Bloodsport

Roam

Rey didn't believe Kylo was gone forever. He was a part of him- one in the same. But it seemed whatever Ben did, he'd always lose to temptation. The withdrawal of blood thirst, the clawing grasp that whispers of the high he got. The inferior submission from those around him. But it dissipated whenever Rey was near. Her light Force aura was uplifting- even sappy in a way. It was enough to distract Ben from reaching too far over the edge.
All was well with the Galaxy. Hux was nowhere to be found, as he was presumed dead by most people. But Phasma was found and executed by the Darkwalkers during a raid. That was a sigh of relief for the two. This type of serenity was weird for Rey and Ben. There were no incoming threats to prepare for; no war on the brink about to explode. All was well- and Rey was pregnant again.
"I swear to you, tiny, I'll protect you and your mother forever." Ben whispered into Rey's belly and gave a light kiss.
"Nothing will happen, Ben. I'm not even showing yet." Rey chuckled wholeheartedly.
She placed a hand on her flat belly, tracing the outlines of her stretch marks. This baby won't die like Freja. This baby will be the future of the Galaxy.
  "And I'll bet she or he will be taller than you." Rey smirked and squinted at her soon-to-be husband with the satisfaction at seeing him squirm.
  "N-no! I'd bet she'll be as tall as you..." Ben faced away from Rey to hide his fluster.
  "Let's go eat. I heard Poe made some blue milk pancakes." Rey laughed. Ben nodded.
  "H-hey, lovebirds! Howya doing?" Poe asked, noticeably more upbeat than usual.
  Rey cocked her head and raised an eyebrow.
  "We're fine... What about you, Dameron? No late night "expeditions"?" She smirked.
  "N-no, why would you think that?" Poe bit his tongue. Rey shrugged playfully and took four plates out of the cupboard.
  "Is Finn not joining us? He loves blue milk pancakes." Rey asked, looking around. Poe shook his head.
  "Had another hot date last night with Annelissia." Poe's demeanor seemed to darken. He said those words with resentment. "Heard she's a good cook. But not better than me, of course."
  "I'd drink to that." Ben said, raising his almost empty glass of water.
  Rey laughed, but continued to eye Poe. She knew what Poe felt for Finn- but he didn't feel the same. It broke his heart to know whenever Finn was out with a woman.
  "En-joy." Poe placed the pancakes onto the plates. They were all perfect, or close to perfect,  circles. Poe, visually disappointed, put the other two plates away and cleaned up the kitchen. He hung his soft yellow apron on the hook near the kitchen entrance and walked back silently to his room. Ben had hardly began to eat half of his first pancake before Rey reached over to grab the other two.
  "Hey, I'm eating for two!" Rey reasoned, as she stuffed pieces of his second pancake into her mouth. Ben rolled his eyes and laughed.
  "I'm gonna get dressed. See you in the shower?" He asked, kissing Rey's cheek.
  Rey sat alone with her pancakes and a glass of water. Finn stumbled into the room, seemingly hungover; which was an oddity for him, since Finn never usually drank at all. He was missing his left shoe.
  "Nnhgn... Rey? C-can you get me a glass of water or-or something?" Finn collapses into the couch, asleep. It was a miracle he even came back sober enough to closely remember which house he lived in.
  Rey sighed. Every time Finn went out with Annelissia, he always came back worse than when he left. Rey wiped his face with a cold damp rag and slapped his face with it.
  "Ow! That hurt!" Finn held his face as he stared at Rey with confusion.
  "That seemed to sober you up. Here." She handed him his water.
  "What was that for?" Finn asked, gulping down the last drop.
  "I can't believe this attitude. Is it because of-"
  "No, Rey. It's not because of Poe." Finn said through gritted teeth.
  "He's so sad, Finn. Can't you see that? Why won't you-"
  "Give him a chance? Because I- I really don't know!" Finn interrupted.
  "You're not- you're not straight, are you?" Rey said those words with a careful pause between them. Finn held his head in his hands and shook his head.
  "You don't think I wouldn't be with Poe? He's my best friend." Finn muttered.
  "Then break up with Annelissia. Haven't you ever noticed? She's a bad influence on you, Finn. You always come back drunk or hungover or missing something. We, as in Ben, me, and Poe, can't stand it." Rey said, surprisingly calm. "You know what, never mind. I'm gonna leave. Enjoy your choice."
  "Wait, Rey-" Finn tried to grab Rey's hand but missed.
  "No, you need to figure out what the hell you want." She shook him off and went to join Ben.
  "Poe? Can I come in?" Finn knocked on Poe's door.
  "Mmph."
  Finn opened the door and saw Poe lying in his bed, facing the window. His hair was disheveled and his room messy. Books were on the floor, opened and closed. Papers were scattered everywhere.
  "Poe? Can we talk?"
  "So you're sober now?" Was all he could muster up to say.
  "Mm. I- I'm sorry." Finn stuttered.
  Poe turned and stood up.
  "I'm sorry? Is that all you can say? What about the truth for once, Finn. I'd like to hear it- j-just say it." Poe was getting impatient.
  "I like you Poe. Just not in the way you'd hoped." Finn's breathing stopped for a brief moment. The words hit the both of them in the chest like a spear would. Deep.
  "W-wow. I'd been hoping for this moment. I wish I hadn't." Poe smiled sarcastically and walked away from Finn. They needed to be apart.
~
  The hot water splashed on Rey and Ben's backs.
  "Baby names? Let's start with girls." Ben suggested. Rey nodded.
  "Hmm... I was thinking Raven or Anya." Rey said.
  "I thought about Lexa."
  "That's pretty. I'll think about it." Rey smiles. "Okay, boy names?"
  "Well, I hadn't really thought about boy names." Ben shrugged.
  "Well, luckily for you, I did. I thought about the name Grey." Rey sighed. She didn't think this talk would be awkward at all. It seemed only yesterday she lost one of the loves of her life. Ben took a deep breath and kissed her shoulder to reassure her this time would be different.
"We can do this." Ben whispered.