Ben recoiled at Rey's question. Force, she must have heard the voice too, felt him slithering against the connection. He'd hoped that she would be protected, that Ben could somehow protect her light and her mind from him, but he was dead wrong. He felt a spike of pain that was not his own, and he felt Rey go lax in his arms. Their bond changed again, and he felt the barrier around her brain intensify again, and he knew she wasn't simply asleep, but unconscious again.

Ben couldn't keep up his shields anymore, and his headache raged. Spots danced in his vision, and he placed Rey as gently on the bed as he could. Nausea was overtaking him and he didn't want to empty the contents of his stomach on her. He stumbled on the way to the waste basket, and fell to the floor, unable to keep anything inside. He felt Luke sweep his hair from his face, and lift him from the floor to a chair. Then he felt healing surge through him until he could see and think straight again.

"It's gotten worse, hasn't it," Luke asked gently.

Ben could only nod weakly. He tried to reinforce his mind, but knew it wasn't the strongest. "Yes," he croaked. "It's affecting Rey too."

"We'll do some training, and I will read more in the texts, see if there is anything about the bonds, how you can protect her, or protect each other. I've been trying to figure out what might be speaking into your mind like that, affecting you with the darkness and causing you so much pain, but so far, no luck," Luke patted his shoulder and made his way to the door. "Let me know when she wakes again, and I'll send in a droid to clean up."

Ben's cheeks blushed pink. He hated losing control. Of his body, of his mind, of himself. He moved to sit at the foot of Rey's bed, and crossed his legs. He took deep breaths, focusing on slow inhales and exhales, and reaching out for the force all around him. He calmed, and fell into a meditative trance, knowing that this at least, is part of what Luke meant about more training. And while he usually dismissed the power of breathing and sitting around thinking rather than action, active learning, or physicality, he would do anything to help Rey. For her not to feel the pain and dark influence of that damned voice that had plagued him as long as he could remember.

Later, although he wasn't sure how much later, he felt something brush against his mind, and he snapped back to the present. His muscles were relaxed and his mind felt lighter. He braced for the dark, but he was pulled into either a dream or a bond connection. Rey was still asleep, but he thought that she was either conscious or under very lightly. She was sitting up, hands grasped in his. It was odd to see himself outside of a mirror reflection but he leaned against the wall, and observed. Interested to see what she might dream of them together. Ben and Leia had conversations about dreams often. They would go back and forth on whether they were random or if they reflected thoughts, desires or fears. Or if they were trying to tell you something. Either way, he was interested in this unguarded peek into her mind.

They were talking but Ben couldn't hear anything, he wasn't sure if it was because it was a dream, or if Rey herself wasn't dreaming words. Dream Ben's hand went from holding hers to trailing it up and down her arm. Ben felt a real spike of pleasure, though he wasn't sure if it was from himself, dream self, or from Rey. But he didn't really care. It wasn't really sexual pleasure, just contentment. A light tingling from the new contact. Dream Ben traced his hand higher until he was cupping her face. He was so jealous of this phantom him that he wanted to go over and take his place. But he also didn't want the double appearance of Bens to halt the dream. So he clenched his fists and continued watching. He was so confused by this interaction and he didn't know if he should be guilty for witnessing this, but he wasn't sure if he could pull out even if he wanted to.

Dream Ben was inching closer to her, eyes locked until he was mere inches from her face, then flicking down to her lips. Rey seemed to give permission because she closed the last distance and her lips touched his, once, twice then three times.

"Ben? Can you hear me? Ben, I found something," Ben didnt' have to open his eyes to sense that Luke was hovering above him. He wanted to choke him for interrupting the dream and wanted to hug him because he might have more answers. He shifted awkwardly, pulling his legs up to hide himself but further putting strain on the tightness in his pants. Over a dream kiss. He thought to himself. Well, it's our first. He argued back. Then he rolled his eyes at himself for having an argument with a dream version of himself as well as how he'd even thought the phrase 'our first kiss.'

The door opened again, and Ben finally opened his eyes and Leia, Han and Chewie walked in. Ben's ears and face grew hot and he shifted even more. Who else was going to be privy to Ben Solo trying to hide a hard on?

Rey would be the death of him.