. "are you kidding? i heard worse swearing when i was seven. you'll have to do better than that." kemen is quiet. "kemen, i want to talk to you and a door won't stop me. it will just be awkward and everyone will hear my half of the conversation."

"fine…" i can hear the sigh in his voice. i push a button. the door slides open. kemen is curled up on his bed, datapad haphazardly hid under his pillow. with a sigh, i sit down next to him.

i gulp, wondering where to start. "you know, when i was your age, i twisted my ankle doing something stupid and reckless. donny, my partner for a heist i was about to do, was so pissed of. ferpil had to hold her back for fifteen minutes while she was swearing up and down the pawn shop." i shake my head. that almost gets a laugh out of kemen