Several hours later, Rey paced back and forth in front of the security bay, anxiously waiting for the moment Resistance guards let Ben go, or at least had an update with their plan of action.
After their meeting, Lando arrived with his crew, escorting Leia away in a tearful embrace as the old friends caught up. Rey's heart clenched at the sight, though she briefly picked up on Ben's turmoil as well before his block shot up.
Shortly after, the security team took Ben into a briefing room, drilling him further about First Order intel and eventually a physical search, taking his lightsaber away and angering him even more.
Ben seethed as he was handcuffed, refusing to look anyone in the eye as he was taken away.
Rey stuck by his side until that very moment, watching as he was escorted away, and as Rey tried to join them in the room, one of the guards stepped in front of her when she tried to enter the room, refusing her entry as they dealt with private matters.
Still, even as the door closed, he kept his eyes forward and jaw taunt, the last sight Rey saw as the door closed.
And so, the pacing began.
Rey knew the situation at hand would be a tense one.
However, Ben Solo was finally home, regardless of the war at hand or the way everyone felt about him. He was answering for his faults and crimes, even if he was struggling while doing so.
The thought brought a small smile to Rey's face as she counted the cracks in the floor.
"Rey?"
Her head whipped up at the sound of her friend's voice.
A few feet away, both Poe and Rose stood, studying her intently and giving off the vibe of being scared to approach her, unaware of Rey's current state of mind. They were both eager to check in on her and speak with Rey without the curious eyes of the Resistance members.
Though she anxiously stopped her pacing, Rey's smile widened at the sight of the pair.
"Hey. I was going to go look for you shortly, I just wanted-" Rey began rambling, though she was cut off by Rose.
"It's okay. We know the situation is tense-" Rose started, Poe cutting in.
"Yeah, if that's what you want to call it." He mumbled.
Rey's brow quirked involuntarily as her heart clenched with dread, knowing that it would not be an easy thing for them to accept Ben's presence here.
A long time ago, she was sure Rey herself would have felt the same.
"Poe... He's agreed to help to us. It's not ideal, I know... But we need him..."
Rose continued watching her, and Rey noticed that her friend did not share the same anger that Poe held in his eyes.
"I just can't believe you're so willing to accept his help after all he's done." Poe shook his head.
This time, Rey's jaw flinched with a mix of annoyance and hurt.
"Poe, if you really think it was easy than you really know nothing. A lot has happened since I last saw you..." Rey's voice trailed off as she remembered the events that called her away, starting from the time in Cinnon'Ra, to training with Ben, and everything in Naboo.
She'd seen so much, experienced things no other should go through, and in it all stood Ben at her side. No one would understand it, and she couldn't think of a way to make them.
Poe's gaze met Rey's, his eyes squinting with confusion. "And what exactly happened?" He asked, his tone of voice giving way to an unsteady flicker of jealousy that caused Rey to drift away.
Sensing the tension rising, Rose broke the ice to save her friend, even if she herself was still confused. "Guys, we're back together again, after everything we've been through. This is the last thing we need right now." Rose stated calmly, her eyes flickering up to Poe, who was still watching Rey carefully.
"Yeah... Yeah." Poe muttered with his hands at his hips. Clicking his tongue, Poe turned on his heel and left, tossing back his final words for the day. "Rey, we'll catch up later."
Rey sighed while she watched him go, sadness and guilt creeping in.
From the corner of her eye, Rey realized Rose was still watching her closely, and that fact made her straighten herself up and clear her throat.
"Rose, I'm sor-"
"You love him, don't you?" Rose breathed, disbelief and understanding washing over her face.
Rey's heart seemed to freeze at her friend's clarity, calling her out for the truths that enveloped Rey's being.
Her eyes slowly met Rose's, and without a word, Rose slowly nodded for Rey.
Gulping, Rey's breath hitched during the few long moments that followed after, their shared look sending more words than their voices could.
"I... I don't know how to explain it, Rose... I know firsthand what he's capable of... I've seen it... just as I have seen the good. Our bond... Our strength..." Rey struggled to find the words as she tried to use the force to pinpoint how Rose felt, surprised as the calm waves that vibrated from her friend.
Rose didn't say anything for a long time as passerby's filled the hall's, rushing by with hushed whispers when they glanced at Rey.
Rey's cheeks burned at the stares, not needing to use the force to hear what they were saying as the speculation hit the stranger's eyes faster than their thoughts.
Even through this, Rose was unbothered.
"Rey..." Rose shook her head, finally glancing away as she processed the truth. "I... I don't understand it..." she said carefully. "But... I still support you. I know you're using your head here... And I have to say, I am scared for you... But I'm also happy for you. "
The last line of her comment made Rey's gaze fly to meet her friends, her brows creasing with surprise as she stammered her response. "Y- you're happy for...me?"
Rose's face lit up with a cheeky grin that both warmed and calmed Rey. "Yes. I meant what I told him earlier... He better be here for a good reason... I suppose now I know that the reason is you. You're different with him... It's like I can actually see the understanding and comfort you both have in each other's presence..."
Rose chuckled, meanwhile Rey shifted from foot to foot as she took in Rose's words.
"Is that a good thing?" Rey questioned quietly, her heart still hammering away in her chest.
Again, Rose smiled and let it slowly fade away before answering. "You tell me."
At this, Rey gave a small smile before slowly nodding. "He's different, Rose. He understands me, and he helps me become the best that I can be. Rose, if I told you everything, you may be able to understand it... Our connection, I mean, and the bond we share." Rey shook her head as she looked off into the distance. "No one will understand."
At this, Rose nodded. "No. They won't." The silence filled the air between them once more as they thought of the truth in her words.
Rey knew acceptance would never become of Ben, no matter how hard they tried. Ben had done too much, and they wouldn't take the chance to see the good he could do.
The thought made Rey fill with sad disappointment.
Would they ever be able to live a normal life after this?
Was that even what they wanted?
"Don't get lost in your thoughts." Rose comforted Rey, reaching out wrap her arms around Rey. The women shared a long embrace, and Rey was reminded of the strength in this friendship as she sighed and pulled away.
Rose didn't know it, but she was the rock Rey needed at this moment.
"Finn wouldn't ever forgive me..." Rey mumbled with a shake of her head.
"Don't you worry about him. Give him time and he'll have no choice. He'd never give your friendship up, Rey. Neither would I."
Rey looked up from the ground to Rose's face with a small smile that didn't fully reach her eyes.
"Thank you, Rose." Rey said, meaning every word.
The interaction with her friend calmed her in ways that the force would never be able to.
( X )
His fists were clenched painfully tight, almost to the point that his fingernails cut through his gloves.
He knew arriving here would cause a stir, however there was no amount of planning that would have been able to cure him of his annoyance.
With his jaw tense, he readjusted himself against the cold stone of the ground, his back pressed up against the wall of his cell while his hands remained cuffed in front of him, as if that alone would stop him.
Shortly after the meeting his mother held, Ben watched as Lando greeted her with a tearful hug, their emotions high as they both grieved his own father, the man he killed with the lightsaber the Resistance guards took.
Thinking about the sight of Lando and his mother made Ben shift again, his hair curtaining his face as he cursed every being in the galaxy.
He was here to gain access to Hux... To kill the man that took everything from him, that schemed and plotted his downfall, and the thought of finally bringing an end to him was enough to calm his anger with the Rebellion... For now.
Ben refused to think anymore of his mother's face or voice, or of the people that rallied around her, including Lando.
The only face that stood in the distance of his mind, was Rey...
Rey...
The girl that was currently walking down the staircase of the large prisoner grounds, glancing around with wide, curious eyes until they fell on Ben, who watched her from behind his messy hair.
Her eyes gleamed with contentment instantly, sighing quietly as she looked around, her gaze eventually falling upon the guard that stood just beyond Ben's cell.
Curious, but masking it with a bored look, Ben continued watching as Rey casually walked over to the guard, who readjusted his hands on the blaster at his hip.
Knowingly, Rey watched the movement before her brows tensed in annoyance.
"I've been given the authorization to take over the watch. You may leave." Rey stated surely, her chin rising in the air.
Behind her, Ben scoffed.
The guard gave her a confused look and glanced to the top of the stairwell, just now realizing that the other two guards were nowhere to be found.
"Um... I'm sorry, Miss. I haven't received any orders..." He shifted uncomfortably, knowing he was now alone in the presence of two force users.
Rey's jaw tensed briefly before she relaxed her shoulders, a twinge of guilt hitting her gut.
"Let me just-" The guard quickly reached for his comm, but froze as Rey captured his wrist, holding his gaze when his head whipped to her with fearful eyes.
Emitting a calm wave to him, Rey spoke in a low, assuring, and almost seductive tone that made Ben's ears perk up, still watching and now in awe.
"You will return to your chambers, and you will speak of this to no one."
The guard nodded slowly, repeating her words back. "I will return to my chambers, and I will speak of this to no one."
Rey nodded her head at him. "The prisoner is being watched through the night. You've done a great job."
The man's fear washed away, replaced with a proud smile across his face. "The prisoner is being watched through the night. I've done a great job!"
Rey returned a smile, releasing his wrist and stepping out of the way to let him pass, studying him carefully as he hopped up the stairs, the smile still never leaving his face.
With a sigh, Rey glanced around the room once more, spotting the camera that lay in the corner of the room. With a small wave of her wrist, she watched as it deactivated itself and lowered its head as it slept, leaving her and Ben to their privacy.
Satisfied, Rey turned back to Ben, and used the force once more to unlock the door to his cell and let herself in.
He refused to acknowledge her out of annoyance with the situation, but he could not deny the awe he felt as he watched his bonded mind trick the guard, unable to deny that seeing it in action thrilled him.
Towering over him, she smiled at her bond mate, though it was not returned as he refused to meet her eyes, choosing to look across the room.
Tensing, Rey kneeled in front of him, reaching to uncuff him.
"Am I not supposed to be cuffed and chained here like the good prisoner I am?" He growled.
Rey's eyes flickered to him, narrowing in the process as she paused her movements.
"I am not the enemy. None of these people are."
"Then why am I stuck here? Demanded for information, question after question, chained and stripped of my belongings?" This time, Ben met her eyes, glaring at her just as she was at him.
Rey sighed, shaking her head as she slowly removed the black gloves from his large hands.
After waiting for Ben, she received word that he had been taken to a cell, and passed the time in her chambers as she felt the members of the Resistance slowly make their way to their own beds, and after a while, the feeling of heavy sleep was felt through the base.
Rey took her chance and followed Ben's force signature, thankful that they chose to keep him in a separate prisoner's bay away from everyone else.
After a day like this, her interaction with Ben was not going as she had hoped.
"Ben," she pleaded, her hand reaching up to his cheek and leaving his hands cuffed.
He nearly reared away from her touch, though she anticipated it and moved faster, her palm laying against his warm cheek.
Instantly, his tension began to roll away as she stroked her thumb along his jaw, watching as Ben's gaze fell to the floor, allowing her comfort.
The simple motion of letting himself be touched nearly made her weep, Rey's heart clenching as he took her comfort, and he gave his acceptance. There were no words for that moment, and Rey knew it.
Choosing not to uncuff him, Rey instead lifted his arms above his head and settled herself on his lap, straddling him and letting his cuffed arms encircle her.
He immediately buried his face in the crook of her neck, and Rey's own arms tightened around him, their hearts beating against one another as they finally found the peace they needed.
Rey let one arm fall against his chest, her hand resuming the stoke along his cheek beneath his hair. Ben refused to move, not budging from his position whatsoever as he breathed in her scent.
He couldn't make sense of it anymore, found no reason to even try.
Force be damned, Rey was his calm now.
Facing the demons of his past, and answering for the crimes he made, Ben knew he was down here because of his own wrong doing, and yet, even knowing what he's done and the consequences of his actions, Rey was still by his side, needing him just as much as he needed her.
Gulping away disbelief, he geared up to tell her what he felt.
"I... I apologiz-"
Rey shook her head, leaning away from to look him in the eye. "Don't. It's okay... I still love you." Rey shook her head, looking for the words as she softly spoke. "I still love you..."
Their eyes held on to one another, seeking and finding the truth in her words, and the acceptance he felt.
Rey leaned forward, pressing a small kiss to his bottom lip as he held still for a brief moment before capturing her lips with his, demanding more.
Rey's gasp flew away as his cuffed hands pressed her into him, the growing member that is his shaft becoming evident as her core pressed onto him.
Her cheeks grew hot as she returned his urgent kiss, her blood heating along with the pool in her abdomen, her desire growing and intertwining with his.
"Rey..." He breathed against her lips, a plea for more yet a cry of frustration at his inability to move with his cuffed hands. He could have used the force by now, but he dared not anger Rey in the moment, knowing if he was caught with broken cuffs, it could be the end of the truce between him and the Resistance.
With the small break of his mouth from hers, Rey took the opportunity to trail her lips along his chin and jaw, finding the odd sensation of his growing stubble pleasing along her mouth. Ben held still as best he could as she took whatever she wanted of him, shuddering as her teeth found the flesh beneath his earlobe.
Still, he grew harder, eager to get closer to Rey and consume her just as she was doing to him.
"Rey." He called again, demanding more when her hand delved into her hair.
Ben gulped, his hooded eyes barely open as she gently pulled at his hair, forcing his head back as she nipped at his skin again, marveling at the way his skin broke out in goosebumps beneath her touch.
She let a single fingertip glide along the top of his tunic, taking her time as she undid the clasps along his frontside, and eventually let her palm slide along his exposed abdomen.
His chest shuddered beneath her touch, still marveling at how innocent yet demanding her touches were.
Such like Rey, he decided.
With a quick thrust of his hip, he reminded her of his already aching member.
It wasn't about the simple need to relieve himself, nor was it the pure urge to have her. To Ben, Rey was never an object or a person that he could use and be done with.
His raw desire for her was alive and real, an entity all in its own as it aimed to seek her out physically, mentally, emotionally... Where ever he went, he always wound back at Rey, determined to do all and be all that she needed.
It wasn't long ago at all that he refused to bend the knee for anyone, yet here he was, incapable of resisting to any part of her she gave him.
Atop him still, Rey pressed hot, gentle kisses along his collar bone, trailing back up to meet his mouth with a slow, heated kiss. Her tongue danced with his, timid and shy, yet so painstakingly curious that Ben let her roam him and take charge, giving away the last of his will to be upset at the place he was currently sitting in.
Their lips moved together, a mix of kissing and nipping that began to drive Rey wild, heat welling within her as she experimentally rolled her hips onto him, basking in the feel of his throbbing member pressing against her in the perfect spot.
Rey gasped as she repeated the motion, her eyes slowly opening to watch Ben's reaction as he leaned his head against the wall behind him, suppressing a groan.
Eager for more, and needing to rid themselves of the day, Rey stood on her knees and unclasped the pin at the top of his pants, making quick work of them as she pushed the garment to his thighs, his legs moving to assist as his hands were still cuffed behind her back.
Rey thought of uncuffing him, even for the moment, but the way he was forced to hold her tight thrilled her in more ways than she could count, and the truth of it reached Ben's mind she realized, hearing his small smirk in the corners of her mind.
The sound made her eyes narrow at him, as he peered at her beneath hooded lids.
Taking another moment, Rey watched him as she pushed her own pants to her ankles with a small struggle, though her eyes never left his.
Without any hesitation, Rey grasped his member with a soft touch, studying his features as her grip firmed, the sound of a trembling breath escaping through his nostrils.
She gave him a long, solid stroke as Rey gently rested her forehead against his, and then leaned in to press another kiss to his now trembling lips. Her own abdomen quivered as she did so, the evidence of his want for her within the palm of her hand.
Moments like these, when they were shed of clothing and basking in each other's nudity and lust, reminded Rey that she had someone to call her own, someone that treated her as an equal, and not just a scavenger.
She felt powerful, and in this, it had nothing to do with the force.
His arms tightened around her, offering all the security he had, showing her the shelter he could provide, letting her know she was safe, over and over again, she was always safe.
Rey moved to kiss the corner of his mouth gently, and then pressed another kiss to his cheek, and for the quickest moment, he was lost in her, in the soft way she cared for him.
With a small gulp, Rey shifted on her knees, and positioned his shaft at her center, sliding down him so slowly that he feared that he'd finish right then.
Her eyes drifted close as her chin rose into the air, marveling at how she stretched to fit him snugly, every inch of him filling her and staking his claim against her walls.
As Rey settled on top of him, they both shared a shaky sigh, finally at the moment they were both eager to share, the intense need to take and give at a new peak.
She shifted her hips, readjusting her knees at his sides, beginning to slowly move onto him with the slick heat of her core throbbing with every movement.
The feeling alone caused a low moan to escape from Rey, her hand pressed flat against the wall behind Ben as the other lay at his bicep.
The sound of her tickled at his ear, and a sudden, hard tremble coursed through him, his hips jutting against her, causing her to fully envelop him.
Rey gasped as her eyes opened at the sensation, the sound of his own hitched breath filling the silence as she moved again, harder this time, her thighs slamming against his own as she watched his head fall back, eyes closing with a strangled huff.
Again, Rey moved, encouraged by his reaction and the feeling of his hard member brushing into a part within her that caused another raspy moan.
Without thinking, her hand flew into his hair, gripping onto it as if it were the only thing to anchor her to this place as she rode him, all her timid shyness gone as her curiosity found the perfect spot for both her and Ben.
Ben's palm lay flat against her tailbone, guiding her and keeping her in place as she made love for the both of him. The cuffs on his wrists clanked with every movement, and he was sure he'd never forget the now-delightful sound.
As she grew steadier with her motion, finding the best pace with a mix of hard and quick thrusts, his hands slid up her bare back beneath her tunic and wraps, his fingernails dragging against her flesh as they trailed back down.
Close now, his arms tightened at her waist and forced her chest flat against his, catching her off guard with a breathless gasp.
Their eyes met one another's as she paused before she leaned down and pressed a hot kiss to his lips, her tongue darting out to skim his lip. He quickly moved to capture her lips once more, though she dodged him by kissing his cheek, resuming the roll of her hips.
Again, the sound of her breathless, throaty moans tickled his ear, and he held her so tight that was unable to move on him as she buried her face in his neck.
Clenching his jaw tight in hopes of it distracting himself from releasing within her, Ben held her tight with his cuffed hands and immobile arms as he leaned back against the wall and thrust upwards from the floor, pressing into her harder and harder with every push.
Rey moaned into his neck, causing Ben's eyes to roll shut as he shuddered, a loud, raw grown escaping from him. She bit his shoulder to keep from herself from being too loud, but as Ben held her tight in place and helped her take all of him in, she couldn't help the breathless whine that filled the air around him, trembling as her body gave into her pleasure.
Wave after wave rolled through her as her release came, her eyes shut tight while Ben held her down onto him, thrusting more as she rode out her climax.
With a final thrust, Ben throbbed with her, tossing his head back as he trembled and hissed into the air, his own release pouring into her center, coating her walls and eventually his own thighs.
Their chests fell and rose, matching one another's grasp to regain their breath. Rey's arms looped behind his neck, and without moving, the cuffs unclicked and tumbled to the floor.
A small smile tugged at the corner of his lip.
( X )
Later in the night, Rey chose to reactivate the security camera, hoping that the act would save them from any backlash for being off in the first place, and though Rey was now on the other side of the locked cell, the cuffs remained off for now.
Ben lay on the cold ground, his arm pillowing his head as he looked at the ceiling, dreading the moment when Rey left, knowing his clouded thoughts would beckon him once more, keeping him from the sleep he wished for the first time in his life.
As the moment approached, Ben grew quiet, watching her from the corner of his eye. He stared at her as she climbed the stoned staircase, and disappeared around the corner, leaving Ben alone without a goodbye in the least.
His jaw unwillingly twitched as he tensed, wishing for her presence more.
He was just about to crush the bars of his cell with his mind when the lights dimmed, and Rey returned, holding two blankets and two pillows in her arms. Ben immediately sat up, studying her.
Skillfully, she slipped one of each to him through the bars, which he hesitantly took from her, watching with surprise as she situated herself on the floor on the other side of his cell.
As comfortable as she could be, Rey glanced up to his face and waited for him to do the same.
His mouth opened to say something, though he wasn't sure what, and quickly closed it as he moved closer to her, resting the pillow on the ground and draping the blanket over his legs.
Slowly, he laid down, turned his head to her to see that she was watching him with heavy eyelids.
After a brief moment, her arm slipped through the bars, holding her hand out to his.
Without any hesitation, he took her small hand and held it, wondering how a monster like himself could have ever been considered 'worthy' in a war like this.
( X )
Author's Notes: Ah. Some much needed not-so-quiet-time. Hope you all liked it! Sorry for the delay, a LOT of editing went into this one until I was finally happy lol. Since we are approaching the end of the story, I may add a few shorter chapters that lead up to the end, so be prepared. 😊 Thanks for reading!!
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