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“You know that essential oil is basically the modern equivalent of ‘Snake Oil’ right?” He said with a quirk of his dark eyebrow.
Rey sighed at rubbed the concoction on her wrists then rubbed her wrists against her neck “I like the smell.” Whether a scam or not Maz made it for her and Rey could count on one hand the number gifts she had ever received. She wasn’t going to let this gift go even if it was (possibly) phony.
He snorted “Did you know that some people think they can cure an infection If they tape some raw onion to an open wound?”
“Onion’s and garlic are mild antibiotics.”
He rolled his eyes “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
She could feel her blood pressure rising. She was trying a new technique with Ben today. Trying her best to be as noncommittal as possible “I simply stated a fact Benjamin.” She counted to ten as she was putting her books away in her locker.
“I mean who even believes in this stuff anyway?” He snorted “Bored soccer mom’s on too much Oxy with money to burn—“
She could hear the ‘whoosh’ of the blood rushing in her ears.
“—Can’t forget the withered old lady’s who—“
Rey slammed her locker shut.
“Maz gave it too me.” Her chest felt tight, her skin suddenly itching.
He regarded her a moment then huffed a little condescending laugh “Why am I not surprised. She’s basically queen on the old biddies isn’t she?” He smirked.
That’s when Rey threw her forty liter stainless steeled double walled water bottle with enough force to break the sound barrier. Directly at Ben Solo’s balls.
+
Luke Skywalker principle of Achto High is sitting across from her, a stern look of more resignation than apt disappointment on his face. He rests his elbows on his desk and covers his face with his hands. He sighs so long and so loud that it sounds like his actual soul has left his body “Rey. Why. Just, tell me…Why…”
“He started it.”
“He always starts it.” He grumbled “Did you at least try the breathing technique?”
“Yes.”
“And the non confrontational—“
“Yes.”
“And he still?”
“Yes.” Rey picks at her nails in her lap “Is Leia mad?”
He snorts and leans back in his chair “It would be nice if Leia was mad.” He huffs “She figures he gets what he deserves if he insists on being and absolute ass three hundred and sixty five days of the year.”
If Rey got hit by a classmate she knows Maz would have something to say about it, even if she deserved it “I tried to hold back.”
“Did you?”
Rey lowers her head in shame “He insulted Maz.”
Another soul escaping sigh “I’m sorry.” Luke knows what Maz means to her. Leia even knows, Ben too probably. Small town, large family and even larger friend group. Everyone knows Rey is the daughter Maz never had and always wanted and everyone knows what Maz means to Rey, what having a at least one person who gives a damn about her means after the life she’s had to live…Even Ben…
“You should suspend me.” Rey loathes Ben, but she still feels somewhat guilty for this never ending feud.
“I’m not going to suspend you Rey.” He scratches his beard “Just promise me, no bodily harm please. I can’t afford to get served if you render my nephew infertile.”
As if he should ever breed Rey muses.
+
“Dear child you’ve hardly touched your dinner.” Maz puts a hand on her forehead “Do you feel alright?”
Rey gives her a small smile “I’m okay, just tired.”
“Hmm.” Maz pushes her coke bottle glasses up on her nose “Its that young Solo again isn’t it? Poor child.”
Rey snorts “Yeah ‘poor’ Ben.” Poor Ben and his poor testicles, sadly intact to assure that generations of arseholes can roam the planet.
Maz laces her fingers like front of her face like a bridge and tsks “That poor lonely boy would do anything for an ounce of attention.”
Rey’s eyebrows raise in disbelief “You’re kidding right?”
Maz pins her with a solemn look “I am not my dear Rey.”
Rey throws her hands up “He gets all the attention all the time! He’s an argumentative egomaniac!”
Maz sighs “He argues with you?”
“I have never had a conversation with Ben Solo that hasn’t either ended in violence of verbal evisceration.”
Maz nods sagely “And you think this is because he thinks highly of himself?”
Rey levels a look at Maz “He thinks his opinions are the makers gift to mankind.”
Maz nods “I see, I see.” She tuts “Yes, just what I thought...”
Rey raises an eyebrow “Just what you thought?”
Maz crosses her arms over her chest “That boy is mess.”
“Huh?”
“Its been a long time since I’ve seen such an insecure boy.”
Rey can feel her eyes bugging “Ben? Insecure!?”
Maz nods “Absolutely. That boy is so lonely and so unsure of himself—“
“Maz, I don’t think—“
“Rey.” Maz puts a hand up “I have seen a lot of things in my time. A lot of people looking for themselves in this big wide world. I know for a fact that this boy is neglected. He is loved yes, but he is over looked, forgotten in his parents lives.”
“Leia’s just busy is all and Han—“
“Forgotten Rey, left up to his own devices for too long.” She wags her finger “Completely written off by his uncle, don’t even get me started on that man.”
Rey can feel her stomach twisting. She’s not sure why but she has terrible feeling that perhaps Maz is right…
“You know it too be true child.”
Rey swallows “Okay, so. That doesn’t explain why he’s such an arse to me.”
Maz shrugs a shoulder “You are a peer one his family happens to be close too, you have no choice but to interact with him.”
“Even if all we do is argue?”
“Negative attention is still attention Rey.”
That twisting in her stomach turns into a giant knot settling in the bottom of her gut.
Maz starts to smile and Rey swears there is a twinkle in her eyes “But I may know of something that could help you.”
+
Rey dresses that morning as if gearing up for war. She puts on her old jeans and he favorite t-shirt, the one with little cartoon Porg screaming on it. Her black high stops are tied securely around her ankles, her old army jacket that Maz gave her donning her shoulders.
She takes a long hard look in the mirror. She smooths the baby hairs around her face instead of painting warpaint under her eyes.
She takes a giant breath.
“Here goes nothing.”
+
Everyday is much the same. She knows that like clockwork when she sits on the quad for lunch under her favorite tree that Ben Solo will without fail throw himself down at the same tree insisting that the cafeteria is much too loud or too hot or too something and will proceed to annoying the hell out of Rey for all of lunch until either until she kicks him the in the shin or the bell rings, which ever comes first.
But this time she’s ready. She’s been preparing for this all weekend and now that shes pumped herself up there’s no way she’s backing down from what feels like the most insane thing shes every done in her short life.
Five minutes pass and right on the dot Ben Solo throws his backpack and sasquatch body down and huffs much too loud for Rey’s taste “This place is becoming more and more like an insane asylum everyday.” He grouches “You think the chicken nuggets had meth in them the way the student body acts.”
Rey shoves another nugget in her mouth “Chicken nuggets are good.”
He curls a lip in disgust at her “Could you swallow before you attempt to speak?”
Rey looks at him and continues to chew as obnoxiously as possible while not breaking eye contact.
His eyes dart between both of hers, then he purses his mouth “What?”
She swallows the bite and picks up her bottle taking a drink, still not breaking eye contact.
His eyebrows knit together in obvious confusion “What?”
“Your hair’s gotten pretty long.” She continues to stare him down, her face devoid of the annoyance she’s feeling. Practicing with Maz and the mirror is paying off she muses internally.
Ben’s brow lowers further no doubt preparing for a counter attack. “Yeah.” He shrugs “So?”
The time has come.
Rey imagines herself as Indiana Jones standing in stone temple, her arm now outstretched ready to switch the gold idol for the bag of sand.
She smiles at him.
The bag is there in her palm her other hand at the ready to make the exchange.
She sees Ben’s chest catch in an audible intake of air.
“It looks really nice.”
Fast as a viper her hand makes the switch…
Ben visibly stop, his eyes wide, mouth parted. She smiles again and takes a bite of her nugget. She sees it then and oh boy…
The idol is hers…
The shock still awash his face, Rey sees a flush start at the base of his long neck and creep steadily all the way up to his hair line.
The ground shakes beneath her. Something’s gone wrong…
He clears his throat trying to snap himself out of it, then huffs. He scoots his back up against the tree and shakes his head “Wh-Whatever.” And starts into his lunch with a focus so intent on his mac and cheese she thinks it may hold the secrets to the universe.
She turns back to her side of the tree the feeling of victory so powerful but also so…Unusual? This feeling…Almost feels like…
The boulder starts to roll and Rey has no choice but to run.
+
She doesn’t see Ben until the bell rings at the end of the day and when she does he barely makes eye contact and bolts the moment the doors open not even sparing Rey a backwards glance.
+
The weekend hits and the Solo’s are having a barbecue.
Rey has had time to contemplate this new power. She had only used it once this week, but his reaction had been so strong it nearly took her breath away. She had been tempted to use it but had settled instead on just smiling at him when he had started to dig into her about some insignificant topic and she just smiled sweetly at him and watched as he turned about thirty shades and red and muttered something about her being ‘Weird’ and walked away.
Yes, powerful indeed she mused. She should use it sparingly to avoid suspicion…
The moment she steps through the Solo’s door she sees Ben and its as if this week never happened.
He snorts and looks her up and down “Nice overalls farmer John.”
Rey smiles at him and he visibly swallows.
Well, if he insists on being a brat then what choice does she have…Than to put him in his place…
+
The Solo’s barbecue is as usual a loud affair. Luke, Leia, Han, Lando, Maz and Chewie make for some over zealous conversation sometimes hedging on the belligerent. But Rey loves it, she’s never had a family before. Her blood family left her in a seven eleven when she was six, before that they weren’t much for conversation…At first she felt a little overwhelmed by the rambunctious atmosphere, but now there’s no place she’d rather be.
She smiles to herself enjoying just sitting back and listening to the conversation around her.
She feels the hairs stand on the back of her neck and she turns her head to the side, to be met with the curious brown eyes of Ben Solo looking straight at her.
She blinks at him; once, twice.
He swallows and turns his head away.
Rey smirks internally.
Yeah you better run…
+
“Oh, I totally forgot the strawberries.” Leia cries “We can’t have shortcake without the strawberries. Ben would you run the market and get some for us?”
Ben rolls his eyes “Seriously?”
“Yes Benjamin, seriously. It’ll only take you a moment.”
“But—“
Rey sighs and steps up to Leia “I’ll go get them Leia.” She grabs Maz’s keys.
“Oh Rey, thank you dear.” She hands Rey a couple of crisp bills “Get yourself a little treat.” He winks at her.
Ben huffs loudly “So little Rey gets treat and I get what?”
Leia sighs “Benjamin.”
“Your not actually letting her drive your car are you Maz?” Ben whines.
“Why wouldn’t I Benjamin?” Maz looks at him a small bit of humor hiding in the corner of her mouth.
“I mean she’s only just pasted her test.”
This argument is neither here no there. Rey failed her test once on account of a squirrel that had a death wish. She told the instructor flat out that ‘no’ she would not run the squirrel down in this situation because this was not a ‘life threating situation’ and there was no one behind her so why shouldn’t she spare this animals life? So the old slug flailed her.
Rey takes a breath and cocks her head at Ben “Do you want to go together Ben?”
He stops, and works his jaw a moment “Well if I have to.”
She smiles at him that serene nearly saccharine smile “Do you want to drive?”
He runs a hand through his hair and shuffles his feet for a moment, his face turning pink.
Ben does not notice the stunned looks of the company around him. Rey grins at Leia. Leia swats Han in the chest absentmindedly “Han the Falcon.”
Han clears his throat suddenly and little stunned “Uh.” He pats his pockets down “Here, Son.” He tosses the keys at Ben and they just hit him square in the chest and fall to the floor “Uh, take the Falcon. Just got her tuned up.”
Ben picks up the keys and nods to his dad “Thanks.” He mumbles before stumbling out the door.
The group regards Rey with wide eyes and Rey smiles.
I am a god…
+
The conversation is non existent and the radio is loud. Ben stalls at a red light cursing the shifter as Rey peacefully watches him sweat.
She supposes she never really looked at him before. They’ve known each other for years, she’s seen through elementary school, middle and now high school. He’s changed a lot. His body has stretched out and he’s filled out for sure. For a while there he looked so gawky with his height and his skinny frame. Now though he has bulk; a solidness she finds difficult to comprehend. Because he’s corded with muscle, in his forearms and his shoulders in the outline of his stomach and chest through his t-shirt. But he’s also still somewhat soft, at least in his face. He’s still got those plump lips that any girl would kill for. And that slightly weak jaw a little too soft to be the common standard of beauty but delicate in its juxtaposition.
“Wh-What?”
His deep voice snaps her back to reality.
“Hmm?” She’s sounds a little higher pitched that usual.
“Your staring at me.”
“Oh. Uh…”
Red alert. Red alert. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.
She pulls her secret weapon out and smiles at him “You have a nice profile Ben.”
Suddenly the Falcon swerves and a passing cars start hoking, one driver leans out their window flipping the bird and screaming at them.
Rey watches slyly as the cherry colored flush creeps up his neck and his knuckles turn white gripping the steering wheel.
+
“I know what your up to.”
Rey snaps her neck towards him so fast she gets vertigo “What?”
“Your ulterior motives.” He crosses his frankly impressive arms and leans across the produce isle into her space.
“My—“ She has to swallow the panic down “—My what?”
He smirks and she swears if it was humanly possible for panties to suddenly catch fire this would be the moment in which that would happen, with Ben Solo looking like the absolute cat who caught the canary.
He works his jaw grinning “Why else would you be so eager to volunteer?”
She wouldn’t say she was eager, I mean…It took a little convincing from Maz to go with this approach, but she wouldn’t say she was eager, no, no, no way. No…No…
His hand reaches out and she can feel the heat of it all along her shoulder.
She imagines that scene from ‘Batman Beyond’ when Batman trains with Ras Al Ghul on the ice.
Ben looms over her, he’s knocked the sword out of her hand and he holds the tip of his blade against her throat and tells her to ‘yield’.
Rey closes her eyes as he leans forward then…
“You’d do anything for strawberries.” He plops a container in her arms.
Rey’s eyes snap open “Hmm?”
Rey stills as Ben stubbornly holds her with the sword out stretched until…
Rey looks at the strawberries in her arms “Oh.” She breaths and looks at Ben, sees his smug satisfied smirk on his face.
“In your hast, you’ve sacrificed your footing.”
Rey smiles the widest she can, relief and panic surging in her veins “You remembered.”
Ben’s face flames.
Rey slams her fist on the ice and it gives way beneath him.
+
It starts to become more of an addiction than a diversion tactic. She starts to feel twitchy if she can’t make him stutter and blush at least once a day.
“Oh, you got an A+? Good job Ben.”
“I didn’t know that about Galaxy Wars, thanks for letting me know though.”
“Oh, well yes this crunch wrap supreme isn’t super healthy. But good for you looking out for your health.”
“Did you change your body wash? You smell really good.”
+
Maz and Chewie decide to go the casino for the weekend and Maz suggests Rey stay at the Solo’s and Rey does not jump at the chance, she doesn’t. If she packs her cutest pajamas it’s just for her. No reason in particular…
+
Things are different between Rey and Ben. Different in a way that is unknown to Rey. When she arrives at the Solo’s Leia is out for the evening and Han is at the garage with Chewie so it’s just her and Ben. Ben is…Attentive?
When he makes a sandwich he makes Rey one with extra pickles without her having to ask. He asks what she wants to do and doesn’t complain when she wants to watch a movie. He lets her pick it out and doesn’t complain that he’s seen ‘Back to the Future at least fifty times’, just chuckles and says “I don’t know what I was expecting it’s your favorite after all.”
In fact he knows a lot about her favorites. He knows mushroom is her favorite pizza topping and cranberry apple Ocean Spray is her favorite drink but it has to be watered down or its too tart. He knows when they sit in the evening that she likes the right side of the couch and she loves the plush grey blanket. He knows she has to have popcorn when watching a movie and that she prefers his toothpaste to Han and Leia’s because it’s extra minty.
He knows so many things and Rey is genuinely baffled at the whole thing. She has no idea when he took the time…Or why…
+
Han and Leia have gone to bed and Ben and Rey are still watching movies in the basement. Ben is sitting sprawled out on the couch with Rey tucked in the corner.
Rey sighs “Sean Young is so beautiful.”
Ben shrugs his shoulders.
“Come on.” Rey holds her hand out at the screen “She’s crazy beautiful.” Sean Young’s character Rachael saunters across the room as Decker watches her with a careful eye “I wish I looked like that.”
Ben sneers “What? Why?”
“Cause she’s smokin hot thats why.”
“Like—-” Ben sits a little straighter on the couch “What do you think is hot about her?”
She takes a moment and thinks “Her lips are nice. Her cupids bow is really defined, I think that really pretty.”
Ben rest an arm on the back of the couch and turns towards her. He looks at her face for a moment taking her in then says “You have a cupids bow too.”
Rey scrunches her nose “No I don’t.”
“Yeah you do.”
“Oh, well…” Rey doesn’t know what do with this information “I like her eyes too.”
“What about them?”
“They’re so pretty.”
“Meh.” He shrugs.
“What do you mean ‘Meh’? Do you have eyes.”
He growls under his breath “Their just eyes.”
“But their pretty eyes.”
“You have pretty eyes.”
Rey raises a skeptical eyebrow.
“Rey.” He looks at her suddenly serious “You have pretty eyes.”
Rey closes her eyes and grins “I bet you don’t even know what color they are.”
“Hazel.” He clears his throat.
Her heart stutters “That’s easy though, Hazel is a blanket term.”
She hears his exhale through his nose “Hazel, more green that brown. The outer rim is green and the part closest to the pupil is brown….” He trails off.
Rey opens her eyes and feels her heart stop.
“…Like a star burst…” He mumbles.
She’s struck dumb. Watching him watch her, his face red as a tomato. Her throat feels dry.
What is this?
It comes unbidden to her “You have nice eyes Ben.”
He snorts and the spell is broken.
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Do what?”
“Say that stuff about me.”
“What stuff?”
His brow furrows deeply.
“What stuff Ben?”
He blows out a big breathe “Your hair looks nice Ben, Oh! Is that new soap? You smell nice Ben, You have a nice profile Ben! Good Job on that test Ben—“
Rey draws closer to Ben, sitting on her knees as she watches him ramble on.
“—Of course you can use my pencil Ben, Your arms are so defined Ben, Oh that shirt looks nice Ben where did you—“
Rey places her hands on the side of his face.
“—What ar—“
She leans forward and kisses him. Just a gentle pressure of her lips against his soft mouth. She feels his breath stutter and his mouth open. She licks into his mouth then squeezes his bottom lip between both of hers. She pulls away from him with a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth. Her hands rest on the nape of his neck, playing with his hair. She pulls back to watch his expression. Her heart sinks when she sees the tears welling in his eyes, his lips trembling as he holds back tears. Rey feels like she missed a step somewhere.
“Is this revenge?” He croaks.
“What?”
“Are you—“ The tears fall with audible ‘plip plop’ against his chest “—Why would you do that?”
Rey cocks her head at him “Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because I’m an asshole Rey!” He turns his head away “I knew what you were doing and I let you do it anyway!”
Rey curls a finger in the air at his nape and he shudders “Doing what?”
“Being nice to me! Complimenting me! Praising me!” His lips tremble “Do you think I’m stupid? That I wouldn’t notice?”
“If you knew, why didn’t you—“ Stop me…
He looks at her with glistening eyes “You know why.” He squeezes his eyes shut “I’m pathetic.” He swallows “I know that okay? You’ve won alright? Game Over.”
“Mmm.” Rey drags her nails lightly against his scalp “I’ve won huh?”
His eyes remain downcast as he shivers against her ministrations.
“If I’ve won what do I get?”
His eyes snap to hers “Am I that much of a joke to you?”
“No.” She shakes her head “Not a joke.”
“Then what?”
“A pill maybe.” She huffs “Every conversation we’ve ever had has usual held the threat of violence.”
“I know.” He casts his eyes down again.
“You’ve said some pretty mean things to me.”
He nods his head just the tiniest amount.
“And to your family. You know your lucky to have a family Ben.”
He swallow “I know.” He murmurs.
“Your lucky to have people who love you.”
He continues to nod meekly.
“They’re not perfect people though. I know they…” She cradles his cheek “…Are a little neglectful.”
He turns his head into her palm nuzzling it as a tear slips down his face.
“That’s okay though.” She presses her lips to his forehead “Because I’m here now.”
He looks up at her; the littlest sparkle of hope in his waterlogged eyes.
“Should I tell you how good you are?”
He swallows thickly.
“How handsome you are?”
His eyes avert from hers and his brow furrows.
“Ben?” She pulls a little at his hair.
He looks at her.
“Do you not think your handsome?”
He moves his mouth in that way that says so many things, that he’s nervous, that he’s unsure, that he has so much to say and not any idea how to say it.
“Well.” She throws a leg over his waist and straddles him “Where should I start?”
His breathing becomes erratic as he watches her. She smiles at him and leans forward running her lips over the bridge of his nose “You have a very distinguished nose for one.”
He huffs a nervous laugh. She runs her fingers down the bridge “No arguing Ben.” She leans forward suddenly and bites right under his jaw. His whole body jolts and he makes the most erotic noise she’s every heard in her entire life.
She feels a little out of breath “Where was I?”
He looks positively wreaked already and she’s barely even started. She takes her thumb and runs it over his bottom lip “I mean of course your lips are amazing.” She presses his bottom lip down and watches it snap back into place “So ridiculously plush, and so pink.” She grins at him.
Ben looks like he’s going to pass out; his eyelids are drooping and his skin is the color of a cherry Popsicle. She slides her fingers through his hair “You really do have nice hair, so dark and silky.”
“Th-Thank you.” He chokes.
She smiles wide at him “Your welcome.” She cants her hips and watches at his eyes rolls back into his head “Do you want to know what I love the most though?”
“Mmm.” He’s closed his eyes completely lost to the heat of Rey pressing against him.
She leans over him bringing her lips to the shell of his ear “I love these ears Ben, do you know why?”
“Hhuuh-uh.” He grunts.
She runs her tongue along the outside of it and his hips buck uncontrolled.
She smiles against his ear “I love it when these beautiful ears turn the most brilliant shade of scarlet every time I tell you what a good boy you are.” And she bites his lobe.
Ben cries out in ecstasy and Rey just grins.
“I love you.” Ben sobs “I’m sorry.”
She soothes his ear with kitten lick and a kiss all the while whispering “I know Ben. I know.”
“I’m sorry.” Presses his face into her neck “I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
“I love you.”
She kisses him between his hiccuping sobs.
When his breath has evened out he finally plucks up the courage to look her. His beautiful tearful eyes and swollen lips make Rey’s breath hitch.
“You know what Ben?”
He bites his lips starring at her with complete surrender “Wh-What?”
She grins wide and completely true “I love you too.”