A/N: A big thanks to SirenBanshee. You are one amazing beta!
There's an odd chance that I don't upload next weekend or even the one after. I'm sick and not feeling all too great. Tomorrow I'll be going to the doctor and hoping it's not Covid.
xXxXxXx
Kylo stayed leaning against Rey for a long time, well beyond the time it took for the painkiller to ease his headache. He simply enjoyed Rey holding him while he was tired.
"They're all reconnected," he finally murmured.
"Will you invite others?" Rey asked. "Or will you focus on the trainees and the Base Knights first?"
"Definitely the trainees," he answered. "Maybe the Base Knights, depending on that chip."
"You fear you won't be able to remove it," Rey said, apparently having sensed some of his uncertainty over the bond.
"It is a possibility."
"Then what?"
"I don't know." He hoped with his entire being that that wouldn't be the case. "Phasma," he said somewhat louder. "Is there an update on the retrieval mission?"
She hummed. "I asked the Guard for volunteers to return. They all volunteered," she said with some amusement. "Efren is finding us a trustworthy ship and crew as we speak. We're aiming for the day after tomorrow, maybe the day after that."
Kylo nodded, still leaning against Rey. "Will Derek be ready by then?"
"He has agreed to the timing, sir."
"Good," he answered. "According to Derek, the Knights reported that they're all but finished with assessing the trainees' skill. Gather the Knights and perhaps Fu, and draft a training program for them. I want their skill level as high as the current Knights, without the brainwashing that went with it. Leave room for meditation after lunch, the same time as the Knights' session. Take into account that, once they're either reconnected or made aware of their use of the Force again, they'll have Force training as well."
"Which you will teach?" Rey asked. "Will you have the time? You're already training the Knights."
Kylo shook his head. "The trainees will start training in the Force as soon as the current Knights themselves are skilled enough to teach a basic class. I'll continue teaching them." He tilted his head to look at Rey. "And you, of course."
Rey smiled at him and brushed her fingers through his hair. He took her hand in his and pressed a kiss to the palm of it before sitting up and looking at Phasma.
"I'm giving you a lot of tasks," he said. "You are not obliged to stay by my side all day. Don't over-exert yourself. We're at our home base, after all."
"I understand, sir," Phasma said.
She didn't move from her spot though. Kylo left her be. She would manage her time as she saw fit. He turned back to Rey.
"What do you think about starting meditation training for the trainees tomorrow?" he asked her.
"Tomorrow?" she exclaimed, surprised.
"Yes."
"Isn't that a bit fast?"
"For who?"
"I…"
Rey bit her lip and Kylo pulled it from underneath her teeth.
"You know how to teach a meditation course, Rey," he murmured. "There's no need to be anxious." When she didn't seem convinced, he added, "Who was the one who helped me explain the need for meditation to seasoned warriors?" he asked.
"But they knew they would use it for the Force," she said. "These trainees won't have a reason to meditate."
"Won't they?" he asked. "What did you tell those at the Resistance that eventually came to learn from you?"
"That it stabilises the mind, helps you make decisions in a rational manner instead of on impulse, and that it balances emotions."
"And you think these trainees, who will end up in battle or on other missions, won't benefit from a calm, rational, and stable mind?"
"Well, if you put it like that."
Kylo smiled. "It's settled then?"
"Uhm, sir?"
He looked up at Phasma. "Yes?"
"What about Hux?"
Kylo cursed. "I guess you'll be meeting Hux tomorrow morning," he said to Rey. "He'll be joining us during debriefing."
"I'll let Ember know," Phasma said.
"Thank you," he answered, rubbing his temples.
"Do you still have a headache?" Rey asked, worried.
"No," Kylo said. "There's just too much to think of." He stood. "Let's leave so the training hall can be used. How long until dinner?"
"Less than an hour, sir," Phasma answered.
"That late already?" Kylo said, surprised.
"You were connected to Rogue for a long time," Rey offered. "You should rest until dinner."
"I'm fine."
"But what can you possibly do in less than an hour?"
"Check on the trainees."
"You look pale. You'll scare them."
"They wouldn't be good trainees if a pale face were to scare them," he countered.
"You need to rest."
"I'm fine. I can rest once we go to bed."
"You held Rogue's mind for hours."
He merely gazed at her, not answering. Rey put her hands on her hips.
"A leader should present a strong front," Phasma said. "A pale leader does not fit that description."
Rey smirked and Kylo glared at Phasma, feeling slightly betrayed.
"Fine," he eventually exclaimed. "I'll rest before dinner."
With those two teaming up on him, he figured it was either give in, or keep arguing until dinnertime. Given that he did feel tired and was in no mood to argue, he opted to take the easy way out and agree to a nap. However, he didn't think a napping leader presented a particularly strong front either.
xXxXxXx
The next morning, Kylo and Rey found themselves in his office earlier than usual, Derek and Phasma there with them.
"If you just stand there, I'll have no time to explain," Kylo argued.
"But why should I hide?" Rey countered. "Won't that look like I'm sneaking up on him?"
"What if he attacks?"
"As if he could touch me."
"He can't, but I doubt it's a good idea to aggravate him."
"I'm not hiding from him, Ben. Not even for what little time it will take you to warn him. I'd rather see his true reaction than one he's had time to think about."
"She makes a valid point, sir," Phasma finally spoke up.
"He doesn't pose a threat," Rey added. "Not in here, in this room, with all of us."
"In all honesty," Phasma said. "I think he's only a threat to you if he manages to sneak up on you."
Rey smiled at her, grateful for the compliment.
"You have to stop protecting me like this," Rey told Kylo over the bond. "I'm not weak."
"Of course not," Kylo immediately countered. "It's just-"
"If you want me to stand by your side as an equal, you'll have to let me face the same challenges as you do. Stop protecting me."
Kylo looked at her, troubled. He could feel she was trying to hide it, but her annoyance was clear to him. Now that she was with him, within his reach to protect, he wanted to bundle her up and keep her out of harm's way at all costs.
"I let you treat my wounds. Why don't you let me protect you?"
"There's a difference between patching up a wound and not even allowing the possibility that a wound might appear by keeping me miles away from everything sharp, Ben," Rey snapped.
He glared at her but she wasn't deterred.
"If you can't even stand me meeting someone as non-threatening as Hux because he might become displeased and attempt something foolish, then how will you ever agree to me standing by your side when you counter uprisings and internal strife? Will you lock me up so I can't follow? Is that what you're planning on doing?"
Kylo's anger disappeared like snow under a laser beam, horrification taking its place. "No. I would never."
"Then what?" Rey challenged, her hands on her hips.
He could feel her aggravation over their bond, the way she was itching to grab a weapon and hit him with it. He dragged a hand through his hair as he looked at her, coming to the painful realisation that she was right. Defeated, he let out a sigh and loosened his tense posture.
"Alright," he conceded. "Alright."
Rey huffed and ostentatiously sat herself on his desk.
"I know you want to hit me," he said, wanting to know how angry she truly was.
"With my staff. Right on top of your head," she answered, "but I can't."
"Why not?"
She looked at him. "Because I don't want you hurt either."
"Oh."
Rey shook her head and looked at the door. "Are they coming yet?" she asked.
"They're on their way," Phasma answered after a moment.
A tense and slightly uncomfortable silence settled over them. Kylo wasn't entirely sure if he should say something more to Rey or not. And if this was the right time and place.
When the door finally slid open, it was a relief. Ember walked in first, her eyes flitting from Rey to Phasma before she nodded at Kylo and stepped aside. Hux followed suit. His hand was halfway to his heart, his mouth opened to speak, when he noticed Rey.
"You," he snarled.
Kylo tensed but Hux merely narrowed his eyes viciously without moving.
"Me," Rey answered brightly.
Hux's expression abruptly changed, his eyes shifting to Kylo again. "Here," he said, contemplative.
"What a place to be," Rey gave back.
Hux returned to glaring at her. "You little bitch."
Kylo grumbled, Phasma's baton deployed, and Ember shifted uncomfortably.
"Mind your tone, Base Leader Hux," Derek suddenly spoke up from his corner, surprising everyone. Not only with his words but also with his gleeful tone. "That's your Supreme Duchess you're talking to."
"I beg your pardon, what?"
"Your Supreme Duchess," Kylo answered, reaching for Rey's hand and hoping she wouldn't retract it due to lingering anger from just before. She didn't seem to mind, even going so far as leaning into him. "We're together."
Hux suddenly turned to Ember. "You couldn't have warned me?" he snapped.
"Wasn't allowed to," Ember answered with a shrug. "I said as much as I could."
"You call 'this person that came along and you've not seen yet is special' a warning?"
"Hux," Ember said. Her tone was perfectly neutral but everybody present knew it was a small plea.
"I have chased you and you've escaped me time and again," Hux snarled at Rey. "Do you have any idea what you cost me?"
"You weren't exactly a pleasant person," Rey answered. "You tried to kill me."
"So did he," Hux exclaimed, wildly motioning to Kylo.
"Yes, well, he got brainwashed by Snoke. What's your excuse?"
Hux turned red real fast. He repeatedly opened and closed his mouth but no sound came out. It took him a while, but eventually he managed to gather enough of himself to curse again.
"You Resistance bitch Jedi," he yelled, aggressively stepping forward.
Ember stepped in front of him while Rey hopped off the desk and braced herself. Kylo fought with himself to not step in front of Rey, knowing she wouldn't appreciate it. Then, much to everybody's consternation, Ember gently cupped Hux's cheek and lightly shook her head.
"I am neither Resistance nor Jedi," Rey said without venom.
"Then what are you? The Supreme Leader's whore?"
At that, Ember slapped him, hard. Hux's head flew to the side and he cupped his cheek as he turned astonished eyes on her. Ember's glare was a scary thing. Hux gazed at her for some time before looking at Rey again, seeming somewhat calmed.
"Then what are you?" he repeated.
"A Force user."
"I don't hear you say 'First Order'," he pressed.
Kylo could feel Rey's surprise. She took a moment to think.
"I'm part of what the First Order will be in the future," she finally said.
"What does that even mean?" Hux sounded genuinely confused.
"I will be part of the vision Ben has for the First Order," she answered. "The one he's working to achieve."
"We," Kylo corrected. Rey looked up at him with a frown. "The one we are working to achieve." He huffed a breath. "You are part of this, Rey. Why won't you believe me?"
"It feels unreal."
"It feels unreal to have you here."
They gazed at each other with comprehension until Phasma let out a discreet cough. Both Kylo and Rey snapped their heads back to look at Hux, who had the most complicated expression on his face. Ember had stepped back to the side, although still close enough that she could block Hux again if need be.
Kylo could see how her hand occasionally twitched towards Hux's, as if she wanted to hold it but was not allowing herself to. With a small smile, Kylo planted a suggestion in her head, not even trying to be subtle and phrasing it so wrongly she would recognise it as his even if she wasn't paying attention. As predicted, her head abruptly turned towards him, eyes wide, and he nodded once.
Tentatively, she reached out and took hold of Hux's hand. Hux turned to look at her, surprised, then turned his gaze to Kylo, then Rey, and then back to Ember again. He visibly calmed down completely, the redness in his face receding and, by the look on his face, Kylo could see his mind churning.
"Does the Resistance know you're here?" Hux asked.
"Maz knows," Rey said, not entirely able to hide her dislike of the woman. "As well as Chewie, Sirena, and the children that went back with them. I don't know if the word has spread though."
"Maz? Maz Kanata?" Hux asked.
"Yes, her. She now leads the Resistance."
"She's a dangerous woman," Hux said to Kylo.
"I am aware," he answered. "But we've been communicating for some time now. At the moment, she doesn't pose a risk."
"You've been what?" Hux exclaimed.
Ember squeezed his hand and Hux took a deep breath, the muscles in his neck straining.
"How much am I allowed to know?" Hux finally asked with difficulty.
It threw Kylo a bit off. He hadn't contemplated what he would and would not tell Hux after revealing Rey's presence. He took a moment to think through what information Hux already had and then realised that, apart from the connection with the Resistance, there wasn't much he didn't know.
"You're allowed to update him," he told Ember, who gave him a grateful nod in return. "Apart from that," he said to Hux. "I need your word that you will not try to harm Rey based on past grudges."
Ember let go of Hux's hand. He was alone in his answer. Hux gazed at Rey, his hands in fists by his side and his jaw clenched. After a minute, he closed his eyes and jerkily slammed his fist over his heart, bowing slightly.
"Supreme Duchess," he said.
"Base Leader Hux," Rey answered, signalling that bygones would be bygones from her side as well.
"Now that that's settled," Kylo said, watching with a small smile as Ember took Hux's hand again. "Give your report."
