Chapter Text
"Should we trust him?" Poe asked. Finn was just too angry to feel what the force was trying to tell him. He shook his head.
"Kylo Ren is a cold hearted tyrant who has killed thousands." Ben Solo, formerly Kylo Ren, looked down knowing of the horrors Kylo Ren has wrought.
"He's changed, Finn," Rey intervened. "He risked his life to save me." Finn shook his head furiously.
"He killed Han, his own father!" He locked his eyes on Rey. "He almost killed me." In his anger, he didn't see Ben biting his lip in shame and guilt, nor did he feel the emotions coming off of the very tall man.
"Move Rey," Poe said when Ben had let go of Rey's hand and she had taken step to his side. And, as soon as Poe felt like he had a clear shot, he lifted his blaster.
"Rey, I'm sorry, but this man has to pay."
Ben immediately turned his head towards Rey, his curly, dark locks swishing as he did so. All he could think about in that moment was Rey, to protect her so he slid himself between her and friends, that he wasn't sure he could trust right now, not when there was a blaster anywhere near Rey. Finn instinctively put his blaster up in case he needed it against the man he still knew as Kylo Ren. Ben put his hand up ready to use the force, if necessary to deflect any blaster lasers.
Rey looked at Ben, shocked at his act to protect her.
"Ben," She almost whispered. Ben turned to look at her and smiled softly.
"Rey, I'm not losing you. The galaxy cannot lose you." Rey could feel the sadness, along with another feeling, she felt he was keeping from her, through their force bond. She looked into his brown eyes where there were tears. Ben wasn’t thinking that these were Rey's friends who loved her, all was in his mind, was Rey and how there was blaster in their direction. He wanted to make sure it and it’s lasers were far from Rey.
"Me, however, after all. I've done-". Tears formed into Rey's eyes as she realized the weight of what he was just about to say. She shook her head furiously.
"No!" Rey knew what she had to do. She ran in front of Ben, causing him to stop mid sentence. Ben's eyes shone in awe. He began to step in back to in front of her but Rey held her arm out blocking him.
"Ben, you cannot do this!" These were her friends and she would deal with them. She knew Finn and Poe would not hurt her. In this, were Poe and Finn putting their blasters down. Ben shook his head and looked into her beautiful hazel brown eyes. Suddenly, Rey could feel it, that emotion that Ben had been blocking from her. Ben had finally opened up to that emotion as if he was scared to show her how he was feeling but wanted her to know. Rey coul feel it in the force, sure and true. And, it was very beautiful.
“Rey, I love you.” Ben's voice cracked as this was the first time he ever said it. Rey's eyes widened as she told him she loved him back through their bond. Ben's eyes shone brightly and the hugest grin on his face appeared.
Finn, and Poe looked at each other both totally shocked and disgusted.
“That’s just-that's just great.” Poe said. “Great, Rey, you’re in love with the enemy.”
“Wait, I think Rey is right. I think he is changed.”
Finn, finally listening to the force could feel the light in Ben. He looked at Rey.
"You really trust him?"
Rey nodded. "I do." Finn smiled at his best friend.
“Then, I do too.”
Poe looked at Ben.
"You won't hurt her?"
"I’d rather die," Ben told them. “She means everything to me.”