fever dreams ; kylo ren

iv. he's a monster

Leia Organa had been incredibly difficult to find. Since she'd stepped down from the Senate. Since she'd created the Resistance to fight the growing threat of the First Order. A threat the New Republic refused to acknowledge. A threat that Luke hadn't allowed his students to fully realize, whether it was because he didn't know of it or he didn't think his padawans should know.

It was difficult, but Neve had found her quickly. All thanks to Ben.

Ben wrote letters utilizing his calligraphy talent and received letters back from his parents. Or at least his mother, sometimes he'd get a signature from 'Dad'. Han didn't seem like the mushy type. But Neve remembered from the last letter she read over her lover's shoulder.

The last place Leia was known to be was the Outer Rim planet of Drion. And so that's where Neve and 3PO headed.

 They didn't have an exact location, just the planet. Luckily it was smaller. When the pair landed, Neve managed to ask around the small villages if they knew anything. Despite a language barrier, thanks to 3PO they learned that Leia had been developing a base on the planet, not too far from the villages.

It was the break of dawn when they'd made it to the base. There was hustle and bustle, people moving about and ignoring Neve and her droid companion.

All but one.

A man with a thick head of dark curls, just about Neve's height approached them. His eyes were dark, but seemed kind. Despite the fact that his eyes were narrowed on them. "Excuse me," he spoke, "can I help you?"

Neve weakly tried to clear her throat in an effort to not sound so broken as she answered, "I need to see Leia Organa. It's an emergency."

Poe Dameron didn't inquire any further, instead nodding his head and gesturing for them to follow.

Neve followed wordlessly, her hands and body shaking with nerves. Poe kept glancing back at her and the droid, clearly suspicious of them. Or at least, Neve.

Voices became louder as they approached a room, blast doors open and people moving in and out of it. Neve felt her heart pound harder in her chest. If she didn't know any better, she'd be worried it would jump right out of her body.

Poe knocked on the open door, "General Organa, someone's here to talk to you, says it's an emergency." He spoke, catching the attention of a small woman who was talking to a handful of other people.

"Ah, Princess! How lovely to see you again," 3PO greeted excitedly, though Leia paid little attention to the droid.

One look at the short woman and Neve knew immediately who she was. Neve could see the resemblance between her and Ben. Neve's eyes welled up, burning so slightly as she fought back her waterworks.

But Leia and Neve locked eyes and though they'd never met--and she doubted Ben had ever mentioned her, their relationship was forbidden after all--their was such a sense of familiarity. And an understanding that something was very wrong, even if the words hadn't been uttered.

"Hello, Threepio." She gave a small greeting before turning back to those she was speaking to. "Forgive me, we'll have to continue this discussion later. Poe, could you please clear the room?" Leia's tone was calm, but Neve felt the anxiety encompassing her.

"Yeah, of course," Poe nodded. "You heard her, everybody, out!" He urged, arms motioning everyone to the door. Poe evacuated the Resistance members quickly, efficiently.

"Yes, everyone out!" 3PO enforced.

"You too, buddy." Poe spoke to the droid, gesturing to the door.

"Oh. Well. Alright." 3PO deflated-as much as a droid made of metals could- and hobbled out of the room.

Leia offered Poe a small thank you, to which he nodded before following everyone else through the doors, shutting them on the way out. 

The two women stood in silence for a moment, Leia being the one to break it. "It's Ben, isn't it?" Her voice was weak, barely above a whisper. Neve didn't question how Leia knew it already. The Force, she figured.

But Leia would call it a mother's intuition.

Neve blinked slowly, barely being able to will herself to nod. She was tired, confused. All she wanted to do was sleep. Hope to wake up back in bed with Ben. Though she knew that wasn't going to happen. "He's a monster," her voice cracked in the middle of her words, the tears finally spilling, hot as they ran down her cheeks. "He killed them all--Luke, he's gone. I-I," She couldn't continue, sobs overtaking her body.

She wouldn't think of it until later, how embarrassing it was that this was her first meeting with Leia. With her lovers mother, someone he held in such high esteem, who she hoped one day Ben would introduce them. She supposed in away, he did. Just not in the way she'd have thought.

Leia ushered Neve into a chair so she didn't tower so much over her and then she wrapped her arms around the redheaded girl, holding her in that motherly way that was just so comforting. How her mother, Breha, used to hold her. How she'd held Ben. And now how she comforted Neve, this girl she knew nothing about but felt so familiar.

Despite Neve saying Luke was gone, Leia understood that she didn't mean dead. She would have felt that. Luke was missing. But Leia couldn't find it in herself to worry about her brother then. All she could worry about was her son. Where was he? She had suspicions of what happened, but she didn't know when or if they'd be confirmed. She wouldn't question the sobbing girl of what she knew, not yet. 

For the moment, she'd let the girl cry. Let her process. Get her some food, clothes and let her get some rest. Leia had no idea what she'd gone through, but she figured it was a lot. So, Leia simply rested her chin atop the girl's head, rubbing her back and whispering soothing words. As soothing as they could be, anyway.

Leia saw Poe's head pop up in the viewport of the door. Leia knew she wouldn't explain this full situation to Poe. She trusted him, of course, but some things were perhaps better kept quiet. Once she knew more, she'd decide what she'd tell Poe.

Neve's weeping became quieter, her body shaking less. The tears slowed, but they still slipped from her green eyes. "I'm so sorry," she whispered against Leia's shoulder.

"You're fine," She reassured, gently patting the girl's back before parting from her. "Come, let's get you something clean to wear, find you a bed. Are you hungry? " Leia's hands found the girl's forearms, helping her to stand.

Neve nodded, but she thought Leia would want to know about the events that occurred first. "I should tell you what happened, though."

The General shook her head. "Later. I need to reach out to somebody who I think needs to be here when you tell me." She had to call for Han, who was off on an excursion with Chewbacca. "What's your name, hon?"

Neve hadn't realized until then that she never even introduced herself. "My name is Neve Corisande."

"Well, Neve, I'm Leia Organa. But you already knew that."

a/n;

surprise bitch. bet u thot u'd seen the last of me. i love updating once every year uwu!!!

man....it's been a minute. but here's this. i'm not gonna even pretend like i know when i'll update again lol! but i did miss writing this story. it's the only story i've ever plotted all the way to the end. i just need to write it lol!

also...2 anyone even thinking of commenting abt this...idc if there's plot holes. idc if it doesnt make sense with the last jedi. i plotted this story out in like january/february of 2016, a month after tfa came out and i'm not gonna change anything to fit fucking tlj. i write this for fun, you read this for free.

and 2 anyone who wasn't thinking of commenting somthn like that...ily!!!<3

and ps, sorry the chapter is shorter than the others. i didn't want to drag it out just for the sake of reaching my usual word count lmfao