Chapter Text
Reaching across, she took his hand, interlocking her fingers with his. Straight away he began to pull his hand away, leaving hers cold. He had an almost pained look upon his face. Instinctively she reached her hand up to stroke his face, brushing a lock of hair from his eyes. He flinched and drew away from her touch. She snapped.
"Dammit Ben, what have I done wrong?" She cried out, scrambling up from the bench they'd shared.
"Nothing...what do you mean?" he asked, frowning.
He could feel her anger across the bond, not just anger, hurt. He had hurt her. He knew it would only be a matter of time. His chest tightened.
"Is this not what you want anymore?" her voice began to increase in volume; he was aware of various members of the Resistance watching them awkwardly.
He wasn't sure what he had done and tried to reach out to her, but her feelings were eratic.
"Do you not want me anymore?" her voice cracked with emotion.
He stood up, stepping closer, keeping his voice low.
"Rey I don't know what you mean?"
Tears began to trickle down her cheeks as she rubbed her own arms as though cold.
"Whenever we're with people you...wont hold my hand, you won't kiss me."
She looked so small and lost, hurting.
"Of course I want you Rey, you're everything to me," his deep voice shook. "I'm just trying to make is easier for you."
"How?!" she asked increduously.
He looked around furtively, knowing people were watching though pretending not to. Rey did not seem bothered, asking him again even louder.
"You know what I was, everyone here knows who I am. I didn't want people to judge you or give you a hard time. I don't deserve you, I know it, they know it and you know it...deep down."
As he had been talking, Rey's features had softened.
"Ben," she said his name softly, taking a step towards him, taking his hands in hers.
He tried to extricate them but she wouldn't let him.
"No Ben, I love you," she spoke gently, carefully. "I want to show you every day we are together."
His fingers clutched hers tight as tears filled his eyes.
"If I want to hold your hand I will, if I want to stroke your hair I will, If I want to touch your cheek I will," she kept her eyes locked on his. "If I want to kiss you in front of everybody Ben Solo, nobody is going to stop me."
With that she took his face in her hands, pulling it down to hers kissing him softly on the lips.
"I love you Ben and you are worthy of so much."
She kissed him again, feeling the wetness of his quiet tears mingle with her own. Pulling away from him her heart warmed at the sight of his smile. The same smile he had given her when he had bought her back on Exegol.
"Are we clear?"
He nodded, letting his hands wrap around her waist, resisting the urge to pull away, to hide.
"I love you Rey."
She slid her hands up tonthe back of his neck.
"You're home Ben."