The club was loud, cramped with almost every species of alien, human, droid and other type of creature from every corner of the galaxy. She sat quietly in the corner not even sure what to do or say. The noise overwhelming her every sense. It was all too much for here at the present moment but despite that she sat nervously chewing on her bottom lip as she waited for her friends. Being without her constant companion and shadow unnerved her to no extent. She could feel him in the precipice of her mind, always there, like soft white noise. Although she was sure he had every right to be more nervous than her she couldn't help thinking how loud it was, how her ears hurt form the chatter and music. Suddenly she detected them, her friends in the crowd struggling to reach her table, drinks in hand.
-Rey!- Finn pushed himself towards her encircling her in a warm embrace. – I didn't think there'd be such a crowd, holy Force.
-Yeah…- she sighted wondering how he felt.
Poe and Rose sat opposite her throwing smiles her way.
-Do you think he knows?!- Finn shouted over the music.
-I don't know…- she shrugged looking at the stage.
-You don't know, I thought you know his every taught.- Poe interjected into the conversation nudging Rose with his elbow. She slapped his shoulder playfully. Rey knew what they were eluding to. No one really understood how their bond worked, neither did they at first.
-Can't you warn him or something, you know, so he doesn't shit himself when they go on.- Rose took a swing from her glass
-Yeah… Well, I don't really want to disturb him right now. I can sense he's nervous.- she also reached for her glass. – I don't want to be annoying…- "You, annoying, never mouse." He teased her suddenly in her mind, his deep voice vibrating through her. She flushed at his choice of pet names. Mouse… If only she wasn't from a desert planet. When she was very little he once said her skin was as bronc as a desert mouse. From that day onward he never stopped. "I am not for your information willow" She shot back trying to transfer every ounce of annoyance she had for the name. If he was going to be a tease so was she.
"Coruscant to Rey, do you read me?" Po waved his hand in front of her face.
-Sorry, he's teasing me.- she huffed trying to concentrate on the conversation at hand.
-Tell him to piss off.- Rose laughed gripping the table for balance.
- Speaking of pissin', I heard Hux got wasted last night and Ben had to drag him back to his room. He said it was possibly the funniest thing he saw in a while.- Finn snickered.
-I know. That's what happens when you enter a drinking competition against Phasma. Poor guy, didn't stand a chance.- Rey smirked at the image.
-How the hell do you already know that? You haven't even seen him today!- Poe exhaled in frustration.
-He showed me ten minutes after it happened Finn, he even woke me up with laughter.- Rey smiled at the image of him doubling over with laughter, his tall frame bending in odd angles.
-Damn that Force bond of yours.- he turned towards the stage observing four Twi'leks performing.
As the hours past his nervousness washed over her in waves. Even though he could close of his emotions from her he often forgot when the nerves got the best of him. She didn't mind, sharing them with him, it made him more at ease knowing she was there.
-Almost…- Poe bubbled drunkenly in the direction of the stage shifting in his chair leaning dangerously close to the table.
-For Force's sake Dameron, watch it.- Rey sounded so much like him she scolded herself.
-Was that him or you?- he giggled taking another swing.
-Me, but don't push it.- she smirked, annoyed at herself. At times the two of them bled into one another his voice replacing hers and vice versa. He was always the voice in her head, physically and metaphorically. He practically raised her after all.
The noise settled as the last band left the stage. " Good luck…" She whispered in her mind sending positive energy his way. She could see him smirking in her mind, that lopsided grin he always brandished. The lights dinned, the crowd roared clapping and yelling. The trio rose from their table at the back of the club pushing themselves to the first rows. As they settled against the protective railing Phasma and Hux entered garnishing their black attires. Phasma sat at the drums while Hux readied his guitar and adjusting his mic. The trio's eyes met theirs as they cheered onwards raising their glasses. Women started pushing to the first row screaming in excitement trying to catch their attention. Ben stepped on stage, his black bass hanging across his shoulder, his tall figure towering over the low set microphone. As the screams began to rise he looked at the crowd. There was no nerves, no fear. His eyes found her instantly, it was second nature to him, to search for her where ever he went. He could see her face in every crowd even when she wasn't there.
-Now, now settle down ladies and gentlemen.- He cast his gaze over the roaring crowd. Ben's voice vibrated through the room quieter than he expected. He cast his gaze at the microphone. It barely reached his chest. The crowd chuckled as he bent down towards it.
-Every time this happens people, damn my height.- he light heartedly teased looking behind the curtain at the set up crew. –There, that's much better, wouldn't want to pull something in my back.- he chuckled lowly as he settled his mic.
-Evening Galactic city, how are you tonight?- The crowd cheered and boomed.
-Good, good, they're really good, Hux, Phasma, you hear that?- he turned sideways towards them. They snickered with excitement readying their instruments. – We are The Knights of Ren, welcome to our world.- he spoke lowly into the mic signalling the band to start playing. The noise the crowd made would usually be unbearable to Rey if Ben wasn't on stage. She never fully got used to their fame. They weren't superstars or anything but they played a lot in recent months growing in popularity. They opened with Solitary Man, one of their first songs written by Ben himself. As he began to sing his low, melodic voice passing through the crowd the girls surrounded Rey, lacking a better word, went crazy. At least that's how she'd describe it. He smiled towards her throwing his hair backwards. The song was fast, violent, but melodic. His low, breathy voice dazzling every women in the club. It annoyed Rey to her core. She wasn't with Ben, nor was she in love with him, at least she taught. He was always there, it wasn't as he'd charmed her suddenly, unexpectedly. Items were beginning to fly towards them, undergarments, roses, and other assortment of items. He smiled as he sang strumming his black bass, it made Rey's heart tug when she saw the sticker he brandished on it, a small red carnation just below the strings, the only flower he ever gave to her if the occasion rose. After a few songs and relentless pushing of Rey back and forth in the sea of women clawing their way to the first row the music quieted. Ben turned to Hux nodding
-We'd like to play you our newest song I wrote for a special someone in my life.- His breath hitched at the last words trying to find her again in the crowd. – She's always here so… Here goes…- he trailed of adjusting the strap of his bass. Finn and Poe snickered to one another looking at the transfixed Rey. Her mouth parted slightly as she gripped the rail tightly. –This one's for you sweetheart.- his eyes pierced hers right down to her core. Shivering she gazed downwards, her hot flush creeping to the tips of her ears. He always found a way to make her blush for no apparent reason. She was sure she was imagining it, the way he touched her gently, with love. They were just close, she taught. She would feel his true feelings, wouldn't she? She tried so hard to mask hers. Rey berated herself for these unwanted pangs of hurt, jealousy, possessiveness when it came to it, she'd known him most her life. But when he started growing, his body starting to fill with delicious muscles, his chin showing the signs of a stubble she knew she was lacking a better word, fucked. At first she chalked it up to her hormones, he was her senior. The images of masculine figures thrusted under her nose where were she looked. Her girlfriends always talked about their senior peers, they developed crushes on them, sighing when they saw them in the halls of the academy but most grew out of it. She was never sure she grew out of hers. Especially considering he was always around, protecting her, teaching her. But as soon as her mind started moulding Ben and boyfriend material together in what seem to her the perfect blend she grew angry and annoyed with the feelings, bearing them as deeply as she could. And now with him here in front of her, singing, his cigarette delicately hanging from his lips she wrestled with the feeling again.
-Right here in my arms, so in love.- he bent towards the crowd, towards her. Their eyes met again, all world disappeared, he was suddenly just Ben , her loving, extremely tall friend. He wasn't some kind of sex symbol to her, nor was he in general considered attractive. At least that's what she heard in the hallways, the reasons ranged from his temper, mood swings, too long hair and such. But everybody knew him, and everybody feared him. As if he was the school bully, the rebel, the bad boy, which he wasn't. Rey knew that all too well. They got grumpy Ben, annoyed Ben, and straight up angry Ben. Those were his three moods around the academy, in public, as she teased him. Are you afraid your reputation will be ruined, ha Benny boy?" She would say to him as he leaned on their lockers. They never got goofy Ben, tender Ben as she did when they were alone. Just the idea of him running to her room at three in the morning with chocolate because of her cramps would make them double over with laughter.

-She keeps on crying

But I won't leave her alone

She'll never be alone…-

He continued singing reaching towards the crowd with his long hand. Women scattered around the rail reaching desperately towards him pushing each other. She just stared at him, and he at her. He winked to her, as he did a million times before retreating to the far side of the stage. His feet shuffled to the rhythm of the song, deep bass beats vibrated through the club. Their last song was nearing as he settled at the centre of the stage again. She smirked at him, his shirt buttons dangerously holding on to dear life as he thrusted to the rhythm, bending and turning in his strange dance of seduction. He reminded her of a male bird showing of. She giggled at the idea. He did look like a strange, tall bird, with his sharp features, his angular nose almost like a beak. Ben's black curls stickled to his forehead and he slicked them backwards in time with the beat. As he lit a new cigarette he looked at her again though hooded eyes.
-Thank you for dancing with us.- he was out of breath leaning forward. – This will be out last song.- The rhythm started and he was up again walking across the stage leaning his bass on Phasmas drums. He always like to make a show out of the last song. His pace quickened as the crowd roared. Finn, Poe and Rose lost somewhere behind Rey in the crowd dancing. Everybody waited for his last release of energy. Ben was positively alive, bouncing, jumping, throwing himself on his knees in front of the crowd. He climbed the rail in front of Rey looking down at her, she was giggling at him as he avoided women's hands grabbing his legs. As he bent towards her, his form dangerously aligning with her face she reached tenderly towards him brushing his face with her index finger. He kissed her cheek quickly and returned to the stage, head held up high with pride. He caught her unprepared and he loved the way her face scrunched up in anger, shock and embarrassment, her rosy cheeks on fire. She has to wrestle the insane girls now, to the exit, to the backstage. They look positively enraged at her. He smirked one last time to her as he climbed the small speaker at the front of the stage, ready for his usual backflip. The crowd screamed, he stick the landing just in time with the ending of the song bowing down to them. Poe, Finn and Rey all had back passes to their dressing room, Ben always made sure of it. As the crowd began to disperse and the band retired to the backstage. The trio huddled at the front of the stage exchanging happy glances and excited giggles. A hand grabbed Rey's shoulder turning her suddenly. A girl not older than 18 angrily shoved Rey.
-Bitch, you taught that was for you. You were just there at the right time.- she slurred staggering backwards to the bar.
-Holy Force.- Rose grasped Rey's shoulder. Fucking bitch.- anger bubbled between them as they shielded Rey from all sides and headed towards the back door. As soon as they opened it Ben was breathlessly reaching for the door. As soon as his gaze feel on Rey he stopped, pale as snow.
-I taught…- he mumbled puling her towards his chest.
-Ben, it's…- the sound of her voice was muffled by his half exposed chest.- Ben, it was just a drunk girl. I'm alright… she huffed as he released her.
-Don't give me that Rey, I'd break bones, I don't care who's.- he sneered looking at the door.
-Ben…- she took his large hand in hers. – I'm a big girl.-
-Not to me.- he blurted out, fury still bubbling inside him. He turned from their friends pulling her closer.
-Was it my fault?- he whispered in her ear.
-Yeah… I mean, you can kiss whoever you want. You know, I know it's a stage thing, and you always do it… It doesn't always have to be me…- she trailed of looking at his Adam's apple. He was so tall that she rarely saw anything other than that when he stood this close to her.
-Stupid girl.- he threw her over his shoulder. She kicked and screamed slamming her small fists into his back. –Let me down you savage.- she bellowed.
-Come on guys, Hux and Phasma are waiting for us.- he strode in front of them with Rey hanging of his shoulder. The only thing she could do was watch as the trio laughed and followed.