Kylo felt a soft tugging at the back of his mind. It felt familiar, but distant. He hadn't felt the connection in quite some time.
"Rey?"
Suddenly she was before him, anger emanating from her pores, her surroundings hidden from his view. Just like before.
"What are you doing here?" Rey's voice was tight around her clenched teeth.
"You know I didn't try to come," he said, calmly.
Apparently that riled Rey up. He felt her anger, though she only showed it by turning her back on him.
"I can't... leave," Kylo said slowly. "I can't turn off the connection."
"I know." That was all.
For a moment, Kylo said nothing. Then, "Rey?"
"Stop saying my name!"
He was a bit taken aback for a moment. "I'm sorry."
Like a bucket of cold water was dumped in her face, suddenly Rey was quenched. Her anger disappeared. She turned toward him, her expression soft with confusion. "You're sorry?"
"Not just for trying to talk to you now. I'm sorry about... everything." He looked at his hands. It had been sneaking up on him for months, this feeling that all his anger was futile, this sense that might be the beginnings of regret.
"What do you mean?"
Kylo caught a glimmer of hope in her voice.
"I mean, I'm sorry... I'm sorry I asked you to rule the galaxy with me. I'm sorry I chased down the Resistance. I'm sorry I killed Han." His voice cracked, and he cleared his throat. "I'm sorry I was consumed by hate. I'm sorry that I ruined my chances." Once he started, he found it hard to stop. He wasn't even sure if this was remorse, or just more hatred for himself welling up and bubbling out.
"I'm sorry I failed. I'm sorry Luke quit because of me. I'm sorry so many of the Resistance fighters died. I'm sorry I was born." His head was in his hands now. "My parents didn't want me in the first place."
He felt his hand being taken, and when he looked up, there were tears in Rey's eyes.
"Ben?" She whispered.
He shook his head. "I'm sorry I killed Ben Solo," he went on. "I'm sorry--"
Rey leapt forward and wrapped him in a hug. "Ben! It's you! You're back!" She was smiling through her tears as she placed her hands on his face. "Stop talking. It's time you realised something about the light," she said. "Unlike the dark side, the light side will give you a second chance. Remember Anakin Skywalker, Ben. You can always return."
A tear glittered. In Kylo's eye. Anakin Skywalker. He had idolized Darth Vader for so long, he had almost forgotten Anakin. So like himself. He had been Kylo Ren for so long he had almost forgotten Ben Solo.
He looked at Rey and a new feeling, that was perhaps not so new after all, took over him. He could feel the adoration pouring out of his eyes. "Rey..."
She pulled him into another hug. "Shh. We don't need to figure it all out at once."
He hugged her back, and they sat for a long time, just breathing. It felt freeing to him.
"I love you, Rey," Ben said.
"I know," she whispered back.
Fin.