Paralyzed
Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to their respective owners.
A/N-thank you to everyone who kindly reviewed the last chapter.
Chapter Forty-Four-Emotional Reunion
Ben's gaze fell like an act of violence, a glare ferocious enough to stop any man's heart. The Knights of Ren didn't cower, they were used to getting such looks from him, and worse.
Trudgen, the reluctant spokesman, stepped forward, his own mulish stare no match for Ben's. "Our lady is alive and well, and resting in your old quarters right now, Kylo."
"If I find you've harmed one hair on her head…" Ben threatened.
"She's fine." Trudgen scowled in annoyance.
"No thanks to you!" Ben snarled. There was a flash of red as he ignited his saber, the blade quivering just below a pulsing vein in Trudgen's neck.
The other knights immediately withdrew. If Trudgen got killed that was on him. Death was a price they paid for the life they lived. They were loyal to each other only when it served their own best interests. They showed little sympathy for his plight, instead reaching for their own weapons to defend themselves if they ended up on the receiving end of Kylo Ren's ire.
Trudgen threw his comrades an icy glare as he clumsily used his own weapon to knock the quivering red blade to one side. He wasn't afraid. He knew if Kylo really wanted to kill him he would have been a smoking heap of ashes right now. "You've gone soft." He sneered as he rubbed a hand over his throat.
Fury blurred Ben's sight but he tightened his jaw as he tried to rein it in. Rey would be upset with him if he fell into old habits and killed Trudgen just for the sake of it. "If you don't want to end up like Vicrul then I suggest you shut your mouth." He warned as he shut down his saber and hooked it back on his belt. "I'm going to see Rey and I don't want to be disturbed."
There were dark mutterings amongst the knights. Ap'lek, emboldened by Trudgen's narrow escape, stepped forward and stroked his shaggy brown beard with fingers encased in oil and grime. "It seems you have forgotten that we no longer answer to you."
Trudgen laughed heartlessly. "By the murderous look in his eyes I doubt that he really cares. I think you're about to lose that beard you are so proud of."
Ap'lek let out a shocked yell as Ben's saber reappeared in his hand within a blink of an eye. He swept the hissing red blade keenly under Ap'lek's chin, cutting neatly through the wiry brown hairs of his long beard. The stunned knight was left with nothing but singed hairs coating his chin, while his associates rocked with laughter at his horrified expression.
Ben swivelled on his heels and left them, a grim smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he went to find Rey.
Ben stealthily slipped into his old quarters on the Night Buzzard in order not to disturb Rey. Her exhaustion had driven her into the one of the deepest sleeps she'd had for weeks, and even though he was eager for their sweet reunion, he didn't want it to come at the cost of her health. He could wait. Ben settled down on the cold floor beside her cot. His eyes were soft with love as he observed her roll onto her side. For the moment she looked peaceful, the fringes of her dark lashes cast shadows on the concave of her cheek. She was as beautiful as always. But way too thin. Ben had to fight the urge to curl up around her body as she turned around again, pulling the blanket up over her shoulder.
Rey remained oblivious for a long time. Ben wasn't even aware when he went under himself. With broad chest rising and falling rhythmically, slow breathing, rapid eye movement, his sleep was fitful, his face remaining tense and strained throughout. When he jerked awake again, he found Rey still sleeping. Some of the tension left his face as he watched her for a while. Tenderness came brimming into his eyes as his heart thumped in accordance with her slow, shallow, breaths. Serenity was plastered across her lovely face. Whatever she was dreaming about she was at total peace. Ben actually envied her ability to suddenly become so oblivious to the physical world.
"I'll be back, sweetheart." He whispered as he pushed himself back onto his feet. His limbs were stiff with disuse, his back aching from being in a crouched position for so long. He leaned down and pressed a light kiss on her lips. He smiled when she unconsciously pursed her own lips in response. She was just too cute. He caressed her cheek lightly with his forefinger before reluctantly leaving her side.
Ben returned to the Resistance transport to find Poe in a deep discussion with Rose. Hux stood off to one side, his hands clasped behind his back as he listened to them talk about what had happened on Hoth. When his gaze landed on Ben, his lips drew down into an irritated scowl.
"Pleased to see me, Hux." Ben greeted his old rival sardonically.
"Evidently." Hux tried to rearrange his pale features into a neutral expression when he caught Rose looking his way.
"Hey, how's Rey?" Poe asked solicitously when Ben reached him.
"She's okay. She's still sleeping actually." Ben ran his fingers through his tousled hair, he was already itching to get back to her, but he wanted to talk to Dameron before he left on the transport to take the medical and food supplies back to the Resistance base. "What are you going to do when you get back to the base?"
"Kick some ass." Poe replied sternly. "Rose has been filling me in on what went down there after the Knights showed up. It seems C'ai Threnalli was the main instigator with his friend Rylan backing him up."
Ben didn't know who he was talking about. He knew most of the Resistance fighters by their faces, but had never bothered to learn their names or who did what. He frowned at Poe. "Why would those two want to stir up trouble for Rey?"
"They were close friends with Beaumont." Rose cut in, looking troubled. "I don't think they ever really accepted that he could betray the cause like that."
"If they were that close to the traitor then they're probably in league with him." Ben growled.
"I was close to Beaumont, too. And Kaydel. Does that make us guilty by association?" Rose bristled.
"Watch who you are accusing, Ren!" Hux blustered as he quickly jumped to Rose's defence.
"Hush, Armitage." Rose chided him gently, although she was secretly touched by his intervention on her behalf. "Let's not fight amongst ourselves."
"I wasn't accusing you of anything." Ben quickly apologised to Rose while at the same time ignoring a glowering Hux. "I'm sorry, I'm just…." His words failed him.
"I know." Rose smiled in understanding. "No offence taken. We're all worried about Rey." Her smile faded and she sighed softly. "She didn't deserve what they said to her. I am as bitterly disappointed in them as you are. She has sacrificed so much for the Resistance."
"Which I will remind them of when I get back." Poe promised as he brought the conversation back full circle. "Give me a day or two to calm everything down and then you can come back."
Ben bit his tongue to stop himself issuing a retort about not coming back at all. He had to remember that Rey claimed a lot of these people as friends, even if they had treated her badly, she was magnanimous enough to forgive them. She didn't hold onto grudges the way he did. "We'll see." He muttered instead.
"People make mistakes, Solo. We're only human." Poe said pointedly.
All Ben could do was nod. "You'll need to start scanning for a new base. If the Knights managed to track the Resistance to Hoth, then others can too."
"We were so careful." Poe scratched his chin thoughtfully. "How did they manage to get past our defences?"
"Its what they're good at." Ben shrugged. "None of that matters now. Its what we do next that counts."
"Agreed." Poe looked at Ben speculatively. "What are you going to do about the Knights? Who exactly do they serve?"
"They'll serve Rey for now because it suits their interests." Ben's brows drew down into another frown.
"But what is their ultimate goal?" Poe pressed. "You need to find out if they are going to be a continued threat or if they can be trusted."
"Those maniacs can't be trusted." Hux interrupted scathingly. "They are nothing but feral vermin."
"You should know." Ben snapped.
"That's uncalled for." Rose was the one jumping to Hux's defence this time as his face turned red with suppressed anger.
"We're all on edge here." Poe grabbed Ben's arm and pulled him to one side. "I know you've been under a lot of pressure but you are not doing yourself any favours by jumping down everyone's throats every five minutes."
"You sound like my mother." Ben deadpanned.
"I learned from the best." Poe smiled grimly. "You need to keep it together, Solo. For Rey's sake as well as your own."
"I know." Ben ran his fingers restlessly through his hair again.
"Look, I've got to go. Try not to kill old Huggsy while I'm gone, otherwise, you'll have to answer to Ms. Tico over there."
Amusement lit up Ben's dark eyes for a moment. "I wouldn't want that. If she didn't kill me, Rey would for upsetting her friend."
"Ha." Poe grinned as he punched Ben lightly on the shoulder. "I'll be in touch." He promised before finally taking his leave.
With eyes still heavy with sleep, Rey hesitantly rubbed the dreams away. Thoughts of the visions she'd had in her sleep kept coming and going in waves, as she tried clinging on to the very last memory of her pleasant dreams but with little success. Slight movement from the corner of her eye had her scanning the room with bleary eyes. Ben stepped from the shadows, stealing her breath and the heat from her skin. Before she could draw in the air her body needed, she was out of bed and melting in his arms. She pressed against his firm torso and the heart that beats within. His hands folded around her back, drawing her closer. Rey began to shake, crying how much she had missed him, her frantic tears releasing all the tension that had built up inside of her in his absence.
After so long without him she felt she would die if he left again. She needed him like she needed the air to breathe. When she tried to speak her voice faltered into unintelligible croaks. She moved close enough to touch, his dark eyes looked so vulnerable, so anxious. Ben raised his hand to touch her hair lightly, before drifting down to her cheek in the gentlest caress. With each soft touch more tears fell, tears neither could be bothered to wipe away.
"I am never leaving your side again." He promised, his lips hovering enticingly over hers.
In a moment Rey pressed her lips against his, she felt his body loosen and hands touch her shoulders. She smiled beneath the salty tears as he deepened the kiss. She rose to meet him eagerly, slipping her arms around his neck as one of his wrapped around her waist, lifting her right off her feet.
"I love you so much." Ben murmured between kisses. He adored everything about her. He loved the way her small body melted into his. The way their lips fit like two puzzle pieces. The way she relented as he played with her hair and held her tighter and tighter. Never wanting to let her go.
A/N-thanks for reading. Please review if you have the time.