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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[jedi_librettist]

Tears flow unnoticed down Ben's face. He doesn't pay attention as a keening sound escapes his throat. He can't do this. He just can't. He has to. He frowns. Where did that come from?

[middleoftheforce]

Solo closed his eyes, leaning back in the pilot's seat with a clear sense of trying to force himself to calm down. Maybe he unintentionally began pushing the feeling of calm down through their bond, but he wasn't focused on much except calming down.

[jedi_librettist]

Ben felt like he was shaking. There were some feelings of calm coming through the bond but Bail was still gone, still angry, still rejecting him. His stomach twisted. He uncurled from the ball he'd ended up in and made his way to the toilet just in case. He was so hot all of a sudden. He needed his brother.

[middleoftheforce]

Solo stared at the controls, taking them off auto to give himself something to do for a bit. Messages coming through made him frown and he clicked on to a system.

"So. People on board? We're gonna have to jump to hyper. There's a hail gone up about you all. Strap in or ... find something to hold on to."

He clicked off, and began to do what he could to give them a brief bit of time to gt ready before the jump

[jedi_librettist]

Ben gagged, panting. He closed his eyes, trying to force the nausea back but his stomach convulsed again.

The announcement made him jump, what felt like an electric shock pulsing down to his hands. No. No, no, no. This couldn't be happening. He couldn't go back. Bail probably wouldn't even try to stop it after what he did. The world around him seemed to fade away. He couldn't deal with it. It was all he could do to keep breathing and not lose what little food he'd eaten.

[middleoftheforce]

The jump to hyper came quickly after. He dawdled as long as he could, knowing each minute longer was a danger to the people on board. To his brother. He flipped the switch to make on more announcement.

"Jump's coming now."

And then it did. He just needed them to get to the nearest planet where the anti-slavery laws were enforced. If he could do that, outrun who was after them, they'd be good. Just focus on out-running the hunters now.

(He wasn't jumping ahead of himself with the thought there would be bounty hunters. Hutts were protective over what they considered their merchandise. They were being hunted, there was no doubt.)

[jedi_librettist]

Ben swung forward as the ship lurched into hyperspace. His head struck the toilet. He didn't even notice. He'd pulled too far into his head. All he could feel was the tightness in his chest, the heat of his body, and the nausea.

[middleoftheforce]

Solo kept a tight grip on the controls, heart pounding in his chest.

Just to the nearest place where they'd enforce it, then they had a chance.

[jedi_librettist]

Ben didn't react when they dropped out of hyperspace a half-hour later, either. Nothing was real. Nothing needed to be real. It was better that way.

[middleoftheforce]

As they neared the planet, Solo allowed himself a sigh of relief. He clicked back on to the speaker system.

"Alright, people, we're beginning to make our descent on Naboo, local time will be 0800. The outlaw on slavery is enforced here, so the government should be able to help you all find you homes."

He clicked off, and prepared for the descent and landing - he always had a few more bumps than he should

[jedi_librettist]

The landing knocked Ben around a bit. He stayed where he landed, still lost in his head. The jolting of the ship wasn't real anyway. He wasn't real. Not being was a very good thing.

[middleoftheforce]

Solo breathed out after the landing, hands still tight around the controls. Now what? What did he need to do next to make sure that things would work? Think. He needed to think.

[jedi_librettist]

Ben leaned against the wall where he'd landed as the ship stopped moving. The heat he'd felt earlier had turned to cold and he was sweating. He couldn't go back. Not now that he'd been free for less than a day. He hadn't even gotten to see his parents yet.

[middleoftheforce]

He's not sure how long he's been sitting, but he eventually pulled himself from the seat, a plan somewhat fixed in his mind. He needed to go talk to the officials. A grimace crossed his face as he realised he'd ... probably need to go dig out something a bit less covered in gunk that what he was wearing.

He made his way back down to the fresher, looking to try to clean up his face a bit.

"Ben?"

[jedi_librettist]

Ben didn't move from where he'd curled on the floor. His breath still came in short, quick, gasps. His eyes stared out at nothing. It was as if he didn't hear his twin.

[middleoftheforce]

There was a frown and Solo pushed at the door.

And then swore loudly.

"Ben!"

[jedi_librettist]

There was still no reaction. Ben had pulled so far into his head, he couldn't hear Solo.

[middleoftheforce]

"Ben!" He yelled again, kneeling down so he was level with his brother. He reached out and shook him by the shoulder. "Come on, snap out of this."

[jedi_librettist]

The movement didn't rouse Ben anymore than the shout did. He still stared blankly. His hands began to move, apparently unintentionally. He pushed lightly against Bail.

[middleoftheforce]

Solo stepped back, frown giving way to concern. He reopened his side of the Bond.

Ben! Snap out of it!

[jedi_librettist]

With the reopening of the bond, just a bit of Ben's emotions filtered through. Mostly terror with some guilt and resignation. His end of the bond remained closed.

[middleoftheforce]

Solo gave an irritated sigh.

"I'm sorry I punched you, but you were pissing me off." He looked around. "We're on Naboo. If we talk to the official, we'll be able to get a lot of the people here going back to their homes."

[jedi_librettist]

Ben gave no reaction to the apology. His brother's presence registered at the fringe of his awareness. It wasn't any more real than anything else but it was nice. His fingers curled around Bail's shirt.

[middleoftheforce]

"I kinda need to get clean up," he said in a ramble. "Doesn't look too good to the official if you show up wearing a shirt you just shot down a bunch of slavers in."

[jedi_librettist]

Ben didn't let go. If anything, he held on tighter. He wanted more time with his brother before the reality of his life came back.