Your prison is walking this world all alone

[jedi_librettist]

Ben watched out the window as the ship dropped out of hyperspace. He took a shaky breath. It was time. He wouldn't burden his brother anymore. He walked back to his cabin. He didn't know how what he would do after he left. It didn't matter. This was the right thing.

Comments

[middleoftheforce]

"Ben!" He snapped it, forcing his voice into a tone similar to their mother's whenever she was wanting their attention. It was all he could think to do.

[jedi_librettist]

The flood of memories stopped, bond closing tightly again. The bunk cracked down the middle. "You said you wanted to understand. I told you they destroyed me."

[middleoftheforce]

"Not completely." If they had completely destroyed him, the bond wouldn't be there.

[jedi_librettist]

The bunk ripped away from the wall. "They. Took. Everything!</> The brother you lost? He's dead. He died in the desert on Tattooine. They sold his corpse when they realized it wasn't as interesting."

[middleoftheforce]

"If that was true, we wouldn't have the Bond anymore."

[jedi_librettist]

The bunk snapped in half as Ben let a cry of rage. "You don't know what the kriff you're talking about!"

He turned around, letting the bunk drop to the floor. He pinned his brother against the wall. "You still think I'm him?" he asked before leaning in and kissing him.

[middleoftheforce]

Solo immediately threw Ben off him.

[jedi_librettist]

Ben wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and stood back up. "Would the boy you knew have done that?"

[middleoftheforce]

He couldn't do anything but stare. He knew the point his brother was trying to prove, but if he wanted to be away from them so much, why had he ran with him in the first place? Was all this just to get freedom under any means necessary? Solo didn't understand at all.

[jedi_librettist]

Ben walked to the doorway and paused. "Take care of Ani. He's yours now."

[middleoftheforce]

"He wants you."

It surprised him that any words came out.

[jedi_librettist]

"But he needs you." He hesitated. "Tell Mom and Dad I'm dead. Don't tell them what they really did to me."

[middleoftheforce]

"So you're just going to walk away?"

[jedi_librettist]

"This is what's best."

[middleoftheforce]

"No, it's not."

[jedi_librettist]

"You say that now. Mom won't agree. I don't even know if Dad will agree."

[middleoftheforce]

"They will." Ben didn't know how they had been all these years, missing their son. Nothing would make them not want him around.

[jedi_librettist]

"Mom won't." There was absolute certainty in his voice. "She'll wish she did just like she wished she could stay home with us. But she won't. I'll just keep her from being able to do what she needs to do."

[middleoftheforce]

"No, she won't think that." There was certainty in his voice - he'd been there to see how Leia had changed, how she blamed herself always being away for how Ben got taken. She still worked, of course, but she had been home more. A shame, really, that it was a bit too late, but points for effort.

[jedi_librettist]

"That will last until someone else finds out the truth."

He walked away. It'd be easier if he made it to the door first.

[middleoftheforce]

"You really think so little of them? That finding out that would make them ... what? Disown you?"

[jedi_librettist]

He shrugged. Ben couldn't blame them for it. It was what he deserved.

[middleoftheforce]

"That's not who they are."

[jedi_librettist]

"Dad, maybe but Mom..." His breath caught. "I'm a liability and I'm not the son they lost."

[middleoftheforce]

"Mom, too." He shook his head. "Neither of them would leave you."