Chapter 22: Catfight
The next morning, Rey met Kaydel Connix and Beaumont Kin for breakfast. Settling herself on the bench across from them, she glanced further down the long table to see Poe cuddled up with Zorri. The Jedi's and pilot's eyes happened to meet and she nodded curtly. Neither of her meal mates appeared to notice.
"Just come from seeing Ben?" Connix asked conversationally.
"Mmm-hmm," Rey nodded, biting into a roll.
Connix grinned impishly. "Did you guys spend the whole time making out?"
She nearly choked on the roll, flushing furiously. "Kaydel!" The Lieutenant just giggled.
"Enjoy it while you can," Beaumont gambled. "Poe'll get around to lopping off his head soon enough."
Rey glowered at him. "We'll see, Kin. And no, I don't think he will, if he knows what's good for him."
"Wanna bet credits on that?" the side-burned scholar challenged.
She flung another roll at his head. "You two are no fun! At least Finn is a laugh..." Rey partially stood up. "Where is he, anyway?"
"I saw him going back to his rooms at sunrise," Beaumont informed helpfully. "He was guarding that Tazla girl all night."
"That's not all he was doing," Kaydel sing-songed.
Rey's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"Well:" Kaydel began dramatically. "Zorri told Klaud, who told Wedge who told me that that Tazla rode him ragged last night!" When Rey just stared back at her blankly, the Lieutenant huffed, "Oh for Force's sake, Rey! For an allegedly married woman, you really are too innocent! She fucked Finn all night!"
Rey's jaw dropped. "My Finn? My Finny?"
"No, the Emperor's Finny. Of course your Finny!" Connix snapped. "And he wasn't complaining, neither!"
Rey leaned back in a daze. Tazla... having sex with her best friend? My Finny is in love? Her body swayed a little. Once her thoughts calmed, however, Rey stood from the table abruptly.
"Excuse me." And she stormed from the mess hall.
When Rey arrived at the medical ward, prowling towards the hospital room holding Tazla Ren, she found a portly colleague named Jenkins posted guard just inside the front door.
"Leave!" she snapped at him shortly. "I need to speak to the prisoner!" He dithered quickly to obey.
Tazla Ren was sitting up in bed, reading a book all about the planet Ithor. When she raised her eyes over the pages, the Knight of Ren dropped the text in shock.
"Jedi - Rey," she fumbled. "What are you...?"
"Are you in love with my best friend?" Rey demanded.
Tazla just blinked. "I... I don't... What...?"
"Answer the kriffing question!" Rey nearly screamed. "You were going down on him all night, or so I hear!"
Tazla cocked an eyebrow. "And that really isn't any of your business. I don't ask about who you fuck - not like I need to. You're married to my old Master, as I understand it."
Rey glowered. "I should have left you to die on Mustafar!" She was thrilled when Tazla noticeably flinched at this. But the Knight of Ren gave as good as she got.
"Why didn't you?"
Rey's anger faltered for just a moment. "I... I don't know," she finally huffed exasperatedly, lamely. "I was feeling charitable. I probably wouldn't have been, if I had known you would be using Finn!"
"How dare you!" Tazla leapt off of the hospital cot. "I would never use him!" Her eyes filled with tears. "He's been so kind to me... and I know I don't deserve it, but... he understands what it's like to switch sides..."
"Have you?" Rey demanded. "You had better the hell really care about him, Tazla Ren, because if you don't... I'll... I'll..."
"You'll what?" Tazla challenged.
Rey drew herself up to her full height. "I'll skewer you again. And this time, I won't even think about saving your skin!"
Tazla gawped. "Are you threatening me?"
"I'll do whatever I have to in order to protect my best friend! There's only one man in this entire universe who I love even more deeply than Finny, and that's my husband! If you love Finn just as much, you won't even think about coming within a mile of breaking his heart!" And she stormed away, leaving Tazla standing there in her hospital gown.
