Hiro flushed at his cheeks, his hand scratching the back of his neck "my.. my story isn't really dinner friendly.." he said softly and helped the prince to his feet. " But it sounds nice to sit next to you." He said, chuckling softly
Prince Finn shrugged.
"Then tell me your story another time. Dinner can be about our day and our adventures that ended in victory."
Winter smiled at the interactions between Hiro and Finn.
"Come on Hiro. Let's get you cleaned up and ready for dinner. You'll see Finn in an hour or two. You're going to love the showers here on Coruscant. I can guarantee you've never seen anything like it. Plus, your room is heated, and connected to ours. We made sure to give you your own room. However, it is very large compared to our ship. I hope you like it though."
Elias shifted Frost around on his shoulder.
I hope you enjoy it Hiro. And Win, this little one gets bath time first. Let's let him sleep for as long as he can before we wake him up for dinner."
Winter kissed Frost on the head.
"I agree. He can sleep in our bed while we are in the bathroom. Or we can let him sleep in the room with Hiro after Hiro does whatever in the bathroom."
Elias and Winter both beckoned Hiro to follow them.
Hiro followed, taking his little brother from his father and looking back at Finn. He gave one last small smile before heading off.
Elias and Winter walked as best as they could through the senate halls that led to their rooms. Senators and royalty alike gawked at their appearance and the questionably red stains that were periodically splashed across their faces and clothes. Winter looked at Elias and smiled.
"What a way to enter the senate building huh? Smelling of blaster fire, ozone, just giving off waves of intense cold, and having blood spattered all over our clothing. This has definitely got to be in the top three entrances we have made into the senate building. The first being the ice blast you made when some warm weather dweller decided it would be funny to pour boiling water on an cold weather dweller that makes ice."
Elias rolled his eyes.
I told the senators from Mustafar they got what was coming to them. They knew what would happen. I just wished they hadn't had poured the water on me during my time to speak whilst I was speaking with Leia in the senate chamber. However, everyone on the opposite side of the room loved the nice cool blast of air. The people near us were freezing. I would do it again though. The other moment had to be when you were heading to go deliver Frost."
Winter smacked Elias, and then laughed.
"Listen just because I shot a man on the landing platform because I didn't have to deal with him wasn't my fault. I was literally about to have our child. I didn't have time. He was a terrorist anyways. Leia and the guards confirmed it. Anyways, enough stories. Hiro, how has Coruscant been for you so far? Besides the fighting of course."
"kinda feels like home." He said softly "chaotic and loud."
Winter looked back at Hiro.
"I'm glad kiddo. Sometimes people can't get used to Coruscant. It's really nice to see you taking it all in stride."
Elias shifted Frost again.
"Yeah. You're taking Coruscant better than we first did. Let me tell you the idea of an elevator scared us so bad. A metal box that moves up and down really blew our minds. However our room was something so much nicer than we had ever gotten. I think you'll enjoy your room. We made sure it had a nice view."
Hiro only smiled brighter, ready to get to his and frosts room. He knew frost would always sleep in his bed, it was just how frost was.
"Would little brother be okay in my room?"
Winter took Frost from Elias.
"Yes he should be fine, but I'm going to bathe him while you get your shower. Once you're finished, come knock on our door. We'll put Frost in your room and you can watch him while he sleeps. Just in case he decides to roll off the bed. If you get bored, turn on the holo tv. It shows things from different planets."
Elias nodded.
"The holo tv has everything you could ever wish on it. From cooking shows to gladiator battles, to pod races and news and war coverage. Just pick what you wish and it'll be there."
Hiro nodded and went into the elevator
As they rose continually higher, the view got better and better. The elevator stopped on the floor the Hothians had bought on Coruscant specifically for themselves as senators. They stepped out and walked down a short hallway before stopping in front of a very large door. Elias pulled out a key card.
"Alrighty Hiro. We are here. For safety, there's only one main door. you have to go through our living room to get to your room. Are you ready?"
"yeah.." Hiro whispered, his mind preparing for both the best and the worst. His body was trembling, but couldn't decide between fear or excitement.
"And you guys get this all to yourselves?" He asked, looking at the hallway back to the elevator
Winter shifted Frost in her arms.
"Yep, we bought this floor. Once again, we have money, we just never use it. Which is fantastic because some senators are living paycheck to paycheck to support their lavish lifestyle. If something goes up for sale, we can normally buy it before everyone else because we can pay for it in full, and up front. We have very good credit here. Which works in our favor."
Elias nodded.
"This is also why very few people can come at us. We also buy things out of spite and then sell them for dirt cheap prices, to regular people on Coruscant. Which also means we have the favor of the people on Coruscant. Which is fantastic. It means we can walk without security. Anyways, let's get this door opened."
Elias scanned the key card and opened the door.
"Voila. Our home away from home."
The door opened to a lavish suite. It had high ceilings, and some type of marble for the floors. It looked golden in the light of the Coruscant sun. It was furnished with comfy couches, and only the finest furniture. Winter walked in and laid Frost on the closest couch.
She stood up and stretched her back.
"What do you think Hiro? Are you going to be comfortable? You haven't seen your room yet, but it looks very similar to ours. Except we had some Mandalorian input added to it. Go check it out! Go through that door right there. The glass one near the windows."
Hiro froze when he walked into his room. Memory's flooded him and the blackened smoke drifted from his mouth, his pupils shrinking to small dots. His hands gripped into fists.
It was just like his own house, the flags and colors. The warmth only reminded him of home. He could smell the earthly smell of the ground, the lost scents of his mother's cooking, he could hear his father training with him.
It was a long lost memory…
Hiro felt himself become lost in the memory, stepping into the room and looking around. "How.. how did you ace the memory.. I don't think I showed it..i-" he was speechless as an older picture stood out to him with a little note that held gentle writings 'from Leia "
It was a picture of his parents, it was a family picture. The frame had been made by a small child..
Elias reached out for Hiro.
"Watch out kiddo. Are you okay? Is everything alright? Did we do something wrong?"
Winter answered Hiro's question.
"Do you remember when you had that moment on our ship? Where I told you you could go let out your emotions because it was healthy? When I touched you, I saw your best memories. And once I see something, I can pull it from my memory, every little detail and all. Force Psychometry and a photographic memory. Remember. I can see the past, and Elias sees the future. Frost sees both. Poor little dude though. He's absolutely wasted. He exerted a ton of energy holding that shield up for so long. I'm super proud of him though. He's come such a long way. As for the pictures and the picture frame, the Mandalorians had a ceremony where they memorialized the fallen royal guards and their families by placing their items in cases for display, so that other Mandalorians could pay their respects, back on Mandalore. I holo called Leia while we were on the ship and told her we had picked up a Mandalorian child who had the royal guardian brand on his body. Her interest was piqued and she asked for your name. So I gave it to her. She obviously made contact with the Mandalorian senators, and they reunited some of your items back to you. I hope it's okay. Leia and I tried our best…"
"yeah mom.. it's wonderful.." he mumbled, wiping his eyes
Winter hugged Hiro.
"I'm so glad you like it. Now go get a shower. You stink of sweat and blaster fire. Hopefully by the time you're finished Frost will be coherent enough to realize he's being transported to your room and he'll continue to sleep while Elias and I shower."
Hiro nodded and went to take a shower.
During this he let his emotions go. The cloud was dark but still mixed in color. He hated fighting, but he had to, and in that he shut his mind off And became a killing machine. At the end of the fight though, so much had been built up that he was ready to explode.
Elias scooped Frost off the couch and gently tried waking him. Frost stirred, but didn't try to move. Winter went and drew Frost's bath. Elias brought him into the bathroom and undressed him and set him in the water. Winter had changed her clothes to soft Karlini silk. It was both water and blaster resistant, and she had gotten it from Naboo. She pulled her hair up and started washing Frost, using the Force to keep his head above water. Elias stood in the door frame watching how gently Winter washed Frost. He spoke softly.
"Hun, I think we should have another kid. You're obviously good with one kid, so maybe we're ready for two."
Winter looked back at him and rolled her eyes.
"I'll think about it. Right now I'm busy with our one child. He's clean, so I'm going to need you to get his soaking wet booty out of the bathtub and dry him off. Plus we just adopted Hiro by Mandalorian laws."
Elias sighed and took Frost out of the bath and wrapped him in a towel.
"Win I was trying to be sweet. I love Frost, and Hiro reminds me of me when I was younger. But I miss when Frost was little."
Winter kissed Elias on the cheek.
"I know you do you hun. That's why I said I'd think about it. I'm going to go see if Hiro is finished showering. So we can sit Frost in his room while we shower. Alright?"
Elias smiled and started dressing Frost.
"Alright love."
Hiro was about half dressed, dressed from the waist down. He jumped a bit as winter entered but figured she just had frost with her.
Hiros body was brushed with spots of darker skin along his chest. It looked like he'd been painted with mud. Mandalorian tattoos of blessings and warrior marks as well as slave sale numbers and scars lined his body. He wasn't proud nor embarrassed. It was his past and usually kept it hidden
Winter blinked hard when she walked in and saw Hiro shirtless.
"Holy smokes Hiro. You've been through the ringer. You, yourself contain history. From the scars to the Mandalorian tattoos, you've just experienced life haven't ya?"
Elias walked in holding a very sleepy Frost. He saw all of Hiro's marking and smiled.
"Looks like we have something in common. Here, look."
Elias handed Frost off to Winter and took his shirt off to reveal all the scars from his past adventures and mishaps.
"Most of these come from fights. The set of three on my back is from a wampa, and if you look at my chest, right over my heart, is a freeze brand. Winter has one too, and if we are talking scars, she has more than I do. Scars tell your history. But the freeze brand is something Hothians do when they get married. Metal rings, or rings in general are kind of cumbersome when you're out in the cold. Hothians marry for life, and when they want to split or one partner passes, the brand is slashed and broken. Never to become whole again. It's pretty cool. Anyways, here's Frost. Win and I are going to go shower. We will be back shortly. Go to your drawers and put on the Karlini silk clothes. They're lightweight and blaster resistant. That's what we'll be wearing."
Hiro nodded and laid frost down.once everyone was settled and the two were in the shower, Hiro laid next to his brother. He slowly but surely fell asleep, nestled into the blankets.
Hiro noticed quickly that it felt like someone was watching him sleep. He groaned and opened his eyes slightly "little brother.. go back to sleep.." he mumbled
Frost slowly blinked at Hiro. Sleepily he said,
"I think you like the Prince of Artorias."
He rolled back over and yawned.
"Am I right?"
Winter and Elias were enjoying their moments of peace. After they had showered, they put on ornate clothes made with Karlini silk. Winter brushed her hair out, and fixed it so her curls were down. Elias trimmed his hair and beard. It felt nice to do some self care. They checked their appearances in the mirror. Elias laughed.
"It's amazing what a trim and and hair cut can do. I look about 10 years younger."
Winter nudged him.
"My hair is down for the first time in a while. It feels so nice to have it down. I feel about 10 years younger after that shower. Shall we go wake Hiro and Frost?"
Elias pulled Winter close.
"Let them rest for about thirty more minutes. We have thirty minutes of down time to chill and relax and let our stress go. There's no telling when we'll get time like this again. Let's enjoy it."
"well.. I'm not sure little brother.. but, you might be right." He said and laughed softly
Frost rolled back over and he was looking into Hiro's eyes. He placed his small hands on Hiro's face, and got as close at he could to Hiro's face.
"I know I'm right."
Hiro smiled softly " how so?" He said, placing his hands on top of frosts.
"What are you not telling me little brother?" He asked slyly