Dameron delivered the news. It was expected.

"How did you know she loved me?" said Ben.

The other man frowned. "She chose you over us. On Ahch-To. Even dead, you were her priority. It was just a suspicion. She didn't handle your death well last time, and I don't imagine this will be any easier. We will see that she's cared for."

More references to his apparent time on Ahch-To that he had no memory of.

"There's a room you can meet with her...before," said Dameron. "The Council has agreed to allow you to choose the method."

"I'll do it myself." There was a grudging respect in Dameron's face Ben hadn't expected.

"Can I get you anything?"

"A blade. A metal blade."

Soldiers escorted him to the room where Rey paced. He entered, and she frowned at him.

"You are good," he said. "You know right from wrong, and you make hard choices. Now is not one of those times. Do not take this from me."

She wrapped his arms around his neck and kissed him. Salty tears mingled with the kiss.

"What do you mean?"

"Don't try to stop this. Don't use the Force. Let me do what needs doing. There is no wrong here. I will die without shame."

"There is so much wrong here."

"Rey. I know you don't believe that. You know me. You know what I've done. Promise. Promise you'll let me do this my way."

She nodded. A hard knock sounded on the door, and they exited onto a rooftop garden. Coruscant sprawled below them, glittering like a jewel in the sun.

Rey placed herself at the end of a line of witnesses. He worried she might faint. She was deathly pale. So she had learned the uselessness of politics. He wished she would leave, but he wasn't brave enough to send her away.

Finn stood beside Rey. His eyes darted around the garden, never making contact with Ben's. Poe stood nearby, and a huddle of dignitaries and politicians whispered to each other.

The death of Kylo Ren. Their involvement in this affair would earn them nearly unlimited political capital. He knew some of these people from his childhood. What would Princess Leia say if she could see her old friends approving the death of her only son?

She would be devastated. After all, she had given her life to save him.

Dameron brought Ben the blade he had requested. It was bright steel, and glinted in the sunlight like the buildings all around them. Ben had read once about a warrior class that committed suicide by stabbing a blade through their own stomachs, and then dragging it up to pierce their hearts. It was an honorable death - the best he could hope for.

He had refused execution. Not even the death of the monstrous Kylo Ren should be on anyone's conscience. It was the last offering he could make to try to atone for his life. To prevent the creation of another killer. Who would have done it? Poe? Finn? Some poor, random fool in this vast city? A person with a legitimate grudge against him? He was glad he'd never know.

Rey's mouth kept forming the word 'no,' over and over. He hoped she would keep her promise.

He was brave enough for this death.

He took one last look at Rey, closed his eyes, and plunged the dagger into his belly. He nearly passed out from the pain. A woman screamed. Rey? Pierce the heart and it will be over. He widened his stance. He probably should have sat down for this. It felt right to stand, though. He swayed bit, his body already in shock from the injury. Widened his feet again. Took a deep breath.

"Stop him!" a man bellowed. "Stop him now! Take the knife!"

He had just convinced his arms to tug the knife upward when hands closed around his and pulled it free. Maybe someone had decided they wanted a bigger part in this execution. No matter. Blood flowed from the wound. Nausea overwhelmed him as he dropped to his knees.

All in all, being run through with a lightsaber had been a more painful experience.

"What have you done?" Finn was in his face, and he was livid.

Ben pressed shaking hands to his wound and sunk down further. "Give the knife," he hissed. This had to end.

The first cut was not a killing blow. It wasn't supposed to be. It would fester for days before it did its ultimate work if left this way. He needed to finish.

The silence had been replaced by frantic screams and people running. It was loud.

He fell forward and just caught himself before his head cracked on the stone ground. The cool stone felt wonderful on his face. He looked up. Rey was there. She was on the ground.

Rey on the ground.

Her hands were pressed to her belly. Poe's hands were over hers. There was blood. So much blood.

He heaved himself into a crawling position and began to stagger-crawl his way toward her. None of these people paid him any attention now. They had all been fixated on him moments before.

Finn had asked him what he had done. His thoughts wouldn't connect. Something had happened. Someone had stabbed Rey.

None of these people would hurt Rey.

Except someone had hurt her. Punched her in the face.

Punched him in the face on the transport from Exegol. She had winced when he pressed too hard on the side of her bruise. His bruise felt like that. Bone deep.

Fuck.

He made himself move faster. Poe stepped between Ben and Rey, and Ben gritted his teeth.

"Get out of my way," said Ben.

Finn moved. Ben laid down beside Rey. Laid down on his stomach. He heaved an arm up onto her belly and placed a hand over the wound.

"What is he doing?" said Finn. "The medics are coming. Get him away from her. He's hurting her!"

Poe met Ben's eyes. "Help her."

Ben tried to make a sound of agreement, but all that came out was a cough. He was so weak. Weak in body and in Force. He found the thread of Healing and pressed it into Rey. He had to heal her. This was his fault.

The fire in his belly receded as Rey's body knit back together. The wound mended. Both wounds mended. He closed his eyes, and the blackness swallowed him.