Chapter 7
"Look me in the eye and tell me you don't find me attractive
Look me in the heart and tell me you won't go
Look me in the eye and promise no love's like our love
Look me in the heart and unbreak broken, it won't happen
It's love that leaves and breaks the seal
of always thinking you would be real
happy and healthy, strong and calm.
Where does the good go?
Where does the good go?"
Where Does the Good Go? Tegan and Sara
Why do you not kill him now?
What do you mean? Ben straightens up, shaken from his reverie, where he has been wondering at what point exactly his evening has gone so awry. He's remained in the sightline of Rey, but she's focusing her considerable attention on Hux, who appears to have lost a record number of hands in a row.
You said he's planning a mutiny. Furthermore, with little effort, I realize how desperately he wants to kill you. He wants to kill the Garibaldo. He's so angry… Reminds me of…
Me?
Perhaps. When we first met, but then… You saved my life, Ben. I haven't forgotten.
Hux and I have always been antagonistic.
Why not do it here? You're in disguise on a planet where worse things have undoubtedly happened. Why not make it look like an accident?
Am I rubbing off on you, scavenger? That sounds more like the idea of the Dark, then the forgiveness of the Light.
I...
Can he tell her it's because he's forgotten nearly everything but her since picking up on her signature? That he doesn't care if Hux is left to rot on this planet, and the rest of the First Order can politely kriff off. That he wants to take back asking her to rule with him after killing Snoke, because kriff it, he doesn't actually want to be the Supreme Leader. That he would commit any number of unspeakable acts if she would continue to call him Ben for the rest of his life, no matter how many days that may be.
Instead, he replies, Now is not the right time. When the timing is right, and it will happen, I'll need to make a statement in front of the entire leadership.
If you say so… Rey looks at the depleted number of chips in front of her and thinks, But you might want to put him out of his misery.
Enough talk of Hux. How about we do something about the blaster?
I'm going to excuse myself to the 'fresher. As I leave, I shall attempt something where Hux will be called upon to defend my honor. In the fisticuffs, you'll need to swoop by the table, but be discreet…
I've already clocked the cameras, scavenger.
Glad to see you have something of your father in you.
The insult is only meant to sting, but instead, the unspeakable act he's committed suddenly hangs heavily in the balance. Rey… I…
You will have to give your apologies and condolences to your mother, not me. Oh, and Chewie as well.
I…
This is definitely not the time.
As Ben idly wonders if there will ever be a good time, Rey stands up, and with a degree of gentlemanly decorum that Ben never believed Hux would possess, the General rises with her. Rey puts on a brilliant show of languidly stretching, catching the attention of more than half the table. Ben himself is included in this group, until he realizes he needs to be prepared.
Rey masterfully places herself in the way of an oncoming patron, and, as Ben feels the tiniest of nudges in the Force, watches as the poor creature steps on the train of her dress, which rips. Loudly. Hux is immediately in the creature's face, while Rey intervenes, explaining she understands it was an accident, and perhaps he can just buy her a drink and forget the whole thing. The puppet master isn't a role he would believe her capable of - she would make an excellent Empress - but her prediction comes to pass. The usually resolute Hux throws a punch and chaos rains at the table.
Ben approaches, intent on retrieving the blaster when he realizes it's not there. Instead, it's in the hand of the female, who is leaving the room through another entrance.
Follow it.
Are you sure? Are you…?
Safe? I think I can handle myself, thanks for your interest.
Begrudgingly, Ben follows the creature through the casino. Before he can secure it, to his chagrin and terror, he watches as the blaster goes into a clear case and taken in a caged room he expects is the vault. Out of reach, and they are running out of time. While the night cycle is longer than average on Canto Bight, they are still working against the clock. A familiar rage rises in him.
His emotions must resonate across the bond, because Rey asks, What happened?
The blaster is currently behind bars. I was unable to attain it.
Is it still on this planet?
Yes.
Then we'll figure something out, Ben. Why must everything be so dramatic with you?
And he realizes, of course, she is right. Are you done with him?
Who? Hux? He's on his way to the infirmary.
"What happened?" Ben asks, aloud as Rey silently joins him on the busy floor of the casino.
She cocks her head to the side, considering. "I'm sure the swelling will go down before the end of the night, and the bites didn't look poisonous. Anyway, I don't think he'll be bothering us for the remainder of the evening."
Suddenly, two stormtroopers loom to their left, and without hesitation, Ben tears the scarf from his face and bends down to start pressing tender kisses along Rey's neck. With dexterous fingers, he releases part of her intricate hairstyle, creating a veil between he and the soldiers.
What are you-?
Pay attention to what they are saying.
Through modulated voices, a woefully distracted Rey overhears they are joining the rest of the soldiers in the stables. Apparently, there is intel the Garibaldo has been spotted there. Poe or Finn are surely behind this, and she breathes a sigh of relief - this break will give them much needed time to figure out how to retrieve the blaster.
As Ben's luscious lips work their way hungrily along her collarbone, Rey is helpless and rather boneless to do much but shamelessly press herself into his larger form.
They are gone now.
Are they? Ben slowly removes himself from her neck, with the smallest of bites.
The stormtroopers have been gone for at least two minutes, but Rey doesn't believe that information is particularly pertinent.
"What are we going to do now?" Ben asks, following along behind the young woman, who is walking forcefully through the crowd.
"We're going to find Poe and Finn."
"If you think it best. My last interaction with Poe was…"
"Yes, well, the enemy of the enemy is my friend."
Rey makes quick turns until they are in an all but abandoned portion of the casino, full of broken machines and other spare parts. The engineer in her lights up with prospects, but she forces herself to focus on why they are here.
"Which is?"
"This was our rendezvous point. While I hope they've abandoned the plan and are on their way to safety, I suppose we can give them a few minutes."
"What would you do? If you were left behind?" Ben leans his larger frame on a chipped table.
Rey knows plenty about being abandoned, understands, even if it brings up old wounds. She's stronger now, and Canto Bight is not Jakku.
You left me.
"When?" She asks aloud.
"The last time I saw you."
"I had to."
"And now?"
"Now what?"
"How does this play out, scavenger?" When she doesn't rise to his challenge, he continues, "What happens when tonight is over? What happens when the sun rises?"
"Why don't you tell me?"
What do you want to happen? He can't bring himself to say the words aloud. What he wants her answer to be.
"That's an impossible question."
"I..."
They are interrupted as Poe, followed by a Stormtrooper who come crashing into the space. Finn immediately removes his helmet, causing both Rey and Ben to breathe a sigh of relief. And then Rey realizes, there is a third party trailing the men.
"Rose?" she asks, belatedly recognizing the young woman.
"I kind of...snuck on board."
Who is she?
She is… It's complicated.
"Is this everyone?" Rey asks.
"Yes," Poe answers. "Where is the blaster? And why haven't we returned this one to his friends?"
"There will be time for explanations later," Rey answeres. "However, for now, all you need to know is that he is the man we came for."
"Kylo Ren is the Garibaldo?"
Finn flashes a brief smile at the pilot and says, "I told you."
Rey bows her head, "We were unable to retrieve the blaster. It's now in the vault. We're lucky it hasn't gone off planet."
Everyone reacts with appropriate disappointment, but it is the diminutive Rose who says, "I think I have an idea."
AN: Hope you don't mind as we wander along together, friends. I'm still having too much fun with these two and seeing how many tropes I can work into this story. Sincere thanks to Xanderlike for some excellent ideas and input on this chapter and going forward.