Permanent Mark

Chapter Ten

Ben is in his "special treatment" hut when he hears a knock on the door. 

"Ummm….come in?" he says, wondering who the hell it could be this late. 

Luke. 

Well, shit. 

"We need to talk, Ben," Luke says seriously. Then again, Luke says everything seriously. 

Ben gestures to the chair. 

"What can I help you with Master Luke?"

Ben says with no small amount of hostility. He couldn't even hide his anger about not being allowed to say uncle. 

"Ben, I explained about that….it just wouldn't look right"

Ben nods. "And keeping up appearances is the number one priority"

Luke sighs. He didn't come here for this. 

"Anyways, I seem to understand that you disagree with the Jedi Codes? Do I have that correct?"

Ben immediately feels betrayed by his new friends. 

Typical. Everyone's against you, again. Luke won't acknowledge you and now your 'friends' run and tattle on you….

Ben doesn't argue with the voice. It is right. 

Luke's eyes go a bit wide as a small gasp left his mouth. Then he seems to center himself.

Ben's eyes narrow. "And who exactly told you that?"

"I saw it come from your mouth in the mess hall."

Ben breathes a small sigh of relief but narrows his eyes again. 

"Spying huh? Not a very Jedi thing to do, Master."

Luke seems to acknowledge that. "True but when a student is projecting so loudly, it's hard to ignore." Luke shifted, obviously uncomfortable. "Look, you were forced to come here so it's obvious you weren't exactly keen on embracing the concept of the Jedi….."

"You think I don't want to be a Jedi? Just because I don't agree 1000% with all of it? So we can't question anything? Like some fucking cult?" Ben says, getting a bit louder by the end of his questions. 

Luke stands, refusing to have this conversation. 

"I'm not arguing with you, nephew…."

Ben jumps up. 

"NEPHEW? So you can call me nephew but I can't call you Uncle? They know you're my uncle! It's not like it's a secret!"

Luke points at him. 

"I came to tell you that your punishment for causing division is that you are spending the day in the library, copying the texts. Maybe delving into that will help you see the truth. Don't talk to the other students about what you do and don't believe! I've worked too hard for you to come here causing confusion!"

Ben is shaking, trying not to cry. 

He hates you. He's jealous of you. 

"Yes, Uncle. You finished?"

Luke shakes his head, pulls his hood up and leaves.

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Rey beebops into the front door, tossing her bag on the sofa and running to the fridge. 

Leia watches from her desk like always, looking over the top of her reading glasses. 

"Good day?"