My plan was to split this chapter, but couldn't find a good place. Don't be afraid to give feedback! Enjoy!

Ahri's first encounter with the Resistance was quite memorable. They had met at the destruction of Tuanul. She remembered him vividly- dark hair and eyes, squareish face. He was reckless, shooting at Kylo with a mere blaster. Ahri stopped the blast midair, her fingers twitching slightly. It wasn't a very clever shot and in fact she was sure he hadn't meant to shoot at all, accidentally doing so as a knee-jerk reaction to Lor San Tekka's death. She felt his anguish sharply piercing through the other emotions swirling the village.

When the Stormtroppers brought him closer, Ahri had to lower her gaze. There was hate in him, strong and unwilling to relent. It was almost overwhelming. Her breath hitched slightly and Kylo turned to look at her. She kept her eyes to the ground. There was a strange sensation in her head as Kylo rooted around in her thoughts. She kept the man's anger from Kylo. He was angry enough as it was.

"Y'know it's kind of hard to understand you with all...that...going on," The man said, vaguely gesturing to Kylo with his head.

His eyes met Ahri's briefly, then returned in a full stare. Ahri felt as though she were choking. There was so much anguish, hate, fear...confusion, sadness. Despair. It was too much for her hypersensitive senses to bear. The man stared at her, questioning eyes trying to find answers. Kylo forced him to look straight ahead. Ahri didn't pay attention as Kylo barked out orders. The man was lead away.

She hurried onto the ship as the troops opened fire on the villagers.

Later that night, she had been called into one of the interrogation rooms by Kylo. Now that they were away from the carnage, Ahri had reverted back to her usual self and she was quite comfortable with it.

The man, identified as Poe Dameron, had already been questioned intensively, but to no avail. As soon as Ahri entered the room, she was hit by waves of pride and fear, so strong it nearly took her breath. She stopped in the doorway, hand gripping the frame tightly. Kylo was there, face hidden by his signature mask. He acknowledged her quietly.

Will you be able to handle this? Was his intrusive thought.

Of course. Was her stubborn reply.

"I didn't know we had such an esteemed pilot aboard our ship," Kylo's voice was warped and deep.

Poe blinked rapidly, trying to keep the blood dripping down his head from getting in his eyes. He said nothing. He spotted Ahri by the door. She was picking up on what he was feeling in real time- he felt as though he recognized her. That calmed his fear a bit.

Kylo tried to question him on the whereabouts of the last piece of the map; of course, Poe didn't give an inch. Even when he was screaming in agony until his voice gave out. Ahri monitored his vitals on a thin holographic pad. His blood pressure and heart rate rose with the increasing pressure Kylo was putting him under, while his oxygen levels were going down. She decided it was time to step in, otherwise Kylo would kill him on accident.

Kylo's hand, which had been slowly curling into a fist, suddenly released. He was forced to hold it there, fingers spread apart almost painfully, though he struggled inaudibly to set himself free. Poe groaned with the release, gulping down air into his lungs. His body relaxed against the chair, slouching in fatigue. Kylo turned sharply to Ahri, who held her own hand out. She released him and he dropped his hand.

"His vitals were in the red. Any more and you would have killed him," she explained. "A dead man is worth nothing."

"That's debatable." Kylo said.

The door opened. Ahri turned to see who had intruded- Kylo had given specific instructions not to be bothered. It was FN-2187, recognizable from his hesitant demeanor. Ahri had encountered him before. Polite, meek. He stood out from the others in his squad in that way.

"What is it?" Kylo snapped. "I gave orders not to be interrupted."

"General Hux has requested your presence immediately, Commander," FN-2187 replied, his voice strained.

Ahri felt a pitch in Kylo's anger. It boiled her blood, making her clench the datapad to the point of almost breaking it. A few deep breaths on Ahri's end calmed them both. When he said her name, she tilted her head in acknowledgement.

"Extract the information," Kylo commanded her. "Don't rest until you've taken everything possible."

"Yes, Commander."

FN-2187 glanced back as he walked behind Kylo, peering into the room as the doors closed.

Ahri was watching Poe's vitals drop into the safe zone when he suddenly spoke. "Ahri, huh? Cute name," his words were slurred, eyes kept shut. His breaths were ragged and wet, as though there were fluid in his lungs. Ahri double checked the sensors on his chest, setting it to alarm her in the case of a ruptured lung. His blood pressure was still high, but his heartbeat was almost back to normal, as were his oxygen levels. When she glanced at him again, he was staring at her.

"You're too pretty to be hanging around these goons," Poe said.

Ahri walked closer to him. His eyes followed her, looking her up and down briefly before meeting her eyes. "Where is the remaining part of the map?" She asked.

"How long have you been with mouth-breather? Couple months? Years?"

Poe suddenly tensed up, his eyes opening wide, mouth gaping. The veins in his neck stuck out as he struggled to breathe, back arcing up off the chair painfully. Ahri pressed further slowly, the hand at her side curling into a fist. "Answer the question."

The sensors on her datapad began to beep and she released him, popping her knuckles against her palm. Poe gasped in air, his arms and legs struggling against their restraints. "I'm not...I'm not afraid...of death," he panted heavily.

"Not death. But you are afraid," Ahri stepped closer, hovering her hand over his head. "What are you afraid of?"

Poe tried his best to turn away, but the straps held him down. She had never connected with someone other than Kylo. It was a bit more difficult to connect to someone who wasn't Force sensitive, but once the Force clicked their consciousness, Ahri was able to search through his memories. She could feel his apprehension like it was her own, bundling down deep in her gut. She moved her hand, delicate fingers lightly tracing over his forehead. There was apprehension, worry...but over what? She closed her eyes, trying to work through his emotions.

There were some she shouldn't quite name, some she could. She felt pride, fear, envy, hate, concern...this intense desire and enthusiasm...What was that? It was strongest in his memories of working with the Rebellion. When she tapped into it, it was strong, so strong she could barely control herself-

The sound of the hangar buzzer pulled Ahri from her thoughts and she remembered where she was.

That encounter had been months ago, but the memory left a hollow feeling in her stomach. She couldn't remember how that emotion felt.

She suddenly felt irritated, and that was her cue to head to the hangar. Kylo was back. No one in the Bridge noticed her leaving except Hux, who turned to watch her go with a stern look. Kylo's mission went exceptionally well, meaning his irritation was caused by something (most likely someone) else.

That seemed to be the case, as every Stormtrooper lined up in the vinicity felt nervous. Ahri stood at the door to the Hangar with her hands clasped behind her back, shoulders and back straight at ease. Kylo Ren exited the small ship, accompanied by a young pilot who was hurrying to keep up with his superior. The pilot was nervous.

"Commander, welcome back-" Ahri began, but she stopped as they approached, when a spike of anger tore through Kylo like a rabid dog.

The young pilot stopped in his tracks, becoming rigid as Kylo crushed him with the Force. There was no fighting back, no struggle. The pilot couldn't even cry out in pain from his windpipe being crushed. Ahri inwardly sighed. This was not the first pilot she would have to save from Kylo's wrath.

"Commander," Ahri said in a hard tone. Her fingers twitched. The young man was released and he collasped to the floor, gasping. Kylo spun on her, waves of anger spilling forth even through his mask. "I must advised you to control yourself. Use that anger during your training."

Kylo stood there a moment, stewing in his own irritation. The pilot didn't dare get up off the floor, instead cowering there on his hands and knees. He risked a glance at Ahri and caught her stare. He mouthed the words 'thank you' to her; she merely nodded slightly.

"You'll be punished for your insolence," Kylo finally said. He was speaking to Ahri.

"Of course, Commander," she replied.

Kylo stomped past her, grabbing her arm as he went. Ahri followed without any complaint. She knew he was just putting on a show for everyone, a charade, to make them think he was this cold-hearted man who punished anyone without remose. Ahri found this to be true, but in recent weeks she saw a kinder side to him that told otherwise. Kylo's kindness manifested itself in lingering touches unseen by anyone and carefully choosen words.

In truth, he hadn't punished her in months.

Stormtroopers didn't dare to interfere as Kylo lead her down the hall. Rather than pulling her into his quarters, as she first thought, he kept leading her down the hall, until they reached the elevator. Kylo said nothing to her the entire time they were in the elevator. Ahri could feel his discomfort in the way his grip loosened on her arm.

- "So what did they do to you?" Poe's voice was horse and choppy. His chest was rising and falling heavily, in time with Ahri's as she struggled to catch her breath. She was at the opposite side of the room, hand splayed across her chest as she regained her sense of self. It was over. Whatever that emotion was, she wanted no part of it. It was strong and loud. It was passion.

Ahri didn't say anything to him. She hadn't meant to cause him pain, but separating her being from his in such a abrupt manner had been spontaneous.

"You're different...than the others I've met," Poe said again after swallowing thickly. His voice was strained. "You're not used to...feeling that, are you?"

Ahri inhaled once and exhaled. The emptiness was returning now, replacing the warmth and enthusiasm. She slowly walked over to him, features taking on her usual monotonous persona.

"Did they destroy your world? Kidnap you? Take you from your family?" Poe spoke stronger now, angry, as if the thought of her being hurt in such a way was a personal offence to him. Ahri said nothing, watching him cautiously. In a sudden display of strength, he lean forward towards her, straining against his binds. "You don't have to live like this. You can leave this place-"

Kylo suddenly gripped Ahri by the shoulders and pulled her roughly, nearly slamming her into the elevator wall. Ahri didn't cry out in surprise, instead her arms gripped Kylo's forearms as his fingers dug into her shoulders.

"Kylo, step down," she said as a warning. She was vaguely surprised he was acting in such a way, as he hadn't been violent with her in years.

Kylo finally reached up and wrenched his helmet off of his head, slamming it into the wall beside her head. Ahri didn't blink as it clipped her ear. He was heaving, eyes dark with rage and frustration. His scar had healed, though it didn't make him look like a villain- he looked like a victim. Ahri tried to search his mind for what was wrong, but he blocked her out.

"This entire time," he finally seethed, "You've done nothing but think back to that pilot-"

Oh. Oh. "There is nothing to be jealous about, Kylo. What I did was nothing but a simple mind search to collect information."

Kylo gripped her shoulder tighter. Her lips twitched in pain. "You honestly think I'm jealous? I don't care about that damned pilot or whatever the hell he thought of you!" Kylo yelled, "It's that-"

He stopped abruptly and turned away, letting go of her. His helmet dropped to the floor with a loud clang. Ahri's eyebrows furrowed slightly as Kylo backed away, his back to her. She tried to reach out to him with the Force, but he locked his emotions in a box and didn't give her the key. She felt nothing from him.

She needed to be careful. When they first met, the scars of what Luke Skywalker did to him were still fresh and he trusted no one. Once he realized she had no motives to harm him, he opened up a little. It took her two years to fully gain Kylo's trust and connect with him. He had never shut her out before.

She stepped closer to him, until she was almost against his back. He had grown tall, she noted. Her nose came up to his shoulder. What was the right thing to do? If she touched him, he could recoil, and without being able to tell what he was feeling she was unable to determine whether he would strike her. Kylo had only hit her once with the intent to hurt her, outside of training.

Ahri made her choice. Regardless of what he would do, she needed to know what was wrong and why it had something to do with her.

Her fingers brushed gently against his shoulder, cautious, not to comfort him but merely remind him of her closeness. When he made no movement, she laid her hand on his shoulder and slowly pulled, turning him until he faced her. Kylo obliged, keeping his head low and eyes watching his feet closely. Ahri had a sudden urge to touch his face but ignored it. Her hand remained on his shoulder, firm but not agressive.

"What has happened?" When she spoke, it was quieter than she expected. "I can't feel you anymore. Why are you shutting me out?"

Kylo's dark eyes finally connected with hers. She couldn't decipher what he was thinking, what he was feeling. Ahri continued, her gaze dropping to his uniform collar.

"I need to feel something from you," she said carefully. There was something in her that didn't like being sepparated from him. She was always empty, but when they were connected she at least felt as though there was something there. Even if it was not hers, she could pretend.

Kylo's voice was low, tired, when he finally began to speak. "...Why does it matter to you? Why are you still here?"

Ahri's hand slowly fell from his shoulder. It rested at her side, fingers curling slightly. She had never been asked that. What did it matter to her? Why was she there? There was no contract, no point to her constant pressence. She was not getting paid or threatened to stay. Snoke had no use for her, other than to train Kylo, but he could be trained by anyone.

She only stayed because of him. Why?

Ahri's mouth opened, but nothing came out. How was she supposed to answer that?

Kylo continued, "That pilot was right. You can leave this place. But you don't. You are not loyal to anyone-"

"I am loyal to you," Ahri said plainly. She tilted her head to look at him, and for a second, as she looked up at him, she thought she saw his eyes flicker down from her gaze.

Ahri didn't mind the closeness, but Kylo certainly did. She could see the anger fade away and turn into...something else. That was why she didn't move away.

"I stay because I am connected to you and you alone. There is nothing out there for me. Here, there is you, and that is enough."

That wasn't what Ahri meant to say, but it came out anyway. She wasn't sure why, but she became nervous the longer she stood so close. Perhaps he finally let her back into his mind. That was the only way she would have felt nervous.

The two remained close. When Kylo bent his head down his nose nearly touched hers. Ahri was waiting for something to be said.

The mood suddenly shifted. Kylo's eyes hardened and he became regid.

"Six months ago, you would have told me there was nothing keeping you here. That you feel nothing. That you are nothing. But not anymore. I can sense it," Kylo's voice began to boil into a rage, "You are not the same as you were!"

Ahri stepped back, but Kylo stepped forward. "I am the same; you are the one who has changed, Kylo Ren."

"I-"

This time Ahri's voice rose slightly, shocking Kylo into silence, "I am a Chrysanth. I feel nothing. So long as you and I are connected, my emotions and behaviors will reflect yours." Ahri was angry. Angry she had to defend herself. Angry he was trying to blame his own emotional outburst on her. "This anger is yours, not mine!"

Kylo's hardened gaze never wavered. He stepped back from her, watching her intensely. Ahri watched as he pressed the 'door open' button on the elevator. They hadn't even moved from the Hangar floor.

"You have changed, Ahri," he said between clenched teeth. "Because we haven't been connected since before we entered the elevator."

Ahri stared at him as the doors opened. As he walked away from her. As he left her there. Her heart was thumping fast, hard. The doors closed slowly and she was alone. Fingers numbly typed the floor number where the meditation chambers were. On the floor next to her was Kylo's helmet, left abandoned.

She should have felt empty. Apathetic. Devoid of any and all things. But she wasn't.

She wasn't empty at all.