Force Dyad
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A/N-thank you very much to everyone who has kindly read and reviewed the last chapter.
Chapter Fifty-Four-The Love Guru
When Ben had slowly opened his eyes to find Rey's lips barely inches from his own, he was mesmerised. Her lips were a pale pink that reminded him of a rose bud. The top lip was thinner, but not too thin, and it had a natural cupid's bow; the bottom one was larger and plusher. His first instinct was to close the gap-he wanted to feel her lips against his- it was something he often daydreamed about. He often stared at them in quiet moments when Rey was distracted by other things -like when she bit her lower lip in silent contemplation when she was mulling over a problem, or when she drank from her flask, or when she applied balm to keep them soft in the insufferable heat.
It was clearly an accidental tilt of her head that had drawn her mouth so close to his. It was so tempting to throw caution to the wind and give in to the intense attraction he felt toward her. He saw her eyes flicker to his and he was left with an intense feeling of shame for harbouring such thoughts about her. Ben quickly turned his head aside, relaxing his hold on her face as he straightened up again. Without saying another word, he took off toward the Resistance base, his face burning with guilt. He couldn't believe he had so nearly lost control around her like that. Rey trusted him implicitly and he had nearly broken that trust. He was thoroughly disgusted with himself.
Ben knew it was his own fault. He shouldn't have held her close like that, she was too irresistible and clearly, he couldn't resist. He was weak-willed and foolish. He got an overwhelming urge to get on his knees and beg her forgiveness but that would mean owning up to the truth of how he felt about her. He was dammed if he didn't and dammed if he did.
"Ben."
Rey's voice coming from behind, startled Ben out of his introspection. He took a minute to compose his features into what he hoped was a neutral expression before he turned to face her. "Yeah?" He asked gruffly. He kept his eyes downcast, anxious that if she got a good look at them then Rey would be able to tell what he was thinking.
"I'm going to see Rose. I'll catch up with you later."
Ben was confused by the despondency in her tone. He allowed himself a quick glance at her lovely face only to find her expression was equally as crestfallen. "Are you okay?"
"Yes." Rey was the one avoiding his eye now. "See ya!" She mumbled as she hurried away. She didn't look back.
Han came across his son sometime later sitting dejectedly on the edge of the Falcon's ramp, his head in his hands. He sighed, already suspecting that it had something to do with his wife and Ben's mother. He had just stormed out of their shared quarters after engaging in another heated discussion with Leia as she reluctantly revealed the truth of what had happened between her and Ben.
"You look just like how I feel." Han said succinctly as he lowered himself down beside his son. "Leia told me."
"What?" Ben raised his head, looking bewildered. His mind had been on Rey for the last few hours and he had totally forgotten about the confrontation with his mother.
Han rested his elbows on his knees, frowning. "Don't worry, son. I told her exactly what I thought."
"Oh, that!" Ben said listlessly. "It doesn't matter."
"Of course, it matters. She should never have gotten you and Rey involved." Han insisted.
"Dad, just let it go. I mean it when I said it doesn't matter." Ben muttered.
Han was concerned by the lifeless tone in Ben's voice. He had expected him to be in a bad mood, but instead he just seemed indifferent, apathetic even. It was so unlike how he usually reacted to things. "You don't have to go, Ben. I told your mother as much. I explained how traumatising it would be for Rey to go back to Jakku again – I don't think it even occurred to her." He sighed again, shaking his head at his wife's thoughtlessness.
Ben's mind was still on Rey. He wondered what she was doing right now. He was beginning to worry that his slip up had destroyed her trust in him. At first, he thought she hadn't noticed that he had so nearly given into the urge to kiss her, but now he wasn't so sure. It would explain the strange way she was acting right before she left him. She was probably shocked and didn't know how to handle it. Shame washed over him again and Ben dug his fingers into his hair in despair.
"If you're still intent on going. Take the Falcon."
"Huh?" Ben pulled himself out of his funk long enough to turn and look at his father.
"You know she's the best. Take her." Han insisted again.
"You'd trust me with your ship?" Ben asked incredulously.
Han was a bit hurt that his son sounded so surprised. "Ben, you're one of the best pilots in the galaxy. I know she'd be in a safe pair of hands."
Father and son looked at each other quickly before turning away just as fast. They were having a moment and were both unsure how to handle the rush of sentimentality.
"Well, that's settled then." Han affirmed.
"Thanks, Dad." Ben offered up a rare smile in gratitude at the trust Han had placed in him.
"Alright, son, don't go overboard." Han's mouth quirked into one of his lopsided grins. "Oh, before I forget, I found this stashed in one of the lockers on the Falcon. I think its Rey's. Can you give it to her?" He said, passing Ben a non-descript bag that he had brought with him.
"I will." Ben promised as he took it from him.
"I better go and tell Chewie about the Falcon." Han pushed himself back onto his feet. "Don't leave without saying goodbye."
"I won't."
"Good. I'll see you later." Han patted Ben briefly on the shoulder before walking away.
Ben was once again left with his own thoughts. He looked down at Rey's bag lying in his lap. Wondering what was inside it, he pulled on the drawstrings and turned it upside down. All that fell out was an old datapad, its screen was cracked, probably the reason why Rey had abandoned it. He assumed she had forgotten all about its existence. Ben wondered whether it was worth fixing. He picked it up and switched it on. To his surprise it worked. He waited patiently for it to load. It didn't take long. As he used his long fingers to flick through the reams of data, what it showed was very revealing. Ben's eyes opened wide in surprise as he realised exactly what he was looking at- Rey had been gathering intel on others flirting techniques.
Rey flushed red from the roots of her hair to the nape of her neck when she strode into her shared quarters to find Rose and Armitage post coitus. "I'm so sorry, guys." She apologised as she covered her eyes with her hands.
"I thought you weren't coming back until later." Rose squealed as she climbed off Armitage and scrambled for her clothes. She threw Armitage his shirt. He seemed unabashed at being caught.
"I didn't expect me back until later, either." Rey babbled out a load of nonsense to cover her discomfiture. "I'm so sorry." She apologised again as she backed toward the door.
"Its fine, Rey." Rose said a little grumpily. "You can open your eyes now. We're decent."
Rey peeked through the gaps in her fingers to make certain before lowering them completely. Rose was as flushed as she was, while Armitage was lounging in the only chair, his feet propped up on the small table. He looked extremely satisfied with himself.
"My poor innocent Rey." He said, smirking. "I hope we haven't traumatised you for life."
"Stop saying that!" Rey countered irritably. It irked her when Armitage continually pointed out her lack of experience. "I am not innocent."
"You're not?" Armitage perked up. "Care to share?"
"Leave her alone, Armitage." Rose cuffed him on the back of the head.
"Ow!" Armitage pouted.
"You're ridiculous." Rose scolded him.
"And you're beautiful." Armitage laughed as he sat back in his chair and put his hands behind his head. He smirked again when Rose rolled her eyes in irritation. She could never take a compliment. Armitage turned his attention back onto Rey. He wasn't done teasing her yet. "Anyway, we all know who little Miss Innocence is smitten with."
"Armitage, I won't tell you again." Rose warned him.
"You don't know what you're talking about!" Rey added, scowling.
"Oh, but I do!" Armitage was having too much fun to stop, even if his teasing was getting under Rose's skin. He would make it up to her later. Some people just needed a shove in the love department and Rey and Ben Solo definitely fell in that bracket. "You'll spend your life pining after a certain brooding prince unless you make the first move."
"I am not pining after anyone!" Rey denied hotly.
"You can live in denial all you want, Rey, but everyone around here is well aware of the longing looks you two throw each other when they know the other isn't looking. It's rather sweet in a quaint sort of way. Haven't you ever wondered why none of the other guys have ever attempted to make a move on you -except for Poe, but he doesn't count – it's because Mr tall, dak and handsome looks daggers at them every time they try to get near you."
"That's not true." Rey's protest was much weaker this time. "Ben looks at me?"
"Aha!" Armitage crowed; he nearly fell out of his chair with glee at being proved right. "There it is!"
"Shut up!" Rey retorted sulkily. "You're just reaching. You have no idea about anything."
"Oh, but I do." Armitage's smile turned smug again. "Just call me the love guru."
"Love fool more like." Rose chided him. "Just because your prediction about my sister and Kaydel becoming an item came true, you suddenly think you're some kind of expert in the love department. It was a lucky guess."
"There was nothing lucky about it. I read the signs and these two are definitely hot for each other." Armitage replied, referring to Ben and Rey. He had no qualms about embarrassing Rey. In fact, he seemed to be enjoying it. "You want my advice?" He offered.
"No." Rey responded curtly.
"Take the lead." Armitage encouraged her. "If you're waiting for Ben to make his move, you'll be waiting forever. Ben Solo is the typical tall, dark brooding prince. You can bet he's sitting in some quiet corner right now torturing himself about his feelings. Agonising and overanalysing every little interaction between you…"
"Armitage!" Rose cut in again. "Stop letting your mouth run away with you. You're upsetting, Rey."
"I'm merely giving her some valuable advice. If she chooses to act on it, that's up to her, sweetness." Armitage argued.
"Don't call me sweetness." Rose narrowed her eyes.
"Okay, cutie pie."
"Argh!" Rose growled. "You're infuriating."
"But you love me anyway." Armitage said confidently.
"And this is where I take my leave." Rey interrupted quickly. Despite how uncomfortable it made her feel, Armitage had given her a lot to think about. "I only dropped in to tell you I'll be leaving the base for a while. So, you'll have the place to yourselves."
"Where are you going?" Rose asked worriedly.
"I can't say. It's on a need-to-know basis." Rey said apologetically. "I'll keep in touch. Bye guys."
"Take care of yourself." Rose called out to her as Armitage eagerly pulled her back into his lap.
"I will." Rey promised as she finally took her leave.
A/N-thanks for reading!