"No, he won't," Ben agreed, falling silent for a moment as he stared at the throne. A part of him, perhaps, would always long to sit with her at his side, but the desire was eclipsed by something stronger. Something that was theirs alone, apart from Palpatine or the Sith, or even the Jedi.

Perhaps he ought to have hesitated— she was so raw with anger, but he reached for her, undeterred, broad hand sliding along the side of her neck.

"Listen to me, Rey. He's a part of you, you're not wrong. He always will be. And yet, you've rejected him, every time. He's put the full might of his power into tempting you, using me to do it, and it doesn't matter. You're still you. And that's always been enough, despite him."