(Before Kylo Ren) (Tag to Chapters 14-15)
After "The Y-Wing incident", things changed. It was more than the kidnappings and the liability issues. Something flickered in Ben's eyes and he strayed further from Poe, avoiding him whenever it was politely permissive. His "subtle attempts" to disengage himself would have been taken personally if Poe hadn't noticed the quivering lip whenever certain cadets walked by.
Three months after the last hostage session, once he was taking light classes to review his memory capabilities, Poe cornered Ben in one of the narrower halls.
"Hey, Buddy, what's going on?" Poe asked softly when Ben clipped his mouth shut and moved to step around him.
Brandy eyes flickered. "Nothing. I'm s'posed to be training."
The downward mumble was becoming worryingly characteristic of the youngest Solo. Ben sidestepped again and Poe mimicked the dance, crouching to the teen's eye level. His back twinged, reminding him that sudden movement was not appropriate.
"Tired of my company?" Poe commented, absently rubbing one stiff knee. "I'd have made other plans for dinner tonight if I thought I'd be a bother –"
"No!" Ben interjected hurriedly. He colored and scuffed his foot. "I mean, you're invited. Wouldn't be right to say you can't come." He wriggled his shoulders apprehensively, glanced sideways, and repeated urgently, "I have to train. Master Skywalker is expecting me."
Master Skywalker? The kid was beyond apprehensive. "Ben, what's going on?" Poe repeated in a near whisper.
Another sidelong glance. Poe tracked Ben's gaze to a small huddle of pilots. They were poised to intervene.
"Buddy, have they been saying stuff?" Poe whispered.
Ben inhaled sharply. "They all say I shouldn't be near you," he gushed. "I could hurt you again – you're always in danger when I'm around. You should go, Poe!" Fear pitched his voice. "I – I won't use the Force on you – I promised – but something bad always happens when –"
Exhaling in a long gust, Poe calmly put a hand over Ben's mouth and waited until the frantic gasps quieted. "Ben, I'm going to say this once," he assured. "What happened was an accident. You've never intended to hurt me."
"But I did!" Ben squeaked. His stance was becoming more agitated. One pilot shifted closer, before Jess put a hand on his arm.
Poe flickered a glare in their direction before waving a hand out to Ben. "Come on. We're late for dinner already."
Ben shied away. "They're right, aren't they? Even Father thinks so."
Tching, Poe leaned closer and whispered in Ben's ear, "You know what? I don't give a daft."
Cluelessly Ben drew back. "You need the medical droid."
"Nope." Deftly Poe latched an arm around the young teen's waist and boosted him onto his shoulder. "Grab on, Darth Mynock."
"Poe!" Ben shrieked softly, automatically adjusting himself on the older teen's back. "I'm too old for this, you great worrmp!" He looked worriedly at the cluster of pilots and Poe snarked a laugh.
"Who's too old for – oof – tauntaun rides?" He grunted as he straightened. The kid was heavier than he looked. Whistling nonchalantly, Poe strolled for the Solos' quarters, his expression as nonplussed as if he was sliding a tooka kit into Ech'ban's uniform. Ben griped for several more minutes before he slid down, mortified by the attention and yet awed to be noticed. If the extra weight forced Poe to step gingerly lest he stumble, and if he was exhausted by the time they cleared the third hall, the pilot never indicated any discomfort to his passenger.
He noted the decrease in Ben's skittish behavior afterwards. Even if they didn't approve, the pilot factions respected Poe, and they knew when he was trying to make a point. They left Ben alone.
He was still a lonely, mistrusted child. The flyers never forgave one who had injured their own.
(Aftermath)
"That's a new one." Jessika was the first to notice the thin scar just below Poe's hairline. She touched it briefly, her eyes dark with compassion. "Stormtroopers," she spat.
"We weren't exactly on friendly terms," Poe said lightly, brushing the mark with his thumbnail. "I may have stepped on Kylo Ren's robes; tripped him up a bit. They took offense."
Jess smiled for his sake, but the joke was meaningless to her. "I can't believe we got you back," she fretted. "Any rescue on our part would have been suicide. General Organa hoped you were simply delayed. She said she had that gut feeling you were alive, but some of our scouts found the villagers. They were all –"
"Stop," Poe said raggedly, rubbing an older scar in habitual distress. The upraised line on his scalp still ached when the padding on his helmet wore away.
Jessika flinched. "Poe, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up." She looked away, unable to fix anything, and finally said with false cheer, "Well, at least they didn't ram your skull in. After what that kid did, we all thought you'd never fly with us until –"
Stricken, jaded eyes as Poe rejected the opportunity to have a family. Making faces in the mirror besides a dark haired brat who tried to make his tongue as yucky-looking as a sarlaac's. (Dairy products were good for creating the yellow layering.) Falling asleep on the Solos' couch and waking up to find a blanket spread over his shoulders and his boots nestled by the door with everyone else's...
Shaken, Poe grabbed his helmet and lurched for the door, leaving Jessika apologizing mid-sentence.
I knew him!
In answer to guest reviewer HuntedRanger's question: Thanks for the prompts - I've written them down for possible future chapters. Finn and Rey both have their own scenes coming up. I haven't forgotten them. ;)
Space Opera Singer wanted a scenario where Ben cut himself off because the others thought he was "too dangerous" around Poe.
Thank you to JunJunyil, BAD WOLF 1221, Space Opera Singer, erinblake18, Lazercat, CrazedFangirl13, and guests Gunny, Corrine, HuntedRanger, and Guest for reviewing!