Supremacy Rescue, Sith Unearthed
Ben Solo was a goner when Rey Johnson walked into his life. But, he knew she was too good for him the moment he caught a glimpse of her devastating smile and sparkling humor in her eyes.
His life had never been a fairytale. His lonely childhood to loving but busy parents left little time for love and affection for the young boy as his feelings and darkness grew. A spy and First Order recruit, he ran as far and fast from his past as he could get to get away from the Skywalker legacy and all its expectations. It was only the threat to his family and, later, his father's death that brought him back to the Resistance, back to the light. But, too much time had passed—too much pain and death at his hands, he didn't know that he could ever make up for it. So he did what he could to make up for all he'd done. But it felt like a neverending battle that he would fight for the rest of his life.
***
Ben wouldn't admit that he'd been pining after the Last Jedi, Rey Johnson, from the moment she turned her beautiful eyes in his direction. Ben could tell from the first glimpse of Rey that she would be the end of him. He made sure to keep his distance in the few years that they'd been working together. He knew it was better that way. She was too good, too pure of spirit to sully with his dark past and tainted soul.
His mother had asked him if it would be a problem for them to work together, and Ben was very quick to say no. Although he never told his mother that the agony he felt working with Rey was nothing compared to the darker feelings he suffered daily, the idea of not seeing her was much worse.
They'd gone on missions together, fought global and galactic threats side by side. They were a perfect team. Two halves of a whole that could almost read each other's minds as they fought. Kaydel had informed him that they made a terrifying sight when they fought back-to-back.
In the beginning, Rey would always attempt to close the professional gap between them, and Ben had continued to rebuff her overtures of friendship. It was better for everyone that he remained in his self-imposed bubble without any romantic entanglements. Nevertheless, Ben longed to hold someone he loved in his arms, to share the evening hours after working to atone for his past sins. But, unfortunately, Ben still had enemies out there, and he couldn't trust that they would be safe, even if he could force his affections toward someone other than Rey.
He knew she was special the moment she walked through the door of the conference room to sit in on a debrief with the other agents.
*
Their mission on the Supremacy was the beginning of the fight of their lives and the end of the unspoken agreement to keep things professional between them though they didn't know it.
She took out Batroc's men with barely any need for the Trooper Unit on deck. She flipped, jumped, and used her staff and saber to disable the pirate crew while he downloaded the files his mother requested. He wished he could have seen her work. Her skill with her staff is unparalleled, and her saber technique threatens to overcome him when they spar. Their styles make them evenly matched, but her creativity and out-of-the-box thinking leave him on his toes.
He met her dark eyes with a barely suppressed wince when she confronted him about the lack of communication following the rescue.
"Our mission was to rescue hostages." Rey glared and poked a finger hard into his chest.
"No, that was your mission. I had more to do. You had everything well in hand—I'm sorry you weren't made aware of my objective." He tried to keep his tone soothing and his temper in check. Rey was justifiably angry with him for his actions during their mission. While he was given an extra directive from his mother, he wasn't aware that Rey was in the dark about it. But then, his mother had been acting a little secretive in the months leading up to them boarding the ship. Something was going on, and Leia was on the hunt for some trouble. And knowing his mother, she was definitely going to find it.
He apologized for keeping the mission details from her and couldn't stop the smile when Rey's glare melted into a kind smile before she nudged him with her shoulder.
"Don't let it happen again, Solo." Then, with a grin, she turned on her heel and left for an after-mission snack.
Ben turned away from Rey's retreating form to see Jannah in the opposite doorway with her arms crossed and a lifted eyebrow. He wasn't ready to hear how much of a sap he was and how it was so obvious of their feelings they should kiss already and put everyone else out of their misery.
He loved Jannah like a sister, and she was an excellent partner, but he wished she wouldn't push so much.
***
He could still see Jannah's scowling face as she tells him to "just ask her out already you bloody great tree!"
She'd given him a light smack at the back of the head when he glared back. Jannah had been on his case whenever their missions forced them away from their Avenger teammates. Before, he smirked and left the room without saying a word or ignored the words as if they'd never been spoken while they got on with the mission. But the more Ben and Rey had been thrown together, the harder it was to ignore the tug at his heart when Jannah pushed him to make an overture.
And seeing the chaos of the last few days, Ben wished he'd listened to her advice.
Ben swept the area around them constantly as he and Rey walked through the crowded shopping mall.
Rey walked beside him in a hoody and jeans while he sported a black sweatshirt and baseball cap, trying to look inconspicuous, but he couldn't tell how successful they were. His mind was only half on their surroundings and keeping eyes out for the Sith agents while the other half strayed towards Rey and how dressing like a civilian did nothing to take away from her inner light.
Ben had always seen her as a sun in human form. A bright presence that lit up a room whenever she entered it. Her continuous positivity and optimism never ceased to make him smile. And no matter what he did in an attempt to atone for his past sins, he would never be good enough to deserve her.
His dark thoughts threatened to take over his focus and make him forget their mission. As a former First Order operative, he'd learned everything he could ever need to fight and kill when directed. Ben knew how to survive. Though he'd been grateful to leave that life behind, Ben knew how to slip into the mindset of Kylo Ren and get through the mission.
When he agreed to join the Resistance to be Kylo Ren, he didn't realize that his greatest challenge had yet to come. He'd gone on every mission, fought the good fight just to be near her: Rey Johnson, the Last Jedi, and his tormentor.
But this time, she would need him more than ever before. Ben only hoped that he could push his feelings aside to be there for her, to help her survive the trials to come. No matter the heartbreak that might come from it, he would be strong for her.