(no subject)

[photophobic]

[ Kylo's expression is tight, his eyes intensely sharp- and those who have seen him before will note something else, too. His face is scarred- a long, neatly healed line running right over it, from his brow down to his neck. ]

Thankfully, he hasn't taken his clothing off for the occasion. ]

I'm back.

[ That's it. ]

Comments

[photophobic]

Then I won't impose on you any longer.

[ So be it. If that is her decision, that is her decision. His jaw tightens. He might want a relationship with his mother, but he won't pretend to be something he is not. He hasn't been Ben Solo since Luke Skywalker crept into his bedroom with his lightsaber to kill him, and as far as he's concerned, when she followed that path, she made the answer to his question very clear.

He waits to be shown the door, pausing on his way out into the cold. ]

But don't pretend this is my choice. You made your decision when you drew that lightsaber.

[ He almost says goodbye, but- no. He can't. He walks out and keeps on going. ]

[articulations]

[ He may be done pretending but this entire time he'd led her to believe that the person she'd had with her really had been Ben Solo. Kylo had not once corrected her. No matter how many times she'd spoken the name Ben, he'd let her.

Leia wants to send a retort after him, remind him that the decision was already made for them when he'd decided it would be such a good idea to kill his father. Instead she shuts the door without watching him stalk off down the front path. Whatever connection she has to him, she cuts it off, silences it; it takes a moment of concentration but once it's done, she's turning to lean into the door and slide down.

The lightsaber drops heavily at her side and she brings her hands to cover her face, knees drawn up. The sob that cuts through the deafening silence is broken, muffled into her palms.

It was time now to bring back up the walls she'd let down; what a mistake it had been to let anyone in. ]