A/N: Hey guys! So now that I'm more comfortable writing Ben & Rey, I wanted to finally steer into my typical darkfic territory. It's not going to be particularly angsty, but obviously stay the fuck away if you're uncomfortable with underage sexual activity. It's going to be creepy. I will be as tactful as possible; this is a sensitive subject and anything that happens will not be extremely graphic.
Warnings: Underage sexual activity, Ben being creepy.
Pairings: Ben/Rey.
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or anything affiliated with it.
-MalRev
We met when I was a 12-year-old scavenger on Jakku.
I could still remember that day. It was oddly hot, even for the hellish wasteland where I'd been dumped by my parents. Unkar Plutt had given me half the portions for the same amount of scraps and I was shuffling out of Niima Outpost to cry alone in my gutted Rebel ship. I'd wait for my parents forever, no matter what they did to me.
I shuffled through the thick sand, fingering the plastic casing on my portion, and swallowed hard. The saliva did nothing for me. My throat was as dry as the air slipping into my lungs.
"I felt a presence, uncle. It's here."
Through the jangling of product and different languages, I heard his voice. I blinked and looked around, turning in small circles. It's here. The more I thought of it, the more I felt. An awakening.
My eyes fell upon a tall man in a hood standing beside another man. They were dressed in black and white, respectively, and I saw the glint of metal on their hips. My thoughts spun, and my head tingled, and I had a weird urge to walk towards them. But should I? I'd learned long ago that approaching strangers wasn't a good idea… But they seemed… safe.
I rubbed my skinny arms and watched them tentatively. Aliens drifted by, chatting, and I tried to hide in the shadows like usual.
The shorter man turned again. "I feel nothing. Are you positive, Ben?"
"Yes—it was like a pulse of light. My counterpart is somewhere…" The tall man, Ben, ran a hand through shoulder-length black hair. "I can feel it."
His face was hard to see, but he was a human, as was the other man. They kept looking around and the dark-eyed man, Ben, finally noticed me clinging to a pole in the shadows.
His breath caught and so did mine. My buzzing mine snapped and widened and I suddenly became aware of something big and confusing and coursing through my veins. I sank closer to the pole and considered running away, terrified by the emotions I felt. Who were these people?
The other man turned. He glanced up at Ben and smiled at me.
"Hello!" he called. "What's your name?"
I was terrified. I shook my head and turned and darted off into the desert.
They immediately ran after me and I heard a humming noise in the air. I glanced over my shoulder and squeaked in terror when I saw two glimmering swords, buzzing with heat and something else.
"Please stop!" called Ben, the taller man.
I wouldn't. I couldn't. I clung to my ration and held back tears, valuable water, and hoped I'd reach my ship before either of them could—
Tingling heat jolted up my legs and I was abruptly stopped with a scatter of sand in the desert. I panted in fear as my arms yanked behind my bank and looked around in terror. Oh no. What was happening to me? How was I supposed to escape without offering a favor to Plutt and—
"Not appropriate!" snapped the second man. "She's a child, Ben!"
I was frozen in place, hugging my portion. I watched in terror as the men circled to the front of me and slipped back their hoods.
Ben was very tall, with shoulder-length black hair and dark brown eyes. He had an interesting face. The other man was shorter with greyish hair and a full beard and he looked annoyed.
"This is her." Ben nodded, swallowing hard. "But she's so young, Uncle Luke. Why?"
All I wanted to do was get my staff and run away. Tears burned in my eyes as Luke shrugged.
"Finding your counterpart is already extremely rare." Luke stepped closer and smiled. "Hello, little one. My name is Luke Skywalker, and this is my nephew, Ben Solo. I understand your trepidation, but we mean you no harm. We'd like to bring you to the Jedi Academy, where you'll be safe and well-fed, and Ben will protect you."
My body defrosted and I staggered back in fear, clutching my food. Ben eyed me with mixed curiosity and something my young mind didn't comprehend. I glanced between the two hulking giants in fear. It had been years since I last saw another human.
Ben knelt down in the sand. "Can you tell me your name, little one?"
I shook my head fiercely. Luke smirked and glanced at his nephew and knelt beside him.
"She's certainly your counterpart," Luke said. "So nervous, from nothing." He offered me his calloused hand. "Are you hungry?"
I nodded. Ben shifted closer, dark eyes drinking me in. The tension in my mind waxed and I flinched.
"I'll feed you," Ben murmured. "No more rations. Whatever you please, whenever you want it." He crept closer on his knees and I saw his throat bob. "Please, little one. Tell me your name?"
Trusting strangers wasn't in my nature. I watched Luke and Ben, highly suspicious, clinging to my sole means of survival. Mom and dad would come back for me soon.
"Rey," I mumbled. "My name is Rey."
"Hello, Rey." Ben had a deep, musical voice. I found myself drawn to him. "I'm sorry I made you stop, but I was worried you'd disappear. Did I hurt you?"
I pressed my quivering lips together and nodded. Luke stood up, seeming highly distressed by my admission, but Ben just crept closer. I stared into his dark, hypnotic eyes, running my dirty nails over my portion. I had to stay. Mom and dad would be home soon.
Ben smiled. "It's an ability I have—so do you. I can show you, Rey, and feed you, and keep you safe."
"But… my parents…"
"I'll hear of it if they come back for you." He cleared his throat and reached out a big hand to me, tentative. "They would want you to be safe, Rey. And your belly full of warm food. I won't hurt you again, if you promise to listen to me when we talk. What do you think, little one?"
It had been an especially hard day on Jakku. I glanced between the two men and still felt the tug towards Ben. He smiled and extended his long fingers further, and I rested my tiny fingers over his palm. The curiosity shifted; twisting. I felt something more. It was so confusing.
Luke turned away. "We should wait, Ben—until she's older."
Ben's dark brown eyes studied mine and he shook his head, refusing to look away. "No. I'll love her. I'll give her whatever she needs. I have to."
"…Be careful, Ben. This is a rare occurrence, and it's powerful."
I watched Ben stand up and he clasped my little hand in his. He brushed my strands of sand-encrusted hair and I saw his throat bob again. I didn't know why, but I wanted to be closer. I stretched my skinny arms up and Ben scooped me into his arms, squeezing me in the tight, warm embrace I'd always wanted. He smelled like trees and salt and water.
"You're mine," Ben whispered into my ear. "I'll never let you go, Rey."
