for middleoftheforce

[jedi_librettist]

Ben picked a seat in the corner of the galley. There was something homey and comforting about watching his brother cook. The last of the tension he'd carried melted away.

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[middleoftheforce]

"They just want you home. Nothing else matters," Solo stressed. Through the Bond, he tired to send the memories of Han and Leia's constant worries and constant, constant searching.

[jedi_librettist]

Ben shook his head again, more vigorously than before. Tears leaked from his eyes. They cared about the boy he'd been. They'd be disgusted with what he'd become.

[middleoftheforce]

No, they wouldn't. But Solo didn't know how to make his brother see it.

"Come on," he said. "We need to wash up Then we can go wander Naboo."

[jedi_librettist]

Ben hid his face. He still could barely breathe. Everything was black except right in front of him. How was he supposed to wash up and go anywhere like this?

[middleoftheforce]

"So we throw water on the face and we move, okay?"

Simply, Solo would tell him. One step at a time.

[jedi_librettist]

Splash water on his face. That wouldn't be so hard but the sink seemed so far away. He couldn't stop shaking and he didn't think he could stand without falling. So, no, it wasn't okay. He shook his head.

[middleoftheforce]

"Yes." It was firm, offering no resistance. Beyond anything, they both needed the water to help clear their thoughts.

[jedi_librettist]

Ben opened his end of the bond just a little. He was suffocating. He couldn't breathe. His lips had turned blue.

[middleoftheforce]

"Kriff - breathe!" It was spoken and pushed through the bond at the same time. It was okay. It was gonna be fine. They'd wander around Naboo, and enjoy some decent weather for a chance. Get some good food.

[jedi_librettist]

Ben tried to breathe. He really did. Maybe a little more air reached his lungs. It felt like something was wrapped around his chest.

[middleoftheforce]

Solo tried to push forward more thoughts of just breathing easily, at the same time trying to pull his twin towards the sink.

[jedi_librettist]

It helped. The tightness in his chest eased little by little. His eyesight went back to normal. He let his brother pull him to his feet.

[middleoftheforce]

"Water on the face, fresh top, and then we can hit the planet." Solo said, with a decisive nod.

[jedi_librettist]

Ben nodded, still panting slightly. He turned on the water and quickly splashed his face.

"Mama!" a little voice outside the door demanded. "Where Mama?"

Ben turned around. It was the dark-haired, Force sensitive boy he'd noticed earlier. "I..."

[middleoftheforce]

Solo turned, frowning down at the kid. There was something... that Force signature was familiar somehow, but it wasn't exactly something he could place.

"Uh, what?"

[jedi_librettist]

"Where Mama?" the little boy insisted.

Ben glanced at his brother and back to the child. "I don't... I'm sorry. I don't know."

[middleoftheforce]

Solo glanced at his brother, and then back to the kid.

"Who are you?"

[jedi_librettist]

"I Ani," the child chirped. "Where Mama?"

Ben looked at Bail. "She wasn't with him when we left..."

[middleoftheforce]

"..Ani."

It was an interesting name. He looked at Ben with a shrug and then asked:

"Who is his Mom?"

[jedi_librettist]

Ben shook his head. "I don't know. But no one was with him there."

[middleoftheforce]

"So we've got a kid missing parents among the people on board." There's a pause and he sighs. "Oh this is gonna be fun to explain."

[jedi_librettist]

"It happens," Ben points out. "I've seen it before. Just not usually this young."

The little boy still looks, tears in his eyes by now. "Mama?"

[middleoftheforce]

"Any reason they'd take a kid this young?"

He's trying to understand, and completely misses the tears in the eyes.

[jedi_librettist]

Ben shakes his head. "They don't just take kids. Not young kids. Someone sells them."

He's about to say something else but gets interrupted by a plaintive wail. The kid plops down on his butter, tears streaming down his face.

[middleoftheforce]

Solo is ready to yell with that revelation, but instead jumps. He stares at the kid like it's something he's never seen before and glances back at Ben.

"...How do we make it stop?"