Let the Light In

Chapter 54: Belief

Chapter 54: Belief

Rey had been very surprised that Ben's plan had run off without a hitch. Mostly. They had overslept, and been woken by insistent pounding on the door. In the haste of getting dressed, Ben had neglected to return her saber before handing her over to a very smug General Hux, who sent her on her way with the group of Stormtroopers. It had turned out to be a fortuitous mistake, as the leader of the squad performed a pat-down on Hux's order to make sure she was clean of anything even vaguely weapon-like.

It had been heartbreakingly easy to concuss the lot of them in a secluded corridor with a strong burst of the Force, and now Rey found herself slinking around the passageways, following the directions that Ben had babbled off to her while helping her tie up her tunic, promising to meet her there. Unfortunately, she was stuck with restraints around her wrists, Hux having been the one who had the keys.

Force frack it.

That was not the right passage...Neither was that one.

And the room filled with petty officers that she only just managed to avoid seeing her was most certainly not the transport bay.

She could have cried in relief when she saw the sign that indicated a loading bay, and bore the number Ben had told her to keep an eye out for. Rey was so on edge, she didn't even feel the Force presence of the man who stood just inside, waiting for her, and she only just managed to suppress a squeak when she nearly collided into Ben Solo.

He steadied her with his hands on her shoulder, not succeeding in stifling his own laughter.

"Don't mock me, Solo."

"You got lost, in a clearly marked base..." he sniggered, unlocking her cuffs and tossing them to the side, "At least you aren't late. In fact, the pilots aren't even here yet."

"Smashing," Rey drawled, rubbing her wrists, and glaring at the chortling man.

It irritated her how his nervous elation made her so damn happy. Rey would easily break all kinds of rules to make sure she could see that smile more often.

Slowly, Rey managed to sooth the faint ache from her wrists. She had jerked around quite a bit, and that had only served in activating the electric kick-back of the cuffs.

"Now how did you get that key?" Rey asked him, raising a brow.

"Spare, and Hux is rather oblivious when you provide him with a reason to be an insufferable gundark."

"Oh?"

"Well, I did have you captive in my room for the better part of the last thirty hours," Ben flushed slightly, and Rey's own cheeks betrayed her when the insinuation in Ben's voice made sense in her head.

"Oh."

He met her eyes shyly before bursting into gentle peals of laughter again, and pulling her into his arms, tucking her head under his chin.

"You are in awfully good spirits," Rey remarked, grinning against his robes.

"Mm," he hummed, the vibration rippling through his chest, "I'm only too glad to get you out of this damned place."

"That all?"

Ben threaded his fingers into her hair and tugged her back to look at him, "Of course not. You...You've gone and given me hope. I haven't felt like this in a long time, Rey. It scares me, but maybe, just maybe, it's not unfounded."

Rey cradled his face in her hands and returned his bright smile, "It'll all work out, you'll see. Make it so, right?"

He nodded, turning his head to kiss her palm before pulling her to the transport.