Friend
Author's note: Just some food for thought. Ben is much more experienced in the ways of society than Rey. Onwards!
The Mandalorian is gone.
Rey notices as she follows their small party down the hotel lobby. And only a handful of guards are on their side this time around.
The Governor is leading the way with his black cloak flaring behind him and seems to be in deep conversation with Minister Holdo who is draped elegantly in a purple dress. Their steps are hurried and clipped on the polished floor and the few occupants of the lobby move aside for them to pass.
"You'll be joining us at the Senate again today," Jeff informs her and Rey barely restrains herself from grimacing. "And later this evening you'll be escorting the Governor to a dinner with some of the Core's leaders. I hope you have something to wear."
Rey slides him a glare. "I'll be wearing what I always wear."
She steels a glance towards the Governor's direction who is still talking with the Minister. He looks rather well put together considering the circumstances. He's back in his politician's robes with his hair combed into perfection and the circles under his eyes covered up. He looks as if he got up all fresh and rested after an eight hour sleep. Nothing betrays what has happened between them merely an hour ago. He is as stern and cold as ever.
She can't say the same for herself.
Jeff gives her a toothy grin. "Don't take this the wrong way. These things are pretty formal and you'll be going to a lot of them with the Governor from now and on."
"Are they as boring as the Senate?"
He laughs aloud. "I honestly don't know which is worse."
Rey smiles at him, despite the heavy stone that's settled in her stomach, and Jeff leans in lightly to mumble in her ear. "Let's better get moving." He gestures towards the Governor who stands by the urban shuttle that will be transporting them to the Senate, waiting and looking anything but patient. "As boring as the Senate may be, we still need to get there by today."
The Governor doesn't look her way when they reach him. Simply boards the shuttle with a scowl. Rey slips inside after him and Jeff follows as well. She feels rather relieved that he'll be joining them today. His company is pleasant and light-hearted. And will be taking her mind off that wretched meeting earlier in the morning.
The shuttle takes off, easing into the city's air lanes. The tall buildings and infinite air shuttles zoom by the window, and it doesn't take long before Rey gets tired of the sight. Amilyn Holdo is engrossed in reading a report while the Governor is staring out the window as well. His eyes are narrowed against the light filtering in and he is resting his chin on a fist. He has barely looked at her.
Thankfully, Jeff decides to break the oppressive silence by pointing out important buildings and filling her in on the planet's history. He has a lot of knowledge and a good sense of humor which make his descriptions very interesting. He's in the middle of telling her some seedy local story about a baron and his two mistresses that even has Amilyn smiling secretly, when Rey lets out an obnoxious giggle.
The Governor's eyes snap to her.
"Is this necessary?"
Rey's smile freezes. She had forgotten all about the man's mercurial temper.
"I apologize, sir." Jeff is quick to remedy. "I was just trying to make Rey feel more at ease."
"She's not on vacation and this isn't a recreational tour of the city."
"Of course not, sir."
"We have a particularly long and tedious day ahead of us. I would appreciate it if you two concentrated on that, instead."
Rey rolls her eyes which doesn't go unnoticed.
"Is there something you wish to add, Miss Jakku?" His gaze is particularly piercing.
She bites her lip trying to figure out if it would be worth the hassle giving him an equally biting retort. But he's staring at her long and hard, and it's useless anyway. So she relents.
"No, Governor."
He doesn't comment either. Just slides his gaze out at the rushing city.
It doesn't take long for them to reach the Senate. They file out of the shuttle and she takes her customary place behind his right shoulder. Security is particularly strict today, checking the delegates and their teams for any kind of weaponry. Rey is about to hand her saberstaff over to one of the men when the Governor raises his hand.
"You will allow her to pass with her weapon," he says capturing his eyes. The poor man just nods stupefied.
Rey's jaw drops.
"Did you just…"
But the Governor has already moved on, cloak flaring and boots clicking and without giving this matter any more attention.
She jogs to catch up with him, completely disregarding her usual position, and comes to his side.
"Did you just use the Force on the poor guy's mind?" She grits at him. "He might get in trouble because of it!"
"You are not giving away your saberstaff."
"I can protect you without it. No need to turn this into a big deal. He might end up losing his job because of what you just did."
He halts suddenly and Jeff barely stops himself from running into him. The alarmed expression on her friends' face is absolutely priceless. The Governor stares at her, pressing his lips in a thin line. Stars only know, what he is about to unleash her way.
"Fine," he snaps. "Fill in whatever datawork is required for our Jedi to hold on to her weapon," he orders a bewildered Jeff, before he turns his attention back to Rey. "Happy?"
Rey is caught a little off guard to be honest with herself. "I guess."
He bites his lip, the spot where the cut is, seeming a bit hesitant. "Anything else?" He grumbles.
She could ask for a raise at the security man's wage, but figures it would be best if she didn't press her luck.
"No."
"Can we continue?"
"Yes."
He mutters something under his breath that Rey couldn't quite catch again. He seems to do that often. The Governor resumes his original pace.
Rey remains next to him.
It is a full house today. Something to do with a very important voting about a world that is to enter the Republic. He spends most of the time in talks with ambassadors and Senators within the endless corridors and her feet are starting to hurt. The pain is actually starting to distract her from trying to keep her guard up.
He seems very anxious.
They enter their cubicle eventually and Rey wants to sigh with relief. Surprisingly Leia Organa is also seated inside looking almost regal in her blue and silver Senator's robes from Chandrila. He takes a seat next to her and runs his hand through his hair.
Jeff thankfully takes the time to explain who each speaker is and what is happening while the Governor sits silently sliding an occasional glare their way when they seem to get a little loud. His frown seems to deepen with each passing speaker. His mother's seems to match his perfectly Rey notices as she studies their profiles under the simple lighting of the cubicle.
"Can't they see what an important addition to the Republic this world could be?" Leia Organa mumbles. The Governor leans and sets his elbows on the cubicle's ledge. Rey watches him rake both hands through his hair and feels a knot form in her stomach. She has never seen him so worried.
"We will need an alliance with them one way or another," he states gruffly. "If what we've heard about the Order is true we'll need all the help we can get."
"The Republic is afraid," Leia says. "Their world is too powerful."
His turn to speak comes around and he passionately supports the world and their importance in the expanding New Republic. Rey stands next to him trying her best to keep her mind open for any dangerous thoughts but, truth is, the anxiety streaming from him feels almost like static and practically short-circuits her mind.
The actual voting doesn't take long since each cubicle needs to decide on a simple yes or no in its electronic panel. And the results follow soon after.
The Governor shuts his eyes and rubs at them when the results are in. Leia Organa sets her hand on his back looking at him with the most broken-hearted expression Rey has ever seen.
"You don't have to do this, Ben." Rey hears her whisper to him. "We can find another way to gain an alliance with them."
He rubs his hand down his face dejectedly before he answers. "There is no other way, mother. I have no choice."
Rey feels her heart sink at his words for some reason.
The Governor is quiet on the shuttle ride back to their hotel, and his foul mood has spread to the rest of its occupants because everyone sits just as quietly. The only sound that breaks the silence is the smooth whirring of the shuttle's engine and the wind whistling against the haul. He sits pensively with his chin resting on his fist, looking out the window. His black form a stark contrast to the cream colored interior of the shuttle.
Rey looks at Jeff who gives her a warm smile.
An eternity passes before they arrive back at the hotel. The lobby is fairly busy when they return and apart from a couple of crisp nods the Governor stalks down its length avoiding any further interactions. Which is a good thing. At least he won't be terrifying any of the hotel staff.
"I doubt his mood will get any better for that dinner tonight," she comments when she senses Jeff walk up to her.
"It has been a rough couple of days at the Senate for him."
"Don't tell me you actually feel sorry for him?" She glances at the man next to her, who might be coming out as being polite but Rey can feel he doesn't particularly like his boss. "He threatened to fire you just a few hours ago."
"It's not the first time." He shrugs.
Rey shakes her head. "Maybe it would be better if we skipped that dinner altogether. We wouldn't want some war breaking out in this galaxy just because his stake was too raw."
Jeff lets out a hearty laugh that even has her smiling back. They come to a stop in front of a turbolift. She only has about an hour to rest and freshen up before she and the Governor depart for that infamous dinner.
"The dinner is important and you can't talk your way out of it."
"I am doing no such thing!" She is actually in the process of trying but he doesn't need to know about that. Jeff is still smiling warmly at her, green eyes sparkling as he looks at her with fondness.
"I wouldn't put it past you." He leans in lightly. "You're not as innocent as you seem."
Rey finds herself smiling back as she steps inside the lift, despite his strange comment. She really wishes Jeff could join them to this event. Part of her is dreading being on a one to one bases with the Governor. The doors hiss shut, and the turbolift begins its ascend when Rey catches a black reflection on the metal surface of the walls. Her hand flies to her chest as she turns around to look at the other occupant standing rigidly with his gloved hands clasped in front of him.
Shit.
He must have overheard their discussion. How could she have missed his presence again? Jeff is turning out to be a major distraction.
"You startled me. I didn't see you."
The Governor smirks lightly but it doesn't reach his eyes.
"Of course, you didn't," he drawls.
He tears his gaze from her and looks straight ahead. A couple of moments pass in tense silence and Rey feels like she has to somehow break this iceberg forming between the two of them. She'll be spending most of her waking hours next to this man after all.
"Jeff has been very helpful."
"Is that so?"
Rey finds the Governor sounding a bit off but figures it probably has to do with that Senate voting earlier and decides not to give it much thought.
"He has a lot of knowledge on galactic history and a keen sense in politics. He seems very capable."
"Really?"
Rey gives the Governor a side eye. Yes, he is in a much worse mood than she initially thought. The kind that simmers dangerously for hours before it boils over and brings absolute havoc to all its surroundings. She is starting to second guess her decision to stay.
"Yes. Capable. I think you're lucky to have him in your staff."
The Governor chuckles darkly at that pinching the bridge of his nose. "What else do you have to say about Mr. Hudson? Better say it now that you're on a roll. You seem very fond of him."
She bristles at that. Something to do with the timber of his voice that she can't quite place.
'Well. In a way. He seems like a good friend."
He arches his brows at that, almost incredulous. "A friend? Is that how you think of him?"
Rey is starting to feel rather uncomfortable. Like the temperature in the turbolift is rising. She raises her hand to touch her heated forehead. This turbolift is taking ages to get to their floor.
"Why do I get the feeling I am going through some kind of an interrogation by you? Jeff is a friend. I don't know what you're implying."
"I am not implying anything. But I believe your friend is."
"You're not making any sense." He really isn't. Rey turns to look at him, to figure out where he is taking this because she can never be too careful around this man.
His eyes are already on her.
"He gets a smile while I get a slap on the face?"
That dark gaze of his is does its job marvelously, because Rey stands there gaping at him once again with nothing to say.
He drags his eyes from her just as the turbolift comes to a stop at their floor, and the doors open with a hiss. "Think about it," he says over his shoulder and steps into the corridor.
His heavy pace is muffled on the carpeted floor and Rey remains frozen, watching his broad frame walk away with that stygian cloak of his flaring like a night bird's wings.
A teenage boy with raven hair is looking at her scrunched, appalled face as they watch a humongous reptile devour its meal from afar. "It's no different than a bird catching a fly. Think about it."
The doors start to close in on her.
"Wait!"
She squeezes herself through the hissing doors and rushes down the corridor. He doesn't slow down but Rey catches up with him easily. She grasps his arm, fingertips digging into the muscle underneath.
"Ben, wait!"
He halts. And stares at her hand.
"What you said to me was horrible. And you weren't even sorry!" Rey can't believe he is comparing his words to Jeff's. "It's not the same. He has been nothing but respectful towards me."
He raises his gaze to her and Rey swears to the heavens that she has never seen him look at her this way before.
"Respectful?" He shakes his head lightly. "You have much to learn."
"You are in no position to teach…"
"I'm in a position to know."
"Then you are wrong about him. He…"
"Don't."
Rey pulls her hand away as if she's been cinched. She realizes that the look he's giving her is full of bitterness and disappointment and a million other emotions that have no names.
The Governor backs away, clenching his jaw. "Your affairs with Jeff Hudson are not my concern. You are free to do as you wish."
Rey watches him turn and resume his heavy walk feeling as if he's robbing her of air.
"We are leaving in an hour," he states over his shoulder. "Be ready."
His steps disappear down the corridor and Rey takes in a shuddering breath. No matter what she says or does it always comes out wrong. She doesn't understand. And has never, ever felt so completely and utterly…
Lost.
Author's note: I love twisting and weaving canon elements into their moments together ; ) Next chapter Ben has a couple of surprises for Rey. But she's a good sport. Right?