Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Thank you, Master Qui-Gon.” Master Windu said as he nodded his head, “We’ll keep that in mind the next time we send any Jedi to Cato Neimoidia.”

Sounds of agreement and satisfaction scattered around the council chamber, a nod from Mundi and a smirk from Saesee were all Mace needed to see to know this meeting was successful.

“Thank you for your patience, masters. I’ll be on my way now. May the force be with you.” Qui-Gon bowed as he announced his departure.

“And with you.” The council said in unison, as one singular voice made up of multiple voices.

Moments like these were uncommon and valuable to Mace. Usually, there was always one Jedi who disagreed or thought differently, which, don’t get him wrong, is a good thing, but it’s always a blessing to see his family in agreement.

As the doors closed behind Qui-Gon, a few of the members began to get up from their seats, Adi, then Plo, then Depa.

“Wait!” Mace exclaimed, prompting the rest of the council to turn to him, “Hmm?” Master Plo looked at him curiously.

“The sun is still out, and if I’m remembering correctly, none of us has many tasks to do today.” A nod from the others confirmed he was correct.

“Perhaps we could go have some dinner together? As acquaintances and not councilors.” Mace smiled (Rare.)

“Dex’s?” Master Poof said after a short period of silence.

“Where else?” Mace said. Still grinning.

“Let’s go.” Yaddle replied, and Windu’s grin grew even larger; however, that was shortly lived as the council doors opened once again and Qui-Gon stepped in, holding a human-sized bundle in his arms. face covered by a green blanket.

“Oh, and I almost forgot, Kenobi and I found this boy earlier, Obi-Wan sensed him in the Force while we were walking around Coruscant. Obi-Wan says he feels like a sun in the Force, but to me he feels more like a disturbance.” Qui-Gon shrugged

The council was, understandably, horrified.

A “YOU KIDNAPPED A RANDOM KID!?” From Yaddle, a “Why is he wrapped like a dead body?!” from Mundi, and a scolding “Qui-Gon!” From Adi. Yoda’s jaw was on the ground, so the old frog couldn’t exactly get a word out.

“Anyways, I have to go, Obi-Wan needs my help baking cupcakes for the pride month celebration next Friday.” He said as he placed the boy in the middle of the chamber. and jogged out.

…

“So.. who is going to unwrap him?” Even Piell said in that thick accent of his.

“I’ll do it.” Adi replied as she walked closer to the unconscious body on the floor, the rest of the council backing up to give her more room.

Adi grabbed the blanket and slowly pulled it away from his face. Once revealed, the room went silent.

“Is.. that Bell Zettifar?“ Saesee Tiin said after a very long silence.

“BELL FUCKING ZETTIFAR THAT IS??!” Yelled Grandmaster Yoda not even a moment after Saesee’s comment.

“By the force, it is!” Ki-Adi exclaimed once he got a better look, putting a hand over his mouth in shock.

“I haven’t seen that young man in decades!” Yaddle continued.

Yarael Poof would’ve said something but due to having a long ass neck it takes him twice as long to register what’s going on around him.

The other members were, understandably so, in shock to the point they had no words to say.

Zettifar is a legend, but not a living one. How in the world could he possibly be here right now?

Meanwhile, Yoda had turned a pale pale green, to the point you’d think he was dying, kind of pale green.

“FOR FUCKING YEARS, HAVE BEEF WITH ME OVER THIS MAN’S DEATH MASTER BURRYAGA DID.” Yoda yelled out yet again.

“Master Agaburry does not 'Beef' with people, Master.” Plo Koon said matter-of-factly

“HATES ME HE DOES!” Yoda replied.

“A Jedi does not hate. Master Yoda.” Master Rancisis joined in.

Yoda collapsed, like, on the ground, croaked. He looked dead.

“Did we… kill him?” Eeth whispered out loud, staring at the green body on the floor.

Suddenly, Mace’s head started hurting, and that’s how he knew this would be a long, very long week.

Chapter Text

Plo sighed, “Here we go.” he thought, setting up the Holocomm on the table as Yaddle jumped onto his shoulders.

The rest of the council voted for them to tell Burryaga Agaburry that Bell Zettifar had returned.

Burry was one of Plo’s greatest friends, but they also hadn’t been talking much lately. He was worried; what if Burryaga didn’t believe him? What if he thought this was just a sick joke Yoda wanted to pull on him

Burry’s a wise and reasonable man but- Plo just didn’t want to ruin anything.

Yaddle patted the Kel dor on the head, startling him a bit- he almost forgot the master was there, “Go ahead, call him, it’ll be fine.” She said in that wise and calm tone, another sigh came from Plo’s mask, and he was putting in Burry’s frequency.

…

Yaddle was always a favorite of Plo’s. He loved Mace and Saesee, yes, but Yaddle was always patient with him, not many people know this about the “Legendary Master Plo” but he was always anxious as an initiate and especially as a padawan, but with Yaddle and Tyvokka’s help he slowly came more and more out of his shell-

“Hello?” A hologram of the Jedi order’s most beloved (And forgotten, Burry, please come home, the younglings miss you.) Wookie appeared in front of Plo and Yaddle, covered in more blankets than are probably necessary for a Wookie to be in, but Plo doesn’t care; he gets overly cold too sometimes.

“Plo?” Burry said, and Plo realized he was accidentally thinking too much and saying too little again.

“Aga, greetings!” Plo did a small wave, words being suddenly caught in his throat, how was he meant to say this…?

“We found the love of your life who died decades ago!”

“Bell’s back! Surprise!”

“Remember that guy you told me all about when I was younger? He’s back! Happy early birthday!”

Everything sounded wrong…

“Are you okay?” Burry sounded worried now- this isn’t how Plo wanted it to go, he’s panicking now, and the room is starting to feel smaller is- Is his mask even filtering oxygen anymore? He can’t tell.

“Earlier today, Master Jinn found a Jedi whom the council has identified as Jedi Master Bell Zettifar.” Yaddle started, thank the force, Plo was going to cry if he said anything-

“We’ve done DNA testing to identify, and we are one hundred percent sure that he is Zettifar-“ She stopped.

Burryaga had disappeared from the hologram. Just completely vanished.

Plo had blinked, and he was gone! Nothing but blankets and a messed-up bed in his wake, “Did he just?” Yaddle tilted her head in confusion, repositioning herself on Plo’s shoulder.

“Teleport? I, uhm, think he did.” Plo managed to say, still a bit out of breath from earlier.

Yaddle shook her head. “How-“ she stopped herself. She knew from decades of experience as a Jedi that you should never ask “How.”

“Know what, never mind, how do you feel?” She asked, patting his head again.

“I can’t tell if my mask is working or not.” He made a little noise that sounded sad to her. “Let’s get you to the healers.” She replied, jumping off his shoulder.

“Can we go to Shaak instead?” He tried.

“Healers.” And he failed.

Chapter Text

Kit stood a bit closer to the door. He could hear two people whispering behind it, but he couldn’t make out exactly what was being said.

He was considering taking just a tiny peek- the door was opened just a crack, enough for him to see what the “Undead Sun” as the padawans and knights called him was doing with the “Furred forest dweller” (Yes. They actually do call him that in the galaxy. It sounds ridiculous, Kit knows.)

Usually, he wouldn’t snoop, but those two were some of the best Jedi of their time. He had to know what they were up to, some kind of force dyad stuff? Sharing wisdom? He got especially curious when he started hearing light sobbing coming from the room.

Surely… one peek wouldn’t hurt…

He got closer and peeked through the small gap, and almost lost his breath.

Burryaga was kneeling right next to Bell’s bed, wiping the tears off his face, Bell’s grin wider than Kit had ever seen a human smile.

And then Burry reached for Bell’s hand, pressing his lips on Bell’s ring finger, going further and further up his hand, reaching his arm, keeping it going until he got to Bell’s face.

Burry paused for a second, just one beautiful second, lightly kissed him on the cheek and then, on the lips, Bell put his hand on the sides of Burry’s face, pulling him closer and-

“What are you doing?!” Someone angrily whispered from behind him. It was Saesee. Kit realized a few seconds after hearing the voice.

Saesee grabbed his robe and yanked him away from the door, closing it slowly and as quietly as he could. “Are you insane!?” The (usually quiet) Iktotchi half-whispered half half-yelled as he grabbed Kit’s hand and pulled him away from the door.

“No, just curious,” Kit said, shrugging with the arm that didn’t have a hand being held in Saesee’s death grip.

“So you snoop on two of some of the galaxy’s best Jedi for fun? Do you have any idea of the history those two have?” Kit had never seen Saesee this angry before, maybe he really did mess up…

“They were at the battle of-“ Saesee shook his head and facepalmed before Kit could say anymore.

“Not battle history, I mean romantic history!” It looked like Saesee was going to explode.

Kit smiled, to try and maybe calm Saesee down a bit, “Oh, I wasn’t aware they had any, I mean- until now of course-“ Saesee cut him off once more.

“Kit.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m going to choke you.”

“Oh.”

Chapter Text

Mace walked through the halls. Depa matched his pace. It’d been a day since Burry had arrived at the temple, and the council had elected Mace and Depa to do their first “Bell check.”

The healers said Bell hadn’t been speaking much, the only person he’s said words to the entire time he was here was Burr,y and that’s it.

Whenever he tried to speak to the healers, it seemed like it hurt to talk, so they just let him be, communicating in head nods and shakes instead.

Today, he was hoping maybe they could change that- Depa had gotten tea straight from Chalacta during a mission, it was known as one of the most healing and comforting teas out there, and she couldn’t think of anyone better to give it to.

“What do you think happened to him?” Depa asked after what felt like a lifetime of silence between them. “Qui-Gon never really told us anything.” she continued.

“I’m… unsure, no Jedi has seen anything like this before. It could've been anything.” Mace replied in that tone that he used whenever he was deep in thought.

“I asked Master Poof and Master Mundi to ask Qui-gon where he found Bell.” Mace rounded the corner, revealing the Halls of Healing’s entrance.

“You asked..” She sounded horrified by the names he mentioned. “Never mind.” She said, shaking her head and opening the door to the room to see-

Bell was asleep, and Burry was falling asleep with him. He found a way to make room for himself on the bed, and now Bell was using him as a breathing pillow, which, to be completely honest, Mace would’ve done the same thing if he had a boyfriend who was essentially a walking blanket.

Mace knew it was time to leave when Burry
began to apply small, little “sleep well” kisses or whatever they’re called, (Mace wouldn’t know-) to the back of Bell’s neck lightly.

Depa shut the door back closed. (Thank the force for silent doors. Wow.) and turned to Mace.

“Perhaps we should… come back later on in the afternoon?” she suggested, and Mace had never agreed to something quicker in his life.

…

Okay, attempt two, this time, Burry and Bell were actually aware they were visiting.

Depa had brewed another batch of the chalactan tea, and Windu’s mind brewed another batch of worries, but there was nothing he could do about that.

Mace slid the door open. Depa followed close behind with a tray of tea in her hands.

Waiting for them in the room was Burry, sitting crisscrossed by Bell’s bed, telling some kind of story in Shyriiwook, gesturing with his hands to make it even more dramatic, and Bell was loving it, grinning like a maniac and giggling a little bit even tho it hurt to do so.

Mace cleared his throat, and their heads turned toward him. The moment Burryaga recognized him and Depa, he got up and went to embrace them both, saying something in Shryiiwook as he did.

Mace could understand the first part, it was a variant of “Hello”, and then Burry turned to him and said something that Mace couldn’t decode.

Mace whispered into Depa’s ear, “What did he say?” She chuckled a bit and whispered back.

“He said you look shorter than the last time he saw you.” Mace rolled his eyes at that.

Anyway, enough delay, it was time to do what they came here for!

Mace and Depa went closer to the bed. Bell, who was distracting himself, stared out the window near his bed, watching the speeders fly by.

Now that Mace really thought about it, it must’ve felt weird for him to be in this situation, thrown into the future with no explanation, no warning, found by Qui-Gon and then left to be taken care of by Jedi healers, twelve of the Jedi Order's most insane members and Burryaga Agaburry.

Mace couldn’t imagine having to learn a new era of time before being finished with learning your own era.

But it’s okay, they’ll help him however they can, because that’s what the Jedi do.

They Help.

A soft “Bell.” Was all Mace needed to get his attention, “I’m Master Windu, and over there behind me is Master Billaba.” Bell nodded, and he continued. “We heard you’ve been having issues with your throat. We brought you some tea, in hopes that it’ll help a bit.”

The more Mace spoke, the more he felt Burry staring at him, ensuring that he didn’t say the wrong words-

Bell nodded again, and Depa brought him a cup. Burry, still watching every move Bell was making, came closer to the bed as Bell took sips from his cup.

Bell gulped the rest down and looked around the room for a second.

“How do you feel?” Depa asked after what felt like a minute of silence. “Still hurting?”

…”Better.” Bell said a bit weakly but still audibly after her question.

Mace is glad he has the reflexes of a Jedi. If he hadn’t moved out of the way the moment Burry practically pounced onto Bell and wrapped his arms around him, he would’ve been crushed.

He and Depa stared at the two lovers embracing and knew that was their cue to leave. Depa quickly grabbed her tray and her cup, and they were on their way.

…

It had been hours, and Burry still hadn’t let go of him. The sun was setting outside, but Bell didn’t feel tired at all. This was the best and most energized he’d felt since he’d been dropped into this future timeline.

The only thing keeping him from going insane in this medical room was Burry, the stories, the familiarity of him, the kisses, the hugs, the warmth.

Everything Burryaga was saving him.

Bell ran his fingers through his lover’s fur again, listening to his breathing, slow, soft, peaceful.

“They said I could be discharged tomorrow or the day after.” Bell’s voice was still a little weak, but whatever was in that tea Billaba gave him was doing its job.

“Do you want to run away together?” Burry asked, half serious, half joking, burying his face even into the crook of Bell’s neck.

Bell chuckled at that, and replied-

“Not yet.”

…

Yarael strived down the halls leading to the Jedi Masters' dormitories, beside him was Master Mundi, thinking of whatever was bothering him that day. Yarael wasn’t exactly sure.

“So… Qui-Gon found Bell.” Yarael said to his best buddy walking right next to him, a simple “Indeed.” That was all Ki-Adi said back.

“And Agaburry is in love with Bell.” Yarael kept going.

“Yes.” Ki-Adi, still deep in thought, replied absentmindedly.

“So that means, Qui-gon brought back Burryaga’s Bell-oved?“ Yarael snorted.

Ki-Adi stopped walking.

“Shut up, Yarael.”