People talking without speaking, People hearing without listening

[jedi_librettist]

Ben fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. He was meant to meet Dr. Matthias in the hospital lobby. He didn't want any more treatments. They weren't helping. Ben was pretty sure they were actually making everything worse. But the doctors wouldn't listen to him and he wouldn't see his family again for months.

His head hurt. It had been hurting for almost a week now. His parents sent him to the Academy to learn to control his abilities. He'd never felt less in control. He hadn't learned to block people out. Instead, it felt like everyone was getting louder. It had started making it hard to sleep. Sometimes, he couldn't tell the difference between what someone said and what they just thought. He wanted to go home.

Comments

[topofhisclass]

"Good." Simon leaned back in the seat, looking at Ben, not letting go of his hand. "So, I have a mom, a dad, and a younger sister. I've always wanted to do medicine. Or, my parents did. Kind of a blurry line there. My sister, she's smart. Annoyingly so."

He looked at Ben and gave his hand a squeeze. "I work so hard at my studies, I've never found time to find someone to keep me company. You know?"

[jedi_librettist]

"It's just me and my parents most of the time," Ben said quietly. "I have an uncle who comes by sometimes. He's the one who found Dr. Matthias to work with me. I'd rather just be a pilot like my father."

He looked at the floor, squeezing the man's hand back. "What's it like having a sister? Do you like school?"

[topofhisclass]

"Flying. I have a friend who does that in one of his dad's shuttles. I've only been with him once, but it was a lot of fun," he said softly. "So, your dad flies?"

"School is hard, but I do love it. My sister... She's a brat." He laughed, looking over at her. "You'll have to meet her. She's smarter than me by a mile. And constantly would correct me growing up. I both loved and hated it." He turned Ben's hand in his, letting his thumb brush against the man's palm.

"I thought... I don't know what I thought but med school is really hard. I love it. I love the idea of being able to help people, I just... Sometimes I want to just run off and have a drink and just be a person, not a student. You know?"

[jedi_librettist]

"Yeah, he has his own ship." Ben smiled. "The Millennium Falcon. Dad says she's the fastest ship in the 'verse."

He blushed slightly, sensing the mildly romantic sentiment behind the motion. It was... different, new to have it directed at him. "Wow, she sounds pretty amazing. And fun. You're lucky."

He glanced up at the doctor curiously. "But don't you have breaks? In school, I mean. That you could go out with some friends? So you wouldn't have to run off for that?"

[topofhisclass]

"I've heard of that ship. My friends were talking about it. Something about the Kessel Run." He looked up at Kylo, clearly enjoying the blush on his cheeks. Mostly because he was the one making him do it. "That's impressive," he murmured.

"She's fun enough. She can also be a brat," he teased. "They're okay. Sometimes I get tired of my friends."

He inched a little closer to Kylo. "Maybe I need to find someone new to hang out with?"