A/N: A big thanks to SirenBanshee. You are one amazing beta!
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"How?" Kylo demanded.
"They did ask about my saber earlier and I gave them the 'personal project' answer we agreed upon. I even told them I took it with me because I didn't want any of my colleagues to get their hands on it. We're in the shop now, and I was talking to this student who is trying to accomplish something really cool about separating force fields when Andrea came up to me and out of the blue asked where I'm from. I'm sorry, Ben, but she surprised me and I automatically just answered Jakku. She immediately countered with 'so you're a scavenger' and I don't know what to answer. Natasha is with Thomas and he's looking anxious and glancing my way constantly and I think they know."
"But you aren't sure?"
"No, but they're suspicious at the least."
Kylo dragged a hand through his hair. "Shit," he muttered.
He must have said it out loud as well, as Phasma spoke up. "Everything alright, sir? Do we need to prepare another ship?"
"Not yet," he told her before turning his attention to Rey again. "Where exactly are Thomas and Natasha? Show me your surroundings."
The shop he remembered popped into life in front of his eyes. Andrea was standing next to Rey and giving her a thoughtful look. Natasha was on the other side of the room, near the stockroom, talking to Thomas.
"Go to them," Kylo said. "Less people who can overhear what's being said."
"Let's rejoin Thomas," Rey promptly said, walking away.
Andrea followed her, eyes narrowing as Rey turned her back. Kylo followed suit. He didn't think Andrea would do anything without having full certainty that Rey was a threat, but he still kept an eye out for suspicious behaviour.
"Miss Rey," Thomas greeted.
The architect looked nervous. Natasha and Andrea shared a look, then both turned to gaze at Rey.
"Who are you?" Natasha demanded.
"These two are too smart for their own good," Kylo commented. "They've at least figured out you're not who you say you are."
Rey glanced at him. It was a quick movement but Thomas still caught it. Probably because he was looking for it.
"Oh," he said. "Are you- Are you doing the thing?"
Kylo snorted a laugh, ignoring Natasha's 'what thing?'. "And there goes our chance of talking your way out of it," he said.
"You don't seem too worried about it," Rey wryly answered.
"Answer our question," Andrea meanwhile demanded.
"Tell Thomas yes. Let's see if he greets me."
"You're having too much fun with this, Ben."
Kylo shrugged and Rey gave an exasperated sigh before addressing Thomas.
"Yes, I am."
"Oh," Thomas said. "Uhm." He awkwardly shuffled on the spot, eyes roaming for something he couldn't see. He then decided a random direction—the other side of Rey than Kylo was standing at—and fisted his hand against his chest.
"Supreme Leader," he greeted.
"Predictable," Kylo laughed.
"You're evil."
"Not anymore," Kylo shot back. "You took care of that."
"What are you talking about?" Natasha demanded of Thomas.
"Do you think I can show them both at the same time?" Rey asked.
Kylo shrugged again. "Try. If not, just show them one by one."
"You both," Rey said. "Give me a hand." She extended her hands towards them.
"Why would we?" Andrea countered, suspicious.
"It's the easiest way to explain," Rey answered. "And probably the only way you'll believe me. I suggest, after, we go to a separate room to properly talk this through."
Natasha and Andrea glanced at one another before tentatively placing their hands in Rey's. Kylo could feel Rey gather the Force around her and made sure to stand close enough to her to imply familiarity. He grinned as both women gasped when he appeared in front of them.
"Ladies," Kylo greeted.
"Supreme Lead- Where did he go?"
"Rey?" Kylo asked, worried at how Rey had suddenly dropped both women's hands.
"This is more draining than I expected," she answered. "I think it would be easier if they were holding hands as well?"
"Maybe," Kylo agreed. "I'll help next time."
"Is this a trick you're playing on us, Jedi?" Natasha demanded to know.
"Not a Jedi," Rey muttered, annoyed. "A separate room?" she then asked. "So I can try this again?"
"Why would we believe that was truly him?"
"What can I tell them?" Rey asked Kylo.
They were both surprised when Thomas spoke up.
"You could see him? I know he can see you but I didn't know Miss Rey could make you see him too. Uhm, wait, do I still call you 'Miss Rey'?"
Rey laughed. "Yes," she said. "Others can still hear."
"Of course."
"And I can, indeed, be a conduit for the Force so someone else can see Ben too. It's only that I'd never tried it for two people at the same time before now."
"You know of this," Andrea asked Thomas in surprise.
"Of course I know," he countered. "He threatened me with Force knows what if I didn't treat Miss Rey with proper respect."
"Told you it was necessary," Kylo commented.
"Oh, don't be so smug."
"Remind him I heard what he said."
"I'm not doing that."
"Killjoy."
It was amusing though, to see the utter confusion on both Andrea's and Natasha's faces. They were both looking from Thomas to Rey and back, seemingly trying to figure things out and failing spectacularly.
"A private room?" Rey prompted.
"Right," Andrea said, recovering first. "Right. This way."
They didn't have to walk far before Natasha opened the door to a smaller-sized workplace.
"Ooh," Rey cooed.
"For the teacher's private projects," Natasha said, despite the situation. "Or for graduates to work on their Final Project."
Rey nodded, taking it all in. Then, she turned to Thomas.
"I won't be able to do three," she said.
"I understand, Miss Rey."
She faced Natasha and Andrea again. "I don't know how long I'll be able to keep this up so the conversation will have to be short. If you two could please hold hands as well? I believe that will make it easier."
Without hesitation, the two women grabbed each other's hands and held the other out for Rey to hold onto. Kylo stepped closer, putting his own hand on Rey's shoulder, causing her to hum. He didn't think the contact was really necessary with the bond they shared, but it wouldn't hurt to try.
"Don't force yourself," he told her. "Break it off when you have to."
Rey nodded, then gathered the Force again. Natasha's and Andrea's eyes still grew wide at seeing Kylo appear, even though they'd been expecting it this time.
"Supreme Leader," they both said.
"I'll keep it to the point," Kylo said, looking at them both. "This information will under no circumstance leave this room. It is imperative that it remains a secret from now on."
He tightened his hold on Rey's shoulder when she shuddered and pushed more of his strength towards her while Natasha and Andrea both nodded their assent.
"As you have apparently already figured out, Rey is indeed the Resistance's Force User. She is my girlfriend and therefore your Supreme Duchess. We are working towards a common goal that will benefit the First Order. Change of this magnitude, however, takes time to implement. We are of the opinion that the First Order is not ready to learn about our relationship."
Natasha and Andrea were staring at him, wide-eyed, before turning that same look on Rey.
"Ben," she muttered, eyes closed. "I won't hold much longer."
He squeezed her shoulder again.
"You will treat her with respect, address her with 'Miss Rey', and show her around the Academy. Thomas needs to learn about how you view a properly-functioning Academy and Rey is mostly interested in the shop. Allow her to tinker if she so wishes." He glanced at her. "Also find her a place to sleep. She will need to rest after this."
"Yes, Supreme Leader," Andrea answered for them both.
"Rey," Kylo said. "You can let go now."
She did so with a sigh, sagging slightly. Natasha rushed forward to grab her arm and Kylo smiled seeing it.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Yes, just tired."
"He's still here?" Natasha asked, vaguely looking in his direction.
"Yes," Rey answered.
"Don't worry, sir," Natasha then said. "We will take good care of her."
"Indeed, we will," Andrea echoed.
"Aren't you tired too?" Rey asked.
"A little," he admitted. Opening the bond for two people on the same side of it had been surprisingly draining. "But not too much," he added. "You go take a nap."
Rey turned her head to look at him. "You too."
"I'll take some time to meditate."
"What were you doing when I called?" Rey suddenly asked, eyes widening slightly. "Did I interrupt something?"
"Sparring with Phasma. It's fine. Go with Natasha and go sleep."
As if on cue, Natasha spoke up. "Let's find you a bed, Miss Rey. You look a bit pale."
"They're going to start fussing over me, aren't they?" Rey sighed, following Natasha and Andrea through the building, Thomas taking up the rear.
"Good," Kylo answered, pleased. "I have to get going, Rey. Contact me again if something goes wrong again, okay? Don't hesitate."
"Okay, Ben. Bye."
"Bye, Rey."
He blinked as the Academy disappeared from view and the training room reappeared. He wasn't standing in the same spot he'd been when Rey had contacted him though. It took him a moment to reorient himself, then he turned to the door from where Phasma was watching him.
"Sir?" she asked. "Are you back here?"
"Yes, I am."
"Are you aware that you move around when you talk to Miss Rey over the bond? It's...disconcerting."
"How exactly did I move?"
"Circles," Phasma immediately answered. "A lot of them. And some side steps to both left and right."
"I see," he answered. "There are parts of our connection that we have stopped wondering about because it led to nothing but headaches. How it's possible for either of us to walk within the other's reality while being in a relatively small room ourselves is one of them. I guess walking in circles does explain that, at least, a little of it."
"Anything else?" Phasma asked, sounding curious.
"Sitting and lying down, mostly," Kylo answered her. "Rey's been in my room more than once while still being at the Resistance Base. She would sit or lie on my bed while she'd hidden herself in a storage room with neither. We can't eat each-other's food though, that we already established."
Phasma shook her head, either with mirth or because she couldn't quite grasp the information, Kylo wasn't sure.
"What happened at the Academy?" Phasma asked, sounding serious again. "I heard your side of the conversation so I'm guessing the Directors somehow figured out who Miss Rey is?"
"They did, indeed, figure out she's Rey from the Resistance. I don't know what they were thinking though, whether she somehow snuck into the First Order or if Thomas was a Resistance spy as well. There was no time to sort that one out." He thought for a moment. "Still, I'd like to know, because why would the Resistance find interest in an Academy?"
"Does it matter, sir?"
"No, I guess not. Anyway, Rey managed to hold the bond open for both Natasha and Andrea at the same time, which is the conversation you heard. They should be finding her a bed to sleep in now. Holding the bond open was extremely draining, even with us both putting strength into it."
"Will you be needing to rest as well, sir?"
"At least a moment to meditate," he allowed.
"I've already informed Derek that you'd be late. I'll tell him not to expect you."
"I'll make some time for him in the afternoon."
"Yes, sir." Phasma shifted. "Sir, do you trust these two directors?"
"To deal with Rey or to keep their mouths shut?"
"Both."
Kylo smiled at her. "They're smart enough not to touch Rey. They know I wouldn't let that pass, no matter how much I like them and their ideas. About keeping their mouths shut?" He hesitated for a moment. "I think they'll keep Rey a secret for exactly the same reason as they won't touch her. I never told them to keep Thomas' visit a secret though, so there might be some rumours coming from them that there will be change coming to the First Order, but I don't think that will necessarily be a problem." He sighed. "It's a risk, but I'm trusting their intelligence."
Phasma nodded. "I understand," she said. "You should rest now, sir. You should sleep; it will allow you to recover faster."
"For someone who doesn't want children, you sure know how to mother someone."
"I take care of my friends, sir."
Kylo faltered slightly but covered it by turning to smile at her. "I'm happy to have you as my friend, Phasma," he said, then hastened towards his rooms out of sheer embarrassment of his own words.
