AU where Ben never truly did turn dark, but he is still being tormented by Snoke, because Ben's hold on the Light side is tenuous at best and also Snoke is a sadistic asshole. As a result, Ben is short tempered, avoids people, and is always skittish.
Leia still needs to lead the Resistance though, no matter how much her son is suffering. And she lets people believe Ben is just a jerk, because that seems a better explanation than "tormented by the Forces of the Dark side". She just doesn't think a non-Force user would understand. Of course, no matter how much she tries to rationalize this to Ben, it is another source of resentment for Snoke to exploit.
Things are very bleak for Ben, until Ben/Poe (childhood friend who is always ready to defend Ben, and has grown up next to a Force tree) or Ben/Finn happens.(Defector who is a cinnamon bun and proves its possible to be better than what the First Order wants.) And it doesn't solve anything, but it helps a lot.
Just lots of Hurt/comfort and protective boyfriend please!
Bonus: +Han still left, for whatever reason, and Ben never forgave him. And then Han comes back.
Ben/Poe or Ben/Finn, still tormented by Snoke Ben
Leia still needs to lead the Resistance though, no matter how much her son is suffering. And she lets people believe Ben is just a jerk, because that seems a better explanation than "tormented by the Forces of the Dark side". She just doesn't think a non-Force user would understand. Of course, no matter how much she tries to rationalize this to Ben, it is another source of resentment for Snoke to exploit.
Things are very bleak for Ben, until Ben/Poe (childhood friend who is always ready to defend Ben, and has grown up next to a Force tree) or Ben/Finn happens.(Defector who is a cinnamon bun and proves its possible to be better than what the First Order wants.) And it doesn't solve anything, but it helps a lot.
Just lots of Hurt/comfort and protective boyfriend please!
Bonus:
+Han still left, for whatever reason, and Ben never forgave him. And then Han comes back.