A/N - Hiya, peeps! I've had the idea for this story rattling around in my head for a while, and it has finally chosen to show itself in words. I know that I have another fic going right now, so I am going to try juggling the two of them. Reviews appreciated!
Disclaimer - I do not own Star Wars. Actually, I don't own much besides a pair of pajamas, two cats, and a ton of homework.
Luke took in a deep breath.
He's here.
Wrapping his cloak tighter around himself in a vain attempt to shield off the bitter winds, Luke Skywalker briskly strode across the frozen forests of Starkiller Base, all of his attention directed towards his wayward nephew.
He's here.
To anyone else, those two words may not have meant much. Most people hadn't felt such heartbreak as the Jedi, hadn't endured such heavy feeling of longing and neglect, hadn't known what it was like to be struck down by people who were meant to love you.
Twice.
Luke knew that he could take it. For their sake, he could take it.
But it wasn't easy.
Next stop, Luke told himself, Starkiller Command.
)(0)(
Han strode beside Finn in his typical scoundrel style, nervously keeping his eyes peeled for a certain emo son of his. Half of the smuggler desperately wanted to see his son again, but the other half wanted to get far, far away from here as fast as possible.
Unfortunately, neither of those things were quite possible right now.
Han blinked, and there stood several dozen Stormtroopers directly in front of them, blasters pointed dead ahead.
Dead ahead, thought Han to himself. Dead. Ha ha.
He and Finn began to slowly raise their hands into the air, the tight feeling in his chest suddenly increasing like crazy.
Oh no, no, no...
Han didn't have time to muse over it anymore, because watching a Jedi jumping around while holding a green lightsaber can sure be distracting.
Especially when that Jedi is your long-lost brother-in-law, not to mention the universe's last hope.
Luke!
)(0)(
It had not been Finn's best day.
First he had defected from the First Order while helping a Resistance pilot escape, who turned out to be the best pilot in the whole fleet. Then there was the run-in with Rey, almost getting eaten by Rathtars, meeting Han Solo, joining the Resistance (sort of), and now he was witnessing Luke Skywalker himself give several Stormtroopers a serious whacking.
If it weren't for the fact that he had yet to find Rey, it might have been interesting to see.
Might have.
)(0)(
The very first thing Han Solo did after seeing Luke Skywalker for the first time in fifteen years was to punch him in the face. Then hug him.
Luke hugged him tightly back, the familiar pulling at his heartstrings that had been there since Ben defected tugging tighter one more time before letting go. He could barely feel the stinging on his jaw, and he openly accepted the pain if it meant that Han, his brother, was really here.
After several long moments the two men broke away. Han grasped his friend's shoulders and held him at an arm's length. "You look different, kid."
Luke chuckled softly. "You look older."
Han grimaced, realizing with a pang how very different and yet the same Luke was. Slowly he nodded his head. "You've a ton of explaining to do, kid."
Luke smiled sheepishly, ducking his head. "I'm really sorry."
Han felt his eyes begin to water. "Yeah, I know."
A subtle cough behind them made the two men spin around. Finn stood awkwardly, looking more anxious than Han had ever seen him. "Right, I almost forgot. Kid, this is Finn, aka rouge Stormtrooper, aka Big Deal. Be nice, now. He knows how to swing a lightsaber."
Luke broke into his wide, boyish grin. "Pleased to meet you, Finn."
Finn nervously shook hands, feeling his breath catch in his throat, hardly able to believe this was happening. Here was Han Solo just casually introducing him to Luke Skywalker, of all people, who hadn't showed up in the past decade-and-a-half.
Either this was just a dream, or he'd died and gone to heaven.
Something in Luke's bright, sparkling blue eyes made him think it was the latter.
The three of them quietly slunk through the ship's gleaming halls, keeping their eyes peeled for anything that looked like a control room. Finn's heart was beating even more wildly than before, if that was possible, and sweat was pouring off his brow.
Nothing unusual going on here, he thought to himself. Just an ex-Stormtrooper, Han Solo, and Luke Skywalker sneaking around Starkiller Base in the hopes to blow it up and rescue a girl I only meet hours ago. Yup, nothing strange going around here at all.
Luke flashed Finn a look of sympathy, remembering how nervous he'd been sneaking aboard the Death Star, and Finn couldn't help but wonder if the Jedi could read his thought. Nah, he told himself, that's ridiculous.
Is it?
)(0)(
Rey slowly crept through the corridors, heart beating wildly in her chest. When she bumped into Finn, she nearly screamed, first out of fear, then relief.
"Finn, it's you! I was so worried!"
Finn grasped her tightly as Luke and Han looked on. "Me, too."
Han let the kids have a moment to themselves, then stepped in. "Escape now, hug later."
The pair immediately broke away, clearly embarrassed. "R-right, of course," stammered Rey. Then she looked up, only noticing Luke for the first time. "Finn, who is this?"
Finn opened his mouth, about to explain it to her, then quickly shut it again. "Tell you later. Right now, we need to shut down Starkiller's shields."
Rey nodded, taking in a shaky breath, a determined sparkle in her eyes. "Lead on."
)(0)(
"Lower the shields, or I'll blast that bucket off your head."
Luke stood to the side, watching the exchange with a half-amused expression on his face. He knew that he could easily mind-trick Phasma into lowering the shields, but his inner childish behavior whispered it would be much more fun watching the ex-Stormtrooper do it.
Luke had obliged with full consent.
Grudgingly, the Stormtrooper gave in to Finn's request. "Your plan will never work."
Finn cocked his blaster. "Wanna bet?"
Luke cracked a grin. It seemed as though some of Han had rubbed off onto this kid. Not that it was a bad thing.
Rey stood nervously to the side, carefully fingering his lightsaber. She kept stealing quick peeks at Luke, the expression on her face unmistakable - Who are you?
"Alright."
Han's voice abruptly snapped Luke out of his daydreaming.
"We should probably be gettin' back to the ship."
)(0)(
Luke smirked at Han, unable to resist the temptation of teasing his friend. So much for going back to the ship.
The five of them - he, Han, Chewie, and Finn, and Rey - were setting detonators, hoping that the plan, thought far-fetched, would pull off. Luke and Han looked down from a small platform high up, and there stood Kylo Ren on the bridge.
Han made a choking sound in his throat and started to head down, but Luke snagged his jacket. "Not so fast."
Han struggled to break free, desperation filling his eyes. "Kid, lemme go."
Luke ignored the terrible, aching feeling in his chest and grasped the cloth tighter with his robotic hand. "Han, please, you don't understa-"
"Kid, all I understand is that my son is down there, and that I don't want to hurt you, but I will if I have to."
Luke squeezed his eyes tightly shut for a moment and then opened them, meeting Han's hazel ones. Ha prayed that the tremor in his body wasn't being transferred into his voice. "Han, please. Don't go. You don't understand yet, but you will, I promise."
Han stopped struggling, something about the desperation in Luke's voice forcing him to halt. His friend's blue eyes were just rimmed with tears, and Han could see nothing but good intentions in them.
He still wanted to see his son, though.
"Luke-"
"Han. Don't. Go. I don't want to have to force you."
Han glared at the Jedi in exasperation, wondering how he could make his friend understand. "Luke, he's my son."
Luke sucked in a raggedy breath and gently laid a hand on the ex-smuggler's shoulder. "I know," he murmured quietly, "but you don't understand what's at stake here. Please, for your sake, for Ben's sake, for my sake... don't go."
Han fought back tears. "Kid, I promised Leia..."
Luke gently pressed two fingers to his lips, grateful that no one else was watching his friend like this. "I know, Han. I know."
Han glanced back down to the bridge, watching as Kylo Ren stalked across it, looking every bit the grandson of Darth Vader. "Okay."
)(0)(
The five of them sat in the Falcon, Han occupying himself by pretending to be totally absorbed in piloting. My son. We left my son behind. Luke, who was sitting in the co-pilot's seat, gently placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, sending comfort through the Force. Han swallowed and turned to him. "You have some serious explaining to do now, kid. Not just to me, but now Leia."
Luke winced slightly, realizing that Han was understandably angry with him. It still hurt, though, especially when Han didn't realize what would have happened.
"I know, Han." He lowered his head, vainly attempting to hide the tears that were threatening to spill. "I know, and I'm so sorry, I-" Luke broke off, voice cracking as his body was engulfed in a sob. Han gently hugged his friend, anger temporarily forgotten.
"S'okay, kid. S'okay."
Several warm, soothing moments passed until the two men broke away, each feeling considerably better.
Until Han had to start speaking again, that is.
"So how we gonna explain this to Leia?"
)(0)(
Finn sat with Rey and Chewie in the back of the Falcon, hurriedly filling her in on what she had missed over the past day. Rey sat quietly as he spoke, eyebrows knitted tightly together.
"You really came back for me?"
Rey's soft voice made Finn blush, and he gave a nervous chuckle before answering, "I - of course I did. You're my friend."
Rey smiled, the small, warm feeling she'd had ever since meeting him blossoming. "You're my friend, too."
Finn blushed even deeper, but before he could respond Han appeared in the doorway. "Just thought you kids like to know we'll be stoppin' real soon." Chewie growled something in agreement, and Han backed out of the room again.
Rey turned to Finn. "Who was that old man with us?"
Finn let out a small, nervous noise. "Well, you see..."
A/N - It's been a while since I last saw TFA, and I couldn't remember whether they rescued Rey or lowered Starkiller's shields first, so sorry for any mistakes on that part. Reviews and constructive criticism more than welcome.