Ben – Age 10

Pranks were commonplace in the academy. Some cadet always discovered itching powder in one of the practice helmets or had to scrounge for a missing boot in the lower level trash compactor. Poe once gagged on tacky paste that he drizzled onto his toothbrush. He himself was renowned for coiling snakes under the control panels before the girls' morning flights.

There were hierarchies involved. The new recruits were bossed around and the graduated pilots sneered at the cadets. Occasionally a brawny steel-jaw singled out one of the underlings; someone too insecure and afraid to report the harassment. Poe had been pushed around his first year. Too proud to admit his troubles, he had endured the chaffing tongue and ruthless taunts of a fifth year cadet with a pert nose and cruel eyes. To her frustration, she never noticed his concealed strain, and Poe was congratulated by his peers for taking her criticism so lightly.

By second year Poe had thwarted his opponent by sheer optimism, and she in turn found herself too occupied trying to pass sixth year exams to ridicule anyone else. As Poe grew older, confident and ever surrounded by those who looked up to him, he and his friends formed a comradery; defending the wavering cadets who struggled for belonging. He was a hero to some of the younger students.

But there was always the one nerf-herder whose single purpose was to strike down the gods of the realm. In Poe's fifth year at the academy it was Nor Kreech; a Givin several years older than himself, who had only begun his academy training. Nor's ghoulish features and stooped posture ("Like death itself", one of the cadets whispered) was more than enough to earn him distance and respect. His mind was naturally attuned to engineering and mechanics. He had nothing to prove to the academy.

Yet somehow, he singled out Poe – the leader of the guardians. Poe never learned why he was considered a threat, or what Nor intended to prove by bashing his head against the wall. Perhaps he wanted to demonstrate the poor combat skills of the "bodyguards". Or maybe Poe had stepped on his toe – he would never know for sure. He only remembered walking alongside Jessika on her first tour of the academy, and then rolling to his elbows as star systems exploded before his eyes. His assailant didn't even offer him a decent explanation of why he was barreled against the closest wall – again – and again.

Sometimes Poe felt like he spent an inordinate amount of time pacifying the screeching whirlwind that followed.

"Let him go!"

Poe's comrades were already yanking the Givin away when a sweep for the Force toppled them all. Poe found the wall again. Funny, the kid can't seem to remember who he's defending. Ow.

"Get away from him!" Ben shrieked as Nor began to rise. A billow of pure willpower crushed the Givin to the floor and the hall became oppressively close. Jessika yanked on her collar while Ech'ban curled in, every limb stiffening. Poe raised himself on hands that felt like iron and croaked, "Ben, let go!"

Stunned, Ben lowered his hand. Immediately the cadets groaned and stretched out cramped limbs. Poe whooshed out and let his head fall against the wall – and remembered why he was slumped against the durasteel to begin with.

"Ow."

Ben was at his side before he could cup a hand against the knot in his skull. "You're bleeding!" the child exclaimed.

"Yeah. Funny how that happens in a fight." Ow. Ow.

"You call on your pup to fight me?" The Givin had regained his feet, and now stared in derision at the miniature Jedi. "You humanoids have no honor."

"Ben, shuddup," Poe flopped a hand against Ben's shoulder before the young Jedi could retaliate. "Lemme handle this."

"That's not fair!" Ben snapped. "You always interfere when they pick on me. I'm rescuing you, Poe."

Oh, the indignity of hidden smirks and coos of adoration. Even the Givin coughed behind his hand. Poe forced himself to breathe deeply.

"Ben, I don't need a Force-push every time some thick-skulled braniac thinks my snark is a show of insubordination. I appreciate the help, but I can take care of myself. Really."

"Fine." Ben sneered. "See if I intervene the next time some low-life cur pulverizes your brain." He kicked Poe's blaster across the floor and tramped away with his shoulders braced and his nose tilted high in the air.

"So, who let the brat in this time?" Ech'ban snickered as soon as the mop of black hair vanished. "Poe, do we need to run 'intervention' for you?"

Nor rumbled distortedly in the back of his throat. "You have an interesting choice in … connections." He reached out a four-fingered hand and helped Poe to his feet. "Your bravery gives you credit…. Even if you employ a pup as your bodyguard."

Poe moaned into his hands. "He's not my bodyguard. And don't ever mention it to anyone – please."

"I thought it was cute," Jess sympathized. "He's so protective."

"No. No, no, no, no," Poe muttered. Forgoing all plans for his flight test, he wove past the throng and steadied himself against the door frame.

"Poe, you need help?" Ech'ban offered in concern. "How bad is it?"

"Fine – fine!" Poe insisted, wavering unsteadily. "Just need a bacta patch."

"I can ask your mooka to fetch it." Ech'ban grinned wickedly. "He's sooo protective."

Poe promptly mashed Ech'ban's face into the wall. And stumbled to the medcenter. Alone.

Later that evening he found an old vibroblade sitting on his desk. In case you need to save yourself again, the attached note read. Ben had probably scrounged it out of his father's scrap collection. It was useless without the power gauge, but Poe wrapped it carefully with his few personal possessions.

After the Force-incident he earned Nor's good-natured ridicule, but never his respect. It took three years to convince his peers that he didn't have a mooka guardian.

He resolved to repay Ben in the form of canron, all the same.

This chapter was written thanks to popular demand. A number of reviewers wanted to see Ben defending Poe. Poor Ben can never win.

Some of my reviewers seem to have been captured by the First Order. I miss you all. :'(

Thank you to Pinky-chan2, Space Opera Singer, Sayichi, FoxfaceFan1, Begoogled, CrazedFangirl13, and guest GhostArcher for reviewing!