Rey didn't answer him but Ben tried not to read too much into it. He bent over to place his cheek to the top of her head, and sighed. He felt more complete, more at peace when she was awake, when they were this close.
"So you saw or heard all of that? How is that even possible?"
Ben nodded. He hadn't really realized that he was seeing what she saw. It was just another part of the complicated joining of their force that Ben didn't understand.
The door opened right at that moment and Luke walked in, with his perfect timing as usual. Ben rolled his eyes, and sighed. Of course he was going to tell Luke about this latest development, but he wanted to have more time with just her. To hold her and talk with her without his uncle and his knowing eyes. Judging Ben, he was sure. Luke would find some fault in how close they were, worry that Ben was going to influence her negatively, to screw up again, and meet his expectations of being a failure.
He felt a tendril of warmth against his mind, so different from the tainted darkness of the voice. Ben? I don't know if you can hear me. But I don't believe those things about you. I can feel it.
"Rey! I heard you talking, that is wonderful! May I come over, I will touch your arm and see if I can help heal you anymore."
"Rey, this is my uncle, Luke Skywalker. Luke, I felt her awareness this morning. When I got here, her eyes were open and she could talk to me."
"That's wonderful! Are you still in pain, Rey?" Luke asked gently, now standing beside Ben and Rey.
"Yes, but it's not as bad. I just wish that I could move."
"Ben! Did she ask you to put her down? I can't…"
"No! I just meant that I still can't move my body. It's so strange. I… Well, I don't mind Ben holding me. I was panicked and upset, and it… He helps," Rey quickly interrupted Luke. She didn't want to leave Ben's arms. I don't want to put you down either. Thank you for defending me, Luke and my parents always seem to think the worst of me. Ben spoke into her mind, squeezing her just a bit as the best hug he could in their position.
"Okay," Luke said slowly, his eyes going back and forth between Rey and Ben and scratching his eyebrow. "Are you okay if I touch you?"
"Yes," Rey answered quietly.
Luke gently placed his hands on top of hers and closed his eyes. Ben could feel him, the lightness and iciness of Luke's healing power brushing against the barrier that Rey still held against her mind. It was weaker than it was, Luke noted, maybe because he could feel the swelling in her brain subsiding greatly. Ben was okay with the healing, but then he felt Luke skim across the place where their forces connected, and he slammed up a wall.
"That's none of your business. You didn't ask her permission to do that," Ben snarled and Luke withdrew his hands.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "Forgive an old man, the scholarly part of me got the best of me."
"Do you know what's happening to us? I felt you touching… Well… The connection… The place where Ben and I… Well, it felt wrong for you to be there," Rey stammered. Ben couldn't agree more that it felt wrong for Luke's interference.
"I think that it's a force bond. Not the kind that you hear about between a student and teacher. Something different, more powerful."
"Wait, the force?" Rey blurted. "I know that you're a Jedi, and I heard something about Ben being in training to be one. But I've never… Well, wouldn't I know if I were one?"
"Not necessarily. Many of the students here are from force sensitive families, or they were observed using the force. But if you haven't consciously used your power, then you may not know. But I can feel it now, stronger every day you've been here," Luke answered.
" A force bond? Isn't that really rare outside the padawan and master connection. I remember now reading something in the texts. They were powerful, their mastery of the force only fueling the other. A circle of power and connection?" Ben pondered out loud.
"So, that's why I can feel what you feel, and you could see my memories," Rey muttered.
Ben nodded into her hair and hummed. "So far, it's been powerful emotions or memories," he answered. For some reason he felt possessive over these facts, like they were something private between him and Rey. But Luke did know a lot, and had read much more in the texts than Ben had, and probably ever would have the desire to.
I know you feel it Ben. You two can be great together. I can teach both of you how to use your bond, how to rule, to make the galaxy better. To prove your parents and uncle wrong. That you are strong, you can… The voice whispered. Ben felt like an icepick was stabbing into his brain, and he put up the barriers as quick as he could. Between him and the voice, between him and Rey, and keeping Luke from prying.
"What was that? Ben are you okay?" Rey said quietly, trying to reach the connection. It was flickering, and she could only get pieces of Ben's thoughts and emotions. And she felt some of his pain pulsing into her in waves, and her brain must have been overwhelmed because the darkness came again.
