[ rey's eyes widen as they drop to catch the movement in ben's lap. quickly her gaze returns to his face, searching his eyes for something. she's not sure what. but it's fear that makes her do it, fear that she's misunderstanding him somehow.
he had turned her away, after the ambush. surely he wasn't reaching for her now. but … he is, and that only makes her more confused.
she can hear poe in her head. why do you sound like you're on his side? a bitter, spiteful piece of her who resents poe for turning on her can't help but think this is why. poe had left. refused to be bothered having it out with her and reaching some kind of compromise, and ben—
he had hurt poe. out of the basest pettiness. that should be what she's thinking about, not about her role in all of this. about how this moment will ripple outward and affect the others. but she can't find purchase in that thought. it slips away from her, and leaves in its wake an ache for solace.
slow enough as to be deliberately and thoughtfully done, she unclenches her hands from around her middle, and with one of them reaches back. her pulse roars in her ears like the stirring ocean around the island on ahch-to in storm, but when she touches his hand, the rest of the world goes still and quiet.
heat spreads from where she settles her hand over his. contact comes first in the gentle brush of her fingertips up his palm as she moves her hand to mirror his. she spreads her fingers to match the splay of his, fingertips touching fingertips, warmth stirring between their palms.
the force seems to breathe with them, contracting and expanding in the space of that contact. but she doesn't see anything. it's different, this time. maybe because she has made her choice. she doesn't need to be shown anything to believe that this course, the one he stands at the end of, is the one the force intends for her.
her grip shifts, and her fingers curl into the open spaces. ]
no subject
he had turned her away, after the ambush. surely he wasn't reaching for her now. but … he is, and that only makes her more confused.
she can hear poe in her head. why do you sound like you're on his side? a bitter, spiteful piece of her who resents poe for turning on her can't help but think this is why. poe had left. refused to be bothered having it out with her and reaching some kind of compromise, and ben—
he had hurt poe. out of the basest pettiness. that should be what she's thinking about, not about her role in all of this. about how this moment will ripple outward and affect the others. but she can't find purchase in that thought. it slips away from her, and leaves in its wake an ache for solace.
slow enough as to be deliberately and thoughtfully done, she unclenches her hands from around her middle, and with one of them reaches back. her pulse roars in her ears like the stirring ocean around the island on ahch-to in storm, but when she touches his hand, the rest of the world goes still and quiet.
heat spreads from where she settles her hand over his. contact comes first in the gentle brush of her fingertips up his palm as she moves her hand to mirror his. she spreads her fingers to match the splay of his, fingertips touching fingertips, warmth stirring between their palms.
the force seems to breathe with them, contracting and expanding in the space of that contact. but she doesn't see anything. it's different, this time. maybe because she has made her choice. she doesn't need to be shown anything to believe that this course, the one he stands at the end of, is the one the force intends for her.
her grip shifts, and her fingers curl into the open spaces. ]