“I thought I lost you.”
let old memes die. || @galacticdebt
Fingers linked together, Ben almost winced when his father’s thumb rolled over the back of his hand. He was so used to looking down and seeing shrapnel embedded into him, he was pleasantly surprised to see it gone. He felt relief in his heart, Han standing tall in front of him. His palms were warm, unlike how clammy they felt just moments before. He wasn’t pale and sweating, nor was Ben feeling the sting in his side. All healed. They were whole.
“I thought I was the one going to lose you…. There was just so… So much blood.” Ben swallowed down his fear as Han’s thumbs brushed under his eyes, holding his cheeks in his hands. The younger Solo cherished this moment. The world around them had stopped and given this one single instance to be at peace. And it truly was just an instance. The outside had been thumping against invisible walls, time moving slowly, but still steady enough to call for attention. Ben’s eyes flickered from his father down to the floor where they had been sitting. A blood stain, and a blur. It was black like tar, and he couldn’t figure out the shape of it. He felt his feet starting to get warm, like a fire was lit beneath his heels.
He had not lost his father. They had found each other in the Force.
It struck him almost immediately as to what happened. Letting it out with an almost too relaxed exhale, Ben looked once more to his father. He was bright like the sun, exuding such an aura he hadn’t felt or seen in years. Han was happy. His purpose had been made. Ben’s heart broke with what he had to do next.
“I need to go. For a while. But I’ll find you again when… When Mom finds you. I’ll come back. We’ll be a family again some day.” His embrace was tight, tighter than he could have ever made it before. The truth was, he wouldn’t see him again.
The flames he felt grew hotter under his feet. His heart lost the happy and loving feelings, replaced with cold and dark grips instead. Ben was not going to be able to follow his father on the path he was given. He would not be filled with sunshine and warmth.
His place was in H̬̪̥͔́ḙ̣̭̺̪̞ͅl͉̲͎̫͕̹̀ḻ̩ͅ.̻̼͈̞
