Chapter 15
A Walk on the Water
Thanks to Eloisa's knowledge of the Outer Rim Territories scattered around them, Rey and Ben's motley crew found a friendly-enough moon to trade in the cramped shuttle. It had taken a few hours, but the counter-straddling and the knocking elbows had gotten pretty old. It had been roomy enough with only two people, but six more bodies had Rey on the edge of a nervous breakdown, even if their guests were friends. Growing up alone on a barren desert planet gave her a distaste for large groups of people, especially in close quarters.
At first, she didn't know what to think of Ben's royal guards. The first time she'd laid eyes on them in Mer'in, flashbacks of the Praetorians arose in her mind. She and Ben had almost died defending themselves against those red-clad monsters, but if what Ben said was true, these people would help and protect them until they reached the Resistance or until the Resistance found them. She missed Finn, Poe, Rose, and Chewie dearly, but these guys made nice stand-ins. Sestro's cocky manner was almost identical to the X-wing pilot back on Raspitar while Edric's dignified yet sassy manner made him a great fit for Finn.
Out of all of them, though, Eloisa seemed to bond with her the most. On their way to the small, remote moon of Jemf, the two women swapped stories about their lives before the war and the humorous bits that came with them. Gara, the planet where Eloisa hailed from, was all flat plains and farmland. She spent her days out in the orchards with her family, skin burning in the two suns and hands red from the thorns of the gal trees they harvested. Despite the grimness of their past lives,
Rey, Ben, and the squad of guards decided to drop down to Jemf and trade in the shuttle for a bigger transport. Once that task was complete, they'd set out in search for Resistance allies and perhaps clear out some more First Order forces if the need for it arose. It had been almost two weeks since Rey fell to the surface of Nov Sensum in the Millennium Falcon. Maybe Leia and the others knew she was still alive and had sent out search parties. But no one knew about how Ben had pulled her through the Force bond. Not even Rey knew that could have been a possibility. Nevertheless, she still held out hope that after they bought their new ship the Resistance would find them at last.
Rey stared out the side window with Eloisa as Ben dipped the crowded shuttle below the rich white clouds of Jemf. Everyone in the cabin let out an audible gasp as the moon's surface was revealed.
Massive swathes of tall, pale trees stretched out to the horizon. Sleek red, purple, and blue leaves swayed from each branch like decorative glass ornaments, carpeting the surface of the moon in twinkling crimson. A bright, merry ocean outlined one edge of the forest, reflecting the lush blue of the sky above. Stony houses neatly lined the sandy coastline. The green gas giant that Jemf orbited around loomed overhead as if keeping an eye on the peaceful scenery drifting below it. Nov Sensum had had a natural, woodsy beauty while this place was a surreal dream made shockingly real. Rey noticed that her mouth was hanging open and she quickly shut it.
A tiny crowd of towering, narrow structures grew out of the red woods like long, pale stems of grass. A few ships were parked along the three or so landing platforms that made themselves apparent.
Their group parked the cramped shuttle by one of the higher rises. Despite the ruralness of the environment around them, the buildings were sleek and well-constructed like on the nicer city planets. Just off to their left a small artificial stream carved its way through the walkways, covered by glass and trickling off the side into the cool air, turning to vapor.
It seemed to be early morning, a large red sun emerging from the glistening forest and casting a warm glow through the glassy leaves. A few shops and booths appeared to be open, lights on and already buzzing with a number of tired-looking customers.
"There's a shipyard nearby," Eloisa reiterated, the first one to step out of the cabin and into the fresh air. She reached her arms over her head and ran her finger through her long, dark hair. Rey, Ben, and the rest of the guards followed suit, blinking in the sunlight and stretching out various limbs. Ben pulled his hood over his head and looked around nervously. His lips pressed together and his hand reached for his lightsaber.
"We're safe as can be here, don't worry," Sestro reassured him and they walked collectively down the spiraling walkway. Rey hung back and turned her gaze this way and that, taking in the sights. Unlike Urear, the buildings were clean and elegant. Nothing had to be compensated for with flashy lights and glowing neon. Storefronts selling steaming food and cheap little trinkets lined the wall next to them. The species here were diverse in both species and demographics. Families strolled hand in hand from one shop to the next. Couples sat on stone benches, feeding each other breakfast. Cloaked men with their hands in their pockets brushed past them, carrying bulging rucksacks with pieces of metal and wire sticking out of the top.
They traveled down the angled walkway, cloaks rippling collectively. As the guards joked and chatted amongst themselves. Rey and Ben walked side by side behind them, both keeping silent. Every once and awhile, he would shoot her a nervous glance but look quickly away, as if he was afraid of meeting her gaze. His hands were clenched into fists and Rey could have sworn that a slight blush played along his cheeks. What in the world was he so agitated about?
Soon a high steel archway met them at the bottom of the tower. Clusters of shiny red leaves hung from strings of spare wire, creating a make-shift curtain for customers to hold back and step through. They all must have looked very conspicuous all coming through at the same time, but it's not like it could be helped too much. Emerging on the other side, they were greeted with twin smiles and waves.
"Howdy, folks!" hailed the taller of the two older zabrak men, several rings glinting off of his grimy fingers. "Talla and Wanti at your service. What brings you into our humble abode today?"
"Some spare parts, or are you in need of a whole new ship?" asked Wanti, the shorter zabrak, twirling his long, graying hair into a ponytail with a piece of red wire.
The wall on the other side of their main desk was open to a spacious courtyard half full of parked ships of all kinds, from small shuttles to larger transports to even stolen TIE fighters. Parts and machine components littered crowded workbenches or filled tool chests up to the brim. A pang in Rey's chest climbed up her chest and she found herself a little homesick for her walker back on Jakku.
"I'm afraid we'll be needing the whole thing," Joran started. He walked up to the sales desk and confidently slapped his hand down on the rough counter. "Do you trade? We got a shuttle that's in prime condition. But we're in need of something bigger."
The others nodded to back up his claim, but Rey gulped down her apprehension. If there was anything she picked up from living on Jakku, it was that trading was a nasty business. One day it could buy you everything you possibly needed. The next you only got a half portion to eat the rest of the day.
A holo-screen screen a few inches above the desk, scrolling through a few standard bulletins in bright blue. Just after Joran gave them their offer, the graphics switched, and Rey's heart skipped a beat.
The eight of them were posted in the "Wanted" section of the news. Each of their likeness was captured in the shaky hologram, with Rey and Ben's faces concealed by the masks. "Bulani" and "Selisa" were typed in Galactic Basic underneath the flickering pictures. The guards' names and faces were lined up under theirs.
Before Rey could make a move, Wanti glanced at the hologram, then froze with his eyes wide with realization. Everyone stood as rigid as statues, scared to move or act. Ben gave Rey a fearful look, reaching for the lightsaber on his belt. She put a shaking hand on the lightsaber staff slung over her back. The whole much have looked pretty comical from an outsider's point of view.
The two mechanics looked at one another, their hair swinging around. Then they turned their harsh gazes back to their customers and, to Rey's surprise, smiled broadly.
"No need for the long faces!" Talli laughed, waving their intense reactions away with a clawed hand. "We don't turn in heroes, now do we?"
The two men started to walk around their desk and approach their group. Wanti reached out and grabbed Ben's outstretched hand and shook it excitedly. He took a cautionary step back but pursed his lips and finished the handshake. The other guards collectively breathed in a sigh of relief, cloaks sliding to conceal their blasters once more.
"We can't thank you enough!" Talli boomed, holding out his hand for Ames to shake. The older woman nodded firmly and accepted his gesture.
"This was the young man that saved my niece Kaji! She had told me about the masked man who stopped a baton in midair!" Wanti let go of Ben's hand and gave him a small yet excited salute, which Ben returned politely. He raised his eyebrows at Rey and she smirked in return.
Now she knew what they were talking about. There had been a young couple that Ben saved from a shock baton that was careening through the air. Ben told her about it on the way over. From the way a slight smile played across his lips, he felt good about it. Now she couldn't help but grin with pride.
"We are forever indebted to you," Talli told them, "Please, come with us and pick what you want, and we'll take your shuttle for it"
The two men bowed deeply, their hair nearly touching the dirt floor. They stood back up and beckoned Rey, Ben, and the guards out of the building and into the sunlit yard of ships. Rey put her fists on the hips and breathed in the potent smell of starship fuel. She was a kid and a candy store.
"This one looks pretty sweet, huh, boss?" Edric pointed to a broken-down light freighter. It's orange paint was peeling off and rust had eaten at the wings.
"What about this one? Looks pretty roomy," Sal croaked, gesturing at a bulky quad jumper. "And it'll take us pretty far, too," he muttered stroking his beard.
"I think we have a winner, gentlemen!" Ames waved them all over to the ship of her choice.
They all stood under the shade of a YT-2400, a light freighter. The rounded hull and side cockpit placement all screamed Millennium Falcon to Rey. Ben looked up, arms crossed and face set with a heavy expression. He had had the same impressions she got as well.
"What do you think?" Sestro asked, leaning carelessly against one of the legs of landing gear. The rest of his friends waited for his approval, shuffling their boots in the loose dirt.
Rey placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. Ben gave her an understanding look, then nodded to the rest of the guards, who all traded high fives and cheers with one another.
"This means I won't have to sit on you lap anymore," Edric said to Joran. The older man smiled begrudgingly but didn't respond, earning a mena chuckle from Ames.
"You've chosen this one, yes?" Talli appeared around the hull of a TIE fighter, wringing his hands in a cleaning cloth.
Joran nodded the affirmative and sealed the deal with a hearty handshake with the two mechanics. "We can't tell how much this means, really."
Wanti nodded to Rey and Ben, who shot each other excited looks.
"We wouldn't be mistaken that you all are looking for the Resistance, yes?" Talli asked.
Rey's heart leapt in her chest and she stepped forward and said, "Yes, we are! Can you help us?"
The man passed her a card with the name of the shop on it. "Take this to the coastal homes on the beach. My sister Zeph and her family live in a house on stilts just above the water, it's the only one like it around and you can't miss it. Tell her about yourselves and she'll be happy to take you in for a night or two. She also has a transmitter that could get a signal out to your friends."
Rey grinned like an idiot and snatched up the card gracelessly. "Thank you!" she crowed, taking the taller zabrak's hand and shaking it till her fingers turned numb. "We can't thank you enough, sir."
After all these weeks, she was finally going to see her friends again. Warmth flowed through her as memories of Finn and Poe and Rose flashed up in front of her. Chewie would be waiting for her with a big furry hug, and Leia would want to hear all about her journey with Ben.
Ben. What would happen to him once she reunited with her friends and comrades? She looked at him over her shoulder.
His jaw was set, and his eyes stared off into the forest, forlorn and welling with sudden emotion. The scar on his cheek looked darker and deeper than ever. His eyes flickered up to meet hers and she glanced away, embarrassed.
Walking back up to the shuttle, flying it back down to the penned ships below, and making the transaction took an hour or so, but to Rey it felt like only a few seconds had passed. It was only when they were up in the air in their new freighter that time slowed and allowed for her to take a breath.
The space inside the YT-2400 was more than enough to convince them of its utilities. No longer did the guards have to squeeze up next to one another but sat comfortably around a wide round table in the ship's lounge. Luckily, like in the Falcon, the table came equipped with holographic dejarrik chess, and Rey joined in on a few games as Ben piloted them down to the shimmering coastline.
She and Ben hadn't traded many words since their depature from what Eloisa told them was Capre Hom, a small tourist destination. He wasn't his usual dry, smarmy self and kept to the cockpit most of the journey. Rey glanced worriedly at the entrance to the cockpit over her shoulder, seeing his dark broad frame hunched over the controls.
"Are you alright, Rey?" Ames asked softly, her hand hovering over the button that would slaughter Sestro's entire offense. The rest of the guards turned their sleepy gazes to her and she blushed at the sudden attention.
"I'm okay," she reassured them, putting his hands up in a gesture of good will. But that wasn't all true. Sure, they were safe and well on their way to the Resistance one way or another, but that seemed to really bother Ben.
White sand flew up around the landing gear of their freighter as Ben set them down on a short grassy cliff. Rey hopped to the window and smiled to herself.
There it was, as the mechanics had promised. A wide, wooden house perched on a series of steel stilts a number of feet above the gentle ocean waves. The sun glistened white on the blue water, giving the scene new layers of exquisite color and depth.
Rey was the first one out of the ship, taking off at an excited run while the rest of her peers adopted a more mellow pace. She wanted to peer back and invite Ben to run down with her, but if his reaction was like anything since the shop, it would be less than ideal.
A tall zabrak woman in short tan robes and a young child, stepped outside onto the front deck of the house. Rey's boot's hit wood as she ascended up to dock and presented the card to her. "Your name is Zeph, right?" she panted.
"Yes, but what is this all about?" the zabrak asked, her brow furrowed as she looked over the rest of Rey's group. Joran and Ames held up their hands in greeting while Ben nodded solemnly.
"We're the ones that saved your daughter Kaji on Mer'in. Your brother sent us here," Rey explained, pulling her lightsaber staff over her head and showing it as proof of her identity.
Zeph paused for a moment, then her face screwed up with emotion. She leaned forward and wrapped Rey up in a tight hug.
"Thank goodness you were there!" Zeph cried into Rey's shoulder. "You saved a daughter and a mother that day." She sniffed and looked over to the little boy. The boy nodded shyly and kicked at the loose wooden planks.
"And this is Bulani, yes?" she asked, waving for Ben to come closer. He pursed his lips but walked up behind Rey. He nodded and took out his lightsaber as Rey had.
Zeph jumped back from Rey and clapped joyfully. "The galaxy is truly on our side! Please, come in, come in!"
The guards clambered up the angled dock and joined the crowd of people inside the house. The light wood and white furniture made for a great atmosphere and the strong scent of cooked meat and vegetables wafted from the kitchen.
"Anything we have is yours: food, drink, beds, anything!" The zabrak woman quickly set about slamming dishes onto a large table while. Sal and Edric ran to their host and gently took the plates from her hands, finishing her job for her.
"Wanti said you had a transmitter. For contacting the Resistance?" Rey asked
The young boy looked up to his grandmother as she sighed. "A relic of the days of the Empire, but it should still work."
"We'll be able to assist you if you need," Joran told her. "It's the least we could do to repay your kindness."
"Then it's settled!" Zeph put his hands on her hips and looked around at her guests. "First, let's eat. I've never started a transmission without a meal in my stomach. Makes me sound a little more friendly, don't you think?"
…
The sun hovered dangerously close to the water, as if a child were dangling the bright ball on a string and threatened to drown its fire in the blue depths. Rey stepped out into the creamy sand and sucked in the rich ocean air. Flecks of moisture alighted on her nose and her robes fluttered in the breeze.
She crouched down and scooped up a handful of sand, letting the minerals trickle through her fingers. The sand here was pleasant and cool, while on Jakku the dunes had sat hot and rough in the scorching sun. She never imagined sand to feel any other way, but here she was, lightyears away from that trash heap.
She was finally going back to her friends. She was going home.
A small dock floated in the ocean away from the main house connected by a narrow walkway, the waves rapping on the bottom of the planks. As Rey watched Ben stepped out the back door and journeyed down to dock. He sat down with his legs crossed and his arms supporting his weight behind him. Like on Nov Sensum, his hair was tied back in a half bun and he had ditched the doublet, wearing a black undershirt. His pearly skin positively glowed in the sun's rays.
It wasn't long before Rey looped around the house and approached him from behind. She wobbled a bit as she did so. The dock wasn't as steady as solid ground.
"Mind if I join you?" Her voice shook just a fraction, but she winced at the sound of it.
He glanced back at her and that familiar smirk flashed across his lips. "Of course, by all means." He held out his hand at the spot next to him and she obliged.
They sat in silence for a moment, drinking in the sights and sounds of the sea.
"Have you ever tried walking on water before?"
Rey threw her head back a bit in confusion. "What?" she asked, caught off guard. "We never had enough water to drink, much less walk on."
"When I was little, my mom would catch me on top of the ponds outside our palace. I'd get in trouble for getting my new shoes wet."
Rey didn't respond but rejoiced silently. He was finally talking normally with her again.
"Here." He pulled himself up, slipped his boots off and rolled up his pants. Then he stuck one foot over the side of the dock and leaned forward.
"No!" Rey shrieked in surprise, reaching out to catch him even though he was feet away. But the water didn't break under him. His foot landed squarely on the waves as if an invisible floor had materialized just beneath the surface. Now both of his feet were firmly planted in the calm water. He squinted in the light of the setting sun and smiled warmly, offering his hand.
Rey's mouth hung open in disbelief, but she snapped it closed and stood up, wringing her hands nervously.
"Don't worry, I won't let you fall." His extended his reach further. Ripples spread under his feet.
She gulped and gripped his hand tightly, his warmth coursing through her. Slowly she dipped her boot towards the surface of the water. She closed her eyes and concentrated on channeling her energy towards her feet. She would not let herself topple over like a fool.
Sure enough, her efforts paid off. A hardness met her shoe and she could put her full weight down. Though that didn't stop her from holding Ben's hand. Without his steadfast touch, she would fall straight into the ocean.
Now they stood hand in hand, water lapping at their feet and the ocean breeze coursing over their bare skin. They hadn't been this close in proximity since their fight on Mer'in.
"Here," he said, and he led her slowly along, one step at a time. Rey's grip tightened and her breathing quickened, but she followed along. She reached for his other hand and he took it, his eyes never leaving hers. His black hair flew around his face, thick and wild. She wondered how it would feel entangled in her fingers.
Now the sun was almost submerged in the watery horizon. The wisps of clouds overhead turned mild shades of pink and orange, like the sky itself was being kissed by fire. The breathtaking colors stretched on for miles and miles in either direction, creating beauty without end.
Her joy at the gorgeous spectacle was quenched when her gaze moved to Ben. Fear lined his face and his jaw was working, as if chewing on unspoken words. His scar looked almost black in the darkening light.
"What's wrong?" She let go of his hands and stepped away to give him some space. The ocean obeyed her will, and she remained on top of the waves.
He hesitated for a moment, panic clouding his dark brown eyes. But she waited, knowing the words he would choose would likely be the right ones.
"Rey," he murmured, "I need to tell you something. I… should have said this a long time ago, and I need you to hear this before you go."
Her heart hammered. "Before I go?"
"Back to your friends. Before all of this goes away." His Adam's apple bobbed nervously, and he held out his hands slightly as if to steady himself.
"Ben, we'll still be together—"
"But it won't be like it was, just the two of us." He closed his eyes at those last words. Rey's hands shook, and her heart hammered against her ribs. Pieces of loose hair flittered across her face, but her arms were too heavy to put them back into place.
"You also wanted to know why I was doing all of this for you, back on Nov Sensum. You said you'd get your answer."
He pursed his lips one more time before speaking again.
"Rey, I'm in love with you." Emotion filled every syllable, spilling out into the cool sea air.
A weight dropped in Rey's chest. Her mind reeled. Sure, she had felt the same way since her stand against Jayne in the rain, but having it verbalized crossed some sort of line. They had been friends and things were fine. Now they were both diving into something unknown.
"I've wanted to tell you since we saw each other again on Raspitar, but I've always been so afraid that you'd hate me like before." His voice finally began to shake. "You are everything to me, and I don't want to lose you like I did on Crait because of my horrendous mistakes and—"
Rey didn't get the chance to hear the rest. Her concentration finally slipped out of shock, and she plummeted with a scream into the ocean.
The acidic burn of the salt water scorched her nose and throat. She floundered in surprise before Ben's arms wrapped around her and pulled her up out of the water. Her hands met the wood planks of the dock and she hauled herself out of the water, sprawling out across the dock while coughing and shivering.
A great splash of water alerted her to Ben's arrival beside her. He lay on his back neck to her, his chest rising and falling with each heavy breath.
"Thanks," she said shakily, sitting up and wringing water out of her hair.
"Don't mention it," he replied.
Both of them dripped water like full sponges as they clambered back to the house. Ben had his boots in tow while Rey rang water out of her robes. The sun was completely down, and the fresh night sky was dimpled with countless stars.
That feeling was there again. Despite everything that had happened on the water minutes before, Ben still fit in beside her like a puzzle piece. Now his shape filled the empty space beside her, Rey knew it sounded strange, but she had missed him before he had even known him.
They entered the dark house as quietly as they could, though Rey's boots did squelch horribly against the tiled floor. Zeph had spare rooms upstairs and the guards had agreed to take two out of the four. They left the other two for Rey and Ben, though the both of them protested at dinner that they didn't need rooms to themselves.
They climbed the staircase to the top floor. Already snores drifted from the first two bedrooms, signaling that everyone was fast asleep after the events of the day. The smells from dinner still lingered behind, tangy and delectable.
Now it was time for the two of them to split up into their respective rooms. Ben nodded to her and muttered a soft goodnight before turning his back.
But Rey didn't want him to leave. Not now, not ever.
A heat swelled in her chest as she grabbed his shoulder. Ben turned back around with a blank expression. Before he could utter a word, Rey put her lips on his, breathing in the sea salt on his skin.
After a second, she pulled away, fear flooding her veins.
Ben looked as if he'd been hit over the head, but a moment later he was kissing her back, his large hands running down her back and his lips turning hers to mush. She knit her fingers into his long, wonderfully thick hair, her wish from before now fulfilled.
She broke the kiss just long enough to nod her head in the direction of her room. Then Ben whisked her off of her feet in a bridal carry. She clapped a hand over her mouth to contain her loud giggle but decided that another kiss from him would do the job just as well.
Even in the swirl of emotion, a sensation of peace filled her mind. He was here at last, this intimidating, awkward, powerful, gentle man that had changed her life forever.
With their bodies intertwined, they tumbled into Rey's room and shut the door behind them.
Author's Note: Sorry for the late upload, you guys, it's been a crazy week. But I hope you enjoyed the new chapter, I sure enjoyed writing it! Thanks for all your support, as usual!