Edit: 5/17/2020 dialogue tags fixed
His head buzzed and his body ran cold. His hands shook as he knelt. He lightly brushed the hair from the child's face. Her eyes were open, but unseeing. The burn in his throat warned him of tears, but he pushed them down even as his vision blurred.
He dared to lift his eyes and regretted it instantly. Bodies lined the floor. Younglings lying as though asleep. But he knew better. They weren't sleeping. How could they be?
"-en!"
His heart ached as he gazed out upon them all. Lightsaber wounds.
"-ke up!"
The temple was cold and dull. It was crying, and he couldn't blame his home. The loss of children wasn't something you could ignore. A clawed hand clutched his shoulder and he dropped his head. He opened his mouth to speak-
"Ben!"
Ben's eyes flew open as the world rushed into view. He rushed upwards and nearly banged heads with someone. His heart raced and his cheeks felt wet. He brought trembling hands up to his face. Tears?
"Are you alright?"
Ben flinched and met the eyes of the person in front of him.
"Owen." He whispered out, feeling dazed and a bit lost. His mind raced as he tried to remember what had occurred. He felt his face warm as memories flashed through his mind. He gave the man an embarrassed smile. "Apologies. I didn't mean to-"
Owen cut him off, "Are you alright?"
Ben took the man in and his embarrassed smile softened as he took in the odd concern running across his face.
"Of course."
Owen raised a disbelieving eyebrow and Ben's smile faltered. Crying rang out through the Lars' home. Ben winced and rubbed a hand down his face.
"I seem to have woken Luke up." He mumbles, locking one eye with Owen's.
"What do you mean?"
Ben nibbles on his bottom lip as he thinks.
"I may have accidentally broadcasted my nightmare to the child." His voice is full of apology that he hopes gets across to the man. "It happened a few times during the war." Ben's face softens and he lowers his hand. "I always felt bad. I never meant to broadcast and dear Ana-" He cuts himself off and squeezes his eyes closed for a moment before opening them again. "I should go check on him."
"What did you dream?" Owen's concern stops him from rising completely off the couch. He swallows thickly and forces the images from his mind. Owen quickly backtracks. "You don't have to tell me."
It's Ben's turn to raise an eyebrow at the man.
Owen never liked him. It was just a fact. So, Ben had expected further questioning. He had expected Owen to demand answers.
The fact that he didn't push was new. It sent Ben's mind reeling.
"He won't stop crying." Beru's voice breaks the two out of their odd staring match. Ben blinks rapidly and rises from his spot. He walks to the woman and sends her a soft smile, one that doesn't reach his eyes and one that sends concern over her face.
"It's my fault."
Confusion replaces concern as Beru looks first to the Jedi, then to her husband. Ben presses two fingers onto Luke's forehead.
"He had a nightmare," Owen states though it sounds distant to Ben as he builds thicker shields in Luke's mind. "Said it was broadcasted to Luke." Silence, then, "He didn't mean to." With the shields built once more, the wailing stopped and Luke fell into a deep sleep. Ben wobbles where he stands, and feels a supporting hand on his back.
"What was it?"
Ben can feel Owen wants to say something, but he beats the man to it.
"If you put Luke back in his crib, I'll tell you." He whispers, heart-clenching as he thinks through what he just said.
"You don't have to-" Owen starts, but again Ben cuts him off.
He smiles thinly, eyes drifting to Beru's. "Healing has to start somewhere."
She smiles and it's one filled with love and concern and it blinds Ben for a moment. She puts a hand on his face.
"Yes, it does."