The Art of Broken Pieces

Still 2 Porgs (1329 Planetwide)

Ben staggered back a step, hot fury flashing through him like a solar flare. He gritted his teeth, hands clenching at his sides as he struggled to fight back every instinct that screamed at him to take ahold of the Force and crush his enemy for once and for all. Through force of will he held it at bay, straightening to meet Poe's eyes again, silently fuming.

Rey grabbed Poe's jacket a second too late. She felt Ben's fury flare up through the Force and threaten to cascade through. The guards' hands were on their guns and she prepared to fling herself between them.

But Ben was winding control around himself, tamping down the fury and indignity and straightening back up with something like hot coals in his eyes. Rey cringed.

It was fair. Of course it was fair. Ben had tortured Poe, and killed so many people he loved. Punching him was probably the least punishment he deserved. It had still been a stupid thing to do to someone still struggling to maintain control.

"You nerfherder," she said to Poe, shoving herself between the two men. "If you wanted to test his control, well, there it is!"

She hid a wince. Grabbing Poe's jacket had not been the best of plans for her healing side. Behind them, Finn hovered with a dark expression, knees bent as if he were prepared to fling himself on them or grab Poe and run.

"It wasn't a test." Poe said angrily, still glaring at Ben darkly. "It was just long overdue." He pulled away, straightening his jacket and looking down at her. "I did what I could. He'll be escorted to a home near the senate and held there until we can decide how to handle him."

He looked back up at Ben, voice rough with emotion. "Don't try anything. Even for you, we have enough firepower to take you down."

Ben stared back at him challengingly, still struggling with his temper. This man had thwarted him at every turn, had always slipped away... had touched Rey. Slowly he took a deep breath, forcing his fists to unclench. "Understood." He said coldly.

Rey held her breath past the frustration, putting firm hands on Poe's shoulders and walking him back a step or two. Giving him a warning look, she pushed at his chest again. "Don't make this harder," she said. Then she turned to Finn, accepted a quick, careful hug, and walked back to Ben.

"We're going with them," she said, nodding to the group of soldiers approaching.

Ben nodded and raking his gaze over both Poe and Finn, took her hand in his. "I did agree to this." He said quietly, steel in his voice.

She squeezed his hand, and gave her friends a look that begged for some small understanding. She felt suddenly weightless, and terrified. Felt panic creeping up her throat as she looked at them, wondering if they'd turn their backs. If they'd leave her.

And what if she lost Ben, too? What if, after everything, she ended up alone again?

A throb went through her, and a swoop of lightheaded-ness. Suddenly, her heart was pounding in her throat. Everything around her eyes wanted to go dark. Finn. Poe. Her senses reached out to them, gripping on hard, and she wasn't sure what she was doing but she was pulling them, anchoring them to her like a drowning person desperate for a lifeline. Don't leave me. Don't leave me. Please. Please.

Ben felt her drowning, the fear of being abandoned sweeping through her. It was always there, beneath the surface, it had been since the first time he had looked into her mind. He supported her as she swayed, turning her towards him and cupping her face in his hands, forcing her to look up at him. "Rey." He said quietly, ignoring the others, letting go of his anger and reaching out to her with strength, with everything he felt for her.