Chapter Text
The Mess Hall has fallen into complete chaos. Screaming Padawans, spilled food, broken bowls, upturned tables and chairs, and, at the center of it all: a girl who has been pinned to the ceiling with an array of cleverly-placed forks through her robe.
Luke releases a long sigh. He had rather hoped that his students would be more mature and accepting of their new peer, but unfortunately despite being force users, they’re still children.
“It’s the Dark-sider, Master!”
“She’s pinned Caljen to the ceiling!”
“Yes, I heard you all the first time just fine,” Luke drawls. “I want all of you to retire to your beds. You will be summoned to clean up your mess later.”
As the chastened Padawans file out the door, Luke appraises his new pupil, who has yet to notice him. She seems completely focused on his nephew. Interesting.
“Master!” Caljen shrieks, clearly displeased to still be trapped to the ceiling.
“Young Rey,” Luke addresses his new student, and she reluctantly tears her gaze away from Ben. Interesting, he thinks again, then gestures to the angry Padawan on the ceiling. “I trust you can release her and slowly lower her to the floor.”
There is a beat of hesitation before a murmured, “Yes, Master.” The forks are simultaneously pulled from Caljen’s robe, but she doesn’t drop the Padawan on the ground like a sack of potatoes. Rey exhibits masterful control in the way she eases her to the floor, even turning her upright so Caljen lands on her feet. The forks are laid in a neat row on the table.
Caljen is fuming. Once she’s back on solid ground, she storms over to Luke and Ben. “Master, forgive me, but this Dark-sider is—”
“I will accept no more of this behavior,” Luke cuts her off, his tone level but stern. “I am your Master, and I have chosen to bring Rey here to learn the ways of the Light. I expect all of my Padawans to respect my decision and to treat Rey with respect.”
Caljen bows her head, thoroughly chastened. “Yes, Master.”
“You may join your fellow Padawans,” he dismisses her. She bows her head once more before ducking out of the room.
When he turns his attention back to Rey, he notices she’s focusing on Ben again. His nephew seems equally invested in her. If Luke weren’t a trained Jedi Master, he would be unable to fight off an amused, shit-eating grin. Very, very interesting.
He notes the stains from spilled food down the front of Rey’s robe. “I apologize for the behavior of my Padawans, Rey. I assume that you were provoked to make such a display of Caljen.”
Rey’s eyes dart between Luke’s and Ben’s. She nods her head, shrugs her shoulders. She’s not very talkative.
“I will make sure this never happens again and that you feel nothing but welcomed here. However, as much as I’m sure they deserved it, this reckless use of the Force is prohibited. Considering your circumstances, I will let you off with a warning. Next time, you will be punished with the rest.”
Rey nods her head in understanding but says nothing. Perhaps she will rub off on Ben, Luke thinks hopefully. He talks too much, just like his father.
“I wanted to introduce you to my nephew, but it seems as though you two already know each other.” Rey’s and Ben’s eyes go wide, and he finally has their full attention. “I sense a strong connection between the two of you in the Force.”
“We have met before,” Ben says carefully, eyes flickering over to Rey. “We’ve seen each other in dreams, or…some sort of visions.”
Even more interesting still. “Why didn’t you tell me of this sooner?” Luke asks his nephew.
Ben scratches the back of his head. “It was a long time ago. We haven’t seen each other in years. I wasn’t even sure if it was real.”
Rey stays silent, but her body language is attentive, if not nervous.
“I suspect you two are a dyad in the Force,” Luke says, his flat tone failing to convey his shock and curiosity. “This is an incredibly rare bond that is stronger than life itself.”
From their pale faces, drawn expressions, and wide eyes, Luke decides he’s vexed the two teenagers enough for one night. “We will explore your bond later in your studies. For now, I want you to reacquaint yourselves with one another.” He turns to his nephew. “Ben, I want you to show Rey around and to watch over her. Make sure she acclimates well to the academy.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Apparently, I have some brats to deal with, so I will see the two of you in the morning for training.”
Rey nods, Ben mutters a sheepish good night, and Luke can hardly wait to tell Leia all about this later.
The air is silent and heavy with anticipation once Luke leaves. Ben can’t take his eyes off of Rey, a fact that would make him embarrassed if she didn’t seem to feel it too.
He struggles with what to say to her. I’m glad you’re okay; I was scared that something happened to you when our bond closed. I had nightmares about you dying. I still do sometimes. Your freckles are still pretty.
“Your robe,” Ben blurts, and Rey startles slightly at his sudden, loud voice. “Your robe has, uh,” he gestures down the front of his robe inelegantly. “It’s dirty.”
She nods and ducks her head, but he swears he can see the faintest blush on her face. He’s sure he’s flustered too, and he’s also royally fucked this up because now she won’t meet his gaze anymore. Dumbass, he curses internally.
“Do you want—uh, I can show you where to get a clean one?” It’s a statement posed as a question, but she nods anyway and follows him when he starts down the hallway.
“Did you ever figure it out? The, uh—” Why does it seem so awkward to bring it up? “The Force bond thing.”
Rey nods her head. Ben starts to get a little desperate, worried that she’ll never talk to him again after he made such an ass of himself, but then she startles him with her voice. “I was the one who closed our bond all those years ago.”
Ben’s mind is racing, trying to discern something tangible from her vague response. “Oh.” He means to add something to that, but he can’t quite put into words his immense confusion about everything that’s happened since Luke interrupted his training.
Rey has mercy on him and continues. “I did not want my Master to find out about you.”
“ Oh. ” Her Master as in Snoke, the evil Dark-sider who seeks to vanquish the light. That guy.
His heart swells uncomfortably in his chest for a moment, realizing she’d done this to protect him. She’d suffered for years alone just to save him from her same dark fate.
Ben tries to find a way to convey his feelings of gratitude and sympathy without coming off as a complete jackass, but he can’t quite pull it together before they reach their destination. “So, this is the laundry room. This is where everyone does their laundry,” he explains quite eloquently.
She looks around as Ben fetches a small folded robe from the stack of clean clothes. “Here,” he says, handing it to her. “And I'm sorry about the way they treated you. They’re not bad kids, they just…they just don’t know you yet.”
“Thank you,” she says about the fresh robe.
Ben watches her for a moment, marveling at how much she’s grown up. Her features have sharpened into a fine, pretty face, almost birdlike. She’s corded with lean muscle from years of training. He fights a smile when he sees her hair—it’s still styled into three buns, a look that is uniquely her.
Her eyes dart to the clean robe clutched in her hands and there’s a faint blush rising on her cheeks. The air between them is tense and awkward again, and then he realizes why.
“Right, I’ll just, uh—I’ll go out into the hallway to give you some privacy. See you when—you know.” He’s out the door before she can get a word in edgewise, not that he was expecting her to. Once he’s in the hallway and the door is closed behind him, he smacks his hand against his forehead. Smooth. Real fucking smooth, Solo.