Chapter Text
Ben leaned against the improvised bar in the department's student lounge and looked around. Normally, the room was used by study groups and for occasions like today's. The organisers had done a great job, the entire room was decorated with Halloween stuff: cobwebs, candles, skeletons and pumpkins were in every corner, on the window ledges and on open spaces. In the front of the room, there was a screen set up, and full of chairs and beanbags, a somewhat ugly large and old sofa, and lots of pillows on the floor. In the back of the room, where there was also a small open kitchen with a refrigerator, was a bar set up. Poe was busy behind the bar and Ben was waiting for Rey to arrive. He had already ordered something to drink and sipped his drink while keeping an eye out for her.
He desperately needed the drink; he had spent the afternoon recovering from the talk he had with Amylin Holdo, one of the professors on his committee. Ben had listened to Rey’s advice and went to her to ask about her opinion on his work so far. Even now Amylin’s words were still haunting him. She was a harsh critic of Snoke and had been speaking to Ben's conscience. "Listen Ben, your work is solid, what Professor Snoke is asking you to do won't get you anywhere, it's wasted time," she had said to him. "You have three first-author papers in your hand, and how many as a co-author? If you were in my lab, you'd have finished your thesis by now, but Snoke knows full well that he'll lose you if you defend and he wants to delay that at all costs." Ben had not expected such direct words from her. He knew Holdo wasn't a fan of Snoke, but he hadn't expected her to criticise his supervisor like that. "Let me talk to Kennedy and Pryde, if they agree with me, we can overrule Snoke. What do you think?" He didn't know if he wanted her to do that. He owed Snoke an incredible amount and it felt like he was betraying him. Ben sighed and stroked through his hair. He didn't know what to do.
All those thoughts were swept away when Rey stepped through the door with Finn. Ben couldn't help but stare. She looked stunning. He had never seen her with her hair down, usually she had her hair tied back in three buns – quirky but cute – but this time she wore her hair down and slightly curled. She smiled when she saw him and walked straight towards him. Ben was blown away.
"What are you drinking?" she asked him as she came to stand beside him. Finn had given him a quick nod and gone straight to Poe.
Ben cleared his throat to gather his senses. "It's a Wolfsbane Potion," he said, looking into the glass of brown liquid.
Rey laughed. "Are you trying to tell me something with that? Should I be careful next full moon?"
Ben shook his head with a grin and looked at her. "I swear, I'm not a werewolf."
"Too bad. Maybe another animal?" asked Rey.
"Nope. Sorry to disappoint, no shape-shifting from me."
"Uuugh," she said theatrically, "nothing exciting ever happens."
Ben chuckled.
"So, what's in this wolfsbane potion?"
"It's scotch, fernet and cola but they have other drinks as well." Ben handed her the drink menu.
"Oh, they are all Harry Potter themed," she said as she accepted the menu. "That's such a great idea! So let's see... Unicorn Blood – ugh no, that name alone. The Phoenix Feather, Butterbeer, Polyjuice Potion – gin, green juice, lime... too healthy for my taste. And ooh, the Amortentia Love Potion – that sounds good. I'll take one."
Ben turned to the bar and called out, "Hey, Poe? Can you bring us one Love Potion?"
"Do you really need that, Ben?" asked Poe with a laugh, ladling fruit punch into a cup from a large bowl.
Ben just shook his head at Poe and turned back to Rey, "Are you ready for the Movie Marathon?"
She nodded, "Yeah, I don't know how long I'll last though."
Poe joined them at that moment with Rey's drink in hand. "You guys want some popcorn too?" he asked, holding out a bag to them. "Have fun you two," Poe said with a grin, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Yeah, thanks," Ben said, taking the popcorn and Rey's drink and passing it to her. "Long day?" He asked.
"You could say that. First at Maz', followed by TA assignments and then two lectures in the afternoon."
"Whew, sounds exhausting."
Rey yawned. "Yeah, that's why… let's see."
"So, should we find a seat?" asked Ben.
Rey smiled and nodded.
The sofa and the bean bags were already occupied by other people, the chairs looked a bit uncomfortable so they grabbed some cushions and sat down on the floor. Ben stretched his long legs forward and propped himself back with his arms. Rey sat cross-legged next to him so that her knee lightly touched his thigh. And Ben was very conscious of that touch. He felt his skin tingle where Rey touched him.
The lights in the room were turned off and the movie started. Ben had already seen it several times and had to really concentrate not to keep looking over at Rey. Out of the corner of his eye he could see her face and he found it so much more exciting than the movie.
The popcorn bag stood between them and every time they both reached into it at the same time, they both whispered an embarrassed "sorry". Poe, sitting behind them, could only roll his eyes.
The movie was barely halfway through when Rey leaned against his shoulder and whispered in his ear, "Do you think Thing T. Thing is as creepy as I do? No matter how many times I watch this movie, I can't get over how gross I find it."
Ben had to close his eyes as she whispered in his ear. He felt goosebumps all over his body. It was almost like torture. He would have liked to turn his head in her direction, pull her onto his lap and kiss her senselessly – he wouldn't have cared that the room was full of people. But he controlled himself and merely nodded.
In the brief intermission between the first and second films, Ben went to the bar to get drink refills for the two of them. Poe was back at the bar as well, Ben had his arms crossed on the bar counter and was resting his head on it. "Oh God, Poe, what the hell..?" muttered Ben.
Poe laughed and placed another Wolfsbane Potion and Love Potion in front of him. "Solo, I haven’t seen you like this in…”, he stopped, looking a bit shocked, “...never?”
Ben groaned. “This is embarrassing.” He took a deep breath and took a deep swig of his drink, while Poe grinned at him. He took the two drinks and walked back to Rey.
At some point during the second movie, Rey put her head on his shoulder and asked, "This okay?"
"Yes, of course," he whispered.
"I'm sorry, I'm so tired."
"Do you want to go home?"
Rey shook his head. "No, I want to finish watching the movie."
"Okay," Ben replied, putting his arm gently around her back. "This okay?" he asked.
Rey nodded and snuggled into his arm as best she could. After a few minutes, Ben felt Rey's breathing become even. He glanced over at her and saw that she had her eyes closed. Carefully, he stroked her hair out of her face and couldn't stop looking at her; now that he had an undisturbed opportunity to do so.
* * *
When the movie ended Ben gently tried to wake up Rey. He stroked her arm and spoke softly to her.
"It's not going to work like that," Finn said to Ben from behind. "She's pretty much the deepest sleeper. You're going to have to do that a little more forcefully."
Ben nodded and said a little louder, "Rey?" He shook her arm lightly to wake her up.
"Hmm?" she asked sleepily.
"Rey, the movie's over. Do you want to go home?"
She opened her eyes slowly and looked around blinking. "Yeah. Home would be good," she said, rubbing her eyes. "Sorry," she yawned and slowly got up from the floor.
Ben followed her suit. "I can walk with you if you like?"
Rey nodded. "Let's go," she said to Ben and took his hand.
* * *
Ben walked Rey home safely and so Finn wouldn't worry – because he always worried about her –, she sent him a text. With her phone in her hand, she sat on her bed and looked out the window. The moon was almost full and she couldn't help thinking of Ben's comment. She grinned to herself like an idiot. The evening was nice, even if she had slept through half of the second film. At least she had finally been able to test the cuddliness of Ben's arms and it was terrific. She had felt warm and safe and would have liked to spend the whole evening – hell, the whole night – in them.
> Rey: Thank you for walking me home. And I'm sorry I fell asleep on you.
> Ben: Don't worry. You're welcome.
She wanted to spend more time with him, ideally while awake and maybe it was time to ask him if he wanted that too? Rey took a deep breath and started typing.
> Rey: There's an autumn market this weekend, do you want to go there with me? I promise not to fall asleep this time.
> Ben: That sounds great.
> Rey: It's a date. 😊
> Ben: Perfect!
> Rey: Good night 💛
> Ben: Good night, Rey.