Kylo Ren stood in the retreat's spacious hall. He clasped his hands behind his back and did his best to keep a stern and serious expression on his face, which faltered only a little when the protocol droid rolled in. With one glance at Leia Organa he became Ben Solo, the lonely and angry boy he'd tried to forget for so long. Then Rey entered on her heels and he felt Ben Solo, the hopeful young man with an unknown future come rushing back. Two very different Bens crammed into his skull, and there was no more room for Kylo Ren.
Leia's expression matched Ben's. No one said a word as mother and son stared at each other. Ben spoke first. "General."
A beat.
"Mother."
Rey glanced at Leia when Ben made this concession and in a fleeting second she saw a thousand emotions in her eyes. Pain, anger, grief, hope, pride, sorrow, guilt. But the one that floated to the top was love. "Ben."
Leia's words were soft and held such hope that Ben felt a childish urge to go to her. But there was far too much between them. He merely nodded and reached out to her through the Force. His mother was not a Jedi, but she had a strong presence and he could feel her unshielded emotions. They had much between them, yes, but at least one of those things was a truce.
He spoke to all of them, but his eyes were only on Rey. "You have taken a great risk coming here, and I thank you for trusting Rey enough to do so. I will not delude myself by believing I have your trust. Yet." He emphasized yet, he would need their trust for his plan to have a hope of succeeding. "There is much to discuss and explain. But first, Rey, may I speak to you alone?"
She hesitated, then nodded. He could practically hear her thinking I've already come this far. If it's a trap, we're too far in it anyway. He turned toward a door opposite the one they'd entered and she followed, slowly, then more surely, catching up with him just as he passed under the lintel.
They walked side by side, instinctively knowing where he would turn, not speaking a word until they passed through intricately carved wooden doors into the room he'd claimed as a makeshift study and office. They paused and faced each other, feeling a little awkward being physically together for the first time in over a year. Their last face-to-face meetings had not gone particularly well.
"Ben?" Rey asked. He understood, and nodded, gazing down at her upturned anxious gaze. "It's me," he hoarsely whispered. "For whatever that's worth."
"It's worth everything," she replied without hesitation. He could hear the warmth in her voice, feel it echoing across their bond. He felt an impulse to cup her chin and pull her mouth to his. To crush her tiny body to his chest and hold her for hours. To hold her rough, delicate hands in his. She must have interpreted some of those impulses, because a blush tinged her cheeks and her eyes darted downward, resting on his gloved hands. She kept her gaze on them as he slowly removed them and brought his hand to hers. For a long time she stood silent, not resisting, looking at their entwined fingers.
"Maybe," she finally said, "You needed to take my hand before I could take yours."