Author's Note: I still don't own anything, nor am I making any money off this. FYI: Poe's in this chapter again, so language warning. Please leave a review if you're enjoying the story so far. Story will begin wrapping up soon. As always, thanks for reading, lovelies! xx

Field of Vision

Chapter 12

It would be a long time before Ben forgot the sight of their faces—all of them—or the feeling of undeserved relief that washed over him when the council granted him a second chance. His fingers tingled as their Force bond sizzled between them, bringing out such emotion he didn't know he was capable of having anymore. Rey's smile was as bright as the sun.

Leia could barely stand when she embraced her son after the decision was announced. Like Rey, Leia had been living with the worst-case scenario looming over her like a dark cloud for days, bringing her health and her ability to lead into question. Somehow, her son had fallen into unexpected favor, and she was beyond grateful for it. While they were relieved Ben wasn't going to be exiled or worse, they knew he had yet to be exonerated.

Their hearts were lighter than air as the dyad departed the council's chambers together. In a rare display of light-hearted emotion, Ben reached for Rey, his large and rough hand encompassing hers as they walked side by side. He still had a long journey ahead to gain the trust of his reluctant protectors, but Rey felt confident that he would prove himself when the time came, and everyone who doubted him would have to give the devil his due.

The dyad made it as far as the edges of the compound before they were stopped at the gates by Maz Kanata. Rey immediately sensed Ben's heightening unease at her presence. Every time she came around, Ben felt like she was dismantling him from the inside out. It did something to his pride he didn't appreciate.

Maz stepped forward, and without any greeting or pleasantries exchanged, held out a battered metal box. Wide, round eyes gazed up at Ben through spectacles, holding him captive. Everything about the manner of her appearance seemed urgent and strangely enough, he felt compelled to listen.

"I think it's time you put that Kyber crystal to good use," said Maz as she handed him a battered metal box.

"What's this?" He asked, kneeling to take the box from her. The container was very large in her small hands, but when it passed into Ben's larger hands, its scale changed noticeably. It looked like an ancient tool box to Rey.

"Open it. Inside, you will find everything you'll need."

Ben and Rey exchanged curious glances before he lifted the lid to see what was inside.

What he found inside was too good to be true. Since arriving on Yavin, Ben purposely lived as unaggressive and mild-mannered as he could manage in his circumstances. Without any real opportunity for sparring with Rey, he had completely forgotten about his need for a new weapon. In his possession was a tool kit for assembling and repairing lightsabers. There were logos dating back to the old Republic painted inside the lid, with various metal hulls and components in which to make an entirely new saber. Some of the tools inside had to be as old as the former regime, dating back to even before his grandparent's era.

"Where did you get this from?" He asked.

"Young man, I've had this longer than your family tree has existed, locked away for when it was needed again. Listen—Rebel forces are gathering now. We're making preparations for the largest incursion we've ever made on the First Order… we're going to need all the fighters we can get. Go on, take it and use it."

Ben smiled wide at the elderly creature, immensely grateful for her trust and fully aware that it hadn't come by easy. "Thank you."

xx

It was the hottest part of the day, which didn't improve Ben's mood at what he knew he needed to do. Sweat glistened on his neck as he looked up through the gap in the tree canopy just in time to watch a formation of X-wings zoom overhead.

"You sure you want to talk to him?" Chewie asked, folding his furry arms across his chest.

Ben shrugged his thick shoulders as he rolled the sleeves of the sleek, white shirt up to his elbows. He wasn't thrilled about it, but knew if he wanted to keep the peace as well as Rey and his mother, and the council happy, he had to do this.

"Got to," he answered simply, staring back at his godfather, hoping this was still the right thing to do.

Ben put one foot in front of the other, again and again until he found himself close enough to read the pilot's shoe size. Poe was working on a ladder, bent over the cockpit of his X-wing, oblivious to the man standing nearby. The sounds of buzzing power drills and chugging compressors filled the air around them, making their surroundings feel more hectic than they actually were. No one was rushing anywhere, or in any haste to launch pilots, but the ship yard felt alive, whirring with activity.

"Hey," Ben called from below, tapping on the metal ladder to get Poe's attention.

Poe craned his neck over the side of the cockpit to look for the source of distraction. His irritation was palpable and didn't even try to hide his eyes rolling.

Ben wasn't thrilled about being there either, but he knew the inevitable confrontation needed to be out with already. "Look, we've both fucked up," Ben started, leaning against the ladder. "But, I think I'm right when I say neither one of us wants it to happen again."

"Damn right, buddy. But you've got a lot of nerve showin' up here, acting like nothing ever fuckin' happened between us—all of us!" said Poe, storming down the ladder.

Ben motioned to something behind Poe. Cautiously, the pilot turned around to find Chewie hanging out, just far enough away that he could still see, but not hear everything the boys were talking about.

"I'm an accompanied minor this time," Ben said, smirking.

Poe's ears began to burn, angry that he had no choice but to at least hear him out. The Wookiee would surely tear his limbs off this time if he pulled that same stunt again.

Ben stood up to his full height, and tried to offer the first olive branch. "I'm not asking for your forgiveness. I know that's something I'll probably never get from anybody here," Ben paused, watching Poe for any sign of aggression. "I'm not even asking for you to like me."

"Then what do you want?"

Ben let go of the deep breath he was holding in, and searched the feelings of the man across from him. So much anger and hopelessness. He was hungry to prove himself every chance he could get, seeing it as yet another way to survive in this cold, unforgiving galaxy. There was a lot in him in which Ben could relate.

"I want what you want," he said, startling the pilot with his casual attitude. "You and I… we're fighters. We're of no use without a battle going on. Because where else are we going to put all that energy—that anger—where else can we prove ourselves?"

Poe listened to Ben, finally considering what made him mad in the first place.

"So, you were just doing what you were told to do—back on Jakku? When you killed Lor San Tekka? And what about those villagers, huh?" Poe's fiery spirit refused to be placated by the hopeful words of a turncoat. "I know I'm good at it—but I don't wanna keep fighting! Each time I crawl into this X-wing to take down punks like you, I know it could be my last—I don't want that hanging over me anymore, man!"

Poe yelled out his frustration and kicked the service speeder next to his ship, bouncing back slightly from the reverb.

Ben folded his arms across his chest to keep himself from punching the pilot in the teeth. With astounding familiarity into the man's situation, Ben realized they had both been in this war for far too long.

"But, you didn't answer me," Poe stopped kicking things on the ground and crossed his arms in mirror imitation as he stared, irate at Ben, "What do you want from me?"

"Don't let your anger out on Rey," said Ben evenly, "She misses her friends, and shouldn't have to choose between me or you… just because you're sour towards me doesn't mean you should sacrifice your friendships,"

"Oh, like you even know what a friendship is, asshole!" Poe yelled as he ran up to punch Ben again.

But this time, Ben was prepared. He let Poe hit him once—once was all he needed to validate what he would do next.

Ben took the meager punch to the cheek, but it barely affected him. He extended his hand towards Poe, gripping and paralyzing him through the Force. Poe's body lifted a few feet off the ground as he struggled against his invisible bondage, when Ben swiftly lifted his long leg and kicked Poe square in the chest with everything he had, sending the pilot crashing several meters backwards. Chewie watched intently, wondering if he needed to intervene. Eventually.

Poe tumbled in the dirt as he landed hard, shocked that he actually encountered resistance this time. But, he was foolish to have thought otherwise. There's only so many times a dog will let you kick him before he bites back.

It was pilot against pilot, ace against ace; they're each the peak representative of their respective origins. Ben was the son of Han Solo, a notorious smuggler and ace pilot who became a living legend of the Rebellion. Ben inherited the skills and notoriety that Poe had to work for. Poe's a former spice runner with an edge; he's got the raw talent and the balls necessary to have kept him alive in this harsh galaxy for this long. They're two sides of the same, cocky coin. Fighting each other now wouldn't get them anything but dirty clothes and more bruises. And they'd just have to leave it at that for now.

"You fight dirty," Poe complained, thumbing blood off his lip.

"You don't fight dirty enough," answered Ben, smirking. He brushed the dust off his shirt then held out his right hand for Poe, who took it, to each of their surprise. Ben pulled his opponent up off the ground, but his grasp remained firm on Poe's hand asking, "Truce enough for now? For Rey?"

On his feet again, Poe stared at the taller man, sizing him up. This wasn't the behavior he expected from the First Order's favorite son of darkness. His face grew serious, a shadowy hardness spread across his features as he leaned closer to Ben so Chewie wouldn't possibly hear him.

"You sleepin' with Rey?"

Ben had to remember to compose himself before he completely lost his cool. The smirk was quickly wiped from his face as it settled into the cold, expressionless mask he would wear as Kylo Ren. He really wasn't expecting to be asked that. Ben furrowed his brow, unsure if Rey wanted their secret known. His dark, threatening eyes linked with Poe's, staring him down and squeezing the pilot's hand impossibly tight until the pilot backed off.

Poe could feel the very earth beneath his feet trembling, and lifted his hands in surrender.

"Hey man, I'm just askin' here…" he said defensively, rubbing his aching right hand.

"Don't ask again," Ben curtly responded before turning to leave. He knew the pilot had no idea of the gravity of what he was asking, and again, had to leave it at that.

Ben had only walked a few meters away from Poe before he heard him calling after him again. He was ready to be back in his cage again, or in Rey's quarters, the opposite side of the planet, anywhere that was away from this irritating Rebel.

"Hey asshole," Poe called after Ben.

Slowly he turned around, face still expressionless so as to not give anything away.

"I heard the council is giving you a shot at piloting one of these," he said, tapping the fuselage of his own X-wing.

"That's right," Ben answered calmly, but his stance oozed confidence.

Poe smirked aggressively, still believing Ben was soft. "Let's see how many vac-heads you can rack up. Shake up a little fun between you and me… Then we'll talk."

xx