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.

Comments

[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?"

[jedi_librettist]

Ben shook his head, eyes wide. "I don't know, Bail. I never saw a kid this young without their mom! What would Dad do?!"

He looked back at the crying toddler. He walked over and picked the kid up. At least he could get him off the floor.

[middleoftheforce]

"Panic," was the dry response.

[jedi_librettist]

"Then... What would Mom do?"

Ani buried his face in Ben's neck. It muffled the wails some.

[middleoftheforce]

"Something like what you're doing?" It had been a long while since they had been around children; Solo couldn't really think what their Mother would do. Granted it was possible the wails were stunting his thought some.