Permanent Mark

Chapter Fifteen

Luke, Han and Chewie walk towards the buildings of the Academy. Luke turns to speak to Han. 

"Let me take you to his hut. I think it would be better than you trying to speak to him in the mess hall. You have quite the reputation here, being my brother-in-law. Ben's had a hard time escaping the "Han Solo's son" persona. I think the kids thought he'd be a lot like you."

Han stands a bit taller, humbleness not being a trait he possessed. 

"So the kid's had to overcome Pop's rep, huh?" He says with that famous Han smirk. 

"Um….it's been a bad thing for him, Han. Geez, get over yourself already."

Han was slow getting there, as usual. 

"Well, we wouldn't want to cause a stampede for autographs, would we?"

Luke just looks at Chewie. "How do you stand this guy all the time?" 

Chewie just shrugs his shoulders. He's used to Han's ego. 

"C'mon Han. It's this-a-way." he says, leading them to a hut down the hill. 

Han enters, scrunching his face. "Luke, wow, pull out all the stops, huh? This place is depressing."

Luke pays no attention to Han. He never does. "It's not Coruscant, it's a roof and a bed though."

"That," he points to Ben's cot, "is a cot, not a bed. No wonder the kid is pissed."

Luke is more exasperated by the minute. "Just wait here. I'll go get him."

  _______________________________

Luke approaches Ben carefully. They haven't spoken since the confrontation yesterday. Luke knows Ben noticed his hand move to his saber and Luke has yet to wrap his mind around the guilt he feels. 

He knows that was the exact wrong reaction, as a master but especially as an uncle. He's ashamed of his reaction. He knows he'd never hurt his nephew. But does Ben know that?

Luke sits across from Ben. There is an awkward silence. Ben doesn't look up. He's writing in his notebook. 

"Ben….I need to apologise to you."

"Nope, not doing this," Ben says, standing. He shoves his notebook and pens in his bag, hurrying to get away. 

"Okay, okay….your dad is here." Luke blurts out. "He came unannounced. He's in your hut."

"Shit," Ben says, more angry by the second. "tell him I said go home. I have nothing to say to him."

They don't trust you. Your dad is here to tell you to act better. They don't even know you. Not like I do. 

"I know," Ben answers the voice. 

"You know what?" Luke says.

"Nothing! Leave me alone!" Ben hollers, moving away quickly. 

Ben runs out of the mess hall, not even having eaten his food. He runs into the forest nearby, to a clearing he always hides in. It's a place no one knows about. He needs to be alone. Even though he's never truly alone. 

"Why can't I just have peace?? If it's not Luke, it's dad or mom! I never have any peace!!"

I can give you the peace you seek, my boy. You can come to me…..

"You're not real!!! You just live in my head!! Cause I'm obviously insane!!"

But I am real, Ben. You've met me. You've seen me….