Ben had just left work and he was exhausted. He was still second guessing his choice to come home to his mother. After his father passed, which he totally blamed himself for, he couldn't watch her suffer alone. He left his cushy job as a senior lawyer at First Order Law Firm to come home and work at the District Attorney's office. He was working his ass off to prove he wasn't a scumbag and then coming home to his mother's house, which had to change. He took a significant pay cut but was actively looking to buy a condo.
It was Friday night, his work week was over, and he was both physically and mentally exhausted. He decided he would go to the local bar and unwind. He wasn't much of a social drinker, but he dreaded the idea of going to sit on Mommy's couch and watch tv one more night. He drove his black TIE, a car he was particularly proud of, to the local drinking hole, The Canto Bight. It's a dumb name for a dumb bar.
He waltzes in as his cell phone dings. He checks it, it's Hux, a coworker who has decided he and Ben are going to be friends. Ben quickly shoots a text back asking Hux if he wants to meet for a drink, it's better than drinking alone, Ben decides. Hux says he'll be here soon. Ben sits at the bar and orders a dark and stormy. He puts his phone away and enjoys the moment to himself. The music is playing in the background and Ben can hear groups of young people gleefully dancing and chatting away.
Rey notices him the second he walks into the bar. How could she not, he is significantly taller than everyone else, probably 6 foot 3. He is dressed in all black, and he has a scar that runs from under his right down and disappears into his black tee shirt. She felt like everyone else in the bar should have stopped what they were doing and stared at him, too. But she was the only one who did. She was out with Poe, Finn, and some of their friends from school. She had been friends with Finn forever and his boyfriend Poe had been around for a long time. Rey went to Resistance University, up the road, and the boys when to ATU, which was also up the road in a different direction. This bar was the perfect middle spot and Poe and Finn always brought friends with them. Rey had a hard time making friends. She wasn't shy, she was confident and had a sharp mind, and tongue. She just wasn't interested in many of the people she went to school with. Finn and Poe were socialites.
This man walked in, checking his cell phone, and stalked to the bar. He ordered a drink, made with whiskey it looks like, and sat down. He seemed to be glad for the silence and time alone. He had a content look on his face. She was drawn to him, something inside her. She was about to go talk to him, even though she had idea what she was going to say, when his head snapped and he made eye contact with her. She didn't know if he could feel her staring or what, but his eyes met hers and he didn't back down. It felt intense and neither of them was willing to look away. The jingle of the bell over the door made him avert his eyes. She kept staring. He greeted the man who entered the bar and interrupted their staring contest.
Ben could all of a sudden sense a presence behind him. He turned quickly and met the eyes of a young woman who was obviously staring at him and not trying to hide it at all. He didn't know why, or why he had known, but he had. He stared back at her, not wanting to look away and give the impression he was weak. She was slight, and young, but was powerful. He could just tell. He was drawn to this stranger in a bar. He immediately regretted invited Hux, because now he wouldn't be able to bring this stranger to his bed later. Something about this girl was unique.
The bell rang and he looked to the door and saw Hux walk through. Hux smiled and waved and Ben just turned back to the bar, furious. He could still feel the girl's eyes on him. He was dying to look back, or drag her over to him, or just pick her up and take her. He didn't know what he wanted to do, or why, but he knew he wanted to do something. He and Hux talked about work a little bit and shot the shit. It was pleasant. Ben told Hux some stories of his old Boss at First Order, Snoke. Hux laughed in all the right places and smiled on cue.
After 3 drinks and 2 hours, Ben was too tired to stay.
"Hux, I hate to be a party pooper, but I have to go, I have a busy day planned tomorrow," Ben told him.
"Yeah, I should get back too, Phas will be made if I stay out too late," he replied.
They settled their tabs and Hux got up to leave. Ben told him he was going to use the bathroom first and he would see him Monday. Ben needed an excuse to be alone in the bar. He could feel this girl looking at him throughout the night, and every time he looked up, her eyes were on her.
Rey saw the man stalk to the bathroom and his friend leave. She wandered over to the restrooms and propped herself on a wall. When he exited the men's room, Rey was close by.
"Why are you watching me," the man said.
"I don't know, why are you watching me?" she asked back.
"It's hard not to," he replied. Her cheeks turned red.
"What's your name," she asked him.
"Ben," he replied.
"Rey," she said back, without being asked.
"Rey," Ben replied, "want to ditch this bar?"
"Yes," she answered.
He reached out and took her by the hand. He walked her to his car, which she admired.
"Wow, is that a TIE?" she asked. Rey spent most of her youth working in a junkyard and repairing old cars. She knew a lot about cars and the way things worked.
"Yes, it is," he said, impressed by her knowledge.
He held the passenger door open for her to get in. Rey thought about how chivalry was dying and knew he must have been older than she was. Once she entered his car she was nervous, she just left the bar with a man and she only knew his first name. What if he were going to kill her? What if he were going to hurt her? She didn't know why, but she felt safe.