"You never talk about yourself much," Ben observes as they walk. They have a path they always follow, never straying far into the jungle.
Rey shrugs. "There's not much to tell."
"But your family … you haven't said anything about them."
Her spine stiffens and Ben wonders what he's said. "I just prefer to hear about you," she explains with a guarded tone.
What must he do to get her to open up to him? She's been on Yavin 4 for almost a month now and he still knows barely anything about her. He hoards what little crumbs she gives him jealously, turning them over in his mind.
He stops walking and she stops, too, but doesn't turn to him.
"Rey," he murmurs, his voice laced with how much she means to him.
Moving to stand in front of her, his hand trembles as he finds the courage to reach out for her, the way he always wants to. He tentatively cups her cheek, and oh, she leans into his touch like the cat he had as a boy.
When she sighs and presses his hand against her cheek with her own, he breathes out, "Please … I want to know you."
Her eyes close, as if in pain. Someone has hurt Rey, of this he's sure. He just wants her to let him soothe away this deep anguish he feels reaching out to him in the Force.
"I know," she sighs.
"Just tell me something. Anything. I don't care how small."
Her hand strokes his, and she's pulling it from her face. But she keeps their fingers tangled together and he feels like he can breathe again. Those eyes, they pull him in, and he can see so much calling to him. What is it about this girl that makes every molecule of his being spark and keen?
Smiling slightly, she offers, "I've always wanted to learn to swim."
In that moment, he knows she's not really from Takodana. It's littered with lagoons and he'd had his doubts anyway. But he doesn't press, grateful for any little tidbit.
"Would you like to learn?"
Her expression grows wistful. "Are you offering to teach me?"
Shyly he nods, knowing just where he wants to take her.
She makes a little smile and glances away. But when she looks back at him, her smile is full and hopeful. "I'd like that," she says quietly.
"Tomorrow? After afternoon meditation?"
"Yeah …" She nods. "Yeah."
Then she's tugging at his hand and they keep walking. This time though, she doesn't drop his hand and they walk on, fingers linked in a way that feels like something has shifted between them.
"Tell me something else," he requests, hoping he's not pushing his luck.
"I love to fly, as far and as fast as I can." Her tone is bright and there's an openness to her he can sense is difficult for her.
"Well, you'd like my dad, then."
Her smile is gentle when she says, "Yeah. I bet I would"
He wakes stupidly early, too excited to sleep for one more minute. Today he's taking Rey to the falls! Luckily, it's his shift in the kitchens for the mid-day meal, so he'll be able to pack something for dinner in case she doesn't want to rush back.
Ben really hopes she doesn't want to rush back.
As one of the eldest students, he's allowed a bit more leeway with his schedule and he knows Master Luke won't mind if they skip dinner as long as they're back in time for the evening fire. If he's really lucky, he'll be able to show Rey the beginnings of the sunset over the water.
He's eager to get her something. Something to show that she's always on his mind, but it's too soon. There's a letter to his mother that he's begun and deleted a dozen times, trying to figure out how to ask her to send him a necklace or bracelet. But that would open him up to so many questions, so it remains unfinished.
This though, this he can do. Give her a beautiful experience.
As he readies for the day, he remembers how she'd joined him next to the fire last night. She'd plopped down next to him like it was the most natural thing in the world and threaded their hands together. Clearly, holding hands is allowed now.
Maybe it always was.
Tai slides into the seat next to Ben during the morning meal. His pale blue eyes twinkle and he elbows Ben in the ribs playfully.
"Saw you holding hands with Rey last night. Finally noticed she's over the moons for you, huh?"
He knows Rey cares about him, but he's equally certain that he's far more invested than she is. If he had his way, she'd already be sleeping in his hut, propriety be damned. There have been flirtations amongst the apprentices, but nothing nearly so serious. Rey is it for him, of that he's sure.
"Things are … progressing," Ben admits carefully.
"Well, looks to me like you might end up getting a stern talking to from Master Luke if you aren't careful. Remember that Togruta I met on that off-world mission to Quol?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, Master Luke sat me down and told me all about how a Jedi must devote their life to the Force; that I shouldn't be focused on trivialities."
Ben knows the old Jedi Order had been almost monkish, no marriage, no children. But his uncle hasn't really gone into that. No attachments seems to be something he'd left behind, always encouraging the apprentices to stay in contact with their families. But he doesn't know what that means for love.
He'd seemed almost amused about Ben's fear that Rey was his cousin, certainly he'd understood why Ben had been so frantic. No, if anything there had been an undercurrent of approval.
"I'll worry about that when the time comes."
"Well, the way you look at her, I'd say there'll be little Ben Solos running around in no time."
Ben frowns, not liking the casual way he's talking about something so dear to his heart. And stars, children! Obviously, he's thought about it. It's hard not to when he imagines a future with her.
"I mean, just look at her? How could you not want to get under her robe—"
Ben's hand shoots out and without even thinking, he's squeezing his friend's throat with the Force.
"Do—not—speak—of—her," he snarls.
He hears a tray clatter and it breaks through the dark fog. He immediately drops his hand, horrified by what he'd done. Tai eyes him warily, and Ben looks around frantically. His stomach sinks when he sees Rey's frightened eyes on the other side of the dining hall.
Tai is rubbing his throat and coughing. What has he done! "Tai, I'm so sorry!"
There's a long pause, then he smiles easily. "You always did have a temper. I get it, no joking about your girl. But next time just tell me, for Force's sake!"
He glances over at Rey, finding her cleaning up her breakfast tray. It's so early that no one else has made it to the hall, and, impossibly, Master Skywalker is late. He doesn't even want to imagine what would have happened if he'd seen.
The relief he feels when she still takes his hand for their morning walk is nearly overwhelming.
But he's not lucky enough for her to just leave it alone. "What … what happened with Tai?" she asks.
Staring straight ahead Ben searches for the right words; he's not even sure what happened himself. "He was joking around, and I … I didn't like what he said about you."
"That was over me?" she asks, her tone sad.
"I guess. Yeah."
"I … I don't want you to hurt people over me. Please Ben."
He glances over at her worried face and the guilt is crushing. "I didn't even really mean to, but I promise it won't happen again."
"Thank you." She makes a relieved expression. "What did he say, anyway?" she asks plainly.
Ben feels heat rise in his cheeks. He doesn't really want to tell her. "It was nothing," he dismisses.
Now she stops walking and turns towards him, dropping his hand. "Ben, you Force choked him."
Ben cringes, hating to hear the words, but he remains stubbornly silent.
"Should I ask Tai?" Her brow rises in challenge.
That's even worse and Ben hangs his head. "He just suggested that I … that I want you."
He thinks he's managed to hide how much he craves to touch her, see what's secreted under her robes, at least from her.
Glancing up, he finds her eyes speculative. "Is he right?" She steps closer, close enough that he can feel her body heat.
His heart speeds up and he can't seem to take in a full breath. She's temptingly near, so easy to crush to him, and her eyes simmer. She's so close.
"Ben?" she nudges. "Is he right?"
He has to look away, feeling too exposed.
"Say it," she commands and he's helpless.
"Yes," he whispers.
She goes up on her toes and murmurs in his ear, "Good."
But then she just skips away and all he can do is follow her.
Ben carries the bundle of food and towels as he leads them to the falls. It's not far, just a short hike from the training temple. The jungle is lush, and it would be a hard trek if the path hadn't been worn down by years of fledgling Jedi making their way to the refreshing water.
They come around the last bend, and there they are. The small waterfall cascades down into a picturesque pool of perfectly clear water before continuing on as a burbling creek. The sky is blue and warm sunshine dapples the crystal surface.
"Oh, Ben … it's beautiful!" she exclaims.
"Just wait until you feel the water!"
"Will it be cold?" she asks with trepidation. "I once fell into the water and it was so, so cold."
"No, not this time of year. It's not warm, but it feels amazing on a hot day like this."
He leads them to a large flat stone and sets down his bundle. As he starts to undress, Rey gets a strange expression. "What … what are you doing?"
"Uhm, getting ready to go swimming?" he says with query in his tone.
"I … I didn't know we'd be naked," she says nervously.
His eyes just about fall out of his head in shock, his mind racing. "No!" he sputters. "You keep your underthings on."
"Oh! Oh, okay," she says with obvious relief.
That's when it hits him that this might not be the best idea he's ever had. They won't be naked, but he's about to see far more of Rey than he ever has before. Oh gods, all that skin. How is he going to keep from reacting?
In an instant, he decides he'll just get in before Rey is undressed so that the water will hide any unwelcome visitors.
He speeds up removing his clothing and dives into the water with no warning to Rey. When he comes to the surface, her eyes are huge with fear. "Ben!"
"What?" he asks, wiping the water from his face.
"Nothing. I just got worried."
He grins crookedly. "Nothing is going to happen to me."
Her eyes get that haunted look, but her expression clears quickly. "I know. I know," she says as if reminding herself.
Not for the first time he wonders what happened to that other man.
But he's not going to let his jealousy ruin this. He hasn't been here in a long time and the water feels fantastic. Maybe the cool temperature will help keep him in check.
Then Rey starts to take off her clothes, and soon she's in just her underthings. Nope, the water isn't going to do bantha spit. Her skin is kissed by the sun and her legs seem to go for parsecs. She's lithe, but deliciously curved, her slender waist flaring out to hips he wants to … down boy.
Teaching her to swim, that's why they're here.
The water only reaches just above his waist, though it's deeper near the falls. "Okay, the water won't come much past your … uh chest," he says, cringing. Great, now he's staring at her breasts.
Thankfully, Rey doesn't seem to notice as she gingerly sits at the edge and puts her legs in. "Oh! It's lovely."
"Not too cold, not too warm."
Her eyes crinkle. "Perfect."
The sun is hitting her hair, making it shine with hints of gold, and all he can do is agree. "Yes, perfect."
Wading over to her, he holds out his hands. She takes them and he gently encourages her to slide into the waiting water. She scrabbles a bit to find her footing on the sandy bottom, but then she's beaming up at him.
"There, that was the hardest part."
She raises a brow and he chuckles. "Okay, maybe putting your whole face under the water is the hardest part," he amends.
Rey is a natural. She'd sputtered a bit when she'd first waded into the deeper water, but now she's paddling around the swimming hole, grinning like a small child. He's managed to hide what it does to him to see her all wet and inviting and he thinks it's going marvelously.
"Okay, I want to show you how to float on your back," he says.
She looks up at him attentively. He's been touching her through all of this, but this feels a bit more intimate, somehow.
"I'm … uh, I'm going to show you how to hold your body."
"Uh huh."
He places one arm behind her shoulders, and the other at her knees. "I'm gonna lift you, alright?" he warns.
As soon as she's in his arms, her own limbs go around his neck instinctively and he realizes he's holding Rey. He blinks down on her dumbly. She feels like perfection and their faces are dangerously close.
But she's looking up into his eyes with such trust that he finds he doesn't want to push for more; not right now. He simply stands there for a long time, just staring into her wide, blinking eyes.
She breaks the spell with a breathless, "Now what?"
He shakes his head and time starts to move properly again. "Right. Right. Okay, now, just straighten out."
Rey does, but she keeps her head lifted out of the water.
"Do you feel how the water is holding you, like your body wants to float?"
She nods and he says, "Now, if you put your head back and just let it carry you, you'll stay at the surface."
Skepticism fills her face, but she does as he'd bidden. And just like that, she's floating. He keeps a hand at her waist, just in case. The last thing he wants is for her to get frightened.
Once she seems truly comfortable, he floats beside her and she gropes for his hand. Now they're bobbing along side by side, connected by their twined fingers. He's never felt so peaceful before.
And he drifts. With Rey.
A/N: Thank you, ArtemisBare, who I swear is 90% of anything funny that falls out of my fingers.
Thank you, Readers! Well, Besotted Ben has kept me up writing two nights in a row now, but I'm determined to work on 'Tethered' as well. Thank you all so much for the enthusiastic response to this story!
