Luke's heart is hammering wildly in his chest as he sees the white boots of a group of Troopers nearing his hiding place. They were so close, way too close for his liking, way too likely to find him and take him back to his captor. In his current state he is not certain if he could live through another round of Ren's prodding and warping his mind until he can hardly tell good from bad, truth from lie. The only think keeping him going is the hope of seeing his beloved again, and if only for one last time, of telling her once more how much he loves her.

It pains him how his control has slipped right through his fingers. Once he was known to be one of the most powerful beings in the galaxy, but now he feels like nothing but a frightened puppy cowering away from it's aggressive owner. How it has come so far he doesn't know. Maybe the experiences during his long years had worn him down, barely ever granting him refuge before fate would take what he had come to love away again and again and again. And yet he hadn't lost his ability to trust another completely, even thought that finally his ordeal had come to an end the moment Rey told him their feelings were mutual.

Their first kiss has ever since been his most cherished memory.

But nothing of it matters in this moment of pure torment.

Frantically he lets his spirit wander, searching for his mate on this godforsaken ship. And then his eyes widen, recognizing how close she is. As if a dam had broken he senses it, her signature right in front of him. Could it be? How did he not notice it before. Were his senses so dulled by Ren's torture that he couldn't even tell an unimportant appearance from the one of utmost importance? How pathetic.

/Rey/ he wordlessly calls out to her, nothing but a disembodied voice.

/Luke!/ comes the immediate answer, followed by a hopeful flare washing over their bond. /Where are-?/ She stops, furious that she had been too blind to grasp the solution earlier.

Slowly she kneels down and there he is.

Throwing caution to the wind Rey takes off her helmet, finally meeting the eyes of her beloved, tears welling up in her own as she takes in his appearance, the majority of his injuries still hidden in the shadows.

A hand clasps over her mouth to stifle a desperate sob.

"Luke..." She hiccups "What have they done to you?"

As the tears begin to run down her cheeks freely, she removes the grit and reaches out to him.

Luke tries to take her hand, but let's out a pained gasp as soon as her fingers close around his broken wrist, which by now has taken on a dark purple color. The rush of adrenaline had made him forget the damage inflicted on his body for a while, but now that it has worn off it is hard for him to tell if there is even one part not aching anymore. Gathering his last bits of strength he drags himself out of the vent, though he is unable to get up on his own, laying curled up on the cold floor instead, the full extent of Ren's treatment revealed by the cold neon lights.

It takes all of Rey's self control not to hunt the fiend down that instant and paying back all he had done to the one dearest to her heart. However, it is not the time for thoughts of revenge, nor is it the way of a honorable Jedi. She refuses to give in to these urges, for it would not set her apart from the man she so despises. To think that he was once the son of their late friend Han and the strong and proud resistance general with the sharp tongue, but secret heart of gold, is hard to take in for her.

Carefully, mindful to not hurt him even further, she wraps her arms around him, cradling him against her chest, nose buried in his hair.

"I got you now" she mumbles "I will make sure that-that...monster cannot reach you again.

Luke clings to her weakly with his human hand, the other hanging limply by his side, his eyes empty and unfocused.

"As much as I hate to disturb your reunion, we have to get out of here!" Poe's voice sounds almost rueful despite the insistence. He is well aware of how important their physical connection is after the older man's ordeal, but at the same time staying would endanger all of them.

A cold shiver runs down his spine as he remembers his own captivity, as well as everything he had to endure by the hands of Kylo Ren. The way his friend of old appears to him now makes it clear how lucky he himself had been, escaping with nothing more than a few bruises.

Swallowing around a lump in her throat, Rey nods.

"Here, I will carry you" She shifts to lift her lover up into her arms, but he stops her, shaking his head tiredly.

"I'm too heavy for you. Please...just end this here" His breathing comes in shallow pants, his broken ribs making it almost impossible to inhale deeply.

"What do you mean Luke?" She asks, desperation quickly building up once again.

"I'm glad I got to see you one last time" He brushes his fingers across her cheeck, his hand shaking uncontrollably. "Forgive me, Rey…" His eyes are bloodshot as he meets hers "I wanted to be yours but…" his hand slips from her cheek to his chest as his strength falters.

She shakes her head vehemently "You're going to recover. We haven't come so far to lose you now. I won't let it happen!"

" It's too late. I...will always love you…" His eyes close as he goes limp against her.

"Luke? Luke!" It is all it takes for Rey to break down, burying her face in his hair as sobs wreck her body.