Chapter Text
Ben did not want to go. He hated politics and fancy dinners. Leia asked him to be “more presentable” each time he came with a good outfit from his point of view.
He hated the proximity, the fake laugh, and, of course, the hypocrisy.
“Ben, put a smile on your face.” His mother warned him.
He did his fakest smile ever, making Leia frown and give him the stare. He put on a real smile after that. She sighed as she walked away to talk to another politician.
That’s when he saw her.
The blond hair, the perfect face, those icy blue eyes, and the soft smile.
Feeling startled, she looked back at him.
The Force felt weird around him as his guts twisted.
After what felt like eternity, she smiled at him. Ben smiled awkwardly. He hated to smile, but he had to smile for her.
She said something to what looked like her father before walking toward Ben.
“Hi, big boy. It’s the first time I've seen you around. What's your name?”
He couldn’t. She was too soft for him. He doesn't deserve softness, he deserves pain and power.
“Hello?”
Ben snapped back to reality.
“Yes! uh–hi! Yeah, I don’t usually go to those kinds of fancy dinners.”
“Nice to meet you ‘I don’t usually go to those kinds of fancy dinners.’” She answered.
Ben’s eyes widened. Shit, shit, shit, he already messed up–
He laughed more awkwardly than ever.
“No, sorry, I’m Ben. Ben Solo.” He finally managed to answer.
The girl’s smile dropped.
“You are Organa’s son?” She answered excitedly. “So you’re a Jedi?”
Ben scratched his head.
“Not yet, I’m still learning, so I’m a padawan.”
Oh, when those blue eyes sparkled up, he couldn’t help but smile softly.
“Oh, so you can read my mind or something?”
Another awkward laugh. Okay, he needs to lock in.
“I guess I could use it to know your pretty name.”
What the fuck was that? He thought.
To his surprise, the girl giggled.
“I’m so sorry I forgot my manners. I’m Aayla Whitetaker.”
Aayla.
“That’s— that’s a beautiful name.”
Aayla smiled again.
It looked so easy for her to smile. Perfect teeth and perfect lips. Ben has crooked teeth and way too big lips. He looked disastrous, and now compared to her? He looked like a wet mole rat.
“Compared to me, who was named after an old guy my mother found important or something like that.” He continued.
“Ben.” She whispered. “I like it. Forget the old guy, create another story with that name.”
Ben never felt the Force this calm. It felt like a huge weight was removed from his shoulders.
“I always wanted another name. I know it’s weird and creepy, but this other name will mark history. I’m sure of it.” Ben felt his cheeks reddening.
“We’re just kids, even if we often forget. Kids are allowed to dream.” Aayla said softly.
“What’s your dream then?” Ben asked almost in a whisper.
“I want to change people’s lives in the best way. Be there for those in need. I think— well, the galaxy needs more compassion. And I can give my part by becoming a senator like my parents.”
The room was hot enough to make Ben sweat.
But this answer was touching enough to warm his frozen heart.
“That’s beautiful.” He said before his mother called him from behind.
“Ben, it’s time to eat. Come on.”
He nodded to his mother before turning back to Aayla.
“Well, let’s hope the food isn’t as fake as the people here.” Ben tried to joke.
“You don’t seem to like politics, are you?”
He shrugged.
“I’m a Jedi.” He simply said as he walked away.
“Padawan!” Aayla reminded him before walking to her parents as well.
During the dinner, they glanced at each other on every occasion. They were so concentrated on each other that Leia nudged his son to get his attention back.
“Answer, Ben.” She whispered.
“I’m sorry I got distracted. What was the question?”
Ben swore he heard the whole room sigh deeply.
“As our future protector, how will you protect all of us?” Some random guy asked him.
Ben stopped breathing, feeling the weight of the legacy on his shoulders again.
Since he was born, everyone expected him to be the next master Jedi who would bring peace to the galaxy. That was what he was meant to be, but he passed too many nights thinking about whether it’s really the life he wants.
He was only fourteen years old, still a kid, and yet these people were asking how he would carry the peace of the galaxy all alone.
“I–I will do my best to protect–huh, the galaxy by fighting the enemies and–and keep balance–”
“Senator Reck,” Leia cut off. “My son is still training to become a Jedi. This question can be hard to answer at his age.”
“Yes, of course. I am deeply sorry.” He mumbled.
Ben exhaled in relief.
“Thanks, mom.” He mumbled to his mother, who gave him a smile back.
He looked at Aayla again, only to see an empty seat.
He urged to scan the room to find that blond hair again. To his disappointment, no Aayla in sight.
“I need to take a breather.” He whispered to his mom.
“Don’t go too far.” She only said.
Ben rose from his chair and quietly went where his legs led him.
He found himself in a hallway, not sure where to go. He was about to return to the dinner when he felt it. The warmth in the Force. It showed him an invisible path he followed. It led to a bigger room. There was only a girl dancing slowly in the middle of the room, accompanied by slow music.
Aayla
Oh, how beautiful and graceful she was.
When she caught him in her sight, she stopped abruptly. Looking almost embarrassed. Yeah, he could feel it through the Force.
“Stars, I didn’t know you were there.”
Ben approached carefully, hypnotized.
They ended up face-to-face.
“You dance so…carefully.”
It earned Ben a smile from her.
“Can you dance?” The girl asked.
“Me? Oh, hell no! I’m terrible at these things.”
Aayla took his left hand in hers and rested the other on his back.
Ben froze at the touch before leaning into it. It was the first time someone besides his parents was so close to him.
“Okay, now follow my lead.” She softly said.
“What the hell does that mean?”
Aayla snorted, shaking her head.
“It means don’t panic.”
“That’s already not going well,” Ben muttered.
She laughed again, softer this time, and gently nudged his feet into place with her own.
“Just sway,” she said. “You don’t have to impress anyone.”
Easy for her to say. Ben thought.
His hands hovered uselessly for a second before settling. One unsure palm resting at her waist, the other still trapped in her grasp. He could feel his heart beating everywhere at once, loud enough that he was sure she could hear it.
The music was slow. Too slow. Every second stretched.
At first, his steps were stiff, out of rhythm. He stepped on her foot once.
“Ow—sorry! I’m so sorry—”
“It’s okay,” Aayla said quickly, squeezing his hand. “See? You’re already doing better.”
He wasn’t sure how, but he let himself breathe.
The Force, usually so loud in his head, faded into something warm and distant, like background noise instead of a storm. His shoulders relaxed. His grip softened. He followed her movements instead of fighting them.
“This is… nice,” he admitted quietly.
Aayla looked up at him, her blue eyes gentler than before.
“Yeah,” she said. “It is.”
They swayed in silence for a moment, the space between them careful, respectful, just enough to feel real without being overwhelming. Ben focused on the sound of the music, on the steady rise and fall of her breathing, on the fact that no one was watching him.
No expectations.
No legacy.
Just this.
“You okay?” she asked softly.
He nodded. Then, after a beat, he shook his head.
“I think so,” he said. “I just… don’t get moments like this.”
Aayla’s expression softened even more, if that was possible.
“Well,” she said, tilting her head slightly, “then I’m glad you found this one.”
The song began to fade, the final notes stretching thin before disappearing into the quiet room.
Neither of them moved right away.
Ben realized, distantly, that he didn’t want to let go yet.
The silence stretched just a second too long.
Aayla shifted first, her fingers tightening briefly in his before she let go. She took a step back, suddenly shy, like she’d remembered where they were.
“Well,” she said, brushing a strand of blond hair behind her ear, “We should probably—”
Ben nodded too fast. “Yeah. Right. Of course.”
She hesitated.
Then, before he could say anything else, she rose on her toes and pressed a quick kiss to his right cheek.
It was barely there.
Warm.
Light.
Ben froze.
His breath caught so hard it almost hurt.
Aayla pulled back just as quickly, her own cheeks burning red.
“Until next time, big boy.” She said as she exited the room.
“Aayla—” he started, but she was already running, soft laughter echoing down the hall as she disappeared around the corner.
Ben stood there alone, fingers still curled like he was holding something that wasn’t there anymore.
The Force trembled around him.
Not violent.
Not dark.
Just stunned.
He lifted a hand to his cheek, eyes wide, heart pounding so loudly he was sure the entire Senate could hear it.
For the first time that night—no.
For the first time in a long time, Ben Solo smiled without trying.