Ben - Age 8

"I can take all of you! You're all filthy kung!"

Poe was supposed to be reporting to his flight commander – strike that, he was supposed to have reported two hours ago. (Inadvertent naps were going to get him kicked out of the academy someday.)

But when he heard Ben's ragged screeches amidst the clunk of heavy equipment, Poe knew an extra fifteen minutes wouldn't make any difference. He charged into the room, half-incented to shout for help while suspecting that Ben would resent him for making such a call.

The young Jedi had fallen into a tangle, wires wound about his legs, a bruise forming on his left eyebrow. He snarled at a Mon Calamari who looked to be a year or two older, and swung a pike at the youth's legs. Two other children – one of whom Poe recognized to be the daughter of a Hosnian Prime senator – chortled when the Mon Calamari jumped clear and Ben tumbled onto his face. He thrashed his legs, shouting obscenities that only a child could invent, and lashed out a hand.

Poe leapt between them. "Ben, stop!"

The Force-blow punched his shoulder (the same one that had been bruised before, Poe thought ruefully), and for an instant Poe stood rigid, his arm trailing behind him. "Ben," he said, ordering himself to remain calm, "Let me go."

Horror shot through brandy eyes and Ben released him, clambering away from the dented coolant. The girl giggled and Poe glowered down at her. "All of you. Go home. Now."

His uniform was only an academy pilot's, but the children were too young to recognize anything save "professional". Nothing was more terrifying than the thought of an officer reporting to their parents. The trio fled.

Pursing a breath, Poe streaked a hand through his hair and turned back to Ben. The boy wrenched on the wires netting his legs with as much condescension as if they were a pair of tangled bootlaces.

"I don't need your help!" Ben said emphatically.

"You're cutting your hands," Poe warned. He dropped his knife beside Ben and settled back against the coolant.

Seething, Ben yanked the blade open and began sawing the wires, sucking his fingers whenever a live wire sparked. "I didn't need you," he stated, refusing to look at Poe. "I can take care of myself."

Burning cheeks and a split lip. The kid wasn't any more prepared for bullies than Poe had been at his age.

"Have they done this before?" Poe asked.

"None of your business," Ben spat.

Well, they won't again, Poe knew. The holonet footage would see to that. Dear little Hosnian Prime princess would be mortified once her father learned that she had tormented the Solo heir. Humiliation would make her think twice before she taunted another hapless child.

Once the last strand was ripped aside, Ben kicked free of the wires and tucked his arms around his knees, resting his chin on crossed wrists.

So, you talk first or I talk first? Poe waited.

"You shouldn't have interfered," Ben mumbled. "I'm a Jedi."

I should be better than this, Poe interpreted. "Well… even Luke Skywalker had to be rescued once or twice." At least, Poe assumed so – no Jedi could be invincible.

Ben's head snapped up. "Really? When? What happened?"

Poe's eyes darted. He hadn't expected the kid to call his bluff. "Uh…. Does your mom know where you are?"

Ben swore low: something in Corellian that he must have learned from his father. "She's gonna be so mad!" Scrambling to his feet, he shoved past Poe and skittered down the hall.

It wasn't until Poe searched the room much later that he realized Ben must have taken his knife with him. His first thought was to ask the kid if he wanted a blade of his own, then he shrugged the notion away. He could always buy himself another one.

Ben needed something to hold on to.

A.N. "Kung" is Huttese for "low-life scum".

A couple of reviewers have asked how old Poe is. According to the timeline, he could be anywhere from three years to six years older than Ben. I pictured him as a young teenager when I began this story, so I'll run with the 6 years older notion.

Thank you to CrazedFangirl13, sofia313, Elleth of Mossflower, FoxfaceFan1, Space Opera Singer, and Sayichi for reviewing last chapter!