Minor author's note: There's a change of perspective halfway through from Kylo to Rey, so keep that in mind.
Where was she?
Kylo grimaced as he took a long slug of his drink. He wasn't a fan of alcohol, and tonight it seemed particularly foul.
Not for the first time that night he tried to reach out to Rey. Normally her Force signature would be right there, eager to intertwine with his, but tonight there was nothing. It was as though the Force didn't even exist.
He wondered if the alcohol was having more of an effect than he had thought.
'Having fun, Solo?' Vicrul leant over the booth, smirking at Kylo.
Kylo didn't know how many drinks Vicrul was in by, but he recognised the glazed look and soft slip of his voice. He was beyond drunk. And a drunk Vicrul was amongst as dangerous as an angry one.
'Where's Meione?' Kylo asked, ignoring Vicrul's initial question.
'Getting the girls ready for my floor show, I expect. Why? Worried she's got your little scavenger working tonight?' Vicrul laughed.
'Maker, can you imagine who'd be desperate enough,' Ushar snorted over his drink.
'I'm sure our Supreme Leader here isn't the sharing type,' Kuruk remarked, his tone mocking.
Leaning back in his seat, Kylo took in the laughing faces of his Knights.
It was odd. Only a few months before, he would've considered these men brothers. Their faces, thoughts, and desires were so familiar to him he wouldn't have ever doubted their loyalty. Vicrul had always been the challenging one, but even back then he would never have doubted his allegiance.
After meeting Rey, it was as though something fundamental had shifted. Now, as he looked in the jeering faces of the men before him, he felt nothing.
'You didn't really tell Meione to get the girls ready, did you Vicrul?' Kylo said.
'Your disbelief wounds me, Solo. The Judgement of Scars always gets the crowd riled up. I'd never skip it. Truthfully, my only regret is that Rey isn't here to see it,' Vicrul sighed.
'She doesn't need to see this,' Kylo said firmly.
I'm never going to bring Rey back here.
Why had he agreed to do this in the first place? Why couldn't he just have said no to Vicrul? He had seen Rey's face when they had first come in, heard the venom in her voice as she spoke to the Knights on The Night Buzzard.
She hated this.
And he had brought her here.
Was she ever going to forgive him?
His mind flickered back to when Meione's prostitute had offered himself to Rey. Kylo's anger had been completely unjustified - and yet he couldn't help but feel fury when he saw Rey's face as she took in the man before her.
Behind the obvious shock, he had sensed desire there. A need to be touched. And worse - it hadn't come from looking at Ben, but some unknown stranger.
Even now, the thought of that made his blood boil, and his hand clench around the glass.
He knew he had no right to claim anything over Rey... but she had taken his hand. She had promised to rule with him. Not with some debauched creature from a pleasure tent.
'Master Vicrul. We're ready to start.'
Meione's voice made him jump out of his troubled thoughts. The orange skinned creature was standing before them, holding a tray of drinks. 'New refreshments. Courtesy of management,' Meione said.
With a joyful holler, the Knights dove forward, snatching glasses off the tray.
'What's with all the complimentary drinks, Meione? You're not usually this... accommodating,' Kylo frowned. He looked down at the drink in his hand.
In fact, he couldn't remember the last time he had paid for a drink. Had he reached into his pocket at all the entire night?
'I guess I must be getting generous in my old age,' Meione shrugged. 'However, Master Ren... I think you may have had enough. In fact, can I talk to you?'
Kylo frowned at the creature. He wasn't sure, but there was something in her voice. He attempted to reach out with the Force, but he couldn't reach the orange-skinned creature's consciousness.
'We're talking now, aren't we?' Kylo answered.
'Privately. It's important,' Meione urged.
'No no! My show's about to start. You can talk to him afterwards,' Vicrul cut in.
'It'll be too late then, you fool!' Meione snapped back.
Kylo raised his eyebrows in surprise. In his long friendship with Meione, that was the first time he had ever heard her react to Vicrul. She usually was too polite to the blonde Knight, allowing him to carry on with his hideous 'Judgement of Scars', and turning a blind eye to the torture of the women she so graciously provided for his Knights.
From beside him, Kylo heard his lieutenant laugh softly.
'If I wasn't in such a good mood Meione, I'd cut your tongue out for that. Good thing you've caught me before my Judgement,' Vicrul mocked, the threat clear in his tone.
'Apologies, Master Vicrul. And enjoy the show. It should be... an illuminating one,' Meione said, moving behind the Knights.
'And Ben?'
The orange-skinned creature's voice was low and close to his ear.
'I'm sorry. Just remember that? I'm sorry,' Meione whispered, her tone full of regret.
Kylo frowned and turned to look at the brothel owner.
Meione held his stare for a long time before melting back into the crowd.
Turning his attention back to the stage, Kylo took a deep gulp of his drink as the lights dimmed.
The Judgement begins, he thought ruefully.
From the booth, he watched as six girls were led onto the stage. As usual, they all wore the same matching gowns, their backs bared and their faces and hair hidden in dark veils.
'Who should I start with, then?' Vicrul leant forward, beckoning the Knights to huddle together.
'That's definitely S'Nealn. She's a crier,' Trudgen murmured. The Mirialan's green skin made her an easy spot on the stage as the girls stood immobile.
'Or Pannrah? You haven't broken her yet?' Cardo suggested.
'I think there's a few new girls up, there. Fresh meat, Vicrul?' Ap'lek said.
'All good suggestions boys. But I think that's Jaara, isn't it? It's been a while,' Vicrul remarked, his face thoughtful as his eyes scanned down the line of girls. 'Kylo, you haven't said anything.'
Kylo leaned back, turning his attention away from the stage to where his Knights and lieutenant were all watching him.
I don't care. All I care about is finding Rey.
'You pick. I don't mind,' he said.
To his surprise, his words came out in a slur. This drink must've been stronger than first anticipated. For the first time in years, Kylo Ren felt himself edging towards drunkenness.
'Spoilsport. Okay, Cardo, you win. Pannrah it is. I do love a challenge,' Vicrul remarked, placing his drink on the table.
As he stood up, Kylo frowned as he saw Vicrul wobble. That was unlike the blonde Knight. Alcohol didn't tend to affect his equilibrium. Kylo had sparred after a night out with him many times, and Vicrul remained as steady as he would if he hadn't spent the night propping up the bar.
What did they put in these drinks?
'Pannrah, my beauty. Let me start with you first,' Vicrul called, striding up to the stage, and placing his hand on Pannrah's spine. Even from his vantage point, Kylo couldn't mistake the shudder that ran through the girl.
This was going to be a long night.
'-And that's why, gentleman, S'Nealn here is worthless,' Vicrul crowed. 'Turn around for me, my lovely.'
Kylo sighed as the Mirialan spun around. With a flourish, Vicrul ripped off her veil. S'Nealn winced in the bright light, her cheeks stained with tears.
Vicrul reached out, grabbing her face in his hand, and with unnecessary force twisted her to look at him.
'You are worthless, aren't you? And now you can see why your sister killed herself. So she wouldn't have to be around you.' Vicrul said, his voice soft as his free hand traced down her back, his fingertips ghosting over her scars. 'Agree with me, S'Nealn.'
'Yes!' The Miralian stammered, her voice full of anguish.
'Did you cry, when your sister died? Knowing that you killed her?' Vicrul asked.
'But... I didn't,' S'Nealn whispered, staring down at her hands.
'Excuse me?' Vicrul's wandering hand froze on the Miralian's lower back, and Kylo could see his fingers digging into her soft skin.
The Supreme Leader shifted in his seat, disgust rolling in his stomach as he tried to ignore what was going on between his lieutenant and the courtesan.
He knew he should do more. Act against Vicrul, and stop his whole sordid practice, but there was something in him that made him pause.
Before meeting Rey, he had no qualms about letting Vicrul off the lead with these girls. They meant nothing to him, and their lives didn't matter.
But now, every time he saw a tear roll down a cheek, or saw their shoulders shudder with disgust, he felt as though he was seeing them through Rey's eyes. They were victims, and he was letting Vicrul torture them.
'I didn't kill her,' S'Nealn's voice was louder now.
Kylo chewed on his lip as he watched Vicrul tilt his head as he considered the girl in front of him. From beside him, Kylo heard his Knights shift forward as they watched Vicrul lean over the courtesan that he held in his grasp.
He didn't need the Force to know that they were drunk and giddy on the anticipation in the room.
A beat of silence passed that seemed to stretch out for eternity.
And in a moment so fast that if Kylo had blinked, he would've missed it, Vicrul's hand flew across S'Nealn's face and sent the girl crashing to the floor.
'DON'T MOVE. DON'T YOU DARE!' Vicrul's warning cut through the air as the remaining girl on the stage leant over to help the weeping Miralian off the floor.
'Get up, you worthless piece of nothing. You dare defy me-' Vicrul snapped, bringing his foot back. Kylo winced as he heard the solid thud of his boot land in S'Nealn's stomach.
'If I say you killed your own sister, you believe it. If I say you fucked your brother's corpse, you agree with me. You don't have opinions, you don't have rights. Get up,' Vicrul spat.
Kylo's hand clenched on his empty glass as the shuddering girl leant on her forearms, her back heaving with sobs. Even from this angle, he could see the fresh blood that ran down from her nose.
A monster. He's a monster.
'Good girl,' Vicrul crooned as S'Nealn staggered to her feet. 'Now, give me a kiss.'
'He really teaches them a lesson, doesn't he?' Cardo's voice was gleeful
'A 'lesson' they don't deserve,' Kylo shot back, frowning as he watched Vicrul release the immobile girl from his arms. The blood that had poured from her nose was now smeared across Vicrul's top lip. Kylo's stomach flipped at the sight of his lieutenant's joyful face.
'Good girl. You can go now,' Vicrul released his hold and pushed S'Nealn away from him. She stumbled before fleeing off stage.
'Last one, gentlemen. And I think this is a new girl. Do you know why I know this?' Vicrul slurred, sweeping his hand towards the last girl who remained on the stage. 'Because these are new scars. I've never seen these before.'
Kylo raised an eyebrow. Meione hadn't said she was hiring anyone new, but truthfully, he never paid much attention to the roster of girls on the books.
What a mess, he thought, his stomach flipping as he looked at the last girl.
She was by far the most scarred. Dark whip marks covered the girl from the neck down, and twisted scar tissue made up most of the right-hand side of her waist. There were deep gouges that reminded him of bite marks near her shoulder, and even from his distance, he could see some of the scars curled around her sides and disappeared into the folds of her dress.
'A freak,' Kuruk remarked, throwing his head back and downing the rest of his drink.
'Vicrul's going to have a field day,' Trudgen smirked.
They watched as the blonde Knight prowled the stage, his hands sweeping down the girl's back.
'Who are you, new girl? I can tell you're young, your skin is soft,' Vicrul started. 'Are you a whore? But who would want you? None of my boys here would be able to stomach touching you. You're a mystery, my beauty.'
Kylo rolled his eyes. He had heard it all before, all the questions that slowly turned into accusations.
'These are clearly whip marks. So you've had a tough upbringing, that's clear. Hmm. Hit time and time again. Do they still hurt?' Vicrul pressed down on one of the girl's darker marks.
'A young girl who's been left to rot in this stinking place, and covered in scars. It's clear that no-one's ever loved you. No-one was around to stitch up these wounds. What a pity,' Vicrul mused. 'And what's this? What creature did this to you?' Vicrul laughed as his fingers stroked the bunched scar tissue that disappeared into her dress. 'I bet this hurt. Well, I hope it did.'
'Poor little slave girl, left all alone in the galaxy with no-one to defend you. I would feel for you if you didn't disgust me so much. And here you came, expecting to find a home, is that right? Well, reality check, nobody here cares. Do you understand me? You're nothing. Replaceable, unloved, abandoned,' Vicrul leant over the girl, pressing his body into her side.
Kylo shifted as he watched the girl lean away from his touch. Her shoulders were tensed up, and he could see her hands were curled into fists, white knuckles peeking through.
He knew he should look away. But it was like watching a gunfight, or a shuttle-crash. You couldn't help but look at the torment.
'I can't wait to get to know you better my pretty. I'm going to get into that mind of yours, and dig out every painful memory. I'm going to flay you with your own past, do you understand me? But not tonight, no. I've had quite enough entertainment for tonight. But I have to know, who is the girl under the hood? Who is this creature that sickens me? I should just put you down. You'll be free of living in this twisted skin-suit then,' Vicrul said.
Like before, he reached out to grab the girl's veil - but instead, he was grasping at thin air. The girl had neatly side-stepped out his way. Turning to face the Knight, she coolly removed her covering, shaking her head to free her shoulder-length brown hair.
Kylo leapt to his feet, his glass smashing on the floor.
Rey dropped her veil to the floor, her eyes narrowing. 'I sicken you, do I?'
Rey's eyes moved from Vicrul, searching for the one face that she knew so well. She needed to see if he cared. Needed to know that her scars didn't matter to him.
However, when she locked eyes with her bonded, she inhaled sharply at his expression. He was now moving towards them, wearing a mask of determination as his eyes moved between the blonde Knight and herself.
But Rey knew that was all an act: she had seen something different. The briefest flash beforehand.
The horrified expression had torn across his face when she had first met his eyes, and it was worse than she had ever imagined.
She knew she wasn't pretty. She had come to that realisation early on when the local girls on Jakku had teased her. She was too thin, her face free of products and her body covered with the physical memories of a tough upbringing.
But when she had met Kylo, she had thought this wouldn't have mattered. They shared something deeper. Something surpassed who they are, what their families were, or what side they even believed in.
But it was clear from his wide eyes and shocked expression that her physical flaws did matter to him.
She felt her heart tug.
Do I sicken you, too?
She floated the question across their bond, desperate to see his face when it landed in his mind. Then she would know. He couldn't hide this part from her.
She watched as he pushed through the crowd, his expression never changing as he glared at Vicrul.
Was he ignoring her? Could he do that?
He had never ignored their bond before.
Look at me.
She pushed her demand into his mind. She could feel the Force flex with energy. There was no way he could deny her this.
With panic, she watched as he stopped in front of the stage, his jaw clenching. There was nothing there that signalled he had heard her.
'Vicrul, stop this now. This has gone on for too long,' Kylo said through gritted teeth.
'Oh come on, this is fun. Just because you're embarrassed that your girlfriend is as flawed as the rest of these whores. And yes... you sicken me, little Empress,' Vicrul grinned.
Rey was tugged back to the present, her mind whirring as she felt Vicrul's answer her question. She felt a hot spark of fury radiate through her body. Didn't that idiot realise that nothing he did mattered now? Her original plan to humiliate the blonde Knight had flown out of her mind as soon as Kylo had spoken; he had still given no indication that he had heard her calling him through their bond.
Rey was cut off.
Something was terribly wrong. Her mind went completely blank as she felt the panic sweep over her, making every inch of her skin erupt in goosebumps.
'Ben...' she whispered, staggering forward, her hands reaching out. She hated how weak she sounded, but she was desperate to feel his comforting presence in her mind. She couldn't be alone again.
When they had touched fingertips in Ach-To, it had made their bond flare with energy. They had been so connected at that moment. She had to try.
Kylo broke his gaze away from Vicrul, his eyes scanning Rey's face in confusion before his eyes flickered down to her reaching hands.
She watched as his expression changed from confusion to worry. He moved forward, his hands coming up to twine with hers.
He can't feel me. He must know that now.
'Rey. What's happening?' he asked, the panic clear through his voice as the pressure on her hands increased.
'I can't feel.. There's nothing...You're not there,' she stammered.
'I know, I know. Your mind, it's closed off from me,' Kylo answered.
'Is it the Force?' she asked. Ever since her awakening on Ach-To with Luke, she hadn't ever thought that the Force wouldn't be a fixture in her life. It was ingrained within her very soul and being now.
Taking a deep breath in, she closed her eyes and moved into the depths of her mind, concentrating hard.
No.
The Force was there. She could feel it. Nothing had changed from her end, it shone as brightly as it did on Ach-To. But when she willed it to reach out to Kylo, it couldn't. She flinched as she felt herself straining to grab at something that wasn't there.
Something was wrong with him.
Rey's eyes flew open at this realisation, meeting Kylo's worried gaze.
'I can't... it's not there for me,' Kylo said, shaking his head. His expression was incredulous as he turned to look at his lieutenant.
'Vicrul. Use the Force,' Kylo ordered. Rey's eyes moved unwilling from Kylo's face to Vicrul. The blonde Knight scoffed, folding his arms in front of his chest.
'Are you trying to trick me?' Vicrul slurred.
'No. Shock me. Shock Rey. Just do something,' Ben snapped.
Vicrul's unsteady gaze moved between them. Rey knew he was drunk, had smelled the stench of hard liquor radiating off him as he had judged her scars, but for the first time since meeting the blonde Knight, she actually wanted to feel him hurt her.
'Fine. I'm not going to hold back, though,' he smirked. Kylo's grip on her hands increased as the bonded pair took a deep breath in, waiting for the familiar agony to sweep over them.
Instead, there was nothing.
In a moment that stretched out Rey watched as the Knight's expression changed from mild amusement to frustration.
Rey's body was primed for the inevitable attack, but there was no reason to - there was nothing.
'What?' Vicrul snarled. 'Why can't I hurt you? Why aren't you screaming?'
'Something's wrong. We've all been cut off from the Force,' Kylo said, his expression darkening as he looked around the room.
Rey followed his gaze. In the space of their interaction, the rest of the Knights had joined them in front of their stage, forming a loose semi-circle around Kylo and Rey. Behind them, the audience had quietened and retreated into the shadows. Even the bright-coloured girls had disappeared. They were entirely isolated.
'How can this happen?' Trudgen spat out.
'And to all of us, at once?' Cardo glanced around.
'It's deliberate. A sabotage. Cutting us off from the Force leaves us vulnerable,' Kylo answered. Dragging his eyes from his men, he met Rey's eyes.
'Vulnerable? To what?' Kuruk asked, the fear evident in his voice.
Rey watched as something akin to rage pass over his face as his eyes swept over her face. Moving his hands to grasp her wrists, he pulled her gently, tugging off the stage.
She stumbled, her long dress catching as she trod of the hem. She wished she was wearing her usual tunic and leggings; this gown was unnecessarily cumbersome.
Her mind flashed back to her original plan, and she shook her head in disbelief. Her stunt with the scars seemed so long ago, so important at the time, but so petty now.
Kylo's hands steadied her as she tripped, his hands moving to the top of her arms.
There it was again, the expression from a moment before. It wasn't rage, per se. But something else. Something that mixed anger and panic. In a swift movement, Rey felt herself pulled into his embrace. She tucked her face into his chest, listening to his rapid heartbeat as he rested his fingertips against her naked back.
If she didn't feel the tension in his arms as he held her, she would've lingered on the feeling of his skin against hers. It had burnt a trail across her spine, leaving behind a smouldering path.
'An attack. This is a trap,' Kylo said, his arms tightening around Rey.
'Who would dare do this?' Vicrul's voice was furious. Rey heard the stage squeak as he jumped down, his rage tangible as he addressed Kylo.
'I'm afraid I'm responsible for this.' A familiar voice made them all turn.
Rey pulled her head from Kylo's chest, biting her lip as she saw the orange-skinned creature emerge from the wall of her customers.
'Meione? Why?' Kylo asked. The pain was so obvious in his voice, it made Rey's heart tug.
'Believe me, this wasn't meant to involve you, Ben. I promise you that,' Meione pleaded. 'You weren't meant to be here. Just your Knights.
'What have you done?' Kylo demanded.
'It doesn't matter now. I did try to warn you. Both of you. I'm so sorry Ben. Truly I am.'
From behind her, the room exploded in a cacophony of terrified screams, gun blasts, and shouts. Smoke poured in from the back of the room, adding to the confusion.
Rey started as she heard the men around her swear loudly and push close together. She tried to move out of Kylo's embrace, wanting to see what was happening for herself, but his arms held her like a steel cage, his hands cradling her against his body as the world detonated around them.
Rey gasped as from the smog, a flurry of men sprinted in, their arms laden down with weaponry. In one swift moment, they raised their blasters at Rey and the Knights. Rey felt Kylo shift back, his instinct to flee strong - but they were cut off when another wave of men poured in from behind them. Rey's gaze moved around as the Knights were clumped closer together. From above her head, she heard Vicrul murmur something to Kylo, but she truthfully wasn't paying attention.
All she could focus on was the closing gaps between the waves of soldiers.
Their window for escape was gone.
'Get the Knights. Do it, NOW!'
A commanding voice rang out from the group, and a wave of shock ran down Rey's back.
She knew that voice. It was as familiar to her as Kylo's, or Leia's. She had heard that voice angry, happy, furious, and sarcastic.
From the second group of men, the swarthy face of Poe Dameron appeared, his brows knitted together in concentration as he raised his blaster up.
Author's note: A continuing huge thank you to my editor and best friend 'Across The Stars'.
Also, thank you to everyone who's favourited and reviewed in the last week, and sent over their compliments – it really means a lot.
