Kylo Ren hated Coruscant. Ben Solo hated it as well. On this, at least, they were agreed.
What a vile planet, he thought as they descended over the glittering city-scape that filled the entire globe. Though he hadn't returned to Coruscant in two decades, he remembered well disliking it as a child. Even then it had been impossible to miss the stunning inequality that existed here, with the rich living in splendor on the surface while the poor suffered miles below, breathing noxious air and never seeing the sky. When he was young he had sometimes accompanied his mother when she engaged in charity work on the lower levels of the planet, and what he had seen there had given him a long-lasting dislike for the city, and the socialites and elite political class that lived up top.
Returning to the three story penthouse apartment that the Organa-Solo family had called home in this teeming city for the past few decades was...strange. His mother wasn't an ostentatious woman, but she had been raised a Princess, and in those rare stretches that her work rebuilding democracy did not call for her to be residing in odd corners of the galaxy, she enjoyed a certain level of comfort. So the Organa-Solo residence near the old Senate District was large and filled with souvenirs from her exotic travels, and over the past three decades had served as a homebase not only for the general but occasionally her husband, depending on their level of marital harmony, and her brother, Luke Skywalker, before his long disappearance. As Leia returned now with her son, brother and Rey she couldn't help reflect that this was the first time in many years that she wasn't coming home alone. And yet, as a widow, she reflected, trying the word on for the first time.
"Luke, you'll be in the family quarters; hopefully you remember the way, though it's been awhile." Her brother nodded and exited in that direction. He'd been quiet since the news of Ray and Ben's imminent arrival at the base had come. Though he'd helped her devise this course of action, she couldn't help but feel he was still unsure about it, as if there were elements at play he didn't fully understand yet.
What's the use of having my brother back if he can't force things to make sense? Leia let herself have the grumpy thought and then pushed it away, surprised at herself. Luke had saved her life, stepping in when the doctors told her there was nothing left for them to do for her but make her comfortable as she wasted away from an exotic disease contracted during her brief time on Takodana. And it wasn't the first time he's saved my skin, she reminded herself. It was easy to pretend while he was gone that only if he came back we would have all the answers. But here he is, and all I see is questions.
Speaking of questions… Luke taken care of, she turned towards where her son and Rey stood. The tall, dark-haired man was reserved and slightly sullen while Rey's mouth was parted and her eyes wide open as she looked around the finely decorated home. She found herself wondering, not for the first time, what the nature of their relationship was. I ought to be protective of the girl, but something tells me this fierce creature can handle herself. And I don't think my reunion with Ben would be helped any if I started playing concerned mother…
"I've put you two in the guest wing. Peethree will show you the way. I'll leave you to settle yourselves in."
Rey's gaze continued to widen as the silver 3PO protocol droid, named P-3PO, carrying what small luggage they had, led them down a long hallway, up a flight of stairs, across a veranda, and finally into a fully contained guest apartment. The two-story unit had been used over the years by visiting heads of state and other diplomatic guests from across the galaxy as they spent time in Coruscant or visited with General Organa. Ben felt himself relax as they entered. This part of the house held little memory for him, so he felt less on-guard here. More able to be himself. Whatever that means these days, he thought.
After Peethree deposited their luggage and left, Rey examined their new home. To her eyes, it was palatial. She explored the three bedrooms and several bathrooms, including one with a marble tub so deep she could imagine swimming in it. There was a small private balcony, and a great room with two story windows showcasing the gleaming Coruscant skyline. Ben sat on the long sofa curling in front of the fireplace and watched her as she wandered around the place. She tentatively touched the silk drapes hanging from the impressive windows, and bent to caress the soft, luxurious rug that overlaid the marble floor.
Finally she sat next to him. "It's very grand," she said, lamely.
He studied her for a moment, sitting next to him, before pulling her into his lap. "You don't like it," he stated matter of factly, beginning the process of taking her hair out of the buns she wore them in whenever she was going to be seen by anyone other than him.
She squirmed. "It's not that I don't like it. It's just…" She sighed, looking embarrassed. "Forget it."
He smoothed her hair out, fanning it across her shoulders in the way he liked. "Tell me." he said.
She played with the fastenings of the soft tunic he was wearing. "Well, it's just...I could never fit in here. You've reminded me enough that I'm just a scavenger from Jakku. I guess I had never thought about...the way you grew up. What sort of people you must be accustomed to."
"And what kind of people is that?" He asked, tucking her hair behind her ears and admiring how finely crafted they were, like little shells.
"Posh people...rich people...people with important name...politicians. Not nobodies who made a living selling scrap to small game criminals like Unkar Plutt."
He gave her a rare half smile then, and this time it had a hint of secrecy about it, like he knew something she didn't. "You've been so busy thinking about yourself that you've forgotten to notice that I don't exactly fit in here myself." His hand slid alongside her cheek to cradle her face and bring her downcast eyes to meet his. With his thumb, he traced the pouting shape of her lips until they parted and she drew the tip of his thumb into her wet mouth, gently biting him.
He pulled her closer so he could whisper in her ear. "You may be a filthy little scavenger, but you're my filthy little scavenger." He felt her cheeks grow warmer at that, and he hid his smile against her temple.
They hadn't noticed the slight figure in black as they disembarked from the Falcon . He was hidden in the shadows; or rather, the shadows seemed to cling to him, to twist themselves around his soft leather boots and lean form. He watched carefully as Leia, Luke Skywalker, Rey and Ben Solo entered the Organa-Solo residence. Even after they were gone he stood there for awhile, watching something only he could see.
After an hour he finally left the spot, and made his way to a speeder bike that had seen hard duty. He put his helmet on, but before turning the ignition he reached for a comlink that was dangling from the handlebars.
"Alert the Knights I've located our Master," he said, his voice inky smooth, with a note of satisfaction.
Smiling, the figure climbed on the bike and with a roar, disappeared.