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Chapter Text

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The sun had already started to set the moment the last bus arrived at Camp Skywalker. A few counselors still remained to greet and take the teenagers to their corresponding cabins a couple of miles away from the main lodge, excitement reflected in their movements and huge smiles on their faces. But Ben Solo was long gone by the time that happened. Hiding away at the boathouse, pretending to be busy folding up fresh towels and setting up first-aid kits in their proper location. 

As much as he had, somewhat, enjoyed the countless summers spent at those same campgrounds in his youth, reality was far different by now. Not only due to the fact that most of it seemed a lot different than before. But also because it still felt like a punishment to be sent away during the hottest months of the year. It was far worse this time around as his early twenties crept in and he despised any kind of adult supervision. 

For still being unsure of how he wanted to proceed his studies in the fall; unable to find a job he cared enough to waste the entire summer at and getting into way too much trouble back home, his parents had decided it was in his best interest to be sent to a three-month immersion at his uncle Luke’s popular Summer Camp as a Counselor.

Which was, surprisingly, a first for him. 

In their blindfolded parental perspective, they considered it to be a good experience to both grow in Ben a better sense of maturity and make him responsible for something other than himself. He loathed the idea. So much so that he fought vigorously against it for as long as he could, exhausting every option. Even throwing tantrums he knew added to his oblivious father’s reasoning in sending him away. In the end, the decision was final. With his mother’s ultimate vocal seal of approval, there was nothing to be done. 

As he drove his father’s old truck by himself through the familiar roads among acres of woods in the morning hours of that June 20th, Ben had no shame in admitting he cried. Frustrated and annoyed with every step and wrong decision that misled him there. By the time he parked in front of the lodge - his uncle waiting at the porch, a cup of coffee in hand and a cannabis cigarette he quickly threw away - the tears had already dried and he felt, somewhat, less worse. 

“Hey, kid.” Luke Skywalker blissfully greeted him, placing the green stainless steel mug with the white vintage camp logo on the balcony railing and making his way down the stairs to spare his only nephew a hug. Ben refused to properly return the gesture, his known teenage stubbornness making itself known as he tapped his mother’s only brother on the back a few times then stepped away. “You’re even taller than the last time I saw you!”

That was a constant comment from anyone who was not used to seeing Ben more than a few times a year - which was one hundred percent his hermit uncle’s case -, and he nodded automatically, barely noticing how he stood proud and menacing above the shorter man. 

Luke was not wrong, though. Ben had grown a good few inches taller since the last time he was in town a year prior. Due to his persistent swimming routine, he had also gotten prominent muscles and a broader chest - clinically shaven for a better head start at the pool as well. Good enough for him to go from the awkward skinny boy at elementary school to a young man that attracted a few looks from both boys and girls. 

“ ‘Tis good you got here a day earlier! I can show you around.” Luke guided him back inside, where Ben left his modest luggage on the bottom of the staircase that led to the classrooms and resting areas upstairs. 

The older man continued speaking as they left the lodge through the side door and stepped down on the dirt path, crashing a few tree branches under their feet. “After the renovations a few summers back, we got a few exciting things going on!” His uncle gestured to his left, where a large lake beautifully framed the property. “You’ll be placed mainly in the boathouse, for maintenance and supervision, of course, but I might need you in the kitchen or the art studio ever so often.”

The boathouse had been built after his last summer as a camper. It was a beautiful wall free log construction that accommodated a handful of boats and canoes, a modest watchtower, dressing rooms and showers separated by gender and two piers. Across the lake, a small island that had been properly cleaned from the tall grass and overgrown weeds and adapted according to safety measures to receive a tree house, a longer zip line that extended over the water and a meeting point with a couple of wooden benches for those who ventured there.  

While the place still remained the same as Ben recalled, it had been completely upgraded to receive new generations. Where there once was a simple muddy lake and a small boring patch of land in the middle, now contained an entire tree-top trekking course that bordered the area.  

The numbers of chalets had doubled - in both quantity and size - and a pool had been built beside the shower rooms on the far left of the dormitories. The large oak tree in the center circle where the log constructions stood still offered a well-known landmark. Even better now that it was combined with a seating arrangement and a campfire surrounding it. The old swing hanging over the largest branch was still the same, the only difference being the fresh coat of bright orange paint on the wood seat. 

His mind took him to happier Summers. Him running around that very same opulent tree with friends he had recently made and that felt like a lifelong presence in his life; sneaking around the girls’ cabins to spook them with handmade paper mache masks and hurried knocks on the wall; his first kiss behind the radio tower; late nights listening to horror tales around the campfire by the lake… 

Although the trips there had always appeared forced and an inflexible life lesson provided by loving parents, Ben could recall the unusual sense of hope in every ride back home. A hope that usually diminished as the school year went on and completely faded by the time the following year’s summer began. 

He had not felt that kind of hope in years. And Ben’s biggest fear was that he would never come across it again. 

Chapter Text

Being back at Camp Skywalker after so many years felt strange and, to some degree, atypical. More due to the fact that now he was on an opposite perspective than previous visits. One that required a lot more than he had been used to. A brand new routine he was unsure he was predisposed for it. 

Listening to his uncle guide him through overall responsibilities and expecting Ben to watch and care for children - ages averaged from 8 to 17 - when he had stopped being one not long ago seemed irresponsible to say the least. Among all the other counselors, he was the oldest one. It was natural they all anticipated him to know things when, the truth was, he was on the same clueless boat as most. Less than a handful of them had been filling the same position a second Summer in a row, but they were all still seniors in school, misusing their vacation period among kids that would probably be a nuisance by the end of each term. 

Luke had formally requested him to fill the position of Counselor Chief, which he vocally refused, impelling him to pass the badge - literally - to a short Vietnamese girl named Rose who was a year younger than him and seemingly the only one in her third season at Camp Counseling. 

“You’re ridding yourself of a headache, truly.” She half-joked in a murmur as the badge was attached to her brand-new camp t-shirt - a bright neon turquoise shade Ben absolutely despised - the morning before all the kids arrived. The girl, who was, at least, half his height and had to comically look up every time they spoke, spared a comforting smile. One he had a hard time reciprocating.

Mingling did not come naturally for him, so introducing himself for all the others was nothing but awkward. 

“The Skywalker nephew!” A boy just an inch shorter than him exclaimed, patting him on the back a little too strongly, as if they were buddies. The quirky smile on the cheerful face hinted Ben that he should spare the same knowledge, which he did not. “Poe, by the way. I’m sure you know me already.” The boy who had just introduced himself raised his eyebrows and smirked, elbowing Ben on the ribs a few playful times. The lack of response made him pout. “Luke’s favorite Counselor? No?” Ben’s head shook, desperate to get out of there. “Well, that was before you showed up anyways.” The conclusion came with a heartfelt but jealous laugh before he strided away. 

“Don’t mind him.” Rose, who still remained by his side, said. “He’s messing with you.” Ben side eyed her as they both walked ahead of the others towards the mess hall. “He was never Luke’s favorite.”

“I am, actually.” Another girl teased, popping in between them, forcing space to walk right in the middle. Before she could squeeze herself in, Ben had taken several steps aside, allowing the two girls to giggle and hug each other sideways as his arms crossed over his chest, visibly alienated and uncomfortable with the familiarity they shared. 

The three of them sat side by side on one of the long benches that had been positioned in front of the small stage that served many purposes throughout the camping season, including as speaker’s leverage for his uncle, who patiently waited for the staff to quiet down. 

“This is Kaydel, by the way.” Rose introduced the blonde young woman who now found herself attached to the other’s hip, expecting Ben to shake her hand, which he uncomfortably did while also replying with his own name - or nickname in fact. 

“Nice to finally meet another Skywalker.” She nodded, unnecessarily moving his hand up and down a few times. 

Not bothering to correct her - that he was not, in fact, a Skywalker by name -, Ben politely nodded and smiled. His uncle decided that was the best time to clear his throat loudly while strongly clapping his hand once, calling everyone's attention.  

“Welcome to one more Summer at Camp Skywalker!” The room erupted in cheers, giggles and happy spirits, a few throwing their fists up and others stomping their feet on the ground. 

The hall had clearly - while possibly unconsciously - been split by each staff position: the counselors sitting at the last few rolls, followed by the modest kitchen and medical team in front of them and a single security guard - that was usually posted at the main entrance down the road - standing in the corner, leaning against one of the wooden pillars that served as an aesthetically pleasing support for the roof. 

Considering they all only got to camp the following afternoon, Ben had had the chance to explore the grounds and find his way around the area that once was so familiar. He strolled through the forest that surrounded the dormitories, checked the new upgrades that had been made in the main building - a brand new industrial kitchen, more washrooms and classrooms upstairs and a nice seating area with a giant fireplace and ottomans on top of jute rugs, everything while having a nice view from the area below - and snooped around his uncle’s quarters, located in his private office on the opposite side of the double-doors entryway. 

He did not make far into checking the nice renovated bathroom his uncle would never have to share with anyone else before a familiar voice startled him. “You’re welcome to stay here with me if you want.” 

The offering added to the sudden appearance behind his back drove Ben to mutter incomprehensible words, scrambling his brain for any excuse to get out of that awkward situation. 

“Or, if you’d rather…” Luke continued with a smirk as if nothing abnormal had happened moments before and they had already been engaged in this conversation. “there's a pleasant attic space on the island’s treehouse.”

The choice was fairly obvious.

Making do with a stolen double mattress from the main cabin’s basement, a few bed sheets from the laundry room and a large blanket he had brought from home, Ben managed to transform the spooky empty attic into a liveable and somewhat cozy space. An old fruit crate served as a bedside table; an oil lamp forgotten in time lighted up the small room in a comforting yellow shade; and four pillows served as some kind of decoration among the simplicity on the bed. It was not perfect but it was ideal for what he needed: a quiet place to sleep every night. It helped that the treehouse was located on the far right end of the island, making the construction obstructed from the main land’s view and away from the daily noise that usually came from the docks.

Fortunately, the showers and toilets near the meeting point at the island entrance were convenient enough for him to use regularly. The privacy it provided for barely being utilized was definitely a plus he certainly appreciated. Ben did not crave to shape himself at home, but spending three months away from his own place made it hard not to. 

He spent the first afternoon after Luke’s thorough tour cleaning up the entire treehouse - both main floor and attic - in order to make it habitable. The lack of electric power forced him to find candles and more oil lamps to shadow some light inside those four walls, but the space was so small that a few scattered ones made ends meet. At the end of that first night he had a comfortable bed, a nice seating area with a bench and an extra pair of blankets serving both as replacement and seating pad for the hard wood surface; an old ugly checked cotton rug making a quiet little house for his exclusive use. 

It helped that his work base was located right across the lake. A quick canoe ride in the early hours of the morning to leave everything ready for the upcoming campers could not get easier. The fact that he found himself camouflaging there before the first official night was over should have come as no surprise. 

Ben had always liked the boathouse, even when it was a plain shed with unadorned pillars and no second floor. Now that it provided a nice lookout station, a big storage closet and a pleasant seating arrangement on the ground floor - and no signs of campers anywhere so far -, it had become even more appealing. 

So appealing that he became distracted by the tasks he had committed himself to.

The cicadas were blasting their symphony while he hid from everyone else, blocking any other sound of birds and animals nearby. Focusing on that, Ben finished setting up the fresh white towels on their rack when he heard a single splash noise coming from below. Running to the ledge of the watchtower, he expected to see a duck venturing in the waters, or a deer that accidentally fell over the pier. Instead, he saw a small human shape, naturally bracing through the undisturbed darkness. 

A girl.

Picking up a towel he had recently shoved on the shelf - and accidentally knocking down the entire fluffy pile to the ground -, Ben rushed downstairs onto the pier, slowing his pace down as he noticed it had not been an accidental dive. By the situation of her carelessly discarded clothes and the shoes situated right in the way of the wooden planks, the girl had jumped on purpose. 

At night.

By herself.

He shouted, an attempt to call her attention the moment her head emerged again from the depths. To his shock, her eyes did not widen. Her expression did not change. Her cheeks did not flush red. She only rolled her eyes while taking her time swimming back to where he stood still. 

“You’re supposed to be at welcoming.” He pointed out in an authoritarian voice that had not belonged to his persona until that moment, referring to the “Welcome Campers” meeting that first night that gathered everyone in the Main Lodge for homemade pizza, live crappy chanting music and a relaxed reading of all the camp rules, do’s and don'ts. 

The girl barely spared a second glance at him, hopping off the water with finesse and standing up in front of him, chin up. “So should you, right?” She provoked, sparing no time waiting for his response. “I've heard the same rules and schedule far too many times already. Isn't always the same bullshit?” 

Her bluntness somehow delighted him and Ben even spared a side smile that was not noticed. 

“Well, that bullshit might mean life or death to you.” He decided to say instead, sounding meaner than he had planned. She rolled her eyes once again, extending the hand to grab the towel he handed her while he pretended to ignore the semi-naked female body standing shamelessly right in front of him. 

“So dramatic.” She mocked. “I seem to be doing just fine.”

His scoff did not come unnoticed this time. “You’re swimming in the lake without supervision.“ He gestured to the silent waters behind her, left unbothered now that nobody disturbed it anymore.

“What do you call what you’re doing up there then? Voyeurism?” She teased, sparing a smirk that would have him blushing if he was any younger. Nowadays it annoyingly hardened his cock, which was a hundred times worse and extremely unprofessional. Trying to disguise that teenage-like occurrence by hunching lower a bit, Ben looked away, unaware of the girl’s eyes curiously scanning his sudden change in posture.   

Chuckling at the expense of his embarrassment, she tossed him the towel back, catching him completely off guard. Picking her clothes up from the floor and quickly shimming inside them - sneakers in hand -, the girl left him alone with an inappropriate hard-on before he could even ask her name.

Chapter Text

Rey. 

That was her name.

Rey apparently-no-middle-name Palpatine. 

That unique detail would have made him consider Googling more about her, if his phone had not been confiscated by Luke on the first day of his arrival. 

It was convenient for the older man to follow a conservative directive. Luke abolished technology more than he loved the lone ranger life. Not enough to live without the basic things that made life effortless to maintain but sufficient to never have had a phone number of his own. He still operated under landline - a single one secured back in his office -, which made tracking him during nine months of the year quite challenging. 

Ben tried his hardest not to huff at the order as he angrily landed the brand-new IPhone to the older man. The young man was known to have a temper, so any teenage-like retort would be surely disregarded with a polite smirk.  

“Procedure.” His uncle had clarified with a dismissive shrug, literally locking the device in a large rectangular metal box where every other counselors’ devices would find their fate as soon as they arrived. “This way we make sure your mind is one hundred percent where it matters.”

Your Mind Where it Matters, the famous Skywalker saying.

At that moment, Ben’s brainpower was in learning what he could about the girl. 

Without discreet and encrypted ways of accomplishing that task, Ben was forced to ask around, casually pretending to be captivated in understanding more about the overall story of the campers. 

“Do I look like an intrusive person?” Poe acknowledged, raising an eyebrow in typical curiosity. If he was mocking him or being serious it was hard to tell. When the query was not retorted and Ben preserved a lenient look, the annoying one huffed. “I don’t know, man. You should ask Rosie. She knows everyone’s story. Past, present and future.”

With an evident roll of his eyes and a nod that spared the faintest acknowledgment for the suggestion, Ben walked away. He was learning the hard way Poe considered himself the funny one. 

While keeping his tasks in check - which consisted in supervising the morning and afternoon swimming hours, guiding campers through canoe and kayak lessons and hourly washroom inspections -, Ben did not have the freedom to walk around camp in search of said person. Which it could be considered a good thing to not draw too much attention to his questionable doings. 

It ended up being late that afternoon when he finally spotted Rose leaving the Pool area with a group of frustrated teenagers that had been dragged out of the water to go shower and be ready for dinner - a Pasta Making Station night. 

Ben held back his pace until she was unescorted to converge at her side and walk back the same pathway he had just made, unceremoniously whispering his interest.

“Did Poe send you?” Her displeased assumption told Ben he possibly was not the only one to ever demonstrate interest in a camper’s story. Rose huffed and pinched her eyebrows. “I swear, he's getting way too comfortable with the kids lately.”

“No. No, no, no.” He made sure to rapidly add. Rose lifted an eyebrow at him. “I mean, he did send me.” Ben confessed, ashamed for many reasons. "But ‘cause I was asking about a specific person.” Her expression deepened and she rested both hands on her hips, a lot like his own mother used to do when she was angry at whatever it was that Ben had done. 

He groaned. “It's not like that.”

“Yeah, right.” She uttered in disbelief. “Okay… Who’s it?”

“Rey?” He waited for confirmation that she knew who he was speaking about and, even if it did not take longer than a second for it to happen, he added an explanation right away. “She missed welcoming and was swimming at the lake by herself.”

“Oh, yeah, she does that.” Rose dismissed his concern with an elevation of her shoulders like the matter was not at all important or worthy of any concern, dropping the hands by her sides. “Her family’s been sending her here for the entire Summer. We are not exactly sure why, and she doesn’t particularly enjoy talking about it.” 

Ben just hummed in acceptance while he had suddenly gotten even more curious. “I don't blame her for not wanting to be at welcoming every year.” Rose continued. "It does get boring.” Fortunately for him, if her words were any indication, no one seemed to have noticed his absence that night as well. 

“Don't worry about her, though.” She concluded after a minute of silence, a few steps behind him, apparently having a hard time catching up with his long strides. “I know she seems like someone who's gonna be a problem but she's a good kid. Just… lonely, I guess.” Ben hesitated yet agreed with a single nod of his head, knowing damn well all he would do was worry for numerous reasons. 

“Here.” His attention was taken back by a canvas apron being tossed in his direction. Inattentive, he almost missed it, grabbing it seconds before it could hit him straight on the face. At his disoriented look, Rose added. “Luke wants someone to clean and organize the Art Studio before dinner and I’d much rather get out of this wet swimsuit and take a shower.”

Wasting no time waiting for a response, Rose excused herself with a mischievous smile and left him alone among the trees to head left towards the cabins.

Dodging Rey’s presence seemed the ideal scenario but highly unlikely. Not that he was afraid of his behavior near her. It was more like he was unsure on how to act. She was young, beautiful, naive and lonely. A mysterious combination that drove him insane as to why she seemed so confident in his presence that night. For what he had heard, she was private regarding her life outside camp. Sounded shy and well-behaved. However, according to his recent experience, she was challenging, disorderly and full of herself. 

The moment he stepped inside the Art Studio on the second floor of the Lodge, the first thing he noticed was her. Cursing to himself silently - and blaming Rose for putting him in that situation, even if unaware of it -, he stepped inside the room and closed the door soundly, making sure she was conscious of his presence. Her eyesight raised from the canvas she painted on, then lowered again without granting him any more of her focus. 

“Are you going to lecture me ‘bout being here too?” She muttered, sparing no second glance at him as she spoke. “A girl can’t enjoy some alone time, ever?”

“Not when it looks like you’re evading group activities.” He promptly answered, to which she scoffed, visibly exasperated. 

As her fingers continued to stroke the brushes on the material in front of her, she enunciated. “Not that it concerns you, but I’m not. I just had some free time before dinner and wanted to work on something, that’s all.”

Moving away from that awkward position standing tall against the doorway, he began performing the chores: sweeping the floor to gather any paper scraps left from the previous class that morning; wiping off the long tables from any new splatters of paint - which was an impossible task he gave up on after just a few scrubs -; settling all the easels back on their place against the wall, dispose of whatever he considered trash - which in an art studio was a complicated task. As he worked, he proposed “Well, then, how ‘bout doing something useful and helping me tidy the place, hm?” 

His invitation was received with a scoffed “No, thank you?”.

Walking behind her in order to catch a glimpse of whatever it was she was working on, Ben muttered. “What are you painting anyways?”

Displeased, she tried covering the small painting with her torso. “None of your business.” She chided. 

But he was taller, stronger and a lot more determined. A gentle bump of his hips on her shoulder pushed her rolling stool away. 

“Hey!” Rey’s footing grounded her before hitting the wall. Then she got up and shoved her palms on his ribcage. It was not powerful enough to hurt or make him budge whatsoever, but she got his attention and Ben stepped aside.  

“It surprisingly doesn’t look that terrible.” His dismissal earned a huff from her and a few cursed words spoken under her breath. Words he pretended not to listen because it only made her look cute.

“Am I supposed to take it as a compliment?” She spoke above the clatter of him picking up and organizing large metal paint cans on a pile against the canvas shelves. Sitting back on the stool, she waited.

He shrugged, pretending not to shed importance to her feelings. “Only if you want to.” Then continued clearing out space in the room. How the campers managed to make such a mess in a two-hour weekly crafting session would remain a mystery to him. 

Even before he had finalized what he was doing, the girl had gotten strangely quiet and apparently disturbed with his company, giving up on painting altogether. 

Loudly standing up from her seat, she organized and thoroughly polished the small station she had previously arranged for that solo session. Sparing no other glance at her duties, Ben walked away from her, reopening the door and stepping outside. The chime of loud teenagers echoed from the open floor below, as campers congregated around the picnic tables. 

“You left the trashcan open.” Rey informed him, abandoning her unfinished painting above some other incomplete works that dated back to his time as camper. Away from any curious eyes but their own. 

Groaning in indignation at her and the circumstance, Ben marched to the large tin trash can on the front left corner of the room, picked the lid from the floor, placed it back on top with a loud clang and strolled past her without bothering if she would follow, speaking over his shoulder. “C’mon, dinner.”

The next time he saw her was the following afternoon. Ben knew the chance of not stumbling upon her presence diminished considerably, but he still hoped that it would be possible somehow. It was the only way for him to keep his mouth shut and not say anything stupid to a teenage girl who was unworthy of his recognition. A girl who seemed to have been brought into the world to antagonize his being.

They were among other campers, which was a preferable scenario in his opinion. It was a sunny and hot afternoon where most kids were free from any particular recreation, and a handful of counselors were taking time off in a nearby town. Consequently, most campers could be seen swimming in the lake, hiking the trek atop the trees, canoeing, kayaking or exploring the small island. Ben’s task was to be on guard for any irregularity. 

Sitting on a camping chair on the watchtower above the boathouse, he had binoculars hanging from his neck and an attentive eye ahead. There was a rainfall forecasted for later that day but, so far, the sun had been shining bright on the sky. 

A few kids were leaping from the piers while the ones underneath tried to escape the splashing reach. Since the canoes and kayaks had their exclusive route around the patch of land, there was no risk of accidental collisions. 

With Counselor Chief Rose away for the day and his uncle patrolling the entire camp, Ben was kept  responsible for everyone else’s well-being. Stationing another counselor downstairs and two at the start and end of the zip-line - one being on the island and another on the mainland -, he found himself alone on the upper floor. 

Resting his foot up on the rail, he leaned his body back and rested both hands behind the head, supporting a comfortable position that, unfortunately, did not last long. From the distance, he caught a glimpse of a known slim figure parking a canoe on a quiet corner of the island, climbing out of it with a hardcover book in hand for some reason, and walking up the grass-covered track. 

Rey strolled up and to the right on the gravel’s path, in the direction of the treehouse’s elevated pathway, unaware of that extra pair of eyes on her. Pulling the binocular lenses up to his face, he did exactly what she had accused him of doing the first time they met: voyeured. 

Ben was unashamed to admit that but he did have an excuse: he had to make sure she was safe. It was literally his job. A stupid reason because, as soon as he thought of it, his eyesight dropped to the most inappropriate place it could: her ass. A ripe peach beautifully framed by athletic black shorts. That ushered him to curse himself and drop the binoculars with a grunt, pinching the area between his eyes. 

“For fuck’s sake, Benjamin.” He murmured to himself, blushing. “Have some decency.”

“What do you need some decency for, my man?” Poe’s annoying voice dared him yet gave Ben no time to answer. “Are you snooping on semi-naked campers now?”

“Ew, no!” He answered with true disgust, exceptionally aware that that was not what he was doing. It was still unclear why keeping an eye out for that specific girl was so important to him but he was not about to tell Poe any of that, knowing it would probably be received with a lot of - understandable - suspicion. 

“No judging, bro.” The guy shrugged, standing by his side and looking to a random spot ahead of him, straight to the horizon. 

Appalled, Ben retorted. “Jesus, you should not be allowed near campers with that kinda thinking. How the fuck did you get this job anyways?”

”Ouch, that’s low." He stretched the first word dramatically, making Ben roll his eyes and return his gaze to the lake. Nothing had changed in the scenery but he had lost track of where Rey had gone, sadly. 

Poe resumed his defense. “But if you must know, your uncle is good friends with my parents.” 

“That explains it.” Ben replied critically. 

However, it was taken lightheartedly by the other man, who just laughed. “I’m just sayin’…” Poe continued

“Don’t.” Ben voiced through gritted teeth, conscious that nothing good would come out of his mouth. “Whatever it is that’s going through your mind, just keep it there." 

“Alright, alright.” His arms lifted in the air, fingers spread open signaling defeat. Ben once again leaned back and pulled the binoculars to his face. It was then that he discerned the heavy dark clouds approaching quickly, hanging menaciously over the once beautiful bright sky. 

“Shit!” He cursed under his breath, standing up and brutally yanking Poe’s whistle and, consequently, shamelessly pushing him flushed against him. Ben blew as strongly as he could on the device, alerting everyone in reach. 

It was a common regulation on western located campgrounds to retreat and find refuge whenever the weather abruptly changed or when heavy storms were forecasted - which was the case for later that day. But that was the issue with the weather: it fluctuated abruptly. 

During Summer, a light rain could quickly shift into a squall and, if it got closer to the lake, the chances of fast flooding rose abruptly. The region they were situated in, Summer Rain was known for being longlasting and brutal - sometimes even deadly. Too many cases of inundation had already made the newspapers’ front pages in the last few years and they were not about to be another one of those. It was vital that they removed every single camper from the waters, locked all equipment in place and safely guided everyone either to the main lodge or their cabins if there was time. 

And there would be if they were clever and fast.

“Out!” Ben shouted a couple of times, followed by Poe screaming subsequently Now! Now! Now! 

Rearranging himself from the awkward position he had been in, Poe pulled himself away from Ben and repeated a few more blows that blared under the dark sky while Ben ran downstairs to assist campers out of the water. 

As they became aware of the looming darkness, it did not take long for the lake to be empty, the canoes to be back on the shore and for Poe to guide the campers back to their respective cabins. 

Meanwhile, Ben radioed the two other counselors that were situated somewhere else and his uncle - who was somewhere - to enlighten them about the situation. 

Luke responded just a few minutes later, advising Ben to find a safe place to wait for the storm to pass. He would be back in his office as soon as possible, calling those he knew in town in order to get in touch with the team members that were off and let them know to either return as quickly as they could or wait until the storm had ended to do so. 

Ben managed to, on his own, carry up to the boathouse and lock every canoe and kayak that had been left behind, sensing his muscles would be sore before bedtime. With anything that could possibly become a hazard during a storm safely tucked away, he pulled an old kayak from underneath the pier and hopped inside, praying he would be able to return to his bedroom before the storm hit. 

Lightning cleared the sky, not far from where he stood, and a thunder struck right after, informing him it would not take long before downpour got to them. Swiftly pushing the kayak to the water, Ben jumped inside, pulled the paddle from under him and guided himself from one pier to the other on the opposite side of the lake. 

The sky fell down on him the second he parked on the wooden platform. By the time he managed to tie it up to a pole and make sure it would not go anywhere during the night, Ben was completely drenched from head to toe. Huffing in displeasure, he did not even attempt a run to the treehouse, walking carefully on the slippery muddy road. He climbed up the stairs on the elevated plateau, holding the rails to not fall on the recently varnished floor and made it to the doorway in one piece, shaking his head side to side to remove the hair stuck to his face. 

Ben was so distracted nudging the door to the dark room open and pulling the wet t-shirt over his head that he did not see the shape of the trembling girl right in front of him. As he took another step forward, he bumped into her, lost balance and fell on top of her on the hardwood floor. 

Adding to his misfortune, the girl was entirely undressed.

Chapter Text

The treehouse was dark and ominous all of a sudden. If Ben had not witnessed, with his own eyes, a perfectly clear and bright sky shift into a scary, gloomy one, he would have sworn it was past eight PM instead of the middle of the afternoon. It had been a drastic change that felt like imminent doom for mankind even.

The only light source through the half-open windows was the brief spark from the occasional lightning outside. The thunderous noise reverberated around the entire wooden structure and he could even feel the pillars underneath his footing shake a little. It could only be his mind playing tricks on him, of course, but even still it was not enough distraction from the current situation under him. 

The girl. 

The naked girl. 

Who was currently struggling to set herself free from him, shaking both pairs of legs and arms and screaming at him to get up. Her breathing was ragged and her words unclear, the only identifiable parts being “Get off!” and “Let me go!”, lots of cursing in between. 

As if any of that situation was his fault. 

Struggling to rise up from the unnatural position they were in, Ben tried to ignore the animalistic urge of staring at her. Their naked chests were pressed together, her legs bent open and one of his knees tangled over it. Every time he attempted pushing himself up, her small hands shoved him away and he lost balance, coming face to face with her annoyed expression once again.

”Rey?” He squinted, finally managing to identify the small squirming shadow figure. 

Hoisting himself up with a single hop back, he looked away before his eyes could find focus on any inappropriate parts of her. He fixed his gaze down to the floor, his shoes suddenly very interesting. As quickly she was on her feet, reaching for a nearby towel - one he had accidentally forgotten laying around after showering the night before - and threw around her shoulders, stepping away until her back was against the wall, now completely covered from his indecent desires. 

“The fuck you’re doing here?" He abruptly demanded, running a hand through his damp hair to remove it from his face. Droplets fell to his feet and he finally lifted the eyesight up, safe from temptation. 

At that short distance that separated them, he could see her shoulders shaking from the cold, seeking warmth with the relatively small rectangle of fabric while also attempting to hide inside it. Maintaining his vision somewhere above her head, Ben did not see the way she scanned his height, possibly asking herself the same thing he had just voiced. 

”Isn't it obvious?” She gestured outside. 

As if to highlight her words with a bright neon shade, a loud tremor came from the sky. Ben pretended not to notice the way she flinched away from the noise, frightened.  

There was a foreign part of him that felt an urge to go to her and provide some sort of comfort. While the other one - the one he was more used to - longed to yell and push her away. 

Ben felt himself leaning towards the latter, ditching control of his anger. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he uttered. ”I’d assumed you’re back with the others! How the hell did you stay behind?!” His fury did not come out of the blue. Ben was truly concerned about how that situation was going to play out for them. 

The girl also seemed to have been losing every ounce of patience she had left. Which, in his opinion, was not much. Huffing, she responded. “If I knew it I wouldn't be here now, would I?!” Her words came with a fair amount of sarcasm, which made him roll his eyes. 

“Jesus, fuck, Rey. Shit.” 

Completely ignoring him, she cocked an eyebrow and tightened the hold on the towel around her. ”What are you doing here?"

”Well, you’re in my current residency.” He responded more formally than intended, picking his t-shirt from the floor and tossing on the bench in front of him. 

Her eyes scanned the small living area and her brows furrowed even further. “You’re sleeping here?!” She asked in disbelief. As if the mere thought of him doing so disgusted her or something. 

“Not here.” He clarified, tilting his head up to where a small square pull door was located on the ceiling, invisible for those who did not know where to look. 

Looking back down, Ben grabbed her elbow and tried pulling her in the direction of the front door. “It doesn’t matter.” He added quickly, giving her no time to question him any further. He was the adult in the situation and he had to act like it. “I gotta take you back.”

Standing her ground, Rey forced her body back, detaching herself from him. ”I’m not getting out there in this weather, thank you very much!”

He was almost sure that girl would be the death of him. And that was not a good thing at all.  She trembled at the sound of another thunder. Because she was afraid or cold, he could not tell. “I just got dry!”

Ben ignored her. “Everyone must be worried sick about you.” His attempt in being the voice of reason did not provide results. 

“Pfft, I doubt anyone has even realized I’m gone.” The way she dismissed the concern had him wondering if she did not really mind it or if that was her trying to block the negative feelings of not having anyone caring about her enough to notice her absence.

Ben, with his extensive knowledge of being neglected by his own parents, was almost certain it was the latter.  

“Oh, believe me. They’ve noticed.” He deadpanned. His anger - something he had been so used to for the past few years - resurfaced, bubbling deep inside his chest. He wasn't proud of it. But Ben had to be responsible for a minor or his uncle would have his head on a plate, he had no doubt. 

So, he let go. Let it burst inside his chest, rise up to his throat, color his cheeks a deep red and direct everything towards her. 

“We have safety protocols for that, you know?” The rolling of her eyes had him fuming. A lot more than he should. Shifting the feeling towards so many other reasons why, he continued, pointing out the giant elephant in the room. “Besides, you’re naked, Rey. You’re gonna get sick. You can’t stay here.” 

”Why not?!” For a moment he thought she was being sarcastic but, truth was, she was honestly curious. 

Unfortunately, any acceptable answer suddenly slipped off his mind. However, somehow, it sounded like a better solution to have her there with him, under his hawk supervision throughout the time being than attempting to take her back and risking a camper’s life and his own. Either way, Luke would not be happy about it, leaving him no choice. 

Grunting, he turned around and pulled the hidden ceiling trap door down. A little staircase unfolded steadily. Climbing up, Ben crawled to the end of the bed, where he had stashed his clothes inside an old trunk. Shimming away from his wet cargo shorts and replacing them with a pair of dry ones, Ben removed two clean t-shirts from the pile, dressing himself in one and taking the other to the frustrated girl downstairs. 

His return was taken unnoticed, her focus on the thunderstorm outside. Wrapped inside the towel protectively, she was hunched on the corner of the windowsill, just to take a peek at what unfolded nearby.

His approach surprised her, who stepped away from the window and turned back at him, eyesight dropping down to her feet. He felt the need to clear his throat before speaking, which did nothing to ease his looming presence in the cramped space. “Let your clothes in front of the fireplace to dry, I’ll light it up.” 

She had an amusing look on her face as she rearranged her footing in his direction and accepted the clothing item he extended to her. 

“Do you even know how?” Her challenge sounded disparaging, which deeply angered him. Fighting the urge to tell her to shut up, he put himself to work, ignoring her persistent monitoring and giving her some privacy to change into clean clothes. 

Luckily finding some dry wood stored under the bench, Ben piled them up on a triangle inside the small opening of the fireplace, reached for the match box above it and struck the match once, tossing the flame on the logs and watching them burn. 

The yellowish glim was highly appreciated as they both sat in front of it to dry themselves better. Rey, still wrapped in the towel even with his t-shirt on - which he noticed only covered her mid-thigh -, stopped shivering once the warmth of the fire expanded, her clothes carefully placed flat on the wooden floor: The athletic shorts he had improperly stared at that same afternoon; a simple 2000’s cartoon t-shirt, cotton panties and a cotton bra. Both white. Simple, boring and very immature. 

Snapping his eyes out of it, Ben cleared his throat and extended his hands to the fire, folding his legs up and hoping the silence would not be too uncomfortable. It did not last long.

”Why are you sleeping here?” She wanted to know, checking around curiously and a little judgmentally. “Are you being punished or something?” 

“No. Not that’s any of your business.” He wrongfully snapped, getting up from his comfortable seating position to find some distance from her. 

Rey quietly gasped, outraged. “Jesus, forgive a girl for being curious.” 

Getting up from her seating arrangement as well, Ben braced for her to come sit by his side on the bench by the wall. However, she moved to stand next to the window to watch the rainstorm that was still loud and strong. Wrapping her arms around herself, the lack of towel on her lap allowed Ben an unconcealed view of her tanned legs and the shape of her ass underneath his t-shirt. 

It was a gorgeous view, he shamefully admitted it. It did not help the fact that she was wearing his clothes. It made his almost animalistic reaction shape into a frustrated groan, cock hardening inside his boxers. 

Instead of allowing that inappropriate line of thought that would make it hard to hide his desire, he questioned. “You cold?”

Nodding once - apparently ashamed of admitting so -, Rey tightened the embrace around herself and that simple reaction was enough for him to immediately get on his feet, climb the ladder one more time and retrieve the blanket at the edge of his bedding to wrap it around her. 

His brief touch on her shoulder sent a spark through his forearm and, for a moment, Ben stopped breathing. That electricity most likely had a scientific explanation but, with his emotional state being so fragile lately, he could not refrain himself from thinking it was related to something else. 

A connection, maybe. A powerful one to make him feel like that. One that Rey had clearly felt as well. 

And one that was extremely unethical. 

Her head snapped back at him as she flinched away, a hand on the shoulder he had just touched. 

“Ouch!” She complained, frowning angrily. 

“Sorry!” He immediately apologized, opening his palms and looking at them attentively, as if hoping to find a burnt mark that explained that long lasting sensation. Outside, a thunderstorm distracted him from wishful thinking, providing them a rational explanation.

“It's the weather.” He shrugged, walking towards the ladder without another glance at her. “I’m gonna go upstairs.” Ben informed, not expecting a response. He should’ve known better.

“Wait, what about me?!” Her words forced him to stop in his tracks up the ladder. 

“What about you?” He condescended, dropping his gaze down.

“What am I supposed to do here until the storm passes?”

“Whatever you want.” He shrugged with disdain. 

She seemed to think for a moment then hummed. “Can I go upstairs with you?”

He scoffed at the absurdity. “Absolutely not.” 

Ben could not even start pointing out the number of reasons why that would be a very irresponsible and inappropriate idea before she was complaining. 

“I don’t wanna be down here by myself!” She cried and another thunder echoed at a closer distance than before, making her shiver.

“Are you scared, Rey?” His decision to mock her was taken lightly, surprisingly. 

“No.” She lied. 

“You’re safe here.” He attempted counterargumenting. Rey unintentionally pouted and looked away, evidently upset. That had him rolling his eyes and making a decision he was sure he would regret later. “Ok, fine.” He grunted, resuming his climb. She moved to follow him but Ben stopped her in her tracks with a hand up. “No, you wait here. I’ll be right back.”

Five minutes later he was beside her again, laying a second blanket on the floor in front of the fireplace and scattering two pillows for them to lay down. It was too early for either of them to sleep but, without power and a relentless thunderstorm outside, there were not many options. 

A few minutes later he heard her stomach growl loudly. It made Ben smirk.

“Hungry?” Rey was shaking her head before the single word had thoroughly left his mouth. He scoffed, frustrated, giving her a deadly stare. “Don’t fucking lie to me, Rey.”

Pulling the other blanket up to her chin, he watched as her cheeks flushed a scarlet red. 

“I’m gonna get something for you.” Noticing from his peripheral vision her mouth open in order to deny his offer, Ben tranquilized her. “Relax, I’m hungry too.”

Rummaging his stash, Ben found a few packs of chips and a handful of protein bars he had brought from home; a container with freshly baked cookies he had smuggled from the kitchen the day before and another one with cake slices from that morning’s breakfast table. 

He was about to apologize for the shortage of healthy options but, watching her eyes light up as he opened the containers and laid them out in front of them, had him remaining quiet. 

“Is that the cake from breakfast?!”

He nodded. “Banana pecan.”

Grandmother’s old recipe, he did not add, refusing to acknowledge the rush of grief that suddenly made itself present. 

Rey took a large bite out of it and rolled her eyes back before closing them. The way she moaned as she tasted the cake should be considered sinful. “It's fucking delicious.” And, with a mouthful, added. “I almost had doubles this morning.” 

His attempt in concealing his smile was unsuccessful.

“Well, now you should.” 

She ended up munching on a third slice he insisted on sharing, sadly the last one from the container. Ben happily watched her eat, though. The way her lips pressed together and her dimples made an appearance on both her cheeks; her eyes closing in pleasure as she chewed a particularly tasty pecan; the blush on her apples when noticing Ben was paying attention… 

“You want some?” Her witty question was spoken with a mouthful of cake, making him laugh at the foolishness of it. Of her. A silliness he was finding himself more and more drawn to.Up to the point he was reminded of the reason for that. She was a child. 

That promptly faded the bliss, taking him back to reality. And, consequently, to chastise her. 

“Shut your mouth to eat, will you?” That secured another childish response from her. Sticking her tongue out striving to gross him out. It only made him roll his eyes, like the mature man he forced himself to be. 

It was all an act, he admitted to himself. A very well-played one in order to keep her at a safe distance. One that would not allow any of them to make decisions they might regret in the future. 

The darkness outside their cozy bubble only heightened as the day went on. A few hours later, Rey was yawning and curling herself in front of the dying fire. She was snoring loudly before he could even offer her a sleeping bag. 

It did not take long for him to find himself sleepy, but he fought against the desire to tuck himself in in order to keep an eye on her and an ear out for any improvement on the weather. The night fell with the storm still raging outside. 

His uncle checked on him during the evening and Ben informed of the girl’s presence in his cabin.

“Just make sure you’re both safe.” Luke informed him through static. “We’ll talk in the morning.”

The early morning arrived with a brightening clear sky and no heavy clouds whatsoever. It was like it had not thunderstormed at all. 

The rain had diminished considerably throughout the night, but its consequences remained. With the lake’s water level having risen, the water spread across the campsite pathways, constituting in the lake appearing larger than it actually was and, to Ben and Rey’s misfortune, cut them out completely from the rest of the residents, making the treehouse materialize like an entity from the water’s depths.

“Oh, shit.” Rey voiced behind him, quietly approaching his current position in front of the doorway. 

“We can try sending the boat to get you both…” Luke said uncertainly in the walkie-talkie when Ben called out for him a few minutes later. They knew it could be unpredictable to move in treacherous post-storm waters. There was never knowing the strength of the tide until it swept you away from knowing lands. 

“It’s fine.” He groaned after a few minutes taking deep breaths, Rey’s presence looming behind him, hearing their every word. “We’re gonna be fine.” It was more of a reminder to himself than anyone else.

“The water level will for sure come down throughout the day.” Luke continued in between instructions for other counselors. “We’ll keep you posted.” 

Ben sighed and pinched together the area between his brows. Great, he thought to himself. Just… fucking great.

Outside, even with the clearer skies, Ben could still feel the heaviness of the rainstorm looming above their heads, threatening to make another appearance the moment they let their guards down.

“So we’re stuck here.” Rey concluded as soon as he turned the radio button off, arms crossed over her chest. 

Still wearing his t-shirt, messy hair and deep eyes, she looked somewhat rested. As much as she could be in the circumstances she slept in, that is. Still, Ben tried pushing the indecorous thoughts away that told him she looked like she had been thoroughly fucked all night long by no one other than himself. 

“Yep.” He retarded the muttered response after clearing a raspy throat. “We’re stuck here.”

Chapter Text

“We’re gonna starve!” Rey’s despair occurred a few moments after Ben turned the walkie-talkie off, both hands on her head as she contemplated the alarming possibility. She had been pacing back and forth in the small room as Ben spoke with his uncle Luke, listening to everything with a wide gaze. Now, without the static filling the room, all that was left was their breathing. 

“Don’t be so dramatic.” He fought the urge to roll his eyes. “It’s just for a few hours.”

“A few hours?” Her high pitched tone did not startle him. Instead, it annoyed his being. “You don’t even know how long we can be stuck here, do you?!” This time, though, as she became so vocal about her misery, he did roll his eyes. “Ugh, I should’ve gone hiking with the girls when I had the chance.”

“You’d still be stuck somewhere.” He reminded her.

“Not with you.” She mumbled under her breath, displeasingly rolling the last two vowels on her tongue. 

Biting the inner side of his cheek in order to keep the cruel words at bay, Ben made himself busy. Opening the door to the balmy morning, he was welcomed with a sight he was not sure he would ever forget: The water level had reached the first few steps of the staircase that led the way to the treehouse, and the ground - which used to be a well-maintained gravel path - was completely covered in water. It almost seemed like the lake and the island were a single thing. Its once protuberant hill nonexistent, the water murky. He could only imagine the state the washrooms and boat house were in. A situation he would have to deal with once all of this was sorted. 

“You should make yourself comfortable.” He informed Rey, closing the door behind him before she could witness the dreary situation. “We might be here a while.”

It took two long hours for Luke to call them again, sharing bad news.

“The water level is not lowering as quickly as we’d hoped for.” His voice was breaking with the static and Ben had to press his ear against the walkie to manage understanding every word. “We cannot access the boats at the moment but I’m gonna send some water and blankets through the zip line. Can you get to it?”

Ben moved nearer the window and inspected the outdoors once again. The zipline - which used to hang a good few meters above the water - now stood only a few inches up. It was impossible to send someone over but high enough for a bag of some sorts to come through. Luckily, the wooden path leading to it was unobstructed.

He pressed the device’s button and spoke louder than calculated. “Yeah, path is clear. Let me know when.” 

Ten minutes later he was carrying back to the treehouse a duffle bag containing an extra-large sherpa blanket, apples, grapes and bananas; bread, protein bars, water bottles and a thermal with recently brewed coffee. 

At the sight of him, Rey’s face lit up. Then, a single line smile formed on her lips before parting slightly. When realizing he carried food, she gasped joyfully. 

“We have to ration.” He deadpanned, raising the duffle over his head and out of her reach. The way she stared at him felt like she could kill him in a matter of seconds.

“You’re fucking joking, right?”

Ben chuckled and unloaded the bag on the floor. “For a girl your age you have a very dirty mouth.” That patronizing comment awarded him a forceful slap on the bicep. “Ouch!”

“You’ve no idea.” She uttered while unceremoniously unpelling a banana. 

It was impossible to divert his eyesight as her mouth opened and she took a large bite of the fruit, munching happily, blissfully unaware of the way his shorts felt suddenly tight in the crotch area. 

A second later she glanced ahead and caught him staring. He blushed nervously, clearing his throat and reaching for an apple, which kept him engaged and immersed for an interval as he forced himself to think about something else for the sake of relaxing his lower member. 

“You know…” She ceased chewing, not sparing him a second glimpse as she spoke. “for a man your age, you have a very inappropriate way of behaving near underaged girls.” The last few words were delivered with a wide smile as the last portion of the fruit went into her open mouth, tongue sticking out provocatively. 

This time, his groan was vocalized as he turned around nervously and rested a hand on the nearest wooden pillar. Helplessly, he attempted drifting his mind to anything that wasn't her in his clothes with his cock in her mouth. 

“Jesus Christ.” He blasphemed under his breath, a hand cupping his balls, squeezing them for a momentary aid. Ben wanted that unrelenting sensation to go away but her basic existence was driving him miserable. 

“Can I have a bottle of water?” Rey diverted his attention, speaking in a perfect British accent. If she was ignoring the way he struggled with his life or simply mocking him, Ben was unsure. 

His free hand gestured to the duffle on the floor, something resembling “In the bag” leaving his mouth in a single breath as he double checked the situation in his trousers. 

He could hear her examining the bag, retrieving and twisting the bottle cap open after plenty of seconds struggling with it. “I don't know if I should be amused or uncomfortable, to be honest.” 

Then, before he could think of any reply, she let out a curse. 

“Oh, fucking hell!” The exclamation had him turning to face her immediately. 

More than half of the bottle’s clear content had poured over her, drenching down her chest, the plastic crumpled in her palm. It was one of those flimsy water bottles, he realized. 

“God.” He sighed, walking over to her. “You're a menace.” 

Then, picking the plastic vessel from her hand and assisting her to step over the small puddle, he added, looking deep into her eyes. “So. Much. Trouble.”

They were inches apart, cold toes touching. One of his hands still holding the fingertips of hers. The water bottle fell to the floor with a raucous sound, emptying the last of its content on the wooden board. He lifted that hand and pulled the collar of his t-shirt up to wipe her neck dry and try to do something about the transparency over her chest that now allowed him a full view of her perky nipples. 

“You seem to like it…” The girl teased, brushing her knuckles on his stiffened member. Ben held his breath. A sharp inhale soon followed. 

The grunting response that left his lips was barely audible. “You’ve no idea.”

His fingertips ghosted the sides of her body, reaching to roam over a nipple and up, cradling her neck, while the other thumb traveled to her chin, tracing the moist section. 

Rey' s eyes closed in anticipation while Ben's remained open. Instead of leaning down to kiss her, he pulled the hem of his tee up and wiped dry her mouth and down her chin. 

“Ben…” The soft whisper was a plea for something he unfortunately could not offer.

“Nope.” Shaking his head, Ben took several steps back as she tiptoed to reach him. “We’re not going down that road.”

“Why not?” She whined. “You want it…” 

They both involuntarily let their gazes drop to the middle of his legs where a thick bulge had shaped once again. Rey smirked as he blushed. “Besides… we gotta distract ourselves from our impending doom.”

He could not help but chuckle at the choice of words. “I’m sure we can find some other… better things to do.”

She thoroughly ignored him. “It's not like you'd be taking advantage of me.” Taking a step closer, they were forced to face each other once again. Ben evaded her eyes. “I'm consenting to it. Anything.”

His focus snapped at her, who dared to defy him. Through gritted teeth he said. “You're a child. You can't consent to anything.”

Her reaction nearly proved his point. “You sound like my grandfather.”

“Wise?” He teased.

“Fucking annoying.” She concluded, crossing the arms over her chest. It did nothing to cover her sheer nudity, only highlighted it. Walking towards the pile of clothes on the corner of the room - which Ben had assembled after they had dried - she inspected it for a moment, carelessly tumbling it apart with her toes. “And I ain’t a fucking child.”

Then, Rey tugged the t-shirt over her head, completely disregarding his presence, and started rummaging through the pile to find her underwear.

Completely naked.

Again.

Ben's delayed reaction took in an unforgettable view: her bending down to the floor, ass perched up and a glistening patch on her inner thigh he knew had nothing to do with the weather.

He grunted her name through gritted teeth before turning around to face the wall. “For fuck’s sake.” 

“You’re the one who told me to get comfortable!”

“Not like that!” He scolded.

“I'm just changing. My God. Have some patience, will you?”

In a matter-of-fact, he lacked any. As the constriction in his briefs became less and less comfortable, Ben knew he had to do something about it. 

“I'm gonna go upstairs.” He announced, already pulling the ladder down and climbing it up, giving her no time to even settle in joining him. “You stay here.”

She finished getting dressed back into her previous clothes - the camp bright neon t-shirt and the black gym shorts - and faced him again, arms crossed and a malicious smirk on her lips.

“Are you gonna think of me?” 

Even though he was most certain she was teasing him, Ben still blushed fiercely.

“Shut the fuck up, Rey.”

Regrettably, she wasn't wrong. Ben shut the trapdoor close and immediately stepped out of his shorts and boxers, pulling out a painfully hard cock and stroking it a few times for a prompt release. The fleeting sensation was already enough for his eyes to roll back. He blindly searched for a comfortable position against the headboard, crossing his legs and furiously building up an orgasm. 

The sooner he was done with it, the better.

He was ashamed of it, of course. As he spilled himself on his chest, his head tipped back and he sighed, cheeks heating with embarrassment and regret. Wiping himself clean with his t-shirt - the same one that had dried Rey’s mouth moments before - Ben’s head tilted back and he closed his eyes. 

A second later the hatch swung open and the crown of Rey’s head made itself obvious. 

They both squealed at the same time. Ben reached for a pillow to cover up his lap as she looked away and cleared her throat.

“I told you to stay downstairs!” He chided her, mortified. 

“You called my name!” She replied at the same time. 

“I -” Stopping himself to think, Ben scrambled his brains for the fact. He swore he had kept his mouth shut but, apparently, he was wrong. “Fuck.”

“‘tis ok, I’ll pretend I didn't see anything.” She carefully but swiftly retrieved the steps back down.

“No, wait.” Her head tipped up. Reaching a palm in her direction, Ben gestured. “Come here.”

Steadily, Rey crawled the first few inches of the cramped space then kneeled at the edge of the mattress. Ben removed the pillow from his lap, revealing an already rock hard cock to her. 

Her eyes, widening in unease and surprise, looped between his member and his face a couple of times. 

“You're…” She couldn't finish the sentence, pink staining her cheekbones, brightening the freckles that dotted it. 

Naked. Huge. Masturbating.

“I know.” The response was simple yet satisfactory. 

Getting closer, Rey lingered on her knees, eyes on him. Reaching forward, Ben traced her lower lip with his thumb. It was trembling.

“You can't tell anyone.” He urged, using the other hand to secure her waist and direct her to his lap.

“I won't.” She promised, shaking her head and finding a comfortable seat on his thighs. 

The proximity was already extreme, and Ben’s cock twitched. 

“We're not gonna have sex.” He clarified, tilting her head up slightly so she could look into his eyes. “I'm just gonna make you feel good.” Waiting for a response that did not come, he insisted. “‘kay?”

A faint “Yes” left her lips in a breath and she accommodated on his thighs, spreading her legs open to circle his hips.

The moment her shielded cunt made contact with his cock, Ben felt his entire bloodstream drain lower. His head fell back and his eyes collapsed as her hands came to lie on his shoulders. She just sat there for an instant, discerning the extent of him in between her labia, ruining her shorts with her wetness. 

A tilt of her hips had them both gasping, eyes meeting in the dimminess of the room. With a hand still on her face, so large that it was cradling down her neck, Ben pulled her closer, resting their foreheads together.

When it became clear he would not take another step forward, he felt her glare on him. “Are you gonna kiss me?” She whispered the question, blinking her eyes open.

“Do you want me to kiss you, Rey?” Ben shot back, climbing the hand on her waist underneath her t-shirt and feeling the soft skin of her body. Her nod came silent. “I need you to say it.” 

“Please.” 

They were already too close to drift away now. Brushing their noses together and drawing her neck to him, Ben closed his lips over hers, soft and chaste. If the sound that left her lips then was a moan or a hum, he did not wait to find out. 

Coaxing her mouth open, Ben’s tongue prodged hers until it fully parted, licking the inside of her cheek before meeting her eager tongue. She was inexperienced, that was clear, but he did not seem to mind. Guiding her head in the direction he needed, he swirled his tongue around hers, nibbled gently on her lower lip, and coached her to move her hips. 

It was messy, the way she clinged to him looking for purchase as the pressure between her legs became unbearable; the way her tongue searched for his, for more. This time, she moaned loudly against his mouth, clamping her thighs around his and gripping the collar of his t-shirt, scratching his collarbone in the process. His orgasm shattered not long after, the white thick liquid shooting up at her, staining the bright fabric of her clothes. 

The kissing was not interrupted, though. 

Pressing his lips even harder over hers, Ben grabbed both sides of her waist and pulled her closer, flushing her chest against his. She locked her feet behind his back, threading her fingers in the locks of his hair and rising above just enough to give them a little break and kiss him deeper. His fingertips dug on her skin, marking her lower belly with the pressure of his thumbs, wanting to have her as close as possible. 

It was his turn to vocalize his pleasure. 

The sound was swallowed by her eagerness, their tongues finding a rhythm that resembled a dance he had no recollection of ever rehearsing. As she sat back down, he was unashamedly hard again. Grinding on him fiercely, Ben let her take control. 

He watched as her head was thrown back, eyes fully shut, taking in the moment. Taking that opportunity where her neck was exposed, he leaned ahead, planting featherlight kisses to it, feeling the way she trembled in his arms. As she searched for pleasure again, Ben gently pulled her face forward to kiss her again, relishing on the closeness.

The environment muted around them. There was nothing but their bodies in contact and their intimacies exposed. There was silence, as simple as that. A silence that was interrupted by little sounds of pleasure that would echo inside his brain for years to come. 

Calling her name prompted Rey to open her eyes, finding a dishevelled Ben watching her attentively. 

“You’re so beautiful.” He confessed foolishly, being rewarded with a crooked smile from the girl that was shamelessly grinding on his cock. 

“Feels so good, Ben.” Her acknowledgment, his name, spoken in a hoarse whimpering tone, coerced him back to reality. 

He contemplated their current situation: Rey’s cunt brushing against his cock, her t-shirt lifted up her ribcage, his fingertips brushing the underside of her breasts; the impossible pain in his member as he forced himself to keep a third orgasm from ripping his senses; her parted mouth releasing everything she had kept to herself up to that point. 

Bluntly, Ben pushed her away, leaving a stunned Rey seeking purchase on the mattress behind her back. The pain of being ditched so easily had him looking away, avoiding whatever her eyes could recite. 

“Fuck.” Running a hand through his hair, he thought about an escape route. “We shouldn’t have done this.”

Hurt, Rey sat down and pulled the knees to her chest, practically begging him. “Don’t regret it.” 

“I -” A look at her and his entire world quivered in its axis. Doubts overrode facts and, for a moment, he had no idea where he was, much less what he would do to fix that. Then, as the lustful sensation faded, he felt like a cold water bucket had been thrown on his face. 

Cowardly, he murmured. “We shouldn’t have, Rey. I shouldn’t have.”

The responsibility was all his.

Rising on her knees, she attempted approaching him. “It was good.” She voiced weakly, reaching for his hand that rested numbly beside his body. Their fingers brushed. “So good. I’d never -”

But he pulled away before she could complete the sentence, finding distance on the far corner of the small room, the cramped space forcing him to tilt his head to the side and look down. “It can’t be.” He spoke, more to himself than to her. “We can’t.”

Without another word and a last disappointed glimpse in his direction, Rey turned around and climbed down the ladder, back to the main living area, leaving Ben alone with his derogatory thoughts.