The unmistakable sound of TIE fighters blasting through the galaxy distracts Stella. She whirls around, hurrying to her window just in time to see the group begin their attack on the Resistance fleet. She blows her cheeks out with a deep exhale. "Mara, wha-" Stella stops, glancing over her shoulder and finding the room behind her completely empty. Rubbing her temples with her fingertips, she allows her head to drop to her chest. "I've gone completely insane." She mumbles.
Every emotion possible, ranging from excited to terrified and anything in between, ripples through Stella's mind at once. The idea of redemption for Ben Solo seems so impossible to her, but then again, is anything impossible at this point? She bites her lip, flopping back against her bed and staring at the ceiling. Why would she, a nobody with no force sensitivity who isn't even from this world, be able to ever convince him that the light isn't gone from inside of him? "His own father couldn't do it." She murmurs out loud, rolling onto her stomach and propping herself up on her elbows.
"You share Padme's fighting spirit.." Mara's voice echoes through her mind and she shakes her head. No, Padme didn't have to save someone she can barely hold a conversation with. This isn't the same. Stella groans, burying her face in a pillow and squeezing her eyes shut in an attempt to silence her rampaging thoughts. Exhausted from the mental strain of her day, she quickly falls into a deep, dreamless sleep the moment her eyes close.
Hours later, the small cleaning droid zips through her room, waking her with a start. It's been since her first day on this ship since she's seen the robot. "Oh god." She hisses, jerking upward and reaching for the alarm next to her bed. "Fuck fuck fuck fuck." Stella repeats, flinging herself off the mattress and into the bathroom. "I'm so late."
She smooths out her clothes, having fallen asleep in her uniform, and throws her hair into a quick braid. Her makeup is smeared across her face, mascara tears streak her cheeks and her lipstick gives her a clown like appearance. If she wasn't so late, Stella might find her current state pretty funny. She scrubs her skin clean, foregoing putting anything more on and bolts for the door. Kylo is sure to be infuriated with her for this, as if yesterday wasn't enough to piss him off.
In an all out sprint, Stella first checks the command bridge. Hux cocks a brow at her entrance. "Have you seen Kyl- I mean um, Commander Ren?" She's almost embarrassed at how out of breath she already is.
"Not since his fighter returned to the main hangar." Hux shakes his head. She retreats from the bridge, yelling a quick 'thank you' over her shoulder as she rushes down to the hangars.
She bounces on her toes as she waits for the elevator to creep down to her level in the ship, grumbling about how she doesn't have time for all this. Finally, the doors hiss open with a burst of air, revealing the black and white lit interior. Her eyes drop to the floor, a pit forming in her stomach at the sight of Kylo Ren's destroyed mask. As she crouches down, trailing her fingertips over the helmet and dragging her gaze over the damage his fist did to the walls, a heavy feeling of regret washes over her. He's more broken than he lets on. She jumps to her feet, turning sharply on her heel only to slam into an approaching officer.
"Stella?" Brynn rubs her forehead as she backs away from the hurried girl. Stella's eyes widen, instantly recognizing her once coworkers voice.
"Brynn, I'm so sorry." She rubs her own throbbing head. "I wasn't looking."
"Gods Stella!" The blonde exclaims, flinging her arms around Stella's neck and pulling her into a hug. "I was sure you were dead!"
"Dead?" Her brows furrow, forgetting her earlier panic to find Ren. "Why would I be dead?"
"After the… incident… Commander Ren killed that guy. He choked him. I thought for sure he.. you.. I'm just so glad to see you!"
Stella creases her forehead, her gaze dropping to the tiled floor. "He killed him." She repeats in a whisper. "Because of me.. Maybe Mara was right about all of this." Her eyes meet Brynns, electrified with a newfound sense of urgency as a realization dawns on her. The force bond. "Can you show me where the medical wing, or medbay, whatever you call it is?"
Brynn nods sharply, smart enough not to question anything right now, and gestures for Stella to follow. They jog through the Supremacy's massive layout, twisting and turning with the black lined hall. She squeezes her friends hand, silently thanking her as the medbay doors fly open. Brynn gives her most encouraging smile, nudging her over the threshold.
Stella's eyes dart around, searching for any sign of his presence. She spots a medical droid scurrying from an examination room, and pops up on her tiptoes to sneak a view before the door slams shut. Kylo Ren, paces the floor, mumbling and cursing under his breath. He swipes his hand across a metal tray, sending it flying into the wall. She moves to the door, knocking softly.
"You saw her, didn't you?" Stella's voice is quiet. Something stirs inside of her, and she mentally kicks herself for the butterflies that always seem to flutter when she lays eyes on him. His jaw twitches as his dark eyes find hers.
"She's with Skywalker." His hands ball into fists at his sides.
"Did you do the thing?" She can't help but grin as she slides into the room, mocking both his actions and her previous drunken attempt.
Kylo scowls, bumping her shoulder as he pushes passed her and out of the automatic doors. Fighting the hedge to roll her eyes, Stella follows close behind. "Are you completely incapable of being serious?" He grunts as she catches up.
"No." She shrugs. "But you're acting like this is the end of the world. It's a little pathetic." He freezes at her words, casting a dark glare over his shoulder as she catches herself from running into him.
"After your meltdown yesterday, I don't believe you're qualified to call anyone 'pathetic." He growls.
She tucks a stray hair behind her ear, gulping down the sudden nervousness inside of her.. "Kylo, tell me why it's so important to you to end the Jedi." Stella dares to step closer to him, resting a hand on his upper arm. He yanks his arm away, leering down at his far-too-comfortable-with-him subordinate. A huff of air releases from his tightening chest as he stalks off to his chambers.
"I never said this would be an easy task.." Mara's words repeat in her memory.
"Yeah yeah, I heard you." Stella hisses under her breath before ambling after him.
She manages to slip through the doors of his suite before they can slam in her face. She knows very well that he could easily remove her from his private living quarters, and grows more confident as he simply ignores her presence. He rests against the stark black, and incredibly elegant couch, leaning his elbows on his knees. His eyes, void of any emotion, fixate on the ground.
"She's not dead, you know." Stella inches further into the room.
"I'm well aware that the scavenger is still breathing, Star." He snaps, grinding his teeth together.
This time, she doesn't bother to fight it and rolls her eyes. "No, dummy. Your mother. Leia. You hesitated and another pilot destroyed their bridge. But Leia survived."
His stare remains locked on the floor, giving her no visible reaction to the statement. "I have no mother." His tone is cold enough to send a chill down Stella's spine.
Propping her hands on her hips, she sighs at his stubbornness. "Right. You just popped out of the bowels of hell one day, ready for this darkside nonsense."
"I think it's time for you to leave." Ren thrusts his hand forward, gripping an invisible hand around her throat and squeezing tightly.
"I think it's time for you to have an actual conversation with someone who cares about you about the shit going on in your head!" She manages to choke out as her airways constrict.
He rises from his seat, never breaking the icy glare that glazed over his eyes. His hold around her neck releases and she doubles over, resting her hands on her kneecaps and breathing deeply. In a flash, his lightsaber is unclipped and ignited. He points the weapon at her, advancing until its only inches from her neck. She swallows hard, stiffening as the proximity sears her skin, but manages (barely) to maintain a confident, unafraid mask over her features. Despite sensing the fear dripping off of her, Ren finds himself furious at her lack of response to his threat. He whirls the weapon around, slicing into the wall next to her head, over and over again. Her lips tremble, but she never flinches. A roar of pure anger reverberates from his chest, piercing Stella's ears like a clap of thunder as he releases the sword from his tight grip, and collapses onto the floor in front of her. His face drops into his hands, shoulders rising and falling rapidly with heavy breaths.
Stella pauses, completely dumbfounded. She watches the Kylo Ren break down at her feet in a way she's certain he never has before. Her breathing is shaky as she dares to kneel next to him, and cautiously rests her hand on his back. To her surprise, he doesn't instantly pull away from her touch and she begins gently tracing circles with her fingertips across his tightly knotted shoulders. He casts a sideways glance at her. The pain and agony ripping through him, tearing him apart, is written all over his face. Stella's hand moves up into his hair, twirling her fingers in the curls at the base of his neck. Her usually racing mind stills as he leans into her touch.
The silence that hangs between them is comfortable, almost peaceful. He revels in the warmth of her body so close to his, and her smooth skin against his neck. A close to inaudible sigh escapes his lungs as his a fresh energy fills him. Her presence seems to calm his conflicted mind, and quiet the demons inside of him. Across the room, interrupting the intimate moment, his datapad beeps, signaling an incoming message.
"Kriff." He mumbles, staring daggers at the electronic. The corners of her lips lift slightly.
"I'll give you some privacy." Stella shifts her weight off of her knees and pulls herself to her feet. Kylo jumps up, grasping her hand to stop her from leaving.
"No. Stay. Please."