/AN/

Please let me know if there are any major mistakes. I'm still not feeling well but I'm sorry for such sparse updates xoxo

Lilac blocked Kylo's right hook, likely adding another bruise to her left forearm. He was relentless, and it had been a long time since he'd taken it easy on his charge. He continued his assault, his footwork matching his fists in agility. Every movement was caught in the reflections surrounding them, several Kylo's attacking several Lilac's in unison.

Lilac's expression was hard, her determination doubling. As Kylo struck out, she ducked. Her counter move was to spin, aiming one leg at his knees. Kylo jumped, high up and away, while Lilac stood herself up again.

Kylo landed, several feet back. With haggard breath, he chuckled. "You're doing much better."

Lilac stood in a defensive position, ready for him to attack at any moment. "Of course I am. I have excellent teachers."

Kylo grinned, his breath evening. He thought she meant him and the general. She did, of course, but there was another. Jona had been teaching her more than to fight, as Kylo did, or to have exceptional interpersonal skills, as General Hux did.

Jona was not force-sensitive, but he always made himself seem to be the most powerful person in the room. He made himself intimidating, and assured he always had the last word. He wouldn't let himself be caught vulnerable. Lilac needed to learn those things more than how to kick properly.

"Come at me." Kylo ordered, throwing his arms wide.

Lilac ran at him, intending to tackle the man. He rolled out of the way, and she pursued. She laid long struts after him. He rolled and twirled. She jumped and side-stepped. Every time she was close enough, she struck out with a fist or a kick. Kylo dodged gracefully each time, without a single counter attack offered.

He was skilled enough to hold out forever, but after several minutes he started to slow. Lilac wheezed, sweat staining her loose work-out clothes and cooling her flushed, brown skin. She threw one last punch, expecting air. Kylo caught her fist.

He was sweating almost as much as she was. She was faster than she used to be. Faster than she was last time she chased him. He imagined it was from her solitary training sessions. She knew it was thanks to Jona for chasing her through forests, threatening to gut her if he ever caught up. He terrified her, and she ran faster for him.

Kylo pulled on her arm, and she collapsed into his embrace. Jona was pushing her harder than Kylo, in every way. Kylo had grown softer with her each time. They would train, and talk, and he'd hold her and tell her how proud he was. She had the best of both worlds. She was educated, and she was loved. It was everything she thought she would never have.

"Very good." Kylo kissed her forehead.

Lilac kissed his shoulder, then started kissing down his arm until she kissed each of his fingers. She looked into his eyes, pressing his palm to her cheek. "I like this. Just you and me."

"Have I made you happy, Lilac?"

She smiled. "I don't imagine I could be any happier."

Lilac was finally feeling like the woman she'd always wanted to be. She was strong, healthy, heavy in all the right ways. Her purple hair was growing out, but it was still nowhere near as long as Kylo's. She was just happy to have hair again.

The scar was still painfully clear, connecting the corner of her right eye to the center of her scalp. No amount of hair, she thought, would ever hide it. Finally, she was starting to accept that.

Kylo looked at the scar with sympathy, and with anger. If he could kill the man who'd done it again and again, he would. When Jona looked at the scar, he grinned wide enough to show his fangs. He saw the side of her that wanted to kill every slave trader with her own hands. He was right. It was her mark; her promise to the people she met in chains at auctions and in clubs.

The musty sparring room was blasted with a fresh wave of recycled air when the door opened. General Hux walked out onto the mats, his usual militant garb clashing with the tan tatami room. His expression was cheerful for a man that just returned from a meeting with Commander Snoke.

Lilac, once untangled from her sparring partner, squealed and grinned at the man, but stood her ground. Kylo was at her side, frowning as usual at the general.

"Lilac." General Hux breathed a sigh of relief, stopping before the two. "You look as though you've taken a thorough beating."

Lilac nodded enthusiastically. Every day that she got stronger, she became more resilient. A hearty beating was a milestone. The colourful bruises were trophies and medals.

Kylo cleared his throat. "What has the commander said?"

Hux looked at Kylo, and Lilac noticed the tired circles under the general's eyes. "The commander is not impressed."

The mood in the room deflated further. Kylo's frown deepened, Hux stared at Lilac to measure her reaction. Lilac smiled softly.

"So what?"

The two men looked at each other, then back at the small girl with her optimistic spirit.

"I mean, it's not like I need to be a part of his ultimate plans to be with you two, right? I can just be a friend. A guest. Like I have been."

"Not forever." Kylo picked up her hand and kissed her knuckles. "Not on the Finalizer."

The general watched the point where the two touched. "Not even under my command would you be permitted permanent residence aboard the Finalizer. If Commander Snoke says you can not stay, then we will have to find elsewhere for you to go. There is no negotiating."

"I have to meet with him as well." Kylo interjected. "If I can convince him-"

"If you can, the Commander will make you bleed for it, Ren." Hux warned.

"Then I will bleed." Kylo declared.

Lilac pulled on Kylo's arm to make him face her. "Not literally. Don't do anything dangerous for me."

"Do you want to leave the Finalizer?" He questioned seriously. "Leave me?"

Lilac's eyes widened. "No! Never!" She glanced towards Hux. "But, it can't be helped. I'd rather wait for you on some shitty planet than let you be hurt for my sake."

"And I would rather die than leave you on some shitty planet."

Hux held up his hand, silencing them both. "Kylo will have his meeting. Lilac, you will wait in your room. If neither myself nor Kylo could convince the Commander to simply allow you residence here, then we will find an alternative later. You will not be immediately ejected. Take a deep breath, both of you, and continue your day as though nothing has changed.

"Nothing has changed, correct?" He eyed the two, suspicious as always.

Since Kylo started being more openly affectionate with Lilac, Hux had made a point of not asking what was going on between them. Other soldiers would stare at the two, and Hux would order them to reconditioning. Nothing that happened between Kylo and Lilac was any business of the First Order nor of anyone under his command.

Hux didn't ask what they were, nor did he expect to be told. Whatever they were, and they weren't sure themselves, was better left unsaid.

Kylo nodded, his jaw set. Lilac could practically feel the tension in his body that hadn't been there before Hux walked in. Their peaceful moments together were few and far between.

Lilac lifted her fists. "Want to spar a little, general?" She grinned at him. "I mean, since nothing has changed, why not let me throw you around a little?"

Hux looked down at her and shook his head. "Your ego has improved, I see. Hit the showers, kid." He joked, ruffling her hair. Lilac, used to the action, forced her smile to stay solidly planted on her face as the general unknowingly irritated her scar. He continued, "You've done enough ass-kicking today, and your mentor has a meeting to attend."

Kylo stepped between them, stubborn as ever. His lips grazed Lilac's cheek. "Til later, Lilac."

"Til later." She replied. I love you, she swallowed. As Kylo walked out of the room, Hux's eyes were trained on her.

"And you? Anything changed?"

Lilac shook her head. "Nothing. I'm just as badass as I was yesterday."

He didn't seem convinced, judging by the neutral expression he forced onto his features. "Then go. I will work on finding you somewhere safe," he emphasized, "to continue your training."

Lilac walked away from her sparring session thankful for how little the general did know. Jona said to keep their rendezvous a secret. She didn't want their meet ups to end, and he made sure she knew that the First Order soldiers would tear her away from her real teacher if they knew about him. Whatever Jona said, she listened. He was right about her, and about everything else. He knew her, and he knew what she needed. She needed him; the man that led her to her victims and showed her how to make them suffer. If she had to lie to Kylo for that to continue, then she would lie until her face turned blue.

She had a purpose in life, one that Kylo didn't seem to understand. Until he did understand, her true teacher was the one person she followed unquestioningly.