For allbingo
Dec. 29th, 2021 04:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ladyofleithianTitle: ‘Cause I Am Not What You See (Oh No)
Summary: Poe finds one of the rare people he truly despises.
Prompt: Loathing
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author’s Notes: Title from “Not What You See” by Kutless.
Poe Dameron is sixteen when he’s called before the Emperor himself. He’s already not looking forward to it. He’s been not fond of the Emperor ever since Ben’s training (and that’s being generous) started. Poe knows that what Ben’s going through is part of Sith training, but it doesn’t make him feel any better, especially given how the Emperor does it.
Fucker would probably delay an execution for the sake of pulling the wings off a fly, Poe thinks darkly. Ben’s thirteen now, and Poe’s already worried for him, the borderline feral beast locked in the cage that is the body of a child.
Poe’s been spared it so far, given that he’s planning to be part of the Exegol defense force. (He’s also planning on having himself and Ben move far enough up in the ranks that no one will hurt them again, but he hasn’t worked out all the details yet)
But the Emperor calls Poe before him. Poe can’t disobey, so he goes to him.
***
“I did not expect your powers to manifest so late in your life,” Palpatine says. “Then again, Luke Skywalker did not manifest his powers until he was nineteen. I suppose it took a while…on your part."
"I see.” Already, Poe’s terrified deep down, though he knows that he’ll do anything if it means Ben is protected and safe, even endure Palpatine’s “training”.
“You are so much like young Solo’s grandfather,” Palpatine says. “He too wanted to defend those he was close to. Though Ben is your protectorate, not your soulmate.”
“Was that…?”
“Oh yes. He wished to save his akisi,” Palpatine says. “Not that he succeeded. In his anger, he killed her; she died begging for mercy…”
Poe already feels the inside of his mouth taste like acid. Does Ben know about this? By the ancient Sith, Poe hopes not. It would kill him. Perhaps him being raised with the Sith Eternal was a mercy if his parents were anything like Ben’s monstrous grandfather. (What kind of monster would murder their akisi?)
“Will you go down the path of Ben’s grandfather? Killing the one you swore to protect?” Palpatine’s practically gloating.
“Never,” Poe says. And by the way, Palpy, you seem to have a bit of a monologuing problem…
"We’ll see. Are you aware of the Rule of Two? Always two there are. No more, no less. A master and an apprentice.” Palpatine smiles in a way that to Poe would look more flattering on a Vexis. "But who will be the apprentice, and later, the Master? Perhaps both will be. Perhaps only one will be."
"You never know,” Poe says serenely. "Who’ll be destroyed? The Master or the apprentice?”
“You are quite insolent,” Palpatine says. “But you will learn respect, and suffering will be your teacher."
***
Ben tells him later, how Palpatine all but gloated about what his grandfather did to his grandmother. “He said I was destined to be like him.”
“Ben, woyunoks, you won’t.” Even though Ben is thirteen, far from a woyunoks (or “little one”, in the language of the Sith), Poe can’t help but think of him as such. “You’re a good person. I know you. You’re funny. You’re brave. You’re loyal. And you wouldn’t hurt anyone unless you absolutely had to.”
Ben smiles, feebly. Then, “I wish Palpatine understood that I don’t want this. I don’t want to be my grandfather. I want…maybe I want to be a nice Sith. Like the Light Sith in the days of the Old Republic.”
“Well, no rule saying you can’t,” Poe says. He’ll end up being Palpatine’s apprentice, with Ben. (Then again, in this new system, “apprentice” has almost no meaning) “You can be whoever you want, even in those walls. And no matter what they say, I’ll support you, and we’ll both be that way. You won’t be your grandfather. You’re better than him. I promise.”
Ben snuggles up to him, lothcat-like. Poe holds onto him, and quietly prays their path will pan out.
Summary: Poe finds one of the rare people he truly despises.
Prompt: Loathing
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author’s Notes: Title from “Not What You See” by Kutless.
Poe Dameron is sixteen when he’s called before the Emperor himself. He’s already not looking forward to it. He’s been not fond of the Emperor ever since Ben’s training (and that’s being generous) started. Poe knows that what Ben’s going through is part of Sith training, but it doesn’t make him feel any better, especially given how the Emperor does it.
Fucker would probably delay an execution for the sake of pulling the wings off a fly, Poe thinks darkly. Ben’s thirteen now, and Poe’s already worried for him, the borderline feral beast locked in the cage that is the body of a child.
Poe’s been spared it so far, given that he’s planning to be part of the Exegol defense force. (He’s also planning on having himself and Ben move far enough up in the ranks that no one will hurt them again, but he hasn’t worked out all the details yet)
But the Emperor calls Poe before him. Poe can’t disobey, so he goes to him.
***
“I did not expect your powers to manifest so late in your life,” Palpatine says. “Then again, Luke Skywalker did not manifest his powers until he was nineteen. I suppose it took a while…on your part."
"I see.” Already, Poe’s terrified deep down, though he knows that he’ll do anything if it means Ben is protected and safe, even endure Palpatine’s “training”.
“You are so much like young Solo’s grandfather,” Palpatine says. “He too wanted to defend those he was close to. Though Ben is your protectorate, not your soulmate.”
“Was that…?”
“Oh yes. He wished to save his akisi,” Palpatine says. “Not that he succeeded. In his anger, he killed her; she died begging for mercy…”
Poe already feels the inside of his mouth taste like acid. Does Ben know about this? By the ancient Sith, Poe hopes not. It would kill him. Perhaps him being raised with the Sith Eternal was a mercy if his parents were anything like Ben’s monstrous grandfather. (What kind of monster would murder their akisi?)
“Will you go down the path of Ben’s grandfather? Killing the one you swore to protect?” Palpatine’s practically gloating.
“Never,” Poe says. And by the way, Palpy, you seem to have a bit of a monologuing problem…
"We’ll see. Are you aware of the Rule of Two? Always two there are. No more, no less. A master and an apprentice.” Palpatine smiles in a way that to Poe would look more flattering on a Vexis. "But who will be the apprentice, and later, the Master? Perhaps both will be. Perhaps only one will be."
"You never know,” Poe says serenely. "Who’ll be destroyed? The Master or the apprentice?”
“You are quite insolent,” Palpatine says. “But you will learn respect, and suffering will be your teacher."
***
Ben tells him later, how Palpatine all but gloated about what his grandfather did to his grandmother. “He said I was destined to be like him.”
“Ben, woyunoks, you won’t.” Even though Ben is thirteen, far from a woyunoks (or “little one”, in the language of the Sith), Poe can’t help but think of him as such. “You’re a good person. I know you. You’re funny. You’re brave. You’re loyal. And you wouldn’t hurt anyone unless you absolutely had to.”
Ben smiles, feebly. Then, “I wish Palpatine understood that I don’t want this. I don’t want to be my grandfather. I want…maybe I want to be a nice Sith. Like the Light Sith in the days of the Old Republic.”
“Well, no rule saying you can’t,” Poe says. He’ll end up being Palpatine’s apprentice, with Ben. (Then again, in this new system, “apprentice” has almost no meaning) “You can be whoever you want, even in those walls. And no matter what they say, I’ll support you, and we’ll both be that way. You won’t be your grandfather. You’re better than him. I promise.”
Ben snuggles up to him, lothcat-like. Poe holds onto him, and quietly prays their path will pan out.
