Chapter Text
It was something he’d always taken for granted. He grew up on Chandrila, the son of two war heroes, in a household wealthy enough to afford not one, but two service droids. Wondering where his next meal was going to come from wasn’t even a thought that crossed his mind, it was just always assumed.
His affluent upbringing had also afforded him the opportunity to try a wide assortment of foods throughout his childhood and young adult life, which was a luxury he felt he did not truly appreciate until he met Rey.
Rey, who was currently eyeing up the food-heavy table along the wall with awe and blatant longing.
“Want me to sneak you something?” he murmured low near her ear, and she angled her head toward him with a little chortle.
“Behave,” she whispered, and he pressed a kiss to her temple with a little smile.
“I am behaving. But you can’t honestly tell me you’d rather be paying attention to the rambling speech Monith is giving than digging in to the buffet table.”
“It’s an important speech,” she nudged her elbow into his abdomen lightly, “you had your chance to give one, you didn’t take it. So now we have to listen to Monith.”
“I honestly can’t determine which is worse,” he mumbled with a frown, “the idea of giving a speech or listening to this one.”
“Ben, hush,” she finally admonished, leaning back against him and drawing his arm around her waist.
He hushed, though he couldn’t keep the amused smile off his lips.
Monith’s speech dragged on, and Ben tried to ignore the looks being cast their way.
He had anticipated it, would have been surprised if people hadn’t stared, especially here, especially on this day.
Reconciliation Day, as it had been dubbed. The day, two full years ago now, that he and Rey had stared at each other across a battlefield, weapons drawn, and had found themselves completely unable to strike at each other.
It was a moment that had already started to pass into legend, with fanciful variations reaching different corners of the galaxy.
“Don’t be so surprised,” his mother had said, clearly amused when he had brought up his distaste for the exaggerations, “there were all kinds of weird legends surrounding your birth, too. You seem to be meant for dramatic myths to surround you.”
It was not much of a comfort, but as Rey pointed out, there wasn’t much they could do about it. They knew the truth of what had happened that day, the way the Force had risen inside them, spiraling out over the battlefield, stilling every soldier and machine until all was quiet. The way the Force had given them all a glimpse of the future, of the utter death and destruction of both sides, the whole galaxy ripped apart with no victor, no ruler, if they continued. Then a future that could be different, if they laid down their weapons that day, if they chose peace and unity.
Not a single weapon was fired after that, troopers and Resistance fighters alike laying down their arms as the two Force users at the center of it all came together, and a final vision, just for them. A vision of a life lived together, in unity and balance, with love and healing granted to them both.
The love part had come easily; he had loved her far before that moment, and he knew she did too. The healing was still an ongoing process, but one that they were committed to going through together.
Hence their presence at this celebration in the lavish capital on Chandrila, with the new Galactic Federation President giving his dry, formal speech while Rey thought longingly of the food table and they both pretended not to notice the stares aimed their way.
What are you thinking of trying first? he decided to ask over their connection, and she shook her head with a quiet giggle.
Shush!
I am shushed. We’re not disturbing anyone.
You’re disturbing me.
Look me in the eye and tell me that you’re not completely bored stupid by this speech.
She sighed, leaning her head back against his shoulder, and he pressed another kiss to her temple with a satisfied smirk.
Any recommendations? I don’t even know what most of that stuff is.
Start with a classic Core world snob food, Wakizan beetles.
She brought her hand up to her face, feigning an itchy nose to hide the laugh she was determined to keep silent.
Let me guess, a “delicacy” here that you utterly hate.
And that you’ll probably love. Their texture is off putting to me, but you probably won’t mind it the way I do.
What’s their texture?
Their exoskeletons make them crunchy when you first bite into them, but the heat of frying them makes their insides all gooey. Which I think is revolting.
And sounds completely delicious to me.
My point exactly.
She pressed her lips together to hide another laugh, but he could feel her abdomen shaking a little with it anyway.
Or you could play it safe with the nerf stew, he offered, if you’re not up for more adventurous eating today.
Are you kidding? How long now have you known me? When am I not up for adventurous eating?
There’s a first time for everything.
Well, today is not that day.
It was his turn to hide a laugh, pressing his face into her hair and squeezing his arm around her.
I love you, was all he could think to say, the feeling of it engulfing him as he breathed in the sweet smell of her hair and drank in the heat of her body pressed against his.
The feeling was immediately reciprocated, her love washing over him like sinking into a warm bath.
I love you too.
The sound of applause drew them out of their silent conversation, and Rey clapped politely as Ben pressed another kiss to her hair.
Think we can get away with only an hour more of socializing before making our escape? he asked hopefully, and she allowed herself to laugh as she stepped to his side, sliding her arm around his waist.
“I think your mother may strangle us,” she murmured with a little smirk, and he shrugged one shoulder passively.
“Let’s be honest,” he said softly back, “no one here actually wants to speak to me. I’ve made my obligatory appearance for the holos, they have more than enough images of us being diplomatic together, they won’t miss me now that the public image nonsense is over.”
“And I should banish myself from this very nice party with you, should I?” she asked with raised eyebrows, but there was a smirk in the corner of her mouth.
“I can think of a few ways to make it worth your while,” he said with casual innocence, though the mental image he sent her of licking forest-honey off her neck was anything but.
Her face went adorably pink, and she gave him a little grin.
“Food and socializing for an hour,” she promised quietly, “then forest-honey. I promise.”
“I love you,” he murmured with delight, and she smirked.
“Love you too.”
And really, he couldn’t complain, when “food and socializing for an hour” somehow became various diplomats convincing her to taste the delicacies they had brought from their homeworlds.
Rey tried them all with enthusiasm, and seemed to genuinely enjoy every one, even the Wakizan beetles. It was one of his favorite things about her, if he was being honest; her zeal for new experiences that reminded him that there was still joy to be found, despite the things they had gone through.
He let her enjoy it, despite his desire to steal her away all for himself.
It’s been over two hours, I’m surprised you aren’t carrying me out of here over your shoulder.
Her voice in his head drew him out of his reverie. He blinked, turning to focus on her instead of the vacant staring out the window he had been doing as the buzz of people flowed around them.
You’re enjoying yourself, he offered simply.
There was a warm rush of affection through their bond, her face softening into something so gentle it made his throat feel thick.
She stepped a little closer, rising up on her toes to press a kiss to his lips, and he bowed his head to meet her eagerly.
You taste sweet, he commented, making her grin against his mouth.
“That would be the bluefruit jam,” she she giggled, holding up her little plate of soft bread and assortment of spreads, “it’s quite good. Want some?”
She scraped a little bit of the vibrant blue jam onto a piece of bread, offering it up to him with a little smile. Without hesitation, he ducked his head to take it from her, laving his tongue teasingly at the pads of her fingers as he drew the sweet snack into his mouth.
“Shameless,” she whispered with a little smirk and shake of her head, taking her hand back as he chewed.
“You’re right, it is good,” he commented innocently, making her smile wider. “What else do you have there?”
She knew what he was doing, but she seemed interested in indulging him instead of trying to make him behave himself.
“Roseberry jam, saltnut butter, and forest-honey,” she informed him, pointing to each, “though I’ve been told to be careful not to mix the bluefruit jam with the saltnut butter, apparently the combination is completely revolting.”
“It is,” he scrunched his nose up, “I made the mistake of taking on dare involving that combination as a child. It was... not pretty, to say the least.”
She laughed, picking up another piece of bread and this time dipping it into the pink roseberry jam. “Somehow that story does not surprise me.”
“How so?” he asked as she offered the bread to him again, and again she allowed him to eat it from her fingers.
“Because I know you,” she murmured with a smirk, bringing her fingers to her own mouth to lick at a bit of roseberry jam he had missed, “and the fact that you were too prideful even as a kid to turn down a challenge is very in line with the man you are now.”
It was frustratingly true, he couldn’t deny, and she held the plate out of the way as she pushed up on her toes again to kiss him.
“I’m working on it,” he mumbled against her lips, and she pressed another little kiss there with a hum.
“I know,” she whispered, pulling back again and looking at him fondly, “you’ve come a long way since Takodana.”
Takodana; it felt like a lifetime ago, the first time he had laid eyes on her.
She dipped a piece of bread into the saltnut butter and popped it into her mouth before doing it again with a second piece so she could offer it to him.
The change from the sweetness of the roseberry jam to the salty bite of the saltnut was a little jarring on his taste buds, but not unpleasant, and he hummed in satisfaction. Then it was back to sweet, the golden forest-honey dripping onto her finger as she brought the bread to his mouth.
He raised his hand to grip her wrist lightly, keeping her still as he took her finger into his mouth as well, sucking the sticky spread from her skin.
You make it taste even better, he sent, and her lips parted as a blush spread across her cheeks, and I do believe you promised me.
He recalled the image he had sent her earlier, of licking the forest-honey off her neck, and she gave a soft moan as desire bloomed across their connection.
I did, didn’t I? she acknowledged as he let her finger slip from his mouth. We should get a bit more for the road then, shouldn’t we?
He smiled, dipping his head down to kiss her, and Rey smirked happily against his lips.
I love you.
I love you too.