Life as a Dyad - Chapter 17 by EsmeAmeliaSolo, literature
Literature
Life as a Dyad - Chapter 17
“Brainwashed . . . Brainwashed . . . You’re brainwashed . . .” The voice shouted in Gavin’s mind as he ran down the bright, sterile corridor, unsure where he was going, only knowing that he had to get away or the bad people would get him. “You’re brainwashed . . .” Up and down the branching hallways, the sharp smell of antiseptic clogging his nostrils, his heart ramming against his ribs. They were coming, they were almost here, he could feel it! “There you are!” The hands emerged from behind him, squeezing him around the torso to the point of pain and no matter how much he screamed and kicked, he couldn’t break himself free. They yanked him back, back, back . . . “You’re brainwashed . . .” Suddenly he was in a darkened room, the hands strapping him to a cold, hard table. “Don’t be afraid,” said a deep, hard, menacing voice. “It won’t hurt, and when it’s over, you’ll be happy.” A scream built up in Gavin’s throat, but his mouth couldn’t emit it. “You’ll be happy,” the
Ben's First Day of Daycare - Chapter 2 by EsmeAmeliaSolo, literature
Literature
Ben's First Day of Daycare - Chapter 2
The song went up to the little tooka clapping five times, and by then Ben was actually smiling as he clapped, which unknotted Han’s stomach a little. Hopefully this was a sign that he was enjoying himself and would continue to enjoy himself. “Great job!” Carda exclaimed once the song ended. “Now, it’s time for drawing! Han, would you mind helping me pass out the art supplies?” “Sure, I can do that,” said Han. The kids raced to the different tables – Han guessed that they all had assigned tables for drawing time, but Ben just kept sitting on the floor, squeezing Mr. Tookie in his lap. “Ben,” Carda said in that gentle voice, “do you know your colors?” Ben nodded. “Good,” said Carda, “then why don’t you go sit at the yellow table and you can draw a picture?” Ben seemed to like that idea, since he scrambled over to the yellow table and settled himself into an empty seat, which also happened to be next to Delia. Maybe now they’d start to make friends, or maybe Ben would feel
Ben's First Day of Daycare - Chapter 1 by EsmeAmeliaSolo, literature
Literature
Ben's First Day of Daycare - Chapter 1
Han felt like his stomach would explode as he and Leia led three-year-old Ben down the brightly-lit halls decorated with paintings of animals and cartoon characters. It looked friendly and inviting, but Han damn well knew about how looks could deceive. “Han,” Leia said, putting her hand on her husband’s shoulder, “it’s gonna be fine. You’ll be here to help Ben get used to his first day.” “And what about his second day?” Han asked. “Or his third? I ain’t gonna be here every time.” “He’ll be fine,” said Leia, patting his shoulder. “Besides, he won’t need to come here every day. And if he doesn’t like it here, we can find another daycare that suits his needs better.” Han looked down at Ben, who was looking around at the painted walls while clutching his toy tooka, Mr. Tookie, to his chest. Ben hadn’t spoken much since they arrived and Han couldn’t tell if that was because he was scared or curious. “Hey buddy,” he said, bending down to his son’s level, “the walls are pretty, ain’t
Luke was expecting a nice relaxing lunch out to catch up with his brother-in-law. An hour or so at the diner where they could both get away from the stresses of life for a little while and maybe they’d even go to the holocinema or a smashball game or something afterwards. But then Han showed up with an unexpected lunch guest. “Sorry kid,” Han said in an out-of-breath voice. “Babysitter cancelled at the last minute and Leia’s gotta work and Chewie obviously couldn’t watch him since he’s away on Kashyyyk, so I had to bring Ben.” Han was wearing a baby sling in which baby Ben was bundled against his father’s chest. His right hand was pushing a baby’s hoverchair up to the table while a diaper bag dangled from his left hand. “Uh, okay,” said Luke, unable to keep himself from twisting his mouth a little at the sight. “We could postpone this if you want.” “Naw,” said Han, lowering Ben into the hoverchair. “He’ll be fine.” Once the baby was strapped in, Han started tickling his chin.
It was Ben’s idea to go on a walk. Han hadn’t wanted to go for a walk – he’d wanted to just stay at the warm Temple and relax in front of the fire with a cup of hot chocolate while admiring the snow from a distance. Ben did understand that, given his father’s aversion to the cold, but the snow was just so beautiful that it seemed like a waste to not go for a walk in it. It was Ben’s idea. This was his fault. Those thoughts raced through his head as he witnessed his father’s ankle roll under him, pulling his body down into a heap and making him cry out in pain. It was Ben’s idea. This was his fault. Those thoughts paralyzed his fifteen-year-old body, only granting him the ability to stare at his father as he writhed on the ground, the snow soaking his hair and sticking to his coat. It was Ben’s idea. This was his fault. Another cry from Han finally released Ben from the paralysis. “Dad!” he gasped, sliding to the ground by his father’s side, not caring how the snow would soak
The Kashyyykian sun pouring into the treehouse hotel room drew Finn out of a sound sleep, though his eyes remained closed. He lay in bed for several more minutes, savoring the fresh, woodsy smell of the room and the peaceful sound of his wife’s gentle sleep-breathing. Though he could have easily allowed himself to drift back off to sleep, he forced his eyes open to face his beautiful wife, her hair mussed all over the pillow. “Hey,” he whispered, running his hand over her cheek and brushing a strand of hair behind her ear with his thumb, “Happy Life Day, sweetheart!” Rey responded only with a groan. “Honey,” Finn said in a slightly louder voice, “come on, you know Chewie and the other Wookiees will want us to help with party preparations.” Rey groaned again, this time pulling a bit of the covers over her face. “Rey, please,” Finn persisted. “You don’t wanna disappoint Chewie, do you?” “I’m pregnant!” Rey grumbled from under the covers. “Doesn’t that exempt me from the
“Dammit, this thing itches!” Han was pacing around the lobby of the family holo studio, endlessly scratching away at the red-and-green patterned Fete sweater he was wearing. “Do they even try these things on when they make ‘em??” he exclaimed. “Doesn’t anyone tell ‘em how damn itchy they are??” “Not everyone’s skin is as sensitive as yours, sweetheart,” Leia said from the green-carpeted floor, where she was supervising one-year-old Ben as he played with the foam blocks from the holo studio’s toy box. Both of them wore sweaters identical to Han’s and yet neither of them were scratching like hell. “Hey, I do not have sensitive skin!” Han protested while still ferociously scratching, unable to reach every spot where it itched. “This thing just itches!” “Well, then find something to distract yourself,” said Leia. She gestured at the Fete tree set up in the corner of the lobby. “Like the tree, for example.” Han looked at the tree. In addition to the generic colored lights and glass
“You can’t be serious,” said Poe. Thirteen-year-old Poe was spending the night with eleven-year-old Ben. Leia and Han were at a senatorial dinner and wouldn’t be home until late that night, meaning that the boys had access to the Solo family’s entire collection of holofilms, even those that were considered too frightening or too mature for kids their age. It was one such holofilm that Ben was holding up now, from his mother’s collection of horror holos. According to the case, it was about a mysterious killer who slashed random victims to death with a vibroblade. He never spoke or made any sound, meaning that his victims didn’t hear him coming until he struck. “Don’t those kinds of holos give you nightmares?” Poe asked. “That’s exactly why I wanna watch it,” said Ben. “If I can handle this, then maybe . . .” Poe frowned as his friend trailed off. “You still having those nightmares?” Ben said nothing, but his silence answered the question for him. “Don’t your mom and dad still
Life as a Dyad - Chapter 16 by EsmeAmeliaSolo, literature
Literature
Life as a Dyad - Chapter 16
“Well, I can prescribe some anti-nausea pills,” said the hologram of Krain Avan, the orange-skinned Zabrak who had been Ben’s therapist ever since he first went to prison. “That should help you be more comfortable riding in speeders.” “But why is it happening?” Ben pressed. “I never used to get motion sickness before prison.” Krain’s kind eyes gazed into Ben’s. “That was before you went twenty years without riding a speeder. Your body needs to get used to it all over again. However, with the help of the anti-nausea pills, it shouldn’t take too long to get used to it.” Ben nodded, gripping the edge of the kitchen table in case his hands started shaking. “And what about the panic attacks?” “Well, I’m afraid those are more difficult, but panic attacks are common for people who have recently been released from prison. After so many years in a regimented environment, it can be tough to adjust to regular life.” And that’s without having the Force on top of everything else, he thought
Meeting the Solos - Chapter 3 by EsmeAmeliaSolo, literature
Literature
Meeting the Solos - Chapter 3
Leia and Han always kept Ben’s old room ready in case he ever wanted to drop by and spend the night - they said many times that even if he wanted to drop by in the middle of the night, he was always welcome. A couple of times he did come in the middle of the night, kept awake by nerves or panic attacks, desperate for the comfort of his parents’ presence. He sat on his old bed, having kicked off his shoes and now hugging his knees like a child, feeling like a child, feeling like he was shrinking back down into that terrified little boy who got into bed with his parents after nightmares. Why now? Why did those fleeting thoughts send him into one of those attacks? It wasn’t like they had been thinking of anything lewd. Just a wedding. Just a life-changing event that could go wrong and lead to devastation. Ben hated the stereotype that men were afraid of commitment, especially since in his own family, Han had proposed to Leia immediately after the Battle of Endor. No, it wasn’t