When Rey arrived at camp, young Ben ignored her, as he did everyone. He had long ago accepted that no one would ever understand him... and she certainly wouldn't be the first. For someone so young, Rey was surprisingly determined. She bore the scars of a difficult past, but also an unmistakable light, a joy impossible to ignore.
Despite his efforts to keep his distance, Ben found himself watching her from time to time. Sometimes, he even hid a smile at her relentless stubbornness. With her disarming innocence, Rey found a way straight to Ben's heart, because, unlike everyone else, she saw him as a simple boy... a person. Not as the temple's "problem." Nor as the monster he believed himself to be.
Their friendship blossomed quickly. Rey, with a precocious sense of justice, didn't hesitate to reprimand anyone who dared speak ill of her beloved Ben. And he, in turn, developed a deep affection for her, protecting her, guiding her, teaching her everything he had learned. He worried about her, as if trying to prevent the shadows that tormented him from finding her too.
On nights when nightmares overcame him, he would flee silently into the darkness. But Rey always found him. She sat beside him, silent, and with her calm presence, soothed his restless mind and hurt heart.
Other times, Ben struggled to contain his laughter at her frowns and grumbles whenever it was time to study the ancient texts laid out by Master Luke. They began reading together, but it wasn't long before Rey fell asleeping in his arms. Carefully, he carried her to her bed, tucked her in gently, and placed a kiss on her forehead. He murmured "good night," to which she responded only with a sleepy grunt, adorable in its simplicity.
In his bed, Ben wishing, with all his heart, that could protect her forever.
Those memories remained intact in his heart, guarded jealously throughout the years, even after so long without seeing her. And it was precisely this memory, pure and sublime, that overflowed without warning when he recognized her, years later, in the forest of Takodana.
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