AN: Thank you as always for the support! You guys rock! So sorry for the delay, I've both been busy and rewriting and rewriting this story as I got a bit lost...especially with Kylo, who is extremely difficult and challenging to write, because sometimes, he makes perfect sense and other times he's only confusing Ben and sometimes even helping, so the line between him and Ben is very blurred. And now it's time for Kylo to make his comeback...slowly...into the light...erm dark...
A very angsty chap, but hopefully also cute and funny though as someone who has a real life experience being stuck in my head (had a nervous breakdown - PTS), it was a bit difficult to write, but also necessary to be funny (thanks to Kylo), but of course poor Ben is an extreme case.
There will be more family fluff (otherwise I wouldn't be writing this fic!), Ben just has to work out some...very tough issues first...and Kylo is of course not helping...
And the Guavian deathgang are coming...they are just very...very slow in my fic unlike the quick timing in the movie. ;)
The next chapter should hopefully not be too far behind...
Chapter sixteen - The darkness of the past
Ben should be used to it by now, how few simple words can flip his world upside down. How in an instant, spoken promises can be easily broken, how lies suddenly becomes his reality and how the truth becomes the lie as he lives his life out in darkness. Everything can change in a less then a second, nothing goes on forever...
This peace was only temporary...
KR: Told you...a bit dramatic though...it's only your dad who is mad at you...and Chewie...
Well, it's a big deal for me! I was this close to get a normal family life...why can't we just go back to checking out the photos?!
The family photos sit disregarded on the container where his father left them and Ben feels as if they are mocking him by their mere existence, along with Poe who smiles victoriously, still in the pilot seat.
Why did stupid Poe have to ruin everything?!
KR: If you think you were getting a normal life back...you are living in a denial...nothing will ever be normal...ever...again...
Thanks to you...
KR: Thanks to...I thought this was Poe's fault?
It's your fault as well.
KR: Always my fault...not fair...
Once again his father is beyond furious with him and it's all thanks to Poe's stupid, but true words.
KR: Not my fault then?
"Yeah, but I did it because he tried to kill people with darkside...even though he had turned to the light."
Why couldn't Poe keep his mouth shut? How could my plan backfire so much?!
KR: That all your plans ever do...so from now on let me handle all the planning...
Now, dad has given up me again...I will go away...before he sends me away...I'm not going through that again! Never again! I just can't!
"Ben, answer me!" yells his father like he is far away, instead of Ben just sitting in a sofa close to him in the spacious cockpit.
KR: That's right go straight out that door...all the way back to the First Order...wait! Don't forget the map! We need the map!
"I want answers," commands his father him.
I don't care about the map!
KR: Well, I care a great deal! Get it now!
Even if I wanted it...I can't move...
KR: So kriffing useless!
"What's going on with you?" His father runs exasperated a hand through his grey hair. "I'm asking you a simple question...yes or no will do...to begin with. If the answer is no, that would mean either of you are lying..." He glares at Poe in the pilot seat, who shakes his head and Finn, Rey and BB-8, nod to confirm that he is telling the truth.
His father sighs. "And as much as I would like to believe you, my son, you haven't exactly proven yourself trustworthy. But if it is yes, which it most likely is...well then we have awful lot to discuss...so which is it, Ben?" He fold his arms and glowers at him. "Or do you want to find a corner and think your answer over there?"
"Little Ben, answer your father," growls Chewie at him from the co-pilot seat.
"BEN! I'm warning you! Don't test me," barks his father at him.
"Did he freeze up again?" asks Rey, when there is still no answer from Ben despite the threat of a cornertime. She sits beside Finn in the other sofa and that sight alone is enough to make Ben feel sick, but that is not the reason why he is feeling so ill...not this time.
"Freeze?" His father looks at his son with a puzzled expression, as if he's expecting to suddenly see a robot sitting there, instead of a human being.
"He kind of froze when he entered this ship, remember...and the Falcon...we thought he was sick..." continuous Rey and bites her lower lip in worry when remembering that.
Chewie leans over and waves a hand in front of Ben and is startled to see no reaction.
"Or even dead..." adds Poe and BB-8 chirps in agreement, while Finn who missed that, looks lost, as he has no idea what they are talking about.
BB-8, who at had last finished charging, rolls unasked over to Ben and shocks him and again there is no reaction, at least none they could see.
Ouch...stupid droid.
KR: Stupid droid...with an important map...get the map...
Why couldn't Rey try to kiss me instead? That might bring me back...
KR: Like that's ever going to happen...
The crew and Chewie grow instantly more worried when there is no reaction from Ben, while his own father just shakes his head, as if this is daily occurrence. "No, he just so happens to escape into his head, when he's in great trouble or can't handle what's happening around him. Clearly, he hasn't gotten rid of that bad habit." He sighs, probably over the fact that he owns such a high maintenance son or that he has no clue how to handle him today.
"A panic attack?" asks Rey and stares at Ben, as if she is trying to see through him.
"A meltdown?" asks Finn and looks a Poe, who shrugs and BB-8 mimics that gesture.
"Most likely..." growls Chewie.
"Something like that, but the only way is to never stop trying to reach him. Don't leave him alone." His father walks towards the sofa, where frozen Ben sits and even though Ben doesn't make the slightest move, his mind is going further and further away...into the dark.
Leave alone...you mean like you did for twenty years! And it's not a panic attack or a meltdown! But an never ending fight against the darkside! Far, far worse! And I am not letting it win again! But...I need help...help me dad...help me defeat it...
KR: I'm not doing anything...stop blaming me! You are the one using silent treatment!
I don't know how to come back...
KR: You are such an idiot! Just go back to the darkside already!
Never...help dad, help...
His father sits next to him and looks closely at him. "Why did you freeze when you entered the Falcon..." He closes his eyes in pain, as if he's remembering something painful. "Because I didn't bring you home...it must have reminded you of that...my poor kid." He wraps his arms around him, rubs his back and soothes him, like when he was a little child and Ben hates to admit that this childish treatment, does help him feel a little better...at least it beats his father endlessly shouting at him.
I didn't need a reminder for that...I never forgot about...being abandoned...
KR: And you can't shut up about it...you don't see Rey wailing about it all the time...
Well..she hasn't got her family back yet...so she can't complain...to them...
KR: Touché...
His father stops when he notices all the stares, clears his throat and lets go of him, like he doesn't want the others to witness this intimate family moment, even though they have already witnessed a lot.
"But that doesn't matter now. You haven't answered my question. Is it true...did you do this?" His father scolds him as if he had just stolen some cookies and even though he doesn't look as mad as when he first got the darkside news from Poe, his father's careless words sends a sting in Ben's already broken heart, who wanted to be comforted and cuddled way longer.
Doesn't matter...?! Most of my childhood revolved around it...waiting for you to come and get me back...
Ben remembers all too well how he felt most of the days in the academy, miserable despite the sunny weather there and so homesick that he wanted to...just die to get rid of the pain...
KR: Dramaqueen...
You're one to talk!
KR: I'm a drama-prince not a queen...or maybe rather a drama-king...drama is good for darkside...you know...
Just shut up for a minute...
During his endless stay there, Ben had often imagined scenarios, where his father would out of the blue appear with the Falcon and bring him home from that place and later from the First Order...
"Ben, that was the past. This is now. I already told you it wasn't my fault...not technically..." interrupts his father his line of thought, as if he knew what he was thinking.
"Whose fault was it then?" asks Rey as firmly as if that would be the same answer as to why she was abandoned on Jakku. She crosses her arms and glares at Ben's father and since that stance reminds him way too much of his wife, he turns away from her gaze.
"It's...complicated...but please, Ben we need to have this discussion...this is very important." He tries to reach his son again, who is fuming inside.
I think it's far more important to know...WHO told you to just LEAVE ME THERE! If it was not your fault then whose?! Why didn't you get me back? If you had I would never have turned to the darkside and we wouldn't even be in this mess in the first place! Why didn't you come?! I need to know! I HAVE TO KNOW!
KR: You might have the answers already...
What do you...agh...!
Ben grabs his head when excruciating pain shots through it. His vision gets hazy and the cockpit that prior to this had been so spacious, suddenly feel as cramped as a broom close
"Ben, what's wrong?" asks his father and Rey and Chewie look awfully worried, but that is nothing to compared to Finn, who gets scared.
"Darkside?" Finn gulps as if Ben was about to transform right in front of them, Poe grabs his blaster in case, BB-8 chirps something angrily at Ben, that sounds like:"Oh no you don't!"
"It better not be, Ben, Ben do you hear me?" yells his father at him and shakes him lightly, as if that would bring him back.
However nothing can bring him back as he's far too gone into his head, not even Rey can do that, who stares so intently at him, like she's trying to enter his mind, while his own, broken one, takes him into a memory...many years ago...
Where am I? Am inside my own head? I can do that now?
KR: I guess...
I wonder if Rey is here as well...
KR: Why would she? Do you even know where we are?
I know this place... way too well...
KR: Ugh...this place...I thought I burned it down...
This is the past...I don't sense Rey's presence. We seem to be alone here...that's sucks...
KR: Terrific...
Ben watches his ten year old self, climb out his chamber window in the Jedi Academy and jump into the dark night with a duffel bag slung over his shoulder. This time he was going to run away, but if Ben remember correctly he had left a little go-away present for his uncle and wanted to be as far away as possible when he would wake up and discover what he done to the academy...
Why do I have to remember this? Like am not feeling miserable enough! Though the prank was somewhat funny...however the consequences when uncle caught me were not!
KR : Are you sure he was the one who caught you?
Of course who else? Luke seemed to have some homing beacon on me, as I remember never getting too far away when I tried to flee...
KR: I should've put a homing beacon on Luke...than I wouldn't have needed the map and you would never have awakened!
Quiet, I think...I hear something...but that can't be...that's not possible...this is a memory...right?
KR: How should I know?
Didn't you tell me that I had the answers already?
KR: I meant what Luke said...I have no idea what this is...
Luke?
Little Ben, who had not gotten to far away from the academy, reacted in shock, when he heard what is one of the most recognisable sound in the whole galaxy, roaring in the sky. He couldn't believe his own ears. It was the sound he had been imagining and dreaming about for the past months, as he lay wide awake in his chambers and wishing so desperately that he was back home instead of light years away from it.
I seriously don't remember this...Kylo are you making this up?!
KR: Me...!? If had my way I would be imagining some cool darkside adventure with grandpa, not something so...emotionally devastating as this...I mean giving you hope just to take it away...
I thought you wanted me to be miserable...
KR: Not always...I'm not a prick...you are often your worst enemy you know...and besides it would be far more wiser to focus on the bad situation at hand...instead of bleak flashback...just a waste of time, you can't change the past...you know!
You are right...why am I wasting time like this...? It will only make me more miserable, nothing is going to change...I was probably just mishearing...in my memory...
KR: Sounds like something you would do...
Even though little Ben knew that sound by heart, he didn't want to get his hope up only to be disappointed, so braced himself and ran straight along over the grassy field...far into the night...
"Ben! What are you doing out of bed?!"
Ben (the little one), startled turns around and his mouth drops at what he sees. "Daaaad!"
Wha...I don't remember dad ever having visited me in the academy...
KR: So are you imagining something new...happening in a flashback? This is a WHAT IF world? We don't time for nonsense like that!
I am not doing anything..in fact I am trying to get away from it...but the memory...just keeps going for some reason...like it's trying to tell me something...something feels familiar...but that's impossible...that never happened...Luke told me this never happened...
"Are you real? This is not a dream?" Ben whispered as his father came closer to him, as if he was afraid that speaking too loud would make him disappear into the dark.
His father grinned. "Of course, I am real. Come here, my little bandit." Before Ben could move a muscle, his father had snatched him up from the ground, hugged him tightly and kissed him repeatedly on the head.
"DAD, STOP! I'm too old for this!" Ben tried to push him away, in the same manner a cat would, that doesn't want to be hugged.
KR: Little bandit?
My old nickname.
KR: Your family is so weird...
Hey, I am the only who is allowed to say that!
"You are never too old to be loved...or cuddled. It's from your mom as well," said his father seriously, smiled and continued smothering him with hugs and kisses.
KR: Ugh...
I am sure glad Rey isn't here to see this...
Little Ben groaned and allowed his father to cuddle him a little bit longer.
"I thought I would never see you again..." muttered his father suddenly and Ben was shocked to hear the sadness in his voice...as if he meant each word, though Ben wasn't sure why his father would think that.
"You didn't need to worry...I was on my way home...sorta..." said Ben and shrugged, like he had not been dying of homesickness few minutes ago and was bursting from happiness now.
His father put him on the ground and eyed him suspiciously. "What do you mean?"
"Where is Chewie?" asked Ben, to end the interrogation before it started for real.
"I told him to wait in the Falcon while..." began his father, but stopped when Ben jumped back, white in face as if he had seen a ghost.
"What is it, kid?" asked his father worried, looked over his shoulder and when he saw nothing, gazed at Ben questionably.
"Have you forgiven me for stealing the Falcon?" asked Ben pleadingly and his father reacted in shock, like he had been punched in the face by that question alone.
He send me away...because of that?!
KR: Ah, so that's why he called you a little bandit...because you tried to steal the Falcon.
No, the nickname was given to me when I was in my mother's womb.
KR: I will never understand this family...
Me neither...
His father closed his eyes, rubbed his face and muttered. "Please don't tell me, that is what you have been thinking this whole time...that's...horrible..." His father opened his eyes, Ben stiffened, but the only thing he did was kneeling on the ground next to him and embracing him tightly, as if he was asking for his forgiveness.
"So you have forgiven me?" asked Ben, when his father said nothing, as he still wasn't clear what the answer was.
His father let go of him and lifted his chin. "There is nothing to forgive...would I really call you my little bandit, if were against you stealing things...?" He smirked and flicked his nose teasingly.
"I guess not..." said Ben with hesitation as he wasn't sure what the right answer was.
KR: Great parenting...
Mom did most of that...or well the strict..est part..
"But, what would mom say?" asked Ben worried, as he could already her yelling that this was wrong.
"She..." His father stiffened and shivered as if Leia had suddenly appeared there and was glaring at him for teaching their son, the wrong things. "What am I saying...don't tell your mom what I said! You are her little angel...of course I am against it...especially if it's our things. You can just ask for them. No need to steal them...or anything!"
Phew...he didn't send me away because of that...
KR: Then why did you think that?
What do you mean?
KR: How can you be so sure...that he is telling the truth? Just the fact that you thought that was the reason speaks volumes...maybe that is what this fake memory is trying to tell you...
Why would the memory tell me that? Why does that matter?
KR: Because it means that the ship matters more to him, than you...that's why he never brought you back...
But..he came back for me...
KR: This is just your imagination, not a real memory...just something you wished had happened...to take away the pain...of rejection...
Shut up and allow me to watch this...memory...dream or whatever this is...
"Okay...but you were so mad at me...you all were..." Ben hugged himself, as if he had become cold just by remembering that time.
"That was because you tried to run away. We were frightened...don't do that again." scolded his father him and gave him a one arm hug, so he didn't need to hug himself.
"But I did it so you would stop leave mom...and me..." He looked pleadingly into his father's eyes.
His father sighed. "I'm sorry you felt that way, it still does not makes it any better." He petted his head, but Ben batted the hand away.
"And you send me away! How can I run away if I am not even at home...is that why you send me away...so I couldn't run away?!" Ben stomped his little feet and his father shook his head and picked him easily up from the ground to stop his pointless stomping, like he weight nothing more than bag of jonga fruits, even though his eleventh birthday was getting closer each day...
His father put him over his shoulder and rubbed his back to stop his tantrum, like he had done when he was a smaller child. "Calm down. Breathe." And waited for Ben to calm a little bit down, before he continued. "No, kid that's just ridiculous. Truth be told...I didn't even want to send you away..." he whispered the last bit, but Ben heard every word like he had shouted it.
"You didn't...?" asked Ben and all his anger deflated instantly, despite the fact that he was being manhandled like a toddler.
"No, I was tricked," said his father in a grave voice.
"Tricked?" Ben raised him up and looked shocked at his father.
"Yes," said his father firmly as if that one word would explain everything.
KR: Yeah right, like Luke had just kidnapped you in front of his nose...didn't he even say goodbye to you when you left?
Of course he did...I think...wasn't he present in the tearful farewell...not that he cried...he was there...wasn't he? Was he away when that happened? I don't understand why he is saying these things...
"But why am I here then...if it's not a punishment?" asked Ben and looked over his father's shoulder, at the place, which had been his home for the past months. There was no movement in the Academy. Luke and the other padawans seemed to be still fast asleep, but Ben knew it would only be matter of time before his uncle woke up. He was never really fast asleep...
"You were not send away as a punishment...your mom...we would never do that. It was to...help you," said his father softly.
Was mom the only one who wanted to send me away?
KR: I think he doesn't want to take responsibility for his actions...like someone I know...very well...
"Help me...how?" asked Ben and looked around, as if he was looking for clues, but only saw the grassy fields and the Falcon in the far distance.
"To get rid of the darkside. It's dangerous for you...and the galaxy," his father looked gravely at him like he had a deadly flu and had been in quarantine.
KR: Boring, why can't you just fast forward to the YOUR happy ending, not mine in this WHATI F world, where you just go home and become a stupid smuggler, senator or something, then we go back to more important stuff like getting map and such.
I can't fast forward, I just told you I can't control this!
"I don't have a darkside! I just want to go home...oh, oo, am I in trouble for what I did to uncle's academy?" asked Ben anxiously.
His father lifted him up and held him in front of him. "I haven't heard anything about that..." He frowned at him sternly.
"Oops..." Ben covered his mouth for letting it slip out.
KR: Always a blabbermouth...even in your pretend memory...
"It's doesn't matter...why are you here?" asked Ben quickly and hoped that would divert his father's attention. "Can you please put me down?" He looked hopefully at the ground, as this was not the safest place to be if his father was angry with him.
"You don't like being in the air?" asked his father teasingly and lifted him higher up. "Aren't you the son of a pilot?"
"Yeah, but this childish...being held like this...I mean..." Ben scrambled to get his feet back on the ground.
"Okay, kid." His father smiled and put him down.
"Why are you here then?" asked Ben again, when he at last had gotten solid ground under his feet again.
"To take you home...why else would I be here?" asked his father teasingly.
"So I am not in trouble?"
His father narrowed his eyes at him and shook a finger at him. "Whatever you did, don't do it again."
"Okay, I won't...not if I am leaving!" Ben jumped with joy. "Does that mean that I can finally go home? You are not just visiting...?"
His father scoffed. "Visiting? I don't want you to be a Jedi, kid."
"I don't want to be a Jedi. I want to be a smuggler."
KR: Sigh...
What? It's true...
KR: You should have said I want to a Sith...or dark Jedi...
I doubt my father would've liked that...
KR: He's never happy with your choices anyway...
He is now...I mean in the memory...not so sure about the reality...
KR: He was happy with you turning to the lightside..
That is true...
KR: Until you started ruining it with the cool darkside stuff...
Also true...cool?
His father smiled. "That's my boy, now pack your things..." he didn't get any further as Ben plumbed on the ground the duffel bag from his back and said smug:"I've already packed."
His father smirked. "A quick getaway, aye? Wait..." His smirk suddenly vanished and he looked as if he was calculating in his head. why is son was really out of bed in the dark and with a traveling bag.
"Were you trying to run away...?" he asked as if he already knew the answer.
Ben tensed up when he saw his old time glower appear and he instinctively backed away from his rage, knowing full well how much his father hated it when he tried to run away.
"Maybe..." Ben didn't get far, as his father pulled him back...on his ear.
"Owie! What was that for!" Ben rubbed his earlobe and looked hurt at his father when he at last released him, where he wanted to have him, by his side.
"You know what! I am sure glad I caught you in time and stopped this foolishness. Do you have any idea how it would have made your mom feel...or me..and your uncle?" rebuked his father him and shook a finger sternly at him.
"Uncle? He wants to get rid off...I mean I'm sorry...I didn't think..." Ben hung his head in shame and his father ruffled his hair.
"It's okay, as long as you are sorry. We would never leave you here, kid...and your uncle does care a lot about you. He just has a...funny way..weird way..." His father scrambled to find the right words all the while Ben grew more skeptical.
"What I mean is that he cares about you. He just doesn't know how to best show it...kind of like yourself." His father looked hopefully at him, as if he had finally gotten through to him and Ben sighed and muttered: "I guess... I care about him too..."
KR: Yeah right...
Ben's answer earned him another pat on the head.
"Good boy. We better say goodbye to him then..." His father swiftly grabbed Ben's bag from the ground and took Ben's hand in the other, as they went to look for his uncle, but Ben suddenly tensed up when he remembered his go-away present.
He pulled his father back and pleaded:"Can't we not just you know...go?"
"BEEEN! Where is that little troublemaker?!" thundered his uncle.
KR: Why couldn't you skip having your stupid uncle in this WHAT IF world and just you go to the part where your dad brought back home? Seriously, you can't even control your own fairy tail world...
I don't want this! I can't control...anything...I don't understand anything...I don't remember any of this...and yet I do remember...but it didn't happen...
His father sighed and looked at the culprit by his side. "What did you do...this time?"
"Nothing...please can we just go? We can leave note..." Ben pulled his father's hand desperately and tried to drag him to the Falcon, which seemed like it was light years away all of a sudden. It was like he was afraid that Luke would find some bullet proof excuse to keep him there indefinitely, despite the fact that is should be the opposite, Luke should want to get rid of him forever after his latest stunt...he knew what it was...a bad feeling...a very bad feeling. And those feelings always came true...
"Hmm...I wish we could...nope I'm afraid that's no longer an option..." said his father when they saw fuming Luke emerge and Ben jumped for cover behind his father's back.
"What are you doing here? You seriously want him to turn into another Vader?" Ben could hear the accusation in his uncle's voice.
"Of course not!" shouted his father and little Ben could feel both his fear and anger so vividly in the force.
Huh...how could dad visiting me or even bring me back home turn me into Vader? This makes no sense...not that uncle always made sense, but I knew it! Nothing makes sense! This cute...erm...stupid memory is false!
KR: If only it was that easy...to turn into Vader junior...I mean not even wearing a black helmet and cape and having a cool lightsaber was enough...
Technically uncle is Vader junior...
KR: Don't remind me of that travesty!
Search your feelings you know it to be true...
KR: NOOOOO!
All too easy...
KR: Oh yeah...how about exiting this stupid false memory and focus on the present?
No...I want to see what happens next...even though it just a lie...you know I am not too keen on facing the reality right now...
KR: Have fun living in dream world then...
"He's my sweet little boy. He's not turning. Are you?" His father turned back to him, lifted him high into the air and frowned at Ben, as if he was inspecting him in the moonlight.
"Of course not...turning where?" replied Ben innocently, but his father's expression darkened.
He put him down and grabbed his shoulders firmly, as if he was afraid that he was trying to get away from him. "Don't turn into a mini Vader."
"Why would I do that? What are you talking about?" asked Ben and looked between his father and uncle and hoped that they would drop their serious gazes and starts to laugh instead, like it was some prank on his expense.
When that didn't happen, Ben grew very afraid.
KR: Here would have been a perfect opportunity for them to tell you that awesome Vader was our grandfather...I mean mine.
I thought the memory was false...
KR: Oh, right...stupid memory...but they could've told you about Vader anyway...
Yeah, they should've...
"He's sweet and innocent now..." his uncle voice trailed off dramatically and he added after dramatic pause. "Just like Vader was...as child."
KR: How dare he! Vader was never sweet and innocent! That was just stupid whiny...podracing, though podracing is kind of cool...Anakin!
"Hey, don't interrupt my memory! But, how do you know Anakin was whiny?"
KR: Vader told me.
You can talk to him?!
KR: Of course, why do you think I had the helmet...but with no helmet, I can't contact grandfather!
So you lost his number...
KR: Shut up. Not funny!
No, you shut up, stop interrupting my memory!
KR: I thought I told you it was false...
Yes...but maybe there is some truth in it...
KR: I highly doubt it...
"He's nothing like Vader...except he dresses like him sometimes. You have to stop that," said his father sternly and Ben nodded in agreement.
"Okay dad."
KR: NO WAY!
It's my choice...
"As if that would be enough...besides your boy is hardly sweet or innocent, do you have any idea what he did to my academy?" His uncle crossed his arms and levelled Ben with an icy glare identical to the his mother's, you are in so much trouble now, that made him run once more for cover behind his father's back.
"That was Kylo," said Ben after he had run into hiding and didn't have to face his uncle.
"No, that was you Ben," said his uncle, in his stop this nonsense voice Ben hates so much, so he peered from behind his father's back and shouted. "It was Kylo! If I can't call you uncle, you can't call me Ben!" He stuck his tongue at him and went straight back to hiding.
Kylo? Well, that does it this is fake. You didn't exist back then.
KR: Yeah...yeah...tell yourself that...I told you that you always blamed me...even in your fake world...
Do not...
"Do you see what I have to deal with?" asked his uncle in a tired and pleading voice and his father who had so far only watch their feud from the sidelines said:"Actually...I see his point.."
Ben could feel Luke's glare on them, the one identical to his mother, so his father cleared his throat and added:"Uhumm...what did he do?"
"This." His uncle showed his father the evidence of his crime and even though Ben knew what it was, he couldn't resist checking his handy-work.
He peeked from behind his father's back and saw the Jedi robe, that he had drenched in black paint instead of cleaning it as instructed. He checked for his father's reaction and when he saw his lip twitch like he couldn't keep from laughing, he could't help burst out laughing himself, followed soon by his father's laugh.
KR: Well, this is brilliant! The look on Luke's face...almost as good as when I burned the academy down!
Erm...this was funny...I at least remember having done this...
"This is not funny young man. Don't laugh, Han! You will only encourage him. I will have you know that each and every padawan robe is like this. Where did you even get black paint?!"
"I made it...by mixing all the colours together. Black is made that way," said Ben cheekily.
KR: That's why the darkside rocks!
No darkside...is just darkness...
KR: Without darkness...there is no light...
Good point...
"He has a point...but Ben this wasn't nice," scolds his father him.
"Sorry dad," Ben grins victoriously behind his hands, for getting of this easily.
His uncle looks at them disbelievingly. "Nice...he will scrub each and every one of those clean...without using the force!" He threw the black robe on the ground as if he wanted Ben to start right away, who turned immediately to his father for help. "What! No! Dad! Kylo was the one who did it!"
KR: Well, there's your truth...Luke acting like a prick like always...and you blaming me...
I don't like where this is heading...
"I will pay for those," said his father in his no argument voice and took up his wallet, yet his uncle objected by taking his arm and saying:"That won't teach him anything."
His father shrugged. "I know, but we are in a hurry. He will pay for it later...when his mom finds out."
He looked at Ben behind him, whose face drained with colour and he wanted to sink into the ground and hide, but instead he jumped from his hiding place and pleaded:"No, don't tell her! I just did this, so uncle would be forced to send me away...I didn't know you were coming! I'm sorry!" He grabbed his father's sleeve in desperation who half-smiled and petted his head.
"Don't worry, kid. Your secret is safe with me...we are both in trouble anyway," he added the last part sadly.
"Trouble...?" Ben looked at his uncle as if he would know why his father was in trouble with his mother for being here.
His uncle crossed his arms, shook his head and frowned at Ben. "Ah...so that's why you have been acting out like that...but I would never have send you away. You can't leave now...and your dad knows it." He got such a dark look in his eyes, that Ben shivered, like he had been dropped into a tank full of ice water and moved closer to his father to get some warmth into his little body.
KR: Wow...that's spooky...even I am a little afraid of stupid Luke there...
What in the...is uncle blabbering about...?
Next up: The dark lies of the past...
