Chapter Text
Rey had to help Ben walk, supporting him so he could avoid putting weight on his broken leg. They limped out of the Sith cathedral together, holding on to each other as though their lives depended on it. Needing to help the other spurred both of them to keep moving despite being almost literally dead on their feet.
When they reached their ships, there was an awkward moment of uncertainty. Where would they go from here? Was this where their paths diverged once more, or would they continue onward together?
The decision was made when Ben tried to stand on his own, only for his legs to give out under him. Rey barely caught his weight, slowing his fall to the ground, where he curled up in pain that was almost palpable to her through their bond. His mouth was set in a grimace as he fought through the pain of his leg, ribs, and an as-yet uncounted number of cuts, scrapes and bruises.
For a moment she sat and held him, desperately wishing she could heal him once again. She did not dare to try when she was still in a fragile state herself after Ben revived her. If Ben had given her any more of his life force, it would have killed him. If Rey tried to give it back, she might die again.
She pushed his sweat-soaked hair out of his face, brushing grime and blood across his forehead. His eyes closed under her touch, which was exactly the opposite of what she wanted. "Stay with me, Solo." That was the kind of thing Finn or Poe would say to cajole the other.
She was slightly surprised when Ben answered, and greatly surprised by what he said. "I intend to." He opened his eyes and moved his head enough to look at her. "If you'll let me."
Fighting back tears, Rey nodded, and then they stood up together, inch by slow inch. She practically carried him into the X-wing, which would draw less attention than the TIE fighter when they reached the Resistance base. It was the only place she knew of where he could get the medical care he desperately needed.
She could only imagine Ben's thoughts as they saw the last of the star destroyers explode or fall from the atmosphere back onto the planet. Rey, for her own part, felt triumphant, and she was overjoyed when she saw the Millennium Falcon accompanied by an X-wing she knew must be Poe's.
"We did it, Ben." She turned around in the pilot's seat to look at him, even though he was facing away from her. "And we did it together."
He turned his head so she could see his smile. Rey reflected that it was only the second time she had ever seen it. The first smile, after she kissed him, had been joyful. This one was tired, a little sad, but proud.
She liked seeing him smile. She hoped she would see more of it.
They did not speak much during the journey, except to ask how the other was holding up. Naturally, they both felt exhausted, but Ben was dealing with more pain, while Rey had to fight her exhaustion and pilot the X-wing through the dangerous path away from Exegol.
Finally, they reached Ajan Kloss. After they made planetfall, Rey turned to Ben and said, "Stay here while I tell them what happened. Then we'll get you to a medic."
"Okay."
She smiled at him and squeezed his hand before getting out of the cockpit.
No sooner had she disembarked than she crouched down to greet a small BB unit that was rolling up to the X-wing. Ben realized with a start that it was the droid that he had searched for, the one that had carried the map to Luke Skywalker. He had never seen it in person, only in his prisoners' memories. That search—that kriffing droid, along with the Resistance pilot and the renegade stormtrooper—had led Kylo Ren to Rey.
Ben watched, half-hidden, as Rey reunited with her other friends, some of whom he recognized. He almost envied the way she hugged the pilot and the deserter, with such natural and open affection; but then he remembered what had just transpired between him and Rey on Exegol. He smiled at the memory, feeling smug, incredulous and … happy, happier than he had thought he could be.
He leaned back in his seat, marveling at everything that had happened in the past year, in the past day. It was easier to reflect on the past than to contemplate the future, even the next few minutes or hours or days.
He sat up when he saw Rey and a few other people approaching the X-wing. He recognized two of them, and he knew they recognized him: Chewbacca, who he had expected; and Lando Calrissian, who he had not. Others, including the pilot and the stormtrooper, watched from a short distance, their hands on the weapons at their belts.
"Who's this big man?" Lando looked at him ambivalently, his arms crossed, his tone playful. "It can't be the same guy I saw as a toddler, running buck naked—"
"I come in peace," Ben interrupted fiercely. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Rey cover her mouth with her hand, while her friends guffawed. "I just helped Rey—"
"So she told us." Lando tilted his head at him curiously. "Did you really go to face Palpatine without a lightsaber?"
"I had a blaster."
Lando let out a bark of laughter. "Ha! A blaster against a Sith Lord? You're even more like your dad than I'd thought."
Ben felt unworthy of the comparison. "Actually, it was the one you left for me when I was born."
"No kidding? Uncle Lando knew what he was doing."
Rey stepped back up into the cockpit. "Come on. Chewie will help you down."
The moment seemed full of strange ironies: Ben had to be carried like a child by the Wookiee who had held him when he was an actual child, and he had to place himself in the care of people who had been his prisoners mere hours ago.
Ben waited until he was on the ground, with the two medics supporting him, before he spoke. "Chewbacca."
The Wookiee cut him off before he could speak more. It took Ben a moment to comprehend the sharp words—it had been a long time since he heard anyone speak Shyriiwook. Since when do you call me that? Ben had never addressed him by his full name before; he had always called him "Uncle Chewie" as a child.
"I … I'm sorry for taking you prisoner. And … for everything else." Ben said, bowing his head humbly. "I don't expect you to forgive me. I don't think I can fully forgive myself." He looked up and met the Wookiee's eyes. "But I'm done with the First Order, the Dark Side—all of it."
They looked at each other for a long moment. Chewbacca's tone was gentler when he spoke again. Your father always came around at the last minute, too. He stepped forward and put a hand on Ben's shoulder. He would be proud.
Ben gaped, speechless. Then Chewbacca pulled him into a hug, and suddenly he was overwhelmed with sensations he associated with memories of his childhood—the smell and texture of Wookiee fur, the gentle strength of Chewie's arms, the rumble of his chest as he growled affectionately. The next moment, he was sobbing and clinging to Chewie, who was still taller than him despite his considerable height.
Some distance away, Zorii Bliss asked Poe, "Why is Kylo Ren hugging that Wookiee?"
Rey heard the question and answered, "That's not Kylo Ren. His name is Ben."
It took a few minutes, but once Ben had collected himself somewhat, Chewie and the medics helped toward toward the infirmary. All around, rebels were reuniting, congratulating each other, celebrating their victory.
Suddenly, a golden droid stepped in front of the small entourage, and Ben was faced with another figure from his past. "Why—Master Ben!"
Ben stared at the droid with disbelief. "C-3PO?"
"Yes, sir, it is I!"
"I never thought I'd see you again." Had the protocol droid really managed to survive another war?
"I'm delighted to see you as well, sir. I do hope you're alright after all this madness."
"He will be soon," Rey said confidently, pushing the droid gently aside. "Excuse us."
She led the rest of the way to the infirmary, which was little more than a tent with several beds, about half of them occupied. The medics worked efficiently, hooking him up to machines, putting his leg in a brace, and sticking bacta patches over his skin.
They avoided eye contact with Ben, but he could sense their emotions—doubt, confusion, fear, anger, and suspicion. Only Rey and Chewbacca's presence could ease him into complacency, since he trusted them to stop anyone who got it into their head to harm him even after he had surrendered.
"You can rest now," Rey said when they were finished. His exhaustion was catching up, and the medicines being pumped into him were making him drowsy. "I'll stay nearby."
"Don't you need to rest too?" he asked.
"I will. I'll have Chewie or another friend watch over you then." She smiled again, that beautiful smile that was still so new to him—happy, affectionate, reassuring and grateful. Then she leaned over and kissed his forehead.
"Whoa—Rey?"
She stiffened and turned, and Ben saw two of his least favorite Resistance members, Poe Dameron and FN-2187, standing just inside the entrance. Both were staring with a mixture of disbelief and disgust.
"Is that how it is?" Poe exclaimed.
"Is that why—" Finn started to say.
"Out." Rey pointed to the door.
The two men talked over each other as Chewbacca ushered them out.
"When did this happen?" Finn asked.
"How did this happen?" Poe demanded.
The last thing they heard was the shout, "Rey, you owe us an explanation!"
She rolled her eyes, which made Ben smile. He reached for her hand and squeezed it before closing his eyes, finally surrendering to sleep.
He did not know what would happen when he woke, but somehow that did not bother him. He had hope, and he knew he was not alone. Even though he was surrounded by people who feared and hated him, there were a few who were happy that he was there. Having come to peace with them, he felt more at peace within himself than he had in years—perhaps in his entire life.