Work Text:
It was getting harder and harder to be inconspicuous. Their friends were slowly starting to become suspicious, but to Ben and Rey, the only thing that mattered was each other. It started with short conversations with their friends, before they realized they had a little more in common with each other that they’d previously thought. Short talks turned into quick glances across the room and hands briefly touching as they passed each other the corridor. Soon enough, they’d find themselves enveloped in the soft lavender haze coming from Rey’s lamp.
“I think Poe is onto us.” She said softly. They’d been sitting like this for a good hour, Ben sitting up straight on Rey’s bed while she lay on her back, head resting on his legs while he mindlessly played with strands of her hair. She’d lost count of the midnights they’d spent just like this, enjoying each others company. It had become their weekend routine. When they didn’t have to be at work, they’d pick his place or hers, and meet at the dead of night, when everything felt that little bit more romantic. She felt Ben breath out a small laugh, and looking up at him, frowning.
“I think he started suspecting the minute we stopped yelling insults at each other.” He explained. He had a point, up until recently, they’d only been connected through their friendship group, and hurling profanities at each other was the only way they knew to communicate. At work they were rivals, and at every opportunity they had they would try and counter each others moves, much to their friends frustrations. Rey could only imagine their reactions if they found out how close they actually were.
“Rose watches us like a hawk, it’s ridiculous.” Ben lets out a snort, making Rey giggle. His hands pause for a moment, letting one rest on her cheek. Rey lifts up her hand to meet his, and wonders how she got this lucky.
“I don’t care what anyone says, you know that right?” He urged. Rey tried not to either, but sometimes it was hard to ignore the scrutiny she was under. He handled it with a grace that impressed her, and she was an anxious mess. Even though she’d never admit it, she loved the thrill of keeping them a secret, so she’d deal with whatever gossip was thrown at her if they could keep this up.
“I know.” She sighed.
They’d been talking to three in the morning when sleep finally began to reach them. Rey loved how they could talk for hours, losing track of time completely. It was just them, and that would always be enough for her.
“I could stay like this forever.” She whispered. She meant it, looking up at him, half asleep and bathing in lavender light. Her midnights alone were filled with racing thoughts, looming monsters and demons that she wasn’t ready to face. Her midnights with him were quiet and calm, filled with soft chatting about nothing and everything all at once. She learned about his dreams, his nightmares, and he protected her from hers. She couldn’t imagine another midnight without him. It went the same way, every time; they’d fall asleep and wake up in each others arms, ready to face the day together. Their friends and enemies could scream and shout and speculate, but they would always have their midnights.