Dramaphone

[Hira Mitsae]

[member="Sam Paige"]

Smile broadened at her response.

He hadn't been sure what to expect- part of him wondered if she would try to roll away and put some space between them.

Because this? Right now? It was weird and Ben wasn't complaining, but he was fully conscious about it. More often than not people didn't go from good friends to kissing to this in such a short span of time and it worried Ben. That was Benedict for you though, always a worrier, always concerned and keeping track of things that weren't even that much of a concern.

It was a wonder he hadn't planted a tracking chip on her or her ship yet.

"You could..." She wasn't wrong, his body hurt from keeping himself in that position to make sure she didn't wake. "We could also do this."

Ben pulled at her, spurred on by her worry and made him realize how silly his was, pulling her into his arms where he would kiss her, if she let him do it. Lips locked, exploring softly, nothing of the wild passion and hunger from the previous night. Just patient gentleness that let her dictate how hard or soft she was comfortable with.

If at all.

 

[Sam Paige]

She knew what he was going to do and for a moment her eyes just went wide and she let him kiss her- not because she didn't want him to but because it was still a very !!! thing. She could feel the fluttering of wings in her chest as he pulled her in.

Tentatively, shyly and more than a bit self consciously, she kissed him back. He was so soft and gentle, patient. It felt different from the night before, slower, but it was nice and she wasn't sure the previous night was something she ever really wanted to recreate in any capacity.

This time, she pulled back first. Her glasses were a little fogged, and she frowned at them, cross eyed before refocusing on Ben.

"Um."

Her cheeks turned slowly from the low pink of kissing him to the full blown scarlet of self awareness. He'd already said it. He was kissing her for goodness sakes. It wasn't actually a risk to say what she was thinking, was it? It was ridiculous to think that it was, and yet....

"Um. I. I mean. I think.... I think I like you, too."

[member="Benedict Ortega"]

 

[Hira Mitsae]

[member="Sam Paige"]

His attention was still on her lips, before pushing back to her foggy glasses.

First the words didn't really filter in.

He just smiled at her, a bit of a silly smile, until it suddenly popped in belatedly. "wait." Ben went back in time (metaphorically speaking) and reversed the conversation, before eyes widened a bit. "R-really? That. Yes. Of course, that is. I am. Really?" Eyes closed and Ben got a hold of himself. "I am going to stop talking now." Instead the former Jedi pulled her closer, a fraction if she allowed it, because for some reason this physical contact was easier for him than to actually... talk.

Get the words out.

"That is- good, th-" Feth, he almost said thank you, like really? "Can I kiss you again?"

 

[Sam Paige]

His reaction, his smile, his own awkwardness in it made everything easier. Not easy. Just a little less fraught. Ben usually seemed so comfortable with himself, so self assured. He knew what to do, when to do it. He wasn't afraid to wade in and do something.

So knowing that this was something maybe a little out of his comfort zone too? Made it less intimidating.

She smiled shyly and nodded.

"Yeah. I- I'd like that."

This time there wasn't hesitation when she kissed him back.

****

They couldn't stay there forever. It was fine until Sam realized she hadn't brushed her teeth- at which point she went red and stammering and apologizing all over again.... also when other necessities of a morning made themselves known and they went their own separate ways for a while. Still wearing what she usually slept in, Ben fortunately some extra toiletries. While she couldn't change into clean clothes until going back to her ship, she did take a quick turn through the sonic 'fresher. That kind always left her hair extra poofy and she didn't like it very much, but it was better than nothing at all, and she came out a little later trying, in vain, to get her hair back under control.

"Um. We. We probably need to. You know. Make. Um. I mean. A station report? About what happened?"

[member="Benedict Ortega"]

 

[Hira Mitsae]

[member="Sam Paige"] would find him stretching in the little cabinet.

Tank-top, sweat pants, muscles rolling softly under skin and giving the impression of strength. No matter what had happened last night or this morning, there were things that Ben would always do. They were part of his routine and there was no taking it away. "No need," the former Jedi responded in between exertions as breath became heavier.

"I already send in a report and got it filed away." Ben stopped and looked over to her. "Will be a few days until they can spare someone to come in to take a statement."

That is how it often was on city-planets like these ones. The police was corrupt, lazy and overworked depending on which department and district you visited. Sometimes , not often, they could be all of them at the same time.

He had walked over, distance closing, but even with her taste still on his lips and her smell on him Ben was careful about it.

Giving her time to make room if she didn't want the proximity.

Otherwise Ortega would lean in, kissing the corner of her mouth softly. "I will get some people to clear out the ship's interior, then we can see how much repairs will need to be done?" It was her ship, so it was her word on this.

 

[Sam Paige]

Her hands fidgeted with each other in front of her, fingers lacing together and then unlacing over and over.

"Oh," she said, the relief clear in her voice.

She'd realized it, with a sinking feeling in her stomach during the sonic shower, and had been dreading the whole process, slowly growing more and more worried about it with each passing minute. What happened if they didn't believe them about what happened? What if the laws here didn't care about self defense? What if they thought they had lured them there just to kill them for some unknown nefarious purpose? What if they got in trouble for not filing a report right away? Or for not calling station security first before acting? What if they were arrested? What if they were tried and found guilty?

A hundred scenarios, each worse than the last.

But the easy way he said that, how relaxed he was, helped. A lot. She trusted that he knew what he was doing in this, and seeing that was a relief.

She'd also had no idea what they were supposed to do with the..... *gulp*.... bodies. Would they have to wait until someone investigated? Would they have to pay funeral expenses? Would they-

So the relief on her face when he made it clear he did know what to do? Was even greater than before.

She didn't move away from him, in fact lifting her face slightly to brush her lips against his cheek shyly when he planted that kiss right at the corner of her mouth. She smiled without thinking about it.

"I'm really glad you know what to do," she admitted.

[member="Benedict Ortega"]

 

[Hira Mitsae]

[member="Sam Paige"]

He wondered if she would still be glad, if she had known why he knew what to do.

In situations like these.

"I am glad we are in this together." Ben responded- in the past he would have pulled back now, let it lie there and continue on with the present, but things had changed... since last night. First his admission, then the entire situation with the thugs, finally them together in the morning. Instead Ortega brushed his lips towards hers, locking softly and kissing once more. It was as if the desire to kiss her had finally broken through his dam and now he couldn't stop doing it, whenever the opportunity arose.

When they came up for air he smiled against her lips.

"When you get tired of this you should let me know." It was a partial tease, but partially mild concern relayed through subtlety. He was new to this and wasn't sure how to do this. All that Ben knew was that he didn't want to let her go... but had to anyway.

They had business to attend to.

 

[Sam Paige]

She smile self consciously when the kiss ended and he pulled back just enough to whisper against her lips. But when the words reached her, she blinked and pulled back more so she could properly look at his face.

"A-are you? T-tired? Of this?"

Why would he bring it up if he wasn't? Was it code for him actually feeling that way? Saying she could back out because he meant he wanted to?

There was a hint of worried panic, over concern, in large blue eyes. Tension shifted through her entire body.

"Because we d-don't- I'm sorry, I didn't think- y-you don't have to-"

He quieted her with a soft kiss, stealing worry from her lips and lightening that anxiety.

It didn't remove it- nothing another person could do could change that intrinsic part of the red-head. But he soothed it for the moment at least.

[member="Benedict Ortega"]

 

[Hira Mitsae]

[member="Sam Paige"]

He didn't enjoy interrupting her.

But sometimes there wasn't any other way, if Ben wanted to stop the cascade of fear and anxiety in its tracks. The kiss was soft, long and their bodies mold together once more, the tension in her shoulders didn't leave completely, but it was seeped and pulled away.

"I am not," Ben murmured against her lips, keeping her close while his hands stroked her, trying to ease the tension. "I just- this is new for me. I don't want to screw it up." The explanation came easily now- now that he knew she wasn't tired and now that she was pressed against him tight. "If it were up to me, I would never stop kissing and holding you." Too much? It felt like too much, he shouldn't have laid it out like that. They were barely 'together' for a day now.

Too much... maybe?

Sam didn't seem to tense up more because of it.

"I- I just don't want to assume."

 

[Sam Paige]

She didn't know what to say.

It was..... a lot. She didn't know if it was too much, but it was definately a lot. Especially since this had all happened just since last night. She swallowed, hard, heart hammering in her chest. She didn't step away, in fact, she tilted in slightly, putting her forehead on his chest. Because it was easier to say without looking at him while she did.

"Th-this is new to me too, Ben," she admitted, as if that hadn't been painfully obvious.

"I. Um."

She breathed in deeply and let it out again in a soft whoosh.

"Not. Um. Just. This. I mean. Wanting to be with-"

Did she want to be with him? What did that even mean? To her? What did it mean to him? She quickly aborted that line and instead blurted out-

"I'veneverkissedanyonebeforesoIdon'tknowifitwasevenanygoodifIamgoodatitornotsoIdon'twantyoutojustdoitifitsnot."

[member="Benedict Ortega"]

 

[Hira Mitsae]

[member="Sam Paige"]

This was like an emotional rollercoaster and Ben wasn't sure what to make of it.

Her leaning against him implied that- at this point Benedict wasn't sure what it implied and in truth he probably should stop trying to find the implications. It was obvious that he wasn't good at it and it was only making the situation more complicated by the moment. Her first attempt got broken off- was it because she wasn't sure? Because she didn't want to say it immediately? Because Sam realized it wasn't what she wanted the moment the words were spoken?

But just as Ben began to panic, heart beating harder, she did what she often did that caused the situation be defused.

From his perspective anyway.

"Hey," Ortega mumbled, softly lifting her gaze up to him by her chin. "I enjoy kissing you."

"Do you enjoy kissing me?" It was strange how her anxiety usually caused him to snap out of his own fugue state. Perhaps it was in part because it made him see just how silly he was being, allowing him to center himself before focusing on Sam entirely.

Difficult to say.

 

[Sam Paige]

She nodded.

"Yeah. Um. I do."

Her face was scarlet, but she didn't look away.

"A lot."

Each moment was easier.... and harder. But each kiss? Those just got easier. So she pushed her lips against his, closing her eyes and just letting that part be.

*****

The rest of the afternoon passed in a weird combination of experiences. Organizing and arranging the clearing out of her ship. Kissing Ben. Ordering the materials she would need to fix the hull. Ben kissing her. Wondering if she could rig his ship with a better security system. Wondering if they'd eaten lunch. Kissing- no, no they definitely had forgotten. They went back and forth between the practical and the stolen moments. Both looking up at different times to find the other watching, only to smile self consciously.

It felt good. Nice.

And that night? They slept next to each other again. Kissing and talking until drowsiness overtook them both.

[member="Benedict Ortega"]

 

[Hira Mitsae]

[member="Sam Paige"]

The next morning both of them were lounging in bed, each holding a cup of tea in their hands and taking sips every once in a while.

"No, it's true! I did climb that wall at night, the tutors at the Temple had never seen anything like it." He chuckled softly at her big eyes and little smile tugged at the edge of her lips. It was so easy now to just lean in and plant a little kiss there, before moving back to his cup of tea. Ben took a sip and hummed in satisfaction, definitely the right temperature and intensity. If there was one thing that Ortega still remembered from his Jedi training it was how to brew a perfect mean tea.

"So, why don't you tell me something about your parents?"

Her family had always been a subject... avoided?

It might not be exactly what always happened, but somehow they never quite landed on the subject. Part of it Ben could understand, after all, he didn't enjoy talking about his either. But this was comfortable, her pressed against him, tea in his hand and humming softly to a soft song in the background of their chatter.

He could share it here.

 

[Sam Paige]

She sat crosslegged, leaning against the wall. They'd retrieved some of her things from her ship, so she was bearing an oversized sweater and shorts, clasping the warm mug in both hands as she smiled at him over the rim.

"Oh. Um. Hrm."

She hadn't been actively avoiding the subject of her parents. But her smile did fade around the edges a little bit as she considered just what to say. She'd talked about her gram a bit, but the rest of her family? Well.

"They were both. Um. Busy? Reaaaaally busy. This event or that. Sometimes a different planet every night of the week. My mom. Um. Beautiful. Like, really really. Smart. Um. Distant? I...." she paused, walking that back in her head. "My dad is busy. Always. Family business. Neither of them. Um. Get me. But they love me. And support what I'm doing, even if it's..... not what they want me to be doing- um, I may not have told them all of it though," she admitted.

"My sisters.... are more what they wanted. I was kind of. Um. A surprise? I think. I don't think they. You know. Planned. On a fourth. Or maybe hoped for a boy. But- my oldest sister is going to stay a Paige. When she gets married. So I think that's good. For them I guess? I don't know. It makes them happy. So."

[member="Benedict Ortega"]

 

[Hira Mitsae]

[member="Sam Paige"]

Slow nod.

Paige? Sounded familiar, but then this was a big Galaxy and that wasn't a name too far out there. "I recognize that. Expectations, I mean. My dad always pushed me to be better, had to attend galas and balls since I was old enough to walk. My ma..." Head shook in the negative before sipping his tea some more. "Died when I was a little kid, don't really remember much about her, but the servants always said that dad never so much as smiled after that."

A shrug of the shoulders, before leaning back against the cushions a bit.

"Didn't really matter in the end, I suppose. He wanted me to be something that I wasn't. So. I left to enlist when I turned 18 and once they discovered I was force sensitive I was inducted in the Order."

Sometimes Ben wondered if it had been the right decision after all.

Maybe he would have been happier as the heir to House Ortega. No worries, just endless fun.... and a feth ton of balls, galas, political scheming and other nonsense that came with the job of being a noble of Naboo. Thinking about that just made his stomach turn, over and over. That was definitely not in the cards.

"Gonna go to the wedding, you think?"

 

[Sam Paige]

Sam wrinkled her nose.

"Ugh the galas," she muttered.

"I hated those. So many people. Dressed up in flouncy skirts."

She lowered her cup to her lap. Using a high pitched voice, she did an alarmingly accurate parody of a snide, Coruscanti high society biddy.

"But daaaaahling I never knew you had four daughters! Does her hair always look like that?"

It was a natural conversation. The kind of thing she'd been part of all of her life. While she didn't know anything about who Ben had been before, because it was her 'normal' she didn't even question it. There was no jarring strangeness between life styles to notice, to catch on jagged edges of experience.

"I got in a lot of trouble once. When I was ten. Ruined someone's brand new designer purse. When. Um. I used it to put grease covered screws in it, so I could carry them somewhere," she laughed a little sheepishly.

She made a face when he asked about the wedding.

"I know I should. But. Um. It's going to be..... everything I hate. All in one place. But it'd make my parents happy?"

[member="Benedict Ortega"]

 

[Hira Mitsae]

[member="Sam Paige"]

Ben blinked.

The mention of the wedding was pushed aside for the moment as he looked up from his cup and searched her face. There had been something familiar about her, but Ortega had never really been able to figure out what it was exactly. Until she mentioned the ruined designer purse by greasy gears and screws.

"...I had never heard Lady Agatha scream as hard as she did that time." Paige. Paige. Ben tried to search his memory for the little girl, pressed aside by three hungry sisters each vying for attention and delegated to the background for most of the time. Anna? No, it was far more involved than that, longer, more elaborate, but what was it again?

"Anastasia Paige?" He blinked again as the name rolled from his lips and suddenly the face matched with what he remembered from those few times they had talked.

"Ben...edict Ortega."

It was quiet for a moment as Ben tried to wrap his head around that. He didn't really think that she would remember him, but the fact that they actually knew each other already? "This is... a big coincidence, huh." Almost too big and a portion of him wondered if all of this had been some sort of...

No.

It couldn't be. No.

 

[Sam Paige]

When he started talking again she just stared at him like he had sprouted a third head. Blue eyes, wide, surprised behind glasses (glass she had not worn when they had 'known' each other, ten years before).

She opened her mouth once, then closed it again. Twice. And then.

"Mysisterwantedtomarryyou," she blurted out.

"Not Cassandra. Leonora. She- she was- is- um, your age. They were so mean to her about it."

​Leonora was sister number three. They obviously meant her other sisters.

Even if she didn't recognize his face (he'd grown up a lot in ten years), she knew his name immediately. And peering at him now, she could find it- the face of the boy he had been in the man he had become.

She just stared at him for a moment completely nonplussed.

Honestly, she didn't really know what to say. Not because she was intimidated by who he was- he was Ben. But the sheer unlikelihood of it all left her clearly perplexed.

"I heard- I mean, you know, Lee cried for weeks when she. Um. When she heard. You. Had left I mean."

She put one hand over her mouth, eyes flying wide.

"She would *murder* me if she knew I'd been kissing you."

Sam was only half joking.

[member="Benedict Ortega"]

 

[Hira Mitsae]

[member="Sam Paige"]

Now that was a name that he hadn't heard in a long time.

Back in those days marriage had been the sole purview of his noble father. Allies and deals were made and sealed by those same marriages, bringing together important houses and establishing alliances that could rapidly shift the dynamics of power. It was not often that nobility would consider allowing marriage outside of other noble houses, but the Paige family had always been rich, dignified and with a lot of roots in the upper Coruscanti elite society. If there had been one family that could pick and choose their allies, it would have been that one.

Father had been far along the process of picking a dutiful wife for him.

By the last accounts there were only three names that made it on the list, before Ben renounced his title and joined the military first and the Order next.

"Oh. Well, I am sorry to hear that." Both the bullying and the fact that her sister had been devastated by the decisions he had made. The next mention only made him smirk - after all, Ben wasn't aware of the specifics dynamics between herself and her sisters. The fact that they weren't close was obvious, but he didn't consider it an actual threat. "Then I suppose going to the wedding together would be completely out of line?"

He, too, was only half joking.

It was not out of the question that his father would attend the wedding or if not him one of his close cousins. There were reasons why Lee had been considered a close contender for their marriage, close business ties and the sort.