Let the Light In

Chapter 34: Abeyant

Chapter 34: Abeyant

"You're hurt."

"It's not so bad."

Ben's wheezes when they finally reached the fighter told her differently.

"You are badly hurt."

"No, I'm not."

Rey raised her brow as he struggled away from her to pop the hatches. Thank the Force it was at least a two-seater. His folded stance worried her though. She could see the pain on his face. Without thinking, she pressed her palms into his side and, ignoring his startled gasp, felt out the extent of that particular injury. There were definitely broken bones.

"Rey..." His voice was strangled, and indignant at her insistent prodding.

She sighed, "At least let me heal-"

"No, Rey, we don't have time." He shook his head, eyes imploring. "We have to be gone before the larger force convenes, to be safe."

Rey did not like it. The wet patch of blood-soaked cloth was steadily growing.

"Ben, please-"

He flinched, and it had nothing to do with the wound.

"You don't need to call me that," he groused softly, a despondent expression on his face.

"But it's your name."

"Not anymore." It pained her how haunted his countenance was, as if he truly believed what he was saying. It was utter nonsense.

Rey rolled her eyes, "Your name is your name, and it will always be yours. Besides," she pinned him with a challenging look, "I don't hear you ordering me not to call you so."

He tossed her defiant glare straight back at her, "You knew my name before, so why use Kylo till now?"

"I suppose..." Rey shrugged, grappling for a reason but not quite finding any good one that did not damn her for the unusual feelings welling within her. When she continued, Rey ended up speaking more to herself than him, "- I didn't have a reason to want to call you Ben before."

His brows shot into his hairline, but he didn't press her further, instead moving to get into the pilot's pit.

Rey grabbed his arm without hesitation, yanking him back to the ground off the ladder, and spinning him around.

Her expression must have been something fierce, as whatever he was about to say in response died on his lips. He looked almost afraid.

"Absolutely not. You are not flying this ship in your state."

His face relaxed to something mimetic of amusement, then cheek, "I am going to fly the ship, and while I do so, you," he led her to the passenger hatch, and she followed him with a falsely appeasing smile on her face, "-are going to conjure up some kind of excuse for all your friends back at base. My mother is quite the perceptive person, and she'll wonder how you got back."

Rey considered him for a moment, the cogs tangibly clicking around in her head.

He was right, Leia would see right through any flimsy reason as to how she got back, and depending where Ben was planning to leave her, those stories could range from wild to whimsical. On top of that, Rey knew she was not the best of liars, and had to mix some element of truth into it in order for it to work, like she had with Luke before.

That gave Rey an idea, and Ben looked vaguely nervous as she gently took hold of his shoulders and grinned slyly up at him.

"I have a better idea."