Sparks

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Chapter Six-Little Starfighter

Lando held Ben's anxious gaze for a moment, before pulling his flamboyant cape around his body as he settled down in the co-pilots chair beside his surrogate nephew. Lando remained quiet for a while, pursing his lips slightly as he tried to equate this sombre young man to the excitable kid he remembered from his youth. The older Ben Solo definitely carried physical attributes from both of his parents, Lando mused, he could see Leia's warm brown eyes and the long face of Han Solo. It made it all the harder to reconcile the fact that the little boy he had once doted on had grown up to wear the mantle of Kylo Ren, the Supreme Leader of the First Order.

Lando recalled a conversation he'd had with his faithful companion, Lobot, when he'd considered gifting Han and Leia's son one of his prized blasters as a present. "If he grows up anything like Han, the kid's gonna get into trouble one day. He's gonna need some help. And that's where Uncle Lando comes in." He'd laughed.

"We are not giving a blaster to the boy." Lobot had replied primly. "Children should not play with blasters."

Of course, Lando had listened to Lobot's advice but not taken it. He couldn't have the little starfighter running around the galaxy without some form of protection. He was Han and Leia's son. He would always be a target. So, secretly, on one of his many visits to his old friends, Lando had pulled young Ben to one side and handed him the blaster- a Vitiator pistol (similar to the DH-17 blaster pistol)-and made him solemnly swear to only use it in emergencies and not to tell his parents about it unless he absolutely had to. Ben had been delighted with his gift and had hugged his Uncle Wanwo fiercely.

Sighing heavily, Lando turned to look at the solemn man sitting in the pilot's chair. Ben had taken his boots off the console and was sitting up straighter in his seat, his posture tense, his expression wary. He was clearly on edge, waiting for Lando to speak first.

"What happened to it?" Lando asked gruffly, finally breaking the tense silence.

Confusion flickered in Ben's dark eyes. "What?"

"The blaster I gave you." Lando continued in the same husky tone. "Remember I told you only to use it in an emergency."

Ben's bottom lip wobbled slightly at Calrissian's unexpected question. Of all the things he had expected Lando to ask him, this wasn't it. He had expected anger, condemnation, would have welcomed both, but instead Lando was talking to him causally, calmly, as if they engaged in this discourse every day of their lives.

"I'm sorry." Ben apologised thickly. "I lost it on Exegol."

"Exegol?" Lando exclaimed in disbelief. "You mean you actually kept it with you all these years?"

"Yes." Ben licked his dry lips to moisten them. This was one of the strangest conversations he'd had in his life. It felt almost surreal. "And I didn't break my promise to you. I always kept it with me and I only used it in the greatest emergency of my life."

Lando raised one eyebrow quizzically. "Care to elaborate, kid?"

Ben dropped his eyes to his hands, heat taking over his face. "You don't want to hear about my stupidity."

"As a matter of fact, I do." Lando reached out a steadying hand and put it on Ben's shoulder in a fatherly fashion. "Its no mean feat going off to Exegol only armed with my old blaster. A reckless thing to do…. but admirable all the same."

"How do you know I was only armed with a blaster?" Ben countered.

"If you had your lightsaber, kid, you wouldn't be running into danger with that old blaster of mine." Lando's eyes twinkled in amusement. "What happened to yours anyway?"

Ben sucked in a sharp breath, his sadness coming over him in waves. He had thought he'd come to terms with his role in Han's death, but it still had the ability to affect him. "I threw it into the ocean." He admitted.

"You did? Why?" Lando gave Ben's shoulder a gentle squeeze.

"As a gesture."

"Gesture? To who?"

Moisture swam in Ben's eyes, obscuring his view of Lando. "Dad." He whispered huskily.

"Han?" Lando moved his hand from Ben's shoulder to the back of his head as the tormented young man began to shake with suppressed grief.

"I saw him." Ben sobbed, lowering his head. "On the ruins of the Death Star. He appeared to me. He told me that he missed me and it was not too late to fight for what was right, for my mother's legacy. And then he touched my face…. right here." He raised one shaking hand to his cheek, touching the very same spot with the pads of his fingers. "He told me I was strong enough to do what needed to be done- that Kylo Ren was dead, but the son he loved was still alive."

"Then he was right. Don't tell him I said that, though. He'll never let me forget it." Lando quipped darkly as he tried to comfort a visibly distressed Ben. "Though it was a dumb thing to do, flinging your weapon into the sea like that. I'm sure Han would have appreciated the gesture, wherever he is right now."

A choked laugh, followed by another sob passed Ben's lips as he glanced up at the older man. "I'm sorry, Uncle Lando. I'm so…so…very sorry."

"I know, kid. I know." Lando said softly, his response reminiscent of Han himself. "You let it all out. I promise it's going to be alright. I'm here for you. I always was. You only needed to ask."

Rey felt every bit of Ben's anguish through their Force bond. She immediately downed tools, barely hearing Rose's concerned questions as she made her excuses and hastily left to search for him. She couldn't imagine what had set off this fresh wave of grief, only realising what might be at the root of his chaotic emotions when she traced him back to the Millennium Falcon. Rey was surprised he had ventured onto his father's ship so soon; he had been actively avoiding it since coming to Ajan Kloss.

Running up the opened ramp, she called Ben's name, following the pull of their intimate connection to the upper echelons of the ship. And that's where she found him, being comforted by none other than Lando Calrissian. Ben was resting his head on the older man's shoulder, while Calrissian gripped his shoulder in empathy.

"What's going on?" Rey could hardly contain her surprise. This was a reunion she hadn't expected to happen for quite a while yet.

"You don't need to worry. The boys alright. We were just having a chat." Lando assured her with a tired smile. He released his hold on Ben, his cape rustling as he climbed to his feet. He emitted a heavy sigh, glancing down at his surrogate nephew one last time in sympathy. "I'll leave you in Rey's capable hands. We'll catch up again whenever you're ready."

All Ben could do was nod his agreement as he rubbed his hands over his face in an attempt to wash away the tears visible on his pale skin. Lando patted his shoulder one last time, before taking his leave. As soon as he was gone, Rey took Lando's place in the co-pilots seat and reached out for Ben. He let her hold him, closing his eyes in relief at her reassuring presence. He was emotionally spent and wanted nothing more than to lose himself in her warm embrace. They stayed that way for several minutes as Ben let Rey's love wash over him.

Real love was a protector, a defender, a ride-or-die connection that stays with the person forever. It will stay with you in quietness and be your comfort. Real love will celebrate with you, and raise you up. Real love will be okay with your sadness and kiss the scars you hide from others. It is rare thing. Ben knew he had found all of that and more with Rey. He didn't deserve it but he was going to treasure it for as long he lived. For he now knew that real love is the greatest gift that anyone can give you.

A/N-thanks for reading!