Published February 6, 2021

"Visitation"

And he told them this parable: "There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, 'For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?' He said to him in reply, 'Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.'" ~ Luke 13:6-9 New American Bible

"I only have one rule for you guys, or for anyone who interacts with him at any time," Poe said, sounding sterner than usual. "No talking about government, politics, or Resistance activity. That applies during your little Force holo thingies, too, Rey."

"It's called a Force bond," Rey said coolly, "and I don't think that's entirely necessary. I mean, I live with the Resistance; does that make everything a Resistance activity?"

"Maybe that word should be more specific—like, change it to 'missions' or 'classified information,'" Finn suggested. He often found himself mediating between Poe and Rey, especially where the erstwhile Kylo Ren was concerned.

Ben's first "official" check-in was coming up, marking six standard months since his exile. Even though only Rey, Maz, and Lando were going to make the journey, it put a few other people on edge. Poe viewed the event with tolerance but no pleasure. He knew Rey's presence would be something like a reward to Ben, which, in his opinion, had not been earned. But Rey was the only person powerful enough to subdue him if he turned violent or tried to escape, so she had to be part of the visiting party. Maz and Lando were assigned to accompany her because, unlike the officers, they did not have more pressing business to attend to, and unlike most of the Resistance members, they did not mind interacting with Ben, nor he with them.

Rey felt a little silly for thinking so much about the appointment as it approached. There was no reason for her to feel nervous. She did not feel nervous when they saw each other through the Force, after all. But that was always a surprise, leaving her no time to anticipate what may or may not happen. What did she hope would happen?

As though it had sensed her thoughts, the Force connected her with Ben when she was thinking about him.

She tilted her head at him; for a moment she thought the light and shadows were playing tricks on her eyes. She fought back a smile as she asked, "Are you growing a beard?" She saw him often enough to know that he did not maintain a clean shave every day, but now his facial hair was longer and even more pronounced.

Ben smiled with just a little bashfulness, touching his jaw. "I didn't see a reason not to. It's not like I have to look good for anyone."

If she noticed the implication behind those words, she ignored it, studying his appearance instead. "It's … not a bad look, I suppose."

"You think so?"

She nodded slowly, but regarded him with a critical eye. "What you really need is a haircut."

Almost involuntarily Ben lifted a hand to his hair, feeling its length. "I think it's pretty good, considering I had to do it."

"You could ask one of the caretakers," Rey suggested.

"I try not to talk to them more than I need to. They don't seem to like me much."

"Well … you could ask me," Rey suggested. "I couldn't do it now, but when I visit."

"I'm not going to do that," he said shortly.

"Why not?" she pressed.

"You already do so much for me."

"Well, if you won't ask, what if I offered?"

"… Then I might consider it."

"Alright then: Would you like me to cut your hair?"

His expression became guarded. "Can I trust you? My hair is one of the few things I haven't lost."

"I understand. Don't worry. I've cut other people's hair in the Resistance."

"Your hair is getting longer," he observed.

Rey shrugged, causing her hair to brush against her shoulders. "I wear it down more often, since the fighting ended."

"I like it."

"Oh … thank you." She changed the subject. "You know the visit is in a few days."

"I'm aware. Artoo has a calendar. But, um—I was wondering how long you'll be here."

"Just a few hours, at most. Lando and Maz are coming, too. Chewie couldn't come this time, but he'd like to come in a few months, and stay a while if you'd let him."

"I see. Do I need to do anything for you while you're here?"

"Just show us how you've been living, and answer some questions."

"Sounds like a test."

"I guess you could look at it that way. For me the idea is just to make sure you're okay."

"For my own sake, you mean. Whereas the others probably want to make sure I'm not plotting a hostile takeover."

"… Something like that," she admitted.

"Well … it'll be nice to see you in person."

She smiled openly at that. "Yeah. It will."

Ben was standing outside waiting for them when they arrived. R2-D2 stood next to him, more for moral support than for any practical purpose.

He and Rey locked eyes as they approached, but before she could decide how to greet him—a hug? a handshake? a kiss?—Lando strode forward, extending his hand and calling out in his loud voice, "Ben!"

Ben smiled, genuinely glad to see some intelligent beings, and shook his hand. "It's good to see you, Lando."

"You too, kid. Guess I can't call you 'Benny boy' anymore, huh?"

Maz adjusted her glasses to peer at him. "Ben Solo."

"Maz … always a pleasure."

"I would say the same if your troops hadn't destroyed my castle," Maz said. The reminder took Ben aback, but then she smiled, and somehow he knew even that was forgiven.

He met Rey's eyes, and found that she was smiling broadly. It was hard not to return it. "Rey."

"Hi, Ben." She came up to him, hugged him briefly and kissed his cheek—it was smooth, as he had decided to shave for the occasion.

"So, are you gonna invite us in?" Lando asked.

"Is that how this works? I have to play the host?"

"You don't have to," Rey said neutrally, "but it would be the polite thing to do."

So Ben led them up to the village and showed them the hut he called his own. For the first time he felt self-conscious about his living conditions. His quarters were not as tidy as they could be, but they were not deplorable. It was only a little cramped with four beings inside at once.

It was strange—though not entirely unpleasant—having company after months of solitude. Lando and Maz did most of the talking, since they had not seen him since he came to Ahch-To, but Rey also chimed in to ask about his projects for the island's infrastructure.

He noticed her look of approval at his food supplies—he had managed to keep the majority of his rations in reserve, living primarily on what he could gather. She was also impressed by his plans for a reservoir system to gather rainwater and store it for washing or drinking.

"You've made more improvements in six months than Skywalker made in six years," she remarked at one point. For the first time in longer than he cared to remember, Ben felt some degree of personal pride.

When the conversation began to lag, Rey finally got to the real point of the visit. "We're, um, supposed to ask you some questions about your behavior. You can tell us your answers verbally or in writing."

"So you're here to interrogate me." Would the Force ever tire of that irony?

"More like an interview," Maz said, handing a datapad to Lando.

"And Rey here will know if you're lying, so you're better off sticking with the truth," Lando said.

"I wouldn't lie," Ben said hotly. He was—or at least had been—many reprehensible things, but he had rarely ever tried to deceive anyone, and he would never have lied to Rey.

Lando looked at the datapad and read the questions out loud, sounding more formal and efficient than Ben had ever heard him; the former administrator of Cloud City seemed to be coming out. "Have you felt the urge to hurt yourself, other living things, or property?"

"… No."

"Have you come to any significant conclusions about your past behavior, present circumstances, or future prospects?"

"Um … yes, some. Do I have to talk about them?" He remembered the journal Maz had given him—would they demand to read it? Had that been her intention all along?

To his surprise and relief, it was Maz who answered, "No. You can plead silence."

There were a few questions of strategic importance, regarding the First Order's bases, activities, and officers. Ben answered as truthfully as he could.

"Anything else?" he asked after a lengthy explanation.

Lando shook his head and handed the datapad back to Maz. "That's it."

"Actually, I have one more question," Rey posited.

Ben sat up straight, wondering what Rey could have to ask him.

"Do you still want a haircut?"

Ben blinked. "Wha—oh. Um. Yes, if that's—if it's not too much trouble."

"It's not. It won't take long." She opened the door. "Why don't we do it outside? The wind isn't blowing, and the light will be better."

"Okay."

While Lando and Maz went back to the shuttle for a new crate of supplies, Rey and Ben went to the firepit with the stone benches. Ben sat down with a towel over his shoulders, and Rey stood behind the bench with the scissors and a bowl of water.

Before she began, she carded her fingers through his hair, almost experimentally. "It's so soft," she marveled.

"Not as soft as it used to be."

"Right. Well. I thought asking for hair care products might be a bit much."

"I'm not complaining. Just a statement of fact."

Rey wet her hands and then ran them over his hair to dampen it. Then she ran her fingers through it again, examining its length in different places. "Should I make it a little shorter than it usually is? Then you won't have to cut it again quite so soon."

"Alright."

With that permission, Rey set to work.

It may not have been their most intimate moment—too many others were in the running for that distinction—but it was certainly their most domestic one. Who would have imagined they would be in this position, with him allowing her to approach with a sharp implement and alter his physical appearance? Not that there was anyone to see his hair and cause him embarrassment if she did it poorly.

As she worked, Rey asked, "Out of curiosity, who cut hair in the First Order?"

"Usually droids. Sometimes a medic, if one was available."

"What about when you were growing up?"

A smile tugged at the corners of Ben's mouth. "My dad would, if he was able. He didn't like the idea of paying someone else to do something so simple. And when he wasn't around, my mom would braid it."

"Really?" Rey sounded both surprised and amused.

"Just small braids. Jedi padawans used to have them as a sign of their rank. And on Alderaan, the royal family almost always wore them. That's why my mother almost always had them, even though she would have preferred it down or in a ponytail. There were all kinds of different ways to wear braids, each with their own significance."

"I think I only saw her with two different styles," Rey said, trying to remember.

Ben was silent for a moment, then said, "There was one style reserved for mourning. She would have worn that after …"

Rey stopped moving. "Oh." She put the scissors down and laid her hand gently on his head; he was pretty sure the way she stroked it had little to do with styling it. "Do you want to talk about it?"

He stopped himself from shaking his head. "Not really. Not now."

"Okay. But you know that you can, if you ever want to."

"I know." Before Rey could begin cutting again, he stopped her wrist and asked, "I've told you a lot about my parents, and how I'm dealing with … everything. But you haven't mentioned …"

She looked at him blankly.

"Well … have you been okay, after learning about Palpatine, and your parents?"

Rey opened her mouth but was momentarily unable to form words. When she found her voice, she answered, "I … I've tried not to think much about it."

"Do your friends know?"

"Yes. They found out part of the story from a droid we found on Pasaana. It belonged to Ochi. I just confirmed what they guessed, and filled in the gaps."

"How did they take it?"

"It barely bothered them. They were mostly just glad that I was alive and staying with the Resistance. We haven't spoken of it since."

Ben looked at her with regret. "I'm sorry for—for the way I told you. I know it hurt you."

"It would have hurt no matter how you told me."

"I knew it would. But I could have tried to soften the blow."

"I'm past it, Ben."

"Past my telling you, or past the fact itself?"

"Both."

"Well … good." He was sure she must be thinking and feeling more about it, but he decided not press her further, except to say, "You know you can talk to me, if you want to."

"I know. Having evil grandparents is something we have in common."

She moved around to stand facing him, examining him from in front. He felt strange having her look at him this way, studying his appearance rather than looking directly into his eyes. She ran her hands over and through his hair a few more times before concluding, "I think that's it. Do you have a mirror?"

"Inside." He rarely used it, but Rey seemed to want to see his reaction. So he got up from the bench, shook the trimmings from the towel, and went inside and found the mirror.

His hair was shorter than he usually kept it—growing up, he had always kept it long enough to cover his large ears. Looking closely, he saw other changes in his appearance: his complexion was no longer so pale, and the bags under his eyes were less pronounced. He smiled experimentally, and realized that he looked even better when he did so.

"I like it." He turned back to Rey, who remained standing near the door. "Thank you for doing that."

She smiled back. "You're welcome."

It occurred to both of them, then, that they were alone in a private place, except for R2-D2 who sat quietly in the corner. But before they could begin to consider the questions that started to bloom in their minds or the tension that threatened to fill their bodies, Lando and Maz came in with the container of supplies, which was small enough that Lando was able to carry it. Ben accepted it and glanced inside to see its contents: mostly food, but also soap, sewing materials so he could mend his clothing, the seeds and tools he had requested to plant a garden, and paper and ink so he could continue writing.

Ben walked back with the others to the landing pad. As they passed by the bench, they saw a couple porgs examining the hair trimmings on the ground. "They'll probably line their nests with it," Rey said with a grin. It was an odd but not displeasing thought, to imagine that something of Ben would become part of the island's ecosystem, used to create shelter.

"When will I see you—any of you again?" Ben asked as they made their way down.

Rey answered, "Chewie will come and stay with you in a few months. I don't know when my turn will be. It might be a year."

"I see."

"Well—we probably will see." She gave him a meaningful look, and he grinned in anticipation.

Author's Note: I usually take a hiatus during Lent, which this year is February 17 to April 3. However, the next chapter is one I've really looked forward to (hint: there will be a significant interaction with another character), so I'm going to post it next weekend. Think of it as a Valentine's Day/Mardi Gras gift.