Permanent Mark

Chapter 43

Ben procrastinates going to spar with Rey by suddenly finding an engine to repair. 

Nevermind that the engine was at Rose's workstation and he's done zero mechanical work in 11 years. 

"And what exactly are you doing to my engine, Solo?"

The petite woman stands over him, hands on hips. 

Ben has avoided Rose Tico using some rather creative techniques. 

Most involved hiding behind stuff when he would hear her approaching. 

Is the former apprentice to the most vile creature in the galaxy intimidated by one Rose Tico?

You bet your sweet ass he is. He'd rather face off with a certain wookie. 

"Umm... working on it?" he replies, trying to appear unphased by her. 

"And who the fuck told you that you could touch my engine?"

He shrugs, starting to care less if she's angry. The problem looks pretty easy to fix and she should appreciate the help. 

"There," he tells her, sitting back to enjoy his handiwork. He looks at her arrogantly.

"Done. You're welcome."

She kneels down to check behind him, then nods her head surprisingly. 

"Not bad, Solo. No idea you were capable of fixing engines."

He gets a bit braver and actually looks at her. 

"You forget who my dad is," Ben tells her. 

"Nah," she tells him, "didn't forget. Just figured you probably lost those skills, you know, being busy helping run the First Order."

Ben's eyes fly wide open. He snaps his head towards her. 

"Relax," she says, "I haven't told anyone. Rey doesn't even know that I know."

"Finn…." 

"Nope. Just very observant," she tells him, standing, wiping her hands on her pants legs. 

"I mean, you are supposed to be dead. Everyone thinks you are dead. Rey tells me all about your force abilities, tells me about the horrible fights you had with your parents. Then, boom, you're back. The second I saw you, saw how," she gestures up and down towards him, "MASSIVE you are, I knew. I mean, what are the odds that the elusive apprentice of the Supreme Leader would be the exact same size as the elusive missing child of Leia Organa? It was no secret that Kylo Ren was a force user."

Ben smiles. He might just like this Rose after all. Plus, she'd been such a good friend to his Rey. His love would just light up when she was with her friend. Rey claims that he's her best friend but Rose truly puts her at ease. Rey doesn't have to deal with any drama when she's with Rose, not like she does when she's with him. 

It makes him sad that there's so much tension between him and Rey. Maybe one day they can just be themselves again with each other, like years ago. 

Rose kneels again, wiping down the engine. 

"So, this thing with Rey, when are you finally going to come clean, Solo? Cause I'm tired of you hurting her. If you'd just be honest, she'd be happy."

He looks at her in shock.

"Come clean about what, Tico?"

Rose looks him right dead in the eye, not intimidated at all.