A Fine Line

Confliction

Luke trailed off, his eyes falling on something behind Leia. Leia turned to see that Chewie had left the ship and was coming up the hill towards them. Luke's eyes widened almost imperceptibly but Leia could feel the fear that crept into his bones.

"Where- where's Han?" He asked, and Leia could sense that he already knew.

Leia stiffened and she swallowed thickly, willing herself not to break down. It was so easy to feel vulnerable around Luke but she needed to be strong. For him.

"He's gone, Luke." Leia managed to get out.

Luke let go of her, his eyes glazing over in shock and Leia crossed her arms over her chest, as if that would keep herself together. The unspoken question of how Han had died hung between them, and Leia knew that Luke already knew the answer.

"I held out hope for so long." Leia managed at last. "But I know my son is gone. And now Han is gone too. I need you back, Luke."

Luke looked at his sister, his eyes far too bright. Leia could feel the regret and guilt eating him up inside and she wished she could take it all away. None of them were innocent. They had all made mistakes when it came to Ben but none of them were entirely responsible either.

Chewie roared softly as he approached, and the sound broke Leia's heart. Chewie had given his life to Han, he'd been his best friend and loyal first mate for decades. Now, Chewie seemed to be lost. Like he didn't quite know what to do with himself.

"There's something I need to tell you. Both of you." Luke said. "Something I should have told you a long time ago."

Dalia sat next to Kylo Ren in the shuttle as they headed to the padawan training temple. After having decided that the army would be composed solely of those on the Dark Side of the Force, the High Council had agreed that Kylo Ren should go visit the Dark Side padawans to see whether any of them could join the army. Dalia looked out the window, trying not to think about the masses of people who would soon be forced into a lifetime of servitude to the First Order. People who had never held a Lightsaber in their life would be taught the ways of the Dark Side and then shipped off to battle like cattle ready for slaughter. It made her blood boil.

Dalia glanced over at Kylo Ren only to find he was staring at her. Again. Why was he watching her? Hadn't she proven she was trustworthy yet? How much more sitting still and nodding and pretending to smile did she have to do before he trusted her?

"What?" Dalia asked at last, just a tad too sharply.

"I was wrong about you." Kylo Ren said and Dalia frowned, confused by this comment.

"What are you talking about?" She asked, suspiciously.

"The Light doesn't come easily to you. You have to work at it." He said and Dalia's breathing hitched. He barely knew her, how...

"What did my mother say to you yesterday?" Dalia asked sharply, the realization hitting her all at once. Everything made sense now. His silence at dinner last night. His newfound habit of staring at her when he thought she wasn't looking.

"I think you already know." Kylo Ren said and Dalia felt her whole body tense.

"It was beyond my control." Dalia said, meeting his eyes defiantly. "I was born into it. I made a choice - a choice to be better - as soon as I was old enough to understand what was going on."

"The Light has made you weak." Kylo Ren said. "The Force is strong in you. I can feel it. If you returned to the Dark, you would be a valuable asset to-"

"I will never return to the Dark." Dalia snapped, a little too forcefully. What was it about him that made her so angry? Was it the cloud of Darkness that followed him around wherever he went?