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"You saw something, didn't you?" Kylo prompts.

Rey shakes her head in denial. It couldn't be true. Surely this was some sort of mind trick. She'd only caught small glimpses- vignettes really- but it was enough to shatter any illusions of the life she'd dreamed of as a child. It was enough to send her body reeling into a trembling panic.

"I know you're scared," the commander observes, taking a cautious step forward. "But I also know you're intrigued…"

Rey looks down at the ground, refusing to meet his eyes. "No," she claims unconvincingly. "No, I don't want any part of this. I just-" her voice fades into a whisper. "I just want to go back to Jakku."

Kylo watches her intently, unsure of how to proceed as the room falls into an empty silence. "We both know that's not true." He can feel her fighting back tears as if they were his own. Her strength wavers, but he knows she can handle it. She just needs some persuasion.

"Rey," Kylo speaks her name with a gentility like never before. "I can give you the answers you seek. But you have to trust me."

She immediately opens her mouth to object, but Kylo anticipates her hasty retort and presses on before she can get a word in.

"I'm not asking you to ally with me," he clarifies. "I'm asking you to have faith in your instincts, Reina."

Rey shivers involuntarily. "What?"

"You heard me," Kylo replies nonchalantly. "Your real name… is Reina."

Her back stiffens. "How could possibly know-?"

"-because we've met before," he finishes urgently. "I know you've seen it. And I know you don't want to believe it, but you can feel it."

Rey did feel it, and she wanted to run. Toward hims. Away from him. Towards the truth. Away from the truth. She wanted to run in a million different directions all at once, but instead stands still; frozen in place; going nowhere. Her entire existence up to this point had consisted of waiting for the past to catch up with her. And now that moment- that fearsome, wonderful moment- had finally arrived.

Hot, salty tears trickle down Rey's face, despite her best efforts at maintaining composure.

Kylo takes initiative, closing the distance between them as he removes his gloves. He looks into her eyes as if asking permission to continue, and is pleased when Rey doesn't object. Ever so gently, Kylo takes her head in his hands, brushing his thumb lightly over her cheek. She tenses beneath his fingers.

"Relax," he instructs, letting her feel his own serenity. "It only hurts if you fight it."

And he was right. Rey closes her eyes and welcomes the visions of her past.

A flash of white takes her out of reality.

Rey is small- five, maybe six. Too young to comprehend what was going on at the time.

She stands in the corner of an enormous chamber, dark and deserted except for the two men conversing in hushed tones to her left. One of them has light, flowing hair and tanned skin while the other is older- hardened with age, but familiar. Her father? A relative? It's impossible to say.

Unable to make out their conversation, Rey loses interest and admires the infinite stone walls and massive columns, overwhelmed and confused by her new surroundings.

The older man eventually approaches her, kneeling down to her level.

"I have to leave now. But it's okay," he assures her. "Master Luke is going to take good care of you."

Rey furrows her brow but nods timidly, peering sideways at her new guardian. He has a long robe and a warm smile.

"It's nice to meet you Reina," Luke says encouragingly. "I'm so happy you're here." And as he speaks, she somehow knows everything will be okay.

"Mind him well, and I know you will do great things," the first man says. And with that, he kisses her forehead, bids Luke farewell, and disappears.

Rey pulls back to reality- she has so many questions! But Kylo urges her to be still and keep and open mind.

"Uncle Luke, Uncle Luke!" A young, raven-haired boy approaches in a hurry. "I did it, I finally did it!" He announces excitedly before noticing Rey. "Oh. I'm sorry, I didn't realize-"

"It's no matter," Luke assures him. "In fact, I'd like you to meet our newest student. Reina, this is Ben."

Ben is older than her by several years, but still a boy. He's slim in build with light skin and dark eyes.

"Hi," he greets out of formality, clearly eager to share something with his uncle.

The vision becomes hazy then, as Kylo partially represses the memory. He wasn't ready to share everything just yet.

"Why don't you take Reina and show her around?" Luke suggests.

"Okay," Ben agrees, much more enthused than before. He smiles and extends a hand toward Rey.

She looks up at him shyly through her eyelashes, unsure of herself.

"It's okay," Ben coaxes lightly. "You can trust me."

And without hesitation, she reaches up and takes his hand.

The memory ends abruptly and Rey's eyes fly open.

"Ben?" she utters apprehensively, testing his name on her lips for the first time in over a decade.

"Not anymore," Kylo thinks indifferently, unsure whether she could hear him.